Singapore and Nanjing, China, November 4, 2026
IASO Bio has officially launched FUCASO (equecabtagene autoleucel) in Singapore, marking an important milestone in the international commercialization of China’s fully human B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. The launch event was jointly hosted by IASO Bio and its Singapore commercial partner Pills and Pokes on November 3, 2026. FUCASO received approval from Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in June 2026 for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) who have progressed after at least three prior lines of therapy, including at least one proteasome inhibitor and one immunomodulatory agent. The commercial launch establishes Singapore as the first market for FUCASO outside Greater China and represents a significant step in IASO Bio’s strategy to expand access to advanced cell therapies across Southeast Asia.
FUCASO Receives Singapore Approval and Commercial Launch
FUCASO is a fully human BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy designed to recognize and attack malignant plasma cells associated with multiple myeloma. The treatment uses a patient’s own T cells, which are collected and genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor targeting BCMA, a protein commonly expressed on multiple myeloma cells. The modified cells are subsequently manufactured, expanded and administered to the patient to help the immune system identify and eliminate cancer cells. Singapore’s HSA approved FUCASO in June 2026, making it the first BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy approved in Singapore. Its approved indication covers adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least three previous lines of treatment, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent. The November launch event brought together hematology and oncology specialists from Singapore and China to discuss treatment advances, patient selection and the evolving management of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Clinical experts from the National University Cancer Institute Singapore, Singapore General Hospital and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital participated in scientific discussions highlighting the unmet medical needs of patients whose disease has progressed following multiple previous treatments.
First Commercial Patient Infusion Demonstrates Cross-Border Supply Chain
An important milestone for the launch was the completion of FUCASO’s first commercial patient infusion at Parkway Cancer Centre in Singapore, approximately two months after regulatory approval. According to IASO Bio, the patient was an adult with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had received four previous lines of treatment. The company reported that the patient achieved a complete response and remained in good condition at the time of its announcement. The first commercial treatment also demonstrated the company’s cross-border manufacturing and supply model. The process includes patient screening, leukapheresis to collect immune cells, transportation under controlled cold-chain conditions to IASO Bio’s manufacturing facility in China, cell processing and product release, followed by transportation back to Singapore for infusion. Maintaining product quality, identity, traceability and temperature-controlled logistics is particularly important in autologous CAR-T manufacturing because each treatment is produced using cells collected from an individual patient. The successful completion of the first commercial infusion demonstrates the operational coordination required to deliver this type of personalized cell therapy across international borders. IASO Bio is working with Pills and Pokes, a Singapore-based specialty pharmaceutical importer and distributor, to support product importation, distribution and commercial availability in the country.
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Clinical Results and Reimbursement Support Regional Expansion
The clinical development of FUCASO is supported by findings from the pivotal FUMANBA-1 study. Among patients receiving CAR-T therapy for the first time, the company reported an overall response rate of 98.9%, a stringent complete response or complete response rate of 88.4%, and a median progression-free survival of 35.9 months. The reported safety findings included a 0.9% incidence of Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome (CRS). No Grade 3 or higher immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) was observed in the reported analysis. These findings provide clinical evidence supporting the therapy’s development, although individual patient outcomes and treatment risks can vary. Additional real-world evidence presented at the 2026 International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting included a retrospective analysis of 281 patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The reported overall response rate was 95.9%, the complete response or stringent complete response rate was 77.2%, and the 12-month progression-free survival rate was 71.5%. Patient access is another important component of the Singapore launch. Following evaluation by Singapore’s Agency for Care Effectiveness, FUCASO has been included in the country’s Cancer Drug List, with coverage eligibility scheduled to become effective on December 1, 2026. This is expected to improve affordability for eligible patients through Singapore’s healthcare financing framework. Overall, the Singapore launch represents a significant international commercialization milestone for IASO Bio. By combining regulatory approval, clinical expertise, specialized manufacturing, cross-border logistics and local distribution, the company aims to establish a foundation for wider access to BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy across Southeast Asia.
Source: IASO Bio press release
