Neukio Biotherapeutics on a New Mission

Neukio (Shanghai) Biotherapeutics focuses on iPSC-derived CAR-NK/CAR-T technology platforms and next-generation off-the-shelf immune cell products for treating solid tumors and autoimmune diseases. While driving independent innovation, the company actively collaborates with leading global institutions to develop original, clinically valuable immune cell therapies, including iNK, iT, and in vivo CAR. These innovations aim to enhance efficacy while significantly reducing production costs, delivering safe and effective treatments to patients worldwide. 

Neukio was established in June 2021 in the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone. In July of the same year, the company announced the completion of a $40 million Angel financing round led by Lilly Asia Ventures, along with Sherpa and IDG Capital. By December 2021, Neukio had completed the renovation of a 6,000-square-meter integrated R&D and manufacturing center in just six months. The facility includes a 1,000-square-meter R&D lab, 2,500 square meters of process development and GMP production cleanrooms, and QC labs,  supporting research and development end-to-end operations. In September 2022, Neukio secured $58 million in Series A financing led by CD Capital, with participation from Yahui Investment, Kuan Capital, Alibaba Health, and Panlin Capital, alongside continued support from the Angel investors. 

How does Neukio innovate? 

1: Leveraging the core team’s experience in bringing China’s first autologous CAR-T product to market, Neukio identified the limitations of autologous cell therapies and opted for iPSCs as an ideal seed cell source for off-the-shelf immune cell therapies. The company simultaneously advances CAR-NK and CAR-T technology platforms, positioning itself as one of the few biotechs globally pursuing dual-platform immune cell development. 

2: Utilizing iPSC clonality and ease for precision gene editing, Neukio modifies specific signaling pathways in iPSCs by knocking out genes or inserting functional transgenes including CAR gene at targeted genomic loci. This approach enhances product tumor killing and immune modulation properties to address challenges in solid tumor treatment, such as immunosuppressive microenvironments and poor tumor infiltration, and to target tumor specific antigens by encoded CAR molecule. The platform enables iterative editing and validation until optimal functional products are obtained—a process impossible with primary cells requiring multiple editing and clonal selection. 

3: Neukio establishes a robust three-tiered cell banking system from genomically edited, stable clones. The company has developed and validated a continuous 3D bioreactor suspension process with perfusion option for iPSC differentiation and expansion into iNK/iT cells. The unique feature of serum-free, feeder-free, GMP-compliant manufacturing system ensures high yield, purity, stability, and safety of homogeneous CAR-iNK/CAR-iT products, drastically reducing production costs while eliminating iPSC residues and tumorigenic risks—a breakthrough in industrial-scale manufacturing of iNK. Currently, Neukio has built a multi-target, multi-mechanism and multi-indication iNK pipeline with three candidates in clinical validation. The iT pipeline, focused on enhancing in vivo activation, expansion, and persistence, is under development, with lead candidates nearing preclinical testing. Building on its CAR-T/CAR-NK expertise, Neukio is also pioneering in vivo CAR technology as the ultimate goal of cell therapy development to benefit patients globally. 

Our Competitive Advantages

l  Dual iNK/iT technology platforms and pipelines

l  Extensive cell therapy industrialization expertise (gene editing, CAR-T, CMC, regulatory) 

l  Dual-strategy product development combining in-house R&D and external collaborations

l  Exceptional execution speed driven by highly efficient teamwork 

l  Strong support from visionary investors