What are the latest funding news in the cell therapy market? (September 2026)
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Cell therapy funding remained active from August 2025 through August 2026, spanning engineered T cells, in vivo CAR-T platforms and regenerative cell medicines.
The 12 disclosed financings below ranged from a $8 million Series A to $122 million Series B, with several rounds supporting programs nearing the clinic or commercialization.
Most of the companies focused on making cell therapies more scalable, more precise or easier to deliver across oncology, autoimmune disease and degenerative conditions.
And if you want to better understand this new industry, you can download our pitch covering the cell therapy market.
Insights
- Seven of the 12 cell therapy funding deals involved companies with clinical-stage programs, showing that investors continued to back platforms moving beyond preclinical proof of concept.
- In vivo CAR-T was a major theme, with CREATE Medicines, Vivacta Bio and Vyriad raising capital to generate or program therapeutic immune cells directly inside patients.
- Eight of the 12 disclosed financings were announced in 2026, indicating a strong recent pace for cell therapy market fundraising through September 2026.
- Large rounds were not limited to commercial-stage assets: CREATE Medicines raised $122 million while still expanding a platform that programs T cells, NK cells and myeloid cells in vivo.
- Solid tumors remained an important cell therapy market opportunity, with Tikva Allocell, Waypoint Bio, Link Cell Therapies and Pan Cancer T financing differentiated engineered-cell approaches.
- Allogeneic cell therapy remained well funded through Allotera Therapeutics and Orca Bio, reflecting continued interest in treatments designed to be more standardized than autologous therapies.
- Non-oncology regenerative medicine was also represented by Hopstem Biotechnology and GelMEDIX, which are developing neural and retinal cell therapies for severe neurological and eye diseases.
- Financing structures were not fully comparable: the list includes conventional equity rounds, a venture-debt component, a government-backed loan and an aggregate financing disclosure.
As this chart shows, and as featured in our cell therapy market deck, search interest in stem cell therapy has been rising steadily
Summary table of the latest funding deals in the cell therapy market as of September 2026
We define the cell therapy market as the market for cell-based medicinal products used as drugs to treat disease, including both approved products and major late-stage pipeline therapies.
We include living-cell products such as CAR-T, other engineered immune cells, and non-oncology cell-based drugs, along with their direct clinical use and revenue.
We exclude procedures like standard stem-cell transplants, simple minimally manipulated cell preparations used in surgery, and generic tools or equipment that are not specific to these therapies.
You can also read our detailed analysis to understand how funding activity in the cell therapy market has evolved over the last few years.
We also have a quarter-by-quarter analysis of funding activity in the market here.
Finally, you can check our complete list of fundraising deals for the cell therapy market (we update this list every quarter) as well as our ranking of the most funded startups.
| Name | When | Amount in $ | Round Type | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anocca | 18 Aug 2025 | ~$46M | Financing round | Gene-edited TCR-T for solid tumors |
| Pan Cancer T | 8 Dec 2025 | ~$10.8M | Equity & innovation credit | Autologous TCR-T for solid tumors |
| Link Cell Therapies | 15 Dec 2025 | $60M | Series A | Logic-gated CAR-T for cancer |
| Vyriad | 23 Dec 2025 | $25M | Series B final tranche | In vivo CAR-T for multiple myeloma |
| Orca Bio | 9 Jan 2026 | $250M aggregate | Series F | Allogeneic T-cell therapies |
| GelMEDIX | 17 Feb 2026 | $13M | Seed | Retinal cell therapy |
| Vivacta Bio | 29 Apr 2026 | Over $50M | Series A & A+ | In vivo CAR-T for cancer & autoimmune disease |
| CREATE Medicines | 14 May 2026 | $122M | Series B | In vivo immune-cell programming |
| Waypoint Bio | 1 Jun 2026 | $20M | Series A | AI-designed CAR-T for solid tumors |
| Allotera Therapeutics | 8 Jul 2026 | $35M | Series C extension | Allogeneic CAR-T for T-cell cancers |
| Tikva Allocell | 22 Jul 2026 | $8M | Series A | Allogeneic engineered T cells |
| Hopstem Biotechnology | 10 Aug 2026 | ~$29.6M | Series C first close | iPSC-derived neural cell therapy |
All the latest funding deals during in the cell therapy market as of September 2026
Hopstem Biotechnology raised approximately $29.6 million in August 2026 for neural cell therapy development.
When was it?
Hopstem Biotechnology announced the first closing of its Series C financing on August 10, 2026.
Who are they?
Hopstem Biotechnology develops iPSC-derived neural progenitor cell therapies designed to repair brain damage after stroke, traumatic brain injury and other neurological conditions.
Geographical focus?
Hopstem Biotechnology is based in China and is pursuing clinical and regulatory development in China and the United States.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Hopstem Biotechnology develops hNPC01, an injectable living neural-cell medicine for neurological disease.
What is the company stage?
Hopstem Biotechnology is clinical stage, with Phase 1 data for hNPC01 and additional neurological indications in development.
How much did they raise?
Hopstem Biotechnology raised nearly RMB 200 million, equivalent to approximately $29.6 million, in the first Series C tranche.
What round is it?
Hopstem Biotechnology completed the first closing of a Series C round.
Why did they raise?
Hopstem Biotechnology raised the capital to advance stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and traumatic brain injury programs and prepare for commercial-scale manufacturing.
Tikva Allocell raised $8 million in July 2026 to advance off-the-shelf T-cell therapies.
When was it?
Tikva Allocell announced its Series A financing on July 22, 2026.
Who are they?
Tikva Allocell develops donor-derived EBV-specific T-cell therapies engineered to target difficult-to-treat solid tumors.
Geographical focus?
Tikva Allocell operates across Singapore and the United States, with clinical development planned in both markets.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Tikva Allocell is developing TAVST01, an engineered allogeneic T-cell medicine for B7-H3-positive solid tumors.
What is the company stage?
Tikva Allocell is late preclinical and is completing IND-enabling work ahead of a planned IND submission.
How much did they raise?
Tikva Allocell raised $8 million.
What round is it?
Tikva Allocell completed a Series A financing led by Kantharos Capital.
Why did they raise?
Tikva Allocell raised the funding to complete IND-enabling studies and prepare TAVST01 for first-in-human clinical testing.
This chart, featured in our cell therapy market deck, compares the main business model options for cell therapy biotech companies
Allotera Therapeutics raised $35 million in July 2026 to advance allogeneic CAR-T for T-cell cancers.
When was it?
Allotera Therapeutics announced the latest Series C financing tranche on July 8, 2026.
Who are they?
Allotera Therapeutics, formerly Wugen, develops off-the-shelf gene-edited CAR-T therapies for aggressive T-cell blood cancers.
Geographical focus?
Allotera Therapeutics is primarily based in the United States and is developing its programs for global use.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Allotera Therapeutics is advancing soficabtagene geleucel, an allogeneic CD7-targeted CAR-T medicine for T-cell leukemia and lymphoma.
What is the company stage?
Allotera Therapeutics is at pivotal clinical stage and is preparing its lead program for a potential biologics license application.
How much did they raise?
Allotera Therapeutics raised $35 million, bringing total capital raised in the Series C financing to approximately $150 million.
What round is it?
Allotera Therapeutics closed a Series C financing tranche that included equity and venture debt.
Why did they raise?
Allotera Therapeutics raised the funds to support pivotal development and prepare for potential commercialization of soficabtagene geleucel.
Waypoint Bio raised $20 million in June 2026 to develop AI-designed CAR-T therapies.
When was it?
Waypoint Bio announced its Series A financing on June 1, 2026.
Who are they?
Waypoint Bio uses AI, spatial biology and pooled screening to design and optimize CAR-T therapies for solid tumors.
Geographical focus?
Waypoint Bio is based in the United States and expects at least one program to enter clinical development in China.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Waypoint Bio is developing specific in vivo and ex vivo CAR-T therapeutic programs rather than selling a generic AI discovery tool.
What is the company stage?
Waypoint Bio is transitioning from preclinical research toward early clinical development.
How much did they raise?
Waypoint Bio raised $20 million.
What round is it?
Waypoint Bio completed a Series A led by Amplify Partners.
Why did they raise?
Waypoint Bio raised the funding to move lead CAR-T programs toward clinical testing and expand its AI and spatial-biology capabilities.
This chart, featured in our cell therapy market deck, shows how Legend Biotech is winning in cell therapy
CREATE Medicines raised $122 million in May 2026 to expand its in vivo CAR pipeline.
When was it?
CREATE Medicines announced its Series B financing on May 14, 2026.
Who are they?
CREATE Medicines develops RNA-LNP medicines that program T cells, NK cells and myeloid cells directly inside the patient.
Geographical focus?
CREATE Medicines is based in the United States and is building a global development strategy for its immune-programming therapies.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
CREATE Medicines develops in vivo CAR-T and other in vivo immune-cell therapies for autoimmune disease, cancer and fibrosis.
What is the company stage?
CREATE Medicines is clinical stage, with clinical oncology programs and an autoimmune CD19 in vivo CAR-T program progressing toward human studies.
How much did they raise?
CREATE Medicines raised $122 million.
What round is it?
CREATE Medicines completed a Series B co-led by Newpath Partners, ARCH Venture Partners and Hatteras Venture Partners.
Why did they raise?
CREATE Medicines raised the capital to advance autoimmune and oncology programs, including repeat-dose CD19 and dual-targeted in vivo CAR therapies.
Vivacta Bio raised more than $50 million in April 2026 for in vivo CAR-T development.
When was it?
Vivacta Bio announced its Series A and Series A+ financings on April 29, 2026.
Who are they?
Vivacta Bio develops in vivo CAR-T therapies that create therapeutic CAR-T cells inside patients instead of manufacturing them outside the body.
Geographical focus?
Vivacta Bio is based in China and is building international operations around its cell therapy pipeline.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Vivacta Bio develops in vivo CAR-T medicinal products for cancer and autoimmune disease.
What is the company stage?
Vivacta Bio is clinical stage and has reported first-in-human data for its GT801 in vivo CAR-T candidate.
How much did they raise?
Vivacta Bio raised more than $50 million across its Series A and Series A+ financings.
What round is it?
Vivacta Bio completed combined Series A and Series A+ rounds led by Loyal Valley Capital and Decheng Capital.
Why did they raise?
Vivacta Bio raised the money to accelerate clinical development and establish international capabilities for its in vivo CAR-T programs.
In our cell therapy market deck, we identify pain points entrepreneurs should prioritize
GelMEDIX raised $13 million in February 2026 to advance retinal cell therapy for geographic atrophy.
When was it?
GelMEDIX announced its seed financing on February 17, 2026.
Who are they?
GelMEDIX develops retinal pigment epithelial cell therapies delivered with an injectable hydrogel scaffold for people with advanced geographic atrophy.
Geographical focus?
GelMEDIX is based in the United States and is pursuing global pharmaceutical and manufacturing partnerships.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
GelMEDIX is developing GMX-101, a living retinal pigment epithelial cell replacement therapy for vision loss.
What is the company stage?
GelMEDIX is at early preclinical and IND-enabling stage.
How much did they raise?
GelMEDIX raised $13 million.
What round is it?
GelMEDIX completed a seed financing led by Safar Partners.
Why did they raise?
GelMEDIX raised the funding to advance GMX-101 and prepare its hydrogel-based cell therapy platform for future clinical manufacturing.
Orca Bio announced $250 million in aggregate financing in January 2026 ahead of potential commercialization.
When was it?
Orca Bio announced the financing on January 9, 2026, after closing its Series F in December 2025.
Who are they?
Orca Bio develops precision-engineered allogeneic T-cell therapies for blood cancers and immune-related diseases.
Geographical focus?
Orca Bio is based in the United States and is expanding manufacturing and clinical operations nationally.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Orca Bio develops living-cell immunotherapies containing purified regulatory T cells, hematopoietic stem cells and conventional T cells.
What is the company stage?
Orca Bio is late clinical stage and was preparing for a regulatory decision and commercial launch activities for Orca-T.
How much did they raise?
Orca Bio disclosed $250 million in aggregate new equity capital across its two most recent financing rounds, without separately disclosing the Series F amount.
What round is it?
Orca Bio closed a Series F led by Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Why did they raise?
Orca Bio raised the capital to support commercial readiness, increase manufacturing capacity and advance additional cell therapy programs.
This market map, featured in our cell therapy market deck, highlights top companies and startups in the cell therapy market
Vyriad raised $25 million in December 2025 to bring an in vivo CAR-T candidate into the clinic.
When was it?
Vyriad announced the final Series B tranche on December 23, 2025.
Who are they?
Vyriad engineers viral vectors that deliver CAR-T instructions directly to immune cells inside the body.
Geographical focus?
Vyriad is based in Minnesota and is developing cancer therapies for international markets.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Vyriad is developing VV169, an in vivo CAR-T therapy for BCMA-positive multiple myeloma.
What is the company stage?
Vyriad is clinical stage and is preparing VV169 for first-in-human testing in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
How much did they raise?
Vyriad raised $25 million in the final Series B tranche, bringing the total Series B to $85 million.
What round is it?
Vyriad completed the final tranche of its Series B financing.
Why did they raise?
Vyriad raised the funding to support first-in-human testing of VV169 and validate its targeted viral-delivery platform.
Link Cell Therapies raised $60 million in December 2025 to develop logic-gated CAR-T therapies.
When was it?
Link Cell Therapies launched from stealth and announced its financing on December 15, 2025.
Who are they?
Link Cell Therapies develops logic-gated CAR-T cells that activate only after detecting a selected combination of tumor antigens.
Geographical focus?
Link Cell Therapies is based in the United States and initially focuses on solid tumors such as renal cell carcinoma.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Link Cell Therapies develops CAR-T medicinal products designed to target solid and liquid cancers with greater precision.
What is the company stage?
Link Cell Therapies is preclinical and was preparing LNK001 for an IND submission and Phase 1 trial.
How much did they raise?
Link Cell Therapies raised $60 million in its Series A and reported $92 million raised across seed and Series A financings.
What round is it?
Link Cell Therapies completed a Series A led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JJDC.
Why did they raise?
Link Cell Therapies raised the capital to advance LNK001 into clinical testing and expand its logic-gated CAR-T pipeline.
This chart, featured in our cell therapy market deck, shows annual funding in cell therapy startups
Pan Cancer T secured approximately $10.8 million in December 2025 for a first-in-human TCR-T trial.
When was it?
Pan Cancer T announced the financing on December 8, 2025.
Who are they?
Pan Cancer T develops autologous TCR-T therapies that target tumor-restricted cancer targets in difficult-to-treat solid tumors.
Geographical focus?
Pan Cancer T is based in the Netherlands and plans initial clinical development through Dutch cancer centers.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Pan Cancer T is developing PCT1:CO-STIM, an autologous TCR-T cell therapy for triple-negative breast cancer.
What is the company stage?
Pan Cancer T is late preclinical and is preparing for first-in-human clinical testing.
How much did they raise?
Pan Cancer T secured €10 million, or approximately $10.8 million, including €5 million in equity and a €5 million Innovation Credit loan.
What round is it?
Pan Cancer T completed a financing round without a formal Series label.
Why did they raise?
Pan Cancer T raised the capital to complete regulatory preparation and launch a first-in-human trial in triple-negative breast cancer.
Anocca raised approximately $46 million in August 2025 to advance gene-edited TCR-T therapies.
When was it?
Anocca's financing was reported on August 18, 2025.
Who are they?
Anocca develops gene-edited TCR-T therapies that enable a patient's T cells to recognize cancer-specific mutations.
Geographical focus?
Anocca is based in Sweden and is conducting lead-program development through clinical sites in Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
Why do we include them in the cell therapy market?
Anocca is developing VIDAR-1, a gene-edited TCR-T medicinal product for KRAS-mutated pancreatic cancer.
What is the company stage?
Anocca is clinical stage, with VIDAR-1 in Phase 1 and early Phase 1 to 2 development.
How much did they raise?
Anocca raised approximately SEK 440 million, equivalent to about $46 million.
What round is it?
Anocca completed a financing round without a formal Series label.
Why did they raise?
Anocca raised the funding to support clinical development of VIDAR-1 and strengthen its broader gene-edited TCR-T pipeline.
Related blog posts
- How funding activity has evolved in the cell therapy market
- What are the key fundraising trends in the cell therapy market?
- How strong is fundraising in the cell therapy market right now?
- Cell Therapy: who are the top startups?
- A complete list of funding deals in the cell therapy market
