GRIT Biotechnology

What GRIT Biotechnology does

GRIT Biotechnology (沙砾生物), founded in 2019 and headquartered in Shanghai, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation immunotherapies for solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, and autoimmune diseases. The company pursues a dual China–US clinical research platform built around a stack of proprietary technology platforms: StemTexp® for rapid TIL expansion (~22 days), ImmuT Finder® for high-throughput CRISPR-based immune target discovery, KOReTIL® for gene knockout, StaViral® for stable viral vector production, NEOvigator™/TST hunter® for AI-driven neoantigen and TCR discovery, and the high-fidelity AaCas12bMAX nuclease for safer gene editing. A diversified pipeline of seven core candidates spans autologous TIL therapies (GT101 in pivotal Phase II for cervical cancer and first-line HNSCC; GT201 with membrane-bound IL-15 engineering), CRISPR gene-edited TIL products (GT300, GT307 with FDA IND), allogeneic CAR-iNKT (GT719 with two FDA Orphan Drug Designations), personalized neoantigen mRNA vaccine (GT601), and next-generation BiTE-secreting TIL (RD213). The in vivo CAR-T program (GT801) is housed in a spun-out entity, MicroWave Bio (微涛生物), developed in collaboration with Shanghai Vitalgen Biopharma.

GRIT operates a capital-intensive, clinical-development business model with no product revenue; the company has raised approximately $154M cumulatively across disclosed rounds (2020, 2021, 2023, 2025), most recently a ~$84M Series C in October 2025 led by Shunxi Fund. Go-to-market is institutionally driven: cell therapy products are planned to be dispensed through major cancer hospitals and clinical trial sites in China and the US following regulatory approval, with no traditional pharmaceutical distribution channels for autologous products. Customers in the immediate term are clinical trial sites and, eventually, hospital oncology departments serving patient populations in cervical cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, gynecological malignancies, and refractory B-cell malignancies. A separate revenue stream will accrue to the MicroWave Bio spin-out upon commercialization of in vivo CAR-T.

Name

GRIT Biotechnology

Legal name

北京沙砾生物医药股份有限公司 (Beijing GRIT Biotechnology Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://grit-bio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GRIT Biotechnology is a Shanghai-based clinical-stage biopharma founded in 2019 developing TIL therapies, allogeneic CAR-iNKT, in vivo CAR-T, and neoantigen vaccines for solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, and autoimmune diseases across a dual China–US clinical platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell Therapy Immunotherapy

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personalized Therapeutic Design (neoantigen vaccines, individualized cell/gene therapies) (HLAAANAK), Fusion Proteins & Fc-Engineered Biologics (HLAAAAAD), Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)

Keywords

• Cell therapy immunotherapy
• Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes
• CRISPR gene editing
• In vivo CAR-T
• Biopharmaceutical development

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. TIL Cell Therapy Products: As a clinical-stage biopharma company, GRIT Biotechnology does not yet generate product revenue. The company is developing multiple TIL therapy candidates (GT101, GT201, GT300, GT307) and allogeneic cell therapies (GT719) through clinical trials toward regulatory approval. Revenue will come from product sales upon regulatory approval.
2. In Vivo CAR-T (GT801 via MicroWave Bio): GT801 (an anti-CD19 in vivo CAR-T therapy) is being developed by MicroWave Bio (微滔生物), a spin-out from GRIT Biotechnology. MicroWave Bio presented first-in-human clinical data at ASCO 2026 for B-cell malignancies showing 100% ORR and 75% CR rate. Revenue will be generated upon regulatory approval of the in vivo CAR-T product.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GRIT Biotechnology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapies, in vivo CAR-T therapies, allogeneic CAR-iNKT cell therapies, and personalized neoantigen tumor vaccines for solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, and autoimmune diseases. The company advances a diversified pipeline of seven candidate products through clinical trials in China and the United States, leveraging proprietary platforms for TIL expansion, CRISPR gene editing, immune target discovery, and AI-driven neoantigen identification.

Product overview

GRIT Biotechnology (沙砾生物) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2019, developing next-generation immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company's diversified pipeline includes seven candidate products centered on TIL (Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte) therapies and off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies. Core products include GT101 (autologous TIL for cervical cancer in pivotal Phase II), GT201 (membrane-bound IL-15 engineered TIL with dual China-US filings), GT307 (dual gene knockout TIL with FDA IND approval), GT300 (CRISPR gene-edited TIL), GT801 (in vivo CAR-T via mRNA), GT719 (off-the-shelf CAR-iNKT), GT601 (personalized neoantigen vaccine), and RD213 (BiTE-secreting TIL). The technology infrastructure comprises five proprietary platforms: StemTexp® (dry TIL expansion), ImmuT Finder® (immune target screening), KOReTIL® (TIL gene editing), StaViral® (viral production), and NEOvigator™ (AI-driven neoantigen discovery).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StemTexp®: Proprietary stem-like TIL expansion technology platform enabling rapid TIL expansion and preferential expansion of memory T cells for improved clinical efficacy.
• ImmuT Finder®
• KOReTIL®
• StaViral®
• Neovigator™ / NEOvigator™
• TST hunter®
• GT101
• GT201
• GT300
• GT307
• GT719
• GT801
• GT601
• RD213
• 微滔生物 (Weitao Biotechnology)

Products and services

• GT101 Injection (GT101注射液) GT101 is an autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for the treatment of solid tumors including cervical cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). It is China's first domestically developed TIL therapy to receive clinical trial approval and is currently in pivotal Phase II clinical trials. For hospital oncology departments and clinical trial programs treating patients with relapsed or metastatic solid tumors.
• GT201 Injection (GT201注射液) GT201 is a globally first-in-class membrane-bound IL-15 complex engineered TIL therapy product designed to enhance T cell persistence and anti-tumor activity in solid tumors including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Completed dual regulatory filings in China and the US. For oncology clinical trial sites treating solid tumor patients.
• GT307 Injection (GT307注射液) GT307 is a next-generation dual gene-knockout TIL therapy using the high-fidelity CRISPR/AaCas12bMAX nuclease system, designed to overcome TIL functional exhaustion and persistence issues in the tumor microenvironment. Received US FDA IND approval in December 2025. For US clinical trial sites and cancer centers treating solid tumor patients.
• GT300 GT300 is a CRISPR gene-edited TIL therapy using the AaCas12bMAX nuclease for dual gene knockout, designed to enhance T cell persistence and reduce IL-2 dependence. Demonstrated 60% ORR in drug-resistant gynecological malignancies in clinical trials. For hospital oncology departments treating drug-resistant solid tumors.
• GT801 GT801 is a next-generation mRNA-based in vivo CAR-T therapy targeting CD19, using T-cell targeting lipid nanoparticles (T-LNP) for precision mRNA delivery. Eliminates the need for ex vivo cell manufacturing and lymphodepletion preconditioning. Developed by spin-out company MicroWave Bio (微涛生物) for B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
• GT719 Cell Injection (GT719细胞注射液) GT719 is an off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR-iNKT cell therapy for autoimmune diseases and cancers. Has received two FDA Orphan Drug Designations, including one for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). For hospital oncology and hematology departments seeking universal cell therapy options.
• GT601 GT601 is a personalized neoantigen tumor vaccine combining AI-driven NEOvigator neoantigen identification with APC-targeting LNP (ViLNP) mRNA delivery technology. Designed for individualized cancer immunotherapy targeting patient-specific tumor antigens.
• RD213 RD213 is a next-generation TIL therapy engineered to secrete bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) targeting both tumor cells and stromal cells, designed to achieve deeper infiltration into cold tumors with poor immune cell penetration.

Quantifiable outcome

• GT101 achieved 45.5% ORR and 90.9% DCR in relapsed/metastatic cervical cancer, with 1 CR lasting >14 months
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Shanghai Vitalgen Biopharma Co. Ltd. (上海天泽云泰生物医药有限公司)coreTechnology or Integration · 29 December 2025GRIT Biotechnology collaborated with Shanghai Vitalgen Biopharma to co-develop GT-801, a next-generation anti-CD19 in vivo CAR-T therapy. The collaboration leverages Vitalgen's CLAMP technology and T-cell targeting LNP system to enable precise mRNA delivery to T cells in vivo. GT801 demonstrated 100% ORR and 75% CR in first-in-human clinical data presented at ASCO 2026.
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — Yang Yang Research Team (上海交通大学医学院杨洋研究员团队)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 December 2025Collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine's molecular medicine institute, led by researcher Yang Yang, to develop DNA origami-based TGF-β1 captors for enhancing tumor immunotherapy. Research published in Advanced Science (IF=14.3), demonstrating sequestration of TGF-β1 to reverse tumor immunosuppression.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Iovance Biotherapeutics: The leading TIL therapy company with FDA-approved lifileucel (Amtagvi) for advanced melanoma and a broad pipeline in cervical and other solid tumors. Directly comparable to GRIT as the global benchmark TIL developer and primary competitive threat.
• Adaptimmune Therapeutics: Commercial-stage TCR-T cell therapy company with Tecelra approved for synovial sarcoma and an active pipeline across solid tumors. Comparable to GRIT in TCR-based cell therapy modality and solid-tumor focus.
• Allogene Therapeutics: Pioneer in allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy and developer of allogeneic CAR-iNKT candidates. Directly comparable to GRIT's GT719 allogeneic CAR-iNKT franchise and broader off-the-shelf cell therapy strategy.
• Caribou Biosciences: Clinical-stage CRISPR genome-edited allogeneic CAR-T developer. Highly comparable to GRIT on CRISPR gene editing, off-the-shelf manufacturing, and hematologic oncology pipeline.
• Cellectis: Gene-edited allogeneic CAR-T pioneer using TALEN technology with clinical assets in B-NHL and other heme malignancies. Comparable to GRIT on gene-edited, off-the-shelf cell therapy positioning.
• CRISPR Therapeutics: Commercial-stage CRISPR therapeutics company with Casgevy (exa-cel) approved for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, and a pipeline extending into in vivo gene editing and CAR-T. Comparable to GRIT through CRISPR gene editing, cell therapy, and neoantigen work.
• PersonGen Bio Therapeutics (普珩生物): China-based TIL therapy developer with university-hospital origin. Direct peer and likely domestic competitor to GRIT in the Chinese TIL cell therapy market.

Broad incumbents

• Legend Biotech: Commercial-stage CAR-T company co-developing Carvykti (cilta-cel) with Johnson & Johnson for multiple myeloma. A larger incumbent across CAR-T cell therapy that provides a benchmark for GRIT's eventual commercial scale-up.

Emerging players

• Eureka Therapeutics: Clinical-stage T cell receptor and antibody-TCR platform company targeting solid tumor antigens. Comparable to GRIT on solid tumor T cell biology focus and TCR-engineered modalities.

Others

• Shanghai Junshi Biosciences: Shanghai-listed Chinese biotech focused on innovative therapies including PD-1 antibodies and TIL cell therapies. Investor and strategic collaborator in GRIT, and a broader Chinese biotech peer for competitive context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grit-biotechnology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors16 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GRIT Biotechnology