Adaptimmune
Adaptimmune is an Oxford-based biotechnology company developing engineered T-cell receptor therapies for solid tumors. Following FDA approval of Tecelra in 2024, it divested its commercial cell therapy assets to US WorldMeds in 2025 and now operates as a preclinical R&D entity retaining PRAME, CD70, and allogeneic platform programs.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersOxford, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Adaptimmune does
Adaptimmune is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, that engineers T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies to treat solid tumors. Founded in 2008 and previously listed on Nasdaq under the ticker ADAP, the company built a pipeline of autologous cell therapies targeting tumor-associated antigens including MAGE-A4, PRAME, and CD70. Its lead product, Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleucel), received FDA approval in August 2024 for synovial sarcoma, becoming the first engineered TCR T-cell therapy approved for a solid tumor indication. The company also developed an allogeneic T-cell platform, which became the basis of a September 2021 collaboration with Genentech that included $150 million upfront and more than $3 billion in potential milestones.
Operationally, Adaptimmune served specialty oncology centers treating small solid tumor patient populations through a personalized autologous cell therapy model. In July 2025 the company divested its commercial cell therapy assets (Tecelra, lete-cel, afami-cel, and uza-cel) to US WorldMeds for $55 million cash plus up to $30 million in milestones, exiting commercial product ownership. In November 2025 the company voluntarily delisted from Nasdaq, consolidated leadership under a combined CEO/CFO (Christopher Hill) and a new Chairman (Lawrence Alleva), and retained only preclinical assets (PRAME, CD70, allogeneic platform) plus the Genentech collaboration economics. Funding has historically come through public equity, a 2023 merger with TCR2 Therapeutics, and a May 2024 $125 million debt facility with Hercules Capital (initial $25 million tranche). Post-divestiture, the entity operates as a focused R&D organization without a marketed product.
Adaptimmune firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Adaptimmune
- Legal name
- Adaptimmune Limited
- Website
- https://adaptimmune.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Adaptimmune is an Oxford-based biotechnology company developing engineered T-cell receptor therapies for solid tumors. Following FDA approval of Tecelra in 2024, it divested its commercial cell therapy assets to US WorldMeds in 2025 and now operates as a preclinical R&D entity retaining PRAME, CD70, and allogeneic platform programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Adaptimmune industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cancer Immunotherapy / Engineered Cell Therapy
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous) (HLAAABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC), Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf) (HLAAABAB), Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL)
Keywords
Where Adaptimmune is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oxford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Adaptimmune business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Tecelra): Following FDA accelerated approval in 2024, Adaptimmune commercialized afamitresgene autoleucel (Tecelra) for adults with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma. The company sold these commercial assets to US WorldMeds in July 2025 for $55 million cash plus up to $30 million in milestone payments.
- Lete-cel (future): Lete-cel cell therapy received anticipated FDA approval in 2026. This product was included in the asset sale to US WorldMeds, with US WorldMeds planning to bring it to market.
- Strategic Partnerships and Milestones: Collaboration with Genentech announced September 2021 included $150 million upfront payment with potential milestones exceeding $3 billion for developing allogeneic T-cell therapies.
- Debt Financing: $125 million five-year term loan facility with Hercules Capital, with initial $25 million tranche available at closing and additional tranches contingent on product approvals and conditions. This represents financing rather than operational revenue.
- Asset Sale Proceeds: Sale of TECELRA, lete-cel, afami-cel, and uza-cel cell therapy assets to US WorldMeds for $55 million cash plus up to $30 million in milestone payments. Adaptimmune retains rights to preclinical assets including PRAME, CD70, and allogeneic programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Adaptimmune product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Adaptimmune develops engineered T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapies designed to recognize and destroy solid tumor cancer cells expressing specific antigens. Its commercial product Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleucel) became the first FDA-approved engineered TCR T-cell therapy for a solid tumor (synovial sarcoma) in August 2024. Following the July 2025 sale of Tecelra, lete-cel, afami-cel, and uza-cel to US WorldMeds, the company retains preclinical assets (PRAME and CD70 programs) and an allogeneic T-cell therapy platform developed in partnership with Genentech.
Product overview
Adaptimmune is a biotechnology company focused on developing engineered T-cell therapies for solid tumor cancers. The company's product portfolio includes FDA-approved and investigational cell therapies. Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleucel) is the company's FDA-approved flagship product for synovial sarcoma, representing the first engineered TCR T-cell therapy approved for a solid tumor. The pipeline also includes afami-cel, lete-cel, and uza-cel (all sold to US WorldMeds in 2025), as well as retained preclinical programs targeting PRAME and CD70 antigens. The company operates a technology platform for allogeneic T-cell therapy development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tecelra: FDA-approved engineered TCR T-cell therapy for adults with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma - sold to US WorldMeds in July 2025
- lete-cel
- afami-cel
- uza-cel
Products and services
- PRAME-directed T-cell therapy Preclinical engineered TCR T-cell therapy targeting the PRAME antigen for solid tumors. Adaptimmune retained rights to this program following the July 2025 sale of commercial cell therapy assets to US WorldMeds.
- CD70-directed T-cell therapy Preclinical allogeneic T-cell therapy program targeting the CD70 antigen. Adaptimmune retained rights to this program following the July 2025 sale of commercial cell therapy assets to US WorldMeds.
- Allogeneic T-cell therapy platform Technology platform for developing personalized off-the-shelf (allogeneic) T-cell therapies for cancer patients. Developed and validated under the Genentech strategic collaboration (September 2021) with $150 million upfront and over $3 billion in potential milestones. Platform rights retained by Adaptimmune following the 2025 asset sales.
Quantifiable outcome
- FDA accelerated approval of Tecelra in August 2024 for synovial sarcoma
Companies that use Adaptimmune
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Adaptimmune technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Adaptimmune partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- EvaxionminorDr. Helen Tayton-Martin, who previously co-founded and served as COO and Chief Business & Strategy Officer at Adaptimmune, was appointed CEO of Evaxion. Dr. Tayton-Martin oversaw strategic partnerships and transatlantic growth at Adaptimmune through to its Nasdaq IPO.
- US WorldMedscoreSale of TECELRA, lete-cel, afami-cel, and uza-cel cell therapy assets to US WorldMeds for $55 million cash plus up to $30 million in milestone payments. US WorldMeds plans to bring lete-cel to market and continue development of uza-cel in collaboration with Galapagos. Transaction financed by debt led by Oaktree Capital Management with participation from Athyrium Capital Management.
- GalapagoscoreCollaboration with Galapagos on continued development of uza-cel following the asset sale to US WorldMeds. Galapagos will work with US WorldMeds on the uza-cel program.
- TCR2 TherapeuticscoreStrategic all-stock combination with TCR2 Therapeutics completed in June 2023 to create a leading cellular therapy company focused on solid tumors. The merger combined complementary technologies and clinical assets including TCR T-cell therapy programs and allogeneic approaches. The combined entity planned to advance a pipeline with BLA submission for afami-cel in mid-2023.
- Genentech (Roche)coreStrategic collaboration with Genentech (member of Roche group) to develop and commercialize cancer-targeted allogeneic T-cell therapies. The partnership involves extensive research and development efforts with an upfront payment of $150 million and potential milestones exceeding $3 billion. Adaptimmune aims to leverage its platform for personalized allogeneic cell therapies for cancer patients.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Adaptimmune competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Iovance Biotherapeutics: Iovance is a leading cell therapy company developing tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies for solid tumors. Both companies are approved autologous cell therapy developers in solid tumor oncology, with similar commercial infrastructure needs and patient identification challenges.
- Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering allogeneic ("off-the-shelf") CAR-T cell therapies. Both companies are pursuing engineered T-cell therapies for cancer with allogeneic platforms, addressing the manufacturing scalability challenge that limits autologous approaches.
- Adaptimmune's TCR-T direct competitors: Tessa Therapeutics and other TCR-T developers for solid tumors compete directly with Adaptimmune's engineered TCR-T platform, particularly for indications like sarcoma and other solid tumors.
Broad incumbents
- Kite Pharma (Gilead): Kite, a Gilead company, is an established leader in CAR-T cell therapy with approved products (Yescarta, Tecartus). While primarily focused on CAR-T rather than TCR-T, Kite operates in adjacent cell therapy space with deeper commercialization experience and broader solid tumor ambitions.
- Novartis: Novartis pioneered the first FDA-approved CAR-T therapy (Kymriah) and has significant R&D investments in next-generation cell therapies for solid tumors, making it a broad peer with larger resources pursuing adjacent technologies.
- Bristol Myers Squibb: BMS has multiple approved cell therapies (Breyanzi, Abecma) and is actively expanding into solid tumor cell therapy through internal development and partnerships. As a large pharma with established commercial cell therapy infrastructure, BMS represents both a competitor and potential partner.
Emerging players
- CRISPR Therapeutics: CRISPR Therapeutics pioneers gene-edited cell therapies, including allogeneic CAR-T approaches. It is a partial competitor in next-generation cell engineering, sharing the platform innovation ethos that defines Adaptimmune's TCR-T work.
- Fate Therapeutics: Fate Therapeutics is developing iPSC-derived off-the-shelf cell therapies for cancer and immune disorders. Its focus on iPSC-derived NK and T-cell therapies represents an alternative allogeneic approach to Adaptimmune's engineered TCR-T platform.
- Cellectis: Cellectis is a clinical-stage biotech developing allogeneic CAR-T therapies using gene editing. It shares with Adaptimmune a focus on overcoming the manufacturing and accessibility limitations of autologous cell therapies through next-generation engineering.
- Lyell Immunopharma: Lyell Immunopharma develops next-generation T-cell therapies for solid tumors, focusing on technologies to overcome T-cell exhaustion and improve persistence. It is a peer in the engineered T-cell space targeting solid tumor indications with similar technical challenges.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Adaptimmune social profiles
Digital presenceAdaptimmune financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Adaptimmune leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Adaptimmune subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Adaptimmune funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors17 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Adaptimmune M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Adaptimmune
What does Adaptimmune do?
Adaptimmune develops engineered T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapies designed to recognize and destroy solid tumor cancer cells expressing specific antigens. Its commercial product Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleucel) became the first FDA-approved engineered TCR T-cell therapy for a solid tumor (synovial sarcoma) in August 2024. Following the July 2025 sale of Tecelra, lete-cel, afami-cel, and uza-cel to US WorldMeds, the company retains preclinical assets (PRAME and CD70 programs) and an allogeneic T-cell therapy platform developed in partnership with Genentech.
Is Adaptimmune a public or private company?
Adaptimmune is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Adaptimmune founded?
Adaptimmune was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Adaptimmune based?
Adaptimmune is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Adaptimmune make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Tecelra) is the primary driver. The others are lete-cel (future), strategic Partnerships and Milestones, debt Financing and asset Sale Proceeds.
Who are Adaptimmune's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Iovance Biotherapeutics, Allogene Therapeutics and Adaptimmune's TCR-T direct competitors. Broad incumbents are Kite Pharma (Gilead), Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb. Emerging players are CRISPR Therapeutics, Fate Therapeutics, Cellectis and Lyell Immunopharma.
Does Adaptimmune have an API?
No public API is recorded for Adaptimmune.
What industry is Adaptimmune in?
Adaptimmune's product category is Cancer Immunotherapy / Engineered Cell Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAA, Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous), with a secondary code of HLAAABAC, CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.