On September 25, 2025 JW Therapeutics (HKEx: 2126), an independent and innovative biotechnology company focusing on developing, manufacturing and commercializing cell immunotherapy products, reported that its enhanced Fast CAR-T product JWCAR239, targeting CD19/CD20, has completed the first patient infusion in its clinical study for relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r B-NHL).
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Targeted CD19 CAR-T cell therapy represents a breakthrough treatment for patients with refractory/relapsed (r/r) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), demonstrating remarkable short-term efficacy. However, many patients remain unresponsive to initial treatment or experience relapse, with long-term progression-free survival (PFS) rates approximately 40%¹. Common mechanisms of refractory/relapse include antigen escape (e.g., loss of CD19 antigen expression), immunosuppressive microenvironments (e.g., inhibitory TGF-β signaling), and dysregulation of CAR-T cell-mediated cytotoxic pathways (e.g., apoptosis)².
Simultaneously targeting CD19/CD20 and enhancing CAR-T cells’ resistance to immunosuppressive microenvironments and apoptotic signals represent key strategies for overcoming CAR-T resistance. In recent years, dual-targeted CAR-T cells targeting CD19/CD20 and fourth-generation CAR-T cells incorporating various enhancement elements have yielded preliminary safety and efficacy data in lymphoma patients.
Additionally, Fast CAR-T possesses unique characteristics compared to traditional CAR-T in terms of production processes and cellular properties, offering multiple advantages. It is gradually demonstrating promising prospects in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases3.
JWCAR239 is a fast CAR-T cell product derived from patient-specific T cells genetically engineered to target CD19 and CD20. It prevents antigen escape while incorporating two exogenously transduced enhancement elements—dnFas-CD2 and dnTGFβRII—that enhance CAR-T cells’ resistance to apoptosis (via CD58 downregulation) and their ability to counteract immunosuppressive signals in the tumor microenvironment. Its rapid manufacturing process not only significantly shortens production cycles but also yields CAR-T cells with a younger phenotype, preserving a high proportion of youthful Tscm cells. This results in enhanced in vivo expansion and tumor cell killing capacity. Preclinical studies have preliminarily validated its efficacy and safety. This study aims to conduct a preliminary assessment of JWCAR239’s safety and/or efficacy in patients with r/r B-NHL.
(Press release, JW Therapeutics, SEP 25, 2025, View Source [SID1234671258])