On November 11, 2026 Tempest Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TPST) ("Tempest"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing in vivo CAR-T therapies designed to reset dysfunctional immunity in cancer and autoimmune disease, reported that it has exercised its option under its agreement with Hebei Senlang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. ("Senlang") to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize Senlang’s CD7-targeted lentiviral vector platform and associated in vivo CAR-T candidates worldwide, excluding China.

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The CD7-targeted lentiviral platform is designed to deliver CAR payloads into the patient’s own immune cells, complementing Tempest’s existing lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform, for the in vivo generation of antigen-directed CAR-T cells. The lead program is SL4903, which Tempest is designating TPST-4903, a BCMA/GPRC5D dual-targeting candidate being studied in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (rrMM). By targeting two clinically validated targets in rrMM, TPST-4903 may reach a broader range of malignant plasma cells and limit tumor escape resulting from the loss or reduced expression of either target. The license also provides access to additional in vivo CAR-T candidates for potential development in blood cancers, solid tumors, and autoimmune conditions.

"Our decision to exercise this option and obtain an exclusive license reflects our confidence in the platform and the differentiating clinical observations from the lead program," said Matt Angel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Tempest. "We are encouraged by the emerging clinical data from the ongoing DELIVER-1 Phase 1 dose-escalation study of TPST-4903, which includes multiple myeloma patients with a substantial unmet need for new treatment options, such as those with extramedullary disease and those previously treated with CAR-T therapy. We look forward to sharing the detailed results with the scientific community."

At the data cutoff for the current analysis, 13 patients in the DELIVER-1 study had received TPST-4903. The study population includes heavily pretreated patients with rrMM, including patients with extramedullary disease (EMD) and patients who previously received a BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy. Tempest believes that preliminary observations of clinical activity and tolerability are encouraging and support further evaluation. The findings remain early, and additional follow-up is needed to characterize the benefit-risk profile. The data are expected to be presented at a major scientific conference.

"With the addition of this clinical-stage lentiviral platform alongside our targeted LNP platform, we have expanded our capabilities to develop in vivo immune reset therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease," said Dr. Angel. "We continue to believe that these complementary platforms provide Tempest with the flexibility to match the delivery approach to the biology and treatment requirements of different cancers and autoimmune diseases."

Tempest originally announced the exclusive option agreement with Senlang in September 2026. The license is subject to the financial obligations and development requirements set out in that agreement.

About TPST-4903, DELIVER-1, and Tempest’s CD7-Directed Lentiviral Platform

TPST-4903 is an investigational in vivo CAR-T therapy targeting BCMA and GPRC5D and delivered using a CD7-targeted lentiviral vector. DELIVER-1 (NCT07586709) is a single-center, open-label Phase 1 dose-escalation study enrolling patients with rrMM who have received at least two prior lines of therapy. The study is evaluating safety, tolerability, preliminary antimyeloma activity, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. Tempest’s CD7-directed lentiviral platform, exclusively licensed from Senlang, includes a pipeline of clinical and preclinical-stage in vivo CAR-T programs, which are designed to selectively deliver CAR payloads to endogenous CD7-positive T cells and NK cells, enabling in vivo generation of antigen-directed CAR immune cells.

(Press release, Tempest Therapeutics, NOV 11, 2026, View Source [SID1234674610])