Tempest Therapeutics, Inc. has entered into an exclusive collaboration, option, and license agreement with Hebei Senlang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The agreement, dated September 14, 2026, grants Tempest an exclusive option to license Senlang’s CD7-targeted lentiviral vector platform and a portfolio of in vivo CAR-T product candidates. The license would cover the world excluding Greater China.
Tempest must pay an option exercise fee of approximately $447,000 to exercise the right. If the option is exercised, the company would be required to pay a nomination fee for each Selected Licensed Product and annual maintenance fees that escalate from $10 million to $14 million over the first three years. The company may elect to stop paying these fees, which would correspondingly reduce the development timelines. The agreement also includes a 6% royalty on net sales and a share of any sublicense revenue. Tempest is committed to using commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize at least one Licensed Product and meet specified IND-filing or business-development milestones.
The Senlang portfolio includes a BCMA/GPRC5D dual-targeting in vivo CAR-T candidate currently in Phase 1 dose escalation for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Early clinical observations at the highest evaluable dose demonstrate successful generation and expansion of CAR-T cells in vivo. As of August 25, 2026, no Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome were observed. Tempest’s existing CD7-targeted lipid nanoparticle platform is planned to enter the clinic later this year. The company expects to provide additional information regarding the program as clinical data matures.
