CAR‑T pipeline turbulence: Umoja delays in vivo readout; USC posts safer next‑gen CAR‑T preclinical data

Umoja Biopharma announced a delay to its first clinical readout for an in vivo CAR‑T therapy conducted in China, shifting expectations for early human data from a well‑funded in vivo CAR‑T developer. The postponement will push back timelines for proof‑of‑concept and may affect investor pacing for in vivo CAR‑T platforms. In parallel, researchers at USC reported a next‑generation CAR‑T design using a ZAP327 signaling domain that produced potent antitumor activity in mice with fewer toxic effects and improved persistence. The preclinical approach offers a potential path to reduce cytokine release and enhance durability, providing new design strategies for safer CAR‑T constructs.