Gilead’s Kite Pharma signed a collaboration with Shenzhen‑based Pregene Biopharma to co‑develop in vivo CAR‑T therapies, committing up to $1.64 billion in potential payments and an upfront cash transfer. Company releases and industry reporting state the pact aims to combine Kite’s cell‑therapy expertise with Pregene’s in vivo delivery and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate next‑generation CAR‑T programs in oncology and autoimmune indications. Public filings and press releases indicate Kite already invested significant capital and that the commercial terms include milestones tied to development and regulatory steps. Both parties framed the arrangement as a move to make CAR‑T approaches faster and more scalable by generating engineered cells directly in patients rather than ex vivo manufacturing. The deal underscores industry momentum toward in vivo approaches to simplify logistics and expand patient access; it also highlights the strategic role of China‑based platform partners in global cell‑therapy development.