Selected News – Ƶ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:35:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cropped-umoja-site-icon-32x32.png Selected News – Ƶ 32 32 Ƶ Announces Unveiling of UB-VV500 in Upcoming Poster Presentation at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy Annual Meeting /news/umoja-biopharma-announces-unveiling-of-ub-vv500-in-upcoming-poster-presentation-at-the-american-society-of-gene-cell-therapy-annual-meeting/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:34:30 +0000 https://umojastg.wpengine.com/?post_type=news&p=2405 – Industry’s First Combination BCMA x GPRC5D In Vivo CAR T Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma –

SEATTLE, WA, April 27, 2026 — Ƶ, Inc. (Ƶ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to delivering innovative and potentially curative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced the acceptance of a poster presentation for UB-VV500, its dual-targeted BCMA x GPRC5D in vivo CAR T cell program for the treatment of multiple myeloma, at the upcoming American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting. Preclinical data for UB-VV500 will be presented in a scientific poster at the conference.

“Development in multiple myeloma is moving beyond single-targeted approaches toward dual-targeting and combination strategies, particularly as patients progress through existing BCMA-directed therapies,” said Andrew Scharenberg, M.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ƶ. “We believe the future of multiple myeloma immunotherapy will be shaped by combination products that are designed from the ground-up to more effectively address antigen escape and disease heterogeneity while aiming to deliver greater and more durable efficacy. UB-VV500 is designed to realize that vision through our in vivo CAR T cell approach.”

Ƶ expects to advance UB-VV500 into a Phase 1 clinical trial by the end of 2026. Initial clinical data disclosures across the company’s other clinical programs are expected to be reported at major medical meetings in the second half of 2026.

“We are encouraged by our safety and early clinical results in our three ongoing Phase 1 programs—UB-VV111 for CD19 and UB-VV400/UB-VV410 for CD22—which use the same VivoVecTM in vivo platform that UB-VV500 is built upon,” Dr. Scharenberg added. “UB-VV500’s pre-clinical progress is exciting and we look forward to sharing more at ASGCT. Dual-targeting is the future of patient care for multiple myeloma, and we expect UB-VV500 to be at the forefront of that movement.”

Details of the ASGCT poster presentation can be found below: 

Poster Presentation Title: Preclinical development of UB-VV500, an in vivo potency-enhanced CAR T cell product targeting BCMA and GPRC5D for multiple myeloma
Presentation Date/Time: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. ET
Presenting Speaker: Christopher Nicolai, Ph.D.
Publication Number: 2046

About Ƶ

Ƶ, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to delivering innovative and potentially curative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Ƶ’s VivoVec™ in vivo gene delivery technology empowers a patient’s own immune system to fight disease. Enabling its core technology is the Company’s state-of-the-art lentiviral vector development and manufacturing facility in Louisville, Colorado. Ƶ believes its approach can provide broader access and improved effectiveness of the most advanced immunotherapies, enabling more patients to live better, fuller lives. To learn more, connect with Ƶ on LinkedIn and visit umoja-biopharma.com.

Investors
Nate Hardy
Chief Financial Officer
nate.hardy@umoja-biopharma.com

Media
Matt Wright
Real Chemistry
mwright@realchemistry.com

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Ƶ Appoints Dr. Marcela Maus and Dr. Athena Countouriotis to Board of Directors /news/umoja-biopharma-appoints-dr-marcela-maus-and-dr-athena-countouriotis-to-board-of-directors/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://umojastg.wpengine.com/?post_type=news&p=2398 SEATTLE, WA, March 23, 2026 — Ƶ, Inc. (Ƶ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to delivering innovative and potentially curative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced the appointment of Marcela Maus, M.D., Ph.D., and Athena Countouriotis, M.D., to its Board of Directors. Drs. Maus and Countouriotis bring deep expertise spanning cellular immunotherapy research, clinical development, and biotechnology company leadership.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marcela and Athena to Ƶ’s Board of Directors,” said Andrew Scharenberg, M.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ƶ. “Their complementary perspectives on scientific innovation and clinical development leadership will be invaluable as we continue to advance our VivoVec™ platform and clinical programs with the goal of expanding access to transformative CAR T therapies for patients.”

Marcela Maus, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, the Paula O’Keeffe Chair in Oncology and Director of Cellular Immunotherapy at The Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Attending Physician in the Hematopoietic Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy division of Oncology at MGH. She is the Head of Cell Therapies and Associate Head of the Mass General Brigham Gene and Cell Therapy Institute and an Associate Member of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. Dr. Maus is internationally recognized as a translational physician-scientist in immunology and T-cell–based cancer therapies. She has authored more than 200 publications and holds multiple NIH R01 grants and several Investigational New Drug applications.

“Ƶ’s approach to generating CAR T cells directly in the body represents an exciting possibility for the field,” said Dr. Maus. “I’m excited to support the Ƶ team as they work to define how they may be applied across oncology and other serious diseases.”

Athena Countouriotis, M.D., is the co-founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Avenzo Therapeutics. She previously led Turning Point Therapeutics as President and CEO from its IPO to eventual acquisition in 2022.  With over 20 years of industry experience, Dr. Countouriotis has also led multiple development programs to approval in the U.S. and Europe.  Dr. Countouriotis serves on the boards of Biomarin Inc., Iovance Biotherapeutics, Passage Bio, Recludix Pharma, and Leal Therapeutics, and previously was chairperson of Capstan Therapeutics.

“Ƶ’s platform has the potential to address some of the most significant barriers associated with traditional CAR T therapies, including complexity, timing and scalability,” said Dr. Countouriotis. “This opportunity to simplify delivery and expand access for patients is incredibly important, and I’m excited to support the team as it continues advancing its clinical programs.”

About Ƶ 

Ƶ, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to delivering innovative and potentially curative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Ƶ’s VivoVec™ in vivo gene delivery technology empowers a patient’s own immune system to fight disease. Enabling its core technology is the Company’s state-of-the-art lentiviral vector development and manufacturing facility in Louisville, Colorado. Ƶ believes its approach can provide broader access and improved effectiveness of the most advanced immunotherapies, enabling more patients to live better, fuller lives. To learn more, connect with Ƶ on  and visit umoja-biopharma.com.

Contacts:

Investors
Nate Hardy
Chief Financial Officer
nate.hardy@umoja-biopharma.com

Media
Matt Wright
Real Chemistry
mwright@realchemistry.com

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Ƶ Announces that UB-VV111 Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Malignancies /news/umoja-biopharma-announces-that-ub-vv111-receives-fda-fast-track-designation-for-relapsed-refractory-b-cell-malignancies/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 05:47:00 +0000 https://umojastg.wpengine.com/?post_type=news&p=2371 SEATTLE, WA, September 30, 2025 — Ƶ, the clinical-stage leader of in vivo cell therapies that aim to realize the full reach and promise of CAR T cells, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to UB-VV111 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma following two or more lines of prior therapy and relapsed/refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia following two or more lines of prior therapy.

UB-VV111 is an investigational, off-the-shelf drug product that generates CD19-directed CAR T cells in vivo, potentially addressing a range of shortcomings posed by traditional ex vivo autologous CAR T cell therapies which limit broad patient access, including high manufacturing costs, long wait times, burdensome treatment processes, and limited product availability.

An ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial is evaluating the safety and antitumor activity of UB-VV111 in CD19+ B-cell malignancies (). In 2024, UB-VV111 became the first in vivo CAR T cell therapy to receive clearance of its Investigational New Drug application by the FDA. As previously announced, AbbVie retains an exclusive option to license Ƶ’s CD19-directed in vivo CAR T cell therapy candidates, including UB-VV111.

“This Fast Track Designation marks a key milestone in the advancement of in vivo CAR T cell therapies,” said Luke Walker, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ƶ. “UB-VV111 continues to lead the in vivo CAR T cell field in the U.S., and today’s announcement further reinforces its potential to address unmet needs in the treatment of those living with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our clinical trial sites and to the patients who inspire our mission every day.”

About Ƶ
Ƶ, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company aiming to develop in vivo cell therapies that improve the reach, effectiveness, and access of CAR T cell therapies in both oncology and autoimmunity. Ƶ’s VivoVec™ in vivo gene delivery technology empowers a patient’s own immune system to fight disease. Enabling its core technology is the Company’s state-of-the-art lentiviral vector development and manufacturing facility in Louisville, Colorado. Ƶ believes its approach can provide broader access and improved effectiveness of the most advanced immunotherapies, enabling more patients to live better, fuller lives. To learn more, connect with Ƶ on LinkedIn and visit .

Investors
Tonya Swick
Investor Relations Contact
tonya.swick@umoja-biopharma.com

Media
Matt Wright
Real Chemistry
mwright@realchemistry.com

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Ƶ Named One of 2025’s Most Promising Biotech Companies by Endpoints News and Fierce Biotech /news/umoja-biopharma-named-one-of-2025s-most-promising-biotech-companies-by-endpoints-news-and-fierce-biotech/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 11:46:12 +0000 https://umojastg.wpengine.com/?post_type=news&p=2369 SEATTLE, WA, September 23, 2025 – Ƶ, the clinical-stage leader of in vivo cell therapies that aim to realize the full reach and promise of CAR T cells, today announced its recognition by both Endpoints News and Fierce Biotech as one of the most promising biotechnology companies of the year. Ƶ is honored to be named to the 2025 Endpoints 11 and the 2025 Fierce 15 lists—prestigious annual awards that spotlight emerging companies driving innovation in science and medicine.

“These recognitions come at a pivotal moment for Ƶ and the broader cell therapy field,” said Andrew Scharenberg, M.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ƶ. “Our focus since day one has been about unity—bringing together the best science, manufacturing investments, people, and partners to advance our work into the clinic, all with the aspiration of helping future CAR T cell therapies reach their full potential.”

“One of the most significant challenges with current CAR T therapies is access. They’re challenging to deliver and often out of reach for many patients,” added Luke Walker, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ƶ. “Our in vivo approach hopes to change that by enabling treatment in a faster and more accessible way. Being recognized by both Endpoints News and Fierce Biotech affirms the meaningful progress we are making toward that goal.”

For more than two decades, Endpoints News and Fierce Biotech have spotlighted companies that are making bold bets to redefine the boundaries of drug development. Ƶ’s inclusion on both lists in 2025 reflects not only the potential of its in vivo CAR T therapies, but also the unwavering commitment of its team to deliver these medicines to patients.

About Ƶ
Ƶ, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company aiming to develop in vivo cell therapies that improve the reach, effectiveness, and access of CAR T cell therapies in both oncology and autoimmunity. Ƶ’s VivoVec™ in vivo gene delivery technology empowers a patient’s own immune system to fight disease. Enabling its core technology is the Company’s state- of-the-art lentiviral vector development and manufacturing facility in Louisville, Colorado. Ƶ believes its approach can provide broader access and improved effectiveness of the most advanced immunotherapies, enabling more patients to live better, fuller lives. To learn more, connect with Ƶ on and visit umoja-biopharma.com.

Contacts:

Investors
Tonya Swick
Investor Relations Contact
tonya.swick@umoja-biopharma.com

Media
Matt Wright
Real Chemistry
mwright@realchemistry.com

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Ƶ Announces Oversubscribed $100 Million Series C Financing to Advance In Vivo CAR T Pipeline through Key Oncology Clinical Milestones /news/umoja-biopharma-announces-oversubscribed-100-million-series-c-financing-to-advance-in-vivo-car-t-pipeline-through-key-oncology-clinical-milestones/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 13:05:22 +0000 /?post_type=news&p=2321 Series C financing co-led by Double Point Ventures and DCVC Bio

Proceeds to support the clinical development of VivoVec™ derived in vivo CAR T cells

SEATTLE, WA, January 14, 2025— Ƶ, Inc. (Ƶ), the clinical-stage leader of in vivo cell therapies that aim to realize the full reach and promise of CAR T cells, today announced the closing of a $100 million Series C financing. The financing was co-led by Double Point Ventures and DCVC Bio, with participation from new and existing investors including ARK Invest, Cormorant Asset Management, MPM Capital, Qiming Venture Partners USA, RTW Investments, Alexandria Venture Investments, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, CaaS Capital, Emerson Collective Investments managed by Yosemite, K2 HealthVentures, Myeloma Investment Fund, University of Minnesota Endowment, and other prominent life science investors.

The proceeds from this financing will enable Ƶ to advance its in vivo CAR T cell therapy pipeline, including its lead CD22 UB-VV400 program in multiple oncology and autoimmune clinical studies.

In conjunction with the Series C financing, Ƶ’s Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Campbell Murray, M.D., a Senior Adviser at Double Point Ventures, as a new Board member.

“It is an honor to co-lead this transformative investment round and to join Ƶ’s Board of Directors,” stated Dr. Murray. “Ƶ’s groundbreaking work on in vivo CAR T cell therapies represents a new frontier in oncology and autoimmune treatment. The company’s innovation and leadership team position them at the forefront of this field, with the potential to significantly impact patients’ lives. I look forward to collaborating with Ƶ’s exceptional team, investor base, and Board to advance these pioneering programs through clinical development and beyond.”

“We are pleased to announce the closing of our Series C financing with tremendous support from both new and existing investors who recognize Ƶ’s potential to develop the industry’s first in vivo CAR T cell generating therapies—all in the hopes of increasing effectiveness, reducing barriers, and expanding access to CAR T cell therapies,” commented Andrew Scharenberg, M.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ƶ.

Additionally, Dr. Phil Low of Purdue University transitioned to Board Observer and Chair of Ƶ’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Scott Myers, chairman of Ƶ’s Board of Directors, added “This Series C fundraise demonstrates both the progress and significant potential of Ƶ’s in vivo oncology programs including UB-VV400 and UB-VV111. Generating CAR T cells directly in vivo is the future of immunotherapy treatment, bringing the hope and promise of CAR T cell therapies to more patients without the burdens of long delays, supply chain constraints, and the toxicities associated with lymphodepleting chemotherapy.”

About Ƶ
Ƶ, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company aiming to develop in vivo cell therapies that improve the reach, effectiveness, and access of CAR T cell therapies in both oncology and autoimmunity. Ƶ’s VivoVec™ in vivo gene delivery technology empowers a patient’s own immune system to fight disease. Enabling its core technology is the Company’s state-of-the-art lentiviral vector development and manufacturing facility in Louisville, Colorado. Ƶ believes its approach can provide broader access and improved effectiveness of the most advanced immunotherapies, enabling more patients to live better, fuller lives. To learn more, connect with Ƶ on LinkedIn and visit .

Investors
Grace Kim, PhD
Head of Investor Relations
grace.kim@umoja-biopharma.com

Media
Matt Wright
Real Chemistry
mwright@realchemistry.com

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