Macera Therapeutics

Macera Therapeutics (Nanjing Yuanmai Cell Biotechnology) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of next-generation macrophage-based immunotherapies (CAR-M) for solid tumors and fibrotic diseases. Co-founded in 2022 by Professor Pingping Shen of Nanjing University and Dr. Yijun Chen, the company leverages proprietary platforms including integrated/non-integrated molecular editing, iPSC-derived immune cell differentiation, and combinatorial CAR signaling domain screening. Its lead oncology candidate, MAC-001, is an autologous HER2-targeted CAR-M therapy currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer. Additionally, Macera is advancing MACF-001, a first-in-class engineered macrophage therapy targeting liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, and MACS-001, an allogeneic (universal) CAR-M platform. The company has established strategic collaborations, notably with Innorna to develop in vivo mRNA-edited CAR-M therapies.