CCR9 CAR-T

CCR9 CAR-T is an investigational chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy designed to target the C-C motif chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9), which is highly expressed in relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) but minimally present on normal hematopoietic cells. A specific iteration of this therapy, designated **CI9**, is engineered to co-express the chemokine receptor CXCR4. This modification leverages the CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis to enhance the CAR-T cells' ability to home and infiltrate bone marrow niches and extramedullary disease (EMD) sites, where the ligand CXCL12 is abundantly expressed. Developed by Unicar-Therapy Bio-medicine Technology in collaboration with academic institutions in China, CI9 aims to overcome common challenges in T-ALL treatment, such as CAR-T cell fratricide and poor efficacy against extramedullary involvement. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that CI9 cells exhibit superior chemotactic ability, enhanced tissue tropism, and potent anti-leukemic cytotoxicity compared to conventional CCR9-targeted CAR-T cells.