€10.7 Million Investment Accelerates Gene Writing and CAR-T Preclinical Development

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Integra Therapeutics (Integra) has closed a €10.7 million (US$12.6 million) pre-Series A investment round to accelerate technical development of its find and cut-and-transfer (FiCAT) gene writing platform. The company stated in a Sept. 8, 2025 press release that it will apply the technology to preclinical validation of next-generation chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapies (1).

The company plans to use the funds to expand FiCAT’s mechanistic capabilities for cell engineering and to demonstrate its utility in therapeutic settings, with a particular focus on improving CAR-T constructs and gene therapy applications for rare diseases.

“Thanks to the support of our investors, we will continue leading innovation in cell and gene therapies and are getting closer to transforming the treatment of complex diseases [such as] cancer, autoimmune diseases, and rare diseases,” said Avencia Sánchez-Mejías, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Integra Therapeutics, in the company press release (1).

The financing was supported by new investors, including the European Innovation Council Fund, which contributed €4 million (US$4.7 million), and Spain’s CDTI Innvierte program, which added €2.7 million (US$3.2 million). Existing backers AdBio Partners, Columbus Venture Partners, Invivo Partners, and Takeda Ventures also participated.

What mechanistic advances does the technology offer in gene writing and cell engineering?

FiCAT combines programmable nucleases with integrase activity to enable site-specific insertion of large DNA cargoes. Unlike traditional gene editing approaches that rely primarily on double-strand breaks and error-prone repair pathways, FiCAT is engineered to promote controlled integration at designated genomic sites. This allows for more predictable gene expression and reduces the risk of insertional mutagenesis, a major barrier in gene therapy development (2).

For developers, the significance lies in FiCAT’s potential to streamline the manufacturing of engineered cells. The platform could improve the stability of genetic modifications, reduce off-target events, and allow the introduction of complex gene circuits that expand therapeutic function. These features are particularly relevant in CAR-T engineering, where therapeutic effectiveness often depends on precise control of receptor expression and minimization of safety risks (3).

Earlier this year, Integra presented preclinical data at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy annual meeting showing that FiCAT can deliver large payloads with high specificity and efficiency. Such capabilities are critical for building next-generation CAR-T constructs that may incorporate multiple genetic modules—for example, tunable signaling domains, safety switches, or resistance elements to overcome tumor microenvironment suppression.

What is the translational impact on CAR-T and gene therapies?

In addition to its platform technology, Integra is also developing its own pipeline programs to illustrate FiCAT’s translational potential. Among the programs is a gene therapy for a rare pediatric liver disease, supported by an EIC Accelerator grant. Beyond direct therapeutic development, the platform is being positioned as an enabling technology for bio/pharmaceutical partners seeking scalable solutions in cell and gene therapy manufacturing.

By validating FiCAT-engineered CAR-T therapies in preclinical settings, the company aims to demonstrate improved reproducibility and safety compared to existing approaches. These outcomes could address persistent challenges in the field, such as variable transgene integration, manufacturing bottlenecks, and risks of genotoxicity.

“We are happy to announce EIC Fund’s investment in Integra Therapeutics. We empower them to accelerate the development of groundbreaking therapies that have the potential to transform lives and advance the field of gene therapy on a global scale,” Svetoslava Georgieva, chair of the EIC Fund Board, said in the release.

If FiCAT proves effective in combining high-fidelity gene insertion with scalable cell engineering workflows, it could support broader adoption of advanced therapies across oncology, autoimmune, and rare disease indications. For those working in bio/pharmaceutical technologies, this platform may offer a route toward more reliable manufacturing processes and safer, more complex therapeutic designs.

References

1. Integra Therapeutics. Integra Therapeutics Secures €10.7 Million Investment Round to Advance Development of FiCAT Gene Writing Platform and Preclinical Validation of CAR-T Therapies. Press Release. Sept. 8, 2025.
2. Pallarès-Masmitjà, M.; Ivančić, D.; Mir-Pedrol, J.; et al. Find and Cut-and-Transfer (FiCAT) Mammalian Genome Engineering. Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 7071. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27183-x
3. Sterner, R. C.; Sterner, R. M. CAR-T Cell Therapy: Current Limitations and Potential Strategies. Blood Cancer J. 2021, 11 (4), 69. DOI: 10.1038/s41408-021-00459-7