Approved CAR T treatments are made for one patient at a time, cost about $400,000 to $500,000 and take weeks to produce. Building the cells inside the body could remove that manufacturing step. The researchers founded a company, Azalea Therapeutics, to take the method toward clinical development.
Our interpretation of possible significance, not a promised outcome.What happened?
A UCSF team delivered CRISPR gene editing tools and CAR DNA into T cells while the cells were still inside the body, using a two particle system given as a single injection.
What changed?
In humanized mice with aggressive leukemia, the single injection cleared all detectable cancer in nearly all the mice within two weeks, and the engineered CAR T cells reached as much as 40% of immune cells in some organs. The approach also worked against multiple myeloma and a solid sarcoma in mice.
What has been checked?
Published researchMice only. The method has not been tested in people and needs scale up and clinical trials. Seven CAR T therapies are approved by the FDA; this is not one of them.
Can I use it today?
This entry covers a research result. Consult the original publication for released code, data, access conditions and experimental limitations.
See the evidence and full research details
Read the original sources
Source materials checked Oct 9, 2026. Leapscope has not independently replicated this result.
Nature paper · March 18, 2026 · DOI 10.1038/s41586-026-10235-x UCSF announcement · March 18, 2026