Lilly Announces Acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics for CAR-T Advances

Eli Lilly and Company has reached an agreement to acquire Kelonia Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology firm specializing in in vivo gene delivery. Kelonia's innovative iGPS platform utilizes engineered lentiviral particles to specifically target T-cells within the body, allowing patients to produce their own CAR-T therapies without the need for complex ex vivo manufacturing processes. The company's leading candidate, KLN-1010, is a one-time intravenous gene therapy aimed at generating anti-BCMA CAR-T cells for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Preliminary clinical results showcased at the 2025 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting indicate promising tolerability and initial validation, highlighting the potential to simplify and enhance access to CAR-T therapies.

According to Precedence Research, the In Vivo CAR-T Therapy Market was valued at USD 650.00 million in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 861.25 million in 2026 to approximately USD 10,841.07 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 32.50% from 2026 to 2035, driven by increasing research in CAR-T Therapy trials.

Simplifying CAR-T Therapy for Broader Patient Access

• Autologous CAR-T therapies have improved cancer outcomes, but manufacturing, safety, and access barriers still limit patient access.
• Kelonia’s in vivo platform aims to overcome these barriers with a simpler, off-the-shelf approach that could deliver faster and more durable responses.
• KLN-1010 is an investigational, one-time intravenous gene therapy for multiple myeloma.
• The therapy is designed to generate anti-BCMA CAR-T cells directly in the body, avoiding the complexity, time, and cost of ex vivo CAR-T manufacturing.
• Early clinical data for KLN-1010 have shown encouraging results, supporting its potential as a treatment advance for multiple myeloma.
• The results also provide proof of concept for Kelonia’s broader in vivo gene delivery platform.
• Kelonia’s iGPS platform could expand access to cell therapy by reducing treatment complexity and cost.
• The platform may support future use in hematologic malignancies, other cancers, and additional serious diseases.

A recent report by Precedence Research highlights that the In Vivo CAR-T Therapy Market is benefiting from the rising adoption of healthcare technological advancements.