Cell and Gene Therapy in China
What is approved, what it costs, and how to check before you travel.
An independent guide compiled from Chinese regulatory filings. Technical facts only, never claimed success rates, no hospital rankings.
Start with your condition:
The 11 approved therapies (October 2026)
Parameters below are compiled from NMPA approval notices, official prescribing information, and public developer disclosures. This table compares technical architecture and regulatory scope, not clinical efficacy. Response rates from separate clinical trials cannot be compared directly due to differing patient baselines and prior lines of therapy.
| Product (Generic / Brand) | Developer | Target & Construct Architecture | NMPA Approved Indication & Line | First Approval | Published Drug List Price (Per Dose) | International Access & Supply Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Satricabtagene autoleucel (satri-cel / Kailimei / CT041) Solid Tumor CAR-T |
CARsgen Therapeutics (Shanghai) | CLDN18.2 · Autologous CAR-T; humanized single-chain antibody, CD28 costimulatory domain, lentiviral vector (per company manufacturing disclosures) | CLDN18.2-positive, HER2-negative advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma (after 2+ prior lines) | June 22, 2026 | RMB 990,000 (~USD 138,000) |
First approved solid-tumor CAR-T globally. Trial-only in US/EU (where only the antibody zolbetuximab is approved). 55+ certified centers in China. |
|
Equecabtagene autoleucel (Fucaso / CT103A) BCMA Myeloma |
IASO Biotherapeutics (Nanjing / Shanghai) | BCMA · Autologous CAR-T; fully human scFv, 4-1BB costimulatory domain, lentiviral vector | Adult relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (after 3+ prior lines, incl. PI and IMiD) | June 30, 2023 | RMB 1,166,000 (~USD 163,000) |
Developer publicly reports treating overseas patients from 10+ countries and regions (incl. Australia & New Zealand) at certified Chinese centers. |
|
Zevorcabtagene autoleucel (Sai Kai Ze / CT053) BCMA Myeloma |
CARsgen / Huadong Medicine | BCMA · Autologous CAR-T; fully human scFv, 4-1BB costimulatory domain, lentiviral vector | Adult relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (after 3+ prior lines, incl. PI and IMiD) | March 1, 2024 | RMB 1,150,000 (~USD 160,000) |
Active commercial supply across certified hematology centers in mainland China. |
|
Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti) Not Supplied in CN |
Legend Biotech / Janssen | BCMA · Autologous CAR-T; two BCMA-targeting single-domain antibodies, 4-1BB costimulatory domain | Adult relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma | August 2024 (NMPA) | Not commercially priced in mainland China | Not commercially supplied in mainland China as of Oct 2026 (commercial supply focused on US/EU markets at ~USD 465,000 list). |
|
Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta / Yikaida) CD19 Lymphoma |
Fosun Kite (Fosun KaiRui, Shanghai) | CD19 · Autologous CAR-T; FMC63 scFv, CD28 costimulatory domain, retroviral vector | Adult relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) (after at least 1 prior line; 2L+ approved June 2023) | June 22, 2021 | RMB 1,200,000 (~USD 167,000) |
Same construct as US Yescarta (US list ~USD 373,000+). Developer-reported: over 1,000 commercial patients treated in China. |
|
Relmacabtagene autoleucel (Carteyva / Beinuoda) CD19 Lymphoma |
JW Therapeutics (Shanghai) | CD19 · Autologous CAR-T; FMC63 scFv, 4-1BB costimulatory domain, lentiviral vector | Adult R/R LBCL, follicular lymphoma (FL), and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (3 approved indications; full approval Feb 2026) | September 1, 2021 | RMB 1,290,000 (~USD 180,000) |
Broadest B-cell lymphoma indication coverage among Chinese CD19 products (based on NMPA label indication count); also approved in Macau. |
|
Inaticabtagene autoleucel (Yuanruida / CNCT19) CD19 B-ALL |
Juventas Cell Therapy | CD19 · Autologous CAR-T; HI19a scFv, 4-1BB costimulatory domain, lentiviral vector | Adult relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) | November 8, 2023 | RMB 999,000 (~USD 139,000) |
First domestic CAR-T approved for adult B-ALL in China. |
|
Hengkailai (HICARA / HR001) CD19 Lymphoma |
PersonGen / Hengrundasheng | CD19 · Autologous CAR-T | Adult relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) (after 2+ prior lines) | July 30, 2025 | Public list price not yet disclosed | Newly approved domestic CD19 construct; hospital-level pricing requires direct inquiry. |
|
Puzolcabtagene autoleucel (Pulidekai / pCAR-19B) Pediatric CD19 B-ALL |
Chongqing Precision Biotech | CD19 · Autologous CAR-T; humanized scFv, 4-1BB costimulatory domain | Pediatric & young adult (ages 3 to 21) relapsed or refractory B-ALL (conditional approval) | November 7, 2025 | Public list price not yet disclosed | Dedicated pediatric and adolescent B-ALL commercial product. |
|
Dalnacogene ponparvovec (Xinjiuning / BBM-H901) In Vivo AAV Gene Therapy |
Belief BioMed (Shanghai) | Factor IX (Padua variant) · Liver-tropic rAAV vector, single intravenous infusion | Adult moderate-to-severe Hemophilia B (congenital Factor IX deficiency) | April 10, 2025 | Up to RMB 1,390,000 (~USD 194,000 capped ceiling as of June 2026) |
China's first approved AAV gene therapy. Compares with US Hemgenix list price of USD 3,500,000 (~18x gap). Single IV infusion requires a much shorter stay (1 to 2 weeks). |
|
Amimestrocel (Ruibosheng) Allogeneic UC-MSC |
Platinumlife Biotech | Allogeneic human umbilical-cord MSC | Steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) | January 2, 2025 | Hospital inquiry required | China's first approved stem-cell drug. Rarely applicable to outbound medical travel as acute post-transplant patients cannot fly internationally. |
What this table cannot tell you
Which hospital department fits your subtype, whether its international wing accepts foreign self-pay patients, and what the all-in bill will be once inpatient care is included: this depends on your records. We match your case to 2 to 3 departments and obtain written quotes inside the desk assessment.
Boao Lecheng: priced programs and medical visa-free entry
In Hainan's Boao Lecheng zone, designated hospitals may deliver overseas-approved drugs not yet registered in mainland China, and locally approved new technologies with government-published prices.
| Program & Construct | Delivering Hospital(s) | Regulatory Batch & Date | Government-Published Price | Key Eligibility & Logistics Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 Diabetes (UC-MSC Infusion) | Ciming Boao International Hospital (with Shenzhen Beike Biotech) | 16th Approved Biomedical New Technology (Dec 30, 2025) | RMB 58,000 / injection RMB 174,000 / 3-injection course (~USD 24,200; weight-banded up to RMB 278,400) |
For inadequately controlled T2D despite 3+ glucose-lowering drugs incl. insulin. Includes workup, infusion monitoring, and 6-month follow-up. First self-arranged Canadian patient treated April 2026. |
| Knee Osteoarthritis (MSC Joint Injection) | Ruijin Hospital Hainan & Divine Bay Hospital (IxCell Biotech construct) | First Batch of Priced Cell Therapies (March–April 2025) | ~RMB 36,000 to 36,800 / injection (~USD 5,100) | Out-of-pocket regenerative orthopedics pathway. Separate late-stage allogeneic MSC knee OA drug candidates (e.g., ElpasBio / Fosun KaiRui's AlloJoin, Phase III enrollment completed June 2026) are also advancing. |
| COPD & Ischemic Heart Disease Cell Programs | Designated Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone Centers | March 2025 Priced Cell-Therapy Batch | RMB 150,000 (COPD) RMB 60,000 (Ischemic Heart Disease) |
Locally approved fee-charging clinical applications; not nationwide NMPA commercial drugs. Requires direct eligibility verification. |
59-Country Visa-Free Medical Entry (Hainan Only)
Holders of ordinary passports from 59 listed countries (list since expanded to 61) may enter Hainan ports visa-free for up to 30 days for purposes that explicitly include medical treatment (National Immigration Administration Announcement, Feb 9, 2024). Travel under this regional policy is restricted to Hainan province and does not permit onward travel to Shanghai or Beijing without a mainland visa.
The Mandarin Language Gap Inside the Zone
The working language of Boao Lecheng hospitals is overwhelmingly Mandarin. In April 2026, the treating hospital's own report on its first self-arranged Canadian patient noted that he met no English-speaking staff across several stops after landing. Independent travelers should arrange medical interpretation and written English cost scopes before flying.
Costs and three red flags
In our review of 14 recent crowdfunding pages for international CAR-T patients, none mentioned using a paid intermediary; families worked from hospital quotes. Keep these three rules in front of you.
Red Flag 1: Paying for a Clinical Trial Slot
Legitimate clinical trials in China never charge patients an enrollment or slot fee. Under the Regulation on the Administration of Clinical Research and Clinical Translational Application of New Biomedical Technologies (State Council Decree No. 818, effective May 1, 2026), clinical studies may not charge subjects for the investigational technology itself. When videos or facilitators advertise "USD 30,000 to 80,000 CAR-T in China," they are referring to clinical-trial pathways where the cell product is free and the patient pays hospital inpatient costs, or they are adding an undisclosed broker fee. If anyone asks you to pay to secure a trial spot, walk away.
Red Flag 2: Trial-Only Targets Sold as Commercial
China's 9 commercial CAR-T approvals cover CD19, BCMA, and CLDN18.2. Constructs targeting CD7 (T-ALL/T-LBL), CD30 (Hodgkin / CD30+ lymphoma), GPRC5D, or glioblastoma / DMG are clinical-trial-only in China as of October 2026. No hospital can legally sell them as a standard commercial prescription outside an approved study.
Red Flag 3: "Visa-Free Mainland Medical Travel"
Mainland China's 30-day unilateral visa-free policy (45+ countries, incl. UK and Canada since Feb 17, 2026; US excluded) covers tourism, business, and family visits. It does not cover medical care, and 30 days rarely covers a 6-to-12-week CAR-T cycle. Mainland hospitals issue an official invitation letter for an S2 medical visa.
Drug List Price vs. Hospital All-In Self-Pay Quote
Published CAR-T prices (RMB 0.99M to 1.29M / USD 138,000 to 180,000) cover the cell product alone. The hospital's all-in quote adds workup, leukapheresis, lymphodepletion chemotherapy, 3 to 4 weeks of inpatient stay, and CRS/ICANS management. Third-party benchmarks place total self-pay CAR-T costs in China around USD 150,000 to 230,000 versus USD 550,000 to 850,000 in the US (MD Anderson commentary in The Wall Street Journal, Sept 2026; ChinaMed Waypoint estimates RMB 1.10M–1.65M as of April 2026; Bookimed lists USD 165,000–275,000 as of Sept 2026). Neither is a binding offer. Only a written, itemized estimate from the treating hospital's international department after record review counts.
Pre-travel desk assessment: a written quote before you fly
Lancore stops before you board a plane. We do not bundle medical bills, we do not mark up hospital charges, and we do not lock you into a concierge retainer. You pay a single fixed fee (quoted individually before work begins) for the pre-travel desk work that we estimate would otherwise take a family 40+ hours across language barriers, and you contract directly with the hospital for treatment.
Optional Add-On: Vetted local ground-partner introduction (Shanghai, Beijing, or Hainan) with publicly reported rate ranges; arranged case-by-case where available. You contract and pay the ground provider directly.
Request Desk Assessment →Reported patient cases
Every entry below is publicly reported by a hospital, a developer, or a major news organization. None of these are Lancore cases. Inclusion here is for factual orientation only and is not a partnership claim, referral, or clinical recommendation.
1. First international satri-cel gastric cancer patient (Shanghai, July–September 2026)
Jiahui International Cancer Center announced that a 59-year-old New Zealand executive (later profiled by The Wall Street Journal as Josh Bronkhorst) with advanced gastroduodenal adenocarcinoma started commercial satri-cel treatment in Shanghai after chemotherapy and immunotherapy failed. Publicly reported; not a Lancore case.
2. New Zealand lymphoma patient treated at SinoUnited Hospital (Shanghai, August–September 2026)
The Wall Street Journal and Shanghai Media Group reported on 25-year-old Auckland patient Michael Walters, who received commercial CAR-T therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma at SinoUnited Hospital in Shanghai under hematologist Dr. Lily Zhou (UCSF postdoc) at less than half the USD 600,000 estimate quoted in Melbourne. Hospital founder Dr. Kathy Shi reported treating roughly three dozen CAR-T patients from 12 countries since 2023. Publicly reported; not a Lancore case.
3. Australian multiple myeloma patient profiled by the BBC (Shanghai, June 2026)
BBC World Service profiled Australian myeloma patient Amanda Harvey, who spent seven weeks in Shanghai receiving CAR-T therapy at an out-of-pocket cost of approximately AUD 110,000. Publicly reported; not a Lancore case.
4. Overseas myeloma patients treated with Equecabtagene autoleucel (Company statement, August 2026)
IASO Biotherapeutics states that overseas patients from more than ten countries and regions, including ten patients from Australia and New Zealand since June 2023, have traveled to China for its approved BCMA CAR-T (Fucaso). Company statement; not independently verified by Lancore.
5. International lymphoma case & intake desk at GoBroad Health (Beijing)
GoBroad Health Group's official website publishes a case report of a Russian lymphoma patient treated with CAR-T and lists a public international patient contact desk. Publicly reported; not a Lancore case.
Who runs this guide, and how we make money
Lancore Pharma is a Shanghai-based China access consultancy. Most of our work is advising overseas biotech companies on China regulatory routes such as Boao Lecheng special import and hospital research studies (see our advisory practice). This guide is built from the same regulatory tracking and held to the same sourcing standard. We are not a hospital, a broker, or a medical tourism agency, and we put every financial relationship on the table.
1. Public Hospitals & Physicians: Zero Payments, Ever
We never accept commissions, kickbacks, or per-patient referral fees of any kind from Chinese public hospitals or individual physicians. In every case, patients pay all medical and hospitalization bills 100% directly to the treating hospital. Lancore never receives, holds, or marks up medical funds.
2. Technical Table Independence
Every NMPA-approved commercial CGT product is listed in our technical reference table free of charge based on official regulatory filings. No pharmaceutical developer or hospital can pay to alter technical parameters, insert comparative efficacy claims, or remove a competing approved product.
3. Disclosed Pharma & Private Hospital Service Fees
Lancore Pharma enters into documented marketing, disease-education, and international patient outreach service agreements with certain pharmaceutical developers, Boao Lecheng project organizers, and private international hospital departments (billed as fixed project retainers or tied to aggregate inquiry/visit volume, never tied to an individual patient's medical bill). Where any such commercial relationship exists with a product or private hospital named in a paid Desk Assessment report, it is explicitly disclosed in writing inside that report.
4. Founder-Led & Where We Are Today
Shanghai Lancore Pharma Co., Ltd. was founded in Shanghai in 2025 by Fei Chen (20+ years across pharmaceutical R&D, manufacturing, quality, and cross-border BD). The person you speak with is the person who does the work. Our patient desk-assessment line is newly launched; all cases in the case library above are publicly reported industry cases, not Lancore engagements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't you publish a ranked list of "Best CAR-T Hospitals in China"?
Because "best" depends on your specific diagnosis and subtype, whether you need an NMPA commercial drug or a Boao Lecheng pilot program, your comorbidity profile (which dictates ICU, cardiology, and neurology backup), and whether you prefer a public academic center's international wing or a private international hospital. We do not pit hospitals against one another publicly; instead, we recommend specific departments based on their clinical strengths inside the Desk Assessment.
Do you compare which CAR-T product has a higher cure or response rate?
No. Cross-trial efficacy comparisons are scientifically invalid and misleading because each registrational trial enrolled patients with different prior lines of therapy, tumor burden, and bridging regimens. We compare objective technical specifications (target antigen, autologous vs. allogeneic source, costimulatory domain such as CD28 vs. 4-1BB, approved indication line, and published price). Clinical selection belongs with your treating oncologist.
Can I contact Chinese hospital international departments on my own without paying Lancore?
Yes. Any patient can contact a hospital international office directly (for example, Jiahui International Cancer Center at internationaloffice@jiahui.com or GoBroad Health's international desk). Our Desk Assessment exists for families who want their records translated and structured properly, want strengths-based routing across 2 to 3 centers simultaneously, and want written itemized quotes obtained without spending what we estimate at 40+ hours navigating Mandarin administrative systems.
Should I attach my medical records when I email you?
No. Please do not send medical records, pathology reports, or test results in your first message. Send only your country, general diagnosis (e.g., "relapsed myeloma after three lines" or "CLDN18.2+ gastric cancer"), and timeline. We will reply within two business days with our assessment scope, fee, and next steps, including the Desk Assessment Agreement and Medical Record Consent Form before any records are shared.
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