Tempest Secures Exclusive Option to License Clinical-Stage In Vivo CAR-T Platform
TPST sits 20% above its 52-week low of $0.743 on elevated volume (3.2× avg).
Summary
Tempest Therapeutics entered an exclusive option agreement with Hebei Senlang Biotechnology to license a CD7-targeted lentiviral in vivo CAR-T platform, including a Phase 1 BCMA/GPRC5D dual-targeting candidate showing early clinical activity.
Key Events · M&A and Partnerships · TPST
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Exclusive Option Agreement Signed
Tempest entered an exclusive option agreement with Hebei Senlang Biotechnology on September 14, 2026, granting a four-month option to license Senlang's CD7-targeted lentiviral in vivo CAR-T platform worldwide excluding Greater China.
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Lead Candidate in Phase 1
The portfolio includes a BCMA/GPRC5D dual-targeting in vivo CAR-T candidate in Phase 1 dose escalation for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, with early data showing in vivo CAR-T generation and expansion at the highest evaluable dose.
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Favorable Early Safety Profile
As of August 25, 2026, no Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome and no immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome were observed, supporting continued dose escalation.
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Option Exercise Economics
If exercised, Tempest would pay a $447,000 option exercise fee, annual maintenance fees escalating from $10M to $14M over three years, a 6% royalty on net sales (capped at $800M cumulative), and a share of sublicense revenue.
Analysis · TPST · Life Sciences
Tempest Therapeutics, a micro-cap biotech with only $0.8M in cash as of August 2026, has secured an exclusive option to license a clinical-stage in vivo CAR-T platform from Hebei Senlang Biotechnology. The deal gives Tempest a four-month window to evaluate a BCMA/GPRC5D dual-targeting candidate already in Phase 1 dose escalation for multiple myeloma, with early data showing in vivo CAR-T generation and no Grade 3+ CRS or ICANS. This is a strategic pivot for a company facing going-concern risk — the option structure defers the $447K exercise fee and $10-14M annual maintenance fees, but if exercised, those payments would strain Tempest's already thin cash position. The clinical data provides a potential value driver, but the company's ability to fund the license remains uncertain.
How filings like this one have moved
In the 30 days to Oct 17, 2026, 29.7% of the 1531 measured filings Wiseek scored 7 moved their stock by 5% or more by the next session's close. The median move was -0.47%. These are measured outcomes after filings of this importance, not a forecast for this one.
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At the time of this filing, TPST was trading at $0.90 on NASDAQ in the Life Sciences sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $14.3M. The 52-week trading range was $0.74 to $12.23. This filing was assessed with positive market sentiment and an importance score of 7 out of 10.