Peptide-linked CAR-Macrophage therapeutics

Engineering macrophages to reach solid tumors.

Phagocytex is building a proprietary pCAR-M platform designed to overcome the solid-tumor infiltration barrier and expand the reach of precision cell therapy.

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Platform

A target-agnostic pCAR-M engine for personalized oncology.

The company’s patented peptide linker system is being developed to accelerate candidate design, reduce manufacturing complexity, and support scalable biopharma partnerships.

Rapid personalization

Platform architecture intended to engineer macrophages for patient-relevant tumor targets on compressed timelines.

Solid-tumor access

Macrophage biology is suited to infiltrating tissue environments where conventional CAR-T approaches can face physical and immunologic barriers.

Scalable partnering

The pCAR-M system is positioned as a therapeutic platform for biopharma collaborators developing next-wave precision cancer programs.

Science

From AI to cell engineering to tumor clearance.

Target

Tumor-associated marker selection

Leveraging AI and bioinformatics to identify novel tumor markers and discover new ways to target them with precision.

Engineer

Peptide-linked CAR design

Apply robust chemistry to construct peptide-linked CAR-macrophage in only 2 hours.

Deploy

Macrophage activity in tissue

Use macrophage infiltration and phagocytic function as a foundation for solid-tumor engagement.

Concept study

Rapid chemical surface engineering, tested from cell assays to animal models.

In a team-provided conceptual study, native macrophages were converted into peptidic CAR-like macrophages by installing an EGFR-targeting cyclic peptide directly on cell-surface proteins. The approach is designed to avoid viral transduction, permanent genome editing, and prolonged ex vivo expansion.

Conceptual illustration of pCAR-M generation, phagocytosis, antigen presentation, and T-cell recruitment — Conceptual mechanism: one-pot peptide cyclization and macrophage surface conjugation create pCAR-M cells intended to improve tumor recognition, phagocytosis, and immune-cell interaction.

Chemical scheme and microscopy confirming cell-surface peptide conjugation

Surface chemistry

2-hour pCAR-M construction

A DBMB-OPA bifunctional linker supports peptide cyclization and covalent macrophage-surface conjugation under mild conditions.

In-vitro phagocytosis and tumor-cell viability assays across EGFR-high and EGFR-low cell lines

In vitro function

Enhanced EGFR-positive tumor engagement

pCAR-M cells showed higher phagocytic activity and reduced tumor-cell viability in EGFR-overexpressing A549 and HT29 models versus unmodified macrophages.

Humanized patient-derived tumor model treatment schedule, tumor volume change, excised tumors, and tumor weight

In vivo models

Preclinical antitumor activity

In xenograft and humanized patient-derived tumor models, pCAR-M treatment was associated with tumor growth inhibition and immune-context changes versus control groups.

HCC mouse model timeline, bioluminescence imaging, liver tumor images, and liver-to-body-weight quantification comparing no treatment, unmodified macrophages, and pCAR-M treatment — In vivo HCC model **pCAR-M treatment reduced liver tumor signal and tumor burden versus controls.**
In a hydrodynamic tail-vein injection hepatocellular carcinoma model, mice received no treatment (NT), unmodified RAW264.7-luc macrophages (NP), or pCAR-M treatment (P). Bioluminescence imaging, excised liver tumor photographs, and liver-to-body-weight analysis show lower tumor-associated signal and reduced liver tumor burden in the pCAR-M group by day 28.

92% Potential cancer coverage highlighted by PolyU source material

2 hr Engineering window stated for the platform concept

2 + 2 Manuscripts in preparation and provisional patents

News

Latest updates, awards, and public activities.

Read the latest Phagocytex milestones as the team shares research progress, competition achievements, start-up recognition, and healthcare innovation activities.

Rainbow Leung and Martina Lei presenting the pCAR-M project at The 12th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

Award 1 Jun 2026

Phagocytex won the Grand Prize and First Prize at The 12th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.

Award 2025-26

Phagocytex recognized in PolyU-MicroFund Cohort 1.

Event 11-12 May 2026

Phagocytex joins PolyU healthcare start-ups at ASGH 2026.

Team

Founded by PolyU scientists and translational researchers.

Prof. Lee Kin Wah Terence

Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Wong Tsun Ting Clarence

Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dr. Lei Mang Leng Martina

Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dr. Leung Wing Hei Rainbow

PhD researcher, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Pipeline

Advancing a multi-target pCAR-M pipeline toward translational validation.

Phagocytex is progressing lead programs across glypican-3, EGFR, and an undisclosed solid-tumor target, with current work focused on candidate validation before IND-enabling development.

GPC3001 Glypican-3 program

Validation

EGFR001 EGFR program

Validation

Undisclosed Solid-tumor target

Discovery

Program positions are based on team-provided current progress and are intended for partnership communication.

Partnerships

Build the next solid-tumor cell therapy program with us.

Phagocytex welcomes conversations with biopharma partners, investors, and translational collaborators exploring macrophage engineering, solid-tumor targeting, and platform development.

Partnership enquiries

Share your program area, target biology, investment interest, or collaboration idea.

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