Vancouver, British Columbia — September 8, 2026 — Leads & Copy — ME Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (CSE: METX) (FSE: Q9T), a biotechnology company focused on developing novel cancer-fighting drugs, has announced significant progress in its in vivo CD19/CD22-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) program and its therapeutic mRNA STING program. The company also provided an update on its ongoing corporate initiatives, including its pursuit of a listing on the NASDAQ exchange.
ME Therapeutics has successfully advanced its in vivo CAR pipeline, yielding two distinct lead constructs designed to target both CD19 and CD22 for the treatment of certain blood cancers and autoimmune diseases. This dual-targeting approach aims to enhance effectiveness by addressing cancer cells that may have downregulated CD19 expression to evade immune detection.
The first construct employs a co-expression strategy, featuring separate CARs for CD19 and a dual-targeting construct for CD22. The second configuration is a single, tandem CAR that integrates a CD19-targeting single-chain variable fragment (scFv) with a CD22-targeting single-domain antibody (VHH).
Preclinical testing is currently underway to compare the expression and functional profiles of these two configurations. The data generated from this analysis will guide the selection of a final candidate, which will then be formulated into T cell-targeting lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for effective in vivo mRNA delivery. ME Therapeutics anticipates finalizing its candidate selection and moving into the LNP formulation phase in the fourth quarter of 2026.
In its therapeutic mRNA STING program, ME Therapeutics has developed a novel liver-detargeted STING mRNA formulation. This formulation is engineered to limit STING activation in the liver, concentrating expression within the tumor microenvironment. In vitro testing using a human hepatocyte cell line demonstrated a marked reduction in STING protein expression, while expression in non-hepatocyte cells remained largely unaffected. The goal of this enhanced tumor specificity is to improve safety and reduce potential systemic side effects by minimizing off-target activation, while simultaneously promoting a robust anti-cancer immune response. The next phase involves formulating this therapeutic mRNA into an LNP for in vivo testing.
On the corporate front, ME Therapeutics continues to pursue a NASDAQ listing. The company is actively collaborating with its U.S. counsel and is in the process of responding to comments from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on its draft F-1 registration statement.
“We are highly encouraged by the rapid advancement of our in vivo CAR program and the successful engineering of these two sophisticated CD19/CD22-targeted constructs,” said Salim Dhanji, PhD, CEO of ME Therapeutics. “By rigorously comparing a dual-CAR approach against a fused single-CAR design, we are working to ensure our final candidate possesses an optimal profile for target engagement. By targeting both CD19 and CD22 using clinically tested binders, we believe our approach is differentiated from our competitors. Furthermore, the progression of our liver-detargeted STING therapeutic mRNA program highlights our commitment to maximizing the safety and efficacy of our next-generation immunotherapies. Alongside our scientific milestones, our ongoing dialogue with the SEC regarding our draft F-1 statement represents progress forward in our pathway to a NASDAQ listing, which we anticipate will expand our investor base and support our long-term growth.”
ME Therapeutics is a publicly listed biotechnology company based in Vancouver focused on developing novel therapeutics designed to reprogramme immune cells in vivo to reshape the tumour microenvironment and to directly recognize and kill cancer cells.
Source: ME Therapeutics Holdings Inc.
