CHA Biotech announced on Wednesday that it has been selected as a recipient of a $150,000 grant from the G-Rex Grant Program, a joint initiative run by global leaders in cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing.

The G-Rex Grant Program is a $20 million grant program created by global biotech companies, including ScaleReady, Wilson Wolf, and Cell Ready, to accelerate the development and manufacturing of CGTs. G-Rex is a system optimized for the large-scale culture of immune cells, such as T and NK cells. It is characterized by its gas-permeable membrane that efficiently delivers oxygen and nutrients to promote cell growth.

CHA Biotech is developing CAR-NK therapeutics based on NK cell culture technology. Recently, CHATIL, a tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy, was selected for the National New Drug Development Project.

As a result of this grant, the company will receive various support, including establishing partnerships with global biotech companies and building and optimizing the G-Rex manufacturing process, according to CHA Biotech.

Using G-Rex, the company plans to develop process technology for mass production of CAR-NK and CHATIL at the GMP level and secure data for clinical entry.

“Winning the G-Rex Grant Program will be a leap forward for CHA Biotech to secure global-level cell-based therapeutic technology,” said Nam Su-yeon, president of R&D at CHA Biotech. “We will secure a leading position in the global immune cell therapy market.”