Instil Bio, Inc. announced a strategic update. Instil has entered into an agreement with a collaborator that has a successful track record of manufacturing and dosing patients with cell therapies to conduct preclinical manufacturing feasibility studies in the ITIL-306 program. The feasibility studies have been initiated, and if the feasibility studies are successful, Instil's collaborator may open an investigator-initiated clinical trial (IIT) to enroll patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in China.

In the event the IIT generates compelling proof-of-concept clinical data in 2024, Instil may explore options for a potential transition of ITIL-306 to a US-based CDMO for manufacturing and clinical development primarily at US clinical trial sites. Instil plans to retain key process development, research, and related personnel to advance early-stage pipeline development of CoStAR?? and other novel TIL technologies, and to support the company's collaboration.