Medical Library | Shanghai Oncology and Innovative Treatment Series
Some of the most important advances in cancer treatment begin outside the hospital clinic. Academic and government research institutions develop new molecular targets, drug-delivery systems, immune-cell platforms, and chemical technologies that may later become medicines or clinical tools.
This Medical Library review examines two Shanghai research institutions based on the 2025–2026 information provided: the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and ShanghaiTech University. Their work spans original small molecules, nanomedicine, mRNA delivery, in-situ CAR-T/NK therapy, PROTACs, molecular glue degraders, immune checkpoints, bispecific antibodies, and new ADC concepts.
1. Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica: Source Innovation with Translational Delivery
Representative researchers: Li Yaping, Yu Haining, Xie Hua, Hu Youhong, and Liu Jia
Core directions: Original small molecules, nanomedicine, mRNA and vaccine delivery, in-situ CAR-T/NK therapy, PROTACs, and molecular glue degraders.
The Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica is positioned at the source-innovation end of the oncology pipeline. Its programs aim to discover new chemical entities, improve delivery into tumors or immune cells, and create therapeutic formats that may eventually be developed by hospitals, biotechnology companies, or pharmaceutical partners.
Key 2025–2026 milestones
- HZ-V055: The pan-RAS program received IND clearance in August 2026, marking a transition from discovery and preclinical development toward clinical testing.
- In-situ NKG2D CAR-T/NK: A platform reported in August 2026 aims to generate or activate CAR-T/NK activity within the body, potentially reducing some of the manufacturing complexity associated with individualized cell therapy.
- DC551040: A program targeting LSD1, combined with HHT for AML, was reported in May 2026. This work explores how epigenetic targeting may be integrated into treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.
- Direct-to-Biology molecular glue platform: A platform reported in May 2026 uses a direct-to-biology approach to discover molecular glue degraders, compounds that can bring a target protein into contact with the cell's degradation machinery.
Why delivery technology matters
A promising drug target is only part of a successful treatment. The drug must reach the relevant tissue, enter the right cell, remain active at an effective concentration, and avoid unacceptable toxicity. Nanoparticles, mRNA carriers, molecular degraders, and in-situ immune-cell engineering are all attempts to solve different parts of that problem.
In-situ CAR-T/NK approaches are especially interesting because conventional CAR-T therapy typically requires cells to be collected, genetically modified or otherwise engineered, expanded, tested, and returned to the patient. An in-situ strategy seeks to perform more of that biological programming inside the body. It remains an early research direction and should not be confused with an approved cell therapy.
Similarly, an IND clearance allows a clinical study to proceed under regulatory oversight. It does not mean that the drug has been proven effective or is available as routine treatment. Patients should ask whether a program is preclinical, in an early-phase trial, or approved for their specific disease.
Institutional profile: A source-innovation platform that combines original chemistry with delivery and translational technologies designed to move discoveries toward clinical development.
2. ShanghaiTech University: New Biology, Molecular Glue Degradation, and Multispecific Platforms
Representative researchers: Wang Haopeng and Cang Yong
Core directions: Immune checkpoint biology, molecular glue degraders, RNA-binding protein regulation, bispecific and T-cell engager platforms, and new ADC concepts.
ShanghaiTech University is pursuing an academic research model focused on discovering new biological mechanisms and converting them into therapeutic concepts. The supplied materials highlight work on LAG3 signaling, HuR degradation, and a lysosome-targeting bispecific platform.
Key 2025–2026 milestones
- LAG3 activation switch: A molecular switch that activates LAG3 was reported in Cell in March 2025 in collaboration with BeiGene. LAG3 is an immune-regulatory checkpoint, and understanding how it can be modulated may support the design of more precise immunotherapies.
- HuR molecular glue degrader: A HuR-directed molecular glue degrader was reported around June 2026 in Nature, with a proposed application in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer.
- FcRTAC platform: The program is developing a bispecific platform designed to direct selected targets toward lysosomal degradation. The format may offer another route to remove or neutralize disease-driving proteins that are difficult to inhibit with conventional small molecules.
What molecular glues do
Molecular glues are small molecules that create or stabilize an interaction between a target protein and a cellular protein-degradation system. Unlike a conventional inhibitor, which generally blocks a specific active site, a molecular glue may eliminate or functionally reprogram a protein by changing its cellular fate.
This approach can potentially reach targets that have previously been considered difficult to drug. It also creates new development questions: how selective is the degradation, how durable is the effect, what proteins are affected unexpectedly, and how can patients be identified by tumor genotype or protein expression?
For a BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer concept, the first step is accurate molecular classification. Patients should confirm the exact BRAF alteration, whether the proposed treatment is part of a clinical trial, and whether the molecular glue has entered human testing. A promising preclinical mechanism is not the same as an approved treatment.
For related clinical context, see our Gastric and Colorectal Cancer Treatment in Shanghai Medical Library guide. Readers interested in how cell therapy is moving toward early clinical development can also read our reviews of Shanghai Oriental Hospital's universal CAR-NK program and Ruijin Hospital's CAR-NK and bispecific antibody programs.
Institutional profile: An academic discovery platform focused on new immune biology, targeted protein degradation, and multispecific therapeutic formats.
3. From Research Discovery to a Patient-Accessible Treatment
Research institutions and hospitals play different roles in the treatment pathway. A research institute may identify a target, design a molecule, build a delivery system, or demonstrate activity in cells and animal models. A hospital research team may run a first-in-human study, compare a treatment in a randomized trial, or develop a surgical and monitoring pathway. A pharmaceutical company may take responsibility for manufacturing, registration, quality control, and commercialization.
Patients should ask which stage a program has reached:
- Discovery: A new target, mechanism, molecule, or platform has been identified.
- Preclinical development: Activity and safety are being studied in laboratory and animal models.
- IND stage: Regulatory clearance has allowed a clinical trial to begin or proceed.
- Early clinical study: Researchers are primarily assessing safety, dose, feasibility, and initial signals of activity.
- Randomized clinical trial: The treatment is being compared with a control or standard of care.
- Regulatory approval: The treatment is authorized for a defined indication and patient population.
This distinction matters especially for molecular glues, in-situ CAR-T/NK, novel ADCs, and new mRNA platforms. The technology may be scientifically important while still being unavailable outside a clinical trial.
4. How CMCS Helps International Patients Discuss Early-Stage Innovation with Specialists
For an international patient interested in an innovative cancer treatment in China, the first question is not simply whether a technology sounds promising. It is whether the program is relevant to the patient's disease, whether the patient meets its eligibility criteria, and whether the potential benefit and risks have been explained by an appropriate specialist.
China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) is a health management and medical coordination service that helps patients connect with specialist doctors and hospital resources in Shanghai. CMCS is not a research institute or hospital and does not independently diagnose, prescribe, or enroll patients in a clinical trial.
Before a consultation, CMCS can help organize pathology, immunohistochemistry, genomic sequencing, molecular results, imaging, previous treatment records, medication history, treatment responses, laboratory results, and current symptoms. For overseas patients, the information can be arranged into a concise English medical summary for the specialist.
CMCS can help patients prepare focused questions such as:
- Is this program a discovery project, preclinical study, IND-stage program, clinical trial, or approved treatment?
- Does the patient's tumor carry the molecular alteration or express the target required for eligibility?
- What evidence exists in humans, and what is known about response duration and safety?
- What is the treatment's manufacturing process, and is it available only at a particular research center?
- For CAR-T, CAR-NK, mRNA, or ADC therapy, what are the major short-term and long-term risks?
- What standard treatments or other clinical trials should be considered instead or first?
- How will response, toxicity, and disease progression be monitored?
During the consultation, CMCS can assist with appointment coordination, medical interpretation, communication between the patient and the care team, and clarification of the doctor's recommendations. Afterward, a case manager can help organize the proposed next steps, identify additional tests or records, clarify the follow-up schedule, and coordinate further communication with the hospital or research team.
The final treatment decision must be made by the patient and the treating medical team. CMCS does not independently recommend an experimental drug, cell therapy, or research protocol. Its role is to help the patient bring complete information to the right specialist and make sure that evidence, eligibility, risks, alternatives, access, and monitoring are discussed clearly.
To learn more about oncology consultations and treatment coordination in Shanghai, contact CMCS:
Email: contract@medicalsh.com
WhatsApp: Contact CMCS on WhatsApp
Website: medicalsh.com
Conclusion
The Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and ShanghaiTech University represent the source-innovation side of Shanghai's oncology ecosystem. Their work ranges from pan-RAS and epigenetic targets to molecular glue degraders, mRNA delivery, in-situ CAR-T/NK, immune checkpoints, and lysosome-targeting bispecific platforms.
These technologies may shape the next generation of cancer treatment, but patients should always confirm their actual development stage and clinical availability. This article was prepared from the research and program information provided for editorial use. Development milestones, IND status, clinical data, and treatment access should be confirmed through the research institution, clinical-trial registry, regulatory authorities, and formally published studies. This article is for medical education only and is not individualized medical advice.
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