Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science Awarded to Three Pioneers of Cell Immunotherapy

Revolutionary Therapies for Blood Cancers and Solid Tumors

TaipeiJune 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science, renowned internationally for having three of its past laureates go on to win the Nobel Prize, today (June 16) announced the winners of the seventh Tang Prize in “Biopharmaceutical Science,” jointly awarded to three pioneering scientists in the field of cellular immunotherapy—Steven A. Rosenberg, Michel Sadelain, and Carl H. June—in recognition of their discovery and development of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies, which have fundamentally transformed the treatment of blood cancers and solid tumors.

The immunosuppressive effects within the tumor microenvironment can cause T cells, which are responsible for recognizing and attacking cancer cells, to become progressively exhausted. Cellular immunotherapy, which utilizes a patient’s own immune cells—including genetically engineered CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells) cells—to actively identify and destroy cancer cells, has become one of the most groundbreaking developments in cancer treatment in recent years. The research achievements of the three laureates have ushered in a new era of “living drugs,” with profound and far-reaching impacts.

Since the first CAR-T therapy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017, over 30,000 patients with hematologic malignancies worldwide have received this treatment, offering unprecedented hope for survival to those with relapsed or refractory blood cancers. Additionally, TIL therapy has opened new treatment avenues for advanced solid tumors, particularly metastatic melanoma. The latest advancements in CAR-T therapy in 2026 have expanded to include integration with CRISPR-Cas9 technology, treatment of autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus), cardiac injury repair, and anti-aging applications.

Dr. Wen-Chang Chang, Chair of the Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science Selection Committee, stated that the Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science honors drugs successfully developed, as well as medical and technological research that has led to breakthroughs in clinical treatment. In the field of tumor immunology, the first Tang Prize laureates, James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo, discovered the CTLA-4 and PD-1 immune checkpoints, respectively, leading to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody drugs and bringing significant progress to the treatment of various cancers, especially certain solid tumors. This year’s three laureates specialize in cellular immunotherapy. From Rosenberg’s pioneering clinical trials with TILs to Sadelain and June’s collaborative efforts in maturing and clinically applying CAR-T therapy, the three have successfully transformed the human immune system into a powerful anticancer weapon, providing groundbreaking treatments for malignant hematologic diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

The foundational basis of cellular immunotherapy was laid by Rosenberg, known as the “father of cancer immunotherapy.” Serving as Chief of the Surgery Branch at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1974, he established the research and clinical framework for Adoptive Cell Transfer (ACT)^[1]. In the 1980s, he demonstrated that high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) could stimulate and activate T cell proliferation, enhancing their ability to kill cancer cells, successfully inducing regression of metastatic tumors. This was the first clinical proof of T cells’ anticancer potential and led to FDA approval of IL-2 as the first cancer immunotherapy drug. He further clinically confirmed that TILs could induce regression of metastatic melanoma. In the 1990s, he achieved another milestone by obtaining the first regulatory approval for introducing foreign genes into humans^[3].

Michel Sadelain and Carl H. June are two key pioneers of CAR-T cell therapy. In early studies of antigen receptor engineering, research teams incorporated the intracellular CD3ζ chain^[4], responsible for transmitting activation signals, into their designs. However, Sadelain discovered that this structure alone was insufficient for therapeutic efficacy. After years of experimentation, he directly integrated the CD28 costimulatory domain^[2] into the receptor, endowing T cells with therapeutic potential, thereby establishing the core architecture for all subsequent FDA-approved CAR-T therapies. Sadelain also identified the CD19 molecule as a potential target for treating B-cell malignancies, including leukemia and lymphoma, and first demonstrated that human CD19 CAR-T cells could treat cancer in a mouse model. In 2013, his team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) reported for the first time that CD19 CAR-T cells showed significant efficacy in patients with relapsed and refractory adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

June achieved the key breakthrough that brought CAR-T therapy to clinical success. Through long-term clinical research, he helped confirm that the CD28 costimulatory domain^[2] serves as a crucial “accelerator” for T cell activation. He developed a technique to expand T cells using anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 magnetic beads, establishing an important technical standard for subsequent CAR-T manufacturing. He also developed a CAR structure integrating the 4-1BB (CD137) costimulatory domain with the T cell receptor-zeta (TCR-ζ) chain, significantly enhancing the proliferation capacity and long-term survival of infused T cells, while also addressing production scalability. Subsequently, June successfully led clinical trials of CD19-targeted CAR-T cells, achieving long-term remission in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Collaborating with Novartis, he helped bring about the first FDA-approved CAR-T drug, Kymriah, in 2017, officially transitioning CAR-T therapy from research to clinical medicine.

Among the many patients who have benefited from CAR-T therapy, Emily Whitehead’s story is the most moving. She was the first pediatric patient in the world to receive CAR-T therapy. In 2010, at just five years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After more than 16 months of chemotherapy failed, she received CAR-T therapy in 2012. Following treatment, her cancer was found to have completely disappeared, and she has remained healthy for 14 years. Over the years, she has continued to share her story publicly and takes annual photos to advocate for and raise funds for leukemia patients. Her healthy, radiant smile has touched and inspired countless patients and families.