Pluri Secures Global IP Position with China Patent Grant for Large-Scale Immune Cell Expansion, Complementing Prior U.S. Patent
Rhea-AI Summary
Pluri (Nasdaq: PLUR) announced that China's CNIPA granted a patent (Cn 119301238 b) for its proprietary 3D immune cell expansion and activation technology, extending an existing global patent family that includes the U.S., Japan, Korea, Australia and Israel.
The patent covers large-scale production of diverse immune cell types, supports automated, closed-loop manufacturing that targets billion-cell batches, and is positioned to enable international licensing and partnerships in China’s growing cell therapy market.
Positive
- China patent granted (Cn 119301238 b) expanding global IP coverage
- Cross‑border IP bridge with granted patents in U.S., Japan, Korea, Australia and Israel
- Covers large‑scale production of diverse immune cell types including CAR/TCR, NK, TIL and MAIT
- Automated 3D bioreactor designed for billion‑cell batches and closed‑loop quality control
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
PLUR is up 4.21% while close peers show mixed moves: IPSC +10.29%, PEPG +6.26%, LTRN +1.46%, but ESLA -3.76% and LVTX -3.87%. This pattern points to stock-specific factors rather than a unified sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | CDMO program milestone | Positive | +9.3% | Completion of first phase in PluriCDMO Resbiomed biomaterials program. |
| Dec 22 | Collaboration expansion | Positive | -2.9% | Expanded Remedy Cell manufacturing collaboration and clinical-grade batches. |
| Dec 09 | Chair/financing change | Positive | +9.9% | New Chairman, increased ownership, and $2.5M private placement with warrants. |
| Nov 13 | Industry awards | Positive | -6.1% | Multiple bioagriculture and employment honors for Pluri and subsidiaries. |
| Nov 11 | Skincare partnership | Positive | +6.2% | Launch of Cellav subsidiary and Miss Universe Skincare collaboration. |
Recent operational and partnership news has often been positive, but price reactions have been mixed, with 3 aligned moves and 2 divergences. The stock does not consistently rally on good news.
Over the past few months, Pluri reported multiple strategic updates, including a CDMO phase completion with Resbiomed on Jan 22 and an expanded Remedy Cell collaboration on Dec 22. Governance and funding shifted with Alejandro Weinstein becoming Chairman and a $2.5M private placement on Dec 9. Earlier, Pluri highlighted industry awards and a Miss Universe Skincare partnership in November. Today’s China patent grant extends that pattern of platform- and collaboration-focused milestones.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective shelf registration on Form S-3 filed Sep 17, 2025 covers resale of 3,425,488 common shares by selling shareholders. Pluri will not receive proceeds from those resales but could receive approximately $724,686 if specified warrants and pre-funded warrants are exercised for cash. The company lists additional stock options, warrants and RS/RSUs that could add to outstanding shares over time.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement expanded Pluri’s IP footprint with a China patent covering large‑scale 3D immune cell expansion, complementing existing protection in the U.S., Japan, Korea, Australia and Israel. It reinforces the platform’s role in manufacturing CAR, TCR, NK and TIL‑based therapies and supporting global licensing. Against this, recent filings showed a net loss of $13.0 million, cash of $13.6 million, an EIB loan of $23.5 million plus interest, and Nasdaq listing compliance challenges, highlighting execution and financing risks around monetizing this IP.
Key Terms
3d expansion technology medical
cell therapy medical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
- Expands patent protection across major global pharmaceutical markets, including the U.S., China and Asia-Pacific
- Enables scalable, automated manufacturing of diverse immune cell therapies using proprietary 3D expansion technology
- Strengthens positioning in China’s growing cell therapy market and supports cross-border partnerships
HAIFA, Israel, Feb. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluri Inc. (“Pluri”, the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”) (Nasdaq and TASE: PLUR ), a leading biotechnology company leveraging its proprietary platform for cell-based solutions to create a collaborative network of ventures, today announces that the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has granted Pluri Biotech Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pluri, a patent covering its proprietary 3D immune cell expansion and activation technology.
The patent, titled “System and Methods for Immune Cells Expansion and Activation in Large Scale” (Patent No. Cn 119301238 b), expands Pluri’s global intellectual property (IP) portfolio, including granted patents in the United States and additional granted patents in Japan, Korea, Australia and Israel. The expanded portfolio supports the Company’s strategy to pursue global collaboration and licensing agreements for immune cell therapy products built on Pluri’s automated, large-scale manufacturing platform.
The patent family covers large-scale production of diverse immune cell types, both unmodified and genetically modified, across multiple therapeutic areas. The platform enables expansion of cell types spanning lymphoid and myeloid lineages, including conventional and unconventional T cells (such as MAIT), Natural Killer (NK) cells, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL), and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) and T Cell Receptor (TCR) engineered variants.
Securing this new patent in China comes at a pivotal moment for the country’s rapidly expanding cell therapy landscape. China has emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic markets for CAR-T and advanced cell therapies, driven by growing clinical adoption, expanding manufacturing infrastructure, and increased investment. Protecting Pluri’s IP in China not only strengthens our global portfolio but strategically positions us to participate and contribute to one of the fastest-growing ecosystems worldwide.
Pluri’s patented 3D platform addresses these industry bottlenecks and is designed to enable mass production through a unique bioreactor system that mimics the human lymph node environment to expand billions of immune cells. We believe that this approach significantly enhances cost-efficiency by reducing the prohibitive expenses typically associated with traditional cell therapy production, a critical requirement for the high-volume Chinese pharmaceutical market. Furthermore, we believe that the platform ensures rigorous quality control through a fully automated, closed-loop process that maintains batch-to-batch consistency and cell integrity at an industrial scale.
A Strategic Bridge for Global Pharma
With patent protection across the U.S., China, Japan, Korea, Australia and Israel, Pluri provides an “IP Bridge” for partners developing therapies on its platform across the world’s primary healthcare markets. We believe that this broad coverage supports a unified framework for international licensing and development, helping global pharma companies operate in China with greater confidence, while enabling Chinese biotech leaders to pursue global expansion. By protecting key manufacturing methods in both CNIPA and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office jurisdictions, Pluri’s cross-continental defensibility can potentially reduce partnering risk and strengthen high-value collaborations where scalability, quality consistency and IP protection are critical to commercial success.
“We believe that securing patent protection in China, one of the most dynamic cell therapy markets globally, validates the novelty and scalability of our technology," said Yaky Yanay, chief Executive Officer and President of Pluri. "Together with our granted patents in the U.S., Japan, Korea, Australia and Israel, our goal is to offer partners a globally protected manufacturing platform capable of supporting large-scale immune cell production."
About Pluri
Pluri™ is a biotechnology company pioneering mass-scale cell expansion and biofarming. Using its patented, proprietary 3D cell expansion platform, Pluri develops scalable, consistent, and cost-efficient cell-based solutions. The Company drives innovation in regenerative medicine, foodtech, agtech, aesthetics and offers Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) services. With two decades of experience, a strong intellectual property portfolio and its collaborative network of ventures, Pluri accelerates breakthroughs that address global challenges such as sustainable food production, healthcare, and climate resilience. To learn more, visit www.pluri-biotech.com or follow Pluri on LinkedIn and X.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws. For example, Pluri is using forward-looking statements when it discusses the potential benefits to the Company from the new patent grant in China, including strengthening of its positioning in China and the support of cross border partnerships, global collaborations and licensing agreements;; the capacity of its 3D platform to address industry bottlenecks and enable mass production of immune cells, including MAIT cells; the potential for cost-efficiency, quality control in the Chinese pharmaceutical market, batch to batch consistency and cell integrity at an industrial scale; the belief that Pluri’s cross-continental defensibility can reduce partnering risk and strengthen high-value collaborations; the novelty and scalability of the Company’s technology;; the company’s ability to pursue collaborations with Chinese and global pharma companies ; the expected growth and investment trends in the Chinese biotech and cell therapy markets; and the potential impact of its technology on global healthcare solutions. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of Pluri’s management only and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially: the expected benefits from the patent grant may not be realized as anticipated; Pluri may encounter changes in technology or market conditions; the company may face challenges in scaling its technology or securing commercial partnerships; regulatory developments in China or other jurisdictions could impact commercialization efforts; its technology may not be validated as it progresses further and its methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; and intensified competition in the cell therapy and immuno-oncology space. Except as otherwise required by law, Pluri undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluri, reference is made to the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts
Investors: investor.relations@pluri-biotech.com
Israel Media: Gali Raz at gali.raz@pluri-biotech.com
U.S. Media: Berry Brady at berry@quantum-corp.com
FAQ
What did Pluri announce about the China patent grant for PLUR on February 18, 2026?
How does the China patent for PLUR affect Pluri’s global IP coverage and partnerships?
What cell types and applications does Pluri’s patented 3D platform (PLUR) cover?
What manufacturing capabilities does Pluri claim the PLUR platform provides for China’s market?
Will the China patent for PLUR support licensing or collaborations with Chinese biotechs?
Does the PLUR patent in China change Pluri’s U.S. patent status or global strategy?
