Sana Biotechnology Secures $25M Mayo Clinic Investment and Advances SC451 Trial
SANA•Sana Biotechnology reported a Q1 cash position of $101.1 million and a pro forma $128.9 million, including a $25.0 million Mayo Clinic equity investment. The company plans a Phase 1 IND filing for SC451 later this year and reported 14-month UP421 results showing sustained beta cell function without immunosuppression.
1. Financial Position
In Q1 2026, Sana reported a cash balance of $101.1 million and a pro forma cash position of $128.9 million, bolstered by a $25.0 million equity investment from the Mayo Clinic collaboration and recent ATM facility activity. This funding is expected to support operations into 2027.
2. Collaboration with Mayo Clinic
Sana entered a strategic collaboration with the Mayo Clinic to advance SC451, its hypoimmune iPSC-derived pancreatic islet cell therapy for type 1 diabetes. The Mayo Clinic invested $25.0 million with an option for an additional $25.0 million to accelerate development, protocol standardization, and scalable delivery.
3. Diabetes Cell Therapy Progress
The company shared positive 14-month data from an investigator-sponsored study of UP421, demonstrating transplanted HIP-modified islet cells evaded immune detection and sustained beta cell function, as evidenced by stable C-peptide levels and PET-MRI imaging at week 12 and week 52 without immunosuppression.
4. Clinical Trial Timeline
Sana is preparing to file an IND for SC451 and begin a Phase 1 trial later this year, alongside advancing SG293 non-Hodgkin lymphoma studies and planning a mid-2027 clinical trial for SG227 in multiple myeloma. SG293 preclinical data will be presented at the upcoming ASGCT Annual Meeting.
