<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-11-09</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001966494</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARGO Therapeutics, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRGX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224962</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PERCEPTIVE ADVISORS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>51 ASTOR PLACE, 10TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001851820</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund II, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>51 ASTOR PLACE, 10TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001164426</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDELMAN JOSEPH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>51 ASTOR PLACE, 10TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2579502</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each share of the Issuer's Series A-1 convertible preferred stock will automatically convert into shares of the Issuer's common stock immediately upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering. The Series A-1 convertible preferred stock has no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities are directly held by Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund II, L.P. (&quot;PXV II&quot;). Perceptive Venture Advisors, LLC (the &quot;Venture Advisor&quot;) serves as the investment manager of PXV II and is controlled by Perceptive Advisors LLC (the &quot;Advisor&quot;), and Perceptive Xontogeny Venture II GP, LLC (&quot;PXV GP&quot;) is the general partner of PXV II. Mr. Edelman is the managing member of PXV GP and the Advisor. The Venture Advisor, the Advisor, PXV GP and Mr. Edelman disclaim, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, beneficial ownership of such securities, except to the extent of his or its indirect pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that they are the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purposes.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph Edelman, for Perceptive Advisors LLC, By: Joseph Edelman, its managing member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph Edelman, for Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund II, L.P., By: Perceptive Xontogeny Ventures II GP, LLC, its general partner, By: Joseph Edelman, its managing member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph Edelman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-11-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
