NantKwest unveils first-in-human Phase 1 trial of its NK cell therapy

PD-L1 t-haNK is a natural killing cell-based immuno-oncology therapy which includes Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) based on PD-L1

NantKwest, leading company in clinical-stage immunotherapy that develops activated natural killer cells (NK) to treat infectious disease and cancer, recently confirmed that PD-L1 t-haNK investigational new drug application developed by the company has cleared the FDA review and would to be used in the first-in-human clinical trial for patients suffering from metastatic or locally advanced solid cancer.

Apparently, Programmed death-ligand (PD-L1) is said to be a transmembrane protein that is essential in suppressing the immune system in several cancer patients. PD-L1 is bound to the molecules of inhibitory checkpoint PD-1 where it establishes an inhibitory signal. The proliferation of antigen-specific T-cells along with the apoptosis in regulatory T cells, that obstruct immune responses, is significantly reduced by the inhibitory signal.

Citing reliable sources, PD-L1 t-haNK is a natural killing cell-based immuno-oncology therapy which includes Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) based on PD-L1. Its is developed into the company’s proprietary haNK natural killing cell, that also includes CD16 receptor’s high affinity variant which helps mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, CEO and Chairman of NantKwest announced that the company has been authorized by the FDA to go ahead with their second clinical trial of bispecific NK cell therapy that uses PD-L1 t-haNK. It will target patients suffering with solid tumors, just a few weeks after FDA cleared its first bi-specific clinical trial using a CD19 t-haNK, targeting patients with lymphoma.

The company aims to combine a broad range of immunotherapy molecules with their proprietary and multi-targeted NK cell therapy and explore its potential for integrating both adaptive and innate immune systems to achieve complete remissions that are durable.

Dr. Soon-Shiong added that NantKwest is looking forward to transitioning the program to Phase 1 human clinical trial that is designed to assess PD-L1 t-haNK cell therapy’s tolerability, efficacy and safety in patients suffering from solid tumors.

 

Source credit- https://nantkwest.com/nantkwest-launches-first-in-class-first-in-human-phase-i-clinical-trial-with-a-targeted-pd-l1-t-hank-cell-therapy-in-patients-with-solid-tumors/