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Nkarta Presents Preclinical Data Exploring Gene Knockout Strategies and Combination Agents with NK Cell-Based Therapies at the 2023 AACR Annual Meeting
Improved ADCC with ADAM17 gene knockout of NK or CAR NK cells, supporting ADAM17 KO use for clinical applications Increased specific killing of cancer cells
About this update from Nkarta, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Improved ADCC with ADAM17 gene knockout of NK or CAR NK cells, supporting ADAM17 KO use for clinical applications Increased specific killing of cancer cells in vitro by the combination of NKX101 and cetuximab, supporting use for combination in solid tumors SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nkarta, Inc. (Nasdaq: NKTX), a biopharmaceutical company developing engineered natural killer (NK) cell therapies to treat cancer, today announced the presentation of two preclinical data abstracts focused on its natural killer cell pipeline and proprietary manufacturing technology at the 2023 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. \"Our AACR presentations demonstrate the potential to combine our engineered, donor-derived NK cell therapies with monoclonal antibodies to extend and enhance the potency of both modalities,” said James Trager, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Nkarta. “We have shown that our products maintain high levels of CD16 and that the binding of appropriate monoclonal antibodies to CD16 can expand the targeting and potency of CAR NK cells. Specifically, we’ve shown that NKX101, our clinical candidate engineered with an NKG2D-based CAR, can be combined with cetuximab to enhance activity towards EGFR-expressing tumor cells. We’ve also shown that CRISPR-mediated knockout of ADAM17, a suppressor of CD16 activity, can be used to further elevate ADCC, and to help maintain NK cell potency. These findings will be critical groundwork for developing successful therapeutic combinations that include treatment with CAR NK cells, particularly in solid tumor settings.” Nkarta’s 2023 AACR posters will be available for download shortly after their scheduled presentation at https://www.nkartatx.com/publications/. ADAM17 knockout NK or CAR NK cells augment antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and anti-tumor activityAbstract Number 890April 16, 2023, 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET In this study, ADAM17 KO CAR NK cells demonstrate improved ADCC and ADAM17 KO can enhance in vivo anti-tumor activity of CISH/CBLB KO CD70 CAR NK cells in relevant tumor models. ADAM17 KO NK cells maintain dramatically higher surface expression of CD16a and CD62L than control NK cells. ADAM17 KO CD19 CAR NK cells demonstrate higher cytotoxicity compared to control NK cells against Raji tumor cells in the presen...