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Nkarta Updates Clinical Progress of CAR-NK Cell Therapy NKX101 for Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Encouraging antileukemic activity seen with NKX101 in patients with AML, including several with high-risk features, using a modified lymphodepletion
About this update from Nkarta, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Encouraging antileukemic activity seen with NKX101 in patients with AML, including several with high-risk features, using a modified lymphodepletion incorporating Ara-C (cytarabine)In patients with r/r AML treated with a three-dose regimen of NKX101 at 1.5 billion cells per dose after fludarabine/Ara-C for lymphodepletion, n=6 4 of 6 patients achieved complete response (67% CR/CRi, 50% CR rate)2 CRs with MRD negativity1 patient deepened response to MRD negative CRi with additional cycles NKX101 was well tolerated across dose-levels and lymphodepletion regimensExpansion cohort incorporating Ara-C based lymphodepletion expected to be the basis of NKX101 development moving forwardUpdated clinical data from NKX101 program expected in 1H 2024Conference call scheduled for today, June 27, at 8:00 a.m. ET SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nkarta, Inc. (Nasdaq: NKTX), a biopharmaceutical company developing engineered natural killer (NK) cell therapies, today announced positive updated data from its Phase 1 study of NKX101 to treat patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). NKX101 is an allogeneic, off-the-shelf cell therapy candidate comprising NK cells derived from healthy donors and engineered to target NKG2D ligands on cancer cells. Four of six patients in one dose expansion cohort achieved a best composite complete response (67% CR/CRi rate) after receiving at least one cycle of NKX101. In this cohort, a cycle consisted of three weekly doses of NKX101 at 1.5 billion cells per dose after treatment with fludarabine (Flu) and Ara-C (cytarabine) for lymphodepletion. Ara-C is an established and important drug in the treatment of AML across treatment lines, including first line therapy. Exposure to Ara-C is also known to upregulate NKG2D ligands, potentially increasing sensitivity of cancerous cells to NK-cell mediated killing. Data from the NKX101 study suggest Ara-C has the potential to be an effective agent for lymphodepletion. “Patients with relapsed or refractory AML have few treatment options, and novel approaches are urgently needed. Traditional chemotherapy is often unable to drive deep remissions in this setting, and many patients cannot tolerate it,” said Carlos Bachier, M.D., Medical Director of Research and Cellular Therapy, Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy Pr...