MiNK Announces Preclinical Data Showcasing Activity of MiNK-215 Against Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases at AACR 2024
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Insights
The preclinical findings for MiNK-215, an IL-15 armored FAP-targeting CAR-iNKT cell therapy, represent a significant advancement in the field of immuno-oncology. The ability of MiNK-215 to enhance T cell-mediated tumor cell eradication in the challenging environment of the liver, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases, is noteworthy. The liver's unique immunological environment often hinders the efficacy of traditional immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but the deployment of iNKT cells, which naturally home to the liver and can engage with CD1d-expressing cells, offers a promising strategy to potentiate immune responses against metastatic cancer cells.
Furthermore, the depletion of immune suppressive FAP-expressing stellate cells is an encouraging development. This cellular interaction is crucial for remodeling the tumor microenvironment to facilitate an enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration, thus potentially improving patient response to ICIs. The collaboration with Agenus to combine allogeneic iNKT cells with botensilimab/balstilimab could pave the way for synergistic therapeutic regimens, which might extend the benefits of immunotherapy to patients with treatment-refractory MSS-CRC liver metastases.
The presentation of MiNK-215's preclinical data at the AACR Meeting is a strategic move for MiNK Therapeutics in the context of clinical trial planning and pharmaceutical development. The data suggest that MiNK-215 could potentially fill a gap in the current treatment landscape for MSS-CRC liver metastases, which is a significant unmet medical need. As liver metastases are a common and often deadly development in CRC patients, the ability of MiNK-215 to target these metastases through a novel mechanism of action is of great interest.
From a clinical trial strategy standpoint, the collaboration with Agenus and the inclusion of their ICIs, botensilimab and balstilimab, indicate a forward-thinking approach to combination therapies. This could lead to the design of innovative clinical studies that assess the efficacy and safety of these combinations. Given the complexity of the liver's immune environment, the positive preclinical results may accelerate the initiation of human trials, which would be the next critical step in validating MiNK-215's therapeutic potential.
The announcement of MiNK-215's preclinical success has potential implications for MiNK Therapeutics' market performance. Investors often track such preclinical outcomes as indicators of a company's future growth potential, particularly in the high-stakes arena of oncology treatments. The ability to address liver metastases in MSS-CRC—a notoriously difficult-to-treat condition—could position MiNK Therapeutics favorably in the market, provided subsequent clinical trials confirm these preclinical results.
Moreover, the partnership with Agenus and the exploration of combination therapies could be seen as a strategic endeavor to diversify treatment options and potentially capture a larger share of the oncology market. As the company progresses towards clinical trials, the anticipation of these studies and their potential to disrupt the current treatment paradigm for MSS-CRC liver metastases may influence investor sentiment and the company's stock valuation.
MiNK-215 Eradicated Tumor Cells in Human Organoid MSS Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases Model
NEW YORK, March 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: INKT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery, development, and commercialization of allogeneic, off-the-shelf, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies to treat cancer and other immune-mediated diseases, today announced the presentation of preclinical data from MiNK-215, an IL-15 armored FAP-targeting CAR-iNKT cell therapy, at the upcoming AACR Meeting, to be held April 5 – 10, 2024 in San Diego, CA. MiNK-215 is an investigational IL-15 armored FAP-targeting CAR-iNKT cell therapy being studied in human organoid models as a novel approach for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases.
The liver acts an essential filter for foreign substances that enter the body through the intestinal tract, shutting down the cytotoxic T cell responses against foreign antigens. This includes the tumor antigens that present due to liver metastases, as the liver shuts down the anti-cancer T cell response. Consequently, liver metastases pose a significant challenge for current pharmacological treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). iNKT cells offer promise in overcoming this immune barrier, given their natural ability to reside in and migrate to the liver. The liver has the largest number of iNKT cells as compared to any other organ and iNKT cells are drawn to CD1d-expressing cells, a prevalent cell type in the liver.
In human organoid models of CRC with liver metastases, MiNK-215 potently enhanced tumor killing by T cells and was associated with depletion of immune suppressive FAP-expressing stellate cells and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration. This allows the body to mount a much stronger T-cell response against the liver metastases, which can then be further enhanced by adding ICIs, like Agenus’ botensilimab/balstilimab.
“Liver metastases, especially in MSS-CRC, have remained a critical challenge in cancer care and represent a setting where novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to improve outcomes for patients,” said Dr. Marc van Dijk, Chief Scientific Officer at MiNK. “These first-of-a-kind data underscore the unique potential of iNKT cells to overcome the refractory liver microenvironment. We are proud to partner with Agenus on these innovative models to aid the design of clinical studies that can evaluate the synergy of allogeneic iNKT cells and botensilimab/balstilimab to expand benefit for patients.”
Presentation Details:
Abstract Title: MiNK-215, an IL-15 armored FAP-targeting CAR iNKT cell therapy, effectively treats human organoid models of treatment-refractory MSS colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases
Abstract Number: 1331
Presenting Author: Shanmugarajan Krishnan
Session: CAR-NK, NK Engagers, and NK Modulators
Presentation Session Date and Time: Monday April 8, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
Data presented at the conference will be available to view in the publications section of the MiNK website (https://minktherapeutics.com/publications/) following the AACR Meeting.
References:
- Gu, X., et al. Front Immunol. 2022
- Chen, Y., et al. Cell Mol Immunol. 2021
About MiNK Therapeutics
MiNK Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery, development, and commercialization of allogeneic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies to treat cancer and other immune-mediated diseases. MiNK is advancing a pipeline of both native and next generation engineered iNKT programs, with a platform designed to facilitate scalable and reproducible manufacturing for off-the-shelf delivery. The company is headquartered in New York, NY. For more information, visit https://minktherapeutics.com/ or @MiNK_iNKT. Information that may be important to investors will be routinely posted on our website and social media channels.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the therapeutic and curative potential of MiNK-215, including the mechanism of action, potency and safety, interim or top-line data, including statements regarding preclinical data, the anticipated benefits of MiNK-215 and clinical development plans and timelines. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the factors described under the Risk Factors section of the most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and the S-1 Registration Statement filed with the SEC. MiNK cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and MiNK undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements, other than to the extent required by law. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
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