NKGen Biotech Presents Phase 1/2a Troculeucel Data in Alzheimer’s Disease at the 17th Annual Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) Conference

Rhea-AI Summary

NKGen Biotech presented Phase 1/2a trial data for troculeucel in Alzheimer's Disease at the CTAD Conference. The Phase 1 trial showed that troculeucel reduces several biomarkers detectable up to 10 years before dementia symptoms. In the Phase 1/2a trial, using the highest dose of 6 billion cells, all three treated subjects showed stable or improved cognitive function, with two subjects improving from moderate to mild disease after three months. The treatment demonstrated strong safety with no adverse reactions. The Phase 1 pilot trial showed 90% of evaluable subjects experienced stable or improved cognitive function, with reductions in neuroinflammation biomarkers.

Positive

• 100% of subjects treated with highest dose showed stable or improved cognitive function
• 66% of subjects improved from moderate to mild Alzheimer's Disease in Phase 1/2a trial
• 90% of evaluable subjects in Phase 1 pilot showed stable or improved cognitive function
• No treatment-related adverse events observed in trials
• Biomarker improvements seen in up to 70% of patients for various markers

Negative

• 70% of subjects in initial trial received suboptimal dosing
• Further studies needed to confirm initial findings
• sample size of only three subjects in Phase 1/2a highest dose cohort

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The Phase 1/2a trial data for troculeucel in Alzheimer's Disease shows promising results. Key findings include:

• Safety profile: No adverse reactions at the highest dose of 6 billion cells
• Efficacy indicators: 100% of subjects showed stable or improved cognitive function, with 66% improving from moderate to mild AD
• Biomarker improvements: Reductions in multiple critical markers including GFAP, NfL, p-tau181, GDF-15 and LTBP2

The data is particularly significant as there are currently no approved therapies for moderate-stage AD that can improve cognitive function. The potential for preventive application in asymptomatic individuals with elevated biomarkers represents a substantial market opportunity.

Market Research Analyst

This clinical progress positions NKGen Biotech strategically in the lucrative Alzheimer's market. The company's approach targeting moderate-stage AD, which affects 35% of AD patients, addresses a significant unmet medical need. The non-genetically modified nature of troculeucel could offer advantages in manufacturing costs and regulatory approval compared to modified cell therapies. The potential preventive application could dramatically expand the addressable market beyond current treatment paradigms. However, investors should note that while Phase 1/2a results are promising, larger studies are needed to confirm efficacy.

Newly analyzed biomarker data from the initial dose-escalation Phase 1 AD trial found that troculeucel reduces GFAP, NfL, p-tau181, GDF-15, and LTBP2 levels, which are detectable up to 10 years before dementia symptoms appear according to recent reports. This suggests a potential role for the use of troculeucel in delaying or preventing dementia onset in asymptomatic individuals with detectable biomarkers.

Preliminary analysis from the Phase 1/2a AD trial administering the highest dose of cryopreserved troculeucel given to date (6 billion cells) showed troculeucel to be very safe with no adverse reactions. Of the first three subjects treated at this highest dose, 100% had stable or improved cognitive function, and two of the three showed significant improvement from moderate stage disease to mild cognitive impairment after only three months of treatment.

SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NKGen Biotech Inc. (Nasdaq: NKGN) (“NKGen” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative autologous and allogeneic natural killer cell therapeutics, today announced the presentation of two posters, on its first-in-kind, autologous, non-genetically modified NK cell product, troculeucel, in Alzheimer’s Disease (“AD”). The posters entitled, “Use of Non-genetically Modified Natural Killer Cells (SNK01) With Enhanced Activity in Subjects with Active Alzheimer’s Disease. Further Biomarker Analysis and Implications for Use in Prevention” and “Treatment of Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Subjects with Expanded Non-genetically Modified Natural Killer Cells (troculeucel; SNK01) with Enhanced Activity – Report of the Phase 1 results of the Phase 1/2a Study” were presented at the 17th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease Annual Meeting (“CTAD”) on October 29, 2024.

NKGen previously showed, in a dose-escalation Phase 1 pilot trial, that four treatments with suboptimal doses of troculeucel in AD subjects were well-tolerated and had preliminary ability to impact cognition and improve protein and neuroinflammation biomarkers. Based on recent publications by Guo et. al., and Johansson et. al., which both reported the detection of several biomarkers a full decade before patients developed clinical symptoms of dementia, NKGen reanalyzed its biobank to determine if troculeucel effected specific biomarkers (e.g., GFAP, NfL, p-tau181, GDF-15, and LTBP2) implicated with increased AD risk.

“Despite the majority of subjects receiving suboptimal dosing and only four total doses in the Phase 1 pilot trial, we found that our autologous NK cell treatment was safe and that 90% of evaluable subjects experienced stable or improved cognitive function,” said Paul Y. Song, MD, Chairman and CEO of NKGen. “We also revealed that several subjects demonstrated reductions in several neuroinflammation biomarkers, such as GFAP, NfL, p-tau181, GDF-15, and LTBP2. We believe that increased screening for these biomarkers in asymptomatic individuals may reveal that troculeucel, which potentially reduces the associated biomarkers, could be a safe intervention to either delay, or prevent the onset of, dementia. However, further studies are needed to confirm these initial findings.”

For the follow-up Phase 1/2a trial on moderate Alzheimer’s patients, the Company hypothesized that troculeucel, given at the highest dose to date of 6 billion cells, could be safely infused and hopes to confirm an even greater impact on cognition and biomarkers.

Dr. Song added, “While 35% of all Alzheimer’s patients have moderate-stage disease, there is currently no approved therapy to improve cognitive function, let alone stop and/or slow cognitive decline, in this patient population. We have since initiated a Phase 1/2a trial using our highest dose of cryopreserved troculeucel in moderate AD subjects. We observed stable or improved cognitive function and no treatment-related adverse events after just three months of treatment. Notably, two of the three enrolled subjects in the Phase 1 cohort showed clinical improvement from moderate to mild AD based on ADCOMS and CDR-SB scores. Based on our promising data to date, we have already dosed the first two subjects in our double-blind, randomized Phase 2 cohort; and, look forward to sharing data updates when available. We are excited about the potential of troculeucel as a treatment for AD as well as the potential utility for it across other tau- and synuclein-related neurodegenerative diseases.”

Data Highlights from the Poster Presentations:

Poster entitled “Use of Non-genetically Modified Natural Killer Cells (SNK01) With Enhanced Activity in Subjects with Active Alzheimer’s Disease. Further Biomarker Analysis and Implications for Use in Prevention”:

• Eleven subjects (5 males and 6 females) enrolled.
  • 10 subjects were evaluable.
  • Median age was 79 years (56 to 85 years).
• Despite 70% of subjects being treated at relatively low doses of troculeucel, 90% of all evaluable subjects had either stable or improved (±0.1) composite ADCOMS scores at Week 11 (one-week after the final dose) as previously disclosed.
• One-week post-final dose, improvement in CSF biomarkers were observed in 70% p-Tau181, 60% AB42/40 ratio, 60% GFAP, 40% GDF-15, 30% LTBP2, and 30% NF-L.
• Despite suboptimal dosing for two/thirds of the subjects, troculeucel was able to positively affect biomarkers that are associated with increased AD development.
• No treatment related adverse events were observed.
• Results from this study suggest troculeucel could potentially be a safe preventative intervention for individuals at high-risk for AD.
• Further evaluation of neuroinflammation biomarkers related to predicting risk of AD and dementia would be beneficial to support the investigation.
  

Poster entitled “Treatment of Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Subjects with Expanded Non-genetically Modified Natural Killer Cells (troculeucel; SNK01) with Enhanced Activity – Report of the Phase 1 results of the Phase 1/2a Study”:

• Three (3) subjects were enrolled in the Phase 1 cohort.
• Early review of the data shows that after three months’ treatment with a dose of 6 x 10⁹ cells every 3 weeks:
  • Clinical improvement was seen in two/thirds of the subjects, who went from a moderate to a mild AD rating on the CDR-SB scale.
  • All three subjects had either a stable or improved ADCOMS score.
• No treatment-related clinical or laboratory adverse reactions were seen; and, well tolerated in moderate AD subjects. Findings are similar to the SNK01-MX04 Phase 1 AD study (NCT04678453), where troculeucel was well-tolerated, and the one moderate AD subject who received a dose of 4 x 10⁹ cells also went from a moderate to a mild rating on the CDR-SB.
• This study aims to confirm previous preliminary efficacy seen on both cognitive and biomarker changes in AD subjects.
• Troculeucel will be evaluated for safety and efficacy in the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2a part of the study.
  

Copies of the posters are available on the Scientific Publications page of the Company’s website at https://nkgenbiotech.com/. Previously disclosed Phase 1 data on the positive effects of troculeucel on amyloid, tau, and neuroinflammation biomarkers in Alzheimer’s patients can also be found on the Scientific Publications webpage.

About Troculeucel

Troculeucel is a novel cell-based, patient specific ex vivo expanded autologous natural killer (“NK”) cell, immunotherapeutic drug candidate. NKGen is developing troculeucel for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and a broad range of cancers. Troculeucel is the International Nonproprietary Name (“INN”) for SNK01 assigned by the World Health Organization (“WHO”). The WHO INN approval of troculeucel establishes a universally recognized nonproprietary drug name for SNK01 and marks a significant step on our journey toward bringing this therapy to market.

About NKGen Biotech

NKGen is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative autologous and allogeneic NK cell therapeutics. NKGen is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, USA. For more information, please visit www.nkgenbiotech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “continue”, “expect”, “estimate”, “may”, “plan”, “outlook”, “future” and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s plans and expected timing for developing troculeucel and SNK02, including the expected timing of completing and announcing further results from its ongoing clinical studies; and the Company’s expected timing for developing its product candidates and potential benefits of its product candidates. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the Company’s ability to execute its plans and strategies; risks related to performing clinical studies; the risk that initial and interim results of a clinical study do not necessarily predict final results and that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues, following more comprehensive reviews of the data, and as more patient data become available; potential delays in the commencement, enrollment and completion of clinical studies and the reporting of data therefrom; the risk that studies will not be completed as planned; the risk that the abstract will not be published as planned including delays in timing, format, or accessibility; and NKGen’s ability to raise additional funding to complete the development of its product candidates. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s filings and reports, which may be accessed for free by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov and on the Company’s website under the subheading “Investors—Financial and Filings”. Investors should take such risks into account and should not rely on forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Internal Contact:
Denise Chua, MBA, CLS, MLS (ASCP)
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
949-396-6830
dchua@nkgenbiotech.com

External Contacts:
Chris Calabrese
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
ccalabrese@lifesciadvisors.com

Kevin Gardner
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
kgardner@lifesciadvisors.com

FAQ

What were the results of NKGen Biotech's (NKGN) Phase 1/2a trial for troculeucel in Alzheimer's?

In the Phase 1/2a trial, using 6 billion cells dose, 100% of subjects showed stable or improved cognitive function, with two out of three subjects improving from moderate to mild Alzheimer's Disease after three months, with no adverse reactions.

How many patients showed improvement in NKGen Biotech's (NKGN) Phase 1 Alzheimer's trial?

In the Phase 1 pilot trial, 90% of evaluable subjects experienced stable or improved cognitive function, despite 70% receiving suboptimal doses.

What biomarkers did troculeucel reduce in NKGen Biotech's (NKGN) Alzheimer's trial?

Troculeucel reduced several biomarkers including GFAP, NfL, p-tau181, GDF-15, and LTBP2, with improvements seen in up to 70% of patients for various markers.