▪ Nkarta Therapeutics has entered into a strategic platform licence (SPL) agreement to gain clinical and commercial rights to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation technology and the ExPERT platform. This nonexclusive licence is the fifteenth such deal and, in common with the prior licences, the financial terms are not disclosed. MaxCyte will receive platform licensing fees and programme-related milestone payments. ▪ Nkarta’s cell therapy approach is based on Natural Killer (NK) cells, which, unlike T-cell therapies (CAR-Ts), have an inherent ability to target tumour cells without the need for tailored genetic modification. Nkarta’s CAR-NK platform can target many solid tumour types, allows allogeneic manufacturing (it is available off-the-shelf), has a potent and sustained cytotoxic effect, and offers the prospect of fewer side-effects. ▪ Nkarta will use MaxCyte’s transfection technology platforms to create and produce the genetically relevant (mbIL15 and CAR) NKs in a robust and consistent manner. Its lead asset, NKX101 (NKG2D ligand), is in Phase I for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), with initial data expected in H122. NKX019 (CD19+) recently began a Phase I in advanced B-cell malignancies. Two earlier-stage programmes (one for CD70+ tumours, the other undisclosed) are partnered with CRISPR Therapeutics. ▪ This agreement with Nkarta is MaxCyte’s fifteenth SPL deal and the fourth secured in 2021 so far. MaxCyte is increasingly acknowledged as an industry leader in non-viral cell delivery and engineering. The ExPERT flow electroporation platform is based on over 20 years of development, which has resulted in its ability to provide high transfection rates, consistent reproducibility, and high versatility in introducing a wide range of molecules into cells. Trinity Delta view: MaxCyte’s proven expertise is increasingly at the
04 Nov 2021
Nkarta signs SPL to accelerate its NK cell therapies
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Nkarta signs SPL to accelerate its NK cell therapies
MaxCyte, Inc. (MXCT:LON) | 342 0 0.0% | Mkt Cap: 356.6m
- Published:
04 Nov 2021 -
Author:
Franc Gregori | Lala Gregorek -
Pages:
2
▪ Nkarta Therapeutics has entered into a strategic platform licence (SPL) agreement to gain clinical and commercial rights to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation technology and the ExPERT platform. This nonexclusive licence is the fifteenth such deal and, in common with the prior licences, the financial terms are not disclosed. MaxCyte will receive platform licensing fees and programme-related milestone payments. ▪ Nkarta’s cell therapy approach is based on Natural Killer (NK) cells, which, unlike T-cell therapies (CAR-Ts), have an inherent ability to target tumour cells without the need for tailored genetic modification. Nkarta’s CAR-NK platform can target many solid tumour types, allows allogeneic manufacturing (it is available off-the-shelf), has a potent and sustained cytotoxic effect, and offers the prospect of fewer side-effects. ▪ Nkarta will use MaxCyte’s transfection technology platforms to create and produce the genetically relevant (mbIL15 and CAR) NKs in a robust and consistent manner. Its lead asset, NKX101 (NKG2D ligand), is in Phase I for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), with initial data expected in H122. NKX019 (CD19+) recently began a Phase I in advanced B-cell malignancies. Two earlier-stage programmes (one for CD70+ tumours, the other undisclosed) are partnered with CRISPR Therapeutics. ▪ This agreement with Nkarta is MaxCyte’s fifteenth SPL deal and the fourth secured in 2021 so far. MaxCyte is increasingly acknowledged as an industry leader in non-viral cell delivery and engineering. The ExPERT flow electroporation platform is based on over 20 years of development, which has resulted in its ability to provide high transfection rates, consistent reproducibility, and high versatility in introducing a wide range of molecules into cells. Trinity Delta view: MaxCyte’s proven expertise is increasingly at the