iNKT Benefits Through:
- Naturally homing to virally infected tissues/cells
- Killing inflammatory monocytes (protects airway epithelium)
- Recruiting and activating NK and T cells
- Potentially dampening pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-1 and IL-6)
Clinical Experience
In a Phase 1/2 study in moderate-to-severe ARDS, agenT-797 was evaluated for safety and clinical outcomes, with findings published in Nature Communications (Hammond et al., 2024). MiNK subsequently initiated a randomized Phase 2 study evaluating agenT-797 in severe hypoxemic pneumonia and ARDS, independent of the causative pathogen. The study design and early clinical experience, including implementation in conflict-affected settings, were presented at MHSRS 2026.
Additional clinical experience includes emergency and compassionate use in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS requiring VV-ECMO (ATS 2023 and 2024), and use in combination with the IL-15 superagonist N-803 in unresolving disseminated coccidioidomycosis (Clinical Immunology Communications 2026; ATS 2026).
Beyond ARDS
Translational findings presented at Keystone 2026 explored the role of iNKT cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the potential for immune modulation to address dysregulated inflammation and maladaptive tissue repair.
In 2026, MiNK was selected to participate in an ARPA-H-funded BioStabilization Systems initiative exploring approaches to improve the storage, transport, and accessibility of cell therapies.