Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies leverage both adaptive and innate immune systems. Our investigational allogeneic iNKT cell therapy candidates directly attack tumor cells via TCR and NK-receptor mediated mechanisms, engaging both TCR- and NK-receptor-mediated killing within a single cell, without requiring gene engineering.
iNKT Anti-Cancer Benefit Through:
- Tumor lysis via TCR-dependent and -independent mechanisms
- CD1d ligands through the TCR
- Stress-signals through activating NK receptors, NKG2D, DNAM-1
- Counteracting myeloid suppressor cells
- Recruiting & activating NK & T cells in tumors
- Cytokine secretion (e.g. IFN-γ, IL-4)
agenT-797 has been evaluated in combination with checkpoint inhibitors across multiple solid tumor indications. Clinical findings include a Phase 1 study with pembrolizumab or nivolumab in advanced solid tumors (Carneiro et al., Oncogene 2024; updated findings SITC 2025), and a Phase 2 study with botensilimab and balstilimab in refractory gastroesophageal cancer (AACR 2026). Additional clinical experience includes salvage therapy in a heavily pretreated germ cell tumor (Oncogene 2025) and evaluation in multiple myeloma (SITC 2022).
MiNK is also advancing a Phase 2 investigator-sponsored study at Scripps evaluating agenT-797 in combination with botensilimab and balstilimab in microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer with active liver metastases.
Our engineered programs, including MiNK-215, an IL-15-armored FAP-targeting CAR-iNKT therapy, have demonstrated preclinical activity in models of treatment-resistant colorectal cancer (AACR 2024; SITC 2026).