Nkarta Announces IND Clearance of Investigator-Sponsored Trial in Myasthenia Gravis and Opening of Enrollment for Ntrust-2

Core Insights - Nkarta, Inc. has announced the opening of Ntrust-2 for patient enrollment and received IND clearance for an investigator-sponsored trial (IST) to evaluate NKX019 in patients with myasthenia gravis [1][3][21] - NKX019 is an allogeneic, CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK-cell therapy designed to target B-cell mediated diseases, offering potential advantages such as rapid B-cell killing and reduced toxicity [2][21] - The expansion of NKX019's clinical trials to include systemic sclerosis, myositis, and ANCA-associated vasculitis highlights its potential as a treatment option for various autoimmune diseases [3][4] Company Overview - Nkarta is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing engineered natural killer (NK) cell therapies, utilizing proprietary technologies for enhanced therapeutic activity [22] - The company aims to provide accessible treatment options for autoimmune diseases through its innovative NK cell therapies [3][22] Clinical Trials - Ntrust-2 is a multi-center, open-label, dose escalation trial that will assess the safety and efficacy of NKX019 in patients with systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, and ANCA-associated vasculitis [4][17] - The IST for myasthenia gravis will evaluate safety and clinical outcomes, with plans for translational and biomarker studies [6][7][18] - Preliminary data from both Ntrust-1 and Ntrust-2 trials are expected in 2025, with ongoing enrollment in these studies [9][10] Treatment Potential - NKX019 has the potential to enable long-term remissions by resetting the immune system through the elimination of pathogenic B cells, which could change the treatment paradigm for autoimmune diseases [4][21] - Current therapies for myasthenia gravis often require chronic administration, whereas NKX019 may offer a more sustainable treatment approach [6][8]