MiNK Therapeutics and University of Wisconsin–Madison Announce Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Allo-iNKT Cell Therapy (AgenT-797) to Evaluate Prevention of Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Core Viewpoint - MiNK Therapeutics is initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial for its lead therapy, agenT-797, aimed at reducing graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) [1][2]. Group 1: Clinical Trial Details - The trial will assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of agenT-797 in patients with high-risk leukemias and other blood cancers [2]. - The study is led by Dr. Hongtao Liu and co-investigator Dr. Kalyan V. G. Nadiminti from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health [2]. Group 2: Funding and Support - The development of agenT-797 is supported by two public-private funding awards: an NIH STTR grant from NIAID and a philanthropic clinical grant, the Mary Gooze Clinical Trial Award [3]. - The Mary Gooze Clinical Trial Award funds enrollment, immune monitoring, and operations for the Phase 1 trial, while also supporting mechanistic research on how iNKT cells control leukemia [5]. Group 3: Therapeutic Potential - GvHD is a significant complication post-HSCT, affecting up to 50% of recipients, and effective treatment options are limited [4]. - AgenT-797 is designed to suppress inflammatory allo-immune responses while preserving anti-leukemia activity, potentially improving survival and quality of life for transplant patients [4]. Group 4: Company Overview - MiNK Therapeutics specializes in allogeneic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies and aims to develop next-generation immune reconstitution therapies [7][8]. - AgenT-797 is characterized as an off-the-shelf, donor-derived iNKT cell therapy that does not require lymphodepletion or HLA matching, making it a scalable treatment option [4][9].