Benzinga | Oct 8, 2021 08:11AM EDT

Nkarta Expects Initial Data From CAR NK Cell Therapy In Blood Cancer In 2022

* Nkarta Inc (NASDAQ:NKTX) has updated guidance on initial data readout of Phase 1 trial of NKX101 in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia or higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

* Data from the engineered CAR NK cell therapy candidate targeting the NKG2D ligand is expected in 1H of 2022, against the end of 2021 expected earlier.

* Multiple factors have affected the cadence of the NKX101 Phase 1 study, including the use of haplomatched (half-matched or partially-matched) donor-derived cells, the requirement for a staggered enrollment of patients that was longer than expected initially, and COVID-19 related disruptions.

* Additionally, Nkarta dosed the first patient in Phase 1 trial of NKX019 in advanced B-cell malignancies.

* NKX019 is an NK cell immunotherapy engineered to eradicate tumors expressing CD19, a validated B-cell cancer target.

* Related: Nkarta, CRISPR Join Forces On CAR-NK Development For Cancer.

* Price Action: NKTX shares closed 4.56% higher on Thursday.