NKGen Biotech Advances SNK01 NK Cell Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease with Health Canada Clearance and Promising Phase 1 Data

Recently, NKGen Biotech announced that its researchNK Cell TherapySNK01Treatment of Moderate Alzheimer's Disease (AD))OfClinicalTest Application (CTA），AlreadyReceived in CanadaLetter of No Objection from the Ministry of Health（NOL）。

SNK01 is aNoAfterGenetic EngineeringAutologous NK cells have superior safety compared to genetically engineered NK cells. According to NKGen Biotech, the process from NK cell isolation to cryopreservation takes 18 days, and through a single preparation, multiple doses can be obtained to meet a patient's treatment needs for 4-6 months.

At the 2023 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference, NKGEN Biotech reported positive progress of the SNK01 project in Alzheimer's disease.

Data from a Phase 1 clinical study on AD showed that SNK01 was well-tolerated, appeared to cross the blood-brain barrier, and had positive effects on brain protein aggregation and neuroinflammation, with no related serious adverse reactions observed. According to the Alzheimer's Disease Composite Score (ADCOMS), 90% of patients demonstrated improved or stable cognitive function at week 11 (one week after the final dose).

The clinical study of SNK01 launched in Canada: Phase 1 aims to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended dose for Phase 2; Phase 2 aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SNK01 in patients with moderate AD. The study has enrolled approximately 36 patients with moderate AD, and the first interim data is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2024.

NK cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes of the innate immune system, characterized by their ability to spontaneously detect and kill infected or malignant cells, protect healthy cells, and participate in immune system functions.

NK cells are widely developed for adoptive cell therapy in cancer treatment, but based on the characteristics of NK cells, they also hold significant therapeutic potential in autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, there is research exploring the role of NK cells in anti-aging.

Further Reading:Infusion of Autologous NK Cells Can Combat Aging