MiNK and Autonomous Therapeutics Collaborate on New Metastatic Tumor Therapies

NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2024 — MiNK Therapeutics, a clinical-stage firm specializing in allogeneic off-the-shelf invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies, has partnered with Autonomous Therapeutics, an innovator in disease-activated RNA medicines, to undertake a research initiative targeting metastatic tumors. The collaboration will fuse Autonomous’ encrypted RNA (encRNA) technology with MiNK’s advanced iNKT cell therapies, MiNK-215 and agenT-797, to develop effective treatments for metastatic cancer.

The collaboration aims to leverage the unique attributes of both companies' technologies. MiNK’s iNKT cell therapies have shown potential in overcoming limitations of current immune checkpoint inhibitors. These therapies can effectively target and eliminate tumor cells, as demonstrated in preclinical models of microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer with metastatic liver disease. By integrating Autonomous’ encRNA technology, which enables precision targeting of cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, the collaboration seeks to enhance therapeutic outcomes and minimize side effects.

Dr. Jennifer Buell, MiNK’s President and CEO, emphasized the importance of the collaboration in exploring innovative treatments that could significantly improve patient outcomes. MiNK-215 and agenT-797 are designed to bypass the constraints of traditional immune checkpoint inhibitors, showing promising results in preclinical studies. Combining these iNKT cell therapies with Autonomous’ encRNA technology could unlock new therapeutic possibilities, aiming to transform cell therapy landscapes.

Dr. Ariel Weinberger, CEO of Autonomous, expressed excitement about the collaboration, highlighting the potential of their encrypted RNA technology to precisely target cancer cells. Autonomous has developed AT313, a preclinical encRNA candidate, to enable targeted therapeutic protein translation in cancer cells. This approach aims to eliminate cancer cells while preserving healthy and immune cells, potentially reducing dose-limiting toxicities common in current oncology treatments. The collaboration’s ultimate goal is to significantly improve outcomes for patients with advanced-stage cancer.

MiNK-215 is an investigational cellular immunotherapy designed to target resistance mechanisms within the immune system and promote a robust anti-cancer response. Engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting the Fibroblast Activating Protein (FAP) found in stromal cells of the tumor microenvironment, MiNK-215 also integrates soluble IL-15 to enhance persistence. Preclinical models have shown that MiNK-215 can effectively eliminate both tumor cells and FAP-positive immune-suppressive cells while facilitating the infiltration and persistence of proinflammatory cytotoxic T cells.

AgenT-797, another investigational off-the-shelf immune cell therapy by MiNK, exhibits anti-viral and immune-modulating properties. In a Phase 1 trial involving 54 patients with heavily pre-treated solid tumors, agenT-797 demonstrated the ability to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors, achieving durable disease stabilization in multiple solid tumors and a confirmed response in refractory gastric cancer. AgenT-797 is also being evaluated in a Phase 2 trial for second-line gastric cancer.

MiNK Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of developing and commercializing iNKT cell therapies to treat cancer and other immune-mediated diseases. The company’s pipeline includes both native and engineered iNKT programs, designed for scalable and reproducible manufacturing for off-the-shelf delivery, headquartered in New York, NY.

Autonomous Therapeutics specializes in developing a new class of RNA medicines (encRNA) for challenging indications in oncology and infectious diseases. Their proprietary encRNA pipeline includes next-generation immunotherapies like AT313, aimed at precisely eliminating solid tumor cells. Autonomous’ work is supported by various partners and funders, including DARPA, the NIH, and Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

Encrypted RNA (encRNA) is a novel class of RNA designed to enable precision medicine development against diseases driven by abnormal nucleic acid expression or protein translation. EncRNA candidates are engineered to differentiate between healthy and diseased cells, allowing for targeted therapeutic protein translation solely in diseased cells. This technology has demonstrated preclinical safety and efficacy in animal models, showing potential to eradicate immunologically “cold” solid tumors via precision immunotherapy.