Nkarta Appoints Autoimmune R&D Expert George Vratsanos to Board

Nkarta, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company in South San Francisco, announced on June 13, 2024, the appointment of Dr. George Vratsanos, a specialist in translational immunology, to its board of directors. Dr. Vratsanos, currently Chief Medical Officer and Head of R&D at Jnana Therapeutics, brings extensive expertise in immunology, clinical development, and translational science. His notable career includes leadership roles in major pharmaceutical companies like Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Roche, and Bristol Myers Squibb, contributing to the development of approved therapies such as Orencia® and Cosentyx®.

Dr. Vratsanos holds a medical degree with honors from the New York University (NYU) School of Medicine and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University in investigative rheumatology and immunobiology. Additionally, he earned a master’s degree in clinical investigation from Vanderbilt University, and both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Columbia University.

Paul J. Hastings, President and CEO of Nkarta, expressed enthusiasm about Dr. Vratsanos joining the company, highlighting his extensive experience in developing treatments for autoimmune diseases. Hastings emphasized that Vratsanos will be a significant asset as Nkarta advances its strategic objectives to innovate safe and accessible cell therapies for lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

In response, Dr. Vratsanos voiced his excitement about the new role and support for Nkarta's pioneering efforts in natural killer (NK) cell therapy. He noted the potential of NK cell therapy to treat autoimmune diseases more safely and efficiently compared to other cell therapies. Vratsanos looks forward to contributing to Nkarta's mission of translating cutting-edge immune science into therapies that significantly improve patient care.

Nkarta is focused on exploiting the body’s natural killer cells to develop NKX019, an allogeneic, on-demand cell therapy candidate targeting lupus nephritis. This severe form of lupus involves the immune system attacking the kidneys and other organs. NKX019 is designed using NK cells sourced from healthy adult donors, engineered with a CD19-directed CAR for enhanced cell targeting, and a membrane-bound form of interleukin-15 (IL-15) to improve persistence and activity.

Nkarta stands as a clinical-stage biotechnology firm committed to advancing allogeneic NK cell therapies. The company integrates cell expansion and cryopreservation platforms with proprietary engineering technologies, aiming to create highly therapeutic and broadly accessible cell therapies for outpatient treatment settings.

In summary, Nkarta’s strategic move to include Dr. Vratsanos on its board is expected to bolster its initiatives in developing innovative NK cell therapies. As the company continues to progress its programs, including NKX019 for lupus nephritis, it remains focused on making significant advancements in treating autoimmune diseases through groundbreaking cell therapy solutions. Dr. Vratsanos’ appointment marks a promising step in enhancing Nkarta's R&D capabilities and its overall mission.