NAKI Therapeutics develops a CAR-NK cell therapy that targets the CD147 surface marker on cancer cells, specifically for treating hepatocellular carcinoma. This approach utilizes allogeneic, 'off-the-shelf' NK cells, which are engineered for enhanced cytotoxicity and lower toxicity compared to traditional CAR-T therapies.
Funding
$3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a solid tumor with limited effective treatment options. Traditional cancer therapies like CAR-T cells can have significant toxicities, and developing cost-effective and scalable cell therapies for solid tumors remains a challenge.
Solution
NAKI Therapeutics is developing an allogeneic CAR-NK cell therapy targeting the CD147 surface marker on cancer cells, with an initial focus on HCC. The company's approach engineers natural killer (NK) cells, part of the innate immune system, to specifically recognize and kill cancer cells expressing CD147. NAKI's CAR-NK cells are designed to offer enhanced cytotoxicity and a lower toxicity profile compared to CAR-T cell therapies. The company has also developed proprietary methods for the rapid and high-purity expansion of "memory-like," highly potent, off-the-shelf NK and CAR-NK cells, enabling cost-effective and scalable production.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the healthcare providers who treat them, specifically oncologists and hematologists.
Features
- Targets CD147, a surface marker expressed on HCC cells.
- Utilizes allogeneic, "off-the-shelf" NK cells, offering a readily available therapeutic option.
- Engineered for enhanced cytotoxicity against HCC cells.
- Designed for lower toxicity compared to traditional CAR-T cell therapies.
- Proprietary expansion technology for rapid and high-purity production of "memory-like" NK and CAR-NK cells.
- Aims to provide a more effective and safer treatment option for HCC.