MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. announced the publication of results in Nature Communications from a phase 1/2 study of agenT-797 in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress (ARDS) secondary to SARS-CoV-2. These findings show that agenT-797 holds significant promise in improving patient survival and reducing secondary infections, all while maintaining a favorable safety profile. ARDS is a life-threatening, rapidly progressive form of respiratory failure, associated with approximately 40% mortality. MiNK?s phase 1/2 study was designed to investigate a single dose of allogeneic iNKT cells, agenT-797, in patients with moderate to severe ARDS, including those on mechanical ventilation and mechanical lung support (VV-ECMO).

Results Highlights: In a cohort of 21 patients with mechanical ventilation, survival rates exceeded 70%, with a remarkable 80% survival rate among those (5) on VV ECMO. These data stand in stark contrast compared to 10% survival rate in the in-hospital control group at the same time. agenT-797 was shown to induce anti-inflammatory biomarkers and prevent secondary bacterial and fungal infections, including a more than 80% reduction in pneumonia in the highest dose cohort.