NKMAX's NK cell therapy for Parkinson’s scores FDA compassionate use approval

[Farooqji]

SNK01 can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) thanks to its high CX3CR1 receptor expression after culture and can recognize and eliminate autoreactive T cells that cause neuroinflammation through DNAM-1 receptor.

In addition, a large amount of interferon-gamma is secreted to activate microglia to sterilize alpha-synuclein and remove damaged nerve cells.

Unlike conventional antibody therapies that focus only on protein elimination, SNK01 improves the overall environment in the brain, including protein accumulation, nerve inflammation, and removal of damaged neurons, the company explains.

"The patient who will be treated for Parkinson's disease this time was desperately hoping to administer SNK01 because various treatments were carried out but were ineffective," said an official from NKMAX. "The American patient will travel to the hospital on a private plane every three weeks to receive SNK01 which is expected to address the underlying cause of Parkinson's disease."

The company said it would supply the EAP NK cell therapy for the patient for free, in exchange for getting the patient's data.

koreabiomed.com/news/articl...

[Farooqji]

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/356...

ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.120...

[Bolt_Upright]

"The American patient will travel to the hospital on a private plane every three weeks" is an interesting detail. Besides the apparent tip that this patient is likely well heeled, it also makes me wonder why they need to travel private and, as the treatment is in California, why not rent a place?

Anyway, I really hope it works and I am happy they are giving them a shot at a cure.

[Boscoejean]

nkgenbiotech.com/science/

[Boscoejean]

parkinson.org/about-us/news...

[LeharLover62]

Thank you for finding this. I found a slightly more informative article here:

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/new...

It looks like they are doing a phase 1 study for Alzheimer’s and a study for advanced PD and Lewy Bodies. Interesting idea to use natural killer cells to clean up all the damage….fingers crossed.

[KemptonD]

As a follow up, here are excerpts from a company announcement dated April 25, 2024;;

'NKGen Biotech Presents Updated NK Cell Therapy Data for Neurodegenerative Disease at the 12th Annual Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Drug Development Summit'

'NKGen Biotech’s NK cell immunotherapy was created to take advantage of the NK cells’ role in the body. By enhancing the body’s natural killers, we are maximizing the body’s ability to destroy diseased and abnormal cells.'

'Rationale for use of SNK01 in Parkinson’s was discussed along with the clinical trial plan to initiate a Phase 1 PD trial in 2H 2024.'

nkgenbiotech.com/nkgen-biot...

The link above has a link to a short video presentation;

youtube.com/watch?v=Dk05Zcf...(Not working as expected?)