Global Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapy Clinical Trials, Proprietary Technologies, Collaborations & Market Opportunity Insight 2025

PUBLISHED: March 1, 2025

PAGES: 320 Pages

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Global Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapy Clinical Trials, Proprietary Technologies, Collaborations & Market Opportunity Insight 2025 Report Highlights & Findings:

Global & Regional Market Trends By Indication
First NK Cell Therapy Approval Expected By 2028
Number Of NK Cell Therapies In Clinical Trials: >180 Therapies
Highest Phase For NK Cell Therapies Clinical Trials: Phase II/III
NK Cell Therapies Granted Fast Track & Orphan Status: > 5 Therapies
Global Natural Killer Cell Therapies Clinical Trials By Company

Indication & Phase

Insight On Recent Partnerships, Collaborations & Licensing Agreements
NK Cell Therapies Proprietary Technologies By Company
Monotherapy & Combinational Treatment Strategies

This Report Exclusively Examines Therapeutic Strategies That Employ Natural Killer (NK) Cells, Excluding Any Methods That Incorporate Antibody Engagers Intended To Bind To & Activate NK Cells.

Cell therapies have made significant progress in recent years, transforming treatment methods for a variety of diseases. Among these, NK (natural killer) cell therapies have gained considerable interest due to their potential. While they initially focused on cancer treatment, these therapies are now branching out to tackle non-cancerous conditions such as autoimmune diseases. NK cells play vital role in the immune system's fight against tumors and infections, and researchers are working to enhance their natural ability to target and destroy harmful cells. Although this field is still developing, with many therapies in early stages of clinical trials, the rapid enhancement of NK cell therapies, bolstered by innovative research and increasing funding, suggests a significant change in healthcare.

One of the most notable developments in NK cell therapies is the growing interest in allogeneic NK cells, which are derived from healthy donors and can be used off-the-shelf, offering a scalable solution for mass treatment. These therapies are being explored not only in cancer but also in autoimmune conditions, reflecting a broadening of their application. For example, companies like Nkarta are advancing allogeneic NK cell therapies for conditions such as myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune disease, showing how NK cell therapy could potentially reshape the landscape of immunotherapy for both cancer and autoimmune disorders. Similarly, several companies are targeting specific cancers with engineered NK cells, such as SMT Bio's SMT-NK, which is being evaluated for biliary tract cancer. This therapy combines NK cells with immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab to improve efficacy, marking a significant step forward in NK cell-based combination therapies.

The rapid advancement of NK cell therapies is being supported by robust funding from both private investors and government agencies. For instance, in late 2024, Indapta Therapeutics secured US$ 22.5 million in financing to support the clinical development of its allogeneic NK cell therapy, IDP-023, for cancer and autoimmune diseases. This influx of capital is crucial for generating data in ongoing trials, allowing for further exploration of NK cell therapy's potential. Similarly, the City University of Hong Kong received a government grant to develop CAR-NK cells for treating autoimmune juvenile dermatomyositis, a rare pediatric disease. This funding highlights the increasing interest and investment in NK cell therapies not just for cancer but also for a range of other immune-mediated conditions.

At the same time, collaborations between biotechnology firms and pharmaceutical giants are helping to drive clinical development. For example, Indapta Therapeutics partnered with Sanofi to explore the combination of IDP-023 with Sarclisa (isatuximab) for multiple myeloma. This collaboration underscores the importance of integrating NK cell therapies with other established treatments to enhance their effectiveness. By combining NK cells with existing monoclonal antibodies or chemotherapy regimens, these treatments could overcome some of the limitations seen with monotherapies. Additionally, innovative technologies such as nanomaterials and gene editing are being incorporated into NK cell therapy to enhance targeting precision and improve clinical outcomes. Nanoparticles are being used to stabilize NK cells and boost their ability to reach and eliminate tumor cells, offering an exciting new approach to improving the performance of these therapies.

To conclude, the NK cell therapy market is entering a period of significant growth, with substantial investments and technological advancements driving progress. The focus on allogeneic NK cells and their potential for treating both cancer and autoimmune diseases represents a promising shift in immunotherapy. Strategic collaborations, cutting-edge technologies, and the continued influx of funding will likely accelerate the development of NK cell therapies, transforming the treatment paradigm for a wide array of diseases. As clinical data continues to emerge, the NK cell therapy market is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of precision medicine, offering novel, off-the-shelf solutions for conditions that have historically been difficult to treat with conventional therapies.

1. Introduction to Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapy

2. Mechanism Of Action of NK Cell Therapy

2.1 Cytotoxic Action Of NK Cells
2.2 Working Of NK Cell Therapy
2.3 NK Cell Therapies Approaches
- 2.3.1 CAR NK Cell Therapies
- 2.3.2 TCR NK Cell Therapies

3. Treatment Strategies For NK Cell Therapies

3.1 NK Cell Therapy As Monotherapy
3.2 NK Cell Therapy As Combinatorial Agent

4. Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapy Research & Development Trends By Indication

4.1 Cancer
- 4.1.1 Hematological Cancers
- 4.1.2 Solid Cancers
4.2 Autoimmune & Inflammatory Disorders
4.3 Microbial Infections
4.4 Neurodegenerative Diseases

5. NK Cell Therapy Characteristics Enhancement Approaches

5.1 Use Of Nanotechnology
5.2 Modifications In CARs
5.3 Use Of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing

6. Global Natural Killer Cell Therapies Clinical Trials Overview

6.1 By Country
6.2 By Indication
6.3 By Patient Segment
6.4 By Phase
6.5 By Priority Status

7. Global Natural Killer Cell Therapies Clinical Trials By Company, Indication & Phase

7.1 Research
7.2 Preclinical
7.3 Phase-0
7.4 Phase-I
7.5 Phase-I/II
7.6 Phase-II
7.7 Phase-II/III

8. NK Cell Based Therapy Proprietary Approaches & Technologies Insight

8.1 Overview
8.2 Proprietary Technologies By Company

9. Partnerships & Funding for NK Cell Therapies

9.1 Recent Partnerships, Collaborations & Licensing Agreements
9.2 Funding Deals By Companies

10. Investigational NK Cell Therapies With FDA Designations

10.1 FDA Fast Track Designation
10.2 FDA Orphan Drug Designation
10.3 Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation

11. NK Cell Therapies Market Trends & Clinical Trials Outlook

11.1 Current Market Trends, Developments & Clinical Trials Assessment
11.2 Future Commercialization Opportunity

12. Competitive Landscape

12.1 Acepodia
12.2 Beijing JD Biotech
12.3 Cartherics
12.4 Catamaran Bio
12.5 Century Therapeutics
12.6 City of Hope National Medical Center
12.7 CRISPR Therapeutics
12.8 CytoImmune Therapeutics
12.9 Cytovia Therapeutics
12.10 Dragonfly Therapeutics
12.11 Editas Medicine
12.12 Fate Therapeutics
12.13 Gamida-Cell
12.14 GC Biopharma/GC Lab Cell
12.15 GICELL
12.16 Glycostem
12.17 HK inno.N
12.18 ImmunityBio
12.19 Karolinska Institute
12.20 Kiadis Pharma
12.21 Nkarta Therapeutics
12.22 NKGen Biotech
12.23 ONK Therapeutics
12.24 Sanofi
12.25 Senti Biosciences
12.26 Shoreline Biosciences
12.27 Sian Wuhan Medical Technology
12.28 Smart Immune
12.29 Sorrento Therapeutics
12.30 Therabest Korea
12.31 University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
12.32 XNK Therapeutics
12.33 Zelluna Immunotherapy

List of Figures

Figure 1-1: NK Cells - Identification & Discovery Timeline
Figure 1-2: NK Cell Subsets - CD56low/dim v/s CD56bright
Figure 2-1: Cytotoxic Action Of NK Cells
Figure 2-2: CAR-NK Cells Preparation
Figure 2-3: Delivery Of CAR Gene Into NK Cell
Figure 2-4: NK Cells Sources For Therapy
Figure 2-5: Structure Of CAR/TCR-NK Cell
Figure 4-1: PRAME-TCR-NK Cells Therapy Phase 1/2 (NCT06383572) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-2: GCC2005A-P101 Phase 1 (NCT06699771) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-3: QUILT-106 Phase 1 (NCT06334991) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-4: TAK-007-2001 Phase 2 (NCT05020015) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-5: Indapta-Trial-1 Phase 1/2 (NCT06119685) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-6: PRAMETIME-Mel Phase 1 (NCT06660420) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-7: Ntrust-1 Phase 1 (NCT06557265) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-8: Ntrust-2 Phase 1 (NCT06733935) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-9: IDP023-2-101 Phase 1 (NCT06677710) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 4-10: CALiPSO-1 Phase 1 (NCT06255028) Study - Initiation & Completion Year
Figure 5-1: Improvements In NK Cell Therapy Using Nanotechnology
Figure 5-2: Basic Structure Of CARs On NK Cell
Figure 5-3: Gene Editing Tools
Figure 6-1: Global - NK Cell Therapies Clinical Trials By Country, 2025
Figure 6-2: Global - NK Cell Therapies Clinical Trials By Indication, 2025
Figure 6-3: Global - NK Cell Therapies Clinical Trials By Patient Segment, 2025
Figure 6-4: Global - NK Cell Therapies Clinical Trials By Phase, 2025
Figure 6-5: Global - NK Cell Therapies Clinical Trials By Priority Status, 2025
Figure 8-1: Artiva Biotherapeutics - Proprietary CAR-NK Cell Platform
Figure 8-2: Artiva Biotherapeutics - Proprietary AlloNKTM NK Cell Therapy Scaling Platform
Figure 8-3: Catamaran Bio - Proprietary Tailwind(R) Platform
Figure 8-4: Cellularity - CYNK-CARs
Figure 8-5: GAIA BioMedicine - Proprietary NK Cell Therapy Working Mechanism
Figure 8-6: GAIA BioMedicine - Proprietary Technologies' Salient Features
Figure 8-7: Gamida Cell - NK Cell Therapy Manufacturing Process
Figure 8-8: HebeCell - Proprietary Scalable NK Cell Technology
Figure 8-9: ImmunityBio - Proprietary haNK(R) Cell Structure
Figure 8-10: Nkarta - Proprietary CAR-NK Cell Structure
Figure 8-11: Nkarta - Proprietary NK Cell Therapy Platform
Figure 8-12: Senti Biosciences - Gene Circuit Technology Platform
Figure 8-13: Senti Biosciences - Gene Circuit Technology Platform Applicability
Figure 8-14: Wugen - Proprietary Memory NK Cell Platform

List of Tables

Table 10-1: Investigational NK Cell Therapies With Fast Track Designation
Table 10-2: Investigational NK Cell Therapies With Orphan Drug Designation
Table 10-3: Investigational NK Cell Therapies With Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation