NEW YORK, Jan.  23, 2025  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: INKT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of allogeneic, off-the-shelf invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies to treat cancer and other immune-mediated diseases, today announced a presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers (ASCO GI) Symposium in San Francisco, California.

“INKT cells play a pivotal role in reconstituting lymphocytes, establishing a robust and responsive immune environment to address the complexities of advanced cancers. Agenus’ botensilimab/balstilimab combination (BOT/BAL) amplifies this effect by enhancing T-cell priming, eliminating immunosuppressive regulatory cells, and fostering long-term immune memory. This novel multi-immune combination treats the immune system itself, fundamentally reshaping the tumor environment to make disease biologically unsustainable,” said Dr. Jennifer Buell, Chief Executive Officer at MiNK Therapeutics. “We look forward to sharing further results from this study later this year.”

Phase 2 AgenT-797 plus BOT/BAL in Combination with Ramucirumab and Paclitaxel in Patients with Previously Treated, Unresectable or Metastatic Gastroesophageal Cancers (Abstract TPS515)

This investigator-initiated, single-arm Phase 2 trial, conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (NCT06251793), evaluates the novel combination of agenT-797 (iNKT cells), botensilimab, balstilimab, ramucirumab, and paclitaxel in advanced GE adenocarcinoma patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy.Data from the prior Phase I trial (NCT05108623) demonstrated long-term, durable responses and tolerability in PD-1 refractory relapsed/refractory cancers, including testicular, appendiceal, lung, and gastric cancers. Notably, gastric cancer patients exhibited significant clinical and immunologic responses, including robust T cell infiltration and expansion compared to non-responders.This novel, multi-immunologic combination demonstrated signals of tolerability and activity in patients with relapsed/refractory gastric cancer. MiNK plans to provide a clinical update from the ongoing Phase II study in the second half of 2025.

The presentation will be available on the publications page of the MiNK website at the start of the scheduled presentation session at https://minktherapeutics.com/publications/.

Presentation Details

Abstract Title: A phase II study of agenT-797 (invariant natural killer T-cells), botensilimab (Fc-enhanced CTLA-4 inhibitor) and balstilimab (anti-PD-1) in patients with advanced, refractory gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma
Abstract Number: TPS515
Presenting Author: Dr. Samuel Cytryn
Session: Trials in Progress Poster Session A: Cancers of the Esophagus and Stomach and Other Gastrointestinal Cancers
Session Date and Time: 1/23/2025, 11:30 AM-1:00 PM PST

About MiNK Therapeutics

MiNK Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery, development, and commercialization of allogeneic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies to treat cancer and other immune-mediated diseases. MiNK is advancing a pipeline of both native and next generation engineered iNKT programs, with a platform designed to facilitate scalable and reproducible manufacturing for off-the-shelf delivery. The company is headquartered in New York, NY. For more information, visit https://minktherapeutics.com/ or @MiNK_iNKT. Information that may be important to investors will be routinely posted on our website and social media channels.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the therapeutic potential, anticipated benefit, plans and timelines of iNKT cells and encrypted RNA, as well as the collaboration between MiNK and Autonomous Therapeutics. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the factors described under the Risk Factors section of the most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and the S-1 Registration Statement filed with the SEC. MiNK cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and MiNK and Autonomous undertake no obligation to update or revise the statements, other than to the extent required by law. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

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