Biotechs CRISPR and Nkarta Link Up to Engineer Natural Killer Cells into Cancer Treatments

CRISPR Therapeutics of Zug, Switzerland, and Nkarta of South San Francisco, Calif., have teamed up to engineer natural killer cells and T-cells as cancer treatments.

The collaboration brings together the Swiss company’s gene editing technology and Nkarta’s natural killer (NK) cell discovery, development and manufacturing capabilities. The companies plan to jointly develop and commercialize two chimeric antigen receptor NK cell product candidates, one targeting the tumor antigen CD70, and another combining NK and T-cells (NK+T) to harness the adaptive and innate immune systems.

CRISPR Therapeutics and Nkarta will equally share all research and development costs and profits worldwide related to the products.