AdaptNK

AdaptNK is an investigational adoptive cell therapy consisting of ex vivo expanded adaptive natural killer (NK) cells, developed by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet. These cells are derived from donors with prior Cytomegalovirus (CMV) exposure, which triggers the differentiation of a specialized NK cell subset characterized by the expression of the activating receptor NKG2C and the maturation marker CD57, alongside the loss of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A. AdaptNK cells exhibit memory-like properties, including enhanced longevity, increased production of interferon-gamma, and superior cytotoxic activity against leukemic blasts compared to conventional NK cells. The therapy is primarily being evaluated for the treatment of high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly in the post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant setting, where it aims to eradicate minimal residual disease and prevent relapse through a potent graft-versus-leukemia effect.

Other names

Adaptive NK cellsCMV-induced adaptive NK cellsNKG2C+ adaptive NK cells