BCMA CAR NK cells

BCMA CAR NK cells are an investigational allogeneic cell therapy designed to treat B-cell malignancies, primarily multiple myeloma. These cells are natural killer (NK) cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that specifically recognizes B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a protein highly expressed on the surface of malignant plasma cells. Unlike autologous CAR T-cell therapies, BCMA CAR NK cells can be produced as an off-the-shelf product from healthy donor sources, potentially reducing manufacturing time and costs. They are associated with a lower risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Development involves various academic and corporate entities, including Cellgentek and Simcere Zaiming, with some versions incorporating additional modifications like soluble TRAIL, memory-like differentiation, or combination with gamma-secretase inhibitors to enhance anti-tumor efficacy.

Other names

B-cell Maturation Antigen Chimeric Antigen Receptor Natural Killer cellsBCMA-targeted CAR-NK cellsanti-BCMA CAR-NK