iNKT Cell Depletion in IPF: MiNK Therapeutics Reveals Breakthrough Data on Immune Restoration Strategy

MiNK Therapeutics (INKT) has unveiled compelling translational findings that reshape our understanding of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), presenting evidence at the Keystone Symposia’s Emerging Cell Therapies Meeting that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play a critical role in this devastating lung condition. The presentation, delivered by Dr. Terese Hammond at the February 1-4, 2026 symposium in Banff, Alberta, Canada, suggests that cellular replenishment strategies may offer a novel path toward reversing the progressive scarring and immune dysfunction characteristic of IPF.

The IPF Crisis: A Disease Without Adequate Solutions

IPF represents one of modern medicine’s most pressing unmet needs. This fatal, progressive lung disease affects approximately 1 million patients across the United States, with 30,000-40,000 new diagnoses occurring annually. Characterized by irreversible pulmonary scarring and progressive respiratory failure, IPF carries a grim median survival prognosis of just 3-5 years. Despite decades of research, no approved therapeutic can reverse fibrosis or restore the immune balance critical to tissue preservation. This clinical vacuum underscores why new mechanistic insights into IPF pathology are so urgently needed.

New Evidence: iNKT Insufficiency as a Pathogenic Driver

The data unveiled by MiNK Therapeutics demonstrates a significant and previously underappreciated finding: patients with end-stage IPF exhibit marked depletion of invariant natural killer T cells in lung-associated lymph nodes. This observation provides compelling mechanistic evidence that iNKT cell insufficiency may actively contribute to advanced fibrotic disease progression. Rather than simply viewing IPF as an uncorrectable structural decline, these findings suggest that restoring the depleted iNKT compartment represents a viable therapeutic strategy—one that could simultaneously address immune dysfunction while supporting tissue repair mechanisms.

AGENT-797: A Differentiated Allogeneic Cell Therapy Platform

MiNK’s lead candidate, AGENT-797, embodies a sophisticated approach to iNKT cell restoration. As an off-the-shelf allogeneic therapy requiring neither lymphodepletion nor HLA matching, AGENT-797 delivers multiple immunological advantages. These cells harness both the potent cytotoxicity of natural killer cells and the durable memory responses characteristic of T cells, creating a dual-action immune effect capable of targeting both immediate threats and establishing protective immunity.

Currently, AGENT-797 is undergoing Phase 1 evaluation across multiple indications reflecting the breadth of iNKT cell biology: solid tumors, relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19. The expansion into pulmonary indications now validates the platform’s relevance to chronic fibrotic and senescence-associated diseases, complementing the company’s ongoing oncology and inflammation programs.

Platform Expansion and Strategic Implications

The IPF data extend MiNK’s therapeutic platform far beyond its original oncology focus. By demonstrating iNKT cell dysfunction in a chronic fibrotic condition, the company has established scientific justification for applying cellular replenishment strategies to an entirely new disease category. This diversification strengthens the company’s pipeline resilience while addressing indications with substantial patient populations and minimal competitive therapies. The convergence of oncology applications, GvHD treatment, severe pulmonary inflammation management, and now chronic lung fibrosis positions MiNK at the intersection of multiple high-impact therapeutic domains.

Market Response and Stock Performance

Following the symposium presentation, MiNK’s stock (INKT) has traded within a notable range of $6.34 to $76.00 over recent months, reflecting the volatility characteristic of clinical-stage biotech companies. At the time of the latest available data, shares closed at $11.22, down 3.28% for the session, with overnight trading showing a further 0.98% decline to $11.11. This price movement underscores the inherent risk-reward dynamics of cell therapy development, where clinical progress announcements intersect with the regulatory uncertainties typical of advanced therapeutic approaches.

The unveiling of robust mechanistic data supporting iNKT cell replenishment in IPF represents a significant inflection point for MiNK Therapeutics, potentially opening entirely new therapeutic horizons while validating the company’s core scientific thesis across multiple disease domains.