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Key people at NantKwest.
NantKwest is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company that develops treatments primarily by harnessing the power of natural killer (NK) cells. Its core product focus involves activating the innate immune system to combat various diseases, including solid tumors and viral infections. The company's approach centers on advancing cell-based therapies that leverage the body's natural defense mechanisms for therapeutic benefit.
The company was founded in 2002 by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a physician, scientist, and entrepreneur recognized for his work in biotechnology. Soon-Shiong's foundational insight stemmed from the potential of natural killer cells as a potent, off-the-shelf therapeutic modality, aiming to create novel treatment options that could overcome limitations of existing therapies.
NantKwest's products are intended for patients facing challenging conditions like cancer and severe viral infectious diseases. The company's vision is to develop comprehensive immunotherapeutic platforms that orchestrate the immune system's various cell types to achieve sustained clinical responses, offering new avenues for disease management and improved patient outcomes.
Key people at NantKwest.
NantKwest has 1 tracked investment across 1 company. The latest tracked deal is $10.0M Other Equity in Viracta Therapeutics in December 2018.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2018 | Viracta Therapeutics | $10.0M Other Equity | Kevin YE | Forward Ventures, Latterell Venture Partners, VI Ventures |
NantKwest was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in immunotherapy, focused on harnessing natural killer (NK) cells from the innate immune system to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory conditions.[1][2][3] It developed off-the-shelf NK cell therapies like aNK, haNK, and taNK platforms, targeting bulky hematological malignancies, solid tumors, cancer stem cells, viral infections, and autoimmune disorders, with products designed for direct killing, antibody-directed cellular cytotoxicity, and cytokine-induced memory activation.[2][4][5] The company served late-stage cancer patients and those with virally-induced diseases, addressing limitations of T-cell therapies such as cytokine storms by offering scalable, outpatient infusions without reliance on patient-specific cells.[3][5] NantKwest demonstrated growth through Phase 1/2 trials, FDA-authorized NANT Cancer Vaccine programs combining NK cells with vaccines and low-dose chemo/radiation, and partnerships like with Be The Match BioTherapies for COVID-19-related ARDS trials.[3][4][5]
NantKwest emerged as a pioneering immunotherapy firm with a limited operating history at its 2016 IPO, building on advances in NK cell technology and genomics from affiliates like NantOmics for neoepitope identification.[2][8] Founded under the leadership of Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., a surgeon and biotech entrepreneur known for prior ventures in precision medicine, the company rapidly advanced its proprietary NK cell line into clinical trials in Canada, Europe, and the U.S.[2][4] Early traction included Phase 1 safety data showing no severe side effects at high doses (up to 10 billion cells) and expansions into multi-modal programs like the NANT Cancer Vaccine for pancreatic cancer and melanoma.[4][5] By 2020, Richard Adcock was named CEO amid ongoing pipeline development.[6]
NantKwest rode the immunotherapy wave, particularly the shift from T-cell to NK-cell therapies amid challenges like manufacturing scalability and toxicity in CAR-T approaches, positioning NK cells as a first-line innate defense for "precision cancer medicine."[2][5][8] Timing aligned with 2010s genomic advances revealing cancer as rare, patient-specific diseases, enabling neoepitope targeting and off-the-shelf solutions for unmet needs in solid tumors and pandemics like COVID-19.[2][3] Market forces favoring it included rising demand for combo immunotherapies (e.g., NK + vaccines) and big data-driven trial design via NantCell, influencing the ecosystem by accelerating NK platforms toward routine care and inspiring mergers for broader pipelines.[4][5][7]
NantKwest merged with ImmunityBio, forming a late-clinical-stage powerhouse (NASDAQ: IBRX) integrating NK cells with T-cell activators, antibody-cytokine fusions, and vaccines across 40+ trials in 19 indications.[7][9] Next steps likely emphasize Phase 2/3 readouts in solid/liquid cancers and infectious diseases, scaling GMP manufacturing, and regulatory wins for "immunogenic cell death" via harmonized innate/adaptive immunity.[7][9] Trends like multi-modal combos and off-the-shelf cells will shape its path, potentially evolving ImmunityBio's influence to dominate NK/T-cell orchestration in oncology and beyond, transforming "trial-and-error" into predictive, omics-based care.[5][7] This builds on NantKwest's foundation as a clinical-stage immunotherapy innovator harnessing NK power for disease.
