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Using engineered natural killer cells to treat immune-mediated diseases

A Phase 1/2 Study of NKX019, a CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor Natural Killer (CAR NK) Cell Therapy, in Subjects With Immune-Mediated Diseases

Phase1; Phase2 Interventional Nkarta, Inc. · NCT06733935

This study is testing a new type of cell therapy called NKX019 to see if it can safely help people with immune-related diseases like systemic sclerosis and certain types of myopathies.

Quick facts

PhasePhase1; Phase2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment144 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorNkarta, Inc. Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsrituximab, tocilizumab, belimumab, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, prednisone, fludarabine
Locations15 sites (Orange, California and 14 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06733935 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 1 clinical trial evaluates the safety and tolerability of NKX019, an allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cell therapy targeting CD19, in patients with immune-mediated diseases such as systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, and ANCA-associated vasculitis. The study is structured in two parts, with the first part focusing on dose escalation using a '3+3' design to identify the optimal dose for further evaluation. Participants will undergo lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide followed by multiple doses of NKX019, with assessments of safety, preliminary efficacy, and cellular dynamics. This open-label, multi-center approach aims to gather critical data on the treatment's potential benefits and risks.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 65 with severe manifestations of systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, or ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Not a fit: Patients with mild forms of the targeted diseases or those outside the specified age range may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a novel therapeutic option for patients suffering from severe immune-mediated diseases.

How similar studies have performed: While CAR T-cell therapies have shown promise in hematological malignancies, the application of CAR NK cells in immune-mediated diseases is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥18 and ≤70
2. For participants taking corticosteroids, the prednisone (or equivalent) dose must be ≤40 mg/day at 6 weeks prior to Screening and stable for ≥ 14 days before start of Screening
3. For subjects on immunosuppressives or immunomodulators (other than corticosteroids), all doses must be stable for ≥ 4 weeks prior to Screening

SSc:

1. Meets the 2013 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) classification criteria for SSc
2. Meet criteria a and/or b:

   1. Severe skin involvement defined as mRSS ≥ 30 or active skin disease defined as mRSS ≥ 15 at screening and one or more of the following within the prior 6 months of screening:

      * An increase in mRSS of ≥ 3 units
      * Involvement of 1 new body area with ≥ 2 mRSS units
      * 2 new body areas with ≥ 1 mRSS unit
   2. Moderate to severe Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) defined by evidence of ILD on High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and FVC \< 70% of predicted or DLCO (hemoglobin or alveolar volume corrected) \< 70% of predicted or ILD on HRCT and progressive ILD meeting at least 2 of the following 3 criteria within the prior 6 months of screening:

      * Worsening respiratory symptoms
      * Evidence of progression on HRCT, or
      * Evidence of absolute decline in FVC ≥ 5% (Raghu et al 2022)
3. Presence of anti-nuclear antibody ≥ 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
4. 10 years or less since the first non-Raynaud's sign or symptom
5. Inadequate response or intolerance to at least one treatment, including cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, MMF/mycophenolic acid, nintedanib, rituximab, or tocilizumab

IIM:

1. Diagnosis for IIM as per 2017 ACR/EULAR Classification Criteria
2. One positive myositis antibody
3. Activity defined as manual muscle testing (MMT-8) score \<136/150
4. Creatinine kinase or aldolase ≥ 1.5 x ULN and Clinician Global Assessment ≥ 2 cm with at least one of the following:

   1. Evidence on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of active myositis within the last 6 months
   2. Electromyography (EMG) with active myositis within the last 6 months
   3. Muscle Biopsy of active myositis within last 6 months
5. Refractory disease defined as ≥ 6 months failure (or intolerance) to at least 2 immunosuppressive therapies (including glucocorticoids)

AAV:

1. Meets the 2022 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) (Robson 2022) or Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) (Suppiah 2022)
2. Relapsed or refractory AAV despite repeated treatment with immunosuppressive agents or requiring prolonged and/or repeated courses of unacceptable doses of glucocorticoids to maintain disease control
3. Positive test for anti-proteinase-3 (PR3-ANCA) or anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA) at screening
4. Have at least one "major" item, or at least 3 other items, or at least 2 renal items on the BVAS version 3

Exclusion Criteria:

1. eGFR \< 45 ml/min/1.73m2
2. Currently requiring renal dialysis or expected to require dialysis during the study period
3. Previous solid organ or hematopoietic cell transplant or planned transplant within study treatment period
4. Congenital or acquired immunodeficiency resulting in severe infection or those receiving chronic immunoglobulin replacement therapy
5. Liver disease or dysfunction, including cirrhosis and/or bilirubin ≥ 3 times the upper limit of normal
6. Pulmonary comorbidity including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma requiring daily oral steroids, resting hypoxemia (\<92% oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry) on room air, or significant smoking history (i.e. \>10 pack/year) with active pulmonary disease
7. Patients with ILD with any of the following:

   1. Requires supplemental oxygen therapy
   2. FVC \<=45% of predicted
   3. Diffusing capacity of the lung (DLCO) corrected for alveolar volume (AV) ≤ 40% of predicted at screening (per Investigator or Sponsor judgement)
8. White blood cell count \< 3,000/mm\^3; hemoglobin levels ≤ 9 g/dL; absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≤ 2,000/mm\^3; platelet count ≤ 100,000/mm\^3, and blood transfusion within 60 days prior to LD
9. Major cardiac disease, abnormalities, or interventions as defined by, but not limited to:

   1. Uncontrolled angina or unstable life-threatening arrhythmias
   2. History of myocardial infarction within 12 weeks prior to the first dose of NKX019
   3. Any prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery
   4. ≥ Class III New York Heart Association (NYHA) congestive heart failure (CHF), significantly decreased ejection fraction (EF ≤ 40%), or severe cardiac insufficiency
   5. Prolongation of the QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) (Fridericia) interval of \> 480 msec
   6. Peripheral artery bypass graft surgery, pulmonary embolism, or other ≥ Grade 2 thrombotic or embolic events within 12 weeks prior to the first dose of NKX019
10. Active bleeding disorders
11. Any overlapping autoimmune condition for which the condition or the treatment of the condition may affect the study assessments or outcomes (eg, anti-GBM antibody glomerulonephritis or any condition for additional immunosuppression is indicated); clinically significant conditions that could cause a secondary nephropathy (eg, infections, liver disease, tumors or drugs); or kidney biopsy-confirmed significant renal disease other than disease under study (eg, diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy). Overlapping conditions for which the condition or treatment is not expected to affect assessments or outcomes (eg, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis) are not excluded
12. Pregnancy, breast feeding or, if of childbearing potential, not using adequate contraceptive precautions
13. Current infection requiring active systemic anti-infective therapy or recent acute infection requiring systemic therapy within 30 days of planned LD
14. History of positive HIV test at screening, Hepatitis B or C positive at screening, active tuberculosis (TB) or latent TB requiring suppressive therapy
15. Major surgery within 28 days prior to the first dose of NKX019
16. Malignancy within 5 years of screening, with the exception of basal and squamous cell carcinomas treated by complete excision. Subjects with cervical dysplasia that is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia but have been treated with conization or loop electrosurgical excision procedure and have had a normal repeat Papanicolaou test are allowed
17. Prior cellular therapy
18. Central nervous system (CNS) comorbidity or any autoimmune disease with CNS involvement within 90 days prior to the first dose of NKX019 as well as evidence of CNS related autoimmune manifestations within 1 year prior to screening
19. Immunosuppressive / immunomodulatory therapies for disease under study within 14 days or 5 half-lives of the drug (whichever is shorter), prior to LD, with notable exceptions a. For those participants on B-cell-depleting or B-cell-modulating drugs (eg, rituximab, belimumab), the participants must have received first dose ≥6 months prior to LD

SSc Exclusion Criteria:

1. Moderate-to-severe Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on right heart catheterization requiring PAH specific treatment. Those participants with mild PAH (as defined by the 2022 ECS/ERS Guidelines, \[Humbert 2023\]) well controlled on therapy can be enrolled
2. Gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
3. Anti-centromere Ab positive
4. Renal crisis or Pericardial tamponade within 6 months prior to enrollment
5. Current gangrene of a digit

IIM Exclusion Criteria:

1. Severe proximal muscle atrophy of upper or lower extremity on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or clinical exam
2. MMT-8 of ≤ 80
3. Findings of muscular inflammation or myopathy due to another cause, such as inclusion body myositis, cancer-associated myositis (myositis diagnosed within 2 years of cancer), amyloid myopathy, muscular dystrophy, metabolic myopathies, or myositis in the context of significant overlap with another systemic IIM rheumatologic disease (overlap myositis), except with Sjögren's syndrome
4. Generalized severe musculoskeletal or neuro-muscular conditions other than IIM

AAV Exclusion Criteria:

1. Alveolar hemorrhage requiring invasive pulmonary ventilation support
2. Required dialysis or plasma exchange within 12 weeks prior to screening
3. Any other known disease that may interfere with the assessments including eosinophilic GPA (Churg-Strauss), anti-glomerular basement membrane, systemic lupus erythematosus, IgA vasculitis (Henoch Schönlein), rheumatoid vasculitis, or cryoglobulinemic vasculitis

Where this trial is running

Orange, California and 14 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Systemic SclerosisIdiopathic Inflammatory MyopathiesAntineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated VasculitisCD19CARAllogeneicNKX019Natural Killer Cells
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.