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MiNK Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies for cancer and immune-mediated diseases, announced a strategic collaboration with C-Further, an international paediatric oncology therapeutics consortium enabled by Cancer Research Horizons, LifeArc and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity), to develop a PRAME-targeted TCR-engineered iNKT cell therapy for paediatric cancers.
This collaboration represents one of the first programmes selected by C-Further since the consortium’s launch and reflects a shared commitment to accelerating innovative, well-tolerated immunotherapies for children with cancers that have limited treatment options.
The collaboration between MiNK Therapeutics and C-Further will advance a T cell receptor (TCR)–engineered invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapy targeting PRAME (Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma), a tumour-associated antigen highly expressed across multiple paediatric and adult malignancies with limited expression in healthy tissues. PRAME is particularly relevant in paediatric cancers such as sarcomas, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and medulloblastoma, where actionable targets remain scarce and outcomes following relapse are poor.
By combining PRAME-specific antigen recognition with MiNK’s iNKT cell platform, the program seeks to harness the unique biology of iNKT cells - immune effectors that bridge innate and adaptive immunity - to enable precise tumour targeting while also activating coordinated immune responses within the tumour microenvironment.
MiNK’s iNKT platform is designed to overcome key limitations of traditional cell therapies, which often require patient-specific manufacturing, lengthy production timelines, and intensive pre-treatment. As an allogeneic, off-the-shelf therapy derived from healthy donors, iNKT cells can be manufactured in advance, cryopreserved, and delivered to patients when needed without HLA matching or toxic lymphodepleting chemotherapy. This approach may enable faster treatment, improved tolerability, and broader access—particularly important for children with aggressive cancers who cannot afford delays in care.
The PRAME-TCR-iNKT programme reflects MiNK’s broader strategy to apply its iNKT platform across validated tumour antigens and high-need disease settings, with the goal of delivering durable immune responses while maintaining a strong focus on safety, accessibility, and long-term survivorship.
Under the agreement, the MiNK program will receive approximately $1.1 million in non-dilutive, aggregate funding to support IND-enabling development of its PRAME-TCR-iNKT asset, advancing the program through preclinical candidate nomination and key translational milestones, with payments tied to the completion of defined scientific milestones.
The agreement also includes a meaningful double-digit share of downstream commercial revenues, reflecting the company’s proprietary iNKT platform and its role in enabling next-generation TCR-based cellular therapies aligned with the objectives of the C-Further programme.
Importantly, the collaboration is non-exclusive, preserving MiNK’s ability to continue advancing its iNKT platform independently and to pursue tumor antigen targets across oncology indications and partnerships. The structure reflects MiNK’s broader strategy of leveraging its allogeneic iNKT platform through selective collaborations while retaining long-term value creation opportunities.
Under the collaboration, MiNK will serve as the lead industry partner, contributing its iNKT platform, engineering capabilities, and translational development expertise. Investigators at the University of Southampton, led by Dr. Ali Roghanian and Dr. Salah Mansour, will support independent, comparative preclinical studies to evaluate anti-tumour activity, persistence, and safety across multiple paediatric cancer models, including patient-derived tumour systems with the goal of nominating a single lead clinical candidate for advancement toward first-in-human studies in children.
This consortium-led model is designed to enable data-driven candidate selection while advancing the program in a capital-efficient and non-dilutive manner.
“Being selected as one of the first programs supported by C-Further underscores both the maturity of MiNK’s iNKT platform and its potential to address areas of profound unmet need such as pediatric cancers,” said Jennifer Buell, president and chief executive officer of MiNK Therapeutics. “Invariant natural killer T cells occupy a unique position in the immune system, coordinating anti-tumour responses that extend beyond direct tumour targeting. This collaboration builds on the growing clinical advancement of our iNKT programs, while expanding the platform into PRAME-targeted cell therapy for children facing cancers with limited treatment options.”
“From its inception, C-Further has focused on identifying programs that bring together innovative platforms, strong translational science, and the potential for real impact in paediatric oncology regardless of the modality or potential cancer indications,” said Lone Friis, PhD, C-Further Programme Co-lead. “Following our first round of review, we selected MiNK Therapeutics’ iNKT cell platform as the foundation for our first partnership. We are excited to support this collaboration as it advances a differentiated cell therapy approach for children with cancers that urgently need new treatment options.”
Dr. Ali Roghanian, Associate Professor of Cancer Immunology at the University of Southampton, investigator for CF-033, said, “This collaboration allows us to apply our expertise in iNKT cell biology and paediatric cancer models to a clearly defined translational goal. Our role is to rigorously evaluate and select the most suitable candidate, ensuring that only the strongest and safest therapy is advanced towards clinical trials for children. We’re very excited to advance CF-033 together with MiNK Therapeutic’s translational expertise and C-Further's collaborative, child-first drug discovery model.”
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