MiNK Therapeutics Reports Progress in New Treatments for Lung Disease, Cancer and Immune Disorders

MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:INKT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering allogeneic invariant natural killer T (allo-iNKT) cell therapies to restore immune balance and treat immune-mediated diseases and cancer, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025."2025 was a foundational year in which we sharpened our focus on immune restoration in auto-immune and inflammatory diseases and began to see the power of strategic, non-dilutive partnerships accelerate our progress," said Jennifer Buell, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of MiNK Therapeutics. "We are deliberately building a pipeline where iNKT cells address serious auto-immune and inflammatory conditions — from acute critical care in ARDS to chronic fibrotic disease in IPF and immune dysregulation in GVHD. The C-Further collaboration, together with the NIH NIAID STTR grant and Mary Gooze philanthropic award secured in 2025 for our GVHD program, reflects growing recognition of our platform's potential. We enter 2026 with strong momentum and multiple near-term opportunities to demonstrate clinical value."Terese Hammond, MD, Head of Pulmonary and Inflammatory Diseases at MiNK, added: "There is a clear continuum from acute inflammation and autoimmune dysregulation to chronic fibrotic diseases like IPF and even immune-resistant cancers. MiNK's iNKT platform is uniquely suited to address this spectrum because of its ability to deliver context-dependent immune modulation — activating anti-tumor responses in cancer while restoring balance and suppressing harmful inflammation in acute and chronic lung disease."2025 Achievements and 2026 MilestonesPulmonary & Critical Care: Large Market Opportunity with Near-Term CatalystsagenT-797 advances in randomized Phase 2 in hypoxemic pneumonia/ARDS, a severe inflammatory condition affecting ~200,000–300,000 patients annually in the U.S. and major European markets. With mortality rates of 30–40% and no approved disease-modifying therapies, ARDS represents a substantial commercial opportunity with strong government and biodefense alignment.Phase 2 clinical readouts planned for 2H 2026Expanded development into end stage pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)Data presented at Keystone Symposia demonstrated significant iNKT cell depletion in end-stage IPFStrategic discussions to advance agent-797 in IPF are actively underwayOncology: Durable Responses in Checkpoint-Resistant TumorsData presented at SITC 2025 reinforced agenT-797's ability to deliver durable clinical benefit in heavily pretreated, checkpoint-refractory solid tumors.Median OS in R/R cancers exceeded 23 months in combo with commercial PD-1 therapyComplete remissions lasting beyond two years, long-term survival across multiple tumorsTranslational analyses showed iNKT cells actively reprogramming the tumor microenvironment through dendritic cell activation, macrophage repolarization, and reinvigoration of exhausted T cells Transplantation: Externally Funded GVHD Program AdvancingNIH STTR grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supports development and evaluation of agenT-797 in preclinical models while The Mary Gooze Clinical Trial Award to the University of Wisconsin–Madison directly funds enrollment, immune monitoring, and operations for the Phase 1.Trial is advancing through university approval with first dosing expected May 2026Preliminary clinical data expected 2H 2026Program represents clinically meaningful opportunity with minimal capital burden. Expanding Pipeline: Targeting Resistance and Expanding ReachPRAME-TCR-engineered iNKT advancing under the C-Further Consortium collaborationCollaboration provides up to $1.1 million in non-dilutive funding plus meaningful double-digit percentage revenue share.Leadership and Operational ReadinessDr. Terese Hammond appointed Head of Pulmonary and Inflammatory DiseasesCol. (Ret.) John Holcomb, MD added to the Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory BoardMelissa Orilall appointed Principal Financial OfficerManufacturing is optimized in Lexington and Boston sitesWith the scale and complexity of the work we are now undertaking, including randomized clinical execution, multi-program advancement, and increasing external engagement, we have also strengthened our financial leadership with the recent appointment of Melissa Orillal as Principal Financial Officer. Melissa brings deep experience in financial operations, planning, and disciplined execution, including her work at the Whitehead Institute and in corporate banking. Her focus is on ensuring that our capital allocation, reporting, and operational execution remain tightly aligned as we advance through this next phase. This is an important step as we transition from an early-stage development company into a more execution-driven clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.These 2025 achievements — robust scientific validation, non-dilutive capital inflows, and operational strengthening, position MiNK for a catalyst-rich 2026, including ARDS Phase 2 initiation, GVHD clinical data, multiple scientific presentations, and continued partnership momentum.