INmune Bio, Inc. (INMB) stock prices were up by 12.67% as of the market closing on July 13th, 2021, bringing the price per share up to USD$26.68. Subsequent premarket fluctuations saw the stock rise by 7.01%, bringing it up to USD$28.55.
INKmune
July 12th, 2021 saw the company announce the use of INKmune, its Natural Killer (NK) cell priming platform, had been used to treat the first patient in Phase 1 clinical trial. The treatment is being explored as a viable option for patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. MDS is a hematopoietic stem cell disorder that is indicated by functionally defective NK cells, with the level of dysfunction being predictive of overall survival. Roughly 33% of MDS cases develop into acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). With no known cure for MDS, existing therapies like chemotherapy and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation have varying degrees of success.
Research Conducted
With levels of NK function in MDS patients being predictive of overall survival, 15 years of lab research into potential patient treatment has raised hopes. The enhancement of low-level NK activity in patients with poor prognosis to the level of those with better overall survival, thereby altering the course of the disease, could be highly commercially promising.
Scope of Research
Lab work has shown INKmune binding to multiple NK receptors and initiates the activation of more than 3000 genes associated with function, trafficking, proliferation, and overall survival. With not a single cytokine available that has such a myriad of physiological effects, INKmune is being referred to as a psuedokine.
Expanded Opportunities
The treatment of the first patient in the trial serves as a major milestone, with the company being the first to study the INKmune platform in a formal clinical setting. With it being widely known that dysfunctional NK cells in cancer patients are not effective at eradicating residual disease after chemotherapy, leading to relapse and poor outcomes. The company has shown that with the delivery of tumor-specific activating signals to NK cells with INKmune, autologous tumor killing can be initiated.
Future Outlook for INMB
Armed with the significant milestone of having treated the first patient in the study, INMB is poised to capitalize on the opportunities afforded to it as a result. The company is keen to push for the accelerated development and eventual commercialization and proliferation of the treatment. Current and potential investors are hopefully that management will continue to leverage the resources at its disposal to facilitate significant and sustained increases in shareholder value.
