[Click eStock] "NKMax, Clinical Results This Year Require Attention"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Meritz Securities analyzed on the 22nd that attention is needed for the clinical results to be released this year regarding NKMAX. No investment opinion or target price was provided.

NKMAX is a bio company developing an NK cell therapy (SuperNK) applying high-purity, high-activity, and mass proliferation technologies.

Meritz Securities explained that attention should be paid to NKMAX's clinical entry. Jiha Kim, a researcher at Meritz Securities, said, "The nearest momentum is the entry into the US Phase 1 clinical trial combining Apimed's bispecific antibody AFM24 and SuperNK for EGFR-positive solid cancer patients," adding, "They plan to submit an IND to the US FDA within the first quarter."

He stated, "Results from two clinical trials are expected to be announced this year," and explained, "The Korea-based 1/2a trial combining Keytruda, which showed favorable data, will complete follow-up observation by the end of the first half and announce results, and the US Phase 1 trial combining Keytruda/Bavencio for refractory solid cancer patients will complete dosing within the first half, with results to be shared in early second half."

He emphasized that attention is necessary as other NK cell therapy companies have shown excellent performance. He said, "The stock returns of NK cell therapy developers Fate Therapeutics and Nantkwest have increased by +577% and +384%, respectively, compared to early last year," adding, "With trillion-won scale technology transfers and efficacy validation through early clinical trials, interest in the NK cell therapy field is hot." He further added, "NKMAX also plans to start clinical trials using allogeneic NK cells from the second half of this year, so it is a time to pay more attention."