Nkarta Extends Cash Runway to 2029 with $266.7M, Expands Outpatient Dosing
Nkarta secured FDA agreement to allow outpatient dosing, re-dosing, and removal of overnight monitoring, and expanded Ntrust-2 to include rheumatoid arthritis. Nkarta held $266.7M in cash and investments at March 31, funding operations into 2029 after reporting $25M R&D, $5.9M G&A expenses and a $27.8M Q1 net loss.
1. Protocol Amendments Expand Outpatient Dosing and RA Enrollment
In early April Nkarta reached agreement with the FDA to amend its protocol for NKX019 trials, allowing outpatient dosing in community settings, optional re-dosing of patients, and removal of overnight monitoring. The Ntrust-2 study was expanded to include rheumatoid arthritis, and institutional review boards have approved amendments at multiple sites.
2. Clinical Trial Enrollment and Dosing Details
Enrollment is ongoing in Ntrust-1 and Ntrust-2, with patients dosed at 4 billion NK cells per dose in a three-dose cycle (12 billion total) across indications. These multi-center, open-label dose-escalation trials target autoimmune diseases including systemic sclerosis, lupus nephritis, vasculitis and myopathies.
3. Q1 Financial Results and Cash Runway
For the quarter ended March 31, Nkarta reported a net loss of $27.8 million ($0.37 per share), including $25.0 million in R&D and $5.9 million in G&A expenses. The company held $266.7 million in cash, equivalents and investments, expected to fund operations into 2029.
4. Upcoming Clinical Data Presentation
Nkarta plans to present initial clinical data from its Ntrust-1 and Ntrust-2 trials at a medical conference in 2026, which will provide early insights into safety and efficacy in multiple autoimmune indications.