# NK cell engagers

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/nk-cell-engagers/  
OnCo record `nk-cell-engagers` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Bispecific or trispecific antibodies that hold a natural killer cell against a tumour cell and switch it on, an alternative to T-cell engagers with potentially milder side effects.

## Summary

Natural killer (NK) cell engagers bind an activating receptor on NK cells (CD16, NKG2D or NKp46) and a tumour antigen, often with an added interleukin-15 domain to sustain the cells. Programmes from Innate Pharma, Affimed and others are in early trials in lymphoma, leukaemia and solid tumours. Because NK cells release fewer inflammatory cytokines than T cells, the format promises less cytokine release syndrome, though clinical proof is limited.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: phase-1
- Last checked: 2026-09-04
- Principle: Multispecific antibody scaffolds crosslink NK activating receptors with a tumour antigen, triggering degranulation and cytokine release against the bound target cell.
- Strengths: Innate cells kill without antigen presentation; Potentially lower cytokine release than T-cell engagers; Off-the-shelf biologic
- Limitations: Early clinical stage; NK cells are scarce and short-lived in tumours

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_killer_cell
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_killer_cell

## Connected records

- fronts: [Immunotherapy](https://onco.cc/fronts/immunotherapy/)
- technologies: [Bispecific antibodies](https://onco.cc/technologies/bispecific-antibody/), [T-cell engagers (bispecific)](https://onco.cc/technologies/t-cell-engager/)

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