Nkarta Therapeutics
Nkarta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing allogeneic, off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapies, led by NKX019, which targets CD19 to treat B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathy, and ANCA-associated vasculitis.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSouth San Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nkarta Therapeutics does
Nkarta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in South San Francisco, California, developing allogeneic, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell therapies for B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases and hematological malignancies. The company's lead candidate, NKX019, is a CAR-NK cell therapy in which NK cells collected from healthy donors via leukapheresis are activated, engineered to express a CD19-targeting CAR and membrane-bound IL-15 for enhanced persistence, expanded, cryopreserved, and administered off-the-shelf; a second candidate, NKX101, targets NKG2D for acute myeloid leukemia and higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. The platform is designed to address limitations of autologous CAR-T therapies, including no observed cases of cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, or graft-versus-host disease higher than Grade 3 in clinical trials, immediate action at therapeutic doses without in-body proliferation, and clearance from the body within weeks. NKX019 is being evaluated in the Ntrust-1 Phase 1 trial in lupus nephritis and the Ntrust-2 Phase 1 trial in systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathy, and ANCA-associated vasculitis, with recent FDA protocol amendments extending evaluation to primary membranous nephropathy, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis, and enabling outpatient administration at community research centers by community rheumatologists after only two hours of monitoring.
The company is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker NKTX and has no commercialized products, generating no product revenue to date. Its revenue model is premised on future commercialization of approved cell therapy products, supplemented by non-dilutive capital such as an ARPA-H award of up to $48 million for in vivo cell therapy programs. Capital formation has been conducted through public equity offerings (approximately $230 million in September 2023 and approximately $240.1 million in March 2024), leaving the company with a cash balance of approximately $295.1 million as of Q4 2025 and a disclosed runway into 2029. The company's go-to-market approach combines multicenter clinical trial enrollment at academic medical centers with a planned community channel enabled by FDA outpatient dosing flexibility, targeting both specialty autoimmune centers and community rheumatologists. The intended end customers are patients suffering from lupus nephritis, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathy, ANCA-associated vasculitis, primary membranous nephropathy, myasthenia gravis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, where approximately 7 million affected individuals in the United States represent the company's primary addressable population.
Nkarta Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nkarta Therapeutics
- Legal name
- Nkarta, Inc.
- Website
- https://nkartatx.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Nkarta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing allogeneic, off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapies, led by NKX019, which targets CD19 to treat B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathy, and ANCA-associated vasculitis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nkarta Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cellular Immunotherapy (Allogeneic CAR-NK)
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- NK Cell Therapies (HLAAABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf) (HLAAABAB), Rare Immunology, Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Therapies (HLAIAIAE), Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB), Hematologic Oncology (Leukemia/Lymphoma/Myeloma) (HLAKAFAD)
Keywords
Where Nkarta Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Nkarta Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- NKX019 Commercialization: Nkarta is a clinical-stage company with no commercialized products. The company is advancing NKX019 through Phase 1 clinical trials for multiple autoimmune diseases. Revenue will be generated through commercialization of approved cell therapy products upon successful clinical development and regulatory approval.
- Government Funding: Nkarta received funding from US government through ARPA-H for development of in vivo cell therapy programs targeting autoimmune diseases and cancer, with funding amounts up to $48 million.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Nkarta Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nkarta develops allogeneic, off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapies manufactured from healthy donor NK cells via leukapheresis, engineered to express a CD19-targeting CAR plus membrane-bound IL-15, expanded and cryopreserved for outpatient administration. Its lead candidate NKX019 targets B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathy, ANCA-associated vasculitis, primary membranous nephropathy, myasthenia gravis, and SLE; a second candidate NKX101 (NKG2D CAR-NK) is being developed for acute myeloid leukemia.
Product overview
Nkarta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell therapies. The company's lead product is NKX019, a CAR NK cell therapy targeting CD19 for autoimmune diseases. Nkarta also has NKX101, an NKG2D-targeting CAR-NK therapy for hematological malignancies. Both products are manufactured from healthy donor cells and designed for outpatient administration without the need for patient cell collection.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NKX019: Lead CAR-NK cell therapy candidate targeting CD19 for treatment of B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathy, and ANCA-associated vasculitis
- NKX101
- Ntrust-1
- Ntrust-2
Products and services
- NKX019 Allogeneic, off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapy targeting the CD19 antigen, engineered with membrane-bound IL-15 to enhance NK cell activity and persistence. Designed to eliminate pathogenic B cells that drive B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as lupus nephritis, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathy, ANCA-associated vasculitis, primary membranous nephropathy, myasthenia gravis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
- NKX101 Allogeneic, off-the-shelf NKG2D CAR-NK cell therapy being developed for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Quantifiable outcome
- Deep B-cell depletion demonstrated in clinical trials with B-cell reconstitution observed
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Nkarta Therapeutics
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Nkarta Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Nkarta Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Nkarta Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cabaletta Bio: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing CAR-T (e.g., CABA-201, a CD19 CAR-T) for B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis and other autoimmune indications — directly competing with Nkarta's NKX019 in the same patient populations and with the same deep B-cell depletion mechanism.
- Adicet Bio: Develops off-the-shelf allogeneic gamma-delta T cell therapies (e.g., ADI-001 in autoimmune indications including lupus nephritis) — comparable as an off-the-shelf engineered immune-cell therapy in autoimmune B-cell depletion indications.
- Kyverna Therapeutics: Develops autologous CAR-T therapies (e.g., KYV-101, CD19 CAR-T) for autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis and other B-cell-driven conditions — competing head-to-head with NKX019 in clinical trials, target patient populations, and biologic mechanism.
- Caribou Biosciences: Allogeneic CAR-T and CAR-NK platform using CRISPR-based gene editing; pivoted toward autoimmune indications with CB-010 — comparable as an engineered allogeneic cell therapy peer pursuing B-cell-driven autoimmune disease.
- Fate Therapeutics: Pioneer of iPSC-derived, off-the-shelf NK cell therapies (and engineered T cells) for cancer and autoimmune disease. Closest direct peer on modality and platform architecture, with multiple off-the-shelf NK programs historically parallel to Nkarta's NKX101.
- Precision BioSciences: Develops in vivo and ex vivo allogeneic CAR-T therapies using ARCUS gene editing for both oncology and autoimmune diseases — comparable as a gene-editing-driven cell therapy company pursuing off-the-shelf and autoimmune applications.
Emerging players
- Century Therapeutics: Develops iPSC-derived allogeneic NK and T cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune indications — comparable in platform approach (engineered off-the-shelf immune cells) and overlapping indication focus.
- Shoreline Biosciences: Develops iPSC-derived allogeneic NK and macrophage cell therapies for cancer — directly comparable platform architecture (engineered off-the-shelf NK cells) to Nkarta's allogeneic NK pipeline.
Broad incumbents
- Allogene Therapeutics: Large allogeneic CAR-T developer with multiple off-the-shelf oncology programs and a broader portfolio than Nkarta's, but uses the same fundamental allogeneic platform approach and competes for the same investor and partnership mindshare.
- CRISPR Therapeutics: Established gene-editing cell therapy company (Casgevy for sickle cell / beta-thalassemia) with broader modality coverage including allogeneic CAR-T and off-the-shelf cell therapies — comparable as an adjacent gene-edited cell therapy platform with autoimmune optionality.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nkarta Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceNkarta Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nkarta Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Nkarta Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors18 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nkarta Therapeutics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nkarta Therapeutics
What does Nkarta Therapeutics do?
Nkarta develops allogeneic, off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapies manufactured from healthy donor NK cells via leukapheresis, engineered to express a CD19-targeting CAR plus membrane-bound IL-15, expanded and cryopreserved for outpatient administration. Its lead candidate NKX019 targets B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory myopathy, ANCA-associated vasculitis, primary membranous nephropathy, myasthenia gravis, and SLE; a second candidate NKX101 (NKG2D CAR-NK) is being developed for acute myeloid leukemia.
Is Nkarta Therapeutics a public or private company?
Nkarta Therapeutics is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Nkarta Therapeutics founded?
Nkarta Therapeutics was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Nkarta Therapeutics based?
Nkarta Therapeutics is headquartered in South San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nkarta Therapeutics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. NKX019 Commercialization is the primary driver. The others are government Funding.
Who are Nkarta Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cabaletta Bio, Adicet Bio, Kyverna Therapeutics, Caribou Biosciences, Fate Therapeutics and Precision BioSciences. Emerging players are Century Therapeutics and Shoreline Biosciences. Broad incumbents are Allogene Therapeutics and CRISPR Therapeutics.
Does Nkarta Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nkarta Therapeutics.
What industry is Nkarta Therapeutics in?
Nkarta Therapeutics's product category is Cellular Immunotherapy (Allogeneic CAR-NK). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAD, NK Cell Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAAABAB, Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.