Base to Base biotech podcast 43: Natural killer cell therapy and attacking tumours

This week, we have a conversation with Lisa Guerrettaz, executive director, Pharmacology and Translational Science at Artiva Biotherapeutics; and Avacta Therapeutics’ CEO Christina Coughlin.Times:04:12 Artiva Biotherapeutics21:30 Avacta TherapeuticsArtiva BiotherapeuticsArtiva Biotherapeutics is a clinical‑stage cell therapy company developing off‑the‑shelf (allogeneic) natural killer (NK) cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer. Headquartered in San Diego and founded in 2019, the company was created as a spin‑out from GC Cell (formerly GC Lab Cell) in South Korea, alongside a strategic partnership granting Artiva exclusive rights (outside Asia, Australia and New Zealand) to GC Cell’s NK manufacturing technology and associated programmes.​Artiva’s lead programme is AlloNK, a non‑genetically modified, cryopreserved NK cell therapy designed to enhance antibody‑dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) when paired with monoclonal antibodies. The company positions this approach to achieve deep B‑cell depletion in outpatient settings without the complexity and cost associated with bespoke autologous cell therapies.​In terms of clinical activity, AlloNK is being evaluated across three ongoing trials in B‑cell‑driven autoimmune diseases, including company‑sponsored and investigator‑initiated basket studies covering indications such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis and Sjögren’s disease. Artiva has treated more than 100 patients with AlloNK across oncology and autoimmune disease and is planning FDA interactions in the first half of 2026 aimed at enabling a pivotal trial pathway in rheumatoid arthritis.Avacta TherapeuticsAvacta is a life sciences company best known for its Affimer platform—engineered binding proteins positioned as an alternative to antibodies for use in diagnostics, reagents and therapeutics. ​ The company’s activities span both life science reagents/diagnostics and oncology therapeutics, with the latter centred on its pre|CISION technology, which is designed to activate drugs selectively in the tumour microenvironment. ​In therapeutics, Avacta’s most advanced programme is faridoxorubicin (AVA6000), which uses a fibroblast activation protein (FAP)‑targeted mechanism intended to release an active form of doxorubicin preferentially at tumour sites. The programme has moved into phase 1b expansion cohorts to assess efficacy in more homogeneous patient populations and help guide expectations for later‑stage studies.​Earlier this month, the company announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its FAP-Exd programme, the first pre|CISION peptide drug conjugate based on the highly potent topoisomerase I inhibitor, exatecan.To get in touch with guest suggestions, or to sponsor or advertise on the podcast, please email [email protected]