SALT LAKE CITY — NanoKar Therapeutics, an early-stage biotechnology company developing intracellular signaling optimization technology for CAR-T based cell therapies, announced it has secured an exclusive global license from the University of Utah through its Technology Licensing Office. The exclusive license is for a novel CAR-T cell engineering platform developed by Matthew Bettini, a professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Utah, and the Principal Investigator of the Matthew Bettini Lab.
The licensed technology, NanoKar’s proprietary ITAM optimization platform, is designed to tune intracellular CAR signaling to improve persistence, reduce toxicity, and expand the potential for efficacy in solid tumors, the areas where current therapies have shown limited success.
“This platform addresses key biological constraints that limit the effectiveness of current CAR-T therapies,” said Dr. Bettini. “We believe it has the potential to significantly expand the reach of cell therapy.”
NanoKar has conducted extensive preclinical research, and is advancing the platform with a focused strategy centered on generating translational data and enabling integration into existing and next-generation CAR architectures without requiring changes to antigen targeting, co-stimulation, or manufacturing workflows.
The company is advancing its preclinical platform, generating additional validation data, and engaging potential licensing, co-development, and strategic partners. Its pipeline includes programs across hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, including CD19, HER2, GD2, Nectin4, EGFRvIII, and B7-H3-directed approaches.
NanoKar believes its approach aligns with emerging regulatory frameworks, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Platform Technology Designation, which may support more efficient development of therapies built on a shared technological foundation.
“The exclusive license provides the foundation to develop this technology in a way that maximizes its impact,” said Craig Mosman, Chief Executive Officer of NanoKar Therapeutics. “Our goal is to position the platform for broad application across multiple CAR-T programs.”
CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) therapy is an advanced form of immunotherapy in which a patient’s own immune cells are genetically engineered to recognize and attack cancer cells. While CAR-T therapies have demonstrated significant success in certain blood cancers, their effectiveness has been limited by challenges. Most patients experience some degree of neurotoxicity, and 40% to 60% of cases relapse because of limited persistence. In addition, CAR-T therapies have not been effective against solid tumors.
About NanoKar Therapeutics
NanoKar Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation CAR-T cell therapies. Founded on breakthrough research from the University of Utah, NanoKar’s proprietary platform technology is designed to overcome the key limitations of current CAR-T therapies, including T-cell exhaustion and limited efficacy against solid tumors. The company is committed to advancing its platform through strategic partnerships and clinical development to bring transformative cell therapies to patients in need. For more information, visit www.nanokartherapeutics.com.