MiNK Therapeutics and Memorial Sloan Kettering to Present Phase II Study of agenT-797 Combination in PD-1 Refractory Gastroesophageal Cancer at AACR 2026

Data expected to inform immune modulation, treatment sequencing strategy, and clinical durability of response

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:56am

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An extreme close-up X-ray image revealing the intricate internal structure of a gastroesophageal cancer cell, with ghostly glowing lines and shapes against a dark background, conceptually illustrating the clinical study's exploration of immune reprogramming strategies for this hard-to-treat disease.A groundbreaking study on a new immunotherapy combination aims to unlock the secrets of gastroesophageal cancer and restore immune responsiveness in patients who have failed prior treatments.San Diego Today

MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. announced that data from an investigator-initiated Phase II trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, evaluating agent-797, MiNK's allo-iNKT cell therapy, in combination with botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL), will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April 2026. The study evaluates this multi-mechanistic immunotherapy regimen in patients with PD-1 refractory gastroesophageal cancer (GEC), an area of high unmet need where resistance to checkpoint inhibition remains a significant clinical challenge.

Why it matters

This study represents one of the first clinical evaluations of an iNKT cell therapy combined with dual checkpoint modulation in gastroesophageal cancer, which could provide important insights into how immune reprogramming and treatment sequencing can drive more durable outcomes in refractory cancers and inform the next generation of combination strategies.

The details

The study evaluates the combination of MiNK's allo-iNKT cell therapy agenT-797 with botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL) in patients with PD-1 refractory gastroesophageal cancer. agenT-797 is designed to bridge innate and adaptive immunity as an immune orchestrator, with the potential to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and restore immune responsiveness.

  • The AACR Annual Meeting will take place April 17-22, 2026, in San Diego, CA.
  • The presentation of the Phase II study data is scheduled for April 20, 2026 from 2:00–5:00 PM PT; 5:00-8:00 PM EDT.

The players

MiNK Therapeutics, Inc.

A clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering allogeneic invariant natural killer T (allo-iNKT) cell therapies to restore immune balance and treat immune-mediated diseases and cancer.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The investigator-initiated Phase II trial evaluating agenT-797 in combination with botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL) is being conducted at this cancer center.

Samuel L. Cytyrn, MD

Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the presenter of the study data at the AACR Annual Meeting.

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What they’re saying

“This study represents one of the first clinical evaluations of an iNKT cell therapy combined with dual checkpoint modulation in gastroesophageal cancer and marks an important step in understanding how to re-engage the immune system in patients who have progressed on prior checkpoint therapy.”

— Jennifer Buell, Ph.D., President and CEO of MiNK Therapeutics

“These data build on the immune-modulating findings we reported last year and extend them into the clinical setting. agenT-797 is designed to bridge innate and adaptive immunity as an immune orchestrator, with the potential to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and restore immune responsiveness. We believe these data will provide important insights into how immune reprogramming and treatment sequencing can drive more durable outcomes in refractory cancers and inform the next generation of combination strategies.”

— Jennifer Buell, Ph.D., President and CEO of MiNK Therapeutics

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