MiNK Therapeutics has appointed Dr. Terese C. Hammond as Head of Inflammatory and Pulmonary Diseases to accelerate the company's invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapy pipeline toward pivotal development. The appointment comes as the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company prepares to launch a grant-funded clinical trial in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and advance its clinical program in severe pulmonary inflammatory disease.
Dr. Hammond brings extensive experience in advancing registration-stage programs in severe pulmonary and inflammatory diseases, having served as principal investigator on multiple pivotal studies for major pharmaceutical companies including Gilead, Regeneron, Roche, Novartis, and MiNK. She is the lead author of MiNK's landmark Nature Communications publication on the company's iNKT cell therapy agenT-797 in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Clinical Evidence Supporting iNKT Platform
According to Jennifer S. Buell, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of MiNK Therapeutics, Dr. Hammond's clinical work has demonstrated meaningful survival benefit and reduced infectious complications in severe acute lung injury and life-threatening hypoxemic pneumonia. These findings validate the potential of iNKT therapies and establish the foundation for pivotal trials and future registration.
"Her clinical work has demonstrated meaningful survival benefit and reduced infectious complications in severe acute lung injury and life-threatening hypoxemic pneumonia—seminal findings that not only validate the potential of iNKT therapies but also set the foundation for pivotal trials and future registration," Buell stated.
Strategic Focus on High-Priority Programs
In her new role, Dr. Hammond will lead MiNK's inflammatory and pulmonary disease portfolio, which includes the imminent grant-supported clinical trial in GVHD and the planned late-stage trial in severe pulmonary disease. These programs represent the company's highest priorities, positioned as substantial, low-risk opportunities supported by strong biologic rationale, peer-reviewed data, and clear regulatory endpoints.
Dr. Hammond will retain clinical involvement, bringing real-world patient insights to streamline trial execution, support efficient study design, and expand innovation across MiNK's iNKT platform. "I am honored to formally join MiNK at this decisive stage. iNKT therapies have shown highly compelling signals in ARDS and other severe pulmonary diseases, representing a substantial opportunity for near-term pivotal advancement," Hammond commented.
agenT-797 Mechanism and Clinical Applications
MiNK's lead asset, agenT-797, is an off-the-shelf, allogeneic iNKT cell therapy that harnesses the dual power of innate and adaptive immunity. The therapy functions as "master regulators," combining the cytotoxic capabilities of NK cells with T-cell-like antigen recognition and memory. This unique biology enables a robust, pathogen-agnostic immune response that can be directed against hard-to-treat tumors.
In clinical trials, agenT-797 has demonstrated the ability to bolster peripheral memory T-cell activation, enhance tumor infiltration, and potentially improve outcomes for patients with solid cancers. The therapy has also shown efficacy in reducing inflammation in critically ill patients with severe respiratory pathology.
Clinical Leadership and Expertise
Dr. Hammond is a nationally recognized expert in pulmonary and critical care medicine with more than two decades of leadership at top cancer and academic centers. She currently serves as Program Director of Pulmonary & Critical Care at Kaweah Health Medical Center and previously directed intensive care services at Providence St. John's Health Center. She has held senior faculty appointments at UCLA and USC, where she led fellowship programs in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
The physician is quadruple board-certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care, Neurocritical Care, and Sleep Medicine, and holds a Cancer Immunotherapy Certificate from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. Her research has been published in leading journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, Science Translational Medicine, and Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Company Platform and Pipeline
MiNK Therapeutics is pioneering the development of allogeneic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies and precision-targeted immune technologies. The company's proprietary platform is designed to restore immune balance and drive cytotoxic immune responses across cancer, immune-mediated diseases, and pulmonary immune failure.
Beyond agenT-797, MiNK is advancing a pipeline of T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies and neoantigen discovery tools that enable tumor- and tissue-specific immune activation. With a scalable, cryopreserved manufacturing process and a differentiated mechanism that bridges innate and adaptive immunity, the company is developing next-generation immune reconstitution therapies designed to be accessible, durable, and applicable across a wide range of indications.
