MiNK Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Terese C. Hammond to Accelerate iNKT Pipeline to Pivotal Development
MiNK Therapeutics (NASDAQ: INKT) has appointed Dr. Terese C. Hammond as Head of Inflammatory and Pulmonary Diseases. Dr. Hammond, a renowned expert in pulmonary and critical care medicine, has been the lead author of MiNK's Nature Communications publication on their iNKT cell therapy (agenT-797) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
In her new role, Dr. Hammond will lead two priority programs: an upcoming grant-funded clinical trial in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and a planned late-stage trial in severe pulmonary disease. Her previous clinical work has shown meaningful survival benefits and reduced infectious complications in severe acute lung injury and life-threatening hypoxemic pneumonia.
MiNK Therapeutics (NASDAQ: INKT) ha nominato la Dott.ssa Terese C. Hammond come Capo delle Malattie Infiammatorie e Pulmonari. La Dott.ssa Hammond, nota esperta di medicina polmonare e di terapia intensiva, è stata l'autrice principale della pubblicazione di MiNK su Nature Communications riguardante la terapia con cellule iNKT (agenT-797) per il distress respiratorio acuto (ARDS).
Nel suo nuovo ruolo, la Dott.ssa Hammond guiderà due programmi prioritari: una prossima sperimentazione clinica finanziata con grant per la GVHD (graft-versus-host disease) e uno studio di fase avanzata pianificato per malattie polmonari gravi. Il suo precedente lavoro clinico ha mostrato benefici significativi sulla sopravvivenza e una riduzione delle complicanze infettive in lesioni acute gravi del polmone e in polmonite ipossiemica potenzialmente fatale.
MiNK Therapeutics (NASDAQ: INKT) ha designado a la Dra. Terese C. Hammond como Jefa de Enfermedades Inflamatorias y Pulmonares. La Dra. Hammond, reconocida experta en medicina pulmonar y cuidados críticos, ha sido la autora principal de la publicación de MiNK en Nature Communications sobre su terapia con células iNKT (agenT-797) para el síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo (ARDS).
En su nuevo cargo, la Dra. Hammond dirigirá dos programas prioritarios: un ensayo clínico próximo financiado por una subvención para la enfermedad del injerto frente al hospedador (GVHD) y un ensayo de última fase planificado para enfermedades pulmonares graves. Su trabajo clínico previo ha mostrado beneficios significativos de supervivencia y reducción de complicaciones infecciosas en lesiones pulmonares agudas graves y neumonía hipoxémica potencialmente mortal.
MiNK Therapeutics(NASDAQ: INKT)는 테레스 C. 해먼드 박사를 염증성 및 호흡기 질환 책임자로 임명했습니다. 해먼드 박사는 폐 및 중환자 치료 의학의 저명한 전문가로, ARDS(급성호흡곤란증)에서의 iNKT 세포 치료제(agenT-797)에 대한 MiNK의 Nature Communications 논문의 주저자였습니다.
새로운 직함에서 해먼드 박사는 두 개의 우선 프로그램을 이끌 예정입니다: 보조금으로 자금을 지원받는 이식편대숙주병(GVHD) 관련 임상시험과 중증 폐질환에 대한 계획된 후기 단계 임상시험. 그녀의 이전 임상 연구는 중증 급성 폐손상에서 생존 이점과 치명적일 수 있는 저산소성 폐렴에서 감염 합병증 감소를 보여주었습니다.
MiNK Therapeutics (NASDAQ : INKT) a nommé le Dr Terese C. Hammond au poste de Chef des Maladies inflammatoires et pulmonaires. Le Dr Hammond, experte renommée en médecine pulmonaire et en soins intensifs, a été l’auteure principale de la publication de MiNK dans Nature Communications sur leur thérapie à base de cellules iNKT (agenT-797) pour le syndrome de détresse respiratoire aiguë (SDRA).
Dans ses nouvelles fonctions, elle supervisera deux programmes prioritaires : un essai clinique prochain financé par subventions pour la maladie du greffon contre l'hôte (GVHD) et un essai de phase avancée prévu pour les maladies pulmonaires graves. Ses travaux cliniques antérieurs ont montré des bénéfices significatifs sur la survie et une réduction des complications infectieuses dans les lésions pulmonaires aiguës graves et une pneumonie hypoxémique potentiellement mortelle.
MiNK Therapeutics (NASDAQ: INKT) hat Dr. Terese C. Hammond als Leiterin der Abteilung für Entzündliche und Lungenerkrankungen ernannt. Dr. Hammond, eine renommierte Expertin der Lungenmedizin und der Intensivmedizin, war die leitende Autorin der Nature Communications-Veröffentlichung von MiNK über ihre iNKT-Zelltherapie (agenT-797) bei akutem Lungenversagen (ARDS).
In ihrer neuen Funktion wird Dr. Hammond zwei Prioritätsprogramme leiten: eine kommende, durch Zuschüsse finanzierte klinische Studie bei Graft-versus-Host-Krankheit (GVHD) und eine geplante Spätphasenstudie für schwere Lungenerkrankungen. Ihre frühere klinische Arbeit hat signifikante Überlebensvorteile und eine Reduktion infektiöserKomplikationen bei schweren akuten Lungenschäden und lebensbedrohlicher hypoxämischer Pneumonie gezeigt.
عينت MiNK Therapeutics (رمزها في البورصة INKT) الدكتورة terese C. هاموند كرئيسة لقسم الالتهابات وأمراض الرئة. الدكتورة هاموند، خبيرة معروفة في طب الرئة والرعاية الحرجة، كانت المؤلفة الرئيسية لورقة MiNK في Nature Communications حول علاجها بالخلايا iNKT (agenT-797) في متلازمة الضائقة التنفسية الحادـة ARDS.
في دورها الجديد، ستقود الدكتورة هاموند برنامجين ذوي أولوية: تجربة سريرية مقبلة ممولة من منح لـ GVHD (داء الطُّفريِّة المتسَبَّبة في المضيف) وتجربة متطورة مخطط لها في أمراض الرئة الشديدة. أظهر عملها السريري السابق فوائد كبيرة في البقاء على قيد الحياة وتقليل المضاعفات المعدية في إصابات الرئة الحادة الشديدة والالتهاب الرئوي الناقص الأكسجة والذي قد يفضي إلى الوفاة.
MiNK Therapeutics（纳斯达克股票代码：INKT）任命 Terese C. Hammond 博士为炎症与肺部疾病部负责人。Hammond 博士是著名的肺科与危重病医学专家，曾作为 MiNK 在 Nature Communications 上关于其 iNKT 细胞疗法（agenT-797）在急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）研究的第一作者。
在新任命下，Hammond 博士将领导两个优先项目：一个即将开展、由资助基金支持的 GVHD（异基因移植物抗宿主病）临床试验，以及一个计划中的晚期临床试验，针对严重的肺部疾病。她此前的临床工作显示在重度急性肺损伤和致命的低氧性肺炎中，显著提高生存率并降低感染性并发症。
- Appointment of nationally recognized expert in pulmonary and critical care medicine
- Previous clinical work demonstrated meaningful survival benefit in acute lung injury
- Grant-supported clinical trial reduces financial burden on the company
- Clear regulatory endpoints and strong biologic rationale for clinical programs
- None.
- Imminent launch of grant-funded clinical trial in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)
- Advancing clinical program in severe pulmonary inflammatory disease
NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiNK Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: INKT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies, today announced the appointment of Terese C. Hammond, MD as Head of Inflammatory and Pulmonary Diseases, effective immediately.
Dr. Hammond is a nationally recognized leader in pulmonary and critical care medicine with extensive experience advancing registration-stage programs in severe pulmonary and inflammatory diseases. She has served as principal investigator on multiple pivotal studies advancing innovations from Gilead, Regeneron, Roche, Novartis, and MiNK, and is lead author of MiNK’s landmark Nature Communications publication on MiNK’s iNKT cell therapy (agenT-797) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
“Terese’s leadership and clinical observations has advanced MiNK’s INKT platform to the forefront of innovation in pulmonary diseases,” said Jennifer S. Buell, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of MiNK Therapeutics. “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.”
In her role at MiNK, Dr. Hammond will lead the company’s inflammatory and pulmonary disease portfolio, which include the imminent grant-supported clinical trial in GVHD and the planned late-stage trial in severe pulmonary disease. These programs represent MiNK’s highest priorities, with both positioned as substantial, low-risk opportunities supported by strong biologic rationale, peer-reviewed data, and clear regulatory endpoints. Importantly, Dr. Hammond will retain a foothold in the clinic, bringing real-world patient insights that will streamline trial execution, support efficient study design, and expand innovation across MiNK’s iNKT platform.
Dr. Hammond commented, “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. I look forward to working with regulators, investigators, and our partners to accelerate these programs and deliver transformative therapies to patients in critical need.”
About Dr. Terese Hammond
Dr. Terese 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, a premier oncology hospital. She has also held senior faculty appointments at UCLA and USC, where she led fellowship programs in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Dr. Hammond trained at Boston University/Boston Medical Center and is quadruple board-certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care, Neurocritical Care, and Sleep Medicine. She also 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. She has been recognized as “Woman of the Year” by U.S. Representative Judy Chu and multiple times as a “Top Doctor” by Los Angeles Magazine and Pasadena Magazine.
About MiNK Therapeutics
MiNK Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of allogeneic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapies and precision-targeted immune technologies. MiNK’s proprietary platform is designed to restore immune balance and drive cytotoxic immune responses across cancer, immune-mediated diseases, and pulmonary immune failure. MiNK’s lead asset, AGENT-797, is an off-the-shelf, allogeneic iNKT cell therapy currently in clinical development for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), solid tumors, and critical pulmonary immune collapse. MiNK is also advancing a pipeline of T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies and neoantigen discovery tools that enable tumor- and tissue-specific immune activation with broad potential application. With a scalable, cryopreserved manufacturing process and a differentiated mechanism that bridges innate and adaptive immunity, MiNK is committed to developing next-generation immune reconstitution therapies that are accessible, durable, and applicable across a wide range of indications. For more information, visit https://minktherapeutics.com or follow us on X @MiNK_iNKT.
About AgenT-797
AgenT-797 is an allogeneic invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell therapy that harnesses the dual power of innate and adaptive immunity. iNKTs function 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. Manufactured by MiNK Therapeutics in Lexington, MA, agenT-797 is a scalable, off-the-shelf product designed to provide accessible, transformative treatment options. In clinical trials, agenT-797 can bolster peripheral memory T-cell activation, enhance tumor infiltration, and potentially improve outcomes for patients with solid cancers (Cytryn et al., AACR IO 2024; Oncogene, 2024), as well as reduce inflammation in critically ill patients with severe respiratory pathology (Nature Communications, 2024).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding the therapeutic potential, safety, anticipated benefit, development plans, and future potential of iNKT cells and CAR-iNKT therapies. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described under the “Risk Factors” section of MiNK’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. MiNK cautions investors not to place undue reliance on these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
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