May 28, 2021 -- ONK Therapeutics announced it inked a patent license deal with Australia's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) for rights to CISH knockout (KO) natural killer (NK) cells for cancer research.
Cytokine inducible SH2 containing protein (CIS; encoded by the gene CISH) is a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of proteins.
Under the terms of the agreement, ONK secured exclusive global rights to WEHI's patent covering the use of human NK cells lacking the CISH gene for the purposes of researching, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing NK cell therapies.
The financial terms of the agreement include milestone payments and royalties on sales, but specifics were not disclosed.