Development of NK Humanized Mouse Models

Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the immune system and can recognize and kill cancer cells. Research in this area is focused on strategies for enhancing NK cell activity in tumor immunotherapy. These strategies include using monoclonal and multi-specific antibodies, as well as immune modulator molecules like cytokines, to redirect and stimulate NK cell activity. Currently, there is a need to establish appropriate preclinical models to effectively evaluate the potential of these emerging immunotherapies.

At AACR 2025, WuXi Biology presented a poster describing the development of a humanized mouse model capable of sustaining functional human NK cells for extended periods, ranging from weeks to months.  The authors highlight a case study assessing the therapeutic efficacy of an anti-CD20 antibody in this NK-humanized model, demonstrating that this model may be a promising tool to accelerate the development of novel NK-based immunotherapies.