 Shares of small-cap immunotherapy company Nantkwest Inc NASDAQ: NK, a leading producer of clinical dose forms of off-the-shelf natural killer cell therapies, were adding to Mondays gains in Tuesdays session. NantKwest and its affiliate ImmunityBio are in active discussions with the FDA about developing therapies and vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the companies said in a Tuesday press release. ImmunityBio will contribute its expertise in vaccine development and NK cell activation, while NantKwest will pitch in with its off-the-shelf cell-based therapies.ImmunityBio and NantKwest said they have developed immunomodulator regimens for COVID-19 based on the biological stage of the patients infection -- mild, moderate and severe or critically ill. Benzinga is covering every angle of how the coronavirus affects the financial world. For daily updates, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter.NantKwest, ImmunityBios COVID-19 Strategy With the mild-to-moderate stage of infection, the companies said NK and T cell stimulation should work and are proposing clinical trials of N-803 alone and a second trial of haNK alone, or haNK combined with convalescent plasma.The companies said IND applications for the trials are pending before the FDA.For patients requiring ventilator support, the companies are exploring the use of bone marrow-derived allogenic mesenchymal stem cells to mitigate the cytopathic storm.The companies also said they are developing a vaccine platform for both initial immunizations and subsequent booster injections.Were in a race against time, but I am confident that, as a result of the incredible hard work the NantKwest, ImmunityBio, and the global scientific communities are undertaking, we will find effective therapeutics and vaccines against this coronavirus, Patrick Soon-Shiong, the chairman and CEO of NantKwest and ImmunityBio, said in a statement. NantKwest shares were rising by 10.83 to 3.48 at the time of publication Tuesday.Related Links:The Week Ahead In Biotech: Urogen FDA Decision, Amarin, JJ; Earnings And More COVID-19 Updates Gilead Analysts Break Down Remdesivir Data Readout From Compassionate UseSee more from Benzinga GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi Collaborate On COVID-19 Vaccine Development: What You Should Know The Daily Biotech Pulse: Amarin Reports Strong Q1 Vascepa Sales, BeiGene Aces Late-Stage Lung Cancer Study, Glaxo, Sanofi Strike COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership Gilead Analysts Break Down Remdesivir Data Readout From Compassionate UseC 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. 