The U.S. listing of NKGen Biotech, a subsidiary of NKMax, may happen soon as Graf Acquisition Corp. IV, the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that will merge with NKGen Biotech, filed an S-4 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

S-4 is a form that the SEC requires companies to file in order to offer new securities pursuant to a merger or acquisition publicly.

Following the completion of the shareholders' meeting and other customary procedures, the company is expected to go public within the third quarter of this year.

Upon completion of the merger, Graf's name will be changed to NKGen Biotech and the company will ultimately be listed on the NYSE or NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “NKGN.”

NK Max expects that the listing of its subsidiary will accelerate NKGen Biotech's clinical research capabilities as the latter plans to use the proceeds from the merger for clinical trial research and development expenses until the second quarter of 2025.

Founded in 2017, NKGen Biotech, a 94.86% owned U.S. subsidiary of NK Max, is leading the global clinical development of NK Max’s super natural killer (SNK) cells in the U.S.

NKGen Biotech plans to expand its research into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in addition to solid tumor clinical trials.

Currently, NKGen Biotech is conducting a phase 1 clinical trial of SNK01 in refractory solid tumors (sarcomas). The company is also preparing to present interim results of its Phase 1 clinical trial in Alzheimer's disease at the American Alzheimer's Association conference in July.

"The listing process is progressing smoothly and is expected to be finalized soon," an NK Max official said. "We expect to accelerate our clinical research by securing funds through the listing of a subsidiary."