A phase 1 trial tested allogeneic iPSC-derived invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in recurrent head and neck cancer, marking progress for off-the-shelf engineered immune cells. The study reported early safety and feasibility readouts consistent with first-in-human allogeneic cell therapies, though efficacy signals remain preliminary. Complementing that, researchers engineered mesenchymal stem cells using mRNA to create an allogeneic product dubbed DC-25, showing enhanced immunomodulatory functions in preclinical models. Both programs illustrate converging strategies: manufacturing-ready, off-the-shelf cell products using either pluripotent or adult-stem cell platforms and leveraging genetic or mRNA engineering for potency. Off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies aim to avoid patient-specific manufacturing and immunosuppression requirements; however, scalability, product consistency and immune rejection remain development and regulatory hurdles.