Nektar Therapeutics Announces Data Presentations at ASCO 2017

SAN FRANCISCO, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today announced its presence at the upcoming 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, where it will share updated data from clinical studies of NKTR-214.  ASCO will take place June 2-6, 2017 in Chicago. 

NKTR-214 is an investigational immuno-stimulatory therapy designed to expand specific cancer-fighting CD8+ effector T cells and natural killer (NK) cells directly in the tumor micro-environment and increase expression of PD-1 on these immune cells.

"We look forward to providing updates on NKTR-214, including the first data from the PIVOT trial evaluating NKTR-214 in combination with nivolumab, as well as updated data from the monotherapy trial of NKTR-214, including I-O naïve RCC patients who received sequential checkpoint therapy following treatment with NKTR-214," said Mary Tagliaferri, M.D., Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Nektar Therapeutics.  "NKTR-214's unique mechanism which selectively increases tumor-killing TILs, combined with its favorable safety profile and clinical activity, support our combination trials of NKTR-214 with existing checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab and atezolizumab, as well as other immuno-oncology mechanisms in development."

NKTR-214 targets CD122 specific receptors found on the surface of cancer-fighting immune cells in order to stimulate their proliferation. In clinical and preclinical studies, treatment with NKTR-214 resulted in expansion of these cells and mobilization into the tumor micro-environment.^1,2,3 NKTR-214 has an antibody-like dosing regimen similar to the existing checkpoint inhibitor class of approved medicines.

The abstracts published in advance of the ASCO meeting which were made available yesterday on the ASCO website at www.asco.org include preliminary data only as of February 7, 2017.  Updated and additional patient data from these trials will be presented at ASCO.

Abstract 2545/Poster 37: "Effect of a novel IL-2 cytokine immune agonist (NKTR-214) on proliferating CD8+T cells and PD-1 expression on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment in patients with prior checkpoint therapy."  
Presenter: Chantale Bernatchez, Ph.D., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Poster Session: Developmental Therapeutics—Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Date and Time: Monday, June 5, 2017 - 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CDT
Location: Hall A

Abstract e14040: "A phase 1/2 study of a novel IL-2 cytokine, NKTR-214, and nivolumab in patients with select locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors." Diab, A., et al.  
Publication abstract to be included online in the 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings, a Journal of Clinical Oncology supplement.

Nektar will host an analyst and investor event with clinical investigators on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 6:00 pm CDT in Chicago, IL during the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting.

Presenters will include lead investigators from the NKTR-214 trial: Dr. Adi Diab, Assistant Professor, Melanoma Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Nizar Tannir, Professor, Genitourinary Medical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dr. Michael Hurwitz, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology) at Yale Cancer Center.

To register for the webcast of the event please visit: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/guf8mqwk.

Seating is limited to attend the event in person, please contact [email protected] for more information.

About Nektar
Nektar Therapeutics is a research-based biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover and develop innovative medicines to address the unmet medical needs of patients. Our R&D pipeline of new investigational medicines includes treatments for cancer, auto-immune disease and chronic pain. We leverage Nektar's proprietary and proven chemistry platform in the discovery and design of our new therapeutic candidates. Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional operations in Huntsville, Alabama and Hyderabad, India. Further information about the company and its drug development programs and capabilities may be found online at http://www.nektar.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "expect," "believe," "should," "may," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the therapeutic potential of NKTR-214, the therapeutic potential of NKTR-214 in combination with other therapeutic agents, and the potential of our technology and drug candidates in our research and development pipeline.  Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: (i) our statements regarding the therapeutic potential of NKTR-214 are based on pre-clinical and clinical findings and observations; (ii) NKTR-214 is in early-stage clinical development and there are substantial risks that can unexpectedly occur for numerous reasons including negative safety and efficacy findings in the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical studies notwithstanding positive findings in preclinical and clinical studies; (iii) data reported from ongoing clinical trials is necessarily interim data only and the final results will change based on continuing observations from patients that currently remain enrolled in the trials and/or new observations from patients enrolling in the trials; (iv) the length of time to complete ongoing clinical trials and the availability of clinical data may be delayed or unsuccessful due to regulatory delays, slower than anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, and other reasons; (v) scientific discovery of new medical breakthroughs is an inherently uncertain process and the future success of applying our technology platform to potential new drug candidates (such as NKTR-214) is therefore highly uncertain and unpredictable; (vi) patents may not issue from our patent applications for our drug candidates including NKTR-214, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from third parties may be required; and (vii) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2017. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contact:

For Investors:
Jennifer Ruddock of Nektar Therapeutics
415-482-5585

For Media:
Dan Budwick
1AB Media
973-271-6085

1. Charych, D., et al., Cancer Res. 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 482 and Data on file.
2. Hoch U., et al., AACR; Mol Cancer Ther. 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B296.
3. Diab, A., et al., SITC 2016.

SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics

Related Links

http://www.nektar.com