– NKTR-255 Combination Expanded NK Cells
and Enhanced ADCC Against Rituximab-Resistant Burkitt Lymphoma (BL)
Cells –
SAN
FRANCISCO, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar
Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) announced that collaborators from the
Cairo Laboratory at New York Medical
College presented a poster highlighting new preclinical data
on NKTR-255 at the 65th American Society of Hematology
(ASH) Annual Meeting demonstrating that NKTR-255 significantly
enhanced the cytotoxicity of expanded Natural Killer (NK) cells
when combined with obinutuzumab against rituximab-resistant BL
cells and significantly improved the survival of mice xenografted
with Raji-4RH compared to controls.
NKTR-255 is a novel polymer-conjugated human IL-15 receptor
agonist currently being studied in three separate clinical studies
in combination with cell therapies and immunotherapies.
Preclinical and early clinical data suggest that NKTR-255 can
improve proliferation and persistence of NK and CD8+ T
cells to enhance specific anti-tumor activity.
"Both in vitro and in vivo data show the promising
synergistic potential of combining NKTR-255 with an anti-CD20
antibody, obinutuzumab, in enhancing anti-tumor immune response,
particularly in an aggressive tumor model like Burkitt lymphoma,"
said Jonathan Zalevsky, Ph.D.,
Senior Vice President and Chief Research & Development Officer
at Nektar. "Results like these confirm our belief that NKTR-255
could become a valuable addition to current standard of care across
multiple oncology indications, particularly in hematologic
malignancies."
2023 ASH presentations are available for download at
www.nektar.com/science/scientific-posters-and-presentations.
Key details and takeaways from the presentation are as
follows:
Abstract 2063: "Optimizing Ex-Vivo Expanded NK Cell-
Mediated Cellular Cytotoxicity By Obinutuzumab Combined with
NKTR-255 in Burkitt Lymphoma (BL)", Chu YY, et al.
- NKTR-255 significantly promoted NK cell proliferation, and
significantly enhanced the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
(ADCC) of expanded NK cells when combined with obinutuzumab against
rituximab-resistant BL cells in vitro.
- NKTR-255 significantly enhanced the release of interferon-gamma
(IFNγ) and granzyme B, proinflammatory cytokines with multiple
functions including enhancing anti-tumor immune response, by NK
cells when combined with obinutuzumab against BL cells in
vitro.
- NKTR-255 combined with obinutuzumab and NK cells significantly
extended survival, compared to NK cells alone, in humanized
rituximab-resistant BL cells xenografted mouse models.
About NKTR-255
NKTR-255 is a biologic that targets the IL-15 pathway in order
to activate the body's innate and adaptive immunity. Through
optimal engagement of the IL-15 receptor complex, NKTR-255 is
designed to enhance functional NK cell populations and formation of
long-term immunological memory, which may lead to sustained and
durable anti-tumor immune response.
NKTR-255 is currently being studied in three separate clinical
studies in combination with cell therapies and immunotherapy. A
Phase 2/3 study is underway that combines NKTR-255 with approved
CAR-T cell therapies in patients with diffuse large B-cell
lymphoma, which is currently recruiting (NCT05664217). NKTR-255 is
also being studied in a Phase 2 study in combination with avelumab
as a maintenance treatment in patients with locally advanced or
metastatic urothelial carcinoma in the Merck KGaA-sponsored JAVELIN
Bladder Medley trial (NCT05327530). In September, the company
announced a new clinical collaboration whereby CBMG will be adding
NKTR-255 to its ongoing CBMG-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial
evaluating C-TIL051, a tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, in
anti-PD1 resistant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, which is
being conducted at Duke Cancer Institute (NCT05676749).
In addition, there are two ongoing investigator sponsored trials
(ISTs) evaluating NKTR-255 as adjunct therapy following a CAR-T
cell therapy and one study evaluating NKTR-255 in combination with
PD-1 immunotherapy. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is conducting a
Phase 1 study evaluating NKTR-255 following lisocabtagene
maraleucel treatment in patients with relapsed/refractory large
B-cell lymphoma (NCT05359211), and Stanford
University is conducting a Phase 1 study evaluating NKTR-255
following an investigational CD19/22 CAR-T cell therapy in patients
with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(NCT03233854). M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is conducting a Phase 1
study evaluating NKTR-255 in combination with durvalumab in
patients with locally advanced NSCLC (NCT05632809).
About Nektar Therapeutics
Nektar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company with a
robust, wholly owned R&D pipeline of investigational medicines
in immunology and oncology as well as a portfolio of approved
partnered medicines. Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional
manufacturing operations in Huntsville,
Alabama. 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: "will," "could," "develop,"
"potential," "advance" and similar references to future periods.
Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others,
statements regarding the therapeutic potential of, and future
development plans for, NKTR-255. 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-255 are based on preclinical and
clinical findings and observations and are subject to change as
research and development continue; (ii) NKTR-255 is an
investigational agent and continued research and development for
these drug candidates is subject to substantial risks, including
negative safety and efficacy findings in future clinical studies
(notwithstanding positive findings in earlier preclinical and
clinical studies); (iii) NKTR-255 is in various stages of clinical
development and the risk of failure is high and can unexpectedly
occur at any stage prior to regulatory approval; (iv) the timing of
the commencement or end of clinical trials and the availability of
clinical data may be delayed or unsuccessful due to challenges
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory delays, slower than
anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing
standards of care, evolving regulatory requirements, clinical trial
design, clinical outcomes, competitive factors, or delay or failure
in ultimately obtaining regulatory approval in one or more
important markets; (v) we may not achieve the expected cost savings
we expect from our 2022 corporate restructuring and reorganization
plan or our 2023 cost restructuring plan and we may undertake
additional restructuring and cost-saving activities in the future,
(vi) patents may not issue from our patent applications for our
drug candidates, 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 Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2023. 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:
Vivian Wu of Nektar
Therapeutics
628-895-0661
For Media:
David Rosen of Argot Partners
(212) 600-1902
david.rosen@argotpartners.com
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SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics