Nektar Therapeutics and MD Anderson Cancer Center Announce Collaboration on NKTR-214 Immuno-Stimulatory Cytokine

Strategic Insights -

Nektar Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have announced a research collaboration to evaluate the safety and efficacy of NKTR-214, a CD122-biased immune-stimulatory cytokine, in patients with various types of cancer. The collaboration includes a Phase 1/2 clinical study to evaluate NKTR-214 as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies, such as PD-1 pathway inhibitors. The study aims to explore the potential of NKTR-214 to preferentially activate CD8-positive T cells, which are tumor-killing cells, and to identify predictive biomarkers that can be used in the future development of the treatment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The collaboration between Nektar Therapeutics and MD Anderson Cancer Center will evaluate the safety and efficacy of NKTR-214 in patients with various types of cancer.
  • The Phase 1/2 clinical study will explore the potential of NKTR-214 to preferentially activate CD8-positive T cells and to identify predictive biomarkers for the treatment.
  • NKTR-214 is a CD122-biased immune-stimulatory cytokine designed to stimulate the patient's own immune system to kill tumor cells.
  • The study will also investigate the use of NKTR-214 in combination with other therapies, such as PD-1 pathway inhibitors.
  • Nektar Therapeutics has a robust R&D pipeline in pain, oncology, hemophilia, and other therapeutic areas, with several programs in clinical development.
  • The collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center will significantly advance the development of NKTR-214 and potentially offer a new therapeutic option for cancer patients.

Statistics:

  • In preclinical studies, NKTR-214 demonstrated a mean ratio of 450:1 within the tumor micro-environment of CD8-positive effector T-cells, which promote tumor killing, compared with CD4-positive regulatory T-cells.
  • NKTR-214 is designed to be dosed on an antibody-like schedule, similar to the dosing schedules for PD-1 and CTLA-4 agents.
  • The Phase 1/2 clinical study is expected to begin later this year, with the goal of initiating the first dose-escalation clinical study.
  • Nektar Therapeutics has a strong track record of developing successful medications, with nine approved products in the US or Europe through partnerships with leading biopharmaceutical companies.

Sources:

  • Boyman, J., et al., Nature Reviews Immunology, 2012, 12, 180-190.
  • Charych, D., et al., Cancer Res. 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 482 and Data on file.
  • Hoch U, at al. AACR; Mol Cancer Ther. 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B296.
  • Data on file. Nektar Therapeutics.