NKTR-262

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) announced today that it will host a webcast analyst and investor conference call with a cancer specialist and Nektar management on Friday, November 12, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. EST during the 2021 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting. The call will be hosted by Nektar management and will include, SITC author and presenter, Dr. Mehmet Altan, Assistant Professor, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center and Dr. Alan Tan, Director of GU Medical Oncology and Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy at Rush University Medical Center. The event will follow the publication of the NKTR-255 poster (Abstract #957) on Friday morning. SITC is being held in Washington, D.C. and virtually from November 10 to November 14, 2021. Analyst Call: Date and Time: Friday, November 12, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. EST Dial-in: 877-881-2183 (toll-free) or 970-315-0453 (enter access code 1769208) Investors and analysts can also view slides and listen to the live audio webcast of the presentation at . The event will also be available for replay for two weeks on Nektar's website: . Details of the presentations at SITC are as follows: Nektar Poster Presentations at SITC Abstract 957: "NKTR-255 Plus Cetuximab in Patients with Solid Tumors: Interim Safety and Efficacy Results from the Phase 1b Dose Escalation Study," Altan, M., et al. Presenter: Dr. Mehmet Altan, MD Anderson Cancer Center ePoster and live poster will be available on Friday, November 12th, 2021, at 7:00 a.m. EST Poster reception: Friday, November 12, 2021, from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST Additional Collaborator Presentations at SITC Abstract 59: "Associations between KIR/KIR-ligand genotypes and clinical outcome for patients with advanced solid tumors receiving BEMPEG plus nivolumab combination therapy in the PIVOT-02 trial," Feils, AS., et al. ePoster will be on display on the SITC 2021 virtual meeting platform on Friday, November 12, 2021, at 7:00 a.m. EST Abstract 596: "Combining Bempegaldesleukin (CD122-preferential IL-2 pathway agonist) and NKTR-262 (TLR7/8 agonist) pairs local innate activation with systemic CD8+ T cell expansion to enhance anti-tumor immunity," Rolig, A., et al. ePoster will be on display on the SITC 2021 virtual meeting platform on Friday, November 12, 2021, at 7:00 a.m. EST Dr. Mehmet Altan Mehmet Altan, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Altan is one of the lead investigators in the phase 1/2, dose-escalation and dose-expansion study of NKTR-255 in combination with cetuximab in patients with refractory 2nd and 3rd line metastatic colorectal cancer or metastatic head and neck cancer. His current research areas include identification of mechanisms for primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapies and predictive markers for immunotherapy toxicities. He also works on translational research projects for identification of spatiotemporal dynamics of the tumor microenvironment in response to immunotherapy to define potential therapeutic targets. Dr. Alan Tan Alan Tan, MD, is a Director of GU Medical Oncology and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy at Rush University Medical Center. He specializes in kidney cancer, urothelial/bladder cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma. Dr. Tan has clinical research interest in designing and implementing clinical trials to test novel immunotherapies and targeted therapies in these cancers. He also leads the Rush University Precision Oncology and Genomics program. He is co-chair for the Hoosier Cancer Research Network (HCRN) Melanoma Working Group. About Nektar Nektar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company with a robust, wholly owned R&D pipeline of investigational medicines in oncology, immunology and virology well as a portfolio of approved partnered medicines. 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 . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: "will," "design," "develop" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the therapeutic potential of, and future development plans for, bempegaldesleukin, NKTR-255, and NKTR-262, as well as the availability of results and outcomes from clinical and preclinical studies of our drug candidates. 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 bempegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and NKTR-262 are based on preclinical and clinical findings and observations and are subject to change as research and development continue; (ii) bempegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and NKTR-262 are investigational agents and continued research and development for these drug candidates is subject to substantial risks, including negative safety and efficacy findings in ongoing clinical studies (notwithstanding positive findings in earlier preclinical and clinical studies); (iii) bempegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and NKTR-262 are 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 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) 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 (vi) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2021. 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: Dan Budwick of 1AB dan@1abmedia.com 973-271-6085 Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:NKTR

TORONTO and HOUSTON, May 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (“Medicenna” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: MDNA TSX: MDNA), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company, today announced the appointment of Mann Muhsin, MD, as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer. “Mann’s expertise in clinical trial design, execution and in-depth knowledge of the immuno-oncology therapeutic landscape, including IL-2, adds considerable depth to our diverse and highly talented management team,” said Fahar Merchant, PhD, President and CEO of Medicenna. “His strategic skills, together with his extensive experience leading and effectively executing early and late stage clinical programs, will be an invaluable asset as we work to advance MDNA11 into human trials in the middle of the year and further expand our clinical pipeline. It is a pleasure to welcome Mann to Medicenna and I am pleased to have him as part of the team.” Dr. Muhsin commented, “I am excited to be joining Medicenna at this important time and am eager to begin leading the continued development of its growing clinical pipeline. The Superkine and BiSKITs™ platforms position the Company for success with their potential first- and best-in-class assets that are designed to address a wide array of cancers across the immunogenicity spectrum. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to leverage the power of these platforms to deliver promising cytokine-based immunotherapies to patients with unmet medical needs.” Dr. Muhsin is an accomplished industry leader with more than 20 years of experience in medical practice and drug development and has an outstanding track record of innovation in oncology and immuno-oncology trial design. He has considerable talent in building clinical development and science departments and advancing the strategic vision needed to prioritize, build and expand successful oncology clinical programs. Dr. Muhsin started his clinical research career at PICR phase I unit, where he conducted more than 17 clinical trials for international sponsors including AstraZeneca, Hoffmann La Roche, Merck, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Bayer in the field of internal medicine prior to leading early clinical development programs at Janssen. Dr. Muhsin has also designed and executed early and late stage oncology trials for companies such as Oncosec, Halozyme Therapeutics, HUYA Bioscience and most recently at Nektar Therapeutics where he led the Phase 3 PIVOT-12 trial (pegylated IL-2, bempegaldesleukin, a pegylated IL-2 in combination with nivolumab) and global product strategy for NKTR-262 (a TLR 7/8 agonist). Furthermore, Mann has extensive experience with interleukins such as IL-2, IL-12, and pegylated IL-2, across multiple tumor types, is a global thought leader in immuno-oncology and the tumor microenvironment, and has authored dozens of publications, book chapters, and presentations globally. Dr. Muhsin received his doctorate of medicine MBChB (MD) and internal medicine training from Baghdad University School of Medicine prior to practicing medicine, civilian and at the US Army Medical Corps Combat Support Hospitals (CSH). About Medicenna Medicenna is a clinical stage immunotherapy company focused on the development of novel, highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first in class Empowered Superkines for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. Medicenna's long-acting IL-2 Superkine asset, MDNA11, is a next-generation IL-2 with superior CD122 binding without CD25 affinity and therefore preferentially stimulates cancer killing effector T cells and NK cells when compared to competing IL-2 programs. Medicenna’s early-stage program on Bifunctional SuperKine ImmunoTherapies (BiSKITs™) is designed to further enhance the ability of Superkines to treat immunologically “cold” tumors. Medicenna's lead IL4 Empowered Superkine, MDNA55, has completed a Phase 2b clinical trial for rGBM, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer. MDNA55 has been studied in five clinical trials involving 132 subjects, including 112 adults with rGBM. MDNA55 has obtained Fast-Track and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and FDA/EMA, respectively. Forward-Looking StatementThis news release contains forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and relate to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts including statements related to clinical timelines for MDNA11, our ability to expand our clinical pipeline, the potential success of the Superkine and BiSKITs™ platforms and that their first- and best-in-class potential, and the presentation of additional data. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "believes" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including the future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the risks detailed in the annual information form of the Company dated May 14, 2020 and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time in Canada and the United States. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by Canadian and United States securities law.