Nektar Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data from Novel PEGylated Interferon Gamma Program, NKTR-288, at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting

2022-11-12

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NKTR-288 upregulated MHC Class I and PD-L1 expression on tumors, enhancing anti-tumor activity when combined with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibodies PD-L1 antibodies

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA I November 10, 2022 I Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today announced the first presentation of preclinical data for NKTR-288 at the 2022 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting.

NKTR-288 is a novel polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugate of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), designed to modify binding of IFN-γ to its substrates and optimize the duration of IFN-γ signaling. IFN-γ is a cytokine that induces cellular antigen presentation and enhances tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell response, and may have applications in a number of therapeutic areas, including oncology and infectious diseases, among others.

The presentation today showed the sustained pharmacological properties of NKTR-288 relative to native cytokine, including durable exposure and induction of the well characterized interferon gamma response. These data support further evaluation of NKTR-288 as a monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in the clinical setting.

"The results presented at SITC clearly demonstrate that NKTR-288 has differentiated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties compared to native IFN-γ, leading to durable in vivo anti-tumor activity in preclinical models," said Jonathan Zalevsky, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Research & Development Officer at Nektar. "Particularly promising were data that show NKTR-288 upregulates PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue, supporting potential combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors by enhancing checkpoint blockade efficacy in low-MHC Class I 'cold' tumor models. It highlights the potential of NKTR-288 to augment currently available PD-1 or PD-L1 treatment strategies and possibly broaden the responsive patient population."

Also presented at SITC by Nektar's partner, Merck KGaA, is a trials in progress poster of the Phase 2 JAVELIN Bladder Medley study (NCT05327530). The ongoing clinical trial includes evaluation of BAVENCIO® (avelumab), Merck's anti-PD-L1 therapy, in combination with NKTR-255, Nektar's IL-15 receptor agonist designed to increase the proliferation and survival of natural killer (NK) cells and memory CD8+ T cells to enhance anti-tumor immunity. Merck KGaA is running this study and is on track to generate comparative progression-free survival (PFS) data for this study by the end of 2024.

Key details and takeaways from the presentation are as follows:

Abstract 1086: "NKTR-288, a PEGylated Interferon Gamma Drug Candidate for the Treatment of Cancer", Hamel, D., et al.

Details of the Trials in Progress poster presentation are as follows:

Abstract 665: "JAVELIN Bladder Medley: a phase 2 trial of avelumab in combination with other antitumor drugs as first-line maintenance therapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma", Hoffman-Censits, J., et al.

Details of the data presentations at SITC are available on the Science section of Nektar's website at http://www.nektar.com/science/scientific-posters-and-presentations.

About NKTR-288

NKTR-288 is a PEG-conjugate of the protein, IFN-γ, a cytokine that induces cellular antigen presentation and has great potential in cancer treatment through enhancement of tumor antigen specific cytotoxic T cell response. NKTR-288 was designed utilizing a site-specific conjugation approach to modify binding of IFN-γ with one of its substrates, and overall, to optimize the duration of IFN-γ signaling. This program has applications in a number of therapeutic indications including oncology as well as in infectious disease and others.

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.

Preclinical findings suggest NKTR-255 has the potential to synergistically combine with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity molecules as well as to enhance CAR-T therapies. Nektar has initiated a Phase 1 dose escalation and expansion clinical study of NKTR-255 in adults with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma, as well as a Phase 1/2 clinical study of NKTR-255 in patients with relapsed or refractory head and neck squamous cell carcinoma or colorectal cancer. Nektar is also continuing its oncology clinical collaboration with Merck KGaA and Pfizer Inc. to evaluate the maintenance regimen of NKTR-255 in combination with avelumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor PD-L1 inhibitor, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in the Phase 2 JAVELIN Bladder Medley study. Nektar is also currently designing a Nektar-sponsored Phase 2/3 study combining NKTR-255 with approved CAR-T cell therapies in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which it aims to initiate in the first quarter of 2023.

About Nektar Therapeutics

Nektar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company with a robust, wholly owned R&D pipeline of investigational medicines in oncology and immunology as well as a portfolio of approved partnered medicines. Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional 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.

SOURCE: Nektar Therapeutics