Nektar Therapeutics Stock Price, News & Analysis

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) announced positive results from its Phase 2 study of NKTR-255 as an adjuvant treatment following CD19-directed CAR-T therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma. The study showed that 73% of patients in the NKTR-255 treatment group achieved complete response at 6 months compared to 50% in the placebo group.

The multicenter, double-blind trial demonstrated that NKTR-255 enhanced CAR T-cell kinetics with improved CD8+ CAR-T area under the curve being 5.8-fold greater than placebo-controls. Two patients treated with NKTR-255 converted from stable disease or partial response to complete responses at six months, while no conversions were observed in the placebo arm.

The treatment was reported to be safe and well-tolerated, with results surpassing historical benchmark data showing 41% to 44% complete response rates at 6 months.

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) presented preclinical data for NKTR-422, a novel modified CSF protein, at the 2024 ACR conference. The drug demonstrated promising results in inflammation resolution and tissue repair across multiple preclinical models. NKTR-422 functions by targeting anti-inflammatory tissue resident macrophages and shows a differentiated PK/PD profile compared to native CSF-1 cytokine, requiring only single doses rather than multiple daily administrations. The compound showed potential to enhance efficacy when combined with inflammatory cytokine blockade treatments in rodent models.

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) reported Q3 2024 financial results with revenue of $24.1 million, unchanged from Q3 2023. Cash and investments stood at $249.0 million, down from $329.4 million at end-2023. The company reported a net loss of $37.1 million ($0.18 per share) compared to $45.8 million ($0.24 per share) in Q3 2023. Operating expenses decreased to $58.5 million from $69.0 million year-over-year. Notably, Nektar announced the sale of its Huntsville PEGylation manufacturing facility to Ampersand Capital Partners for $90 million in enterprise value. The company's pipeline progress includes ongoing Phase 2b studies of rezpegaldesleukin in atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata, with topline data expected in 2025.

Nektar Therapeutics and MD Anderson Cancer Center presented late-breaking Phase 2 study results of NKTR-255 for treating radiation-induced lymphopenia in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. The study showed that NKTR-255, administered after chemoradiation and combined with durvalumab, achieved statistically significant lymphocyte recovery compared to historical controls at week 8. The novel polymer-conjugated IL-15 agonist demonstrated increased NK cell proliferation and activation markers. The RESCUE trial's interim analysis suggests NKTR-255 effectively reversed radiation-induced lymphopenia in patients receiving durvalumab consolidation therapy. The treatment combination proved safe and tolerable, with adverse effects consistent with previous clinical trials.

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) has announced its participation in two major healthcare conferences. The company will present at the UBS Global Healthcare Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes on November 13, 2024, at 1:15 p.m. ET, and at the Piper Sandler 36th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York on December 4, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Both presentations will be available via webcasts on the company's investor relations website, with replays accessible for 30 days. Interested parties seeking one-on-one meetings with management should contact their respective bank representatives.

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) has agreed to sell its Huntsville, Alabama manufacturing facility and PEGylation reagent supply business to Ampersand Capital Partners for $90 million, consisting of $70 million in cash and $20 million in equity ownership in the new portfolio company. The 124,000-square-foot facility will become a standalone company under Ampersand, with all current employees being offered positions. The strategic sale allows Nektar to streamline operations and focus on immunology R&D programs while extending its cash runway into Q4 2026. The deal includes supply agreements for Nektar's PEG reagent needs and is expected to close by December 2, 2024.

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) has scheduled its Q3 2024 financial results announcement for Thursday, November 7, 2024, after U.S. market close. CEO Howard Robin will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT to discuss the results. The press release and audio webcast will be accessible through the company's website, with the webcast replay available until December 7, 2024. Pre-registration is required for conference call access.

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) published peer-reviewed data from two Phase 1b studies in Nature Communications showing promising results for rezpegaldesleukin in treating atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis (PsO). The studies demonstrated that the drug safely increased regulatory T cells (Tregs) and improved disease outcomes, with effects lasting up to 36 weeks after treatment cessation. High-dose AD patients showed an 83% improvement in EASI score after 12 weeks, with EASI-75 and vIGA-AD responses maintained in 71% and 80% of week 12 responders respectively for 36 weeks post-treatment.

Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) has published Phase 1 data in Blood for its novel IL-15 agonist NKTR-255 combined with autologous CD19-22 CAR-T cell therapy in patients with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL). The study showed:

• 89% of patients (8 out of 9) achieved measurable residual disease (MRD) negative remission
• 67% relapse-free/progression-free survival at 12 months, double that of historical controls (38%)
• No dose-limiting toxicities related to NKTR-255
• Significant increases in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, suggesting lymphocyte trafficking to tissues

The combination therapy showed promising efficacy in relapsed or refractory B-ALL patients, with potential to improve durability of CAR-T cell therapies.