PRECLINICAL
Nektar announced first publication of preclinical data of its IL-15 agonist NKTR-255
The company announced the publication of preclinical data from its second major immuno-oncology cytokine program, NKTR-255, in Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. NKTR-255 is a novel recombinant human Interleukin-15 receptor agonist designed to activate the IL-15 pathway to expand both NK cells and memory CD8+ T cell populations. The published data demonstrate that NKTR-255 retains the full spectrum of IL-15 biology but with improved pharmacologic properties and anti-tumor activity versus other rhIL-15 agonists. These preclinical findings support Nektar's robust clinical development program for NKTR-255 in patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
Nektar announced first publication of preclinical data of its NKTR-358
Nektar announced publication of preclinical data in Journal of Translational Autoimmunity describing NKTR-358, a first-in-class, composition of stable PEG conjugates of native IL-2 designed to selectively stimulate Treg cell function. NKTR-358 is currently in development for the treatment of a range of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. These published data demonstrate that NKTR-358 has the ability to elicit sustained and preferential proliferation and activation of Tregs in vivo without corresponding increases in T effector cells. researchers investigated NKTR-358's selectivity for Tregs, receptor-binding properties, ex vivo and in vivo pharmacodynamics, ability to suppress T effector cell proliferation in vivo and functional activity in a murine model of SLE. A single administration of NKTR-358 in mice promotes greater Treg expansion compared with multiple administrations of native IL-2, demonstrating enhanced specificity towards Treg induction and improved pharmacokinetics in comparison with native IL-2.
Obsidian presented preclinical data of its CytoTIL15 at ASGCT
Obsidian presented results of cytoTIL therapy engineered with mbIL15 demonstrating enhanced in vivo persistence in the absence of IL-2, paving the way for durable efficacy and improved safety in patients with solid tumor malignancies. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes have generated promising data in clinical trials as therapy for heavily pretreated patients with solid tumor malignancies, such as metastatic melanoma. The IL-2 regimen required for in vivo maintenance of TILs poses significant limitations on application of the therapy. Obsidian’s cytoTIL product is comprised of TILs engineered with membrane bound IL-15 that is regulatable using a drug responsive domain designed via our cytoDRiVE platform.