>>Anti-Tumor Activity and Pharmacokinetic Properties of NKTR-102 (PEG-irinotecan) to be Presented at Upcoming Oncology Meeting
Thursday July 26, 7:30 am ET
NKTR-102 Currently in Phase 1 Clinical Trial to Evaluate Its Potential to Treat Solid Tumors
SAN CARLOS, Calif., July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The first peer- reviewed presentations of preclinical data for Nektar Therapeutics' (Nasdaq: NKTR - News) proprietary product, NKTR-102 (PEG-irinotecan) is scheduled to be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting focused on oncology.
Nektar is developing NKTR-102, a PEGylated form of irinotecan invented by Nektar using its world-leading small molecule PEGylation technology platform. Irinotecan is an important chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of solid tumors, including colorectal and lung cancers. By applying Nektar's small molecule PEGylation technology to irinotecan, NKTR-102 may prove to be a more powerful and tolerable anti-tumor agent.
In preclinical studies in tumor-bearing mice, NKTR-102 resulted in significantly reduced tumor growth compared to irinotecan in colon, lung and breast tumors. These studies indicate that Nektar's small molecule PEGylation technology may enable NKTR-102 to have prolonged systemic exposure following intravenous administration. Furthermore, preclinical studies in mice indicate that NKTR-102 was well-tolerated with significant reduction of neutropenia and diarrhea, two debilitating side effects of non-PEGylated irinotecan.
"Nektar's proprietary small molecule PEGylation technology is breaking new ground, demonstrating the potential to deliver more powerful doses of chemotherapeutic agents while mitigating many of the severe side effects associated with chemotherapy," said Howard W. Robin, Nektar's President and Chief Executive Officer. "There are many small molecule therapeutics that can benefit from improved efficacy and safety profiles and we believe that with our innovative technology, Nektar is in a leadership position in developing these improved medicines."
Two upcoming data presentations are scheduled:
* Sept. 27, 2007, 8-11 am (Central European Standard Time) 14th Annual
European Cancer Conference (ECCO), International Conference Centre,
Barcelona, Spain.
-- A poster presentation of preclinical data focused on anti-tumor
activity and pharmacokinetics of NKTR-102 (PEG-irinotecan);
-- A poster presentation of preclinical data focused on the manner in
which PEGylation governs the disposition and metabolism of
irinotecan following administration of NKTR-102 (PEG-irinotecan).
More information about the 14th Annual European Cancer Conference is available at: fecs.be <<
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>>First Peer-Reviewed Preclinical and Early Phase 1 Results for NKTR-118 (oral PEG-naloxol) to be Presented at Upcoming Pharmacology and Pain Management Meetings
Thursday July 26, 7:20 am ET
Nektar's Proprietary NKTR-118 Being Studied For Its Potential to Treat Opioid-Induced Constipation
SAN CARLOS, Calif., July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The first peer-reviewed preclinical and early Phase 1 clinical data for Nektar Therapeutics' (Nasdaq: NKTR - News) proprietary product candidate, NKTR-118 (oral PEG-naloxol) are scheduled to be presented at two upcoming scientific meetings. NKTR-118 is an oral therapy being studied for its potential to treat patients suffering from opioid-induced constipation (OIC), a debilitating side effect of opioid analgesic therapy.
NKTR-118 is an oral drug that combines Nektar's advanced small molecule PEGylation technology platform with naloxol, a derivative of the opioid- antagonist drug naloxone. Nektar's PEGylation technology helps prevent oral NKTR-118 from crossing the blood brain barrier, an important potential advance for this and possibly many other small molecule therapies. This first Phase 1 study indicates that NKTR-118 may have the potential to mitigate the constipation side effect of opioid drugs without compromising their analgesic effects.
"As the clinical development of oral NKTR-118 moves forward, the results of these studies strengthen our understanding of this innovative molecule," said Dr. Hoyoung Huh, MD, PhD, Nektar's Chief Operating Officer and Head of the PEGylation Business Unit. "The utility and importance of many small molecule drugs may be potentiated if they can be selectively modulated from crossing the blood brain barrier. This is one of the major areas where Nektar's proprietary small molecule PEGylation technology may have a significant impact."
According to IMS, more than 200 million prescriptions were written for opioids in 2006 in the United States alone. Many studies indicate that a high percentage of patients on opioids are likely to experience significant constipation and other symptoms of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction.
The data presentations scheduled are:
-- Sept. 9 - 11, 2007, the American College of Clinical Pharmacology
Annual Meeting, The Palace Hotel, San Francisco, California.
-- A poster presentation of Phase 1 clinical data evaluating single
oral doses of NKTR-118 (oral PEG-naloxol) as a peripheral opioid
antagonist (POA) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in
healthy male subjects.
More information about the 36th Annual Meeting of the American College
of Clinical Pharmacology is available at:
accp1.org
-- September 27 - 30, 2007, the American Academy of Pain Management Annual
Clinical Meeting, Red Rock Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada.
-- A poster presentation of Phase 1 results of an investigation of
NKTR-118 (oral PEG-naloxol) as a selective POA;
-- A poster presentation of the preclinical pharmacology and
pharmacokinetics of NKTR-118 (oral PEG-naloxol).
More information about the 2007 Annual Clinical Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Management is available at:
aapainmanage.org <<
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No abstract for the 102 or 118 presentation. We'll have to wait until the conferences get underway.
Following still, but don't own any (thankfully, else I'd be down another 2 grand).
Cheers, Tuck |
