Phase 2 Clinical Data on NKTR-102 in Metastatic Breast Cancer to Be Presented at 33rd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today announced that new Phase 2 clinical data from its study of single-agent NKTR-102 in metastatic breast cancer patients will be presented at the 33rd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in San Antonio, Texas on December 12, 2010. NKTR-102, a novel investigational topoisomerase I-inhibitor polymer conjugate, is Nektar's lead oncology drug candidate and is being evaluated in multiple cancer indications.

The presentation information and audio call webcast information is below:

Investor and Analyst Call/Webcast

After the data presentation session, a call will be held with investors and analysts to review the new Phase 2 clinical data from the NKTR-102 study in metastatic breast cancer.  The call will be hosted by Nektar management and will feature a review of the data by Dr. Ahmad Awada, Head of the Medical Oncology Clinic at the Institut Jules Bordet in Brussels, Belgium. The call will also include a webcast with slide presentation of the data and a summary review by Nektar executives.  The webcast can be accessed live from the home page of Nektar's website, at www.nektar.com.

To access the live webcast, please log on to the webcast at least fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled start time.  A replay of this investor event will be available on the Nektar website approximately three hours after the presentation and will be archived for four weeks.

Data Presentation at SABCS

Awada et. al., "Significant Efficacy in a Phase 2 Study of NKTR-102, a Novel Polymer Conjugate of Irinotecan, in Patients with Pre-Treated Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC)"

Poster Session 6: Treatment - Advanced Disease: Advanced Chemotherapy (P6-11-01)

Session Date and Time: Sunday, December 12, 2010, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Central Time

Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Exhibit Hall C

About NKTR-102

Nektar is developing NKTR-102, a topoisomerase I inhibitor-polymer conjugate with reduced peak concentrations, a continuous concentration profile, and greater penetration into tumors.  NKTR-102 was invented by Nektar using its advanced polymer conjugate technology platform, and is the first oncology product candidate to leverage Nektar's releasable polymer technology platform.  

NKTR-102 is being evaluated in multiple cancer indications. In addition to two fully-enrolled Phase 2 studies in platinum-refractory/resistant ovarian cancer and metastatic breast cancer, NKTR-102 is also being tested in a separate Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with second-line colorectal cancer and a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating NKTR-102 in combination with 5-FU therapy.  An expansion arm of the Phase 2 study of single-agent NKTR-102 in platinum-refractory/resistant ovarian cancer in women who failed prior Doxil therapy is also currently enrolling.

About Nektar

Nektar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics based on its PEGylation and advanced polymer conjugation technology platforms. Nektar has a robust R&D pipeline of potentially high-value therapeutics in oncology, pain and other areas. In the area of pain, Nektar has an exclusive worldwide license agreement with AstraZeneca for Nektar's oral NKTR-118 development program to treat opioid-induced constipation and its NKTR-119 development program for the treatment of pain without constipation side effects. The company has additional pain compounds in preclinical studies. In oncology, NKTR-102, a novel topoisomerase I-inhibitor, is being evaluated in Phase 2 clinical studies for the treatment of ovarian, breast and colorectal cancers. NKTR-105, a novel anti-mitotic agent, is in a Phase 1 clinical study in cancer patients with refractory solid tumors. NKTR-181, a novel mu-opioid analgesic molecule, is currently in IND-enabling studies and Nektar plans to begin Phase 1 clinical studies in the first part of 2011.  

Nektar's technology has enabled nine approved products in the U.S. or Europe through partnerships with leading biopharmaceutical companies, including UCB's Cimzia(R) for Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, Roche's PEGASYS(R) for hepatitis C and Amgen's Neulasta(R) for neutropenia.

Nektar is headquartered in San Carlos, California, with additional R&D operations in Huntsville, Alabama and Hyderabad, India. Further information about the company and its drug development programs and capabilities may be found online at http://www.nektar.com.

SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics