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Nektar Therapeutics Announces First Publication of NKTR-358, a Novel Molecule Designed to Selectively Stimulate Expansion and Selective Function of T Regulatory Cells, in the Journal of Translational Autoimmunity
-- NKTR-358 Elicited Sustained and Preferential Proliferation of Regulatory T Cells Without Corresponding Effects on T Effector Cells in Preclinical Models,
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[{"type":"text","content":"-- NKTR-358 Elicited Sustained and Preferential Proliferation of Regulatory T Cells Without Corresponding Effects on T Effector Cells in Preclinical Models, Supporting Development in a Broad Range of Autoimmune Disorders --\n\n\nSAN FRANCISCO, May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today announced the publication of preclinical data in the Journal of Translational Autoimmunity describing NKTR-358, a first-in-class, composition of stable PEG conjugates of native IL-2 designed to selectively stimulate T regulatory (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.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\"The publication in the Journal of Translational Autoimmunity demonstrates, by a variety of measures, and across species, that NKTR-358 induces sustained, selective proliferation and activation of regulatory T cells with minimal effects on T effector cells. This is an important finding that validates the mechanistic approach of NKTR-358 for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and provides a strong rationale for its ongoing clinical development,\" said Dr. Richard Furie, NKTR-358 key investigator and Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Northwell Health and Professor, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. \n\"NKTR-358 preferentially binds to the high affinity trimeric receptor on T regulatory cells resulting in the downregulation of function and proliferation of T effector cells,\" said Jonathan Zalevsky, Ph.D., Chief Research & Development Officer at Nektar. \"The findings in the Journal of Translational Autoimmunity deepen our understanding of the pharmacology of NKTR-358 and, together with the early promising clinical data, provide strong support for continued testing as a new therapeutic for patients with diseases that have an imbalance of T lymphocyte subsets leading to autoimmunity. We look forward to the continued progress of multiple NKTR-358 studies across numerous autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by our partner, Eli Lilly.\"\nIn the study, researchers investigated NKTR-358's selectivity for Tregs, receptor-binding properties, ...