Nektar Therapeutics Announces Strategic Reprioritization and Cost Restructuring Plan
Nektar Therapeutics announced a strategic reprioritization and cost restructuring plan focusing on immunology research, specifically on the development of REZPEG for atopic dermatitis and NKTR-255 for oncology. The workforce in San Francisco will be reduced by approximately 60%, aiming for a cash runway extension into mid-2026. The company reported cash and equivalents of about $456 million as of March 31, 2023, expecting annual savings of around $30 million by 2024 from the workforce cut. Nektar plans to continue core immunology programs and pursue strategic partnerships for NKTR-255. The first quarter 2023 financial results will be announced on May 9, 2023.
- Focus on immunology, enhancing pipeline with REZPEG and NKTR-255.
- Cost restructuring expected to save approximately $30 million annually by 2024.
- Projected cash runway extended into the middle of 2026.
- Reduction of workforce by approximately 60%, impacting employee morale and operational capacity.
- Potential delays in ongoing clinical studies due to restructuring.
- Dependence on strategic partnerships for NKTR-255's future development.
-- Pipeline focus will prioritize programs in immunology, including REZPEG and several immunology research programs --
-- Development of NKTR-255 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and bladder cancer to continue as strategic partnering options are pursued --
-- Cost restructuring plan reduces
-- Company to announce financial results for the first quarter of 2023 after close of
Key elements of the new plan include:
- Prioritize REZPEG development: Nektar intends to work with Eli Lilly to ensure the continuation of REZPEG development whether it is under the existing Eli Lilly agreement or Nektar regains the rights to REZPEG. The Phase 1b data for REZPEG in atopic dermatitis previously presented at the EADV meeting in
September 2022 showed that a dose-dependent improvement was observed in key efficacy measures of mean change inEASI ,EASI -75, vIGA-AD scores, and Itch NRS ≥4-point improvement rates over placebo with 12 weeks of treatment. These improvements were observed for an additional 36 weeks following the 12-week treatment period. These proof-of-concept data show REZPEG's ability to stimulate Tregs to target an immune system imbalance resulting in an improvement of disease activity in patients. The Phase 1b data were recently highlighted in a talk byEric Lawrence Simpson , MD, FAAD at the 2023American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting onMarch 17, 2023 in the scientific session covering atopic dermatitis, as a potential future remittive therapy. - Continue development of lead oncology asset, NKTR-255, while seeking a strategic development partner: As part of the strategic reprioritization, Nektar will continue its Phase 2 study of NKTR-255 in combination with cell therapies and the Phase 2 JAVELIN Bladder Medley Study with partner Merck KGaA while it explores strategic partnership options for NKTR-255. NKTR-255 is an investigational IL-15 receptor agonist designed to boost antitumor immunity by increasing the proliferation and survival of natural killer and memory CD8+ T cells and may have broad potential applicability across oncology indications.
- Continue core research programs in immunology: Nektar will continue to advance two preclinical pipeline candidates in auto-immune diseases including a new PEG-Colony Stimulating Factor (CSF1) program and a separate TNFR2 agonist antibody being developed in collaboration with Biolojic Design. The company plans to file an IND for at least one of these programs in 2024.
- Implement a cost restructuring plan: As part of the strategic reprioritization, Nektar also plans to reduce its
San Francisco -based workforce by approximately60% . Once the cost restructuring plan has been fully completed, the company is expected to have approximately 55 employees based inSan Francisco . The company anticipates that itsHuntsville manufacturing facility, which supports several large pharmaceutical partners, will continue to operate with its current staff. The restructuring also includes actions to reduce additional operating costs and is expected to be substantially completed byJune 2023 .
"Following a comprehensive review of our portfolio, we have made the decision to prioritize the advancement of our immunology programs," said
"The strategic initiative we announced today is intended to further streamline our operations and to extend considerably our cash runway into the middle of 2026," continued Robin. "Although the actions we are taking today are difficult, we are incredibly grateful for the contributions of the employees departing Nektar."
Nektar had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of approximately
Executive Management Changes
As part of this initiative, Nektar also announced several changes to its executive team:
- Dr. Brian Kotzin, Nektar's Chief Medical Officer, will be stepping down from his full-time role but will continue to serve in an ongoing role as a strategic advisor to the company. Dr.
Mary Tagliaferri , current Chief Development Officer, will assume the role of Chief Medical Officer. Jillian Thomsen will be stepping down from her role as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and will depart the company in June following a transition period. The company has appointedSandra Gardiner to the role of acting CFO. Sandra is a skilled business and finance executive with over 30 years of financial and accounting experience. She is a partner atFLG Partners , a leading CFO services firm inSilicon Valley .Kevin Brodbeck , Nektar's SVP of Technical Operations, will depart the company in June following a transition period.Ken Franke , current VP ofBiologics Development & Manufacturing will assume Kevin's responsibilities.
The company thanks its departing executives for their contributions to Nektar.
Conference Call Details to Announce First Quarter 2023 Financial Results:
Nektar will announce its financial results for the first quarter 2023 on
The press release and live audio-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed through a link that is posted on the Home Page and Investors section of the Nektar website: http://ir.nektar.com/. The web broadcast of the conference call will be available for replay through
To access the conference call, please pre-register at Nektar Earnings Call Registration. All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call.
About
About Rezpegaldesleukin (REZPEG)
Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases cause the immune system to mistakenly attack and damage healthy cells in a person's body. A failure of the body's self-tolerance mechanisms enables the formation of the pathogenic T lymphocytes that conduct this attack. REZPEG is an investigational, potential first-in-class T regulatory cell stimulator that may address this underlying immune system imbalance in people with many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. It is designed to target the interleukin-2 receptor complex in the body in order to stimulate proliferation of powerful inhibitory immune cells known as regulatory T cells. By activating these cells, REZPEG may act to bring the immune system back into balance. REZPEG is being developed as a self-administered injection for a number of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
About NKTR-255
NKTR-255 is a biologic that targets the IL-15 pathway in order to activate the body's innate and adaptive immunity. Through optimal engagement of the IL-15 receptor complex, NKTR-255 is designed to enhance functional NK cell populations and formation of long-term immunological memory, which may lead to sustained and durable anti-tumor immune response.
Preclinical findings suggest NKTR-255 has the potential to synergistically combine with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity molecules as well as to enhance CAR-T therapies. A Phase 2/3 study is underway that combines NKTR-255 with approved CAR-T cell therapies in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which is currently recruiting (NCT05664217).
There are two ongoing investigator sponsored trials (ISTs) evaluating NKTR-255 following treatment with a CAR-T cell therapy.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: "will," "may," "advance," "support," "develop," "provide," "expect," "aim," "potential" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the therapeutic potential of, and future development plans for rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and our other drug candidates in research programs, the prospects and plans for our collaborations with other companies, the timing of the initiation of clinical studies and the data readouts for our drug candidates, our expectations regarding our 2023 cost restructuring plan and reduction in our
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