March 1, 2017 Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 (Press release, Nektar Therapeutics, MAR 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234517942]). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! Cash and investments in marketable securities at December 31, 2016 were $389.1 million as compared to $308.9 million at December 31, 2015.
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"Nektar begins 2017 in a strong position with highly promising wholly-owned immuno-oncology and immunology clinical programs and several important data readouts expected throughout this year," said Howard W. Robin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nektar. "Our Phase 1/2 study evaluating NKTR-214 as a potential combination treatment regimen with Opdivo in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb is proceeding nicely. We plan to report initial data from the dose-escalation part of the study in the middle of this year. Later this month, we will have data from our Phase 3 efficacy study of NKTR-181 in patients with chronic low back pain. Finally, we are pleased that we will initiate a first-in-human trial shortly for NKTR-358, our proprietary T regulatory cell stimulator, which has the potential to become a first-in-class resolution therapeutic for a wide range of immune disorders."
Summary of Financial Results
Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $37.5 million as compared to $39.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $165.4 million as compared to $230.8 million in 2015. Revenue in 2016 included recognition of $31.0 million from AstraZeneca as a result of its sublicense of MOVENTIG (naloxegol) to Kyowa Kirin in Europe. In addition, product sales, royalty revenue, and non-cash royalty revenue increased in 2016 compared to 2015. Revenue in 2015 included recognition of a total of $130.0 million of milestone payments from AstraZeneca following the first commercial sale of MOVANTIK in the U.S. in Q1 2015 and the first commercial sale of MOVENTIG in the EU in Q3 2015.
Total operating costs and expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 were $69.6 million as compared to $68.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Total operating costs and expenses increased primarily as a result of higher research and development (R&D) expense. Total operating costs and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $278.3 million as compared to $260.2 million in 2015.
R&D expense in the fourth quarter of 2016 was $50.2 million as compared to $47.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. R&D expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $203.8 million as compared to $182.8 million in 2015. R&D expense increased primarily due to expenses for our NKTR-214 and NKTR-358 programs.
General and administrative (G&A) expense was $12.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to $13.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. G&A expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $44.3 million as compared to $43.3 million in 2015.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $42.2 million or $0.28 loss per share as compared to a net loss of $54.1 million or $0.40 loss per share in the fourth quarter of 2015. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $153.5 million or $1.10 loss per share as compared to a net loss of $81.2 million or $0.61 loss per share in 2015.
2016 and Year-to-Date Business Highlights
Nektar Wholly-Owned Programs
In February 2017, Nektar submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for NKTR-358, a new biologic designed to treat autoimmune disease. Clinical trials are planned for NKTR-358 in patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and other indications.
In February 2017, Nektar announced positive data from the Phase 1 dose-escalation study of single-agent NKTR-214 in patients with renal cell carcinoma at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2017 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Clinical benefit and safety data presented included 40% of RCC patients experiencing tumor reductions including one patient with a partial response and a favorable safety and tolerability profile.
In January 2017, Nektar announced a new immuno-oncology candidate, NKTR-262, a small molecule agonist that targets toll-like receptors (TLRs) found on innate immune cells in the body. NKTR-262 is being developed as a single intra-tumoral injection to be administered at the start of therapy with NKTR-214. The company plans to file an IND for NKTR-262 by the end of 2017.
In December 2016, Nektar initiated a pivotal human abuse liability (HAL) trial for its novel opioid molecule NKTR-181, which is expected to complete in the middle of 2017.
In November 2016, Nektar announced positive data from the Phase 1 dose-escalation study of single-agent NKTR-214 at the Society of Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. Results showed encouraging anti-tumor activity including one patient with a partial response and a favorable safety and tolerability profile.
In September 2016, Nektar and Bristol-Myers Squibb entered into a clinical collaboration to develop NKTR-214 as a potential combination treatment regimen with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo (nivolumab) in five tumor types and eight potential indications. The dose-escalation part of the trial is underway with initial data expected in the middle of 2017.
Additional Pipeline and Partner Developments
In December 2016, Shire announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ADYNOVATE ([Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), PEGylated], an extended circulating half-life recombinant Factor VIII (rFVIII) treatment for hemophilia A, in pediatric patients under 12 years of age. The FDA also approved ADYNOVATE for use in surgical settings for both adult and pediatric patients. ADYNOVATE is under regulatory review in Europe, Switzerland and Canada.
In September 2016, Bayer presented positive Phase 3 data for Ciprofloxacin DPI at the 26th International Congress of European Respiratory Society. The RESPIRE 1 study assessed the safety and efficacy of Cipro DPI in NCFB patients and met both primary endpoints for the every 14-day dosing arm. The second Phase 3 trial (RESPIRE 2) completed recruitment in September 2016 and data are expected to be released by our partner Bayer in 2017.
In June 2016, Nektar entered into a partnership with Daiichi Sankyo Europe for Nektar’s investigational drug therapy, ONZEALD (etirinotecan pegol, NKTR-102), which has completed a Phase 3 clinical trial (the BEACON study) in patients with advanced breast cancer. The agreement grants Daiichi Sankyo Europe exclusive rights to market ONZEALD in Europe (EEA), Switzerland and Turkey. Nektar Therapeutics retained rights to ONZEALD in the United States and the rest of the world. Under the terms of the agreement, Nektar is entitled to milestones and significant double-digit royalties on net sales in Europe.
In June 2016, Nektar submitted a filing for a Marketing Authorization Agreement (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency for conditional approval for ONZEALD in patients with advanced breast cancer and brain metastases. An opinion from the European CHMP on conditional approval of ONZEALD is expected in the first half of 2017.
Amikacin Inhale, our second anti-infective Phase 3 program partnered with Bayer, which is being developed for gram-negative pneumonia, is expected to complete in Q2 of 2017. Nektar and Bayer expect to report topline results from this program in the middle of 2017.