Positive Results for NKTR-118 (oral PEG-naloxol) Presented at American Academy of Pain Manageme...( NKTR-118 Currently in Phase 1 Clini...),Health

NKTR-118 Currently in Phase 1 Clinical Development for the Treatment of

Opioid Bowel Dysfunction

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) presented positive results this week from Phase 1 and preclinical studies of NKTR-118 (oral PEG-naloxol) at the American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. NKTR-118 is Nektar's proprietary oral therapy being studied for its potential to treat patients suffering from opioid-bowel dysfunction (OBD), including opioid-induced constipation (OIC).

Data from a single-dose, proof-of-principle Phase 1 trial on NKTR-118 demonstrate that the drug antagonized the morphine-induced delay in gastrointestinal (GI) transit time without reversing the central opioid effect as measured by pupillometry. Further, the study shows that the drug was well-tolerated at single, oral doses up to 1,000 mg. Data from this study were also presented earlier this month at the American College of Clinical Pharmacology meeting in San Francisco, California.

In preclinical studies presented at AAPM this week, oral NKTR-118 improved GI transit time in an animal model of morphine-induced constipation, while maintaining a substantial analgesic effect. In addition, NKTR-118 demonstrated significantly lower brain permeation than naloxone.

"These positive study results for NKTR-118 show that the drug offers potential for treating opioid-induced constipation, a serious and debilitating side effect of opioid therapy," said Tim Riley, Ph.D. Vice President of PEGylation Research at Nektar. "This application of Nektar's PEGylation technology to reduce blood-brain barrier penetration of a small molecule d
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