A new hope: NKTR-214 plus Nivolumab

Preliminary data of PIVOT study were presented (see also Abstract 3006)
28 patients treated with the combination NKTR 214 +Nivolumab

Is known that patients with low baseline CD8+ T-cells (TILs) within the tumor microenvironment have a poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors as pembro or nivo.  


So NKTR 214 is designed to activate and expand CD8+ T cells and improve clinical outcomes in patients with low TILs
-agonist =stimulates; antagonist= inhibits  

-NKTR-214 binds to CD122 receptors found on the surface of immune cells like CD8+ T cells and NK cells

SITC 2017- first data presented
SITC 2018 - second data


Patients were naive (no previous immunotherapy), both Braf positive and Braf wild (without mutation), with tumors expressing high and low PDL1.

Best ORR (overall response rate)
PDL (+) 62% patients
PDL1 (-) 42% patients
Unknown 33%

Remarkably after being treated with NKTR-214 +nivolumab  the tumors of more than 50% of patients with low PDL1 expression got a higher PDL1 expression. Patients having a high PDL1 expression at the start of treatment and patient whose tumors were converted to high PDL1 (+) were the ones with the most clinical benefit.

and ..conclusions!

Definitely, something to keep an eye on as this could transform non-responders in responders!