Nektar enters research collaboration for NKTR-0165 in multiple sclerosis

Nektar (NKTR) announced an academic research collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco, or UCSF, and Stephen Hauser, Director of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and a neuroimmunologist whose research work has played a pivotal role in the treatment landscape for multiple sclerosis, or MS. NKTR-0165 is a novel, first-in-class tumor necrosis factor receptor 2, or TNFR2, agonist antibody. TNFR2 is highly expressed on regulatory T cells, endothelial cells, and neuronal cells, many of which are involved in the pathogenesis of MS. The collaboration with UCSF will explore the potential role of TNFR2 agonism in the reduction of neurodegeneration and promotion of neuroprotection and cell repair when neurons are exposed to patient-derived B cells. The team at UCSF will conduct and fund all research efforts. Nektar will supply NKTR-0165 and will retain all rights to its programs under the collaboration.