ASCO 2019: Positive PIVOT-02 study of bempegaldesleukin with nivolumab

New baseline biomarker analyses and updated clinical study efficacy and safety results were shared in a presentation, titled "Baseline tumor-immune signatures associated with response to bempegaldesleukin (NKTR-214) and nivolumib," by US biotech Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago.

"The Stage IV melanoma patients enrolled in the ongoing PIVOT-02 study continue to experience both deepening and durability of response over time," said Jonathan Zalevsky, chief scientific officer at Nektar Therapeutics. "This translated into a 34% rate of complete response at a 12-month follow-up for the 38 efficacy-evaluable patients in this cohort. Further, 42% of patients achieved a 100% reduction in target lesions. Finally, corresponding lymphocyte data highlight the benefit of replenishing and stimulating T cells continuously over the course of treatment with an I-O doublet regimen," he added.

Data encouraging but analyst cautious given small cohort