BioXcel Expands Collaboration With Nektar To Initiate New Clinical Program

(RTTNews) - BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. (BTAI) and Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) announced they are expanding the ongoing research collaboration into a new clinical partnership. The collaboration will clinically evaluate the combination of BTI's BXCL701, a small molecule immune-modulator, DPP 8/9 and FAP inhibitor; Nektar's NKTR-214, a CD122-biased agonist; and a checkpoint inhibitor as a potential therapy for pancreatic cancer.

BTI will be responsible for initiating and managing the clinical program. The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate safety and efficacy of the triplet combination of BXCL701, NKTR-214 and a checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

BTI and Nektar Therapeutics initially announced a preclinical research collaboration in November 2017.