UPDATE 1-Nektar's cancer drug shows promise in early trial

Sept 22 (Reuters) - Biopharmaceutical company Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR.O) said its experimental ovarian cancer compound showed encouraging results in an early stage study, sending its shares up more than 11 percent.

The positive data from the oncology drug candidate comes a day after the stock rallied 13 percent following Nektar's announcement that it had licensed two drugs -- that use the same technology -- to AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L). [ID: nBNG47757]

Among the five patients with recurrent ovarian cancer in the early stage study, two patients showed significant anti-tumor activity and 37 percent reduction in tumor, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

Shares of the company were trading up 64 cents at $10.21 Tuesday morning on Nasdaq. They had touched a new 52-week high of $10.64 earlier in the session. (Reporting by Anuradha Ramanathan in Bangalore; Editing by Anthony Kurian) ((anuradha.ramanathan@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800: Reuters Messaging: anuradha.ramanathan.reuters.com@reuters.net))