Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) saw its stock surge 86% Tuesday morning after reporting strong midstage trial results for its experimental eczema treatment, rezpegaldesleukin. Shares opened at a seven-month high, after initially showing a triple-digit gain in premarket trading.
In the Phase 2b study, patients received three under-the-skin injections of rezpegaldesleukin over 16 weeks. The treatment delivered a 53% to 61% improvement in eczema symptoms as measured by the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), compared to just 31% for the placebo group. Between 34% and 46% of treated patients achieved at least a 75% improvement in symptoms, with 25% reaching a 90% improvement at the high dose.
Crucially, both the high and middle doses of the drug also demonstrated statistically significant reductions in itch—a key concern for eczema patients.
Beyond eczema, Nektar is exploring rezpegaldesleukin in severe alopecia areata and potentially other inflammatory skin and autoimmune diseases. CEO Howard Robin indicated the company plans to expand the drug’s development into broader therapeutic areas following this encouraging data.
Investors cheered the news, signaling renewed confidence in the biotech firm’s pipeline and strategic direction.
