Nektar Therapeutics rockets on positive trial results

US biotech Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) experienced a remarkable 130% increase in its share price, which reached $21.9, as it reported the successful outcome of a study related to atopic dermatitis.

The company announced statistically-significant data from the 16-week induction period of the ongoing Phase IIb REZOLVE-AD study of investigational rezpegaldesleukin, an interleukin (IL)-pathway agonist and regulatory T-cell (Treg) proliferator.

The global Phase IIb study is being conducted in 393 patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Patients were randomized (3:3:3:2) to receive subcutaneous treatment with three doses of rezpegaldesleukin: a high dose of 24 µg/kg every two weeks (q2w), a middle dose of 18 µg/kg every two weeks (q2w), and a low dose of 24 µg/kg every four weeks (q4w), or placebo q2w. The primary endpoint and secondary endpoints were assessed at week 16.