Key Points Nektar Therapeutics' leading candidate is performing well so far in phase 2 studies. This medicine could disrupt the large and competitive eczema treatment market. Nektar could match Wall Street's estimates in the next year, but the stock remains risky. 10 stocks we like better than Nektar Therapeutics › Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) is a small-cap biotech that has garnered plenty of attention this year. The company's shares have soared, increasing by 285% since January. Yet, some ...

Results of the Resolve-AD trial with rezpegaldesleukin were better than expected.Shares of Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR 0.08%), a biopharmaceutical company, shot 90.6% higher in October, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Investors have been increasingly enthusiastic about recently announced clinical trial results for its lead candidate, rezpegaldesleukin.In a nutshell, it looks like it could become a top-selling treatment for eczema, an itchy autoimmune disorder that affects roughly 10% of ...

Group 1 - Investors in the biotechnology sector have seen significant stock price increases, with Nektar Therapeutics and Mineralys Therapeutics both experiencing over 100% gains in the month leading up to September 19 [1] - Nektar Therapeutics' stock surged 108% from August 18 to September 18, driven by positive investor sentiment regarding its lead candidate, rezpegaldesleukin, an IL-2 pathway agonist [3][4] - In a phase 2b study for moderate to severe eczema, the highest dose of rezpegaldesleukin showed a 30% placebo-adjusted improvement, indicating potential competition with Dupixent, which generated $14.2 billion in sales last year [4][5] Group 2 - In the Rezolve-AD trial, 42% of patients achieved 75% skin clearance with rezpegaldesleukin compared to 17% in the placebo group, and in a longer treatment duration group, 62% achieved the same result [5][6] - Nektar Therapeutics currently has a market cap of $989 million, which is considered low for a company with a potential blockbuster treatment in mid-stage trials, although it has no products on the market [7] - A successful phase 3 trial for rezpegaldesleukin could significantly increase Nektar's stock value, but the company has not yet initiated a phase 3 program [9]

Jefferies analyst Roger Song sets a price target of $99 for NKTR, indicating a potential increase of 68.54%.NKTR's stock price surged over 15% following positive phase 2b study results of rezpegaldesleukin for atopic dermatitis.Rezpegaldesleukin demonstrated significant improvement in eczema area and severity index, with EASI-75 response deepening to 62% and vIGA-AD 0/1 response increasing to 38%.Nektar Therapeutics, traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol NKTR, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on devel ...

Core Insights - Nektar Therapeutics Inc. presented new data from its REZOLVE-AD Phase 2b study of rezpegaldesleukin, showing significant efficacy in treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis [1][2] Study Results - The primary endpoint was met with a statistically significant improvement in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) at week 16 compared to placebo [2] - Key secondary endpoints, including EASI-75, EASI-90, Itch Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), vIGA-AD, and Body Surface Area (BSA), also showed significant disease reduction [2] - The study randomized 393 patients to receive different dosing regimens of rezpegaldesleukin or placebo, with the mean improvement on EASI score being 61% for the high dose (24 µg/kg every two weeks), 58% for the middle dose (18 µg/kg every two weeks), and 53% for the low dose (24 µg/kg every four weeks), compared to 31% in the placebo group [3] Crossover Data - Interim data showed that 42 placebo patients crossed over to the treatment arm, with 21 patients reaching 24 weeks of treatment with high-dose rezpegaldesleukin [4] - The mean percent reduction in EASI at crossover week 16 was 68%, and at crossover week 24, it was 75% [4] - EASI-75 responses at crossover week 16 and week 24 were 50% and 62%, respectively [4] Patient Response Rates - The percentage of patients achieving a vIGA-AD 0/1 response was 28% at week 16 and 38% at week 24 [5] - Response rates for EASI-75 were 42% for the 24 µg/kg every two weeks cohort, 46% for the 18 µg/kg every two weeks cohort, and 34% for the 24 µg/kg once-monthly cohort, compared to 17% in the placebo cohort [6] Market Reaction - Following the announcement, Nektar stock increased by 11.34%, reaching $56.86 [5]

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Highlights of the REZOLVE-AD Phase 2b Study: Week 16 Efficacy | 24 µg/kg q2w | 18 µg/kg q2w | 24 µg/kg q4w | Placebo | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | (high dose) | (middle dose) | (low dose) | | | | | Primary Endpoint | N=104 | N=106 | N=110 | N=73 | | | Mean improvement inEASI score frombaseline | 61% | 58% | 53% | 31Â | % | | | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | | | | Key SecondaryEndpoints | N=73 | N=104 | N=106 | N=110 | | | | 42% | 46% | 34% | | | | EASI-7 ...

Core Viewpoint - Nektar Therapeutics Inc. (NKTR) stock experienced a significant increase despite the absence of company-specific news, likely influenced by the negative performance of Sanofi SA following the COAST 1 trial results [1] Group 1: Trial Results and Comparisons - The COAST 1 trial demonstrated that amlitelimab met all primary and key secondary endpoints, showing statistically significant skin clearance and disease severity improvement compared to placebo at Week 24 for patients aged 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis [2] - Although the trial met its endpoints, the benefit magnitude of amlitelimab was below investor expectations when compared to Phase 2 benchmarks and approved treatments like Dupixent [3] - On the EASI-75 score, amlitelimab showed a 20% improvement over placebo, significantly lower than the 39% improvement reported in the previous Phase 2b study [4] Group 2: Other Relevant Studies - Nektar's ongoing Phase 2b REZOLVE-AD study of rezpegaldesleukin showed statistically significant data, with patients experiencing a 53% to 61% improvement in symptoms after 16 weeks, compared to a 31% improvement in the placebo group [4] - At week 16, a high dose of 24 µg/kg q2w achieved statistical significance on EASI-90, indicating a substantial reduction in disease severity [5] Group 3: Stock Performance - NKTR stock rose by 24.27%, reaching $35.48 during the last trading session [5]

Core Insights - Nektar Therapeutics has sufficient financial resources to fund its operations into early 2027, with a strong positive investor reaction following its latest quarterly earnings report [1][4] - The company reported total revenue of just under $11.2 million for the second quarter, significantly lower than the nearly $23.5 million reported in the same period of 2024, primarily deriving from noncash royalty revenue [2][4] - Nektar's net loss for the second quarter was slightly over $39 million, equating to $2.78 per share, which was higher than analysts' projections of a net loss of only $0.20 per share [4][5] Financial Performance - Total revenue for the second quarter was just under $11.2 million, down from nearly $23.5 million in the same quarter of 2024 [2] - The company's cash and investments in marketable securities were reported at just under $176 million at the end of the quarter, supplemented by approximately $107.5 million expected from a recent secondary share issue [4] - The net loss for the second quarter was slightly over $39 million, or $2.78 per share [4] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Nektar's share price increased by 6%, outperforming the S&P 500 index, which gained only 0.8% [1] Future Prospects - Nektar highlighted several potential tailwinds, including the U.S. FDA granting Fast Track designation for its investigational drug rezpegaldesleukin, aimed at treating severe-to-very-severe alopecia areata [6]

Core Viewpoint - Nektar Therapeutics reported its financial results for Q2 2025, highlighting a significant decrease in revenue year-over-year, primarily due to the sale of its Huntsville manufacturing facility, while also showcasing promising clinical data for its lead product candidate, rezpegaldesleukin, in treating autoimmune disorders [1][4][3]. Financial Performance - Cash and investments in marketable securities as of June 30, 2025, were $175.9 million, down from $269.1 million on December 31, 2024. This figure does not include $107.5 million from a secondary offering completed on July 2, 2025, which is expected to support operations into Q1 2027 [2]. - Revenue for Q2 2025 was $11.2 million, a decrease from $23.5 million in Q2 2024. For the first half of 2025, revenue totaled $21.6 million compared to $45.1 million in the same period of 2024 [4]. - Total operating costs and expenses in Q2 2025 were $47.4 million, down from $73.3 million in Q2 2024. For the first half of 2025, total operating costs were $102.4 million compared to $130.3 million in the first half of 2024 [5]. - R&D expenses in Q2 2025 were $29.9 million, slightly up from $29.7 million in Q2 2024. For the first half of 2025, R&D expenses were $60.4 million compared to $57.1 million in the first half of 2024 [6]. - General and administrative expenses were $17.1 million in Q2 2025, down from $20.5 million in Q2 2024. For the first half of 2025, G&A expenses were $41.4 million compared to $40.7 million in the first half of 2024 [7]. - The net loss for Q2 2025 was $41.6 million, or $2.95 per share, compared to a net loss of $52.4 million, or $3.76 per share, in Q2 2024. The net loss for the first half of 2025 was $92.5 million, or $6.57 per share, compared to a net loss of $89.2 million, or $6.63 per share, in the first half of 2024 [10]. Clinical Developments - Nektar announced transformative data for rezpegaldesleukin from a Phase 2b study in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, showing rapid onset of EASI response and itch relief. The company anticipates reporting 52-week data in early 2026 [3]. - The company is advancing its next T regulatory cell program, NKTR-0165, targeting the TNFR2 receptor, with plans to enter clinical trials in 2026. Additionally, preclinical studies for a new bispecific antibody, NKTR-0166, are progressing [3]. - In July 2025, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for rezpegaldesleukin for treating severe-to-very severe alopecia areata in adults and pediatric patients [17]. Recent Business Highlights - Nektar successfully closed a public offering of its common stock in July 2025, raising $115 million in gross proceeds [17]. - The REZOLVE-AD study achieved statistical significance on primary and key secondary endpoints at week 16, indicating the potential of rezpegaldesleukin as a first and best-in-class immune-modulator [17].

Core Insights - Nektar Therapeutics announced that the FDA granted Fast Track designation for rezpegaldesleukin, aimed at treating severe-to-very severe alopecia areata in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 and older [1][6] - Rezpegaldesleukin is an investigational biologic therapy that targets the interleukin-2 receptor complex to stimulate regulatory T cells, showing safe and dose-dependent increases in Tregs in clinical trials [1][5] - The company is on track to announce topline data from the REZOLVE-AA Phase 2b study in December 2025, which evaluates the efficacy of rezpegaldesleukin in alopecia areata [1][2] Company Overview - Nektar Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, with rezpegaldesleukin as its lead product candidate [9] - The company is also evaluating other therapeutic candidates, including a preclinical bivalent TNFR2 antibody and bispecific programs, as well as NKTR-255, an investigational IL-15 receptor agonist for cancer [9] Study Details - The REZOLVE-AA study enrolled approximately 90 patients with severe-to-very severe alopecia areata, randomized to receive either rezpegaldesleukin or placebo [2][4] - The primary efficacy endpoint is the mean percent change in the Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score after a 36-week induction period, with secondary endpoints assessing the proportion of participants achieving significant reductions in SALT scores [2][4] Disease Context - Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease characterized by hair loss, affecting about 6.7 million people in the U.S. and 160 million worldwide, with a lifetime incidence of 2% [8] - Current therapies for alopecia areata are not durable and have high relapse rates, indicating a significant unmet medical need for more effective treatments [8]