We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
NKTR Shares Surge 38.2% in a Week: Here's What You Should Know
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
NKTR rose 38.2% on investor optimism for rezpeg in atopic dermatitis compared to a rival candidate.
Rezpeg met key goals in a phase IIb study for atopic dermatitis, fueling strong investor interest.
Top-line alopecia areata data is due in December 2025, with the FDA Fast Track status adding momentum.
Shares of Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR - Free Report) have rallied 38.2% in the past week due to growing investor optimism related to the company’s lead pipeline candidate, rezpegaldesleukin (rezpeg), which is being developed as a self-administered injection for several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Two separate phase IIb studies are currently evaluating rezpeg for treating atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema) and alopecia areata.
Here’s Why NKTR Was Up This Past Week
Nektar’s price rose after French drugmaker Sanofi (SNY - Free Report) announced data from the phase III COAST 1 study evaluating its pipeline candidate, amlitelimab, for treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in patients aged 12 years and above last week.
Despite amlitelimab meeting all primary and key secondary endpoints in the COAST 1 study, shares of SNY tanked as the data seemed to fall short of investors' expectations.
A Bloomberg article mentioned that some analysts felt that amlitelimab was less effective than Sanofi and partner Regeneron’s (REGN - Free Report) blockbuster drug Dupixent, which is approved for several types of inflammatory diseases, including moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
While Sanofi records global net product sales of Dupixent, Regeneron records its share of profit in connection with the global sales of the drug.
Year to date, shares of Nektar have surged 188.1% compared with the industry’s rise of 14.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NKTR’s Atopic Dermatitis Data on Rezpeg
In June 2025, NKTR announced that the phase IIb REZOLVE-AD study evaluating rezpeg in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis met its primary and key secondary endpoints.
Back then, management had stated that the rapid reduction in EASI scores and significant itch improvement highlight the potential of rezpeg to become a first- and best-in-class immune-modulator for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders, such as atopic dermatitis and other autoimmune conditions.
Unlike amlitelimab, which is an anti-OX40L mAb, rezpeg is designed with a different mechanism. Rezpeg selectively activates regulatory T-cells (Tregs) to calm the immune system and reduce inflammation.
Although rezpeg is currently in phase II development for atopic dermatitis and is still some years away from commercialization, investors remain optimistic regarding the candidate’s long-term potential, given the weaker-than-expected data for SNY’s amlitelimab. However, rezpeg’s long-term efficacy is yet to be determined.
Markets are also speculating that rezpeg may hold a better commercial future than SNY’s amlitelimab, given the success rezpeg had in a mid-stage study in atopic dermatitis. It remains to be seen how the candidate performs once it enters phase III development, the final phase before a potential nod from the FDA. The company expects to advance rezpeg into phase III development in the first half of 2026.
NKTR Also Studying Rezpeg for Alopecia Areata
Besides atopic dermatitis, the company is also investigating rezpeg in the phase IIb REZOLVE-AA study for treating patients with severe-to-very severe alopecia areata. Top-line data from the same is expected in December 2025.
The FDA has already granted a Fast Track designation to rezpeg for the treatment of severe-to-very severe alopecia areata as well as for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
Nektar regained full rights to rezpeg from pharma giant Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) in April 2023 and took charge of its clinical development. Rezpeg was earlier developed in collaboration with Lilly for several autoimmune indications.
Rezpeg is now a wholly owned asset of Nektar, and the company owes no royalty payments to LLY.
Image: Bigstock
NKTR Shares Surge 38.2% in a Week: Here's What You Should Know
Key Takeaways
Shares of Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR - Free Report) have rallied 38.2% in the past week due to growing investor optimism related to the company’s lead pipeline candidate, rezpegaldesleukin (rezpeg), which is being developed as a self-administered injection for several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Two separate phase IIb studies are currently evaluating rezpeg for treating atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema) and alopecia areata.
Here’s Why NKTR Was Up This Past Week
Nektar’s price rose after French drugmaker Sanofi (SNY - Free Report) announced data from the phase III COAST 1 study evaluating its pipeline candidate, amlitelimab, for treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in patients aged 12 years and above last week.
Despite amlitelimab meeting all primary and key secondary endpoints in the COAST 1 study, shares of SNY tanked as the data seemed to fall short of investors' expectations.
A Bloomberg article mentioned that some analysts felt that amlitelimab was less effective than Sanofi and partner Regeneron’s (REGN - Free Report) blockbuster drug Dupixent, which is approved for several types of inflammatory diseases, including moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
While Sanofi records global net product sales of Dupixent, Regeneron records its share of profit in connection with the global sales of the drug.
Year to date, shares of Nektar have surged 188.1% compared with the industry’s rise of 14.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NKTR’s Atopic Dermatitis Data on Rezpeg
In June 2025, NKTR announced that the phase IIb REZOLVE-AD study evaluating rezpeg in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis met its primary and key secondary endpoints.
Back then, management had stated that the rapid reduction in EASI scores and significant itch improvement highlight the potential of rezpeg to become a first- and best-in-class immune-modulator for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders, such as atopic dermatitis and other autoimmune conditions.
Unlike amlitelimab, which is an anti-OX40L mAb, rezpeg is designed with a different mechanism. Rezpeg selectively activates regulatory T-cells (Tregs) to calm the immune system and reduce inflammation.
Although rezpeg is currently in phase II development for atopic dermatitis and is still some years away from commercialization, investors remain optimistic regarding the candidate’s long-term potential, given the weaker-than-expected data for SNY’s amlitelimab. However, rezpeg’s long-term efficacy is yet to be determined.
Markets are also speculating that rezpeg may hold a better commercial future than SNY’s amlitelimab, given the success rezpeg had in a mid-stage study in atopic dermatitis. It remains to be seen how the candidate performs once it enters phase III development, the final phase before a potential nod from the FDA. The company expects to advance rezpeg into phase III development in the first half of 2026.
NKTR Also Studying Rezpeg for Alopecia Areata
Besides atopic dermatitis, the company is also investigating rezpeg in the phase IIb REZOLVE-AA study for treating patients with severe-to-very severe alopecia areata. Top-line data from the same is expected in December 2025.
The FDA has already granted a Fast Track designation to rezpeg for the treatment of severe-to-very severe alopecia areata as well as for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
Nektar regained full rights to rezpeg from pharma giant Eli Lilly (LLY - Free Report) in April 2023 and took charge of its clinical development. Rezpeg was earlier developed in collaboration with Lilly for several autoimmune indications.
Rezpeg is now a wholly owned asset of Nektar, and the company owes no royalty payments to LLY.
Nektar Therapeutics Price
Nektar Therapeutics price | Nektar Therapeutics Quote
NKTR's Zacks Rank
Nektar currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.