San Francisco biotechnology company Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) has reported that its experimental drug rezpegaldesleukin significantly improved measures of disease severity in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
The Phase 2b trial results are now published in the well-known medical journal The Lancet.
The biotech company says it tested the drug in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, across 107 sites in 10 countries.
All three dosing regimens met the trial's primary goal, with the highest dose reducing eczema severity scores by 61% compared with 31% for placebo.
Patients on the highest dose also saw significantly greater improvements in itch, skin clearance, and quality of life measures than those given a placebo.
Rezpegaldesleukin works by targeting regulatory T-cells, a type of immune cell, to help restore balance in an overactive immune system.
Nektar says serious side effects were rare, occurring in 2% of participants, with no deaths and no increased risk of infections observed during the 16-week period.
Nektar's chief research and development officer, Jonathan Zalevsky, said the findings support the company's ongoing Phase 3 trial, called ZENITH AD, which is currently enrolling patients.
The 24 microgram per kilogram dose administered every two weeks has been selected as the induction dose for the Phase 3 program, alongside monthly and quarterly maintenance dosing regimens.