Nektar Therapeutics
NASDAQ:NKTR
Nektar Therapeutics
Nektar Therapeutics is a research-based biopharmaceutical company which engages in discovering and developing medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California and currently employs 740 full-time employees. The firm's research and development pipeline of new investigational drugs includes potential therapies for oncology, immunology and virology. In oncology, it is studying several immuno-oncology (I-O) drug candidates, including bempegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and NKTR-262. In immunology, it is focused on addressing imbalances in the immune system to restore the body's self-tolerance mechanisms and achieve immune homeostasis. In autoimmune disorders, its IL-2 T-regulatory cell stimulator NKTR-358 is being clinically studied in systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Its programs in virology area include studying bempegaldesleukin in treating individuals affected with COVID-19, and a preclinical research collaboration with Gilead Sciences Inc. (Gilead) to test the combination of NKTR-255.
Nektar Therapeutics is a research-based biopharmaceutical company which engages in discovering and developing medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California and currently employs 740 full-time employees. The firm's research and development pipeline of new investigational drugs includes potential therapies for oncology, immunology and virology. In oncology, it is studying several immuno-oncology (I-O) drug candidates, including bempegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and NKTR-262. In immunology, it is focused on addressing imbalances in the immune system to restore the body's self-tolerance mechanisms and achieve immune homeostasis. In autoimmune disorders, its IL-2 T-regulatory cell stimulator NKTR-358 is being clinically studied in systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Its programs in virology area include studying bempegaldesleukin in treating individuals affected with COVID-19, and a preclinical research collaboration with Gilead Sciences Inc. (Gilead) to test the combination of NKTR-255.
Strong Cash Position: Nektar ended Q3 with $270.2 million in cash and investments, and now expects to finish the year with around $240 million—substantially higher than prior guidance.
Extended Cash Runway: Management extended their cash runway guidance into Q2 2027 due to the higher year-end cash balance.
REZPEG Phase III Preparation: The company is preparing to advance REZPEG into Phase III for atopic dermatitis, with an end of Phase II meeting with the FDA expected before year-end.
Upcoming Data Readouts: Top-line data from the Phase IIb alopecia areata study are expected in December, while 52-week atopic dermatitis maintenance data will be presented in Q1 2026.
Differentiation and Market Opportunity: REZPEG is positioned as a first-in-class Treg therapy with robust clinical efficacy and potential advantages over current biologics and JAK inhibitors, particularly in safety and remission.
Positive Reception: Both the medical community and key opinion leaders have shown strong interest in REZPEG, especially given its potential to address comorbidities like asthma and to serve as the first biologic for alopecia areata.
