US biopharmaceutical company Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq:NKTR) reported on Saturday that it had showcased data in two presentations at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting taking place in Denver, CO.

Data from the global Phase 2b REZOLVE-AD study in 393 patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis were presented by Dr Raj Chovatiya, Associate Professor at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago Medical School and founder and director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research, in an oral poster session entitled 'Novel Regulatory T-cell enhancing Biologic Rezpegaldesleukin: Phase 2b Efficacy, Safety, and Baseline Severity-Dependent Treatment Response in Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis'.

Patient randomisation was stratified based on baseline disease severity measured by vIGA-AD (validated Investigator's Global Assessment for Atopic Dermatitis) and geographic region. As presented at AAD, patients in the Phase 2b REZOLVE-AD study demonstrated consistent reduction in mean Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores over the 16-week induction period as compared to placebo regardless of baseline disease severity as measured by baseline vIGA-AD scores of 3 or 4. During the 16-week induction period, patients also achieved comparable EASI-75 (at least a 75% improvement in EASI score from baseline) and EASI-90 response (at least a 90% improvement in EASI score from baseline). These disease improvement metrics were comparable by geographic region.

Based on the Phase 2b results, Nektar is planning to initiate the Phase 3 ZENITH-AD programme of rezpegaldesleukin in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis patients in the second quarter of 2026.

Dr David Rosmarin, chair of the Department of Dermatology and Associate Professor of Dermatology at Indiana University School of Medicine, presented a late-breaking research oral presentation highlighting previously-released data titled 'Novel Regulatory T-cell Enhancing Biologic Rezpegaldesleukin: Phase 2b Efficacy and Safety Results Following 36-Weeks of Therapy in Severe-to-Very-Severe Alopecia Areata'.

On the primary endpoint of mean Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) reduction at 36 weeks of treatment, high dose rezpegaldesleukin, 24 microgram/kg every two weeks (q2w), demonstrated a mean reduction in the SALT score of 28.2% in the 24 microgram/kg arm versus 11.2% in the placebo arm. Mean percentage reduction in SALT scores at 36 weeks was 30% for both treatment arms versus 6% in the placebo arm, achieving statistical significance (p