For those living with severe alopecia areata, the condition is more than cosmetic; it is a persistent autoimmune challenge where the body’s own defenses mistakenly target hair follicles. On Monday, Nektar Therapeutics released data from a year-long study of its experimental drug, rezpeg, which suggests that extended treatment may offer a durable path toward recovery for patients facing significant hair loss.
The trial results focused on a metric known as the SALT Score 20—a benchmark representing at least 80% scalp hair coverage. After 12 months of treatment, 27% of participants across both low- and high-dose groups reached this threshold. This finding underscores the importance of the "long game" in autoimmune therapy, as the drug appears to steadily rebuild the scalp's follicular environment over time.
While Nektar’s results have not yet been tested in a head-to-head clinical trial against established competitors, the data places rezpeg in a favorable position. Its performance appears equal to, or perhaps better than, the lower-dose results of Eli Lilly’s Olumiant, the current standard for severe cases. However, Olumiant’s use is often tempered by physician caution regarding its safety profile, leaving a clear opening for new therapeutic alternatives that can demonstrate both efficacy and long-term stability.
With reporting from STAT News.
Source · STAT News (Biotech)
