Kymera Therapeutics Stock Heads for Record. Why Investors Are Excited About Its Anti-Inflammatory Drug.

Kymera Therapeutics said KT-621, its oral anti-inflammatory drug candidate, showed “robust reductions” in relevant biomarkers in an early-stage trial. (Dreamstime)

Key Points

• Kymera Therapeutics soars after announcing positive Phase 1b trial results for its drug candidate, KT-621.
• KT-621 achieves median STAT6 reductions of 94% in skin and 98% in blood, targeting Type 2 inflammatory diseases.
• Patients with asthma showed a median 56% reduction in fractional exhaled nitric oxide, indicating reduced airway inflammation.

Kymera Therapeutics stock surged Monday after the biopharmaceutical company released “positive results” from a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of its anti-inflammatory drug candidate.

Shares surged 46% to $97.28 after the drugmaker posted results from a Phase 1b trial for KT-621, its once-a-day oral medication. The benchmark S&P 500 was down 0.3%.

Researchers are probing the pill’s efficacy in patients with Type 2 inflammatory diseases, which are triggered by an overactive immune response. KT-621 works by targeting STAT6, a transcription factor protein that drives immune responses such as allergic reactions.

Kymera noted that KT-621 “achieved deep STAT6 degradation” across both the 100 mg and 200 mg dose groups, with median reductions of 94% and 98% in skin and blood, respectively.

Patients with asthma, a comorbid disease that frequently occurs along with atopic dermatitis, showed a median 56% reduction in fractional exhaled nitric oxide, a measure of airway inflammation.

In all, the trial showed “robust reductions” in disease-relevant Type 2 inflammatory biomarkers and “meaningful improvements” on clinical endpoints and patient-reported outcomes, the company said. It was well-tolerated in patients with a favorable safety profile, the company added.

The drug candidate piqued investor interest in June, when earlier trial data indicated KT-621 might relieve dermatitis and asthma comparably to Dupixent, the blockbuster injectable from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

Monday’s announcement put Kymera stock on pace for a record closing high as well as its largest same-day percent increase on record, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

A Phase 2b trial in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis is ongoing, with data expected in mid-2027, the biopharma company said. A Phase 2b trial in patients with asthma is planned to start in the first quarter of 2026.

Write to Mackenzie Tatananni at mackenzie.tatananni@barrons.com