Q32’s IL-7R target yields durable alopecia signals, lifting shares
Q32 Bio’s phase 2 readout of bempikibart for alopecia areata shows 30.3% SALT-20 and 33.3% SALT-50 responses by 36 weeks (40% in a prespecified modified ITT of 25 patients), with early durability signals after off-drug periods and no treatment-related serious adverse events; the most common adverse event was mild injection-site reactions. The news sparked a roughly 63% intraday stock gain, opening at $18.31 from $11.21. Q32 also announced a registration-directed program for bempikibart in 1H 2027 and continues to market the therapy as a potentially more durable option than JAK inhibitors. The asset is licensed from Bristol Myers Squibb after a prior phase 2 failure in atopic dermatitis, which led the company to shift focus to alopecia areata.