On August 6, 2026 Zymeworks Inc. (Nasdaq: ZYME), a biotechnology company managing a portfolio of licensed healthcare assets, while developing a diverse pipeline of novel, multifunctional biotherapeutics, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026 and provided a summary of recent business highlights. In light of the previously announced proposed acquisition of Theravance Biopharma, the Company has elected not to host a second quarter earnings conference call after release of its financial results.
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"The first half of 2026 has been a transformative period for Zymeworks, demonstrating the continued evolution of our business into a diversified, revenue-generating biotechnology business. While scientific innovation remains our foundation, we believe long-term value is created not only through discovering new medicines, but also through disciplined capital allocation, creative business development and thoughtful partnership structures that maximize the impact of that innovation for patients and shareholders," said Kenneth Galbraith, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Zymeworks.
"The second half of 2026 has the potential to continue creating meaningful value for both patients and shareholders. Subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, the August U.S. PDUFA target action date for zanidatamab and the planned closing of the Theravance Biopharma acquisition, respectively, would immediately strengthen our revenue base and cash flow outlook. This includes a $250 million approval milestone for zanidatamab in the U.S. with up to $190 million in additional potential global regulatory milestones. These diverse royalty and milestone cash flows improve our ability to sustain long-term investment in our wholly-owned R&D pipeline, pursue additional strategic acquisitions and partnerships, and continue returning capital to shareholders through our share repurchase program. We believe this disciplined approach to compounding capital and innovation is what will differentiate Zymeworks over the long term."
Business Highlights
Positioning Zymeworks for Multiple Value-Creating Catalysts in 2H 2026
Advancing Partnerships Toward Key Regulatory and Commercial Inflection Points
Zanidatamab
The top-line results from the second interim overall survival analysis for the HERIZON-GEA-01 trial doublet regimen are expected in the third quarter of 2026.
The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) for zanidatamab (Ziihera), for the treatment of adults with previously treated, locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic HER2-positive colorectal cancer.
The EmpowHER-303 trial is expected to complete patient enrollment in mid-2027 with top-line data expected by the end of 2027 or early 2028.
Results from Phase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01 published in The New England Journal of Medicine; Additional subgroup analyses presented in an oral presentation at the 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting showing improved clinical outcomes with zanidatamab-containing combinations regardless of PD-L1 expression, including in PD-L1-negative patients.
August 25, 2026 U.S. PDUFA target action date for zanidatamab for the treatment of patients with first-line (1L) HER2-positive (HER2+) locally advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA).
Potential $250 million milestone upon approval in the U.S., the first of up to a total of $440 million potential global regulatory milestones for zanidatamab in 1L HER2+ GEA. Zymeworks will continue to receive royalties on Ziihera sales, with royalty revenues expected to increase following U.S. and global regulatory approvals for GEA.
Our royalty revenue from Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Jazz) and BeOne Medicines was $1.8 million in the three months ended June 30, 2026, driven primarily by net product sales of Ziihera by Jazz in the United States.
Pasritamig
Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine (J&J) expect to present Phase 1b clinical data for pasritamig, a first-in-class bispecific antibody against KLK2, in combination with JNJ-9401 in patients with advanced prostate cancer who have progressed after multiple lines of therapy, during the second half of 2026.
J&J increased the planned enrollment for its Phase 3 trial of pasritamig (JNJ-78278343) in combination with best supportive care in patients with late-line metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), from approximately 663 to 1,203 participants. The study is actively recruiting across 172 sites globally and is evaluating overall survival versus placebo, with median overall survival as the primary endpoint. The anticipated primary completion date is now estimated as December 2027, compared with the previously estimated May 2028 date (NCT07164443).
Leveraging Partnerships and External Innovation
The Company is advancing strategic initiatives to maximize the value of its proprietary Pan-RAS antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platform, including evaluating the formation of a separate, dedicated entity with third-party capital participation. The Company expects to use third-party capital to advance multiple product candidates from the platform into clinical studies while retaining an equity interest and future economic participation, including potential royalties, subject to completion of a transaction.
The Company has engaged MTS Healthcare to evaluate strategic partnering opportunities to fund further development for ZW191 with the objective of maximizing long-term value.
The Company continues its evaluation of additional business development opportunities consistent with its capital allocation strategy.
Expanding Revenue Diversification
Proposed acquisition of Theravance Biopharma expected to be accretive to earnings and generate positive cash flow upon closing in 2H 2026.
YUPELRI U.S. profit share and ex-U.S. royalties expected to generate ~$60 million annualized cash flow at current run-rates, with continued expected growth.
Proposed acquisition to add diversified assets beyond YUPELRI, including additional royalty interests, milestone payments, an early-stage I&I portfolio, and $2.5 billion in Irish tax attributes, further strengthening both potential near-term cash flow generation and long-term development optionality.
Transaction financed primarily by $350 million non-recourse note secured solely by U.S. YUPELRI profit share from OMERS Life Sciences, and Theravance Biopharma’s expected net cash balance of $360 million at closing, with Zymeworks contributing the remainder of the purchase price in cash at closing. Zymeworks expects to receive $100 million in TRELEGY ELLIPTA milestones in Q1 2027, assuming milestone conditions are met, in 2026, offsetting cash outlay.
The anticipated closing of the acquisition is expected to support Zymeworks’ transition to a diversified, revenue-generating business. Consistent with this evolution, the Company no longer intends to provide cash runway guidance, and expects to increasingly focus on providing guidance on operating performance and long-term growth.
Advancing a Differentiated ADC Pipeline
In June 2026, we presented new clinical data from the dose-escalation portion of the ongoing Phase 1 study evaluating ZW191, a folate receptor alpha-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, at the European Society for Medical Oncology Gynaecological Cancers Congress 2026. Among response-evaluable platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients, ZW191 demonstrated a cORR of 78.6% in patients with FRα-positive tumors and 47.4% in patients with FRα-negative tumors across all dose levels. These findings demonstrate meaningful anti-tumor activity across both FRα-positive and FRα-negative tumors as well as in the overall population.
We continue to recruit patients in an ongoing Phase 1b study of ZW251, a GPC3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, squamous non-small cell lung cancer and germ cell tumors.
Maintaining Financial Flexibility
Cash Resources: Zymeworks reported $322.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2026
Share Repurchase Program: In May 2026, the Board of Directors authorized a 2026 share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $125.0 million of its outstanding common stock, par value $0.00001 per share. As of August 4, 2026, the Company has utilized approximately $49.4 million of this current approved repurchase program to acquire 1,971,454 shares at an average price of $25.04 per share (exclusive of commission expense and estimated excise tax).
Since initiating its share repurchase program in August 2024, the Company has cumulatively utilized $213.6 million to reacquire 10,571,316 shares at an average price of $20.21 per share (exclusive of commission expense and estimated excise tax). As of August 4, 2026, the Company had approximately 71.0 million common shares outstanding.
Operating Expense Discipline: The Company expects significant near-term milestones, including the anticipated closing of the Theravance Biopharma acquisition and the upcoming August 25, 2026 PDUFA date for zanidatamab in GEA, each of which has the potential to immediately expand the Company’s revenue and cash flow profile, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval, respectively. The Company continues to expect disciplined investment across research and development and general and administrative activities through the anticipated closing of the Theravance Biopharma acquisition. The Company’s previously communicated operating expense framework was established prior to entering into the definitive acquisition agreement, and therefore does not reflect the expected operating profile of the combined organization. Subject to the successful completion of the transaction, the Company expects to provide an updated financial outlook following closing that reflects the combined business.
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2026
The key financial highlights for our 2026 second quarter results are as follows:
Revenue – Total revenue was $4.6 million in 2Q-2026, compared to $48.7 million for the same period in 2025. The decrease was driven mainly by absence of significant non-recurring collaboration revenue recognized in 2026, as well as continued declines in development support and drug supply revenue from Jazz. Revenue in the current‑year period reflects ongoing collaboration activity and increased royalty revenue, which is expected to grow over time as commercial sales of Ziihera increase.
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses – R&D expenses were $27.4 million in 2Q-2026, compared to $34.4 million for the same period in 2025, primarily reflecting reduced spending on later‑stage and discontinued programs, as well as an overall decrease in spending for earlier‑stage programs and research platforms. R&D expenses in 2Q-2026 were 20% lower than in 2Q-2025, consistent with our planned reduction in R&D expenses in 2026.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses – G&A expenses were $19.3 million in 2Q-2026, compared to $15.0 million for the same period in 2025. The increase was primarily driven by higher non-cash stock-based compensation expense. This increase was partially offset by decrease in software amortization and software subscription expenses.
Other Income, net – Net other expense was $3.1 million in 2Q-2026, compared to net other income of $2.8 million for the same period in 2025. The change was driven primarily by $6.6 million of interest expense related to the royalty-backed note financing arrangement with Royalty Pharma executed in March 2026.
Net Loss – Net loss was $45.0 million in 2Q-2026, compared to a net income of $2.3 million for the same period in 2025. The change in 2026 was primarily due to a decrease in revenue, driven by the non-recurring clinical milestones earned in 2Q-2025 and interest expense related to the royalty-backed note financing arrangement with Royalty Pharma. This was partially offset by decrease in total operating expenses.
Liquidity – As of June 30, 2026, we had $322.5 million of cash resources consisting of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, comprised of $179.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and $143.1 million in marketable securities. In light of the Company’s expected transition to a revenue-generating business supported by multiple anticipated recurring cash flow streams, the Company no longer intends to provide cash runway guidance. Going forward, the Company expects to focus its financial outlook on metrics that more appropriately reflect the operating performance and growth of the business.
(Press release, Zymeworks, AUG 6, 2026, View Source [SID1234669841])