On August 6, 2025 Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGS, "Aligos"), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on improving patient outcomes through best-in-class therapies for liver and viral diseases, reported recent business progress and financial results for the second quarter 2025 (Press release, Aligos Therapeutics, AUG 6, 2025, View Source [SID1234654853]).
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"Initiation of the Phase 2 B-SUPREME study of ALG-000184 is well underway with regulatory approvals across a number of countries, including the US, China, Canada, Taiwan, UK, New Zealand, and Moldova," stated Lawrence Blatt, Ph.D., M.B.A., Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Aligos Therapeutics. "Site activations are in progress, subjects are being screened, and we expect dosing to commence in the coming weeks. This pertinent study is the next step in our journey to potentially deliver better therapies for patients living with HBV infection and create value for our stakeholders. The Phase 1 data showcasing 96 weeks of treatment presented at the EASL meeting suggests that ALG-000184 has the potential to replace standard of care treatment for chronic suppression of HBV infection and may become the backbone of treatments aimed at a functional cure. We remain excited about the potential of ALG-000184 and the entirety of our pipeline, including ALG-055009 which remains in discussions with potential partners."
Recent Business Progress
Pipeline Updates
ALG-000184: Potential first-/best-in-class small molecule CAM-E for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection
The Phase 2 B-SUPREME study (NCT04746183) of ALG-000184 in subjects with chronic HBV infection recently began obtaining regulatory approvals, activating global sites, and screening subjects. Dosing is expected to commence in the coming weeks.
The study is designed as a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled multicenter study evaluating the safety and efficacy of ALG-000184 monotherapy compared with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in approximately 200 untreated HBeAg+ and HBeAg- adult subjects with chronic HBV infection for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint in the HBeAg+ part will be HBV DNA
ALG-000184 administered for up to 96 weeks was well tolerated by study participants, exhibited a favorable PK profile, and suggested potentially best-in-class antiviral activity.
In HBeAg+ subjects with a very high mean HBV DNA level of 8.0 log10 IU/mL at baseline, all experienced profound and persistent HBV DNA reductions after receiving an oral daily dose of 300 mg ALG-000184 monotherapy. At Week 48, 6 of 10 subjects (60%) achieved HBV DNA < LLOQ (10 IU/mL, target detected or target not detected). With treatment extension, this rate increased to 9 of 9 subjects (100%) at Week 96. Additionally, HBV DNA level continuously declined to < LLOQ (10 IU/mL, target not detected) in 5 of 9 subjects at Week 96.
In HBeAg- subjects, all 11 (100%) had rapid decline in HBV DNA levels and achieved sustained HBV DNA suppression (HBV DNA < LLOQ (10 IU/mL, target detected or target not detected)) by Week 24. The HBV DNA suppression level was maintained in the ALG-000184 monotherapy cohort for up to 96 weeks, with further decline in HBV DNA to < LLOQ (10 IU/mL, target not detected), observed in all subjects (8/8) at Week 96.
Multi-log10 reductions in HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcrAg were observed in HBeAg+ subjects, and HBcrAg decline was observed in HBeAg- subjects.
In both patient populations in this study, ALG-000184 was well tolerated with no viral breakthrough observed and no known CAM resistant mutations identified with monotherapy treatment.
ALG-055009: Potential best-in-class small molecule THR-β agonist for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)
The Phase 2a HERALD data were presented at EASL 2025, demonstrating that ALG-055009 dose groups met the primary endpoint with statistically significant reductions in liver fat at week 12 as measured by MRI-PDFF.
Additionally, new data demonstrated substantial, dose-dependent reductions in liver fat were observed across all key subgroups with 12 weeks of once daily ALG-055009 treatment. Statistically significant improvements in atherogenic lipids were achieved with 12 weeks of ALG-055009 treatment. Reductions in lipids/lipoproteins were observed even in the context of stable GLP-1 agonist or statin use. This data suggests a potential added benefit of ALG-055009 for patients at risk for cardiovascular disease in addition to the previously reported liver fat lowering properties in a MASLD/MASH population.
As shared previously, ALG-055009 demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile with no evidence of clinical hyper/hypothyroidism. Incidence of gastrointestinal-related treatment emergent adverse events were similar in ALG-055009 dose groups compared to placebo. Specifically, similar rates of diarrhea were observed in ALG-055009 dose groups compared to placebo, with no dose-response. Significant reductions in atherogenic lipids, including LDL-C, lipoprotein (a), and apolipoprotein B, were also observed (Loomba et al, AASLD 2024).
The company is continuing to evaluate a variety of options to fund continued development, including potential out-licensing.
ALG-097558: Potential best-in-class ritonavir-free small molecule pan-coronavirus protease inhibitor
The AGILE platform study (NCT04746183) assessing ALG-097558 monotherapy or in combination with remdesivir in high-risk subjects with COVID-19 began in 2024.
The NIAID is sponsoring a drug-drug interaction and relative bioavailability study of ALG-097558 in healthy volunteers that began dosing in the second quarter of 2025.
The company expects any future development of ALG-097558 to be funded by external sources.
Financial Results for the Second Quarter 2025
Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $122.9 million as of June 30, 2025, compared with $56.9 million as of December 31, 2024. Our cash, cash equivalents and investments are expected to provide sufficient funding of planned operations into the second half of 2026.
Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2025 was $15.9 million or basic and diluted net loss per common share of $(1.53), compared to net income of $5.1 million or basic and diluted net income per common share of $0.81 for the three months ended June 30, 2024.
Research and development (R&D) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2025 were $14.0 million, compared with $21.1 million for the same period of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in third-party expenses due to reduced clinical study costs as a result of the completion of the MASH Phase 2a clinical trial, partially offset by increased spend in the chronic HBV infection program. Total R&D stock-based compensation expense incurred for the three months ended June 30, 2025 was $0.6 million, compared with $1.2 million for the same period of 2024.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2025 were $5.6 million, compared with $6.4 million for the same period of 2024. The decrease in G&A expenses for this comparative period is primarily due to a decrease in third-party expenses including legal expenses. Total G&A stock-based compensation expense incurred for the three months ended June 30, 2025 was $0.5 million, compared with $0.9 million for the same period of 2024.
Interest and other income, net, was income of $1.2 million each for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2024.
Change in fair value of 2023 common warrants for the three months ended June 30, 2025 was income of $1.7 million compared with income of $30.4 million for the same period of 2024.