On May 13, 2025 Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel peptide-based therapeutics for liver and cardiometabolic diseases, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, and provided a business update (Press release, Altimmune, MAY 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234652993]).
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"The first quarter of 2025 was productive for Altimmune as the Company approaches a number of important milestones," said Vipin K. Garg, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Altimmune. "The readout of our IMPACT Phase 2b trial of pemvidutide in MASH is on-track for the second quarter of 2025. We believe that achieving statistical significance on MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement at only 24 weeks, coupled with clinically meaningful weight loss, would position pemvidutide as the best-in-class therapeutic candidate for the treatment of MASH."
Dr. Garg continued, "At our recent R&D Day event we unveiled two additional indications for pemvidutide in AUD and ALD, and our intent to initiate Phase 2 clinical trials in these indications in Q2 and Q3, respectively. AUD and ALD are conditions of significant unmet medical need with limited treatment options. We remain committed to developing pemvidutide for treatment of liver and cardiometabolic diseases that leverage its differentiated clinical profile."
Recent Highlights and Anticipated Milestones
MASH
Top-line data from the IMPACT Phase 2b trial of pemvidutide in biopsy-confirmed F2/F3 MASH expected in Q2 2025
Top-line data is expected to include rates of MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement, weight loss, non-invasive tests, and data on safety and tolerability.
A total of 212 participants were randomized, exceeding the 190 originally planned.
If successful, pemvidutide would be the first investigational therapy in MASH to achieve statistical significance in both MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement, as well as demonstrate meaningful weight loss, after only 24 weeks of treatment.
Altimmune presented new data at the EASL International Liver Congress 2025, including a follow-on analysis of the Company’s Phase 1b trial in MASLD using the MASH Resolution Index (MASHResInd).
Developed by Dr. Rohit Loomba, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of California San Diego, MASHResInd is a non-invasive measure that has been highly predictive of MASH resolution.
The analyses indicated that after 24 weeks of treatment, the proportion of participants receiving pemvidutide achieving MASHResInd responses exceeded 90%. These findings indicate that high rates of MASH resolution may be observed in the upcoming IMPACT Phase 2b MASH trial readout.
Additional Indications for Pemvidutide: AUD and ALD
During Altimmune’s R&D Day, the Company announced the development of pemvidutide in two additional indications: AUD and ALD
AUD and ALD are characterized by large patient populations with significant unmet medical need and very few treatment options.
Investigational New Drug (IND) applications were cleared by the FDA in the first quarter of 2025. The Phase 2 trials in AUD and ALD are expected to initiate in the second and third quarters of 2025, respectively.
Preclinical data and data from other clinical trials support the potential of pemvidutide to reduce alcohol consumption, improve liver health, and provide the added benefit of meaningful weight loss.
Corporate Update
The Company entered into a $100 million credit facility with Hercules Capital, with an initial $15 million tranche funded at closing. An additional $25 million is available in 2025 at Altimmune’s option, subject to the achievement of certain clinical and financial milestones. The remaining $60 million is available beginning in 2026, with $15 million subject to the achievement of certain clinical and financial milestones and up to $45 million available subject to approval of Hercules. The credit facility significantly increases Altimmune’s financial strength and flexibility on attractive terms.
Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Altimmune reported cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $150 million on March 31, 2025.
Research and development expenses were $15.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $21.5 million in the same period in 2024, the decrease resulting from timing of clinical trial costs. The expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, included $9.2 million in direct costs related to pemvidutide development activities.
General and administrative expenses were $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $5.3 million in the same period in 2024. The increase was primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in stock compensation and other labor-related expenses.
Interest income was $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2024.
Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $19.6 million, or $0.26 net loss per share, compared to a net loss of $24.4 million, or $0.34 net loss per share, in the same period in 2024.
Conference Call Information:
Date: May 13, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Webcast: To listen, the conference call will be webcast live on Altimmune’s Investor Relations website at View Source
Dial-in: To participate or dial-in, register here to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call.
Following the conclusion of the call, the webcast will be available for replay on the Investor Relations (IR) page of the Company’s website at www.altimmune.com. The Company has used, and intends to continue to use, the IR portion of its website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
About Pemvidutide
Pemvidutide is a novel, investigational, peptide-based 1:1 GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist in development for the treatment of MASH, obesity, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Alcohol Liver Disease (ALD). Activation of the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors is believed to mimic the complementary effects of diet and exercise on weight loss, with GLP-1 suppressing appetite and glucagon increasing energy expenditure. Glucagon is also recognized as having direct effects on hepatic fat metabolism, which is believed to lead to rapid reductions in levels of liver fat and serum lipids. In clinical trials to date, once-weekly pemvidutide has demonstrated compelling weight loss with class-leading lean mass preservation, and robust reductions in triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, liver fat content and blood pressure. The U.S. FDA has granted Fast Track designation to pemvidutide for the treatment of MASH. Pemvidutide completed the MOMENTUM Phase 2 obesity trial in 2024 and is being studied in the ongoing IMPACT Phase 2b MASH trial with top line results expected in late June 2025. IND applications in AUD and ALD have received FDA clearance with Phase 2 trials scheduled to commence in Q2 and Q3 2025, respectively.