On May 13, 2025 Atossa Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATOS) (Atossa or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines for breast cancer, reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 and provided an update on recent company developments (Press release, Atossa Therapeutics, MAY 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234652996]).
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First Quarter 2025 Highlights:
Announced Strategic Decision to Pursue Metastatic Breast Cancer Indication: Atossa announced plans to target metastatic breast cancer as its lead program for (Z)-endoxifen. The decision reflects its commitment to addressing the persistent unmet medical need in metastatic breast cancer and the potential for a more streamlined regulatory pathway to deliver (Z)-endoxifen to these patients. Current treatment options for metastatic breast cancer often provide limited durability of response and substantial side effects. In previous clinical trials, (Z)-endoxifen has been shown to be well-tolerated as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), which Atossa believes supports its potential to fill this critical gap in treatment.
Significantly Strengthened (Z)-endoxifen Patent Portfolio with Three New U.S. Patents: Atossa continued to bolster the intellectual property portfolio of (Z)-endoxifen with the grant of three new U.S. patents covering 31 claims directed at: sustained release compositions of (Z)-endoxifen (U.S. Patent No. 12,201,591); enteric oral formulations of (Z)-endoxifen and salts thereof as well as their use in treating hormone-dependent breast and reproductive tract disorders (U.S. Patent No. 12,275,684); and 58 claims covering (Z)-endoxifen formulations, including various levels of purity and stability as well as methods of using those formulations (U.S. Patent No. 12,281,056). Atossa’s robust patent portfolio now encompasses more than 200 patent claims related to (Z)-endoxifen formulations and their clinical applications.
"Our focus remains firmly on advancing (Z)-endoxifen as a next-generation therapy for breast cancer patients across the full spectrum of care—including a strategic emphasis on metastatic breast cancer, where therapeutic innovation is urgently needed," said Steven Quay, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Atossa. "Across multiple clinical trials involving hundreds of patients, (Z)-endoxifen has consistently demonstrated strong tolerability and therapeutic versatility, which we believe shows its potential as a therapy for breast cancer from early-stage disease to more advanced stages. We are committed to unlocking the full potential of (Z)-endoxifen for patients while delivering value to our shareholders. A cornerstone of this strategy is the robust intellectual property portfolio we are building in an effort to protect our programs globally. As we look ahead to the remainder of 2025 and beyond, we are energized by the many opportunities to position (Z)-endoxifen as a potentially safer, more effective endocrine therapy for breast cancer patients worldwide."
Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024
Revenue and Cost of Revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, we had no source of revenue and no associated cost of revenue.
Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses were $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which was an increase of $0.4 million, from the three months ended March 31, 2024 of $7.0 million. Factors contributing to the increased operating expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2025 are explained below.
Research & Development (R&D) Expenses. The following table provides a breakdown of major categories within R&D expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, together with the dollar change and percentage change in those categories (dollars in thousands):
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Increase (Decrease)
% Increase (Decrease)
Research and Development Expenses
Clinical and pre-clinical trials
$
2,747
$
2,884
$
(137)
(5) %
Compensation
880
626
254
41 %
Professional fees and other
530
238
292
123 %
Research and Development Expenses Total
$
4,157
$
3,748
$
409
11 %
Clinical and pre-clinical trial expenses decreased $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, due to a slight decrease in spend related to our (Z)-endoxifen trials, including drug development costs.
The increase in R&D compensation expenses of $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024 was due to an increase in headcount.
The increase in R&D professional fees and other of $0.3 million was due to an increase in spending on regulatory consulting services.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses. The following table provides a breakdown of major categories within G&A expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, together with the dollar change and percentage change in those categories (dollars in thousands):
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Increase (Decrease)
% Increase (Decrease)
General and Administrative Expenses
Compensation
$
1,462
$
1,325
$
137
10 %
Professional fees and other
1,614
1,680
(66)
(4) %
Insurance
181
227
(46)
(20) %
General and Administrative Expenses Total
$
3,257
$
3,232
$
25
1 %
The increase in G&A compensation expenses of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024 was due to an increase in headcount quarter over quarter.
Interest Income. Interest income was $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, a decrease of $0.4 million from interest income of $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was due to a decrease in the balance in our money market account.
About (Z)-Endoxifen
(Z)-endoxifen is a highly potent SERM with demonstrated ability to inhibit—and potentially degrade—estrogen receptors. It has shown activity even in tumors that have developed resistance to other endocrine therapies. Beyond its anti-estrogenic properties, (Z)-endoxifen also targets protein kinase C beta 1 (PKCβ1), an oncogenic signaling protein, at clinically achievable blood levels. Importantly, (Z)-endoxifen seems to deliver comparable or superior bone-protective effects relative to tamoxifen, while exhibiting minimal or no endometrial proliferative activity—which we believe addresses key limitations of current standard-of-care therapies. Atossa is developing a proprietary oral formulation of (Z)-endoxifen that is enteric-coated to bypass stomach acid, which would otherwise convert the active (Z)-isomer to its inactive (E)-form. We believe this innovation allows for optimal bioavailability and therapeutic integrity. Clinical studies have shown Atossa’s (Z)-endoxifen to be well tolerated in both healthy women and those with breast cancer. Atossa is prioritizing the development of (Z)-endoxifen for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, where novel therapeutic options are urgently needed. The compound is currently being evaluated in three Phase 2 trials: one in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and two in women with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) / human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer, including the EVANGELINE study and an I-SPY study. Atossa’s (Z)-endoxifen program is supported by a growing global intellectual property portfolio, including three recently issued U.S. patents and numerous pending applications worldwide.