On May 8, 2025 Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAC) (the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, and outlined recent corporate updates (Press release, Cartesian Therapeutics, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652762]).

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"We are off to a strong start in what we expect to be a productive year marked by several potential value-creating milestones across our pipeline," said Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Cartesian. "This includes the recent presentation of updated data from our Phase 2b trial of Descartes-08 in participants with myasthenia gravis (MG), in which we observed deep and sustained benefits at Month 12 following a single course of therapy, particularly in participants without exposure to prior biologic therapies. These data underscore the potential of Descartes-08, which is designed to be dosed conveniently in an outpatient setting without the need for preconditioning chemotherapy, to truly transform the current treatment paradigm, and we look forward to commencing our Phase 3 AURORA trial by the end of this quarter."

Dr. Brunn continued, "In addition, progress continues across the balance of our pipeline, with preliminary data from our ongoing Phase 2 trial of Descartes-08 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as the initiation of a pediatric basket trial in select autoimmune diseases, expected in the second half of this year."

Recent Pipeline Progress and Anticipated Milestones

Announced Positive Updated Long-Term Results from Phase 2b Trial of Descartes-08 in Participants with MG, with Sustained Benefits Observed Through 12 Months After a Single Course of Therapy. In April 2025, the Company announced updated efficacy and safety data from the Phase 2b trial of Descartes-08 in participants with MG. After a single course of therapy, Descartes-08-treated participants were observed to sustain deep responses through long-term follow-up, with an average 4.8-point reduction in the MG Activities of Daily Living Scale (MG-ADL) at Month 12. The deepest and most compelling sustained responses observed in Descartes-08-treated participants who did not have prior exposure to biologic therapies, with an average 7.1-point reduction in MG-ADL and 57% of patients in this subgroup maintaining minimum symptom expression at Month 12. The safety profile of Descartes-08 was consistent with previously reported data and continues to support outpatient administration.

An encore presentation of the data, which were originally shared at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, will be featured during the 15th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders being held May 13-15, 2025, in The Hague, Netherlands. The presentation, titled "Efficacy and safety of autologous BCMA-directed mRNA CAR T-cell therapy in generalized myasthenia gravis: Results from a phase 2b randomized placebo-controlled trial", will be delivered by James (Chip) F. Howard, Jr., M.D., Cartesian Clinical Advisor and Professor of Neurology, Medicine, and Allied Health at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, on May 15, 2025 during the 8:25 am CEST session.
Initiation of Phase 3 AURORA Trial of Descartes-08 in MG on Track for 2Q25. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 AURORA trial is designed to assess Descartes-08 versus placebo (1:1 randomization) administered as six once-weekly outpatient infusions without preconditioning chemotherapy in approximately 100 participants with acetylcholine receptor autoantibody positive (AChR Ab+) MG. The primary endpoint will assess the proportion of Descartes-08 participants with an improvement in MG-ADL score of three points or more at Month 4 compared to placebo. Descartes-08, Cartesian’s lead product candidate, is an autologous anti-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T).
Preliminary Data from Ongoing Phase 2 Open-Label Trial of Descartes-08 in Patients with SLE Expected in the Second Half of 2025. The trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and clinical activity of outpatient Descartes-08 administration without preconditioning chemotherapy in patients with SLE. SLE is an incurable autoimmune disease marked by systemic inflammation that affects multiple organ systems and impacts approximately 1.5 million people in the United States.
Phase 2 Pediatric Basket Trial of Descartes-08 in Select Autoimmune Diseases Expected to Initiate in the Second Half of 2025. This pediatric basket trial will target juvenile SLE, juvenile MG, juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis. The FDA previously granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to Descartes-08 for the treatment of JDM, which is a rare pediatric autoimmune disorder.
Dosing Continues in First-in-Human Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Descartes-15. The Phase 1 dose escalation trial of Cartesian’s next-generation, autologous anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy, is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of outpatient Descartes-15 administration in patients with multiple myeloma. Following the Phase 1 dose escalation trial, the Company expects to subsequently assess Descartes-15 in autoimmune indications.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of March 31, 2025 was $182.1 million and is expected to support planned operations, including completion of planned Phase 3 AURORA trial for Descartes-08 in MG, into mid-2027.
Research and development expenses were $14.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $9.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in expenses was primarily a result of increased expenses for the Phase 2b trial and the activities associated with the Phase 3 AURORA trial for Descartes-08 for MG.
General and administrative expenses were $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $9.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease in expenses was primarily the result of reductions in professional fees incurred in connection with the 2023 merger.
Net loss was $(17.7) million, or $(0.68) net loss per share (basic), for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to net loss of $(56.8) million, or $(10.50) net loss per share (basic), for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
About Descartes-08

Descartes-08, Cartesian’s lead cell therapy candidate, is an autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) product targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in clinical development for generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) and systemic lupus erythematosus. In contrast to conventional DNA-based CAR T-cell therapies, Cartesian’s CAR-T administration is designed to not require preconditioning chemotherapy, can be administered in the outpatient setting, and does not carry the risk of genomic integration associated with cancerous transformation. Descartes-08 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of MG, and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for the treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis.

About Descartes-15

Descartes-15 is a next-generation, autologous anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy. In preclinical studies, Descartes-15 has been observed to achieve an approximately ten-fold increase in CAR expression and selective target-specific killing, relative to Descartes-08. Similar to Descartes-08, Descartes-15 is designed to be administered without preconditioning chemotherapy and does not use integrating vectors.

On May 8, 2025 Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: SANA), a company focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines, reported financial results and business highlights for the first quarter 2025 (Press release, Sana Biotechnology, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652761]).

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"Type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains a large, unmet need, impacting the lives of over 9 million people, and we have made significant progress in 2025 toward a functional cure of this disease," said Steve Harr, Sana’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "We recently presented 12-week clinical data for UP421, showing that hypoimmune-modified pancreatic islets transplanted without any immunosuppression continue to evade immune detection and function three months after transplant, a result that we expect to continue over time and to be broadly generalizable across the population. Additionally, we have established the foundation for a genomically stable, gene-modified master cell bank, a difficult and essential step that clears the path toward an IND as early as 2026 and makes a scalable solution for people with T1D a realistic possibility."

Recent Corporate Highlights

Announced positive initial results from an investigator-sponsored, first-in-human study transplanting UP421, an allogeneic primary islet cell therapy engineered with hypoimmune platform (HIP) technology, into a patient with type 1 diabetes without the use of any immunosuppression.

UP421 is a primary human HIP-modified pancreatic islet cell therapy for patients with type 1 diabetes. The goal of this investigator-sponsored trial (IST) is to understand safety, immune evasion, islet cell survival, and beta cell function, as measured by C-peptide production, of HIP-modified pancreatic islet cells in type 1 diabetics without any immunosuppression. The trial is being conducted under a clinical trial authorization at Uppsala University Hospital with Dr. Per-Ola Carlsson as the principal investigator.
Results of the study through 12-weeks after cell transplantation demonstrate the survival and function of pancreatic beta cells as measured by the presence of circulating C-peptide, a biomarker indicating that transplanted beta cells are producing insulin. C-peptide levels also increase with a mixed meal tolerance test during testing at these timepoints, consistent with insulin secretion in response to a meal. Magnetic resonance imaging scanning also demonstrates a sustained signal at the site of transplanted cells over time, which is consistent with graft survival. The study identified no safety issues, and the HIP-modified islet cells evaded immune detection.
Sana presented 12-week data at the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) conference and expects to report additional data from this study, including longer-term follow-up, as the year progresses at scientific conferences and/or in a peer-reviewed publication.
Advancing our pipeline across multiple indications and modalities:

Type 1 Diabetes – Sana continues the clinical development of gene-modified primary islet cells (UP421) and the pre-clinical development of SC451, a HIP-modified, stem cell-derived pancreatic islet cell therapy. In addition to the human data for UP421 outlined above, Sana shared data for SC451 showing 15-month durability of glycemic control, with no histologic abnormalities, in a mouse model. Sana expects to share additional data in 2025 and file an IND for SC451 as early as 2026.
Allogeneic CAR T cells – The GLEAM study is a Phase 1 study evaluating SC291, a HIP-modified CD19-directed allogeneic CAR T cell therapy, in patients with B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases, including refractory systemic lupus erythematosus and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. The VIVID study is a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating SC262, a HIP-modified CD22-directed allogeneic CAR T cell therapy, in patients with relapsed and/or refractory B-cell malignancies who have received prior CD19-directed CAR T therapy.
Data from the suspended ARDENT trial evaluating SC291 in relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) demonstrated the ability to safely dose SC291 with the desired deep B-cell depletion. The goal in the GLEAM study is to demonstrate similar deep B-cell depletion with subsequent clinical benefit for patients with B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases.
Sana is enrolling patients in both the GLEAM and VIVID trials and expects to share data in 2025.
in vivo CAR T cells – SG299, which uses our fusogen platform, allows for cell-specific, in vivo delivery of various payloads. SG299 is a CD8-targeted fusosome that delivers to CD8+ T cells the genetic material to make CD19-directed CAR T cells while avoiding potentially troublesome delivery to tissues such as the liver and gonadal tissue. Sana shared data showing that an SG299 surrogate with another component can lead to deep B-cell depletion in non-human primates without the use of any lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Sana expects to file an IND for SG299 as early as 2026, and we look forward to developing it in a range of B-cell cancers and B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

GAAP Results

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of March 31, 2025 were $104.7 million compared to $152.5 million as of December 31, 2024. The decrease of $47.8 million was primarily driven by cash used in operations of $48.7 million.
Research and Development Expenses: For the three months ended March 31, 2025, research and development expenses, inclusive of non-cash expenses, were $37.2 million compared to $56.4 million for the same period in 2024.The decrease of $19.3 million was primarily due to lower personnel-related, laboratory, and research costs due to a decrease in headcount and the portfolio prioritization announced in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease in clinical development costs primarily related to the suspension of the ARDENT trial in the fourth quarter of 2024 and clinical development milestones recorded in the first quarter of 2024 that did not recur in 2025, and a decrease in facility and other allocated costs primarily due to the portfolio prioritization announced in the fourth quarter of 2024. These decreases were partially offset by increased costs for third-party manufacturing. Research and development expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation of $4.6 million and $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Research and Development Related Success Payments and Contingent Consideration: For the three months ended March 31, 2025, Sana recognized a non-cash expense of $2.0 million compared to $38.0 million for the same period in 2024, in connection with the change in the estimated fair value of the success payment liabilities and contingent consideration in aggregate. The value of these potential liabilities fluctuates significantly with changes in Sana’s market capitalization and stock price.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025, inclusive of non-cash expenses, were $11.5 million compared to $16.3 million for the same period in 2024. The decrease of $4.8 million was primarily due to lower personnel-related costs, including non-cash stock-based compensation, due to a decrease in headcount, and decreased legal and consulting fees. General and administrative expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation of $2.4 million and $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Net Loss: Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $49.4 million, or $0.21 per share, compared to $107.5 million, or $0.49 per share, for the same period in 2024.
Non-GAAP Measures

Non-GAAP Operating Cash Burn: Non-GAAP operating cash burn for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $46.6 million compared to $58.7 million for the same period in 2024. Non-GAAP operating cash burn is the decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, excluding cash inflows from financing activities, costs related to the portfolio prioritizations in the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023, and the purchase of property and equipment.
Non-GAAP Net Loss: Non-GAAP net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $47.4 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to $69.5 million, or $0.32 per share, for the same period in 2024. Non-GAAP net loss excludes non-cash expenses and gains related to the change in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration and success payment liabilities.

On May 8, 2025 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (Press release, Puma Biotechnology, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652760]). Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024.

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Product revenue, net consists entirely of revenue from sales of NERLYNX, Puma’s first commercial product. Product revenue, net in the first quarter of 2025 was $43.1 million, compared to product revenue, net of $40.3 million in the first quarter of 2024.

Based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), Puma reported net income of $3.0 million, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025, compared to net loss of $4.8 million, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income was $5.0 million, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.05 per basic share and diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) excludes stock-based compensation expense. For a reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) and GAAP net income (loss) per share to non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) per share, please see the financial tables at the end of this news release.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the first quarter of 2025 was $3.6 million, compared to $11.3 million provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2024. At March 31, 2025, Puma had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $93.2 million, compared to cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $101.0 million at December 31, 2024.

"We are pleased to report better than expected net income for the first quarter of 2025," said Alan H. Auerbach, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Puma. "We recently presented new clinical data on neratinib at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2025 and we look forward to important updates from our ongoing alisertib clinical studies later this year."

Mr. Auerbach added, "We anticipate the following key milestones over the next 12 months: (i) presentation of interim data from ALISCA-Breast1, a Phase II trial of alisertib in combination with endocrine treatment in patients with chemotherapy-naïve HER2-negative, hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (H2 2025); and (ii) presentation of additional interim data from the ALI-4201/ALISCA-Lung1, a Phase II clinical trial of alisertib monotherapy for the treatment of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (H2 2025)."

Revenue

Total revenue consists of product revenue, net from sales of NERLYNX and royalty revenue. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, total revenue was $46.0 million, of which $43.1 million was net product revenue and $2.9 million was royalty revenue. This compares to total revenue of $43.8 million in the first quarter of 2024, of which $40.3 million was net product revenue and $3.5 million was royalty revenue.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Total operating costs and expenses were $42.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $46.1 million for the first quarter of 2024.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales was $10.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, virtually unchanged from $10.7 million for the first quarter of 2024.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $17.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $21.8 million for the first quarter of 2024. The $4.2 million decrease resulted primarily from a decrease of $3.6 million in professional fees and expenses, primarily legal fees; a decrease of $0.2 million in payroll and related costs; and a decrease of $0.2 million in stock-based compensation.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses were $13.8 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $13.6 million for the first quarter of 2024. The $0.2 million increase resulted primarily from increases of $0.2 million in clinical trial expenses; and $0.2 million in consultants and contractors; partially offset by a decrease of $0.1 million in stock-based compensation.

Total Other Income (Expenses)

Total other expenses were $0.7 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to total other expenses of $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2024. The $1.6 million decrease resulted primarily from a lower debt balance, which reflects principal payments of approximately $11.1 million per quarter.

Second Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Outlook

Second Quarter 2025

Full Year 2025 (current)

Full Year 2025 (previous)

Net Product Revenue

$48–$50 million

$192–$198 million

$192–$198 million

Royalty Revenue

$2–$3 million

$20–$24 million

$20–$24 million

License Revenue

$0 million

$0 million

$0 million

Net Income/(Loss)*

$4–$6 million

$23–$28 million

$23–$28 million

Gross to Net Adjustment

20%–21.5%

20.5%–21.5%

20.5%–21.5%

*The outlook above does not include any adjustments for tax valuation allowance.

Conference Call

Puma Biotechnology will host a conference call to report its first quarter 2025 financial results and provide an update on the Company’s business and outlook at 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-709-8150 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8354 (international). Please dial in at least 10 minutes in advance and inform the operator that you would like to join the "Puma Biotechnology Conference Call." A live webcast of the conference call and presentation slides may be accessed on the Investors section of the Puma Biotechnology website at View Source A replay of the call will be available shortly after completion of the call and will be archived on Puma’s website for 90 days.

On May 8, 2025 Protara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TARA), a clinical-stage company developing transformative therapies for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, and provided a business update (Press release, Protara Therapeutics, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652759]).

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"We have made significant progress thus far in 2025, notably with the recent presentation of positive interim results from our ADVANCED-2 trial of TARA-002 in BCG-Unresponsive and BCG-Naïve patients which demonstrated durable 12-month landmark responses," said Jesse Shefferman, Chief Executive Officer of Protara Therapeutics. "We believe TARA-002 is well positioned to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In addition to our NMIBC program, we are pleased with the continued progress we have made across our rare disease programs and look forward to several exciting data milestones in the coming months."

Recent Progress and Highlights

TARA-002 in NMIBC

At the American Urological Association (AUA) 2025 Annual Meeting in April, the Company announced positive updated interim results from the ADVANCED-2 trial in evaluable NMIBC patients with carcinoma in situ or CIS (± Ta/T1) who are Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-Unresponsive and BCG-Naïve. As of the April 16, 2025 data cutoff:
TARA-002 demonstrated a complete response (CR) rate at any time of 100% (5/5) and 67% (2/3) at 12 months in the cohort of BCG-Unresponsive patients. As previously communicated, the BCG-Unresponsive cohort is designed to be registrational in alignment with the 2024 BCG-Unresponsive Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Developing Drugs and Biological Products for Treatment Draft Guidance for Industry issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In the proof-of-concept BCG-Naïve cohort of patients, TARA-002 demonstrated a CR rate at any time of 76% (16/21) and a CR rate of 43% (3/7) at 12 months.
The majority of adverse events were Grade 1 and transient, with no Grade 3 or greater treatment-related adverse events as assessed by study investigators.
Interim results from approximately 25 six-month evaluable BCG-Unresponsive patients are expected to be announced by the end of 2025.
Following regulatory alignment with the FDA, the Company expects to provide an update on the design of its planned BCG-Naïve registrational trial in the second half of 2025.
Protara continues to investigate subcutaneous dosing through priming and maintenance combined with intravesical dosing, as well as exploring combination treatment with TARA-002 in NMIBC patients with CIS.
IV Choline Chloride for Patients on Parenteral Support (PS)

The Company plans to initiate THRIVE-3, a registrational Phase 3 clinical trial, in the third quarter of 2025. THRIVE-3 is a seamless Phase 2b/3 trial with a dose confirmation portion (n=24) followed by a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled portion to assess the efficacy and safety of IV Choline Chloride over 24 weeks in adolescents and adults on long-term PS when oral or enteral nutrition is not possible, insufficient, or contraindicated (n=105). IV Choline Chloride was previously granted Fast Track designation by the FDA.
TARA-002 in LMs

Dosing continues to progress in the Phase 2 STARBORN-1 trial of TARA-002 in pediatric patients with macrocystic and mixed cystic LMs and the Company intends to provide an interim update from the trial in the second half of 2025. The Company previously announced the completion of the study’s first safety cohort, in which TARA-002 showed promising results and was generally well-tolerated.
Corporate Update

In April 2025, Protara strengthened its leadership team with the appointments of Leonardo Viana Nicacio, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer, and Shane Williams, Ph.D., as Vice President, Head of Human Resources, Chief People Officer. Dr. Nicacio brings to Protara nearly 20 years of broad oncology, drug development, regulatory and commercial experience across leading biopharmaceutical and health technology companies, and most recently served as Head of Clinical Development and Global Medical Affairs at Stemline Therapeutics. Dr. Williams brings a strong track record of driving growth, leading transformational change, and building high-performing teams across innovative life science organizations. He most recently served as Chief People Officer at Century Therapeutics.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2025, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and investments in marketable debt securities totaled $157.5 million. The Company expects its cash, cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities will be sufficient to fund operations into 2027.
Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2025 increased to $9.1 million from $7.7 million for the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to a $2.6 million increase in clinical trial activities for TARA-002 and IV Choline, offset by a $1.2 million decrease in indirect expenses.
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2025 increased to $5.0 million from $4.1 million for the prior year period. This increase was primarily due to a $0.4 million increase in personnel-related costs as well as an increase of professional fees of $0.4 million.
For the first quarter of 2025, Protara incurred a net loss of $11.9 million, or $0.29 per share, compared with a net loss of $11.1 million, or $0.97 per share, for the same period in 2024. Net loss for the first quarter of 2025 included approximately $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expenses.
About TARA-002

TARA-002 is an investigational cell therapy in development for the treatment of NMIBC and of LMs, for which it has been granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. TARA-002 was developed from the same master cell bank of genetically distinct group A Streptococcus pyogenes as OK-432, a broad immunopotentiator marketed as Picibanil in Japan by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Protara has successfully shown manufacturing comparability between TARA-002 and OK-432.

When TARA-002 is administered, it is hypothesized that innate and adaptive immune cells within the cyst or tumor are activated and produce a pro-inflammatory response with release of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma IL-6, IL-10, IL-12. TARA-002 also directly kills tumor cells and triggers a host immune response by inducing immunogenic cell death, which further enhances the antitumor immune response.

About Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)

Bladder cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the United States, with NMIBC representing approximately 80% of bladder cancer diagnoses. Approximately 65,000 patients are diagnosed with NMIBC in the United States each year. NMIBC is cancer found in the tissue that lines the inner surface of the bladder that has not spread into the bladder muscle.

About Lymphatic Malformations (LMs)

LMs are rare, congenital malformations of lymphatic vessels resulting in the failure of these structures to connect or drain into the venous system. Most LMs are present in the head and neck region and are diagnosed in early childhood during the period of active lymphatic growth, with more than 50% detected at birth and 90% diagnosed before the age of three years. The most common morbidities and serious manifestations of the disease include compression of the upper aerodigestive tract, including airway obstruction requiring intubation and possible tracheostomy dependence; intralesional bleeding; impingement on critical structures, including nerves, vessels, lymphatics; recurrent infection, and cosmetic and other functional disabilities.

About IV Choline Chloride

IV Choline Chloride is an investigational, intravenous phospholipid substrate replacement therapy in development for patients receiving parenteral support (PS). Choline is a known important substrate for phospholipids that are critical for healthy liver function that also play an important role in modulating gene expression, cell membrane signaling, brain development and neurotransmission, muscle function, and bone health. PS patients are unable to synthesize choline from enteral nutrition sources, and there are currently no available PS formulations containing choline. Approximately 80% of patients dependent on PS are choline-deficient and of those approximately 63% have some degree of liver dysfunction, which can lead to hepatic failure. Every year in the U.S. there are approximately 90,000 people who require PS at home and of those approximately 30,000 are on long-term PS. IV Choline Chloride has the potential to become the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved IV choline formulation for PS patients. It has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the prevention and/or treatment of choline deficiency in patients on long-term PN and been granted Fast Track Designation as a source of choline when oral or enteral nutrition is not possible, insufficient, or contraindicated. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued us a U.S. patent claiming a choline composition and a U.S. patent claiming a method for treating choline deficiency with a choline composition, each with a term expiring in 2041.

On May 8, 2025 Prime Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRME), a biotechnology company committed to delivering a new class of differentiated one-time curative genetic therapies, reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 and provided a business update (Press release, Prime Medicine, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652758]).

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"We recently unveiled our AATD program, further demonstrating our commitment to building a liver franchise of Prime Editors designed to cure major genetic diseases," said Keith Gottesdiener, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Prime Medicine. "Both our Wilson’s Disease and AATD programs are advancing through preclinical development, and we look forward to initiating clinical trials in both indications in 2026. In addition, we remain on track to report initial data from our Phase 1/2 trial of PM359 in CGD this year, and continue to progress our efforts in CF."

Dr. Gottesdiener continued, "While PM359 leverages a different delivery mechanism from our programs in liver and lung diseases, we believe our forthcoming CGD data could provide important readthrough across our pipeline. If positive, these data would demonstrate the potential of Prime Editing as a powerful and differentiated technology, potentially capable of offering curative benefit to patients following a single treatment. We remain committed to executing with focus and discipline as we approach these first in-human data, which we hope will mark a key inflection point on our path to sustained growth."

Prime Medicine’s Pipeline:

Prime Medicine is advancing a set of high-value programs across its core areas of focus (hematology, immunology and oncology, liver, and lung). These include ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) programs for the treatment of p47phox chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and X-linked CGD; lipid nanoparticle (LNP) Prime Editors for the treatment of Wilson’s Disease and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD); LNP or adeno-associated virus (AAV) Prime Editors for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF); and ex vivo T-cell therapies, which are being developed in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb.

Recent Business Updates

•In March 2025, Prime Medicine unveiled its preclinical program for the treatment of AATD. Prime Medicine’s program leverages the Company’s universal liver LNP to edit the E342K (Pi*Z) mutation in the SERPINA1 gene, the prevalent disease-causing mutation in AATD, with the potential to treat both lung- and liver-associated disease. In initial in vivo data, Prime Medicine observed high levels of editing at the target site, with full restoration of circulating wild-type AAT protein (M-AAT) to normal human range. Additionally, based on preclinical studies using unoptimized surrogate Prime Editors across Prime Medicine’s liver franchise, the Company believes Prime Editing has the ability to correct disease-causing mutations without introducing off-target or bystander edits.
Anticipated Upcoming Milestones:

Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD):
•Announce initial clinical data from Cohort 1 in the Phase 1/2 trial of PM359 for p47phox CGD in 2025. The initial readout will include safety and engraftment data, as well as key outcome measures, including the reconstitution of NADPH oxidase activity as measured by the DHR assay.

Wilson’s Disease:
•Advance PM577 through investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies for the treatment of Wilson’s Disease patients with the most prevalent Wilson’s Disease mutation in the United States.
•File investigational new drug (IND) and/or clinical trial application (CTA) for PM577 in the first half of 2026.
AATD:
•Initiate IND-enabling studies for the treatment of AATD.
•File IND and/or CTA in mid-2026.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
•Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $40.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, as compared to $37.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in R&D expenses primarily due to the expansion and build out of our laboratory space at 60 First Street and 500 Arsenal Street.
•General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $13.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, as compared to $11.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in G&A expenses was driven by personnel expenses.
•Net Loss: Net loss was $51.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, as compared to $45.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
•Cash Position: As of March 31, 2025, cash, cash equivalents, investments, and restricted cash were $158.3 million, as compared to $204.5 million as of December 31, 2024.
Financial Guidance
Based on its current operating plans, Prime Medicine expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments as of March 31, 2025 will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the first half of 2026.