On October 28, 2025 Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (NYSE:RCUS), a clinical-stage, global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing differentiated molecules and combination therapies for patients with cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025, and provided a pipeline update on its clinical-stage investigational molecules and discovery programs.
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"Data from the ARC-20 study demonstrate that casdatifan has a best-in-class profile, based on a meaningfully higher response rate and longer PFS relative to data for the only marketed HIF-2a inhibitor," said Terry Rosen, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Arcus. "With our global Phase 3 PEAK-1 study now enrolling, and based on the encouraging, emerging data from cohorts evaluating casdatifan-based regimens in early-line settings, we are extremely excited about the potential for casdatifan to be a transformative therapy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We remain well capitalized and funded through readout of multiple Phase 3 trials, and we are looking forward to a steady cadence of key data events in 2026 and beyond."
Corporate Update
•In October, Taiho exercised its option for an exclusive license to casdatifan in Japan and certain territories in Asia; in exchange, Taiho will make an option payment to Arcus along with milestone payments upon achievement of clinical, regulatory and commercialization milestones, and additionally make royalty payments on net sales.
Casdatifan (HIF-2a inhibitor)
Casdatifan Development Program:
•PEAK-1, a global Phase 3 study evaluating casdatifan + cabozantinib versus cabozantinib in immunotherapy (IO)-experienced metastatic ccRCC is enrolling and, with a primary endpoint of PFS, represents an opportunity for a rapid path to approval.
•The company is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy for the development of casdatifan in early-line ccRCC, likely in combination with standard-of-care mechanisms, with the goal of initiating a Phase 3 study in early-line ccRCC in the second half of 2026. This study will be informed by emerging data from eVOLVE-RCC02 and ARC-20.
▪eVOLVE-RCC02, a Phase 1b/3 study sponsored and operationalized by AstraZeneca, evaluating casdatifan + volrustomig, an investigational anti-PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody, in first-line (1L), metastatic ccRCC, was initiated in mid-2025.
•The Phase 1b portion of the study has recruited rapidly, and in the context of this rapid enrollment, following observations of potential immune-mediated adverse events (AEs), none of which exceeded Grade 3, a decision was made to temporarily pause recruitment, while continuing to treat participants already enrolled in the study. No Grade 4 or 5 events were observed, and the majority of AEs were Grade 1 or 2.
•Arcus and AstraZeneca will continue to monitor these participants to further characterize the safety profile of the combination with longer follow-up. These data, along with any discussions with health authorities, will inform next steps for the study.
▪ARC-20 includes three cohorts evaluating casdatifan in earlier-line settings: casdatifan plus zimberelimab in 1L ccRCC, casdatifan monotherapy in favorable risk ccRCC and casdatifan monotherapy in immunotherapy-experienced, TKI-naive ccRCC.
◦Arcus expects to complete enrollment for these cohorts by the end of 2025 and to report data for one or more of these cohorts in the second half of 2026.
Recent Data Update:
•Data, including overall response rate (ORR) and PFS data, from the four monotherapy cohorts of the Phase 1/1b ARC-20 study in late-line ccRCC were presented at an investor event in October.
▪Casdatifan performed better on every efficacy measure evaluated, for each individual cohort and across all four monotherapy cohorts (n=121), relative to published data from studies with the only marketed HIF-2a inhibitor.
▪At the time of data cutoff (DCO, August 15, 2025), mPFS was 12.2 months, and 18-month landmark PFS was 43% in the pooled analysis of all four monotherapy cohorts.
▪In the 100mg once-daily cohort (the Phase 3 PEAK-1 dose and formulation), confirmed ORR was 35%, with two responses (including one that occurred after the DCO) pending confirmation, and mPFS had not been reached with greater than 12 months median follow-up.
▪Seventy-four percent (28 of the 38) of confirmed responders across all four cohorts remained on treatment.
▪No unexpected safety signals were observed at the time of DCO, and casdatifan had an acceptable and manageable safety profile across all doses.
Planned Data Readouts:
•1H 2026: Additional analyses from the ARC-20 cohorts evaluating casdatifan monotherapy in late-line ccRCC.
•Mid-2026: More mature data from the ARC-20 cohort evaluating casdatifan plus cabozantinib in the IO-experienced setting. This is the same setting and combination being evaluated in the ongoing Phase 3 PEAK-1 study.
•2H 2026: Initial data from one or more ARC-20 cohorts evaluating casdatifan in early-line settings.
•2H 2026: Data from the Phase 1b portion and a go-no-go decision on the Phase 3 portion of eVOLVE-RCC02.
Domvanalimab (Fc-silent anti-TIGIT antibody) plus Zimberelimab (anti-PD-1 antibody)
Recent Data Presentation:
•OS data from Arm A1 of the Phase 2 EDGE-Gastric study, evaluating domvanalimab plus zimberelimab and chemotherapy in upper gastrointestinal (GI) adenocarcinomas, were presented in an oral session at the 2025 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress in October. This is the same regimen and patient population being evaluated in the ongoing Phase 3 study, STAR-221.
◦Domvanalimab plus zimberelimab and chemotherapy showed 26.7 months of median OS, well beyond what would be required to demonstrate clinically meaningful benefit over standard of care in this setting.
◦The regimen was generally well tolerated and had a safety profile that is consistent with that of anti-PD-1 and chemotherapy.
Planned Data Readout:
•Data from the ongoing Phase 3 study STAR-221, evaluating domvanalimab plus zimberelimab and chemotherapy in PD-L1 all-comer 1L unresectable or metastatic upper GI adenocarcinomas are expected in 2026.
Quemliclustat (small-molecule CD73 inhibitor)
•Enrollment has been completed for PRISM-1, a Phase 3 trial of quemliclustat combined with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel versus gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in 1L metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, within 12 months of study initiation.
Emerging I&I Portfolio
•In October, Arcus disclosed five new research and preclinical programs addressing targets for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Potential new drug candidates include:
◦MRGPRX2 small-molecule inhibitor, a potential treatment for atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria
◦TNF-a (TNFR1) small-molecule inhibitor, a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis)
◦CCR6 small-molecule inhibitor, a potential treatment for psoriasis
◦CD89 monoclonal antibody, a potential treatment for RA
◦CD40L small-molecule inhibitor, a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus
•Arcus expects to select development candidates for at least three of these programs within the next 12 months. The first of these, a small molecule directed against MRGPRX2, is expected to enter the clinic in 2026.
Financial Results for Third Quarter 2025:
•Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities were $841 million as of September 30, 2025, compared to $992 million as of December 31, 2024. The decrease during the period is primarily due to the use of cash in our research and development activities partially offset by the net proceeds from our underwritten offering in February 2025 and the additional $50 million draw down under our term loan facility in June 2025. We believe our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, together with available facilities, will be sufficient to fund operations through the initial pivotal readouts for domvanalimab, quemliclustat and casdatifan, which include PEAK-1.
•Revenues were $26 million for the third quarter 2025, compared to $48 million for the same period in 2024. The decrease in revenue was primarily driven by the prior year license revenue of $15 million as a result of Taiho’s exercise of its option for quemliclustat and lower revenues from the Gilead collaboration. Arcus expects to recognize GAAP revenue of between $225 million and $235 million for the full year 2025.
•Research and Development (R&D) Expenses were $141 million for the third quarter 2025, compared to $123 million for the same period in 2024. The net increase of $18 million was primarily due to costs incurred for our late-stage programs, resulting from increased enrollment and start-up activities for PRISM-1 and PEAK-1 and partially offset by lower costs from STAR-221. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense was $7 million for the third quarter 2025, compared to $9 million for the same period in 2024. For the third quarters 2025 and 2024, Arcus recognized gross reimbursements of $28 million and $37 million, respectively, for shared expenses from its collaborations. R&D expenses by quarter may fluctuate due to the timing of clinical manufacturing and standard-of-care therapeutic purchases with a corresponding impact on reimbursements. Arcus expects R&D expenses to decline commencing in the fourth quarter 2025 as costs related to the domvanalimab Phase 3 development program decrease significantly.
•General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses were $27 million for the third quarter 2025, compared to $30 million for the same period in 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in compensation and personnel costs driven by lower stock-based compensation, partially offset by an increase in expenses shared under the Gilead collaboration. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense was $7 million for the third quarter 2025, compared to $10 million for the same period in 2024.
•Net Loss was $135 million for the third quarter 2025, compared to $92 million for the same period in 2024.
(Press release, Arcus Biosciences, OCT 28, 2025, View Source [SID1234657060])