Prime Medicine Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates

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.

TransCode Therapeutics Successfully Completes Initial Dosing of Patients in Cohort 4 of Phase 1a Clinical Trial; No Dose Limiting Toxicities Reported

On May 8, 2025 TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAZ), the RNA oncology company committed to more effectively treating cancer using RNA therapeutics, reported that the third patient in Cohort 4 of its Phase 1a clinical trial has received their initial dose of TTX-MC138 (Press release, TransCode Therapeutics, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652781]). All cohorts have enrolled at least three patients who have been dosed with TTX-MC138 at least once. The Safety Review Committee monitoring the clinical trial unanimously approved opening the fourth cohort based on its review of available safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) data. Additionally, the Safety Review Committee approved expanded enrollment in Cohort 3 to obtain additional safety data. To date, 15 patients have received at least one dose of TTX-MC138 at 4 separate dose levels ranging from 0.8 mg/kg to 4.8 mg/kg. Three patients have been treated in the expanded enrollment.

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Ten patients remain on study for continued treatment, receiving an additional dose of TTX-MC138 during each treatment cycle every 28 days, and may remain on study absent any significant safety observations or disease progression. Two patients who have remained on study the longest have received so far seven doses of TTX-MC138 over approximately seven months and have demonstrated stable disease. The 10 patients currently on study have shown no disease progression. Further, no significant safety or dose limiting toxicities have been reported in any of the trial’s 15 patients. Analysis of PK activity from Cohorts 1, 2 and 3 is ongoing and suggests that TTX-MC138 demonstrates a PK/PD profile consistent with preclinical results and results from TransCode’s Phase 0 clinical trial. Specifically, preliminary PK and pharmacodynamic (PD) data follow a predictable dose-response relationship. Analysis of PD activity from cycle 1 treatments in Cohorts 1 and 2, treated with doses of 0.8 mg/kg and 1.6 mg/kg, respectively, demonstrates miR-10b target engagement at 24 hours post-infusion.

The observed tolerability profile and the available PK/PD results thus far support advancement of the clinical trial to further evaluate safety and potential anti-tumor activity of TTX-MC138 in the planned dose expansion (Phase 1b) portion of the trial.

About TTX-MC138

TTX-MC138 is a first-in-class therapeutic candidate designed to inhibit microRNA-10b, or miR-10b, a microRNA widely believed to be critical to the emergence and progression of many metastatic cancers. TransCode’s Phase 0 clinical trial produced evidence of delivery of a radiolabeled version of TTX-MC138 to metastatic lesions and pharmacodynamic activity, even at a microdose of the drug candidate, suggesting a broad therapeutic window for TTX-MC138.

About the Trial

TransCode’s Phase 1 clinical trial is a multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation and dose-expansion study designed to generate critical data to support evaluation of the safety and tolerability of TTX-MC138 in patients with a variety of metastatic solid cancers. While not an endpoint, the trial may provide early evidence of clinical activity of TTX-MC138. The trial comprises an initial dose-escalation stage followed by a dose-expansion stage. The primary objective of the dose-escalation stage is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of escalating dose levels of TTX-MC138. In the dose-expansion stage, the safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity of TTX-MC138 will be further evaluated in certain tumor types and at a certain dose level selected based on preliminary results from the dose-escalation phase.

Further information is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT Identifier: (NCT06260774).

Aclaris Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On May 8, 2025 Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases, reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Aclaris Therapeutics, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652717]).

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"We are entering into a potentially transformative multi-year period for Aclaris, with important milestones throughout our business that we believe will position us for future growth," stated Dr. Neal Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors of Aclaris. "Ensuring successful and timely execution of our clinical programs is our priority, and given the realities of today’s financial market environment, it’s imperative that we continue to do so in a manner that efficiently utilizes our capital. As such, we’ve announced that further global development of bosakitug – our uniquely potent anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody – in respiratory indications will be dependent on partnerships. Regarding our internal programs, we expect to initiate new clinical trials with bosakitug; ATI-2138, our highly selective oral ITK/JAK3 inhibitor; and ATI-052, our potential best-in-class bispecific anti-TSLP/IL-4R antibody, for which we recently received IND clearance from the FDA. Work is also ongoing toward next-generation small molecule kinase inhibitors and biologic antagonists of immuno-inflammatory pathways to further expand our pipeline and continue our innovative work in I&I."

"Importantly, we have the cash we believe we need to execute our plan," continued Dr. Walker. "Our expected cash runway now extends through the first half of 2028, and we will continue to practice rigorous financial stewardship with a goal of extending our runway further by exploring additional non-dilutive opportunities."

First Quarter 2025 Highlights and Recent Updates

Pipeline:

Bosakitug (ATI-045): Investigational Anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody

Aclaris Expects to Initiate Enrollment in Placebo-Controlled Two-Arm Phase 2 Trial in Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in the Second Quarter of 2025: Based on the potency of bosakitug observed in preclinical and clinical studies to date, including the compelling results of the Phase 2a single arm trial in AD, Aclaris intends to initiate a two-arm placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of bosakitug in approximately 90 patients with moderate-to-severe AD in the second quarter of 2025. This trial is designed to evaluate the Company’s anti-TSLP therapeutic in a placebo-controlled setting in a time- and cost-efficient manner.
Results from CTTQ’s Phase 2 Trials in Respiratory Indications Support Further Development: The totality of the results received to date from Aclaris’ regional partner, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group, Co., Ltd. (CTTQ) from their Phase 2 trials of bosakitug in Chinese patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and severe asthma provide additional clinical evidence of the enhanced potency of bosakitug. CTTQ has announced that they are conducting Phase 3 clinical trials of bosakitug in both indications and are currently conducting a Phase 2 trial in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CTTQ is responsible for the disclosure and presentation of the results of their clinical trials.
Aclaris Intends to Seek Partners to Develop Bosakitug in Respiratory Indications: Aclaris’ clinical focus for bosakitug will remain on dermatological immuno-inflammatory indications. Further global (excluding China) development in respiratory indications is dependent on entering into potential partnerships.

ATI-2138: Investigational oral covalent ITK/JAK3 inhibitor

Top Line Results from Phase 2a Trial in AD Expected in June 2025: Dosing is complete in the single arm Phase 2a open-label trial of ATI-2138 designed to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and pharmacodynamics of ATI-2138 in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. The Company expects to report top line results in June 2025. Potential target indications under consideration include alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo.

ATI-052: Investigational bispecific anti-TSLP/IL4R monoclonal antibody

Announced Clearance of ATI-052 Investigational New Drug (IND) Application and Plan to Initiate Phase 1 Trial: Aclaris announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared its IND application for ATI-052 in April 2025. The Company expects to initiate the placebo-controlled Phase 1a/1b trial evaluating single and multiple ascending doses of ATI-052, followed by a proof-of-concept portion in an undisclosed indication, in the second quarter of 2025. (press release here)

Next Generation Kinase and Cytokine Signaling Pathway Inhibitor Development:

Confirmed Plan for Next IND Submission: Preclinical work is ongoing to develop next-generation ITK inhibitors, which the Company expects to provide the basis for new INDs starting in 2026.
Development of Novel Bispecific Antibodies Targeting Certain Cytokine Pathways Underway: Preclinical work is ongoing to develop next-generation bispecific antibodies utilizing the bosakitug anti-TSLP binding region paired with binding fragments targeting other undisclosed cytokine signaling pathways.
Corporate:

Expected Cash Runway Extends Through the First Half of 2028 and Fully Funds Preclinical and Clinical Development Plans: During the first quarter of 2025, Aclaris took certain steps to focus its pipeline investments while extending its cash runway further. In doing so, the Company continues to prioritize clinical execution and achievement of development milestones, all of which Aclaris expects to be funded by the Company’s current cash runway. Aclaris ended the first quarter of 2025 with $190.5 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities providing balance sheet strength to execute on its development plan. Aclaris’ cash management policy is focused on capital preservation and holding a portfolio of securities with short-term maturities. The investment portfolio is composed of fixed income securities, primarily high-credit quality corporate debt and U.S. government securities.
Injunction Against Sun Pharmaceuticals Lifted, Providing Aclaris with a Potential Additional Opportunity for Non-Dilutive Financing: In 2023, Aclaris granted Sun Pharma exclusive rights under certain patents for, among other things, the use of deuruxolitinib, Sun Pharma’s JAK inhibitor, to treat AA. The agreement included an upfront payment of $15.0 million, regulatory and commercial milestones, and royalties. In 2024, Incyte Corporation was granted a preliminary injunction against Sun Pharma, blocking Sun Pharma from launching its product LEQSELVI. In April 2025, a U.S. Appeals Court lifted the injunction. As Aclaris has successfully executed similar financings in the past, the Company may seek to monetize this financial asset to provide additional non-dilutive financing.
Provided Update on Senior Leadership: Jesse W. Hall, M.D. has been appointed as Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Hall brings decades of experience in all phases of drug development, from early development through global regulatory filings and approvals, Phase IV post-marketing surveillance obligations, and commercial launch support to Aclaris. He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer for AltruBio where he was responsible for leadership of all clinical and medical functions. (press release here)

First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2025, Aclaris had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $190.5 million compared to $203.9 million as of December 31, 2024. The Company believes that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its operations through the first half of 2028, without giving effect to any potential business development transactions or financing activities.

Net loss was $15.1 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $16.9 million for the first quarter of 2024.
Total revenue was $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by the sale of a portion of royalty payments under the Company’s agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to OCM IP Healthcare Portfolio IP, an investment vehicle for Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), in July 2024.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $11.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to $9.8 million for the prior year period. The increase was primarily driven by expenses related to the Company’s bosakitug program, specifically preclinical and clinical development expenses associated with startup activities for a Phase 2 trial in AD. The increase was partially offset by a reduction in development expenses for zunsemetinib and lepzacitinib and lower compensation-related expenses.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $6.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 compared to $6.8 million for the corresponding prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in personnel expenses as a result of lower headcount and lower termination benefits.

Genmab Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2025

On May 8, 2025 Genmab reported interim results for the first Quarter ended March 31, 2025 (Press release, Genmab, MAY 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234652743]).

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Highlights

EPKINLY (epcoritamab) approved by the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for additional indication as a treatment for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL)
Rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S) continues to show encouraging antitumor activity in patients with advanced ovarian cancer in data presented at the 2025 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer (SGO)
Tivdak (tisotumab vedotin) approved by the Japan MHLW and by the European Commission (EC) as the first and only antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approved in both Japan and the European Union (EU) for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer after prior therapy
Genmab revenue increased 19% compared to the first quarter of 2024, to $715 million
"Our commitment to advancing our late-stage programs was reflected in the progress we made in the first quarter of the year. Both EPKINLY and Tivdak expanded their reach with approvals in additional territories and the updated Rina-S data presented at SGO reinforces its potential as a treatment option for patients with advanced ovarian cancer," said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.

Financial Performance First Quarter of 2025

Revenue was $715 million for the first three months of 2025 compared to $603 million for the first three months of 2024. The increase of $112 million, or 19%, was primarily driven by higher DARZALEX and Kesimpta royalties achieved under our collaborations with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Novartis Pharma AG (Novartis), respectively, and EPKINLY net product sales.
Royalty revenue was $589 million in the first three months of 2025 compared to $452 million in the first three months of 2024, an increase of $137 million, or 30%. The increase in royalties was driven by higher net sales of DARZALEX and Kesimpta.
Net sales of DARZALEX (daratumumab), including sales of the subcutaneous (SC) product (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj, sold under the tradename DARZALEX FASPRO in the U.S.) by J&J were $3,237 million in the first three months of 2025 compared to $2,692 million in the first three months of 2024, an increase of $545 million or 20%.
Total costs and operating expenses were $527 million in the first three months of 2025 compared to $487 million in the first three months of 2024. The increase of $40 million, or 8%, was driven by the expansion of our product pipeline, including Rina-S, the continued development of Genmab’s broader organizational capabilities as well as profit-sharing amounts payable to AbbVie Inc. (AbbVie) related to EPKINLY sales.
Operating profit was $188 million in the first three months of 2025 compared to $116 million in the first three months of 2024.
Net financial items resulted in income of $56 million for the first three months of 2025 compared to $133 million in the first three months of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in foreign exchange impacts driven by the change in functional currency of Genmab A/S on January 1, 2025.

Outlook
Genmab is maintaining its 2025 financial guidance published on February 12, 2025.

Other Matters
Both the functional currency of the Genmab A/S legal entity and the presentation currency of the condensed consolidated financials statements have been changed from DKK to USD effective January 1, 2025. The change in functional currency has been implemented with prospective effect. The change in presentation currency has been implemented with retrospective effect. Comparative figures for prior periods have been restated accordingly.


Conference Call
Genmab will hold a conference call to discuss the results for the first quarter of 2025 today, Thursday, May 8, at 6:00 pm CEST, 5:00 pm BST or 12:00 pm EDT. To join the call please use the below registration link. Registered participants will receive an email with a link to access dial-in information as well as a unique personal PIN: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI2b36f53f97c64ad190f5eaa552875059. A live and archived webcast of the call and relevant slides will be available at View Source

Protara Therapeutics Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

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.