On August 13, 2025 Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: KZR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel small molecule therapeutics to treat unmet needs in immune-mediated diseases, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, and provided a business update (Press release, Kezar Life Sciences, AUG 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234655198]).

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"We are on track with our clinical development and regulatory submission plan for zetomipzomib in autoimmune hepatitis," said Chris Kirk, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Kezar. "We are committed to working closely with the FDA to align on our next trial design, which we have proposed as a registration-enabling study. The Type C meeting will be an important milestone as we continue to believe that zetomipzomib has the potential to positively transform the lives of patients living with autoimmune hepatitis."

Zetomipzomib: Selective Immunoproteasome Inhibitor
•In March, Kezar reported topline results from the PORTOLA Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating zetomipzomib in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). In relapsed or refractory AIH patients who entered screening on steroid-based therapy, 36% (5 of 14) of zetomipzomib-treated patients achieved a complete biochemical response (CR) and clinically significant steroid taper to 5 mg/day or less by 6 months, compared to 0 of 7 placebo patients. The median duration of response in zetomipzomib patients achieving a CR was 27.6 weeks (including the ongoing open-label extension at the time of the data cutoff), and no disease flares were reported in any zetomipzomib-treated patient achieving CR during study. A favorable safety profile was observed during the 6-month blinded treatment period.

•In July, Kezar announced that the Division of Hepatology and Nutrition of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed the partial clinical hold on the completed PORTOLA Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating zetomipzomib, a first-in-class selective immunoproteasome inhibitor, in patients with AIH.
•Kezar submitted a Type C meeting request to the FDA to meet during the fourth quarter of 2025 to discuss the AIH development plan for zetomipzomib.

•Kezar submitted a complete response to the FDA Division of Rheumatology and Transplant Medicine with a request to remove the clinical hold on zetomipzomib in lupus nephritis.
Medical Conferences
•An abstract featuring PORTOLA Phase 2a data has been selected for an oral presentation at The Liver Meeting 2025, taking place November 7-11, in Washington, DC.
•An abstract featuring PORTOLA biomarker data has been selected for poster presentation at The Liver Meeting 2025.
Business Updates
•In June, Zung To was promoted to Chief Development Officer. Mr. To joined Kezar in 2023 as Senior Vice President & Head of Clinical Development and brings 35 years of industry experience, with more than 20 years in senior leadership roles in early-and late-stage clinical development. He has been instrumental in leading Kezar’s development strategy and has played a pivotal role in progressing the Company’s clinical trials with speed and precision.

Financial Results
•Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $100.8 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $132.2 million as of December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily attributable to cash used in operations.
•Research and development (R&D) expenses for the second quarter of 2025 decreased by $6.7 million to $9.6 million, compared to $16.3 million in the second quarter of 2024. This decrease was primarily due to the decreased clinical activities resulting from the completion and closeout of clinical trials, a decrease in personnel costs including non-cash stock-based compensation and a decrease in facility related expenses.
•General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2025 decreased by $0.6 million to $5.0 million compared to $5.6 million in the second quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in non-cash stock-based compensation and personnel-related expenses.
•Restructuring and impairment charges for the second quarter of 2025 decreased by $1.5 million, compared to the second quarter of 2024. The decrease was primarily attributed to the impairment charge in 2024 related to the right-of-use asset for the vacated floor in the company’s leased office facility.
•Net loss for the second quarter of 2025 was $13.7 million, or $1.87 per basic and diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $21.5 million, or $2.96 per basic and diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2024.
•Total shares of common stock outstanding were 7.3 million shares as of June 30, 2025.