On March 5, 2026 Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO) is a clinical-stage siRNA biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics using its proprietary INTASYL gene silencing technology to eliminate cancer, reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, and provided a business update.

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"Final cohort results mark the culmination of a productive 2025 fiscal year for Phio," said Robert Bitterman, Present and CEO. "Concluding the Phase 1b study with favorable safety, tolerability and pathology data, advancing the CMC and toxicology initiatives while extending our cash runway into 2027 are noteworthy milestones on our continuing pathway to potential approval."

Recent Corporate Updates

PH-762 Clinical Progress

PH-762 is currently being evaluated in a U.S. multi-center Phase 1b dose-escalating clinical trial through the intratumoral injection of PH-762 for the treatment of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma. The trial (NCT 06014086) is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of neoadjuvant use of intratumorally injected PH-762, assess the tumor response, and determine the dose or dose range for continued study of PH-762. The study was fully enrolled in November 2025 with a total of 22 patients, 20 with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, one with melanoma and one with Merkel cell carcinoma. While final study data is pending formal analysis, an FDA submission intended to propose and seek guidance for next steps in clinical study design for PH-762 is targeted for the second quarter of 2026.

In July 2025, Phio entered into a comprehensive drug substance development services agreement with a US manufacturer. The manufacturer will provide analytical and process development and cGMP manufacture of Phio’s lead development compound PH-762. The cGMP material will support future pivotal clinical development of PH-762.

In December 2025, Phio entered into a development services agreement with a US laboratory to conduct a non-clinical toxicology study, which is required by the FDA prior to commencing a pivotal human clinical trial for registration purposes.

Capital Sourcing

During 2025, Phio strengthened its balance sheet through a series of equity financings and warrant exercises that generated approximately $23.7 million in net proceeds. These transactions extended the Company’s cash runway into the first half of 2027 and will support ongoing clinical development, operational requirements and strategic initiatives.

Patent Portfolio Enhancement and Rationalization

Phio’s patent portfolio includes 54 issued patents, 49 of which cover our INTASYL platform, and of those 27 cover immuno-oncology compounds and therapeutic uses. There are 20 pending patent applications, encompassing what we believe to be important new RNAi compounds and their use as therapeutics, chemical modifications of RNAi compounds that improve the compounds suitability for therapeutic uses and compounds directed to specific targets. The patents that may issue from these pending applications will, if issued, be set to expire between 2029 and 2038.

Scientific News

During 2025, Phio presented new data on PH-762 at several conferences including American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper), Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper), American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) and at the Annual Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society (OTS). The Company was also invited to present its Phase 1b clinical trial data for PH-762 at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in the Late-Breaking Research Session.

Financial Results

Cash Position

At December 31, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $21.0 million as compared with approximately $5.4 million at December 31, 2024.

During the year ended December 31, 2025, we completed multiple financings generating total net proceeds of approximately $20.6 million after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased 27% as compared with the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was due to the advancement of our PH-762 clinical program, planning for an upcoming PH-762 toxicology study and higher employee compensation costs.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased 23% as compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase was due to higher outsourced professional accounting and legal services and stock-based compensation costs.

Net Loss

Net loss was approximately $8.7 million, or ($1.45) per share, for the year ended December 31, 2025 as compared with a net loss of approximately $7.2 million, or ($9.08) per share, for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in net loss was primarily due to the changes in research and development and general and administrative expenses, as described above.

(Press release, Phio Pharmaceuticals, MAR 5, 2026, View Source [SID1234663307])