Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2026 results and provides business update
Rhea-AI Summary
Acurx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ACXP) reported second quarter 2026 results and a business update for the period ended June 30, 2026. Cash totaled $10.7 million, up from $7.6 million at December 31, 2025, supported by a $2.5 million registered direct offering, $0.8 million raised under an equity line, and new short‑term warrants for 1,650,170 shares.
Q2 research and development expenses were $1.1 million versus $0.5 million a year earlier, while general and administrative expenses fell to $1.2 million from $1.7 million. Net loss was $2.3 million ($0.53/share), versus $2.2 million ($1.89/share) in Q2 2025. Operationally, the company advanced ibezapolstat toward Phase 3 in C. difficile infection, received FDA conditional proprietary name acceptance, extended its DNA pol IIIC research partnership with Leiden University Medical Center, presented new microbiome and biofilm data, and obtained additional patents in Japan and Mexico, bringing its portfolio to six U.S. and ten international patents.
Positive
- Quarter-end cash increased to $10.7 million from $7.6 million at year-end 2025
- Raised $2.5 million gross via registered direct offering plus $0.8 million under equity line
- Q2 2026 G&A expenses decreased to $1.2 million from $1.7 million in Q2 2025
- Six-month 2026 net loss $3.9 million, improved from $4.4 million in 2025 period
- Total patent estate expanded to six U.S. and ten international patents
- FDA conditional acceptance of proprietary name for ibezapolstat for CDI and recurrence reduction
Negative
- Q2 2026 net loss remained high at $2.3 million
- Q2 2026 R&D expenses rose to $1.1 million from $0.5 million year over year
- Common shares outstanding increased to 4.68 million from 2.35 million at year-end 2025
- Issuance of short-term warrants for up to 1,650,170 additional common shares
News Explained
The closed April financing increased the reported share base and added immediately exercisable warrants, making further ownership dilution possible.
The company reports that its April registered direct offering closed, issuing 825,085 common shares or pre-funded warrants at
Common shares outstanding were 4,683,253 on
A pre-funded warrant converts into shares when exercised, while the separately issued short-term warrants were immediately exercisable at
The supplied first-quarter comparison shows cash and equivalents equaled 591.8 days of the last reported operating cash use as of
The release states that the short-term warrants expire 24 months after the resale registration statement becomes effective, making that effectiveness date the relevant timing milestone for their stated expiration.
Sources and calculations
- Acurx Pharmaceuticals second-quarter 2026 results and business update (2026-08-14)
- Dilution definition (undated)
- Pre-funded warrant definition (undated)
- Acurx Pharmaceuticals first-quarter 2026 fundamentals (2026-03-31)
- Cash and equivalents vs quarterly operating cash outflow, in days of cash use $9,254,813 / ($1,407,533 / 90) = [object Object]
Market Reaction – ACXP
Following this news, ACXP has gained 1.35%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Our momentum scanner has triggered 4 alerts so far, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. The stock is currently trading at $1.50. Trading volume is exceptionally heavy at 124.3x the average, suggesting very strong buying interest.
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Key Figures
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12 | Q1 earnings report | Positive | -6.0% | Cash increased and net loss narrowed while financing supported clinical development. |
| Nov 12 | Q3 earnings report | Negative | -10.8% | Reverse split, financing activity, and continuing losses accompanied the quarterly update. |
| Aug 12 | Q2 earnings report | Positive | -1.0% | Reduced loss, lower operating expenses, and expanded financing capacity marked the report. |
| May 13 | Q1 earnings report | Positive | -3.9% | Losses and expenses improved alongside financing and positive regulatory development. |
| Mar 18 | Q4 earnings report | Positive | -14.2% | Clinical cure data and regulatory guidance accompanied reduced quarterly and annual losses. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Tag-specific earnings events had an average 24-hour move of -7.17%, with four of five selected events diverging from the announcement sentiment.
Key Terms
pre-funded warrants financial
non-inferiority medical
new drug application regulatory
qualified infectious disease product regulatory
fast track regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Highlights of the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, or in some cases shortly thereafter, include:
- In April 2026, the Company announced the closing of a registered direct offering of 825,085 shares of its common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) at a purchase price of
$3.03 $2.78
- In April 2026, a scientific poster was presented at the 35th Congress of ESCMID Global (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) held in
Munich, Germany from April 17-21, 2026 showing that Acurx's orally absorbed DNA pol IIIC inhibitors in preclinical development have the unexpected benefit of gut microbiome preservation while demonstrating systemic antibacterial activity. Dr. Khurshida Begum, Research Scientist, University ofHouston College of Pharmacy presented the poster demonstrating potentially therapeutic plasma levels, reduction of MRSA tissue burden and maintaining a substantially higher gut microbial diversity and community structure similar to baseline and distinct from linezolid.
- In July 2026, the Company's research and development team met with the FDA for the purpose of seeking their guidance on our plan to conduct a single phase 3 study and its acceptability as a pivotal trial for filing a New Drug Application (or NDA), the favorable outcome of which we provided in detail in our press release dated August 3, 2026.
- In July 2026, presentation of scientific data was provided at the 18th Biennial Congress of the Anaerobe Society of the
Americas held at Columbia University Irving Medical Center inNew York City by Dr. Kevin Garey and his team from the University ofHouston . Data showed that following treatment with ibezapolstat (IBZ), the beneficial microorganisms in the gut will have the opportunity to repopulate the microbiome in a beneficial way that prevents recurrence. In addition, IBZ and fidaxomicin were superior in biofilm experimental models with IBZ significantly more effective at killing C. difficile than vancomycin and fidaxomicin.
- In July 2026, we signed a continuation of our scientific partnership with Leiden University Medical Center to advance development of Acurx's DNA polymerase IIIC (pol IIIC) Inhibitors. This new partnership builds on the previously reported successful results from the innovative research grant received in November 2025 from Health-Holland to Leiden University and Acurx. This new partnership will enable extending mechanistic research into DNA pol IIIC inhibition to accelerate the development of novel new agents that are systemically active against a range of Gram-positive pathogens resistant to currently available antibiotics. This new research also aims to generate the first-ever 3D structure of Pol C from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in complex with an Acurx inhibitor to advance discovery of new compounds to treat this high-priority clinical pathogen.
- In August 2026, the Company received FDA Conditional Acceptance and USPTO Trademark Allowance of its proprietary name for ibezapolstat for the treatment and reduction of recurrence of C. difficile infection.
- In August 2026, we announced that the
Japan and Mexico Patent Offices granted new patents, respectively, which cover DNA pol IIIC inhibitors including compositions of matter, methods of use, and pharmaceutical compositions, which further strengthen Acurx's intellectual property portfolio and represents the most recent addition to our expanding series of granted patents in theU.S . and internationally. To date, Acurx has secured sixU.S . patents and an additional ten patents internationally, includingAustralia ,Canada ,Europe ,Israel ,India ,Japan ,Korea , andMexico , all of which protect key aspects of the Company's ibezapolstat and the ACX‑375C program targeting DNA Polymerase IIIC. Additional country‑level patent applications remain under review.
Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Cash Position:
The Company ended the quarter with cash totaling
R&D Expenses:
Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2026 were
G&A Expenses:
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2026 were
Net Income/Loss:
The Company reported a net loss of
Conference Call
As previously announced, David P. Luci, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert G. Shawah, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss the results and provide a business update as follows:
Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. ET
Toll free (
International: Click here for participant international Toll-Free access numbers
https://www.incommconferencing.com/international-dial-in
About Ibezapolstat
Ibezapolstat is the Company's lead antibiotic candidate preparing for advancement into international Phase 3 clinical trials to treat patients with acute C. difficile Infection (CDI) and it is also preparing for a ground-breaking clinical trial targeting the prevention of recurrent CDI (rCDI). If successful, ibezapolstat will change the treatment paradigm for CDI and rCDI by providing one therapy for the full spectrum of CDI and rCDI from first occurrence to multiply recurrent episodes.
Ibezapolstat is a novel, orally administered antibiotic being developed as a Gram-Positive Selective Spectrum (GPSS®) antibacterial. It is the first of a new class of DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitors under development by Acurx to treat bacterial infections. Ibezapolstat's unique spectrum of activity, which includes C. difficile but spares other Firmicutes and the important Actinobacteria phyla, appears to contribute to the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome. As previously announced, the Company has received final EMA and FDA agreement for our ibezapolstat pivotal Phase 3 trials in CDI. Their advice included and confirmed the non-inferiority study design elements, the patient population, primary and secondary endpoints, and size of the registration safety database. Acurx also now has a clear international roadmap for conduct of its Phase 3 program in CDI and, if successful, requirements for US NDA submission and EU Marketing Authorization.
In June 2018, ibezapolstat was designated by the
About Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Acurx Pharmaceuticals is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a new class of small molecule antibiotics for difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. The Company's approach is to develop antibiotic candidates with a Gram-positive selective spectrum (GPSS®) that blocks the active site of the Gram+ specific bacterial enzyme DNA polymerase IIIC (pol IIIC), inhibiting DNA replication and leading to Gram-positive bacterial cell death. Its R&D pipeline includes antibiotic product candidates that target Gram-positive bacteria, including Clostridioides difficile, methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE), drug- resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP) and B. anthracis (anthrax; a Bioterrorism Category A Threat-Level pathogen).
Acurx's lead product candidate, ibezapolstat, for the treatment of C. difficile Infection (CDI) is Phase 3 ready to advance to international clinical trials subject to obtaining appropriate financing. The Company recently announced the launch of a ground-breaking clinical trial with ibezapolstat in patients with multiply-recurrent CDI (rCDI) that has the potential to shift the paradigm of treatment and prevention of rCDI from two agents to one. This new clinical trial in rCDI begins with an open-label pilot trial to gain experience with IBZ in patients with multiply-recurrent CDI with at least 3 episodes of CDI within the past 12 months.
The Company's preclinical pipeline includes development of an oral product candidate for treatment of ABSSSI (Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections), upon which a development program for treatment of inhaled anthrax is being planned in parallel.
To learn more about Acurx Pharmaceuticals and its product pipeline, please visit www.acurxpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about our future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives, and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: whether ibezapolstat will benefit from the QIDP designation; whether ibezapolstat will advance through the clinical trial process on a timely basis; whether the results of the clinical trials of ibezapolstat will warrant the submission of applications for marketing approval, and if so, whether ibezapolstat will receive approval from the FDA or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies where approval is sought; whether, if ibezapolstat obtains approval, it will be successfully distributed and marketed; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Acurx disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as may be required by law.
Investor Contact:
Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
David P. Luci
President & Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 917-533-1469
Email: davidluci@acurxpharma.com
ACURX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. CONDENSED INTERIM BALANCE SHEETS
| ||||||
June 30, | December 31, | |||||
2026 | 2025 | |||||
(unaudited) | (Note 2) | |||||
ASSETS | ||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||
Cash | $ | 10,656,386 | $ | 7,556,100 | ||
Other Receivable | 95,307 | 48,417 | ||||
Prepaid Expenses | 233,084 | 85,018 | ||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 10,984,777 | $ | 7,689,535 | ||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses | $ | 2,832,746 | $ | 2,420,943 | ||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | 2,832,746 | 2,420,943 | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 2,832,746 | 2,420,943 | ||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | ||||||
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||
Preferred Stock; | — | — | ||||
Common Stock; | 4,683 | 2,348 | ||||
Additional Paid-In Capital | 87,370,997 | 80,554,738 | ||||
Accumulated Deficit | (79,223,649) | (75,288,494) | ||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | 8,152,031 | 5,268,592 | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | $ | 10,984,777 | $ | 7,689,535 | ||
ACURX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. CONDENSED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||||
2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | ||||||||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | |||||||||||||
Research and Development | $ | 1,071,536 | $ | 524,210 | $ | 1,413,004 | $ | 1,123,009 | |||||
General and Administrative | 1,235,692 | 1,745,473 | 2,610,215 | 3,323,156 | |||||||||
. | |||||||||||||
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES | 2,307,228 | 2,269,683 | 4,023,219 | 4,446,165 | |||||||||
OPERATING LOSS | (2,307,228) | (2,269,683) | (4,023,219) | (4,446,165) | |||||||||
OTHER INCOME | |||||||||||||
Interest Income | 53,055 | 23,404 | 88,064 | 50,693 | |||||||||
NET LOSS | $ | (2,254,173) | $ | (2,246,279) | $ | (3,935,155) | $ | (4,395,472) | |||||
LOSS PER SHARE | |||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share | $ | (0.53) | $ | (1.89) | $ | (1.13) | $ | (4.01) | |||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 4,259,540 | 1,190,266 | 3,493,244 | 1,096,620 | |||||||||
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SOURCE Acurx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.