Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stock Price, News & Analysis

Atea Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVIR) has announced a virtual hepatitis C virus (HCV) key opinion leader (KOL) panel discussion scheduled for May 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET. The event will feature prominent physicians and experts from the US and internationally, specializing in hepatology, gastroenterology, and infectious diseases.

The panel will discuss current HCV patient challenges, results from Atea's Phase 2 study of bemnifosbuvir (nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor) and ruzasvir (NS5A inhibitor) combination therapy, and potential benefits of a new optimized HCV treatment. Company management will also present the HCV commercial market opportunity and ongoing global Phase 3 clinical development.

Additionally, Atea will release its Q1 2025 financial results on May 12, 2025, after market close, but will not host a quarterly earnings call until Q2 2025 results.

Atea Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AVIR) has announced that full results from their Phase 2 clinical study of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment will be presented at the EASL Congress 2025 in Amsterdam. The study met its primary endpoints for efficacy and safety.

The abstract TOP-251 was selected as a top poster, highlighting the regimen's potential best-in-class profile, featuring short treatment duration, low drug-drug interaction risk, and no food effect requirements. The presentation will take place May 7-10, 2025.

Additional presentations will cover pharmacokinetics and safety results, including studies on hepatic impairment, renal impairment, and drug interactions. HCV remains a significant global health challenge, with approximately 50 million people chronically infected worldwide and 1 million new infections annually. In the US alone, 2.4-4 million people are estimated to have HCV.

Atea will host a virtual KOL investor event on May 14, 2025, featuring HCV experts discussing the Phase 2 results and market opportunities.

Atea Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVIR) has announced significant corporate changes, including the appointment of Howard H. Berman, Ph.D. to its Board of Directors and a $25 million share repurchase program. Dr. Berman will initially serve as a non-voting observer until Atea's 2025 Annual Meeting, when he will become a full voting member.

The appointment comes as part of an agreement with the Radoff-JEC Group, who has withdrawn their slate of director candidates and agreed to vote in favor of Atea's Board nominees. Additionally, Franklin Berger will not seek reelection at the 2027 Annual Meeting.

The company is currently advancing a global Phase 3 program evaluating bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. As previously announced in December 2024, Atea has engaged Evercore to explore strategic alternatives, including potential partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, or asset sales.

Atea Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVIR) has initiated its Phase 3 trial C-BEYOND, dosing the first patient to evaluate the combination of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir for treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). The open-label trial, conducted in the US and Canada, compares this regimen to sofosbuvir and velpatasvir.

The bemnifosbuvir-ruzasvir regimen will be administered once-daily for 8 weeks in patients without cirrhosis and 12 weeks in patients with compensated cirrhosis. The trial's control arm will receive a 12-week treatment.

The company aims to address the significant global HCV burden, affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide, with 1 million new infections annually. In the US alone, 2.4-4 million people are estimated to have HCV, with new infections exceeding treatment rates. The new regimen offers potential advantages including shorter treatment duration, low drug-drug interaction risk, and no food effect requirements.

Atea Pharmaceuticals (AVIR) has announced several strategic initiatives to enhance shareholder value. The company has engaged an independent global investment bank in Q4 2024 to explore strategic partnerships for its Phase 3 HCV treatment program. In Q1 2025, Atea implemented significant cost-reduction measures, including a 25% workforce reduction expected to save approximately $15 million through 2027.

The company has also appointed Arthur S. Kirsch as an independent director, bringing healthcare and life sciences executive experience to the board. The announcement comes amid ongoing dialogue with shareholders, including Mr. Radoff and Mr. Torok. The board will evaluate all director candidates ahead of the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with Evercore serving as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP as legal counsel.

Atea Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: AVIR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oral antiviral therapeutics, has received a notice from shareholder Bradley L. Radoff regarding his intention to nominate three director candidates for election to the Company's Board of Directors at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The Company's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate the director candidates according to established practices. Atea's Board will provide its formal recommendation on director nominations in the upcoming definitive proxy statement and WHITE proxy card, to be filed with the SEC. The Company has emphasized that no shareholder action is required at this time, as the 2025 Annual Meeting has not yet been scheduled.

Atea has retained Evercore as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP as legal counsel for this matter.

Atea Pharmaceuticals (AVIR) presented preclinical data for bemnifosbuvir (BEM) at the 38th International Conference on Antiviral Research 2025. The research demonstrated that BEM's metabolism to its active triphosphate is cell-line dependent, highlighting the importance of cell model selection in evaluating antiviral efficacy.

Following successful Phase 2 results in December 2024 and FDA End-of-Phase 2 meeting in January 2025, Atea is launching a global Phase 3 program for HCV treatment in April 2025. The program consists of two open-label trials, each enrolling approximately 800 treatment-naïve patients:

• Non-cirrhotic patients: 8 weeks of BEM/ruzasvir vs 12 weeks of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir
• Compensated cirrhotic patients: 12 weeks of both regimens

The primary endpoint is sustained virologic response 12 weeks post-treatment, measured as HCV RNA below quantitation limit at 24 weeks from treatment start.

Atea Pharmaceuticals (AVIR) announced successful End-of-Phase 2 meeting with FDA for their Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment program. The company plans to initiate global Phase 3 trials in April 2025, enrolling approximately 1,600 patients across two studies testing bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir combination therapy.

The Phase 2 study showed promising results with 98% SVR12 rate in treatment-adherent patients and 95% in the overall evaluable population after 8 weeks of treatment. The regimen demonstrated strong safety profile with no drug-related serious adverse events.

Key financial highlights for FY2024:

• Cash position: $454.7M (down from $578.1M in 2023)
• R&D expenses: $144.1M (up from $114.2M in 2023)
• G&A expenses: $48.9M

Atea Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AVIR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oral antiviral therapeutics, has scheduled its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results conference call for March 6, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. ET.

The company will present financial results and provide a business update through a live conference call and audio webcast. Participants can access the webcast through the Investor Relations section of Atea's website, and telephone participants must register in advance to receive dial-in details. The webcast recording will be available on the company's website for at least 90 days after the event.