Celldex Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Celldex Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CLDX) reported Q1 2025 financial results and pipeline updates. The company's lead drug barzolvolimab showed promising results in Phase 2 studies for chronic urticaria, with significant quality of life improvements for patients. Key highlights include:

- Two Phase 3 trials (EMBARQ-CSU1 and EMBARQ-CSU2) for chronic spontaneous urticaria are ongoing, each enrolling ~915 patients

- 76-week data from Phase 2 CSU study will be presented at EAACI 2025 in June

- Phase 2 studies in eosinophilic esophagitis (enrollment complete), prurigo nodularis, and atopic dermatitis are progressing

Financial results: Q1 2025 net loss of $53.8M ($0.81/share), cash position of $673.3M. R&D expenses increased to $52.6M from $31.7M YoY. Current cash runway extends through 2027.

Positive

• Strong cash position of $673.3M with runway through 2027
• Phase 2 studies showed high rates of complete response in chronic urticaria
• Up to 82% of patients reported CSU symptoms no longer impacted quality of life at Week 52
• Significant pipeline progress with multiple data readouts expected in 2025

Negative

• Increased net loss to $53.8M in Q1 2025 from $32.8M in Q1 2024
• Higher R&D expenses at $52.6M vs $31.7M year-over-year
• Low revenue generation of only $0.7M in Q1 2025

Insights

Biotechnology Analyst

Celldex reporting widening losses while advancing multiple clinical programs with substantial cash runway through 2027; key data readouts anticipated throughout 2025.

Celldex's Q1 financial results reflect a company aggressively investing in clinical development while maintaining a solid financial foundation. The cash position stands at $673.3 million, down from $725.3 million at year-end, with a quarterly burn rate of $54.4 million. R&D expenses increased 66% year-over-year to $52.6 million, driven by expanded clinical trial activities and manufacturing costs for lead candidate barzolvolimab. The net loss widened to $53.8 million ($0.81 per share) from $32.8 million in Q1 2024. Despite accelerating expenses, management projects their current cash position provides runway through 2027.

The pipeline is advancing on multiple fronts with barzolvolimab (anti-KIT antibody) as the centerpiece. Two global Phase 3 trials in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) are enrolling across approximately 40 countries, with each study targeting 915 patients. Quality of life data from the Phase 2 CSU study demonstrated substantial patient benefits, with up to 82% reporting that symptoms no longer impacted their quality of life at week 52.

Several near-term catalysts could drive value: (1) 76-week CSU data presentation in June, examining potential sustained disease control after treatment withdrawal; (2) 20-week data from the Phase 2 chronic inducible urticaria study later this year; (3) results from the completed Phase 2 eosinophilic esophagitis study; and (4) initial Phase 1 data for CDX-622, their first bispecific antibody targeting SCF and TSLP.

The intensified R&D investment reflects Celldex's confidence in barzolvolimab's potential across multiple inflammatory conditions. The company is strategically expanding beyond urticaria into prurigo nodularis and atopic dermatitis - large markets with significant unmet needs. While losses are widening as expected for a company advancing multiple mid-to-late stage programs, the solid cash position provides substantial operational flexibility through multiple value-creating milestones.

• Strong execution and progress across pipeline with multiple key data read outs expected in 2025
• Late breaking oral presentation on Phase 2 CSU program at EAACI 2025 in June
• Phase 3 barzolvolimab CSU studies enrollment ongoing; Phase 3 program in CIndU under development
• Phase 2 EOE study enrollment complete; ongoing enrollment in Phase 2 PN and AD studies
• Celldex’s first bispecific for inflammatory diseases, CDX-622, Phase 1 study ongoing
  

HAMPTON, N.J., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDX) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 and provided a corporate update.

"In the first quarter of 2025, we presented data from our Phase 2 studies in chronic spontaneous and chronic inducible urticaria that demonstrated that barzolvolimab greatly improved quality of life for patients,” said Anthony Marucci, Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Celldex Therapeutics. “Barzolvolimab has consistently demonstrated best-in-class efficacy in chronic urticaria, with very high rates of complete response, and it’s especially meaningful to see these results translate into improved quality of life for patients living with a severe disease that impacts nearly every aspect of their daily lives.”

“We expect 2025 will be a year of continued execution across our robust pipeline supported by important data from our barzolvolimab Phase 2 studies in CSU, CIndU and EOE and our CDX-622 Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers. Next month, 76 week data from the Phase 2 CSU study will be presented in a late breaking oral session at EAACI where we will discuss barzolvolimab’s potential to achieve sustained disease control after treatment withdrawal. We think this data will be important to the field and to patients who need treatment options that offer rapid, profound and durable control of their disease. To this end, we continue to work to bring this important medicine to patients.”

Recent Program Highlights

Barzolvolimab - KIT Inhibitor Program

Barzolvolimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody developed by Celldex that binds the KIT receptor with high specificity and potently inhibits its activity. The KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is expressed in a variety of cells, including mast cells, which mediate inflammatory responses such as hypersensitivity and allergic reactions. KIT signaling controls the differentiation, tissue recruitment, survival and activity of mast cells. 

Chronic Urticarias

Phase 3 Development

• A global Phase 3 program in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) consisting of two Phase 3 trials (EMBARQ-CSU1 and EMBARQ-CSU2) was initiated in July and enrollment is ongoing. The studies are designed to establish the efficacy and safety of barzolvolimab in adult patients with CSU who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment and also include patients who remain symptomatic after treatment with biologics. EMBARQ-CSU1 and EMBARQ-CSU2 will enroll approximately 915 patients each across approximately 40 countries and 500 sites.
  
• The Company is currently planning a global Phase 3 program in chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), which is expected to initiate in 2025.
  

Phase 2 Development

• Barzolvolimab met all primary and secondary endpoints at 12 weeks across the Company’s Phase 2 studies in CSU and CIndU. Results were highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful.
  
  
  • 76 week data, which includes 24-weeks of off-treatment follow-up, from the Phase 2 study in CSU have been accepted for a late breaking oral presentation on Friday, June 13^th at 9:12 am BST/10:12 am CEST/4:12 am ET at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress 2025 being held in Glasgow, Scotland. The Company will host a webcast on Thursday, June 12^th at 6:00 pm ET to present the data.
    
  • 20 week treatment data from the Phase 2 CIndU study will be presented later this year. After completing treatment, patients on study are followed for 24 weeks and patients with returning symptoms can enter an open label extension during the follow up period.
    
  • 52 week quality of life data from the Phase 2 CSU study were presented in March at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting 2025. Rapid and sustained improvement in urticaria control (UCT) and quality of life (DLQI) were observed in patients with CSU refractory to antihistamines. Up to 82% of patients reported that CSU symptoms no longer had an impact on their quality of life at Week 52 and up to 95% of patients reported meaningful improvement in quality of life based on DLQI at Week 52. Up to 82% of patients reported well-controlled urticaria based on UCT and approximately half of patients reported complete control at Week 52.
    
  • 12 week quality of life data from the Phase 2 CIndU study were presented in March at the AAAAI Annual Meeting 2025. A marked and rapid improvement in UCT and DLQI was observed and sustained through the 12-week period in patients with ColdU and SD. Up to 60% of patients reported that CIndU symptoms no longer had an impact on their quality of life at Week 12 and up to 69% of patients reported well-controlled urticaria based on UCT at Week 12.
    

Additional Indications

• Enrollment is complete in the Phase 2 study in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and data from this study is expected in 2025. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study is evaluating the efficacy and safety profile of barzolvolimab in patients with active EoE.
  
• Enrollment continues in the Phase 2 study in prurigo nodularis (PN). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study is evaluating the efficacy and safety profile of barzolvolimab in approximately 120 patients with moderate to severe PN.
  
• Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 2 study in atopic dermatitis (AD). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study is evaluating the efficacy and safety profile of barzolvolimab in approximately 120 patients with moderate to severe AD.
  

Bispecific Antibody Platform

CDX-622 – Bispecific SCF & TSLP

CDX-622 targets two complementary pathways that drive chronic inflammation, potently neutralizing the alarmin thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and depleting mast cells via stem cell factor (SCF) starvation. Combined neutralization of SCF and TSLP with CDX-622 is expected to simultaneously reduce tissue mast cells and inhibit Type 2 inflammatory responses to potentially offer enhanced therapeutic benefit in inflammatory and fibrotic disorders.

• Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers. This two-part randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalation study is designed to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of single ascending doses (Part 1) and multiple ascending doses (Part 2) of CDX-622 in up to 56 healthy participants. The pharmacodynamic biomarkers from blood and skin will be highly informative on the ability of CDX-622 to engage and neutralize SCF and TSLP. Data from Part 1 of the study is expected in 2025.
  

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights and 2025 Guidance

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of March 31, 2025 were $673.3 million compared to $725.3 million as of December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by first quarter cash used in operating activities of $54.4 million. At March 31, 2025, Celldex had 66.4 million shares outstanding.

Revenues: Total revenue was $0.7 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $0.2 million for the comparable period in 2024. The increase in revenue was primarily due to an increase in services performed under our manufacturing and research and development agreements with Rockefeller University.

R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $52.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $31.7 million for the comparable period in 2024. The increase in R&D expenses was primarily due to an increase in barzolvolimab clinical trial, barzolvolimab contract manufacturing and personnel expenses.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $10.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $9.1 million for the comparable period in 2024. The increase in G&A expenses was primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation expense.

Net Loss: Net loss was $53.8 million, or ($0.81) per share, for the first quarter of 2025, compared to a net loss of $32.8 million, or ($0.56) per share, for the comparable period in 2024.

Financial Guidance: Celldex believes that the cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at March 31, 2025 are sufficient to meet estimated working capital requirements and fund current planned operations through 2027.

About Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.
Celldex is a clinical stage biotechnology company leading the science at the intersection of mast cell biology and the development of transformative therapeutics for patients. Our pipeline includes antibody-based therapeutics which have the ability to engage the human immune system and/or directly affect critical pathways to improve the lives of patients with severe inflammatory, allergic, autoimmune and other devastating diseases. Visit www.celldex.com.

Forward Looking Statement
This release contains "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "will," "may," "should," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, they give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct or that those goals will be achieved, and you should be aware that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to successfully complete research and further development and commercialization of Company drug candidates, including barzolvolimab (also referred to as CDX-0159), in current or future indications; the uncertainties inherent in clinical testing and accruing patients for clinical trials; our limited experience in bringing programs through Phase 3 clinical trials; our ability to manage and successfully complete multiple clinical trials and the research and development efforts for our multiple products at varying stages of development; the availability, cost, delivery and quality of clinical materials produced by our own manufacturing facility or supplied by contract manufacturers, who may be our sole source of supply; the timing, cost and uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals; the failure of the market for the Company's programs to continue to develop; our ability to protect the Company's intellectual property; the loss of any executive officers or key personnel or consultants; competition; changes in the regulatory landscape or the imposition of regulations that affect the Company's products; our ability to continue to obtain capital to meet our long-term liquidity needs on acceptable terms, or at all, including the additional capital which will be necessary to complete the clinical trials that we have initiated or plan to initiate; and other factors listed under "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We have no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact
Sarah Cavanaugh
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Administration
(508) 864-8337
scavanaugh@celldex.com

Patrick Till
Meru Advisors
(484) 788-8560
ptill@meruadvisors.com

CELLDEX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
			Three Months
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data			Ended March 31,
				2025				2024
			(Unaudited)
Revenues:
Product development and licensing agreements			$	50			$	2
Contracts and grants				645				154
Total revenues				695				156
Operating expenses:
Research and development				52,614				31,661
General and administrative				10,820				9,103
Total operating expenses				63,434				40,764
Operating loss				(62,739	)			(40,608	)
Investment and other income, net				8,943				7,800
Net loss			$	(53,796	)		$	(32,808	)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share			$	(0.81	)		$	(0.56	)
Shares used in calculating basic and diluted net loss per share				66,383				58,871
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data			March 31				December 31
				2025				2024
			(Unaudited)
Assets
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities			$	673,291			$	725,281
Other current assets				20,466				21,878
Property and equipment, net				4,601				4,346
Intangible and other assets, net				41,113				40,835
	Total assets		$	739,471			$	792,340
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities			$	32,018			$	39,501
Long-term liabilities				4,472				5,834
Stockholders' equity				702,981				747,005
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	739,471			$	792,340

FAQ

What were Celldex (CLDX) Q1 2025 financial results?

Celldex reported a Q1 2025 net loss of $53.8M ($0.81/share), with revenues of $0.7M and R&D expenses of $52.6M. The company had $673.3M in cash and equivalents as of March 31, 2025.

What is the status of Celldex's barzolvolimab Phase 3 trials?

Two Phase 3 trials (EMBARQ-CSU1 and EMBARQ-CSU2) for chronic spontaneous urticaria are ongoing, each enrolling approximately 915 patients across 40 countries and 500 sites.

How effective was barzolvolimab in Phase 2 CSU trials?

Barzolvolimab showed strong efficacy with up to 82% of patients reporting CSU symptoms no longer impacted quality of life at Week 52, and up to 95% reporting meaningful improvement in quality of life.

How long will Celldex's current cash position last?

Celldex's cash position of $673.3M is expected to fund planned operations through 2027.

What are the upcoming catalysts for Celldex (CLDX) in 2025?

Key catalysts include 76-week Phase 2 CSU data presentation at EAACI in June, 20-week CIndU data later in 2025, Phase 2 EoE study results, and data from CDX-622 Phase 1 study.