Nautilus Biotechnology Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Nautilus Biotechnology (NASDAQ: NAUT) has released its Q1 2025 financial results, highlighting progress in their single-molecule proteome analysis platform. CEO Sujal Patel reported positive developments in their Tau proteoform assay, with performance metrics meeting launch specifications and customer requirements.

Key financial highlights:

• Operating expenses: $18.8 million, down 13% from $21.6 million in Q1 2024
• Net loss: $16.6 million, improved from $18.7 million in Q1 2024
• Cash position: $192.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments as of March 31, 2025

The company's cost reduction stems from optimized operations, timing of R&D activities, reduced stock-based compensation, and lower professional services costs. Nautilus aims to enable researchers to study Tau proteoforms in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases throughout 2025.

Positive

• Strong cash position with $192.8M in cash, cash equivalents, and investments
• 13% decrease in operating expenses to $18.8M from $21.6M YoY
• Reduced net loss to $16.6M from $18.7M YoY
• Tau proteoform assay meeting launch specifications and customer requirements

Negative

• Still operating at a significant net loss of $16.6M
• No revenue figures mentioned, suggesting pre-revenue stage
• Continued dependency on cash reserves for operations

Insights

Financial Analyst

Nautilus shows improved cost control and strong cash position while advancing toward platform commercialization in 2025.

Nautilus Biotechnology's Q1 2025 results demonstrate notable financial discipline with operating expenses decreasing 13% year-over-year to $18.8 million. This improved cost management has reduced their net loss to $16.6 million from $18.7 million in Q1 2024. The company maintains a substantial cash position of $192.8 million, providing a significant runway at the current burn rate.

At the quarterly burn rate of approximately $16-19 million, Nautilus has sufficient funding for 10+ quarters of operations, giving them ample time to advance their platform toward commercial adoption. This financial stability is particularly crucial as they approach what appears to be a pivotal period in their development timeline.

The reduction in operating expenses stems from several factors: optimization initiatives, timing variations in R&D activities, decreased stock-based compensation, and reduced professional services costs. This disciplined approach to cash management while maintaining development progress demonstrates prudent financial stewardship as the company advances toward their goal of researchers beginning to use their platform in 2025.

Biotechnology Specialist

Nautilus reports successful validation of Tau proteoform assay, potentially enabling critical neurodegenerative disease research applications in 2025.

Nautilus's progress on their Tau proteoform assay represents a significant technical milestone for their proteomics platform. The company reports that internal verification and validation work confirms the assay meets anticipated launch specifications across critical parameters: reproducibility, accuracy, dynamic range, and sample compatibility.

The focus on Tau protein is strategically important in the neurodegenerative disease research space. Tau proteoforms (structurally modified variants of the same protein) play a crucial role in Alzheimer's disease pathology and other neurodegenerative conditions. Current research methods for studying these proteoforms have significant limitations, creating substantial unmet needs in this field.

The CEO's statement that "2025 will be the year that researchers begin to apply the Nautilus platform's capabilities" signals confidence in transitioning from development to practical research applications. Their single-molecule proteome analysis approach could potentially provide researchers with deeper insights into how specific Tau variations contribute to disease mechanisms, potentially opening new avenues for therapeutic development. However, no specific commercial launch timeline or external validation partnerships were mentioned in the release.

SEATTLE, April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: NAUT; or “Nautilus”), a company pioneering a single-molecule proteome analysis platform, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

“In Q1, we saw continued development progress based on the results of internal verification and validation work we’ve done on our Tau proteoform assay,” said Sujal Patel, CEO of Nautilus Biotechnology. “The assay’s reproducibility, accuracy, dynamic range, and sample compatibility align closely with our anticipated launch specifications and with the requirements we continue to hear from potential customers and partners. We are confident that 2025 will be the year that researchers begin to apply the Nautilus platform’s capabilities to ask and answer important biological questions about the role of Tau proteoforms in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.”

First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Operating expenses were $18.8 million for the first quarter of 2025, a 13% decrease compared to $21.6 million for the corresponding prior year period. The decrease in operating expense is attributable to continued focus on cost optimization, variability in the timing of research and development activities, decreased stock-based compensation expense, and decreased professional services including costs related to the shelf registration statement filed during 2024.

Net loss was $16.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, as compared to the net loss of $18.7 million for the corresponding prior year period.

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments were $192.8 million as of March 31, 2025.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Nautilus will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter 2025 financial results, business developments and outlook before market open on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 5:30 AM Pacific Time / 8:30 AM Eastern Time. Live audio of the webcast will be available on the “Investors” section of the company website at: www.nautilus.bio.

About Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc.

With its corporate headquarters in Seattle, Washington and its research and development headquarters in San Carlos, California, Nautilus is a development stage life sciences company working to create a platform technology for quantifying and unlocking the complexity of the proteome. Nautilus’ mission is to transform the field of proteomics by democratizing access to the proteome and enabling fundamental advancements across human health and medicine. To learn more about Nautilus, visit www.nautilus.bio

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Nautilus’ expectations regarding the company’s business operations, financial performance and results of operations; expectations regarding operating expenses and cash runway; expectations with respect to any revenue timing or projections; expectations with respect to the development required for and the timing of the launch of Nautilus’ product platform and full commercial availability; the functionality and performance of Nautilus’ product platform, its potential impact on providing proteome or proteoform access, pharmaceutical development and drug discovery, expanding research horizons, and enabling scientific explorations and discovery; expectations regarding platform specifications required by potential customers and partners and the timeline for adoption of Nautilus’ platform by researchers; and the present and future capabilities and limitations of emerging proteomics technologies. These statements are based on numerous assumptions concerning the development of Nautilus’ products, target markets, and other current and emerging proteomics technologies, and involve substantial risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could materially affect the accuracy of Nautilus’ assumptions and its ability to achieve the forward-looking statements set forth in this press release include (without limitation) the following: Nautilus’ product platform is not yet commercially available and remains subject to significant scientific and technical development, which is inherently challenging and difficult to predict, particularly with respect to highly novel and complex products such as those being developed by Nautilus. Even if our development efforts are successful, our product platform will require substantial validation of its functionality and utility in life science research. In the course of Nautilus’ scientific and technical development and associated product validation and commercialization, we may experience material delays as a result of unanticipated events. We cannot provide any guarantee or assurance with respect to the outcome of our development, collaboration, and commercialization initiatives or with respect to their associated timelines. For a more detailed description of additional risks and uncertainties facing Nautilus and its development efforts, investors should refer to the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 and our other filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are as of the date of this press release. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Nautilus disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Disclosure Information

Nautilus uses filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, its website (www.nautilus.bio), press releases, public conference calls, public webcasts, and its social media accounts as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with Regulation FD. Therefore, Nautilus encourages investors, the media, and others interested in Nautilus to review the information it makes public in these locations, as such information could be deemed to be material information.

Media Contact
press@nautilus.bio

Investor Contact
investorrelations@nautilus.bio

Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 (Unaudited)
(in thousands)	March 31, 2025				December 31, 2024
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	33,238			$	27,646
Short-term investments		105,572				102,247
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,791				2,933
Total current assets		141,601				132,826
Property and equipment, net		3,790				4,076
Operating lease right-of-use assets		27,096				28,256
Long-term investments		54,023				76,405
Other long-term assets		1,180				1,180
Total assets	$	227,690			$	242,743
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	841			$	987
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		3,073				2,548
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		4,242				4,097
Total current liabilities		8,156				7,632
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion		25,099				26,381
Total liabilities		33,255				34,013
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock		—				—
Common stock		13				13
Additional paid-in capital		483,865				481,679
Accumulated other comprehensive income		189				57
Accumulated deficit		(289,632	)			(273,019	)
Total stockholders’ equity		194,435				208,730
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	227,690			$	242,743

Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)		2025				2024
Operating expenses
Research and development	$	11,536			$	12,930
General and administrative		7,308				8,677
Total operating expenses		18,844				21,607
Other income
Interest income		2,231				2,877
Total other income	$	2,231			$	2,877
Net loss	$	(16,613	)		$	(18,730	)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(0.13	)		$	(0.15	)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted		126,144,240				125,135,451

Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025				2024
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$	(16,613	)		$	(18,730	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Stock-based compensation expense		2,168				3,114
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets		1,160				1,075
Depreciation		465				516
Amortization (accretion) of premium (discount) on securities, net		(541	)			(751	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets		167				(309	)
Accounts payable		(131	)			94
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		525				(268	)
Operating lease liabilities		(1,137	)			(1,007	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(13,937	)			(16,266	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from maturities of securities		26,630				23,000
Purchases of securities		(6,900	)			—
Purchases of property and equipment		(219	)			(647	)
Net cash provided by investing activities		19,511				22,353
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		18				245
Net cash provided by financing activities		18				245
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		5,592				6,332
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		28,648				20,399
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	34,240			$	26,731

FAQ

What were Nautilus Biotechnology's (NAUT) Q1 2025 financial results?

Nautilus Biotechnology reported a net loss of $16.6 million in Q1 2025, an improvement from $18.7 million loss in Q1 2024. Operating expenses decreased 13% to $18.8 million, and the company maintained a strong cash position of $192.8 million as of March 31, 2025.

How much cash does Nautilus Biotechnology (NAUT) have in Q1 2025?

As of March 31, 2025, Nautilus Biotechnology held $192.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments.

What progress did NAUT make on their Tau proteoform assay in Q1 2025?

Nautilus reported positive development progress on their Tau proteoform assay, with reproducibility, accuracy, dynamic range, and sample compatibility meeting anticipated launch specifications and customer requirements for studying Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative diseases.

How much did Nautilus Biotechnology (NAUT) reduce operating expenses in Q1 2025?

Nautilus Biotechnology reduced operating expenses by 13% year-over-year, from $21.6 million in Q1 2024 to $18.8 million in Q1 2025, through cost optimization and decreased stock-based compensation.

When is Nautilus Biotechnology's (NAUT) Q1 2025 earnings call?

Nautilus Biotechnology's Q1 2025 earnings call is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 5:30 AM Pacific Time / 8:30 AM Eastern Time, before market open.