Nautilus Biotechnology Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Nautilus Biotechnology (NASDAQ: NAUT) has released its Q4 and fiscal year 2024 financial results. The company reported Q4 operating expenses of $20.0 million, unchanged from Q4 2023, while full-year operating expenses increased 7% to $81.5 million.

Key developments include:

• Net loss widened to $17.6 million in Q4 2024 and $70.8 million for full-year 2024
• Cash position stands at $206.3 million as of December 31, 2024
• Announced 16% workforce reduction to extend cash runway
• Delayed launch of proteome analysis platform to late 2026

The company expects 2025 operating expenses to be at or below 2024 levels, with current cash reserves projected to sustain operations through 2027.

Positive

• Strong cash position of $206.3M providing runway through 2027
• Operating expenses remained flat quarter-over-quarter at $20.0M
• Cost reduction initiatives implemented through 16% headcount reduction

Negative

• Platform launch delayed to late 2026
• Net loss increased to $70.8M in 2024 from $63.7M in 2023
• Operating expenses grew 7% YoY to $81.5M
• 16% workforce reduction indicates operational challenges

Insights

Financial Analyst

Nautilus Biotechnology's Q4 and FY2024 results reveal significant strategic adjustments that impact its investment timeline. The company reported flat Q4 operating expenses of $20.0 million year-over-year, while full-year expenses increased 7% to $81.5 million. With net losses expanding to $70.8 million for 2024 (up from $63.7 million in 2023), management has implemented two major changes:

First, Nautilus announced a 16% workforce reduction to extend its financial runway. Second, and more critically for investors, the company has delayed its proteome analysis platform launch to late 2026 - pushing commercialization further into the future to address technical challenges with assay configuration and surface chemistry.

The $206.3 million cash position provides approximately three years of runway at current burn rates, which management expects to decrease in 2025. This conservative cash management approach suggests internal recognition that the path to market may contain additional technical hurdles. The platform modifications appear necessary but indicate development complexities that weren't previously factored into timelines.

While the company highlighted progress in Alzheimer's-related tau proteoform measurement, the commercial implications remain distant given the extended development timeline. For investors, this represents a significant recalibration - Nautilus is prioritizing platform optimization over speed-to-market, potentially sacrificing near-term opportunities but improving long-term performance.

The proteomics platform market represents a substantial opportunity, but this timeline extension places Nautilus further behind competitors who may capture market share in the interim. Investors should view this as a transition from a near-term commercialization story to a longer-term development play requiring additional patience before revenue materialization.

SEATTLE, Feb. 27, 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 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

• Reported total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $20.0 million, roughly equal to the fourth quarter of 2023, and $0.9 million above last quarter reflecting an ongoing focus on expense management;
• Announced an expectation that the launch of Nautilus’ proteome analysis platform - instruments and reagents - will occur in late 2026;
• Announced a reduction in headcount of approximately 16% in order to appropriately align the resources needed to pursue key development goals with the desire to extend the company’s cash runway.
  

“2024 was a year of innovation and meaningful accomplishment for Nautilus,” said Sujal Patel, CEO of Nautilus Biotechnology. “From unveiling the world’s first quantitative measurement of biological variation in tau proteoforms potentially associated with Alzheimer’s Disease, to fundamental platform development advancements, I’m pleased with the progress of last year. Our revised timeline expectations for commercial launch are based on efforts required to implement modifications to our platform’s assay configuration and surface chemistry that we believe will significantly reduce technical risk and yield the greatest possible platform performance.”

Fourth Quarter 2024 and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results

Operating expenses were $20.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, flat compared to $20.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Operating expenses were $81.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a $5.3 million or 7% increase from $76.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in operating expense is attributable to continued headcount growth throughout the year to support product development.

Net loss was $17.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, as compared to the net loss of $17.0 million for the corresponding prior year period. Net loss was $70.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the net loss of $63.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments were $206.3 million as of December 31, 2024.

Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook

• In 2025, we expect operating expenses to be at or below 2024 levels.
• We expect that cash, cash equivalents and investments of $206.3 million as of December 31, 2024 will provide a runway through 2027.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Nautilus will host a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 financial results, business developments and outlook before market open on Thursday, February 27, 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, 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 to be filed for the year ended December 31, 2024 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. Consolidated Balance Sheets As of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (Unaudited)
(in thousands)	December 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	27,646			$	19,397
Short-term investments		102,247				154,021
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,933				3,419
Total current assets		132,826				176,837
Property and equipment, net		4,076				4,267
Operating lease right-of-use assets		28,256				32,634
Long-term investments		76,405				90,647
Other long-term assets		1,180				1,180
Total assets	$	242,743			$	305,565
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	987			$	1,639
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		2,548				3,945
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		4,097				3,538
Total current liabilities		7,632				9,122
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion		26,381				31,090
Total liabilities		34,013				40,212
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock		—				—
Common stock		13				13
Additional paid-in capital		481,679				467,834
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		57				(255	)
Accumulated deficit		(273,019	)			(202,239	)
Total stockholders’ equity		208,730				265,353
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	242,743			$	305,565

Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations Three Months and Year Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)	2024				2023				2024				2023
Operating expenses
Research and development	$	12,823			$	12,466			$	50,477			$	47,251
General and administrative		7,157				7,535				30,999				28,901
Total operating expenses		19,980				20,001				81,476				76,152
Other income (expense)
Interest income		2,431				3,033				10,780				12,550
Other expense		(45	)			(56	)			(84	)			(73	)
Total other income	$	2,386			$	2,977			$	10,696			$	12,477
Net loss	$	(17,594	)		$	(17,024	)		$	(70,780	)		$	(63,675	)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(0.14	)		$	(0.14	)		$	(0.56	)		$	(0.51	)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted		125,796,018				124,984,918				125,426,509				124,919,144

Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Year Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)
	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$	(70,780	)		$	(63,675	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Stock-based compensation expense		12,701				12,137
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets		4,378				3,856
Depreciation		1,975				1,849
In-process research and development		760				—
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		84				—
Amortization (accretion) of premium (discount) on securities, net		(2,804	)			(2,659	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets		666				(821	)
Accounts payable		(578	)			393
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		(1,397	)			417
Operating lease liabilities		(4,150	)			(3,208	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(59,145	)			(51,711	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from maturities of securities		155,410				71,599
Purchases of securities		(86,278	)			(112,892	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(2,122	)			(2,442	)
Cash paid in connection with asset acquisition		(760	)			—
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		66,250				(43,735	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		620				104
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan		524				264
Net cash provided by financing activities		1,144				368
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		8,249				(95,078	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		20,399				115,477
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	28,648			$	20,399

FAQ

When will Nautilus Biotechnology (NAUT) launch its proteome analysis platform?

Nautilus has announced the launch of its proteome analysis platform will occur in late 2026.

What is Nautilus Biotechnology's (NAUT) current cash position and runway?

As of December 31, 2024, Nautilus has $206.3 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments, expected to provide runway through 2027.

How much did Nautilus Biotechnology (NAUT) lose in fiscal year 2024?

Nautilus reported a net loss of $70.8 million for the fiscal year 2024, up from $63.7 million in 2023.

What cost-cutting measures is Nautilus Biotechnology (NAUT) implementing in 2024-2025?

Nautilus announced a 16% reduction in headcount and expects 2025 operating expenses to be at or below 2024 levels.