Cartesian Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Cartesian Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RNAC) reported Q2 2025 financial results and provided key pipeline updates. The company has initiated its Phase 3 AURORA trial of Descartes-08 in myasthenia gravis, with the first participant enrolled in May 2025. The trial will evaluate the therapy versus placebo in approximately 100 participants.

The company maintains a strong financial position with $162.1 million in cash and equivalents as of June 30, 2025, expected to fund operations into mid-2027. Q2 2025 saw a net income of $15.9 million ($0.51 per share). Cartesian anticipates preliminary data from its Phase 2 trial of Descartes-08 in systemic lupus erythematosus and plans to initiate a pediatric basket trial in select autoimmune indications in 2H25.

Positive

• Strong cash position of $162.1M expected to fund operations into mid-2027
• Net income increased to $15.9M in Q2 2025 from $13.8M in Q2 2024
• Phase 2b trial showed sustained deep responses through Month 12 with 4.8-point reduction in MG-ADL score
• Non-biologic naive patients showed impressive 7.1-point reduction in MG-ADL score with 57% maintaining minimum symptoms at Month 12

Negative

• R&D expenses increased to $14.9M from $12.7M year-over-year
• G&A expenses rose to $7.2M from $7.0M year-over-year

Insights

Biotechnology Research Analyst

Cartesian advances Descartes-08 into Phase 3 for myasthenia gravis with strong cash position and positive clinical momentum.

Cartesian Therapeutics has reached a significant milestone with the initiation of their Phase 3 AURORA trial for Descartes-08 in myasthenia gravis (MG), positioning the company at a critical late-stage development juncture. The previously reported Phase 2b data showed deep and sustained responses through 12 months, particularly impressive in biologic-naïve patients who experienced an average 7.1-point reduction in MG-ADL scores with 57% maintaining minimal symptoms at the 12-month mark.

What makes Descartes-08 potentially disruptive is its outpatient administration without preconditioning chemotherapy - a significant advantage over traditional CAR-T approaches that typically require hospitalization and harsh pretreatment. This differentiation could substantially improve the risk-benefit profile for autoimmune disease patients compared to existing treatment paradigms.

From a financial perspective, Cartesian maintains a healthy cash position of $162.1 million, providing runway into mid-2027 - sufficient to complete the pivotal AURORA trial and advance other pipeline programs. The company reported net income of $15.9 million ($0.51 per share) for Q2 2025, improving from $13.8 million ($0.58 per share) in Q2 2024.

Looking ahead, multiple catalysts are expected in the second half of 2025, including preliminary data from the Phase 2 SLE trial and initiation of a pediatric basket trial in multiple autoimmune indications. The company's expansion beyond MG into other autoimmune diseases like lupus represents significant market opportunity diversification, though investors should note that earlier-stage programs carry higher development risk.

The advancing AURORA trial represents the most immediate value-driving opportunity, as positive Phase 3 results could position Descartes-08 as a first-in-class CAR-T therapy for autoimmune disease with blockbuster potential in the underserved MG market.

Initiated Phase 3 AURORA trial of Descartes-08 in myasthenia gravis

Preliminary data from Phase 2 trial of Descartes-08 in systemic lupus erythematosus expected in 2H25

Initiation of Phase 2 pediatric basket trial of Descartes-08 in select autoimmune indications expected in 2H25

Approximately $162.1 million cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of June 30, 2025, expected to support planned operations into mid-2027, including completion of ongoing Phase 3 AURORA trial

FREDERICK, Md., Aug. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAC) (the “Company” or “Cartesian”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, and outlined recent corporate updates.

“Following the recent initiation of our pivotal Phase 3 AURORA trial of Descartes-08 in myasthenia gravis (MG), we have entered the second half of the year with significant momentum as we continue to advance our mission to deliver transformative cell therapies to patients with autoimmune diseases,” said Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Cartesian. “Supported by deep and sustained responses observed through month 12 in the Phase 2b trial along with a clearly defined regulatory pathway, we believe that, if approved, Descartes-08 has the potential to serve as an impactful new MG therapy with the ability to be safely dosed in the outpatient setting and without the need for preconditioning chemotherapy. Additionally, we continue to make progress advancing the balance of our programs and remain on track to share preliminary data from our ongoing Phase 2 trial of Descartes-08 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to initiate a pediatric basket trial in select autoimmune indications by the end of this year.”

Recent Pipeline Progress and Anticipated Milestones

• Initiated Phase 3 AURORA Trial of Descartes-08 in Participants with MG. In May 2025, the Company announced that the first participant had been enrolled in the Phase 3 AURORA trial. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 AURORA trial is designed to assess Descartes-08, Cartesian’s autologous anti-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) versus placebo (1:1 randomization) administered as six once-weekly outpatient infusions without preconditioning chemotherapy in approximately 100 participants with acetylcholine receptor autoantibody positive (AChR Ab+) MG. The primary endpoint will assess the proportion of Descartes-08 participants with an improvement in MG Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score of three points or more at Month 4 compared to placebo.
  
  In April 2025, the Company announced updated efficacy and safety data from the Phase 2b trial of Descartes-08 in participants with MG. After a single course of therapy, Descartes-08-treated participants were observed to sustain deep responses through long-term follow-up, with an average 4.8-point reduction in the MG-ADL score at Month 12. The deepest and most compelling sustained responses were observed in Descartes-08-treated participants who did not have prior exposure to biologic therapies, with an average 7.1-point reduction in MG-ADL score and 57% of patients in this subgroup maintaining minimum symptom expression at Month 12. The safety profile of Descartes-08 was consistent with previously reported data and continues to support outpatient administration.
  
  An encore presentation of the data, which were originally shared at the 2025 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, was featured during the 15th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders on May 15, 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands.

• Preliminary Data from Ongoing Phase 2 Open-Label Trial of Descartes-08 in Patients with SLE Expected in the Second Half of 2025. The trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and clinical activity of outpatient Descartes-08 administration without preconditioning chemotherapy in patients with SLE. SLE is an incurable autoimmune disease marked by systemic inflammation that affects multiple organ systems and impacts approximately 1.5 million people in the United States.
  
• Phase 2 Pediatric Basket Trial of Descartes-08 in Select Autoimmune Diseases Expected to Initiate in the Second Half of 2025. This pediatric basket trial will target juvenile SLE, juvenile MG, juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis. The FDA previously granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to Descartes-08 for the treatment of JDM, which is a rare pediatric autoimmune disorder.
  
• Dosing is On Track in First-in-Human Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Descartes-15. The Phase 1 dose escalation trial of Cartesian’s next-generation, autologous anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of outpatient Descartes-15 administration in patients with multiple myeloma. Following the Phase 1 dose escalation trial, the Company expects to subsequently assess Descartes-15 in autoimmune indications.
  

Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

• Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of June 30, 2025 was $162.1 million and is expected to support planned operations, including completion of the ongoing Phase 3 AURORA trial for Descartes-08 in MG, into mid-2027.
  
• Research and development expenses were $14.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $12.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The increase in expenses was primarily a result of increased expenses associated with the ongoing Phase 3 AURORA trial for Descartes-08 for MG.
  
• General and administrative expenses were $7.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $7.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The increase in expenses was primarily the result of increased facilities expenses.
  
• Net income was $15.9 million, or $0.51 net income per share allocable to common stockholders (basic), for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to net income of $13.8 million, or $0.58 net income per share allocable to common stockholders (basic), for the three months ended June 30, 2024.
  

About Descartes-08

Descartes-08, Cartesian’s lead cell therapy candidate, is an autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) product targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in clinical development for generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) and systemic lupus erythematosus. In contrast to conventional DNA-based CAR T-cell therapies, Cartesian’s CAR-T administration is designed to not require preconditioning chemotherapy, can be administered in the outpatient setting, and does not carry the risk of genomic integration associated with cancerous transformation. Descartes-08 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of MG, and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for the treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis.

About Descartes-15

Descartes-15 is a next-generation, autologous anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy. In preclinical studies, Descartes-15 has been observed to achieve an approximately ten-fold increase in CAR expression and selective target-specific killing, relative to Descartes-08. Similar to Descartes-08, Descartes-15 is designed to be administered without preconditioning chemotherapy and does not use integrating vectors.

About Cartesian Therapeutics

Cartesian Therapeutics is a clinical-stage company pioneering cell therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The Company’s lead asset, Descartes-08, is a CAR-T in Phase 3 clinical development for patients with generalized myasthenia gravis and Phase 2 development for systemic lupus erythematosus, with a Phase 2 basket trial planned in additional autoimmune indications. The Company’s clinical-stage pipeline also includes Descartes-15, a next-generation, autologous anti-BCMA CAR-T currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 trial in patients with multiple myeloma. For more information, please visit www.cartesiantherapeutics.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn or X, formerly known as Twitter.

Forward Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about the future expectations, plans and prospects of the Company, including without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s expected cash resources and cash runway, the ability of the Company’s product candidates to be administered in an outpatient setting or without the need for preconditioning lymphodepleting chemotherapy, the potential of Descartes-08, Descartes-15, or any of the Company’s other product candidates to treat myasthenia gravis, juvenile myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile dermatomyositis, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, multiple myeloma, or any other disease, the anticipated timing or the outcome of ongoing and planned clinical trials, studies and data readouts, including the Phase 3 AURORA trial of Descartes-08 in myasthenia gravis, the planned Phase 2 pediatric basket trial of Descartes-08 in juvenile dermatomyositis, juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile myasthenia gravis, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, and the ongoing Phase 2 trial of Descartes-08 in systemic lupus erythematosus, the anticipated timing or the outcome of the FDA’s review of the Company’s regulatory filings, the Company’s ability to conduct its clinical trials and preclinical studies, the timing or making of any regulatory filings, the anticipated timing or outcome of selection of developmental product candidates, the novelty of treatment paradigms that the Company is able to develop, the potential of any therapies developed by the Company to fulfill unmet medical needs, and enrollment in the Company’s clinical trials and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hypothesize,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would,” 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, but not limited to, the following: the uncertainties inherent in the initiation, completion and cost of clinical trials including proof of concept trials, including uncertain outcomes, the availability and timing of data from ongoing and future clinical trials and the results of such trials, whether preliminary results from a particular clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial and whether results of early clinical trials will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, the ability to predict results of studies performed on human beings based on results of studies performed on non-human subjects, the unproven approach of the Company’s technology, potential delays in enrollment of patients, undesirable side effects of the Company’s product candidates, political uncertainty, the Company’s reliance on third parties to conduct its clinical trials, the Company’s inability to maintain its existing or future collaborations, licenses or contractual relationships, its inability to protect its proprietary technology and intellectual property, potential delays in regulatory approvals, the availability of funding sufficient for its foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, the Company’s recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows, substantial fluctuation in the price of the Company’s common stock, risks related to geopolitical conflicts, pandemics, and macroeconomic impacts, and other important factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in other filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date of its publication and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any intention to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release, except as required by law.

Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets (Amounts in thousands, except share data and par value)
	June 30, 2025				December 31, 2024
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	160,324			$	212,610
Accounts receivable		354				872
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,717				3,144
Total current assets		163,395				216,626
Non-current assets:
Property and equipment, net		12,285				9,912
Right-of-use asset, net		5,164				5,535
In-process research and development assets		150,600				150,600
Goodwill		48,163				48,163
Long-term restricted cash		1,735				1,669
Investments		2,000				2,000
Other assets		5,551				518
Total assets	$	388,893			$	435,023
Liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	454			$	288
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		8,012				12,076
Lease liability		3,790				2,851
Contingent value right liability		—				7,761
Total current liabilities		12,256				22,976
Non-current liabilities:
Lease liability, net of current portion		9,559				11,133
Warrant liabilities, net of current portion		1,364				3,836
Contingent value right liability, net of current portion		352,100				387,739
Deferred tax liabilities, net		16,141				16,141
Total liabilities		391,420				441,825
Stockholders’ deficit:
Series A Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value; 134,904.563 shares authorized as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024; 120,790.402 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024		—				—
Series B Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value; 437,927 shares authorized as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024; 437,927 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024		—				—
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 9,427,168.437 shares authorized as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024; no shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024		—				—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 350,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024; 26,000,065 and 25,767,369 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively		3				3
Additional paid-in capital		695,942				689,887
Accumulated deficit		(693,895	)			(692,071	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(4,577	)			(4,621	)
Total stockholders’ deficit		(2,527	)			(6,802	)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$	388,893			$	435,023

Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. and Subsidiaries  Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2025				2024				2025				2024
	(Unaudited)
Revenue:
Collaboration and license revenue	$	—			$	33,271			$	400			$	39,111
Grant revenue		298				174				998				174
Total revenue		298				33,445				1,398				39,285
Operating expenses:
Research and development		14,869				12,661				29,543				22,399
General and administrative		7,240				7,027				15,555				16,477
Total operating expenses		22,109				19,688				45,098				38,876
Operating (loss) income		(21,811	)			13,757				(43,700	)			409
Interest income		1,748				1,195				3,763				2,359
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		654				(3,908	)			2,472				(2,866	)
Change in fair value of contingent value right liability		35,300				2,500				35,646				(36,800	)
Change in fair value of forward contract liabilities		—				—				—				(6,890	)
Other (expense) income, net		(5	)			292				(5	)			800
Net income (loss)	$	15,886			$	13,836			$	(1,824	)		$	(42,988	)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment		12				14				44				9
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$	15,898			$	13,850			$	(1,780	)		$	(42,979	)
Net income (loss) per share allocable to common stockholders:
Basic	$	0.51			$	0.58			$	(0.07	)		$	(3.88	)
Diluted	$	0.50			$	0.54			$	(0.07	)		$	(3.88	)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic		25,980,262				16,723,479				25,941,670				11,068,749
Diluted		26,447,251				17,791,143				25,941,670				11,068,749

Investor Contact

Megan LeDuc
Associate Director of Investor Relations
megan.leduc@cartesiantx.com

Media Contact
David Rosen
Argot Partners
david.rosen@argotpartners.com

FAQ

What were Cartesian Therapeutics' (RNAC) key financial results for Q2 2025?

Cartesian reported net income of $15.9M ($0.51 per share), cash position of $162.1M, R&D expenses of $14.9M, and G&A expenses of $7.2M for Q2 2025.

What are the details of RNAC's Phase 3 AURORA trial for Descartes-08?

The AURORA trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating Descartes-08 vs placebo in ~100 MG patients, administered as six weekly outpatient infusions without preconditioning chemotherapy.

How effective was Descartes-08 in the Phase 2b myasthenia gravis trial?

Descartes-08 showed an average 4.8-point reduction in MG-ADL score at Month 12, with biologic-naive patients showing a 7.1-point reduction and 57% maintaining minimum symptoms.

What upcoming milestones does RNAC expect for Descartes-08 in 2H 2025?

RNAC expects to share preliminary data from the Phase 2 trial in systemic lupus erythematosus and initiate a pediatric basket trial in select autoimmune indications.

How long will Cartesian's current cash position support operations?

The company's $162.1M cash position is expected to support planned operations, including completion of the Phase 3 AURORA trial, into mid-2027.