Upstream Bio Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Accelerates Guidance on All Clinical Programs
- Strong cash position of $431.4M, sufficient to fund operations through 2027
- Acceleration of clinical timeline guidance across multiple programs
- Completed patient enrollment in Phase 2 CRSwNP trial with data expected Q3 2025
- Unique market position with the only TSLP receptor-targeting antibody in clinical development
- Increased net loss to $27.3M in Q1 2025 from $10.9M in Q1 2024
- Higher R&D expenses at $25.8M, up from $11.7M year-over-year
- G&A expenses increased to $6.8M from $4.0M in the previous year
Insights
Upstream Bio accelerates verekitug timelines across three respiratory indications with $431M cash runway through 2027, positioning for near-term clinical catalysts.
Upstream Bio's announcement reveals accelerated development timelines for verekitug, their novel monoclonal antibody targeting the TSLP receptor. The company has positioned three key catalysts on accelerated schedules: CRSwNP Phase 2 data in Q3 2025, severe asthma Phase 2 data in H1 2026, and COPD Phase 2 initiation in mid-2025.
What distinguishes verekitug mechanistically is its unique target profile as the only clinical-stage antibody targeting the TSLP receptor rather than the TSLP ligand itself (like tezepelumab). This approach could potentially offer differentiated benefits, including extended dosing intervals – currently being tested at 12-week intervals in the CRSwNP trial.
The company's strategic positioning of these trials is particularly noteworthy. All three studies have been designed with endpoints that could potentially support registration submissions, suggesting an optimized development pathway that could accelerate time-to-market if results prove positive. The CRSwNP trial uses nasal polyp score as its primary endpoint, consistent with previous successful registration trials for biologics in this indication.
The multi-indication strategy across three major respiratory conditions represents a comprehensive approach to maximizing verekitug's potential market opportunity, targeting diseases with substantial unmet needs despite recent advances in biologic therapies.
Upstream Bio shows strong financial position with $431.4M cash through 2027, supporting accelerated clinical programs despite higher R&D spending.
Upstream Bio's Q1 2025 financials reveal a company strategically investing in its clinical programs while maintaining a strong cash position. With $431.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, the company has projected runway through 2027 – sufficient to fund all planned clinical readouts for verekitug across three respiratory indications.
The company's increased spending reflects its accelerated clinical timelines. R&D expenses more than doubled to
This elevated burn rate appears justified by the advancement and acceleration of three Phase 2 clinical programs. At the current quarterly burn rate, the stated cash runway through 2027 seems reasonable and would cover multiple value-creating data readouts without requiring additional financing.
The company's efficient capital deployment is evidenced by its ability to accelerate timelines while maintaining a projected runway that extends well beyond its nearest catalysts. This financial flexibility provides significant operational runway during a critical phase of clinical development, with the nearest catalyst (CRSwNP data) expected in just months.
– Top-line data from Phase 2 clinical trial of verekitug in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps expected in the third quarter of 2025 –
– Top-line data from Phase 2 clinical trial of verekitug in patients with severe asthma now expected in the first half of 2026 –
– First patient in Phase 2 clinical trial of verekitug in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to be dosed in mid-2025 –
WALTHAM, Mass., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Upstream Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: UPB), a clinical-stage company developing treatments for inflammatory diseases, with an initial focus on severe respiratory disorders, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, and provided a summary of recent business highlights. The Company is developing verekitug, the only monoclonal antibody currently in clinical development that targets and inhibits the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) receptor, in multiple severe respiratory diseases including chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“This quarter we made excellent progress in our development of verekitug, positioning us well to deliver on our upcoming clinical milestones. We are pleased to accelerate our guidance on several near-term events, including the top-line data readout from our Phase 2 clinical trial of verekitug in patients with CRSwNP, expected in the third quarter of this year,” said Rand Sutherland, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Upstream Bio. “In addition, we now anticipate reporting top-line data from our Phase 2 clinical trial in severe asthma in the first half of 2026. We also now expect to dose the first patient in our Phase 2 clinical trial in COPD in mid-2025. We look forward to sharing further updates as we reach these key milestones.”
Dr. Sutherland continued, “Verekitug is the only known molecule currently in clinical development targeting the TSLP receptor. Early clinical data suggest that this unique mechanism of action has the potential to meaningfully impact disease activity in patients with these severe respiratory diseases through both differentiated efficacy and an extended dosing interval, and we are testing the therapeutic implications of these observations across our development programs.”
First Quarter 2025 and Recent Business Highlights
- Top-line data from Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with CRSwNP expected in the third quarter of 2025: In January 2025, Upstream Bio completed patient enrollment in its Phase 2 multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial designed to assess the efficacy and safety of verekitug in participants with CRSwNP. Top-line data from this clinical trial is expected to be reported in the third quarter of 2025.
The Company has designed this trial using endpoints that, pending interactions with regulatory authorities, could produce data to support submissions for product approval. Patients were randomized to receive either 100 mg of verekitug or placebo administered subcutaneously every 12 weeks over a 24-week treatment period. The primary endpoint is change from baseline in nasal polyp score (NPS) at week 24, a primary endpoint that has been used in several registrational trials for other biologic treatments for CRSwNP. Secondary endpoints include: nasal congestion score, sinus opacification, difficulty with sense of smell, nasal symptoms, percentage of participants requiring systemic corticosteroids or nasal polyp surgery, time to nasal polyp surgery and/or time to systemic corticosteroids for nasal polyps, total symptom score, and characterization of safety.
- Top-line data from Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with severe asthma now expected in the first half of 2026: The Company has designed this trial using endpoints that, pending interactions with regulatory authorities, could produce data to support submissions for product approval.
Upstream Bio also plans to initiate a long-term safety and efficacy extension study (Phase 2 LTE) in certain adult patients with severe asthma following completion of its Phase 2 severe asthma trial with the first patient expected to transition to the LTE study in the second quarter of 2025.
- First patient dosing in Phase 2 clinical trial in COPD expected in mid-2025: Upstream Bio is initiating development of verekitug in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD and now expects to dose the first patient in mid-2025.
The Company has designed this trial using endpoints that, pending interactions with regulatory authorities, could produce data to support submissions for product approval.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
As of March 31, 2025, Upstream Bio had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of
Research and development expenses were
General and administrative expenses were
Net loss was
Upcoming Events
Upstream Bio expects to participate in the following investor conferences and medical congresses:
- Goldman Sachs 46th Annual Global Healthcare Conference 2025, Miami, FL, Upstream Bio presentation on June 11, 2025, at 9:20 a.m. ET
- European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress 2025, Glasgow, United Kingdom, June 13-16, 2025
About Upstream Bio
Upstream Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for inflammatory diseases, with an initial focus on severe respiratory disorders. Upstream Bio is developing verekitug, the only known antagonist currently in clinical development that targets the receptor for thymic stromal lymphopoietin, a cytokine which is a clinically validated driver of inflammatory response positioned upstream of multiple signaling cascades that affect a variety of immune mediated diseases. Upstream Bio has advanced this highly potent monoclonal antibody into separate Phase 2 trials for the treatment of severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and is initiating development in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Upstream Bio’s team is committed to maximizing verekitug’s unique attributes to address the substantial unmet needs for patients underserved by today’s standard of care. To learn more, please visit www.upstreambio.com.
Upstream Bio intends to use the investor relations page on its website as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor its website in addition to following press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. These statements may be identified by words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seeks,” “should,” “target,” “will” and variations of these words or similar expressions. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, express or implied statements regarding: the clinical development of verekitug for the treatment of severe asthma, CRSwNP and COPD, including the initiation, timing, progress and results of ongoing and planned clinical trials; expectations for future discussions with regulatory authorities and the potential of the endpoints of the Company’s clinical trials to produce data that could support submissions for product approval; expectations regarding the safety, efficacy or tolerability of verekitug; Upstream Bio’s expected operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, including its cash runway through 2027; and participation at upcoming investor conferences and medical congresses. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that actual results, levels of activity, safety, efficacy, performance or events and circumstances could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Company’s forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to: Upstream Bio’s ability to advance verekitug through clinical development, and to obtain regulatory approval of and ultimately commercialize verekitug on the expected timeline, if at all; the initiation, timing, progress and results of clinical trials; Upstream Bio’s ability to fund its development activities and achieve development goals; Upstream Bio’s dependence on third parties to conduct clinical trials and manufacture verekitug, and commercialize verekitug, if approved; Upstream Bio’s ability to attract, hire and retain key personnel, and protect its intellectual property; Upstream Bio’s financial condition and need for substantial additional funds in order to complete development activities and commercialize verekitug, if approved; regulatory developments and approval processes of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and comparable foreign regulatory authorities; Upstream Bio’s competitors and industry; and other risks and uncertainties described in greater detail under the caption “Risk Factors” in Upstream Bio’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements represent Upstream Bio’s views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Upstream Bio explicitly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based except to the extent required by law, and claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
| UPSTREAM BIO, INC. | ||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | ||||||||
| (IN THOUSANDS) | ||||||||
| (UNAUDITED) | ||||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 71,312 | $ | 325,892 | ||||
| Short-term investments | 360,068 | 144,559 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable | 566 | 613 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 21,841 | 8,096 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 453,787 | 479,160 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 539 | 582 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 1,649 | 1,783 | ||||||
| Restricted cash | 194 | 194 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 456,169 | $ | 481,719 | ||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 4,718 | $ | 4,041 | ||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 4,141 | 5,992 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current portion | 708 | 704 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 9,567 | 10,737 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | 992 | 1,130 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 10,559 | 11,867 | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock | 53 | 53 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 663,239 | 660,604 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 368 | (25 | ) | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (218,050 | ) | (190,780 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 445,610 | 469,852 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 456,169 | $ | 481,719 | ||||
| UPSTREAM BIO, INC. | ||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||
| (IN THOUSANDS) | ||||||||
| (UNAUDITED) | ||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Collaboration revenue | $ | 566 | $ | 640 | ||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 25,797 | 11,691 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 6,782 | 3,962 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 32,579 | 15,653 | ||||||
| Loss from operations | (32,013 | ) | (15,013 | ) | ||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||
| Change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liability | — | 2,859 | ||||||
| Interest income | 4,743 | 1,266 | ||||||
| Other expense, net | — | (6 | ) | |||||
| Total other income, net | 4,743 | 4,119 | ||||||
| Net loss | $ | (27,270 | ) | $ | (10,894 | ) | ||
Investor and Media Contact: Meggan Buckwell Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations ir@upstreambio.com
FAQ
What are the key clinical milestones for Upstream Bio's (UPB) verekitug in 2025?
How much cash does Upstream Bio (UPB) have and how long will it last?
What makes Upstream Bio's (UPB) verekitug unique in the market?
What was Upstream Bio's (UPB) net loss in Q1 2025?
What diseases is Upstream Bio (UPB) targeting with verekitug?
