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DURECT Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Update on Proposed Acquisition by Bausch Health

Key Takeaway: DURECT Corporation reported its financial results for Q2 2025 and provided an update on the proposed acquisition by Bausch Health. Bausch Health plans to pay $1.75 per share plus up to $350 million in sales milestones. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2025, but uncertainties remain regarding regulatory approvals and stockholder responses.

Market Sentiment Analysis

POSITIVE FACTORS

  • Bausch Health's acquisition offer includes a significant premium per share.
  • The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.
  • DURECT's lead drug candidate, Larsucosterol, has received Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations.

CONCERNS & RISKS

  • DURECT reported a net loss of $2.265 million for the second quarter.
  • There are uncertainties regarding the completion of the acquisition and regulatory approvals.
  • Potential risks include stockholder litigation and management distraction during the merger.

Full Press Release Details

Bausch Health will pay$1.75per share plus up to$350 millionin aggregate sales milestones
Transaction expected to close in the third quarter of 2025
CUPERTINO, Calif.,Aug. 12, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- DURECT Corporation (Nasdaq:DRRX) today announced financial results for the second quarter endedJune 30, 2025and provided an update on the previously announced acquisition of DURECT by Bausch Health Companies Inc. (Bausch Health).
Recent business highlights and updates:
Financial Highlights for the First Quarter 2025:
Additional Information and Where to Find ItThis communication is not an offer to buy nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities of DURECT. The solicitation and the offer to buy shares of DURECT's common stock is being made pursuant to a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, a letter of transmittal and other related materials, that were filed by Bausch Health and Merger Sub with the SEC onAugust 12, 2025. In addition, DURECT has filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the Tender Offer with the SEC onAugust 12, 2025. The Tender Offer materials and the Solicitation/Recommendation statement, as they may be amended from time to time, contain important information that should be read carefully when they become available and considered before any decision is made with respect to the Tender Offer. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of these materials and other documents filed by Bausch Health, Merger Sub and DURECT with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC atwww.sec.gov. Investors may also obtain, at no charge, copies of these materials and other documents by calling D.F. King & Co., the information agent for the Tender Offer, toll-free at (800) 628-8528 for stockholders or by calling collect at (212) 596-7578 for banks or brokers.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 OF DURECT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE TENDER OFFER AND THE MERGER THAT ARE FILED WITH THE SEC, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY PRIOR TO MAKING ANY DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO WHETHER TO TENDER THEIR SHARES INTO THE TENDER OFFER BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TENDER OFFER.
About DURECT CorporationDURECT is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of epigenetic therapies that target dysregulated DNA methylation to transform the treatment of serious and life-threatening conditions, including acute organ injury. Larsucosterol, DURECT's lead drug candidate, binds to and inhibits the activity of DNA methyltransferases, epigenetic enzymes that are elevated and associated with hypermethylation found in alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) patients. Larsucosterol is in clinical development for the potential treatment of AH, for which the FDA has granted a Fast Track and a Breakthrough Therapy designation; MASH has also been explored. For more information about DURECT, please visit www.durect.com and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) athttps://x.com/DURECTCorp.
DURECT Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains statements, including statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words or phrases such as "believe," "may," "could," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "seek," "plan," "expect," "should," "would," or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations and include, but are not limited to statements regarding beliefs about the potential benefits of the transaction; the considerations taken into account and the determination by the DURECT board of directors in approving the transaction; the planned completion and timing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and the prospective performance and outlook of the surviving company's business, performance, and opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements contained in this communication, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those projected include, among other things, uncertainties as to the timing and completion of the Offer and the Merger; uncertainties as to the percentage of DURECT stockholders tendering their Company Shares in the Offer; the possibility that competing offers will be made; the possibility that various closing conditions for the Offer or the Merger may not be satisfied or waived, including the failure to receive any required regulatory approvals from any applicable regulatory and/or governmental entities (or any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals); risks relating to DURECT's liquidity during the pendency of the Offer and the Merger or in the event of a termination of the Merger Agreement; the risk that the Milestone Payments are not achieved; the effects of disruption caused by the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, collaborators, partners, vendors and other business partners; risks related to diverting management's attention from DURECT's ongoing business operations; the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement may result in significant costs of defense, and other risks and uncertainties pertaining to DURECT's business, including the risks and uncertainties detailed in DURECT's public periodic filings with the SEC, as well as the Offer materials to be filed by Bausch Health Americas and Merger Sub and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 to be filed by DURECT in connection with the Offer.
Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in DURECT's most recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, when filed, under the heading "Risk Factors." These reports are available on our website www.durect.com under the "Investors" tab and on the SEC's website atwww.sec.gov. All information provided in this press release is based on information available to DURECT as of the date hereof, and DURECT assumes no obligation to update this information as a result of future events or developments, except as required by law.
NOTE: Larsucosterol is an investigational drug candidate under development and has not been approved for commercialization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other health authorities for any indication.
DURECT CORPORATION
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
DURECT CORPORATION
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
SOURCE DURECT Corporation
DURECT CORPORATIONCONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS(in thousands, except per share amounts)(Unaudited)
Three months endedJune 30 Six months endedJune 30
2025 2024 2025 2024
Collaborative research and development and other revenue $ 428 $ 606 $ 749 $ 1,102
Product revenue 19 40 19 40
Total revenues 447 646 768 1,142
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues 7 27 7 29
Research and development 1,176 2,247 3,059 6,366
Selling, general and administrative 2,067 2,566 4,644 5,246
Total operating expenses 3,250 4,840 7,710 11,641
Loss from operations (2,803) (4,194) (6,942) (10,499)
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income 93 227 188 548
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities 445 (78) 326 (1,796)
Other income (expense), net 538 149 514 (1,248)
Loss from continuing operations (2,265) (4,045) (6,428) (11,747)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations 345 (69) 404
Net loss (2,265) (3,700) (6,497) (11,343)
Net change in unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities, netof reclassification adjustments and taxes 3 7
Total comprehensive loss $ (2,265) $ (3,697) $ (6,497) $ (11,336)
Net loss per share, basic
Loss from continuing operations $ (0.07) $ (0.13) $ (0.21) $ (0.38)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations $ $ 0.01 $ $ 0.01
Net loss per common share $ (0.07) $ (0.12) $ (0.21) $ (0.37)
Net loss per share, diluted
Loss from continuing operations $ (0.07) $ (0.13) $ (0.21) $ (0.38)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations $ $ 0.01 $ $ 0.01
Net loss per common share $ (0.07) $ (0.12) $ (0.21) $ (0.37)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share
Basic 31,042 31,038 31,042 30,838
Diluted 31,163 31,038 31,042 30,838
DURECT CORPORATIONCONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS(in thousands)(unaudited)
As of As of
June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024(1)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,502 $ 11,011
Short-term Investments 792
Accounts receivable, net 511 453
Inventories, net 291 106
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 468 813
Total current assets 7,772 13,175
Property and equipment, net 29 41
Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,683 2,135
Goodwill 2,725 2,725
Long-term restricted investments 150 150
Other long-term assets 123 123
Total assets $ 12,482 $ 18,349
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 393 $ 309
Accrued liabilities 4,860 4,771
Deferred revenue, current portion 320
Operating lease liabilities, current portion 1,098 1,082
Warrant liabilities 1,222 1,548
Total current liabilities 7,893 7,710
Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion 652 1,124
Other long-term liabilities 454 384
Stockholders' equity 3,483 9,131
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 12,482 $ 18,349
(1)  Derived from audited financial statements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acquisition offer from Bausch Health?

Bausch Health offers $1.75 per share for DURECT, plus up to $350 million in sales milestones.

When is the acquisition expected to close?

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.

What are DURECT's recent financial results?

DURECT reported a net loss of $2.265 million for the second quarter of 2025.

What designations has Larsucosterol received?

Larsucosterol has received Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations from the FDA.

What risks are associated with the acquisition?

Risks include uncertainties in regulatory approvals and potential stockholder litigation.

Last updated: Aug 12, 2025