Full Press Release Details
Zura Bio Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial
Results and Recent Corporate Updates
HENDERSON, Nev. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - May 8, 2025 -
Zura Bio Limited (Nasdaq: ZURA) ("Zura Bio" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage,
multi-asset immunology company developing novel dual-pathway antibodies for a range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today reported
financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, and provided recent corporate updates.
"The first quarter of 2025 reflected steady progress across our
clinical and operational priorities," said Robert Lisicki, Chief Executive Officer of Zura Bio. "We continued advancing trial
efforts for our Phase 2 TibuSURE trial for adults with SSc, and progressed preparations for the initiation of a second Phase 2 study in
HS. Recent additions to our clinical team have further strengthened our ability to grow and execute with care. We believe we are well-positioned
to move our programs forward thoughtfully and purposefully."
PIPELINE HIGHLIGHTS AND UPCOMING ANTICIPATED MILESTONES
In the first quarter of 2025, Zura Bio continued to advance its ongoing
Phase 2 TibuSURE trial evaluating tibulizumab in adults with SSc.
Hidradenitis suppurativa
In the first quarter of 2025, Zura Bio received clearance from the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Investigational New Drug application for HS, supporting the planned initiation of its Phase
2 clinical trial in adults with HS in the second quarter of 2025.
Zura Bio continues to explore the potential of crebankitug in immune-mediated
diseases where dual inhibition of interleukin-7 (IL-7) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) may offer clinical benefits with commercial
potential. The Company is conducting translational research and engaging with academic collaborators to inform future development decisions.
Zura Bio is evaluating the potential role of torudokimab in inflammatory
and respiratory diseases and monitoring external clinical data in areas such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to inform
its development strategy.
CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS
In the first quarter, Zura Bio appointed Kate Dingwall as Senior Vice
President of Development Operations. Ms. Dingwall brings extensive experience in patient-centered trial design, recruitment strategies,
and clinical optimization and is expected to help advance the Company's pipeline and lead execution across current and future clinical
FIRST QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS
As of March 31, 2025, Zura Bio had cash and cash equivalents of $170.6
million. Zura Bio anticipates that its existing cash and cash equivalents should be sufficient to support operations as currently planned
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses
R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were $10.5 million,
compared to $3.6 million for the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily driven by increases of $3.7 million for contract research
organization (CRO) costs and $2.1 million for manufacturing costs for our product candidates, as well as $0.6 million for cash and non-cash
compensation costs for personnel in research and development functions as we advance our Phase 2 clinical trials evaluating tibulizumab
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses
G&A expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were $8.8 million, compared
to $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to a $2.6 million increase in cash and non-cash compensation
costs for personnel in executive and administrative functions and our board of directors, as well as a $1.2 million increase in professional
fees to support our growing organization as we advance our Phase 2 clinical trials evaluating tibulizumab in SSc and HS.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2025 was $17.4 million, or $0.19
per share, compared to $7.7 million, or $0.02 per share, for the same period in 2024.
Zura Bio is a clinical-stage, multi-asset immunology company developing
novel antibodies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The Company's pipeline includes dual-pathway product candidates designed
to target key mechanisms of immune system imbalance, with the goal of improving efficacy, safety, and dosing convenience for patients.
Zura Bio's lead product candidate, tibulizumab (ZB-106), is currently
being evaluated in TibuSURE, a Phase 2 clinical trial in adults with systemic sclerosis. It is also expected to enter a separate Phase
2 clinical trial in adults with hidradenitis suppurativa in the second quarter of 2025. Additional product candidates, crebankitug (ZB-168)
and torudokimab (ZB-880), have completed
Phase 1/1b studies and are being evaluated for their potential across
a range of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
For more information, please visit www.zurabio.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication includes "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
"expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate,"
"intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believe,"
"predict," "potential," "continue," "strategy," "future," "opportunity,"
"would," "seem," "seek," "outlook," "goal," "mission," and similar
expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other
statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. These statements are based on various assumptions,
whether or not identified in this communication. These forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements
regarding: Zura Bio's forecasts, including with respect to its cash resources; Zura Bio's expectations regarding funding,
operating and working capital expenditures, business strategies and objectives; expectations with respect to Zura Bio's development
program, including its product candidates and the potential clinical benefits and commercial potential thereof, data readouts, regulatory
matters, clinical trials and the design and timing thereof; expectations with respect to development programs, data readouts and product
candidates of other parties. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve
as, and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability.
Actual events are difficult or impossible to predict and could
differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, as a result of these risks and uncertainties,
which include, but are not limited to: Zura Bio's expectations regarding its product candidates and their related clinical
benefits, and Zura Bio's beliefs regarding competing product candidates and products both in development and approved, may not
be achieved; Zura Bio's vision and strategy may not be successful; the timing of key events and initiation of Zura Bio's studies,
regulatory matters and release of clinical data may take longer than anticipated or may not be achieved at all; the potential
general acceptability and maintenance of Zura Bio's product candidates by regulatory authorities, payors, physicians, and patients
may not be achieved; Zura Bio's ability to attract and retain key personnel; Zura Bio's expectations with respect to its future
operating expenses, capital requirements and needs for additional financing may not be achieved; Zura Bio has not completed any
clinical trials, and has no products approved for commercial sale; Zura Bio has incurred significant losses since inception, and
expects to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future and may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability in the
future; Zura Bio requires substantial additional capital to finance its operations, and if it is unable to raise such capital when
needed or on acceptable terms, Zura Bio may be forced to delay, reduce, and/or eliminate one or more of its development programs or
future commercialization efforts; Zura Bio may be unable to renew existing contracts or enter into new contracts; Zura Bio relies on
third-party contract development manufacturing organizations for the manufacture of clinical materials; Zura Bio relies on contract
research organizations, clinical trial sites, and other third parties to conduct of its preclinical studies and clinical trials;
Zura Bio may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for its product candidates, and there may be related restrictions or
limitations of any approved products; Zura Bio may be unable to successfully respond to general economic and geopolitical
conditions; Zura Bio may be unable to effectively manage growth; Zura Bio faces competitive pressures from other companies
worldwide; Zura Bio may be unable to adequately protect its intellectual property rights; and other factors set forth in documents
filed, or to be filed by Zura Bio, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risks and uncertainties
described in the "Risk Factors" section of Zura Bio's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024
and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025, and other filings with the SEC. These risks and
uncertainties may be amplified by health epidemics or other unanticipated global disruption events, including the conflict between
Russia and Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war and sanctions related thereto, international trade policies, including tariffs,
inflation, increased interest rates, uncertain global credit and capital markets and disruptions in banking systems, which may
continue to cause economic uncertainty. Zura Bio cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive or exhaustive and not
to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Zura Bio gives no assurance that
it will achieve its expectations. Zura Bio does not undertake or accept any obligation to update any forward-looking statements,
except as required by law.