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Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ARTV)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 was execution-heavy: ARTV secured FDA IND clearance and began initiating a global Phase 2a basket trial of AlloNK + rituximab in refractory RA, Sjögren’s, IIM, and SSc; management set near-term catalysts with initial safety/translational data and lead indication by year-end 2025, and first clinical response readout in 1H 2026 .
- Financially, revenue was $0 and net loss widened to $20.3M as R&D spend ramped with autoimmune trials; diluted EPS was $(0.83) vs S&P Global consensus of $(0.71), a miss of $0.12; revenue matched $0 consensus estimate .
- Balance sheet remains a strength: cash, cash equivalents and investments were $166.0M, extending runway into Q2 2027, supporting multiple data catalysts (ASGCT B‑NHL update, autoimmune translational data, lead indication selection) .
- Strategic narrative emphasized outpatient “community setting” administration, deep B‑cell depletion, and longer-term B‑NHL outcomes “in line with” approved auto‑CAR‑T therapies, positioning AlloNK for accessibility and differentiated profile as data mature .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- IND clearance and trial initiation: FDA-cleared IND and global site initiation underway for the company-sponsored Phase 2a basket trial in refractory RA, Sjögren’s, IIM, and SSc; notably the first company-sponsored allogeneic cell therapy trial in RA and Sjögren’s in the U.S. .
- Differentiation and clinical rationale: Management highlighted longer-term B‑NHL data “in line with approved auto‑CAR‑T therapies,” supporting AlloNK’s ability to drive deep and durable B‑cell depletion and outpatient feasibility; ASGCT presentations to showcase durability and manufacturing scalability (CD16 expression, >40 lots, 4‑year shelf life viability/cytotoxicity) .
- Balance sheet and visibility: $166.0M in cash, cash equivalents and investments and stated runway into Q2 2027; clear milestones set—initial safety/translational data and lead indication by YE25; first clinical response data in 1H26 .
- Quote: “We remain well capitalized to generate meaningful data sets and to differentiate ourselves over time…” — CEO Fred Aslan, M.D. .
What Went Wrong
- EPS miss vs consensus: Diluted EPS of $(0.83) missed S&P Global consensus of $(0.71) as OpEx scaled with clinical expansion .
- Operating expense escalation: R&D rose to $17.1M (from $11.2M YoY) and G&A to $5.1M (from $3.6M YoY), lifting total OpEx to $22.2M vs $14.7M last year, contributing to a wider net loss of $20.3M vs $14.0M YoY .
- No revenue and no discrete Q4 2024 quarterly print: Q1 2025 revenue remained $0; ARTV did not furnish a separate Q4 2024 quarterly press release (provided FY 2024 results instead), limiting strict sequential comparisons from Q4 to Q1 .
Financial Results
P&L Snapshot – Quarter over Quarter (oldest → newest)
Notes: Sequential comparison uses Q3 2024 as the prior available quarterly update due to lack of a separate Q4 2024 quarterly press release .
P&L Snapshot – Year over Year (oldest → newest)
Cash and Liquidity
Q1 2025 vs S&P Global Consensus
Values marked with * are retrieved from S&P Global.
KPIs (execution proxies)
- Patients/clinical progress milestones and manufacturing durability highlighted via upcoming ASGCT presentations and trial initiations (qualitative KPIs) .
- No segment reporting applies; ARTV is a single operating segment clinical-stage company (no separate commercial revenue lines) .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
No earnings call transcript was available for Q1 2025 in our document set.
Management Commentary
- Strategic focus: “We have initiated regulatory submissions globally for our company‑sponsored basket trial… Notably, we are first to announce a company‑sponsored allogeneic cell therapy trial in rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s disease in the U.S.” — Fred Aslan, M.D., CEO .
- Data roadmap and differentiation: “By the end of 2025, we plan on sharing initial safety and translational data… In the first half of 2026, we expect to share clinical response data in our lead indication…” — Fred Aslan, M.D. .
- NHL validation: “Our longer‑term aggressive B‑NHL data is maturing into a leading data set, in line with approved auto‑CAR‑T therapies, providing proof of concept of AlloNK’s ability to deplete B‑cells deeply and durably.” — Fred Aslan, M.D. .
- Capital position: “We remain well capitalized to generate meaningful data sets and to differentiate ourselves…” — Fred Aslan, M.D. .
Q&A Highlights
- No Q1 2025 earnings call transcript was located; therefore, no Q&A to report for this period.
Estimates Context
- Q1 2025 revenue: actual $0.0 vs S&P Global consensus $0.0*; in line .
- Q1 2025 diluted EPS: actual $(0.83) vs S&P Global consensus $(0.71); miss of $0.12 .
- Coverage depth: EPS estimates count 6*; revenue estimates count 6*.
Values marked with * are retrieved from S&P Global.
Implications: Near-term estimate revisions likely focus on operating expense run‑rate and timing of data milestones (YE’25 translational data; 1H’26 clinical response). With no revenue expected near term, EPS remains largely a function of OpEx cadence and interest income .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Clinical momentum with broadened scope: FDA IND clearance and Phase 2a basket trial initiation across multiple autoimmune indications expands optionality; initial translational data and lead indication decision by YE’25, clinical response readout in 1H’26 are the key stock catalysts .
- Differentiation theme: Outpatient/community-site administration and B‑cell depletion depth/durability (NHL) underpin the emerging target product profile relative to complex CAR‑T paradigms .
- Balance sheet provides runway into Q2 2027, enabling multi‑milestone readouts without near‑term financing reliance; this reduces downside risk into catalysts .
- EPS miss driven by higher OpEx as trials scale; investors should expect OpEx to remain elevated as dosing expands and cohorts escalate (consistent with R&D growth YoY) .
- Timeline shift: Initial autoimmune readouts reframed from H1’25 to YE’25 for safety/translational outputs; set expectations for 1H’26 efficacy readout in lead indication .
- Near-term events to watch: ASGCT (NHL durability/manufacturing), regulatory/site activations and enrollment velocity in the basket trial, SLE combo cohorts, and community-setting feasibility updates .
- Trading setup: Shares likely to trade on trial start updates, conference data quality, and clarity on lead indication selection; OpEx and cash runway should anchor downside barring adverse safety signals .
Additional Source Documents Reviewed
- Q1 2025 8‑K and press release (Item 2.02, Exhibit 99.1) .
- FY 2024 8‑K and press release (for context/prior period milestones) .
- Q3 2024 8‑K and press release (prior quarter comparison) .
S&P Global Data: Q1 2025 consensus figures (revenue, EPS, estimate counts) used for estimate comparisons (see asterisks).