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ARROWHEAD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (ARWR) Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 FY2025 results: Revenue $2.50M; Diluted EPS $(1.39); Net loss $(173.1)M on higher R&D as programs advanced .
  • FDA accepted plozasiran NDA for FCS with a PDUFA date of November 18, 2025, positioning a potential first commercial launch late 2025 pending approval .
  • Closed a transformational Sarepta deal: $500M upfront cash, $325M equity, plus $250M over five years and potential $300M near‑term payments; pro forma cash/investments would be ~$1.4B; management guides runway into 2028; revenue recognition from Sarepta begins in the March quarter .
  • Street consensus (S&P Global) for Q1 FY2025 EPS and revenue was unavailable due to access limits; therefore, beats/misses vs estimates cannot be assessed at this time.

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Sarepta collaboration closed, delivering immediate and staged non‑dilutive capital and reducing future R&D burden as partner assumes development on multiple muscle programs; company now “funded into 2028” .
  • FDA accepted plozasiran NDA for FCS; PALISADE met primary and key secondary endpoints, including an 83% reduction in acute pancreatitis risk and ~80% median TG reduction at 25 mg .
  • Commercial readiness accelerating: market access and medical affairs engaged; plan for late‑2025 U.S. launch (pending approval) and European commercialization with a partner .

What Went Wrong

  • Operating expenses rose to $163.9M (R&D $137.0M), widening the net loss to $(173.1)M vs $(132.9)M YoY; cash used in ops rose to $146.3M, reflecting pipeline advancement .
  • Revenue remained minimal ($2.5M), primarily from GSK collaborations; Sarepta revenue recognition will only begin next quarter, leaving Q1 top line light .
  • Equity declined sharply on the balance sheet ($52.6M at 12/31/24 vs $185.4M at 9/30/24), with liabilities elevated (credit facility $409.4M; royalty liability $346.8M) .

Financial Results

P&L comparison (oldest → newest)

Metric (USD)Q1 2024 (Three Months Ended Dec 31, 2023)Q3 2024 (Three Months Ended Jun 30, 2024)Q1 2025 (Three Months Ended Dec 31, 2024)
Revenue ($000s)$3,551 $0 $2,500
Total Operating Expenses ($000s)$140,096 $176,141 $163,912
Operating Income (Loss) ($000s)$(136,545) $(176,141) $(161,412)
Net Loss ($000s)$(132,864) $(170,793) $(173,085)
Diluted EPS ($)$(1.24) $(1.38) $(1.39)
Weighted‑Avg Diluted Shares (000s)107,415 124,199 124,848

Notes:

  • YoY: Revenue down 29.6%; EPS loss widened by $0.15 .
  • QoQ: Revenue improved vs Q3 (from $0), but net loss and EPS loss slightly worsened as R&D spend elevated .

Operating expense detail (oldest → newest)

Metric ($000s)Q1 2024Q3 2024Q1 2025
Research & Development$116,491 $152,431 $137,002
General & Administrative$23,605 $23,710 $26,910

Balance sheet KPIs

Metric ($000s)Sep 30, 2024Dec 31, 2024
Cash, cash equivalents & restricted cash$102,685 $53,889
Investments$578,276 $499,046
Total cash resources$680,961 $552,935
Credit facility$393,183 $409,414
Liability related to sale of future royalties$341,361 $346,776
Stockholders’ Equity$185,444 $52,589
Shares Outstanding124,376 125,572

Revenue composition: Management indicated Q1 revenue relates to GSK collaborations; Sarepta revenue will be recognized beginning in the quarter ending March 31, 2025 .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Plozasiran NDA status (FCS)2025NDA submitted (Q4 FY2024) FDA accepted; PDUFA 11/18/2025 Raised (milestone date set)
U.S. launch timing (FCS)Late 2025 (pending approval)Aim to launch in 2025 Launch could take place late 2025, pending FDA approval Maintained/clarified
SHTG Phase 3 enrollment (SHASTA‑3/4; MUIR‑3)2025Initiated SHASTA‑3/4 On pace for full enrollment in 2025; completion in 2026 Raised (timeline set)
SHASTA‑5 outcomes (high AP risk)2025 startPlanned Intend to initiate in 2025; event‑driven duration Introduced/clarified
Zodasiran Phase 3 (HoFH)2025Phase 2 completed (Gateway) Phase 3 to initiate next quarter Introduced
Sarepta revenue recognitionQ2 FY2025Not disclosedRevenue recognition begins in quarter ending 3/31/2025 Introduced
Cash & investments YE 2025Calendar 2025Runway strengthened ~$1B cash/investments YE2025; runway into 2028 Introduced/maintained runway
Europe commercialization (FCS)2025+Not disclosedPlanning EU commercialization with partner Introduced

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q3 FY2024, Q4 FY2024)Current Period (Q1 FY2025)Trend
Plozasiran efficacy & safetyTopline PALISADE: ~80% TG reductions; favorable safety; JAMA Cardiology/ESC publications, SUMMIT buildout NDA accepted; PDUFA 11/18/2025; PALISADE AP risk −83%; deep/durable TG reduction Advancing from pivotal data to regulatory milestone
SHTG program (SHASTA‑3/4/5)Initiated SHASTA‑3/4; CAPITAN CVOT planned Full enrollment targeted 2025; SHASTA‑5 outcomes study planned in 2025 Execution milestones set
Commercial readinessFocus on 2025 launch planning Field medical access, payer engagement, hiring plans; partner strategy in EU Accelerating build for launch
Obesity (ARO‑INHBE, ARO‑ALK7)Preclinical INHBE data (lean mass preservation) INHBE Phase 1/2a started; ALK7 NZ clearance; body composition readouts planned Transitioning to clinical with near‑term data
CNS delivery platformRoadmap introduced in summer series CTAs planned for ARO‑HTT/ARO‑MAPT late 2025; ARO‑SNCA early 2026 Pipeline maturing toward first human studies
Balance sheet & partnershipsSixth Street $500M facility; Royalty Pharma $50M Sarepta $825M upfront components; pro forma ~$1.4B; runway into 2028 Strengthened, non‑dilutive capital
Competitive context (Ionis/olozarsen)Education market; CAPITAN planning Management highlights differentiation vs olezarsen (TG depth, AP risk, quarterly dosing) Framing market expansion over head‑to‑head

Management Commentary

  • “We are now funded into 2028 and potentially through multiple commercial launches by Arrowhead and our partners.”
  • “Pending positive FDA review and approval, [plozasiran] launch could take place late this year.”
  • “We believe plozasiran has the potential to be a $2 billion to $3 billion per year drug in the SHTG market alone.”
  • “Including the $825 million in upfront payments from the Sarepta agreements, our pro forma cash and investments would be $1.4 billion at December 31, 2024… we expect approximately $1 billion at the end of calendar 2025.”
  • “Revenue recognition related to the Sarepta license and collaboration agreement will begin during the quarter ending March 31, 2025.”

Q&A Highlights

  • Obesity strategy: INHBE being evaluated as monotherapy and in combination with tirzepatide; Part 1 to assess body composition by MRI and weight loss; no fixed “bogey,” data‑driven approach .
  • SHASTA‑5 outcomes study: First pancreatitis‑focused outcomes trial; event‑driven duration, critical for payer/HTA engagement, especially in EU .
  • Competitive positioning vs olezarsen: Emphasis on unprecedented ~80% TG reduction, achieving guideline risk thresholds (<500 mg/dL), statistically significant AP risk reduction, quarterly dosing .
  • Europe commercialization: Planning with a commercial partner for FCS .
  • Capital allocation and CVOT: Desire to run triglyceride CVOT; gating item is additional capital despite ~$1B YE2025 cash/investments; partnering non‑core assets considered to fund CVOT .

Estimates Context

  • S&P Global consensus for Q1 FY2025 EPS and revenue was unavailable due to access limits during retrieval. As a result, we cannot determine beats/misses vs Street for this quarter at this time.
  • Reported results: Revenue $2.50M; Diluted EPS $(1.39); Net loss $(173.1)M .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Regulatory milestone secured: FDA acceptance and firm PDUFA date materially de‑risk near‑term FCS launch timing; commercial build is underway in the U.S. and EU partner engagement is planned .
  • Balance sheet inflection: Sarepta deal transforms liquidity (pro forma ~$1.4B), extends runway to 2028, and should begin contributing recognized revenue starting the March quarter; reduces forward R&D burden on partnered programs .
  • Execution catalysts in 2025: Full enrollment of SHASTA‑3/4/MUIR‑3, SHASTA‑5 initiation, obesity program readouts, complement program data, CNS CTAs—multiple shots on goal beyond FCS .
  • Commercial narrative: Management emphasizes plozasiran differentiation (TG depth/durability, AP risk reduction, quarterly dosing), framing market expansion rather than head‑to‑head share fight with olezarsen—supports pricing/access discussions .
  • Risk lens: Elevated cash burn and liabilities (credit facility, royalty obligation) and limited current revenue; execution on launch, payer access, and study timelines remains paramount .
  • CVOT optionality: Desire to run a triglyceride outcomes study exists, but contingent on additional capital/partnerships; not needed for SHTG label expansion path already in motion .
  • Near‑term trading implications: Watch for formal Sarepta cash receipt timing, confirmed revenue recognition in Q2 FY2025, and any EU partnership disclosures—likely stock catalysts alongside regulatory updates .

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