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Bicara Therapeutics Inc. (BCAX)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q2 2025 net loss was $27.4M with diluted EPS of $0.50 loss; cash and equivalents were $436.6M and management reiterated cash runway into H1 2029 .
  • Year over year, R&D rose to $24.8M (from $15.8M) and G&A rose to $7.2M (from $3.9M), reflecting pivotal trial initiation and public company costs .
  • Clinical update was a positive catalyst: ASCO 2025 oral presentation showed deep, durable responses in 1L HPV‑negative R/M HNSCC (ORR 54% confirmed; CR 21%; median DOR 21.7 months; median OS 21.3 months; 2‑yr OS 46%) supporting FORTIFI‑HN01 advancement .
  • Against S&P Global consensus, Q2 EPS modestly beat (actual −$0.50 vs est −$0.5367); Q1 missed (actual −$0.68 vs est −$0.398). Revenue consensus was $0 and actual $0 for both quarters.*

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Strong clinical efficacy signals in 1L HPV‑negative R/M HNSCC: confirmed ORR 54%, CR 21%, deep responses (≥80% shrinkage) in 80% of responders, DCR 89% .
  • Management confidence and strategic execution: “These data provide a strong foundation for the continued advancement of our pivotal Phase 2/3 FORTIFI‑HN01 trial, and reinforce our confidence in the study design” — Claire Mazumdar, CEO .
  • Solid balance sheet with $436.6M cash supporting operations into H1 2029, limiting near‑term financing risk .

What Went Wrong

  • Elevated operating spend as trials scale: total operating expenses of $32.0M in Q2, up from $19.8M YoY; R&D growth driven by FORTIFI‑HN01 initiation and personnel .
  • GAAP net loss widened YoY on higher OpEx despite interest income of $4.7M; net loss was $27.4M vs press‑release YoY comparator $17.0M, with an apparent discrepancy vs the attached financial statement showing Q2 2024 net loss of $46.6M — likely related to pre‑IPO capital structure or classification differences; management did not clarify within the 8‑K .
  • No separate earnings call transcript available for Q2 2025, reducing color on trial operations, enrollment pace, and regulatory interactions (we searched and found none).

Financial Results

Note: BCAX reports no product revenue; condensed statements include only operating expenses and interest income, with no revenue line .

P&L and Liquidity by Quarter

MetricQ4 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025
Net Loss ($USD Millions)$21.0 $36.8 $27.4
Diluted EPS ($USD)$(0.39) $(0.68) $(0.50)
Total Operating Expenses ($USD Millions)$26.6 $41.8 $32.0
Interest Income ($USD Millions)$5.9 $5.0 $4.7
Cash and Equivalents ($USD Millions)$489.7 $462.1 $436.6

Q2 Year-over-Year detail (Q2 2025 vs Q2 2024)

MetricQ2 2024Q2 2025YoY Change
R&D Expense ($USD Millions)$15.8 $24.8 +$9.0
G&A Expense ($USD Millions)$3.9 $7.2 +$3.3
Net Loss ($USD Millions)$17.0 (press text) / $46.6 (stmt) $27.4 +$10.4 vs press text / −$19.2 vs stmt

Clinical KPIs (Phase 1/1b, 1L HPV-negative R/M HNSCC)

KPIValueSource
Confirmed ORR54% (15/28)
ORR incl. unconfirmed64% (18/28)
CR Rate21% (6/28)
Deep Response (≥80% shrinkage)80% of responders (12/15)
Disease Control Rate89% (25/28)
Median DOR21.7 months (responders)
Median OS21.3 months; 2‑yr OS 46%
Median PFS9.9 months
SafetyManageable, consistent with prior AE profile

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Cash RunwayCorporateOperations funded into H1 2029 Operations funded into H1 2029 Maintained
ASCO Data (1500mg weekly cohort)ClinicalPreview in Q1 press; oral ASCO presentation planned Presented at ASCO 2025; positive efficacy/durability Achieved milestone
750mg weekly + pembrolizumab (HPV-negative)ClinicalCohort completed enrollment Data expected Q4 2025 or Q1 2026 Timelines set
2000mg Q2W + pembrolizumab (HPV-negative)ClinicalEnrolling Data expected Q1 2026 Timelines set
1500mg weekly CPS=0 cohortClinicalEnrolling Data expected in 2026 Timelines set
3L+ mCRC (RAS/BRAF WT)ClinicalExpected to initiate in 2025 Enrolling (Phase 1b expansion) Initiated

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

No Q2 2025 earnings call transcript was available; themes are derived from 8‑K press releases.

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q4 2024)Previous Mentions (Q1 2025)Current Period (Q2 2025)Trend
R&D execution / pivotal trialFirst patients dosed in FORTIFI‑HN01 Enrollment ongoing; momentum maintained Enrollment ongoing; confidence reinforced Positive execution
Clinical efficacy (HNSCC)Planned ASCO update ASCO oral update planned ASCO data show deep, durable responses Improving evidence
Safety/tolerabilityManageable profile referenced across programs Ongoing cohorts; no new safety flags Manageable safety consistent with prior Stable
Cash runway / funding~$490M cash; runway to H1 2029 $462.1M cash; runway to H1 2029 $436.6M cash; runway to H1 2029 Strong but declining cash with spend
Pipeline expansioncSCC, SCAC, KRAS G12C translational data AACR datasets; expansion cohorts status 3L+ mCRC enrolling Broadening

Management Commentary

  • “Updated Phase 1/1b data … underscore the differentiated ability of ficerafusp alfa to remodel the tumor stroma and drive tumor penetration, with deep, durable anti‑tumor responses observed … These data provide a strong foundation for the continued advancement of our pivotal Phase 2/3 FORTIFI‑HN01 trial, and reinforce our confidence in the study design.” — Claire Mazumdar, CEO .
  • “We continued to execute across our clinical programs … advance FORTIFI‑HN01 … We believe the data have the potential to demonstrate differentiated depth and durability of response driven by the TGF‑β arm of ficerafusp alfa.” — Claire Mazumdar, CEO (Q1 PR) .

Q&A Highlights

  • No Q2 2025 earnings call transcript was found; we searched for an earnings call transcript around the Q2 release date and none was available. Key clarifications are limited to the 8‑K press release .

Estimates Context

MetricQ1 2025 ConsensusQ1 2025 ActualQ2 2025 ConsensusQ2 2025 Actual
Primary EPS Consensus Mean ($)−0.398*−0.68 −0.53667*−0.50
Primary EPS – # of Estimates5*6*
Revenue Consensus Mean ($M)0.0*— (no product revenue; see note) 0.0*— (no product revenue; see note)
Revenue – # of Estimates6*6*

Values retrieved from S&P Global.*

Implications:

  • Q2 EPS modest beat vs consensus; Q1 EPS miss suggests estimate models must incorporate higher OpEx cadence tied to pivotal and expansion cohorts .
  • Revenue models remain at $0 given clinical‑stage profile; no commercialization timelines were provided, so sell‑side should focus on R&D, cash burn, and milestone timing .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Clinical data remain the core driver: the ASCO 2025 update strengthens the efficacy narrative in HPV‑negative 1L HNSCC, supporting pivotal risk‑adjusted value .
  • Cash runway into H1 2029 de‑risks near‑term financing; expect sequential burn to track enrollment and expansion cohorts; interest income partly offsets OpEx .
  • Watch near‑term readouts: 750mg weekly cohort data in Q4 2025/Q1 2026 and 2000mg Q2W in Q1 2026 will refine dosing strategy and benefit‑risk profile ahead of pivotal milestones .
  • Expense trajectory: R&D and G&A step‑ups reflect scale‑up; model higher quarterly OpEx vs 2024; EPS variance vs consensus tied to spend pacing rather than revenue surprises .
  • Discrepancy alert: Q2 2024 net loss cited at $17.0M in press text vs $46.6M in the attached statements; monitor upcoming 10‑Q for reconciliation to avoid anchor errors in YoY analyses .
  • Pipeline optionality beyond HNSCC (mCRC enrollment underway) adds upside pathways; consider scenario analyses for additional indications .
  • Trading setup: Near‑term catalysts are clinical (cohort data); absent revenue, stock likely trades on efficacy updates, enrollment progress, and regulatory signals rather than quarterly GAAP metrics .

Notes:

  • We read the full Q2 2025 8‑K press release (including exhibit), the Q1 2025 and Q4 2024 8‑K press releases. No Q2 earnings call transcript or additional Q2 press releases were found in our search window .
  • BCAX does not report product revenue at this stage; condensed statements show operating expenses and other income without a revenue line .