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Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. (CDTX)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 delivered a cleaner P&L (no IPR&D or collaboration revenue) and an EPS beat versus Street: diluted EPS was $(1.65) versus consensus $(1.815), aided by interest income and reversal of indirect tax liabilities; revenue was $0, in line with consensus .
- Clinical momentum is the primary catalyst: Phase 2b NAVIGATE met primary and all secondary endpoints with dose-dependent protection of 76.1%, 61.3%, and 57.7%, with strong safety; End-of-Phase 2 FDA meeting is scheduled, breakthrough therapy designation has been requested, and BARDA funding proposal submitted .
- Balance sheet significantly strengthened to fund Phase 3: cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash were $516.9M at June 30, 2025 following a $402.5M upsized offering; CFO guided runway through completion of Phase 3 .
- Management guided initiation of Phase 3 no later than spring 2026 (Southern Hemisphere), with operational readiness to start as early as this fall pending FDA alignment — a potential near-term stock catalyst on FDA minutes and trial start clarity .
- Stock narrative likely pivots around regulatory milestones (FDA minutes, BTD decision), Phase 3 start timing, and BARDA outcome; positive efficacy versus historical vaccine effectiveness may support sentiment despite zero revenue .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Phase 2b NAVIGATE efficacy: single-dose CD388 conferred 76.1% (450mg), 61.3% (300mg), and 57.7% (150mg) protection over 24 weeks; clear dose response and favorable safety profile, a key de-risking event for Phase 3 .
- Regulatory and funding positioning: End-of-Phase 2 meeting scheduled; breakthrough therapy designation requested; BARDA proposal submitted — collectively improving the probability of expedited development and non-dilutive support .
- Capital strength: closed a $402.5M upsized offering; cash at quarter-end was $516.9M, with CFO stating funding is adequate through completion of the planned Phase 3 program .
Management quote:
- “The highly compelling results of our Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial… put us in a position of strength to execute on our Phase 3 plan…” — Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., CEO .
What Went Wrong
- No revenue: collaboration revenue fell to $0 versus $0.3M in Q2 2024, reflecting prior termination of the Janssen collaboration, leaving the P&L fully dependent on financing and interest income .
- Elevated R&D/OpEx: R&D rose to $24.8M (from $6.7M YoY) with G&A at $6.5M (from $4.7M YoY) as CD388 development ramped; while expected, it increases burn absent near-term revenue .
- One-time tailwinds: EPS improvement included a $3.9M reversal of indirect tax liabilities — helpful but non-recurring and not indicative of ongoing operating leverage .
Financial Results
Income Statement and EPS vs Prior Periods and Estimates
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Operating Expenses and Income
Balance Sheet Snapshot
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO framing of strategic position: “The highly compelling results… put us in a position of strength to execute on our Phase 3 plan…” .
- Efficacy significance: “Single doses of 450mg, 300mg and 150mg… confer seventy six, sixty one and fifty eight percent protection respectively… P values… <0.001, 0.0024 and 0.005” .
- Regulatory plan: “EOP2 meeting… later this month… operationally prepared to start [Phase 3] this fall should this become an option…” .
- CFO runway: “With the $500 plus million in cash on hand now, we believe we are adequately funded through the end of our Phase III program…” .
- CBO commercial read-through: vaccine pricing pressure underscores CD388’s focused high-risk strategy .
Q&A Highlights
- FDA alignment: Expectation of minimal changes from Type C to EOP2; will disclose details after FDA minutes, including design, dose, and timelines .
- BARDA scope: Base period funding for onshoring manufacturing; option periods could fund additional clinical studies; EUA could enable orders in outbreak scenarios (e.g., H5N1) .
- Attack rate assumptions: Despite higher-risk population, placebo attack rates in Phase 3 may be lower due to greater protection and vaccination; design anticipates this dynamic .
- Redosing plan: Follow-up redosing study leveraging NAVIGATE participants; prior data show no substantial ADA concerns; timelines to be aligned post-EOP2 .
- Scientific disclosures: Abstracts submitted to ISIRV and IDWeek; non-clinical ferret model efficacy against contemporary H5N1 accepted for oral presentation; PK/PD relationships to be presented .
Estimates Context
- Q2 2025 EPS beat: Actual $(1.65) versus consensus $(1.815); in-line revenue ($0 vs $0). Q1 2025 also beat on EPS, while Q4 2024 missed (actual $(5.38) vs $(3.85); revenue $0 vs $0.240M). Drivers include interest income and tax liability reversals, plus the absence of IPR&D in 2025 versus 2024 .*
- Post-quarter, consensus may refine operating loss expectations given one-time tax reversals and the ongoing R&D ramp for Phase 3; Street should focus on normalized OpEx trajectory and cash burn rate into trial start .*
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Clinical de-risking: Statistically significant Phase 2b efficacy with favorable safety and dose response materially increases probability of Phase 3 success and regulatory traction .
- Near-term catalysts: FDA EOP2 meeting minutes (design/timelines), breakthrough therapy decision, BARDA proposal outcome, and potential Phase 3 start as early as fall — each a stock-moving event .
- Funding visibility: $516.9M cash post offering; CFO indicates runway through Phase 3, reducing financing overhang near term .
- P&L optics: EPS beats aided by interest income and tax reversals; expect OpEx to track Phase 3 ramp; no revenue contribution near-term .
- Strategic positioning: Focus on high-need populations where vaccines underperform supports potential differentiation and payer value once approved .
- Index inclusion: Russell 2000/3000 addition broadens investor base and liquidity .
- Trading stance: Watch FDA minutes and any Phase 3 start announcement; strong efficacy narrative supports upside skew, with timing risk tied to regulatory alignment and BARDA decision windows .
Appendix: Additional Q2 2025 Press Releases and Prior Quarter Context
- Q2 2025 results PR: corporate updates, NAVIGATE data, cash, and conference call details .
- Pre-announcement for Q2 earnings: call logistics .
- External site recognition of NAVIGATE success (Segal Trials): reinforces efficacy and safety conclusions .
- Q1 2025 PR/8-K: data cutoff, topline timing, SAP modifications, Q1 financials .
- Q4/FY 2024 PR/8-K: enrollment complete; severe season enabling earlier analysis; financing history and FY P&L .