CI
Celcuity Inc. (CELC)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 EPS missed S&P Global consensus as OpEx accelerated into pivotal program execution; GAAP EPS was -$0.85 vs S&P “Primary EPS” consensus -$0.71 (miss $0.14), and non-GAAP EPS was -$0.75 vs S&P “EPS Normalized” consensus -$0.67 (miss $0.08). Management attributed higher spend to VIKTORIA-1, the mCRPC study, and VIKTORIA-2 start-up, with R&D up to $33.5M (+85% YoY) and total OpEx $36.4M (+85% YoY) . S&P Global values marked with an asterisk; see disclaimer.
- Cash/short-term investments ended at ~$235.1M, with runway to fund current clinical development through 2026; Q4 operating cash burn rose to $27.8M from $20.6M in Q3 and $18.5M in Q4’23 .
- 2025 is framed as “transformational”: VIKTORIA-1 PIK3CA wild-type topline now guided to Q2 2025 (narrowed), mutant cohort in Q4 2025; VIKTORIA-2 first patient remains Q2 2025; Phase 1b/2 mCRPC preliminary data in late Q2 2025 .
- Regulatory path: management plans to request Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) post-WT readout and, if not granted, pursue Priority Review, aiming to compress timelines to an NDA submission within ~1–1.5 quarters after topline data .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- VIKTORIA-1 execution: PIK3CA wild-type cohort fully enrolled; WT topline guided for Q2 2025; mutant cohort topline Q4 2025 .
- Strategic positioning and tolerability: Company emphasized triplet blockade rationale and favorable discontinuation profile vs single-node PAM inhibitors; stomatitis prophylaxis expected to further reduce AEs in Phase 3 .
- Regulatory and launch readiness: Plan to seek RTOR and potentially Priority Review following WT topline; broad market access rationale favoring IV administration and medical benefit reimbursement category .
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What Went Wrong
- Earnings miss driven by spend: GAAP EPS (-$0.85) and non-GAAP EPS (-$0.75) missed S&P Global consensus (-$0.71 Primary; -$0.67 Normalized), as R&D increased to $33.5M and total OpEx to $36.4M, reflecting Phase 3/Phase 1b/2 activity and VIKTORIA-2 commencement . S&P Global values marked with an asterisk; see disclaimer.
- Cash burn inflected: Operating cash outflow rose to $27.8M in Q4 vs $20.6M in Q3 and $18.5M in Q4’23, reflecting program ramp and working capital timing .
- Event-rate opacity: Management declined to detail event accrual status ahead of WT topline, maintaining only the quarter-level timing range, creating near-term uncertainty for traders .
Financial Results
Key P&L and Cash Metrics (oldest → newest)
Q4 YoY comparison
Q4 2024 EPS vs S&P Global Consensus
- Non-GAAP adjustments exclude stock-based comp, non-cash interest expense, and non-cash interest income; reconciling tables provided in the press release .
KPIs
- Cash runway: “expected to fund current clinical development program activities through 2026” .
- Net operating cash outflow trajectory (Q2→Q3→Q4): $18.1M → $20.6M → $27.8M .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We expect 2025 to be a transformational year for Celcuity… including primary analysis for the PIK3CA wild-type cohort of the VIKTORIA-1 trial… topline data in Q2 2025.” — Brian Sullivan, CEO .
- “Our view is that the underlying biological drivers… ER, CDK4/6 and PAM… simultaneous blockade… offers the best opportunity to optimize antitumor control.” .
- “We would hope to initiate a RTOR request soon after we have our topline data… and… complete the overall package within 1–1.5 quarters after we get our topline data.” .
- CFO: “Q4 is a relevant peg… we will continue to increase some kind of prelaunch activities, 10% or so.” .
Additional supportive PR in Q4: SABCS OS data reported median OS 77.3 months in treatment-naïve and 33.9 months post-CDK4/6, favorably comparing to standard regimens; rationale for ER/CDK4/6/PAM triplet strategy .
Q&A Highlights
- Event accrual status for WT: management declined specifics; focus remains on Q2 2025 topline timing .
- NDA strategy: RTOR request planned; if not, seek Priority Review; submission could start within months of RTOR and complete within ~1–1.5 quarters post-topline .
- Topline disclosure scope: expect median PFS per arm and hazard ratios for two primary analyses in WT cohort; full data at next major meeting .
- Competitive dynamics: inavolisib’s metabolic monitoring burden and label nuances noted; geda positioned for WT and MT irrespective of metabolic status .
- 2025 spend cadence: R&D/G&A to roughly track Q4 run-rate with ~10% prelaunch increase .
Estimates Context
- Q4 2024 EPS vs S&P Global: GAAP (Primary) EPS -$0.85 vs -$0.71 consensus (miss $0.14); Non-GAAP (Normalized) EPS -$0.75 vs -$0.67 consensus (miss $0.08). Number of estimates: 7 for EPS and revenue . S&P Global values marked with an asterisk; see disclaimer.
- Revenue consensus was $0.0, consistent with development-stage profile; no revenue reported in the release .
- Implications: Street may need to modestly raise 2025 OpEx and cash burn assumptions given CFO’s commentary on prelaunch spend and the Q4 burn step-up .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Near-term binary catalysts: WT topline in Q2 2025; RTOR/priority review path could compress timelines; mutant cohort topline in Q4 2025 .
- Q4 EPS miss reflects deliberate acceleration of pivotal and launch-readiness activities; R&D spend drivers are clear and program-specific .
- Cash runway through 2026 provides capacity to reach multiple data readouts without near-term financing, though quarterly burn is rising ($27.8M in Q4) .
- Competitive setup may favor geda if WT benefit and tolerability are confirmed; inavolisib label/monitoring burden and population constraints create differentiation .
- Expect focus on hazard ratios and PFS deltas at topline; management emphasized HR as more comparable across heterogeneous studies .
- VIKTORIA-2 broad, global footprint (~200 sites) positions first-line program for rapid enrollment post safety run-in .
- Trading lens: anticipate volatility into WT readout; upside if efficacy/tolerability align with Phase 1b signals and market access thesis; downside if PFS delta/HR underwhelm. Timing clarity reduces event risk drift .
Values with an asterisk were retrieved from S&P Global:
- Q4 2024 S&P Global consensus: Primary EPS -$0.7086*, EPS Normalized -$0.67*, Revenue $0.0*, number of estimates: 7* [GetEstimates].