SB
Skye Bioscience, Inc. (SKYE)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 was a heavy investment quarter ahead of Phase 2a topline, with net loss widening to $17.6M and EPS of $(0.44) vs S&P Global consensus of $(0.30), a miss driven largely by manufacturing and clinical resupply costs for nimacimab and Phase 2b preparations . EPS consensus values marked with an asterisk are from S&P Global.*
- Cash and short-term investments were $48.6M, and management reiterated runway “through at least Q1 2027,” supporting completion of Phase 2a, initial Phase 2b manufacturing, and preparatory activities .
- Clinical execution remained on track: DSMC completed its fourth unblinded review with no concerns; the 26-week extension study began enrolling, keeping late Q3/early Q4 2025 Phase 2a topline timing intact .
- New preclinical data underscored nimacimab’s differentiated CB1 mechanism: additive efficacy with low-dose tirzepatide, superior post-treatment weight durability vs incretin therapy, and reduced rebound when used as maintenance after incretin treatment—bolstering combination and maintenance positioning .
- Near-term catalysts: Sept 4 KOL event at Nasdaq; Phase 2a 26-week topline in late Q3/early Q4 2025—key potential stock reaction drivers .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Clinical momentum and safety: “The independent Data Safety Monitoring Committee has completed four unblinded reviews with no concerns raised” and extension enrollment has begun, reinforcing program continuity and patient interest .
- Differentiated mechanism and optionality: Preclinical updates showed the nimacimab + suboptimal tirzepatide combo achieved 44% vehicle-adjusted weight loss and outperformed an optimal tirzepatide dose; nimacimab also showed superior durability post-treatment and reduced rebound as a maintenance therapy .
- Capital planning and CMC execution: First resupply batch released for Phase 2a; collaboration initiated with Arecor to develop higher-concentration formulations to support longer dosing intervals and lifecycle management .
What Went Wrong
- EPS miss vs consensus: Q2 EPS of $(0.44) vs $(0.30)* reflected higher-than-anticipated R&D from contract manufacturing and clinical costs; management cited ~$9.1M H1 contract manufacturing spend tied to Phase 2a extension resupply and Phase 2b supply .*
- Operating spend ramp: R&D rose to $14.3M (vs $4.1M y/y), widening operating loss to $(18.2)M as the company scaled for clinical and CMC activities .
- No revenue offset: As a pre-commercial biotech, results remain entirely expense-driven with no product revenue, leaving P&L sensitive to development cadence and manufacturing timing .
Financial Results
Income statement snapshot (oldest → newest)
EPS vs S&P Global consensus (oldest → newest)
Values marked with an asterisk (*) are from S&P Global.
Balance sheet and liquidity (period-end, oldest → newest)
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “The Phase 2a CBEYOND trial is advancing as planned, on budget and ahead of schedule… We remain on track to deliver top line results by late Q3, early Q4.”
- “We ended the second quarter with cash and short term investments totaling $48,600,000… projected to fund operations and key clinical milestones through at least Q1 2027.”
- On combo/maintenance positioning: “Nimacimab… is not just an alternative. We believe it’s a next generation backbone candidate for durable, combinable, and more accessible obesity care.”
- On formulation strategy (Arecor): targeting higher concentration than 100 mg/mL to enable longer or less frequent dosing; current clinic uses 100 mg/mL .
Q&A Highlights
- R&D step-up drivers: ~$9.1M H1 contract manufacturing tied to Phase 2a extension resupply and Phase 2b supply; reflects deliberate scaling to minimize downtime between trials .
- Efficacy objectives: Phase 2a designed to detect ~8% placebo-adjusted difference with 80% power; a 5–8% range would be a “strong signal of biological activity” for mechanism validation, safety/tolerability, and progression to dose-ranging Phase 2b .
- Discontinuation and maintenance opportunity: Real-world incretin discontinuation provides a sizable maintenance market where nimacimab’s tolerability and peripheral mechanism may sustain weight loss; extension eligibility ~50% due to timing/logistics and dropouts typical for obesity studies .
- Durability follow-up: 13-week durability follow-up after extension means durability data are a 2026 event .
Estimates Context
- Q2 2025 EPS: $(0.44) vs S&P Global consensus $(0.30)* → miss of $(0.14); revenue consensus $0 and no product revenue reported .*
- Prior comparisons: Q1 2025 EPS $(0.28) vs $(0.29); Q2 2024 EPS $(0.20) vs $(0.195)—both essentially in line historically, making this quarter’s miss notable as CMC costs ramped .*
- FY 2025 EPS consensus: $(1.38); directionally, sustained R&D/CMC spend trajectory may pressure near-term EPS absent offsets; magnitude will depend on Phase 2a readout and Phase 2b initiation pace.
Values marked with an asterisk (*) are from S&P Global.
KPIs and Operational Milestones
Key Takeaways for Investors
- EPS miss was investment-driven: Quarter reflects front-loaded CMC/manufacturing and trial resupply ahead of topline; not an efficacy/safety signal—DSMC again clean .
- Clinical catalysts are near: Late Q3/early Q4 topline can reframe the narrative; watch placebo-adjusted weight loss and safety/tolerability given design power around ~8% .
- Differentiation growing: Combo efficacy vs optimal tirzepatide, superior post-treatment durability, and maintenance effect positions nimacimab in a potentially complementary role to incretins, with a cleaner tolerability profile due to peripheral restriction .
- Runway de-risks near-term execution: Funding through at least Q1 2027 supports Phase 2a completion and Phase 2b preparatory work without immediate financing risk .
- Trading setup: Stock likely sensitive to KOL event (Sept 4) and Phase 2a topline; any clear signal in the 5–8% placebo-adjusted range with clean GI and neuropsychiatric profile could drive re-rating; downside if efficacy falls below expectations or safety surprises emerge .
- Medium-term thesis: If Phase 2a supports mechanism and tolerability, Phase 2b dose-ranging plus CMC advances (higher concentration) could expand optionality across monotherapy, combo, and maintenance settings .
Values marked with an asterisk () are from S&P Global.*