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PDS Biotechnology Corp (PDSB) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Financial Challenges ...

In This Article:

  • Net Loss: Approximately $10.7 million or $0.29 per basic and diluted share for Q3 2024.

  • Net Loss Comparison: $10.8 million or $0.35 per basic and diluted share for Q3 2023.

  • Research and Development Expenses: Increased to approximately $6.8 million for Q3 2024, up from $6.4 million in Q3 2023.

  • General and Administrative Expenses: Decreased to approximately $3.4 million for Q3 2024, from $4.1 million in Q3 2023.

  • Operating Expenses: Decreased to approximately $10.2 million for Q3 2024, down from $10.5 million in Q3 2023.

  • Net Interest Expenses: Increased to approximately $0.5 million for Q3 2024, up from $0.3 million in Q3 2023.

  • Cash and Cash Equivalents: Totaled approximately $50 million as of September 30, 2024.

Release Date: November 14, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Strong interest from investors and investigators in the VERSATILE-003 Phase III trial, indicating confidence in the study's potential.

  • Updated VERSATILE-003 trial design aims to reduce costs and time to achieve interim data readout while maintaining statistical power.

  • Encouraging data from the VERSATILE-002 study shows improved median overall survival and objective response rates compared to pembrolizumab alone.

  • Positive feedback from key opinion leaders and oncologists supports the potential of Versamune HPV as a targeted immunotherapy for HPV16-positive head and neck cancer.

  • PDS Biotechnology Corp (NASDAQ:PDSB) has a solid financial position with approximately $50 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024.

Negative Points

  • The net loss for the quarter was approximately $10.7 million, indicating ongoing financial challenges.

  • Research and development expenses increased, primarily due to higher manufacturing costs, which could impact future financial performance.

  • The evolving clinical trial landscape, including Merck's KEYNOTE-689 trial, presents potential competitive challenges.

  • The company faces uncertainties related to FDA approval timelines and the impact of other treatments on their target population.

  • The need for additional capital to expand the number of trial sites for VERSATILE-003 could delay broader trial implementation.

Q & A Highlights

Q: When would you expect an interim look at your VERSATILE-003 data, and what's your latest thinking on the opportunity for VERSATILE-003 given the changing landscape? A: We expect to start the VERSATILE-003 trial in the first quarter of 2025, with an interim data readout approximately 6 months after completing enrollment, which we estimate will take about 18 months. Regarding the landscape, despite the KEYNOTE-689 trial, our target population of HPV16-positive patients remains unaffected, as these patients are typically not candidates for surgery, which is a criterion for KEYNOTE-689.