Upstream Bio Inc.

11/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/05/2025 06:11

Quarterly Report for Quarter Ending September 30, 2025 (Form 10-Q)

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2024 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for inflammatory diseases, with an initial focus on severe respiratory disorders. We are developing verekitug, the only known antagonist currently in clinical development that targets the receptor for Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin ("TSLP"), a cytokine which is a clinically validated driver of inflammatory response positioned upstream of multiple signaling cascades that affect a variety of immune mediated diseases. Preclinical and clinical data to date demonstrate verekitug's highly potent inhibition of the TSLP receptor, which we believe will translate to a differentiated product profile, including improved clinical outcomes, substantially extended dosing intervals and the potential to treat a broad spectrum of patients. We have advanced this highly potent monoclonal antibody into separate Phase 2 trials for the treatment of severe asthma, including a long-term safety and efficacy extension study ("Phase 2 LTE"), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps ("CRSwNP"), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ("COPD"). We reported positive top-line results in CRSwNP in September 2025. We completed enrollment in our severe asthma Phase 2 trial in June 2025 and anticipate reporting top-line data from this trial in the first quarter of 2026. We initiated our Phase 2 COPD trial in July 2025. Our experienced team is committed to maximizing verekitug's unique attributes to address the substantial unmet needs for patients underserved by today's standard of care.

Since our inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, establishing licensing, building our proprietary platform technologies, developing verekitug, establishing our intellectual property portfolio, conducting research, preclinical studies, and clinical trials, establishing arrangements with third parties for the manufacture of verekitug and related raw materials, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the issuance and sale of our redeemable convertible preferred stock and proceeds from our initial public offering ("IPO"). As of September 30, 2025, we have received total gross proceeds of $400.0 million from the issuance and sale of our redeemable convertible preferred stock. In October 2024, we completed our IPO in which we issued and sold 17,250,000 shares of our common stock, including 2,250,000 shares pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares, at a price to the public of $17.00 per share. As a result of the IPO, we received $268.8 million in net proceeds, after deducting $20.5 million in underwriting discounts and commissions, and $3.9 million in other offering costs.

We have incurred significant net operating losses and negative cash flows since our inception. Our ability to generate product revenue sufficient to achieve profitability, if ever, will depend on the successful development, regulatory approval and eventual commercialization of verekitug and any other potential future product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years. For the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, we reported net losses of $33.7 million and $16.0 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, we reported net losses of $101.0 million and $41.6 million, respectively. Our net losses have resulted principally from costs incurred in our research and development activities. As of September 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $291.8 million, and we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $372.4 million. Based on our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2027.

We expect to continue to incur significant net operating losses for the foreseeable future. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if, and as we:

continue to conduct our ongoing clinical trials of verekitug, including our global Phase 2 clinical trials, as well as initiate and complete additional clinical trials of verekitug in new indications or patient populations;
conduct larger-scale clinical trials for verekitug or any potential future product candidates;
manufacture, or have manufactured, clinical and commercial supplies of verekitug;
seek regulatory approvals, prepare for and, if approved, proceed to commercialization for verekitug in current or new indications or any potential future product candidates;
attract, hire and retain additional clinical, scientific, and management personnel;
implement operational, financial, and management information systems;
add quality control, quality assurance, legal, compliance, and other groups to support our operations;
obtain, maintain, protect, expand and enforce our intellectual property portfolio, including intellectual property obtained through license agreements;
defend against any claims by third parties that we have infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any intellectual property of any such third party;
make royalty, milestone or other payments under current, and any future, license or collaboration agreements;
establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure, either ourselves or in partnership with others, to commercialize verekitug, if approved;
potentially experience any delays, challenges, or other issues associated with the clinical development of verekitug and any potential future product candidates, including with respect to our regulatory strategies; and
incur additional legal, accounting, investor relations and other general and administrative expenses associated with operating as a public company.

Our net operating losses may fluctuate significantly from period to period, depending upon the timing of our expenditures on research and development activities. Cash used to fund operating expenses is impacted by the timing of when we pay these expenses, as reflected in the change in our accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

As a result, we will need additional financing to support our continuing operations. To date, we have funded our operations primarily with the sale of our redeemable convertible preferred stock and the proceeds from our IPO. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales since our inception. We do not expect to generate revenue from any product candidates that we develop until we obtain regulatory approval for one or more of such product candidates and commercialize our products or enter into collaboration arrangements with third parties. Until we can generate sufficient product revenue to finance our cash requirements, if ever, we expect to fund our operations through equity offerings or debt financings, credit or loan facilities, potentially other capital resources, or a combination of one or more of these funding sources. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into other agreements or arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements as and when needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back, or discontinue the development or commercialization of verekitug and one or more potential future product candidates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research and development of product candidates, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to generate revenue from product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations.

Asset purchase and license agreements

Below is a summary of the key terms for certain of our asset purchase and license agreements. For a more detailed description of these agreements, see the section titled "Business-Asset purchase and license agreements" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

Asset purchase agreement with Astellas and related letter agreement with Astellas and Regeneron

In October 2021, we entered into an asset purchase agreement (the "Astellas Asset Purchase Agreement") with Astellas Pharma, Inc. ("Astellas"). Pursuant to the Astellas Asset Purchase Agreement, we purchased from Astellas the compound designated by Astellas as ASP7266 (the "Compound," which was subsequently renamed by us as verekitug). There are no future payments owed to Astellas under the Astellas Asset Purchase Agreement.

In connection with the Astellas Asset Purchase Agreement, we concurrently entered into a letter agreement (the "Regeneron Letter Agreement") with Astellas and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Regeneron").

The Regeneron Letter Agreement relates to a prior Non-Exclusive License and Material Transfer Agreement (the "Terminated Regeneron License Agreement") that Regeneron and Astellas entered into in March 2007, as amended in July 2010 and subsequently terminated in June 2018, subject to certain surviving rights and obligations of both Regeneron and Astellas. Under the Terminated Regeneron License Agreement, Astellas utilized Regeneron's human antibody technology in its internal research programs to discover certain product candidates, including the Compound, which it sold to us under the Astellas Asset Purchase Agreement.

Under the Regeneron Letter Agreement, Astellas assigned and transferred to us and we assumed and accepted certain of Astellas' surviving rights and obligations under the Terminated Regeneron License Agreement, including Astellas' royalty payment, reporting and indemnification obligations in connection with activities conducted by us or on our behalf with respect to the Compound. By assuming and accepting Astellas' surviving obligations under the Terminated Regeneron License Agreement, we are required to pay Regeneron mid-single-digit percentage royalties on aggregate worldwide net sales of any product developed by or on behalf of us that contains the Compound as an ingredient or component of the materials sold (a "Royalty Product") during the royalty term. The royalties are determined on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis and expire on the later of (i) a specified number of years after the launch of a given Royalty Product in a given country and (ii) the expiration of the last valid claim of royalty bearing company patent rights claiming or covering such Royalty Product in such country. To date, we have not made any royalty payments to Regeneron under the Regeneron Letter Agreement.

Exclusive license agreement with Maruho

In October 2021, we entered into a license agreement with Maruho (as amended, the "Maruho License Agreement"), under which we granted Maruho an exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, sublicensable (subject to our right of first negotiation) license. Under the Maruho License Agreement, Maruho is responsible for and controls, at its sole expense, (i) the preparation, filing, prosecution, obtaining and maintaining all regulatory approvals in Japan and (ii) the promotion, marketing, sale and commercialization in Japan.

Pursuant to the Maruho License Agreement, we maintain our responsibility for and control the global research and development of the Maruho license product, including in Japan. We will conduct specified clinical trial activities for Japan as part of our global research and development plan. Maruho will reimburse us for the costs of these research and development activities, including the cost of drug supply. Apart from reimbursement of qualifying research and development expenses, Maruho is not obligated to make any future payments under the Maruho License Agreement.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, we received payments from Maruho in the amount of $2.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

License agreement with Lonza

In October 2021, in connection with the Astellas Asset Purchase Agreement, we entered into a license agreement with Lonza Sales AG ("Lonza") (as amended, the "Lonza License Agreement"). Pursuant to the Lonza License Agreement, we obtained a worldwide, non-exclusive, sublicensable (subject to Lonza's right of pre-approval with respect to any sublicense of manufacturing activities) license to certain intellectual property rights owned by Lonza. Lonza was the originator of the master cell bank for the Compound developed by Astellas. As consideration for the rights and licenses granted to us under the Lonza License Agreement, we agreed to pay Lonza certain royalties and annual payments, both payable in Swiss francs, in respect of the manufacturing and sale of the Compound, such amounts to be determined by the party manufacturing the Compound, and range from no annual payment to up to a mid-six figure annual payment, and a less-than-one percent to a low-single-digit percentage royalty on net sales of the Compound. In accordance with the Lonza License Agreement, we entered into a sublicense with Wuxi Biologics (Hong Kong) Limited to manufacture the Compound, requiring us to pay a mid-six-figure annual fee to Lonza pursuant to this provision. Any royalties due under the Lonza License Agreement are payable on a country-by-country basis until ten years from the first commercial sale of the Compound in that particular country. The Lonza agreement continues for an indefinite period of time unless otherwise terminated. We have the right to terminate the Lonza License Agreement at any time by providing prior written notice to Lonza. During the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, we made an annual payment to Lonza in the amount of $0.5 million pursuant to the Lonza License Agreement. These payments are recognized as research and development expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. To date, we have not made any royalty payments to Lonza under the Lonza License Agreement.

Components of our results of operations

Collaboration revenue

To date, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and do not expect to generate any revenue from product sales in the foreseeable future. All of our collaboration revenue has been derived from the Maruho License Agreement. If our development efforts for verekitug or any potential future product candidates are successful and result in regulatory approval, or if we enter into collaboration or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from product sales, royalties or payments from such collaboration or license agreements, or a combination of product sales and payments from such agreements.

Operating expenses

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our preclinical research and clinical development of verekitug, which include:

expenses incurred under agreements with third parties, including contract research organizations ("CROs"), contract manufacturing organizations ("CMOs"), and investigative sites that conduct clinical trials on our behalf, and costs related to the Maruho License Agreement;
salaries, benefits and other related costs, including stock-based compensation expense, for personnel engaged in research and development functions and costs related to the Maruho License Agreement;
costs of outside consultants, including their fees and related travel expenses; and
costs associated with license agreements to support the development of our technology.

We expense all research and development expenses in the periods in which they are incurred. Our direct research and development expenses are tracked on an indication-by-indication basis and consist of costs that include CROs and investigative sites that conduct clinical trials on our behalf, third party vendors that conduct research and preclinical studies on our behalf and outside consulting costs directly allocable to an indication. We do not allocate costs related to CMOs that manufacture verekitug for use in our preclinical studies and clinical trials as they are not distinguishable by indication but support all current and potential indications under our verekitug program. Additionally, we do not allocate costs for employee costs, including stock-based compensation, consulting, or other indirect costs that cannot be directly allocated to a specific indication.

We expect that our research and development expenses will increase in the future as we advance verekitug through clinical trials and any potential future product candidates that we may develop through preclinical studies and clinical trials, in pursuit of regulatory approval. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials.

At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of verekitug and any potential future product candidates. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflows will commence from sales or licensing of verekitug or any potential future product candidates. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, including the uncertainty of:

the scope, timing, progress, costs and results of the ongoing development of verekitug as well as for potential discovery, preclinical development and clinical trials for other potential future product candidates;
the number of clinical trials required for regulatory approval of verekitug or our potential future product candidates;
the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of verekitug or our potential future product candidates;
the costs associated with acquiring or licensing additional product candidates, technologies or assets, including the timing and amount of any milestones, royalties or other payments due in connection with our acquisitions and licenses;
the cost of manufacturing clinical supplies of verekitug or our potential future product candidates;
the costs associated with hiring additional clinical, quality control, medical, scientific and other technical personnel to support the ongoing development of verekitug;
the costs associated with increasing our headcount as we expand our research and development organization and market development and pre-commercial planning activities;
the effectiveness of our approach to identifying target patient populations;
our ability to maintain existing, and establish new, strategic collaborations or other arrangements and the financial terms of any such agreements, including the timing and amount of any future milestone, royalty or other payments due under any such agreement;
the effect of macroeconomic trends including inflation and rising interest rates; and
addressing any potential supply chain interruptions or delays.

A change in the outcome of any of these factors or underlying variables with respect to the development of a product candidate could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits, including stock-based compensation expense, for personnel in executive, finance, accounting, legal, human resources, business development, information technology, and other administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees relating to patents and corporate matters; professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting services; insurance costs; travel expenses; and facility-related expenses, which include depreciation costs and expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs.

We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our headcount and expand our infrastructure to support the continued research and development of our programs and the growth of our business. We also expect to incur increased expenses associated with operating as a public company, including costs of accounting, audit, legal, regulatory, tax-related services, compliance with SEC rules and regulations and listing requirements, director and officer insurance premiums and investor relations costs.

Other income (expense)

Change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liability

In connection with our Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock ("Series B Preferred Stock") financing, we issued shares under a stock purchase agreement that provided an obligation for us to issue additional Series B Preferred Stock in subsequent closings upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. The Series B tranche right liability was settled in April 2024 upon the satisfaction of relevant conditions. We classified the preferred stock tranche right as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets and initially recorded it at fair value upon the issuance date of the right. We remeasured the tranche right liability to fair value at each reporting date and immediately prior to being settled, and recognized changes in the fair value of the preferred stock tranche right liability as a component of other income (expense) in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Upon settlement of the tranche right, we derecognized the related liability, and stopped recognizing changes in the fair value of the preferred stock tranche right liability.

Interest income

Interest income consists of interest earned on money market funds, U.S. treasury bills and U.S. government agency bond investments.

Other income (expense), net

Other income (expense), net consists of miscellaneous income and expense unrelated to our core operations.

Income taxes

We recorded a full valuation allowance of our deferred tax asset position as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 as we believe it was more likely than not that we would not be able to utilize our deferred tax assets.

As of December 31, 2024, we had federal and state net operating losses ("NOLs") carryforwards of $37.6 million and $49.1 million, respectively. The federal NOLs are not subject to expiration and are limited in utilization to 80% of taxable income and the state NOLs begin to expire in 2041. As of December 31, 2024, we had federal and state research and development credits of $3.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively, which will, if not utilized, begin to expire in 2043 and 2037, respectively.

On July 4, 2025, new U.S tax legislation was signed into law (known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" or "OBBBA") which makes permanent many of the tax provisions enacted in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that were set to expire at the end of 2025. In addition, the OBBBA makes changes to certain U.S. corporate tax provisions, but many are generally not effective until 2026. The impacts of the OBBBA are not expected to be material to the 2025 consolidated financial statements, however we will continue to evaluate impacts to future periods.

Results of operations

Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024:

Three Months Ended September 30,

2025

2024

Change

(in thousands)

Collaboration revenue

$

683

$

607

$

76

Operating expenses:

Research and development

32,975

15,433

17,542

General and administrative

5,542

4,067

1,475

Total operating expenses

38,517

19,500

19,017

Loss from operations

(37,834

)

(18,893

)

(18,941

)

Other income (expense):

Interest income

4,105

2,904

1,201

Other expense, net

(19

)

(3

)

(16

)

Total other income, net

4,086

2,901

1,185

Net loss

$

(33,748

)

$

(15,992

)

$

(17,756

)

Collaboration revenue

Collaboration revenue was $0.7 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024. Revenue during each of the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 was primarily related to the work performed associated with our Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with severe asthma under the Maruho License Agreement.

Research and development expenses

Three Months Ended September 30,

2025

2024

Change

(in thousands)

Direct research and development expenses by program:

Verekitug program:

Asthma indication

$

12,554

$

7,073

$

5,481

COPD indication

9,669

80

9,589

CRSwNP indication

1,759

2,365

(606

)

Unallocated research and development expense:

Manufacturing costs

2,542

2,179

363

Personnel expenses (including stock-based compensation)

4,916

2,503

2,413

Professional fees

804

418

386

Other unallocated expenses

731

815

(84

)

Total research and development expense

$

32,975

$

15,433

$

17,542

Research and development expenses were $33.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to $15.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase of $17.6 million was primarily driven by an increase of $14.5 million in expenses directly related to our verekitug program and $3.1 million of unallocated research and development expenses.

The increase in direct costs of $5.5 million related to the asthma indication was primarily due to the continued progress associated with our Phase 2 clinical trial and Phase 2 LTE study during the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The increase in direct costs of $9.6 million related to the COPD indication was due to the costs associated with planning activities for our COPD Phase 2 clinical trial for which there were no comparable expenses during the same period in 2024.

The decrease in direct costs of $0.6 million related to the CRSwNP indication was primarily due to wind down activities associated with our Phase 2 clinical trial during the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

The increase in personnel expenses of $2.4 million was primarily due to increased headcount in our research and development function. Personnel expenses for each of the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 included stock-based compensation expense of $0.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The increase in manufacturing costs of $0.4 million was primarily attributable to an increase in CMO costs for the development of Phase 3 clinical material, partially offset by a decrease in CMO costs for the development of Phase 2 clinical material during the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The increase of $0.4 million in professional fees was related to clinical consulting services to support our verekitug program.

General and administrative expenses

Three Months Ended September 30,

2025

2024

Change

(in thousands)

Personnel expenses (including stock-based compensation)

$

3,571

$

2,839

$

732

Professional fees

1,080

880

200

Other

891

348

543

Total general and administrative expense

$

5,542

$

4,067

$

1,475

General and administrative expenses were $5.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 compared to $4.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase of $1.4 million was primarily driven by an increase in personnel expenses of $0.7 million due to increased headcount in our general and administrative functions. Personnel expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 included stock-based compensation expense of $1.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Additionally, there was an increase of $0.2 million of professional fees primarily related to increased consulting and market research costs. Other expenses increased by $0.5 million primarily due to an increase in corporate insurance.

Other income

Interest income

Interest income was $4.1 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, representing an increase of $1.2 million. The increase in interest income was due to increased balances in our money market funds, U.S. treasury bills and U.S. government agency bonds held during the three months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024:

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2025

2024

Change

(in thousands)

Collaboration revenue

$

2,186

$

1,757

$

429

Operating expenses:

Research and development

96,637

41,193

55,444

General and administrative

19,743

12,010

7,733

Total operating expenses

116,380

53,203

63,177

Loss from operations

(114,194

)

(51,446

)

(62,748

)

Other income (expense):

Change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liabilities

-

2,859

(2,859

)

Interest income

13,279

7,047

6,232

Other expense, net

(69

)

(24

)

(45

)

Total other income, net

13,210

9,882

3,328

Net loss

$

(100,984

)

$

(41,564

)

$

(59,420

)

Collaboration revenue

Collaboration revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 was $2.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively. Revenue during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 was primarily related to the work performed associated with our Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with severe asthma under the Maruho License Agreement.

Research and development expenses

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2025

2024

Change

(in thousands)

Direct research and development expenses by program:

Verekitug program:

Asthma indication

$

35,811

$

20,175

$

15,636

COPD indication

22,159

82

22,077

CRSwNP indication

6,760

6,000

760

Unallocated research and development expense:

Manufacturing costs

14,671

3,820

10,851

Personnel expenses (including stock-based compensation)

13,130

7,343

5,787

Professional fees

1,872

1,438

434

Other unallocated expenses

2,234

2,335

(101

)

Total research and development expense

$

96,637

$

41,193

$

55,444

Research and development expenses were $96.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to $41.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase of $55.4 million was primarily driven by an increase of $38.4 million in expenses directly related to our verekitug program and $17.0 million of unallocated research and development expenses.

The increase in direct costs of $22.1 million related to the COPD indication was due to the costs associated with planning activities for our COPD Phase 2 clinical trial for which there were no comparable expenses during the same period in 2024. The increase in direct costs of $15.6 million related to the asthma indication was primarily due to the continued progress associated with our Phase 2 clinical trial and Phase 2 LTE study during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The increase in direct costs of $0.7 million related to the CRSwNP indication was primarily due to continued progress associated with our Phase 2 clinical trial during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

The increase in manufacturing costs of $10.9 million was primarily attributable to an increase in CMO costs for the development of Phase 3 clinical material during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The increase in personnel expenses of $5.8 million was primarily due to increased headcount in our research and development function. Personnel expenses for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 included stock-based compensation expense of $2.0 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The increase of $0.4 million in professional fees was primarily related to clinical consulting services to support our verekitug program.

We begin to separately track program expenses at development candidate nomination. Through September 30, 2025, we have incurred approximately $86.8 million, $25.3 million and $20.7 million in direct external expenses for the development of verekitug for severe asthma, COPD and CRSwNP, respectively, since their development candidate nominations.

General and administrative expenses

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2025

2024

Change

(in thousands)

Personnel expenses (including stock-based compensation)

$

11,576

$

7,529

$

4,047

Professional fees

4,973

3,340

1,633

Other

3,194

1,141

2,053

Total general and administrative expense

$

19,743

$

12,010

$

7,733

General and administrative expenses were $19.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 compared to $12.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase of $7.7 million was primarily driven by an increase in personnel expenses of $4.0 million due to increased headcount in our general and administrative functions. Personnel expenses for the nine months ended

September 30, 2025 and 2024 included stock-based compensation expense of $5.8 million and $3.1 million, respectively. Additionally, there was an increase of $1.6 million of professional fees primarily related to legal fees and recruiting fees. Other expenses increased by $2.1 million primarily due to an increase in corporate insurance and occupancy costs.

Other income (expense)

Change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liability

We recorded other income for the change in the fair value of the preferred stock tranche right liability of $2.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 related to the Series B preferred stock tranche right liability, for which there was no comparable income during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 as the Series B was settled in April 2024. The change in fair value of the Series B preferred stock tranche right liability was due to changes in the assumptions used in the valuation model during the period, including the estimated fair value of the Series B Preferred Stock, volatility and estimated time to the tranche closing.

Interest income

Interest income was $13.3 million and $7.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively, representing an increase of $6.3 million. The increase in interest income was due to increased balances in our money market funds, U.S. treasury bills and U.S. government agency bonds held during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Liquidity and capital resources

Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. We have not yet commercialized verekitug and we do not expect to generate revenue from product sales of verekitug for the next several years, if at all. To date, we have funded our operations primarily with the sale of our redeemable convertible preferred stock and the proceeds from our IPO. Through September 30, 2025, we have received gross proceeds of $400.0 million from the issuance and sale of our redeemable convertible preferred stock and $268.8 million in net proceeds from our IPO. As of September 30, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $372.4 million.

Cash flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2025

2024

(in thousands)

Net cash used in operating activities

$

(102,644

)

$

(39,560

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(152,422

)

(101,393

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

1,338

148,262

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

$

(253,728

)

$

7,309

Operating activities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, operating activities used $102.6 million of cash, resulting primarily from our net loss of $101.0 million, changes in operating assets and liabilities of $7.2 million and non-cash amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on short-term investments of $2.9 million, partially offset by non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $7.8 million. Net cash used in changes in operating assets and liabilities was primarily driven by a $7.8 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets due to upfront payments to CROs for planning activities associated with our COPD Phase 2 trial and our Phase 2 LTE study in patients with severe asthma and a $0.4 million decrease in operating lease liabilities, partially offset by a $1.2 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, operating activities used $39.6 million of cash, resulting primarily from our net loss of $41.6 million, non-cash changes in fair value of the preferred stock tranche right liability of $2.9 million, and non-cash amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on short-term investments of $2.3 million, partially offset by changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3.2 million and non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $3.9 million. Net cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities was primarily driven by a $2.9 million increase in accounts payable and a $1.1 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and a $0.5 million increase in accounts receivable. The increase in accounts receivable resulted primarily from the timing of

revenue recognition compared to the timing of payments from Maruho for qualifying reimbursable expenses related to the Maruho License Agreement.

For all periods presented, changes in prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities not described above were generally due to the growth in our business, the advancement of our clinical programs, and the timing of vendor invoicing and payments.

Investing activities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, net cash used in investing activities was $152.4 million, consisting primarily of purchases of short-term investments of $347.6 million, net of maturities of short-term investments of $195.3 million and purchases of property and equipment of $0.1 million.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $101.4 million, consisting primarily of purchases of short-term investments of $248.4 million, net of maturities of short-term investments of $147.3 million and purchases of property and equipment of $0.3 million.

Financing activities

During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, net cash provided by financing activities was $1.2 million, consisting primarily of net proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $148.3 million, consisting of $149.9 million in net proceeds from the issuance of Series B Preferred Stock and $0.1 million in net proceeds from the exercise of stock options, partially offset by $1.8 million in payments of deferred offering costs.

Funding requirements

We expect our research and development and general and administrative expenses and our operating losses will increase in the future as we advance verekitug through clinical trials and any potential future product candidates that we may develop through preclinical studies and clinical trials, in pursuit of regulatory approval. Due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research, development and commercialization of product candidates, changes in the outcome of any factors with respect to the development of a product candidate could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. In addition, we expect to incur increased expenses associated with operating as a public company.

Our business plans may change in the future and we will continue to require additional capital to meet the needs of our operating expenses. See the section titled "Risk factors-Risks related to our limited operating history, financial condition and need for additional capital" included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2027. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we expect.

Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a common stockholder. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making acquisitions or capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates, or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or other arrangements when needed, we would be required to delay, scale back or discontinue our research, product development or future commercialization efforts, or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

Contractual obligations and other commitments

Asset acquisition from Astellas and related letter agreement with Astellas and Regeneron

In October 2021, we entered into the Astellas Asset Purchase Agreement with Astellas, and concurrently entered into the Regeneron Letter Agreement with Astellas and Regeneron.

Under the Regeneron Letter Agreement, Astellas assigned and transferred to us and we assumed and accepted certain of Astellas' surviving rights and obligations under the Terminated Regeneron License Agreement. By assuming and accepting Astellas' surviving obligations under the Terminated Regeneron License Agreement, we are required to pay Regeneron mid-single-digit percentage royalties on aggregate worldwide net sales of a Royalty Product during the royalty term.

The royalties are determined on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis and expire on the later of (i) a specified number of years after the launch of a given Royalty Product in a given country and (ii) the expiration of the last valid claim of royalty bearing company patent rights claiming or covering such Royalty Product in such country.

To date, we have not made any royalty payments to Regeneron under the Regeneron Letter Agreement.

License agreement with Lonza

As consideration for the rights and licenses granted to us under the Lonza License Agreement, we agreed to pay Lonza certain royalties and annual payments, both payable in Swiss francs, in respect of the manufacturing and sale of the Compound, such amounts to be determined by the party manufacturing the Compound, and range from no annual payment to up to a mid-six figure annual payment, and a less-than-one percent to a low-single-digit percentage royalty on net sales of the Compound. In accordance with the Lonza License Agreement, we entered into a sublicense with Wuxi Biologics (Hong Kong) Limited to manufacture the Compound, requiring us to pay a mid-six-figure annual fee to Lonza pursuant to this provision.

Any royalties due under the Lonza License Agreement are payable on a country-by-country basis until ten years from the first commercial sale of the Compound in that particular country.

During each of the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, we did not make any royalty payments to Lonza under the Lonza License Agreement. The Lonza agreement continues for an indefinite period of time unless otherwise terminated. We have the right to terminate the Lonza License Agreement at any time by providing prior written notice to Lonza.

During each of the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, we made an annual payment to Lonza in the amount of $0.5 million pursuant to the Lonza License Agreement. These payments were recognized as research and development expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Lease agreement

On July 3, 2024, we entered into a three-year agreement for office space located at 890 Winter Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. We began paying monthly rent starting one month after lease commencement. Initial base rent is approximately $0.7 million for the first year and approximately $0.8 million for the second and third year. The lease commenced in September 2024.

Research and development

We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs and investigator sites that conduct clinical trials on our behalf, CMOs that manufacture product candidates for use in our preclinical studies and clinical trials, and third-party vendors, including CROs, that conduct research and preclinical studies on our behalf. Prepayments under these arrangements can generally be repurposed or the services themselves cancelable upon prior written notice, though cancellation fees are likely. Payments due upon cancellation consist only of payments for services provided and expenses incurred up to the date of cancellation.

Critical accounting estimates and significant judgments

Our management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP"). The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known

trends and events, and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, there were no material changes to our critical accounting policies and significant judgments described under Management's Discussion and Analysis of Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

Recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements

A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

Emerging growth company and smaller reporting company status

The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the "JOBS Act"), permits an "emerging growth company" such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected not to "opt out" of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different effective dates for public and private companies, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard and will do so until the earlier of the date that we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) irrevocably elect to "opt out" of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. We may choose to early adopt any new or revised accounting standards whenever such early adoption is permitted for non-public companies.

We are also a "smaller reporting company," as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our common stock and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter or (ii) our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million.measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter. If we are a smaller reporting company at the time we cease to be an emerging growth company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.

Upstream Bio Inc. published this content on November 05, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Edgar on November 05, 2025 at 12:12 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]