Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis by our management of our financial position and results of operations in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included as part of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles and are presented in U.S. dollars.
REFERENCES TO ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION
Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (Form 10-Q), the “Company,” “Arbutus,” “we,” “us,” and “our,” except where the context requires otherwise, refer to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and its consolidated subsidiary.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities laws (we collectively refer to these items as “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “believes,” “may,” “plans,” “will,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “budgets,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “projects” and similar expressions that are not based on historical fact or that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q, including the documents incorporated by reference, include statements about, among other things:
• our strategy, future operations, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and prospects;
• our beliefs, plans and expectations regarding our patent infringement lawsuits against Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech;
• the potential for our product candidates to achieve their desired or anticipated outcomes;
• the expected cost, timing and results of our clinical development plans and clinical trials, including our clinical collaborations with third parties;
• the development and commercialization of a curative combination regimen for chronic hepatitis B infection, a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus;
• our aim to prevent complications of disease progression, to decrease hepatitis B virus burden by minimizing patient stigma and to address the need for finite and more efficacious hepatitis B virus treatments that further improve long-term outcomes and reduce associated healthcare costs;
• the potential of our product candidates to improve upon the standard of care and contribute to a functional curative combination treatment regimen;
• obtaining necessary regulatory approvals;
• obtaining adequate financing through a combination of financing activities and operations;
• the expected returns and benefits from strategic alliances, licensing agreements, and development collaborations with third parties, and the timing thereof;
• our expectations regarding our technology licensed to third parties, and the timing thereof;
• our anticipated revenue and expense fluctuation and guidance;
• our expectations regarding the timing of announcing data from our ongoing clinical trials;
• our expectations regarding our net cash burn; and
• our expectation for how long we can fund our operations with our existing cash resources,
as well as other statements relating to our future operations, financial performance or financial condition, prospects or other future events. Forward-looking statements appear primarily in the sections of this Form 10-Q entitled “Part I, Item 1-Financial Statements (Unaudited),” and “Part I, Item 2-Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the Form 10-K), and in particular the risks and uncertainties discussed under “Item 1A-Risk Factors” of this Form 10-Q and the Form 10-K. As a result, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
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Additionally, the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q represent our views only as of the date of this Form 10-Q (or any earlier date indicated in such statement). While we may update certain forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if new information becomes available in the future. However, you are advised to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in the periodic and current reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).
The foregoing cautionary statements are intended to qualify all forward-looking statements wherever they may appear in this Form 10-Q. For all forward-looking statements, we claim protection of the safe harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
This Form 10-Q also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, the markets for certain diseases, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources.
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OVERVIEW
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (“Arbutus”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on infectious disease. We are currently developing imdusiran (AB-729), our proprietary, GalNAc-conjugated, subcutaneously-delivered ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) therapeutic, and AB-101, our proprietary oral PD-L1 inhibitor, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (cHBV).
We continue to protect and defend our intellectual property, which is the subject of our ongoing lawsuits against Moderna Therapeutics, Inc. (Moderna) and against Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE (collectively, Pfizer/BioNTech) for their use of our patented lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology in their COVID-19 messenger ribonucleic acid interference (mRNA)-LNP vaccines. With respect to the Moderna lawsuit in the United States, a trial date has been set for September 29, 2025. With respect to the Pfizer/BioNTech lawsuit, the claim construction hearing occurred in December 2024. The court is expected to provide its ruling on the Pfizer/BioNTech lawsuit claim construction and issue a further scheduling order, including the date for trial, in 2025. On March 3, 2025, we announced that, along with Genevant Sciences Ltd. (Genevant), we have filed five international lawsuits against Moderna in connection with the use of our LNP technology in Moderna’s COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccines and, in the Unified Patent Court, also Moderna’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.
During 2024, we streamlined the organization to focus our efforts on advancing the clinical development of imdusiran and AB-101, and therefore ceased all discovery efforts, discontinued our IM-PROVE III clinical trial and reduced our workforce by 40%. In the first quarter of 2025, we announced the appointment of five new members of our Board of Directors (our Board) to replace all of the former directors, as well as the appointment of a new President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of our Board and a new Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, our Board took action to reduce our workforce by an additional 57% resulting in a total workforce after reductions of 19 employees. Our Board also decided to exit our corporate headquarters in Warminster, Pennsylvania and to discontinue in-house scientific research. In connection with these actions, we incurred a one-time restructuring charge in the first quarter of 2025 of $12.4 million. With these organizational changes and our ongoing cost management efforts, we expect to significantly reduce our net cash burn in 2025 when compared to 2024.
Strategy
Our strategy is focused on maximizing opportunities for our cHBV development programs and our in-house developed LNP delivery technology.
LNP delivery technology
On February 28, 2022 and April 4, 2023, we filed patent infringement lawsuits in the United States against Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, respectively, seeking compensation for their unlicensed use of our patented technologies in their COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccines. It is well established in the scientific literature that the most significant technological hurdle to developing and deploying medicines using mRNA is engineering a safe and effective way to deliver the mRNA to human cells. Scientists at Arbutus and Genevant have spent years developing and refining LNP delivery technology, which has been licensed for various applications to many different third parties. Our and Genevant’s LNP technology relies on microscopic particles built from four carefully selected types of fat-like molecules to shelter and protect ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. With this technology, the RNA can travel through the human body to a target cell and through the target cell’s membrane before releasing the RNA. Without this crucial delivery technology, the RNA would quickly degrade in the body and be ineffective. We remain committed to taking all legal actions necessary to defend and protect our intellectual property.
With respect to the Moderna lawsuit in the United States, the claim construction hearing occurred on February 8, 2024. On April 3, 2024, the court provided its claim construction ruling in which it construed the disputed claim terms and agreed with our position on most of the disputed claim terms. A trial date for the Moderna lawsuit in the United States has been set for September 29, 2025. With respect to the Pfizer/BioNTech lawsuit, the claim construction hearing occurred on December 18, 2024. The court is expected to provide its ruling on the claim construction and issue a further scheduling order, including the date for trial, in 2025. On March 3, 2025, we announced that, along with Genevant, we have filed five international lawsuits against Moderna in connection with Moderna’s use of our LNP technology in Moderna’s COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccines and, in the Unified Patent Court, also Moderna’s RSV vaccines.
cHBV programs
Our current HBV strategy is to develop a functional cure for patients with cHBV infection with imdusiran as a potential cornerstone in a combination therapy. We believe that a combination of compounds that can suppress hepatitis B virus
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deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV DNA) replication and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression as well as boost patients’ HBV-specific immune response could address the most important elements to achieving a functional cure. Functional cure is defined as sustained HBsAg loss and HBV DNA less than the lower limit of quantification (<LLOQ) after 24 weeks off treatment, with or without anti-hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs). By providing a functional cure for patients with cHBV, we aim to prevent complications of disease progression, to decrease HBV burden by minimizing patient stigma and to address the need for finite and more efficacious HBV treatments that further improve long-term outcomes and reduce associated healthcare costs.
Our HBV product pipeline includes the following:
• Imdusiran is our proprietary, GalNAc-conjugated, subcutaneously-delivered RNAi therapeutic product candidate that suppresses all HBV antigens, including HBsAg, which is thought to be a key prerequisite to enable reawakening of a patient’s immune system to respond to HBV. Over 250 patients with cHBV infection have been dosed with imdusiran in our Phase 1 and Phase 2a clinical trials. Clinical data generated thus far has shown imdusiran provides meaningful reductions in HBsAg and HBV DNA and leads to functional cure in some patients, while being generally safe and well-tolerated. To date, eight patients have reached functional cure, off all treatment, in combination therapy that includes imdusiran, including two patients who did not receive any pegylated interferon alfa-2a (IFN) as part of the combination therapy.
• AB-101 is our proprietary oral PD-L1 inhibitor that has the potential to reawaken patients’ HBV-specific immune response by inhibiting PD-L1. AB-101 is currently in a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial (AB-101-001) evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of single- and multiple-ascending oral doses in healthy subjects and patients with cHBV infection. The data from healthy subjects in Parts 1 and 2 and cHBV patients to date in Part 3 of this clinical trial have showed that AB-101 was generally well-tolerated with evidence of high receptor occupancy.
To help position imdusiran as a potential cornerstone in a combination therapy, we fully enrolled two Phase 2a clinical trials that combined imdusiran with other agents. The intent of these trials was to initially lower HBsAg levels with imdusiran and then administer a complementary agent, an immune modulator or a therapeutic vaccine, to further lower HBsAg levels and promote anti-HBV immunity. We believe that if we can lower HBsAg and promote immunity, we may achieve sustained HBsAg loss and HBV DNA <LLOQ, potentially leading to a functional cure in many patients with cHBV.
To date, we have reported a total of eight patients with cHBV who have been functionally cured following treatment with imdusiran and ongoing NA therapy in combination with either IFN or with low dose nivolumab plus an immunotherapeutic. Two of the patients who reached functional cure did not receive any IFN as part of the combination therapy. Seven of the eight patients who achieved functional cure had HBsAg less than 1000 IU/mL at baseline. According to the literature, patients with HBsAg levels <1000 IU/mL represent a significant portion of the cHBV population.
Our imdusiran development program includes the following two Phase 2a clinical trials:
• Imdusiran in combination with Peg-IFNα-2a (IFN), a standard-of-care immunomodulator, and ongoing standard-of-care nucleoside analogue (NA) therapy in patients with cHBV infection (IM-PROVE I). At the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) – The Liver Meeting ® in November 2024, we presented new data from our IM-PROVE I Phase 2a clinical trial showing that six doses of imdusiran and 24 weeks of IFN added to ongoing NA therapy led to a functional cure rate of 50% (3/6) in HBeAg-negative patients with baseline HBsAg levels less than 1000 IU/mL, and an overall functional cure rate of 25% (3/12). Additionally, three cHBV patients from other cohorts in the IM-PROVE I clinical trial achieved functional cure. Those patients who achieved a functional cure also seroconverted. These data from the IM-PROVE I trial suggest that the combination of imdusiran, 24 weeks of IFN and NA therapy was generally safe and well-tolerated.
• Imdusiran in combination with VTP-300, Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc’s (Barinthus) HBV immunotherapy, ongoing NA therapy in patients with cHBV infection, including a cohort with the addition of low dose nivolumab (Opdivo ® ) (IM-PROVE II). At the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress in May 2025, we presented data from this clinical trial showing that 25% (2/8) of the patients with low dose nivolumab added to the treatment regimen and with baseline HBsAg levels less than 1000 IU/mL reached functional cure. These data from the IM-PROVE II trial suggest that the combination of imdusiran, VTP-300, NA therapy and low dose nivolumab was generally safe and well-tolerated.
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Our Product Candidates
Our pipeline consists of two product candidates that are designed to suppress HBV DNA, reduce HBsAg and/or boost HBV-specific immune responses, as follows:
We continue to explore expansion opportunities for our pipeline through potential strategic alliances.
RNAi therapeutic (imdusiran, AB-729)
RNAi therapeutics represent a significant advancement in drug development. RNAi therapeutics utilize a natural pathway within cells to effectively silence genes by eliminating the disease-causing proteins that they code for. We are developing an RNAi therapeutic, imdusiran (AB-729), that is designed to reduce HBsAg and other HBV antigen expression in people with cHBV infection. Reducing HBsAg is widely believed to be a key prerequisite to enable a patient’s immune system to reawaken and respond against the virus.
Imdusiran (AB-729) has the following advantages over other RNAi therapeutics in development for cHBV infection:
– Targeted to hepatocytes using our proprietary covalently conjugated GalNAc delivery technology which provides highly efficient liver-targeted uptake and enables subcutaneous dosing.
– Unique nucleotide sequence that is single trigger and targets all HBV transcripts including HBx from cccDNA and integrated DNA.
– Specific chemical modifications that reduce off-target effects while maintaining potency and providing durable liver exposure.
– Delivered at a lower dose and less frequently.
– Immune activation properties with HBV-specific T-cell immune restoration and a decrease in exhausted T-cells in key responder patients.
– In combination with IFN and NA therapy, has provided the highest functional cure rates in cHBV patients to date with a 50% (3/6) functional cure rate in patients with HBsAg<1000 IU/mL at baseline.
– Achieved a 25% (2/8) functional cure rate in patients with HBsAg<1000 IU/mL at baseline in an IFN-free treatment regimen consisting of imdusiran, VTP-300, ongoing NA therapy and low dose nivolumab.
IM-PROVE I Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating imdusiran in combination with IFN
We have completed enrollment in IM-PROVE I, a randomized, open label, multicenter Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial investigating the safety and antiviral activity of imdusiran in combination with a short course of IFN and ongoing NA therapy in 43 stably NA-suppressed, HBeAg negative, non-cirrhotic patients with cHBV infection. The primary objective of this trial was to initially lower HBsAg levels with imdusiran and then administer IFN as an immunomodulator to promote anti-HBV
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immune reawakening. We believe that if we can lower HBsAg and promote immune reawakening, we may achieve sustained HBsAg loss and HBV DNA <LLOQ, potentially leading to a functional cure. After 24-weeks of dosing with imdusiran (60mg every 8 weeks, 4 doses) plus ongoing NA therapy, patients were randomized into one of four cohorts to receive a short course of IFN plus ongoing NA therapy for either 12 or 24 weeks, with or without up to two additional doses of imdusiran. After completion of the assigned IFN treatment period, all patients remained on NA therapy for the initial 24-week follow-up period, and then discontinued NA treatment, provided they met protocol-defined stopping criteria. Patients who stopped NA therapy entered an intensive follow-up period for 48 weeks.
Select key data from 12 patients in Cohort A1 of this Phase 2a clinical trial who received 6 doses of imdusiran, 24 weeks of IFN and ongoing NA therapy, as presented at the AASLD – The Liver Meeting ® in November 2024, include:
• 50% (3/6) of patients with baseline HBsAg <1000 IU/mL achieved a functional cure.
• Overall, 25% (3/12) of patients achieved a functional cure.
• Those patients that achieved a functional cure also seroconverted with anti-HBs levels increasing as patients lost HBsAg.
At the EASL Congress in May 2025, we presented a poster characterizing the demographics and virological markers of the six cHBV patients across dosing cohorts in the IM-PROVE I Phase 2a clinical trial who achieved functional cure. The data showed that HBsAg at baseline was the only apparent marker in common associated with functional cure. In a second poster, we reported that patients who achieved functional cure in the 24-week IFN treatment cohorts experienced HBsAg loss that was associated with transient HBV RNA elevations that were preceded by or coincided with increases in immunological markers.
These data from the IM-PROVE I trial suggest that the combination of imdusiran and 24 weeks of IFN was generally safe and well-tolerated. There were no serious adverse events related to imdusiran, IFN or NA therapy, and no adverse events leading to discontinuation. The most common imdusiran-related treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were transient alanine aminotransferase elevations and injection site bruising. The IFN-related TEAEs were consistent with the known safety profile of IFN.
IM-PROVE II Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating imdusiran in combination with Barinthus’ VTP-300
Through a clinical collaboration agreement with Barinthus that we entered into in July 2021, we have completed enrollment in IM-PROVE II, a Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating the safety, antiviral activity and immunogenicity of a combination treatment with Barinthus’ VTP-300, an HBV immunotherapy, administered after imdusiran in patients with cHBV infection. The initial trial design enrolled 40 NA-suppressed, HBeAg negative or positive, non-cirrhotic cHBV infected patients. The primary objective of this trial was to initially lower HBsAg levels with imdusiran and then administer VTP-300 as an immunomodulator to promote anti-HBV immune reawakening. All patients received imdusiran (60mg every 8 weeks, 4 doses) plus NA therapy for 24 weeks. After week 24, treatment with imdusiran was stopped. Patients continued only on NA therapy and were randomized to receive VTP-300 or placebo at week 26 and week 30. At week 48, all patients were evaluated for eligibility to discontinue NA therapy and are being followed for an additional 24 to 48 weeks. Subsequently, we amended the IM-PROVE II clinical trial protocol to include another cohort that received imdusiran, VTP-300, NA therapy and low dose nivolumab (Opdivo ® ), an approved PD-1 inhibitor in oncology. In this additional cohort, patients received imdusiran (60mg every 8 weeks, 4 doses) plus NA therapy for 24 weeks, followed by administration of VTP-300 plus up to two low doses of nivolumab while remaining on NA therapy. At week 48, all patients were evaluated for eligibility to discontinue NA therapy, and are being followed for an additional 24 to 48 weeks.
The cohort that included low dose nivolumab was the best performing cohort in the IM-PROVE II clinical trial. At the AASLD – The Liver Meeting ® in November 2024, we presented data from this clinical trial showing that the addition of low dose nivolumab increased rates of HBsAg loss in cHBV patients and that 23% (3/13) of patients who received the treatment regimen with low dose nivolumab achieved HBsAg loss by week 48. At the EASL Congress in May 2025, we presented data showing that 25% (2/8) of patients with low dose nivolumab added to the treatment regimen and with baseline HBsAg<1000 IU/mL reached functional cure. Treatment with imdusiran, VTP-300, NA therapy and low dose nivolumab in this clinical trial was generally safe and well-tolerated. There were no serious adverse events, Grade 3 or 4 adverse events, immune-related adverse events, or discontinuations due to adverse events.
The IM-PROVE II clinical trial is being managed by us, subject to oversight by a joint development committee comprised of representatives from both companies. We and Barinthus retain full rights to our respective product candidates and are splitting all costs associated with the clinical trial. Pursuant to the agreement, the parties could have undertaken a larger Phase 2b clinical trial depending on the results of the initial Phase 2a clinical trial. However, in January 2025, Barinthus announced a shift in its
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strategic business focus that included postponing further development of VTP-300 after its ongoing VTP-300 clinical trials have concluded. The parties do not intend to undertake a larger Phase 2b with this combination treatment regimen.
Oral PD-L1 Inhibitor (AB-101)
PD-L1 inhibitors complement our pipeline of agents and could potentially be an important part of a combination therapy for the treatment of HBV by reawakening the immune system. Highly functional HBV-specific T-cells within our immune system are believed to be required for long-term HBV viral resolution. However, HBV-specific T-cells become functionally defective, and greatly reduced in number during cHBV infection. One approach to boost HBV-specific T-cells is to prevent PD-L1 proteins from binding to PD-1, which would otherwise lead to inhibition of the HBV-specific immune function of T-cells.
AB-101 is our proprietary oral small-molecule PD-L1 inhibitor candidate that we believe will allow for controlled checkpoint blockade while minimizing the systemic safety issues often seen with checkpoint inhibitor antibody therapies. AB-101 is differentiated from monoclonal antibody checkpoint inhibitors such as durvalumab (anti-PD-L1) and nivolumab (anti-PD-1) because it is liver centric, has a much shorter duration of effect in preclinical models (which may provide dosing and safety advantages), and has a novel mechanism of action as it binds to PD-L1 on the surface of cells causing dimerization, internalization and degradation of the PD-L1 protein.
Phase 1a/1b clinical trial to evaluate safety, tolerability and PK/PD of AB-101 (AB-101-001)
AB-101-001 is a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial designed to investigate the safety, tolerability and PK/PD of single and multiple-ascending oral doses of AB-101 for up to 28 days in healthy subjects and patients with cHBV infection. The trial consists of three parts starting with single ascending doses in healthy subjects, followed by multiple ascending doses in healthy subjects and culminating with multiple doses in patients with cHBV infection. Safety and PK/PD assessments are performed prior to dose escalation in all parts of the clinical trial.
Part 1 of this clinical trial enrolled five sequential cohorts of eight healthy subjects each (6 active: 2 placebo) receiving a single dose of AB-101 at increasing dose levels. In Part 1, all five evaluable subjects in the 40mg cohort showed evidence of 100% receptor occupancy. Part 2 of this clinical trial enrolled three sequential cohorts of ten healthy subjects that each received 10, 25 or 40 mg of AB-101 (8 active: 2 placebo) daily for seven days. In Part 2, all subjects in the 40mg cohort showed evidence of high receptor occupancy between 74-100%, with six of the eight subjects demonstrating 100% receptor occupancy during the seven-day dosing period. Across Parts 1 and 2, eleven of the thirteen evaluable healthy subjects that received either single or multiple doses of 40mg of AB-101 achieved 100% receptor occupancy. The data from Part 1 and Part 2 showed that AB-101 was well-tolerated with evidence of high receptor occupancy.
We have moved into Part 3 of this clinical trial which evaluates repeat doses of AB-101 for 28 days in patients with cHBV. At the EASL Congress in May 2025, we presented data showing that a single dose of 10 mg of AB-101 for 28 days in cHBV patients was well tolerated with PD-L1 receptor occupancy similar to that seen in healthy subjects at this dose. Treatment with AB-101 in Part 3 of this clinical trial was generally safe and well-tolerated. There were no serious adverse events or early discontinuations due to AB-101 and no evidence of liver dysfunction to date. Part 3 of this clinical trial is ongoing.
Other Collaborations, Royalty Entitlements and Intellectual Property Litigation
Collaboration with Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Qilu)
In December 2021, we entered into a technology transfer and license agreement (the License Agreement) with Qilu, pursuant to which we granted Qilu a sublicensable, royalty-bearing license, under certain intellectual property owned by us, which is non-exclusive as to development and manufacturing and exclusive with respect to commercialization of imdusiran, including pharmaceutical products that include imdusiran, for the treatment or prevention of hepatitis B in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (Greater China and Taiwan).
In partial consideration for the rights granted by us, Qilu paid us a one-time upfront cash payment of $40 million on January 5, 2022 and agreed to pay us up to $245 million, net of withholding taxes, upon the achievement of certain technology transfer, development, regulatory and commercialization milestones. Qilu also agreed to pay us double-digit royalties into the low twenties percent based upon annual net sales of imdusiran in Greater China and Taiwan. The royalties are payable on a product-by-product and region-by-region basis, subject to certain limitations.
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Qilu is responsible for all costs related to developing, obtaining regulatory approval for, and commercializing imdusiran for the treatment or prevention of hepatitis B in Greater China and Taiwan. Qilu is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop, seek regulatory approval for, and commercialize at least one imdusiran product candidate in Greater China and Taiwan. A joint development committee has been established between us and Qilu to coordinate and review the development, manufacturing and commercialization plans. Both parties also have entered into a supply agreement and related quality agreement pursuant to which we will manufacture or have manufactured and supply Qilu with all quantities of imdusiran necessary for Qilu to develop and commercialize in Greater China and Taiwan until we have completed manufacturing technology transfer to Qilu and Qilu has received all approvals required for it or its designated contract manufacturing organization to manufacture imdusiran in Greater China and Taiwan.
Concurrent with the execution of the License Agreement, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the Share Purchase Agreement) with Anchor Life Limited, a company established pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of Hong Kong and an affiliate of Qilu (the Investor), pursuant to which the Investor purchased 3,579,952 of our common shares at a purchase price of USD $4.19 per share, which was a 15% premium on the thirty-day average closing price of our common shares as of the close of trading on December 10, 2021 (the Share Transaction). We received $15.0 million of gross proceeds from the Share Transaction on January 6, 2022. The common shares sold to the Investor in the Share Transaction represented approximately 2.5% of our common shares outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the Share Purchase Agreement.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Alnylam) and Acuitas Therapeutics, Inc. (Acuitas)
We have two royalty entitlements to Alnylam’s global net sales of ONPATTRO.
In 2012, we entered into a license agreement with Alnylam that entitles Alnylam to develop and commercialize products with our LNP delivery technology. Alnylam’s ONPATTRO, which represents the first approved application of our LNP technology, was approved by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) during the third quarter of 2018 and was launched by Alnylam immediately upon approval in the United States. Under the terms of this license agreement, we are entitled to tiered royalty payments on global net sales of ONPATTRO ranging from 1.00% - 2.33% after offsets, with the highest tier applicable to annual net sales above $500 million. This royalty interest was sold to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), effective as of January 1, 2019, for $20 million in gross proceeds before advisory fees. OMERS will retain this entitlement until it has received $30 million in royalties, at which point 100% of this royalty entitlement on future global net sales of ONPATTRO will revert to us. OMERS has assumed the risk of collecting up to $30 million of future royalty payments from Alnylam and we are not obligated to reimburse OMERS if it fails to collect any such future royalties. If this royalty entitlement reverts to us, it has the potential to provide an active royalty stream or to be otherwise monetized again in full or in part. From the inception of the royalty sale through March 31, 2025, an aggregate of $25.3 million of royalties have been earned by OMERS.
We also have rights to a second royalty interest ranging from 0.75% to 1.125% on global net sales of ONPATTRO, with 0.75% applying to sales greater than $500 million, originating from a settlement agreement and subsequent license agreement with Acuitas. This royalty entitlement from Acuitas has been retained by us and was not part of the royalty entitlement sale to OMERS.
Genevant Sciences, Ltd.
In April 2018, we entered into an agreement with Roivant Sciences Ltd. (Roivant), our largest shareholder, to launch Genevant, a company focused on nucleic acid- and gene editing-based therapeutics enabled by our LNP and ligand conjugate delivery technologies. We licensed rights to our LNP and ligand conjugate delivery platforms to Genevant outside of HBV, except to the extent certain rights had already been licensed to other third parties (the Genevant License). We retained all rights to our LNP and conjugate delivery platforms for HBV.
Under the Genevant License, as amended, if a third-party sublicensee of intellectual property licensed by Genevant from us commercializes a sublicensed product, we become entitled to receive a specified percentage of certain revenue that may be received by Genevant for such sublicense, including royalties, commercial milestones and other sales-related revenue, or, if less, tiered low single-digit royalties on net sales of the sublicensed product. The specified percentage is 20% in the case of a mere sublicense (i.e., naked sublicense) by Genevant without additional contribution and 14% in the case of a bona fide collaboration with Genevant.
Additionally, if Genevant receives proceeds from an action for infringement by any third parties of our intellectual property licensed to Genevant, we would be entitled to receive, after deduction of litigation costs, 20% of the proceeds received by
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Genevant or, if less, tiered low single-digit royalties on net sales of the infringing product (inclusive of the proceeds from litigation or settlement, which would be treated as net sales).
Notwithstanding the preceding, in March 2025, we and Genevant agreed that we would be entitled to any award of damages in (or any proceeds of settlement of) certain pending patent litigation against Moderna and certain affiliates that specifically accuses Moderna of infringement related to Moderna’s vaccine for RSV known as mRESVIA ™ , and that, in the event there is no such specific allocation to mRESVIA ™ in such award or settlement, the parties will discuss an appropriate allocation in good faith.
In July 2020, Roivant recapitalized Genevant through an equity investment and conversion of previously issued convertible debt securities held by Roivant. We participated in the recapitalization of Genevant with an equity investment of $2.5 million. In connection with the recapitalization, the three parties entered into an Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement that provides Roivant with substantial control of Genevant. We have the right to have a non-voting observer attend meetings of Genevant’s Board of Directors.
As of March 31, 2025, we owned approximately 16% of the common equity of Genevant and the carrying value of our investment in Genevant was zero. Our entitlement to receive future royalties or sublicensing revenue from Genevant was not impacted by the recapitalization.
Patent Infringement Litigation vs. Moderna
United States:
On February 28, 2022, we and Genevant filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against Moderna, Inc. and a Moderna affiliate (collectively, Moderna) seeking damages for infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,058,069, 8,492,359, 8,822,668, 9,364,435, 9,504,651, and 11,141,378 in the manufacture and sale of MRNA-1273, Moderna’s vaccine for COVID-19. The patents relate to nucleic acid-lipid particles and lipid vesicles, as well as compositions and methods for their use. The lawsuit does not seek an injunction or otherwise seek to impede the sale, manufacture or distribution of MRNA-1273. However, we seek fair compensation for Moderna’s use of our patented technology that was developed with great effort and at great expense, without which Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine would not have been successful. On May 6, 2022, Moderna filed a partial motion to dismiss the claims “relating to Moderna’s sale and provision of COVID-19 vaccine doses to the U.S. Government.” On November 2, 2022, the court issued an Order denying Moderna’s motion. On February 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest in the action. On February 16, 2023, the court held an Initial Pretrial Conference after which it issued an Order directing the parties and the U.S. Government to submit letters regarding the impact of the Government’s Statement of Interest. On March 10, 2023, the court reaffirmed its denial of Moderna’s motion to dismiss. The claim construction hearing was held on February 8, 2024. On April 3, 2024, the court issued its opinion regarding the claims construction. The court agreed with both of our positions regarding the Composition of Total Lipid (’069) Patent that: (i) the claimed molar percentage (mol. %) ranges can be met by any particle and is not limited to “finished” particles that are not subjected to further process steps; and (ii) that the claimed mol. % ranges include standard variation based on the number of significant figures recited in the claim. The court also agreed with our position regarding the Cationic Lipid with Protonatable Tertiary Amine (’378) Patent that there is no limitation as to the mol. % of the claimed cationic lipid. Regarding the Encapsulation of mRNA (’651) Patent, the court held that “wherein at least 70% / at least 80% / about 90% of the mRNA in the formulation is fully encapsulated in the lipid vesicles” means “wherein at least 70% / at least 80% / about 90% of the mRNA is fully, as distinct from partially, contained inside the lipid vesicles”. Trial is currently scheduled for September 29, 2025. Expert discovery has concluded and the case is entering the summary judgement stage.
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International:
On March 3, 2025, we and Genevant filed five international lawsuits against Moderna seeking to enforce patents protecting our patented lipid nanoparticle technology. These five lawsuits target alleged infringing activities by Moderna in 30 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey. We and Genevant are seeking monetary relief and injunctions against Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and, in the Unified Patent Court, additional Moderna products, which Moderna has represented use the same lipid nanoparticle technology as the COVID-19 vaccine, including its RSV vaccine. Where permitted to do so at this stage, we and Genevant submitted evidence from testing of commercial Moderna product samples sourced from the U.S. and European Union indicating the samples contain lipid nanoparticles falling under the protective scope of the claims of our lipid composition patents. The five international lawsuits are as follows:
• Canada: Federal Court of Canada File No. T-704-25, seeking a permanent injunction and damages or, if Genevant so elects, an accounting of Moderna’s profits, attributable to infringement of Canadian Patent No. 2,721,333.
• Japan: Tokyo District Court Case No. 2025 (Wa) 70079, seeking a permanent injunction and reasonable royalty for infringement of Japanese Patent No. 5,475,753.
• Switzerland: a case seeking a permanent injunction and monetary relief, which upon later choice of Genevant and Arbutus can include surrender of profits, damages or a reasonable royalty, for infringement of EP 2 279 254.
• Unified Patent Court: Case 10280/2025, seeking permanent and provisional injunctions, as well as monetary damages, which can include recovery of Moderna’s unfair profits, from infringement of EP 2 279 254.
• Unified Patent Court: Case 10280/2025, seeking permanent and provisional injunctions, as well as monetary damages, which can include recovery of Moderna’s unfair profits, from infringement of EP 4 241 767.
The five complaints have been or are being served on Moderna pursuant to the service of process rules of the respective courts. In the Unified Patent Court, Moderna’s Statement of Defense is due on July 8, 2025.
Patent Infringement Litigation vs. Pfizer and BioNTech
On April 4, 2023, we and Genevant filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) and BioNTech SE (BioNTech) seeking damages for infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 9,504,651; 8,492,359; 11,141,378; 11,298,320; and 11,318,098 in the manufacture and sale of any COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccines. The patents relate to nucleic acid-lipid particles and their composition, manufacture, delivery and methods of use. The lawsuit does not seek an injunction or otherwise seek to impede the sale, manufacture or distribution of any COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccines. However, we seek fair compensation for Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s use of our patented technology that was developed with great effort and at great expense, without which their COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccines would not have been successful. The claim construction hearing occurred in December 2024. The court is expected to provide its ruling on the claim construction and issue a further scheduling order, including the date for trial, in 2025. Fact discovery in the action is ongoing.
Moderna and Merck European Oppositions
On April 5, 2018, Moderna and Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corporation (Merck) filed Notices of Opposition to Arbutus’ European patent EP 2279254 (the ’254 Patent) with the European Patent Office (EPO), requesting that the ’254 Patent be revoked in its entirety for all contracting states. We filed a response to Moderna and Merck’s oppositions on September 3, 2018. A hearing was conducted before the Opposition Division of the EPO on October 10, 2019. At the conclusion of the hearing, the EPO upheld an auxiliary request adopting the amendment, as put forth by us, of certain claims of the ’254 Patent. In February 2020 Moderna and Merck filed Notices of Appeal challenging the EPO’s grant of the auxiliary request. Merck filed its notice of appeal on February 24, 2020 and Moderna on February 27, 2020. Both Merck and Moderna perfected their appeals by filing Grounds of Appeal on April 30, 2020. We filed our responses to the appeals on September 18, 2020. On March 22, 2022, Moderna filed further written submissions to which we and Genevant responded in August 2022. On April 18, 2023, we and Genevant withdrew our auxiliary request, however, the original (main) request remains in the action. We and Moderna informed the Board of Appeals that we would not object to a remittance of the matter without a hearing to the Opposition Division of the EPO. The hearing in this matter before the Board of Appeals was subsequently cancelled and resubmitted to the Opposition Division (i.e., lower board) of the EPO. On October 31, 2023, the Opposition Division issued a summons for oral proceedings and provided its preliminary and non-binding opinion on the subject matter to be discussed at the hearing. On November 3, 2023, we responded to the summons and on January 15, 2024, Moderna and Merck filed their reply to the written opinion of the Opposition Division, as well as to our written submission of November 3, 2023. We responded to Moderna and
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Merck’s reply on April 5, 2024. Oral proceedings were held on June 6, 2024, and the Opposition Division upheld the ’254 Patent but declined our and Genevant’s request to broaden certain claims in the ’254 Patent. Both parties appealed the Opposition Division’s decision and on March 21, 2025, the Board of Appeals scheduled oral proceedings for January 15 and 16, 2026.
On April 29, 2025, Moderna filed a revocation action on EPO patent EP 4 241 767 (the ’767 patent) with the EPO, requesting that the patent be revoked in its entirety for all contracting states. Moderna’s deadline to provide facts, arguments, and evidence in support of invalidity is July 23, 2025.
While we are the patent owner, the ’254 Patent, the ’767 Patent, and the other patents in our LNP portfolio have been licensed to Genevant under the Genevant License.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES
This management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. Our estimates are based on our historical experience 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 value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We believe there have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates as discussed in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard setting bodies that are adopted by us as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption.
Please refer to Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in “Part I, Item 1-Financial Statements (Unaudited)” of this Form 10-Q for a description of recent accounting pronouncements applicable to our business.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following summarizes the results of our operations for the periods shown:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025 2024
(in thousands)
Total revenue $ 1,764 $ 1,532
Operating expenses 27,463 20,895
Loss from operations (25,699) (19,363)
Other income 1,173 1,488
Net loss $ (24,526) $ (17,875)
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Revenue
Revenues are summarized in the following tables:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025 % of Total 2024 % of Total
(in thousands, except percentages)
Revenue from collaborations and licenses
Royalties from sales of ONPATTRO $ 504 29 % $ 695 45 %
Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 812 46 % 244 16 %
Non-cash royalty revenue
Royalties from sales of ONPATTRO 448 25 % 593 39 %
Total revenue $ 1,764 100 % $ 1,532 100 %
Total revenue increased $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, due primarily to an increase in license revenue recognized related to our progress towards the satisfaction of our performance obligations with respect to the technology transfer and licensing agreement with Qilu, partially offset by a decrease in license royalty revenue from Alnylam and Acuitas due to lower sales of ONPATTRO in the 2025 period compared to the 2024 period.
Operating expenses
Operating expenses are summarized in the following tables:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025 % of Total 2024 % of Total
(in thousands, except percentages)
Research and development $ 8,959 33 % $ 15,403 74 %
General and administrative 5,832 21 % 5,312 25 %
Change in fair value of contingent consideration 299 1 % 180 1 %
Restructuring 12,373 45 % — — %
Total operating expenses $ 27,463 100 % $ 20,895 100 %
Research and development
Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses, fees paid to clinical research organizations and contract manufacturers, consumables and materials, consulting, and other third-party expenses to support our clinical and preclinical activities, as well as a portion of stock-based compensation and general overhead costs.
Research and development expenses decreased $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. The decrease was due primarily to our decision in the third quarter of 2024 to cease all discovery efforts, discontinue our IM-PROVE III clinical trial and implement a 40% reduction in our workforce to streamline the organization to focus our efforts on advancing the clinical development of imdusiran and AB-101. In connection with our cessation of all discovery efforts in August 2024 and an additional 57% reduction in our workforce in the first quarter of 2025, we expect our research expenses to continue to be reduced in future periods.
A significant portion of our research and development expenses are not tracked by project as they benefit multiple projects or our technology platform and because our most-advanced programs are not yet in late-stage clinical development.
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses increased $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, as compared to the same period in 2024, due primarily to an increase in litigation-related legal fees, partially offset by a decrease in employee compensation-related expenses.
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Change in fair value of contingent consideration
Contingent consideration is a liability related to our acquisition of Enantigen Therapeutics, Inc. in October 2014. In general, as time passes and assuming no changes to the assumptions related to the contingency, the fair value of the contingent consideration increases as the progress of our programs get closer to triggering contingent payments based on certain sales milestones of our first commercial product for cHBV. As imdusiran continues to progress through clinical trials, we will adjust our assumptions regarding probability of success commensurate with the progression of the program, which will increase the fair value of the liability.
Restructuring
In March 2025, our Board took action to reduce our workforce by 57%, resulting in a total workforce after reductions of 19 employees. The Board also decided to exit our corporate headquarters in Warminster, Pennsylvania and to discontinue in-house scientific research. In connection with these actions, we incurred a one-time restructuring charge in the first quarter of 2025 of $12.4 million, which includes approximately $6.0 million of cash severance and continued benefits paid, $2.3 million of non-cash expense related to the modification of equity awards, non-cash impairment charges for leasehold improvements and laboratory equipment of $1.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively, $0.9 million related to impairment of the right-of-use asset associated with the lease of our corporate headquarters and a $0.4 million accrual of lease-related operating expenses.
As of March 31, 2025, there was $5.6 million of accrued restructuring costs for severance payments and a $0.4 million accrual of lease-related operating expenses included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
Other income (loss)
The components of our other income (loss) are summarized in the following table:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025 2024
(in thousands)
Interest income $ 1,197 $ 1,545
Interest expense (28) (44)
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) 4 (13)
Total other income $ 1,173 $ 1,488
Interest income
The decrease in interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 was due primarily to less interest earned on our cash and investment balances due to a lower average balance and a general decrease in market interest rates.
Interest expense
Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 consisted primarily of non-cash amortization of discount and issuance costs related to the sale of a portion of our ONPATTRO royalty interest to OMERS in July 2019. The decrease is related to the declining balance of the unamortized discount and issuance costs.
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The following table summarizes our cash flow activities for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025 2024
(in thousands)
Net loss $ (24,526) $ (17,875)
Non-cash items 5,866 1,439
Change in deferred license revenue (812) (244)
Net change in operating items 6,081 (2,615)
Net cash used in operating activities (13,391) (19,295)
Net cash provided by investing activities 11,349 11,694
Issuance of common shares pursuant to the Open Market Sale Agreement — 21,765
Cash provided by other financing activities 2,784 2,665
Net cash provided by financing activities 2,784 24,430
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 4 (13)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 746 16,816
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 36,330 26,285
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 37,076 $ 43,101
Since our incorporation, we have financed our operations through sales of equity, debt, revenues from research and development collaborations and licenses with corporate partners, royalty monetization, interest income on funds available for investment, and government contracts, grants and tax credits.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, $13.4 million of cash was used in operating activities compared to $19.3 million used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of $5.9 million. The decrease was due primarily to our decisions in the third quarter of 2024 to cease all discovery efforts, discontinue our IM-PROVE III clinical trial, and decrease our workforce by 40% to further streamline the organization to focus our efforts on advancing the clinical development of imdusiran and AB-101.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, net cash provided by investing activities was $11.3 million, resulting primarily from maturities of investments in marketable securities of $46.1 million, partially offset by additional investments in marketable securities of $34.7 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash provided by investing activities was $11.7 million, which resulted primarily from maturities of investments in marketable securities of $37.2 million, partially offset by additional investments in marketable securities of $25.4 million.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, net cash provided by financing activities was $2.8 million, which was primarily related to $2.7 million in proceeds from the issuance of common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $24.4 million, which included $21.8 million in proceeds from sales of common shares pursuant to the Sale Agreement (as defined below) and $2.5 million in proceeds from the issuance of common shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options.
Sources of Liquidity
As of March 31, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities of $112.7 million. We had no outstanding debt as of March 31, 2025.
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Open Market Sale Agreement
Effective March 26, 2025, we terminated our Open Market Sale Agreement with Jefferies dated December 20, 2018, as amended (the Sale Agreement), under which we could offer and sell common shares, from time to time.
Prior to the termination of the Sale Agreement, we did not issue any common shares pursuant to the Sale Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2025. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, we issued 8,666,077 common shares pursuant to the Sale Agreement, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $21.8 million.
Royalty Entitlements
We have a royalty entitlement on ONPATTRO, a drug developed by Alnylam that incorporates our LNP technology and was approved by the FDA and the EMA during the third quarter of 2018 and was launched by Alnylam immediately upon approval in the United States. In July 2019, we sold a portion of this royalty interest to OMERS, effective as of January 1, 2019, for $20 million in gross proceeds before advisory fees. OMERS will retain this entitlement until it has received $30 million in royalties, at which point 100% of such royalty interest on future global net sales of ONPATTRO will revert to us. OMERS has assumed the risk of collecting up to $30 million of future royalty payments from Alnylam and we are not obligated to reimburse OMERS if it fails to collect any such future royalties. From the inception of the royalty sale through March 31, 2025, we have recorded an aggregate of $25.3 million of non-cash royalty revenue for royalties earned by OMERS. If this royalty entitlement reverts to us, it has the potential to provide an active royalty stream or to be otherwise monetized again in full or in part. In addition to the royalty from the Alnylam LNP license agreement, we are also receiving a second, lower royalty interest on global net sales of ONPATTRO originating from a settlement agreement and subsequent license agreement with Acuitas. The royalty from Acuitas has been retained by us and was not part of the royalty sale to OMERS.
In December 2021, we entered into a technology transfer and exclusive licensing agreement with Qilu pursuant to which we granted Qilu an exclusive (with certain exceptions), sublicensable, royalty-bearing license, under certain intellectual property owned by us, to develop, manufacture and commercialize imdusiran for the treatment or prevention of cHBV infection in Greater China and Taiwan. In partial consideration for the rights granted by us, Qilu paid us a one-time upfront cash payment of $40 million and made an equity investment of $15.0 million, both received in January 2022, and agreed to pay us up to $245 million, net of withholding taxes, upon the achievement of certain technology transfer, development, regulatory and commercialization milestones. Qilu also agreed to pay us double digit royalties into the low twenties percent based upon annual net sales of imdusiran in Greater China and Taiwan.
Cash requirements
With the organizational changes announced during the first quarter of 2025, and our ongoing cost management efforts, we expect to significantly reduce our net cash burn in 2025 when compared to 2024. In the future, substantial additional funds would be required to continue with the active development of our pipeline products and technologies. In particular, our funding needs may vary depending on a number of factors including:
• costs associated with prosecuting and enforcing our patent claims and other intellectual property rights, including our ongoing patent infringement matters against Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech;
• revenue earned from our legacy collaborative partnerships and licensing agreements, including potential royalty payments from Alnylam’s ONPATTRO;
• revenue earned from ongoing collaborative partnerships, including milestone and royalty payments;
• the potential requirement to make milestone payments related to our legacy agreements;
• the extent to which we continue the development of our product candidates, add new product candidates to our pipeline, or form collaborative relationships or licensing arrangements to advance our product candidates;
• delays in the development of our product candidates due to preclinical and clinical findings;
• our decisions to in-license or acquire additional products, product candidates or technology for development;
• our ability to attract and retain development or commercialization partners, and their effectiveness in carrying out the development and ultimate commercialization of one or more of our product candidates;
• whether batches of product candidates that we manufacture fail to meet specifications resulting in clinical trial delays and investigational and remanufacturing costs;
• the decisions, and the timing of decisions, made by health regulatory agencies regarding our technology and product candidates; and
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• competing products, product candidates and technological and market developments.
We may seek funding to maintain and advance our business from a variety of sources including public or private equity or debt financing, potential monetization transactions, collaborative or licensing arrangements with pharmaceutical companies and government grants and contracts. If we seek additional funding, there can be no assurance that funding will be available at all or on acceptable terms to maintain and advance our business.
If we decide to seek funding and such adequate funding is not available, we may be required to delay, reduce or eliminate one or more of our development programs or reduce expenses associated with our non-core activities. We may need to obtain funds through arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to relinquish most or all of our rights to product candidates at an earlier stage of development or on less favorable terms than we would otherwise seek if we were better funded. Insufficient financing may also mean failing to prosecute our patents or relinquishing rights to some of our technologies that we would otherwise develop or commercialize.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information under this item is not required to be provided by smaller reporting companies.