Abivax Announces Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Abivax (ABVX) has released its full-year 2024 financial results, reporting a cash balance of EUR 144.2M as of December 31, 2024, providing runway into Q4 2025. The company's operating income increased to EUR 12.5M, up from EUR 4.6M in 2023.

R&D expenses rose to EUR 146.5M, primarily due to the advancement of Phase 3 ABTECT clinical trials for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis (UC). G&A expenses increased to EUR 32.9M, reflecting organizational growth and dual-listing costs. The company reported a EUR 3.3M net financial loss.

Key upcoming milestones include:

• Full enrollment in Phase 3 ABTECT trial expected in Q2 2025
• Top-line results from 8-week induction trials anticipated in Q3 2025
• Completion of 44-week maintenance trial in Q2 2026

Positive

• Strong cash position of EUR 144.2M ensuring operations into Q4 2025
• Operating income increased by EUR 7.9M to EUR 12.5M
• Phase 3 ABTECT trial progressing with key milestones in 2025

Negative

• R&D expenses significantly increased by EUR 43.3M to EUR 146.5M
• Net financial loss of EUR 3.3M
• G&A expenses increased by EUR 10.5M to EUR 32.9M
• Cash position decreased from EUR 261.0M to EUR 144.2M year-over-year

Insights

Financial Analyst

Abivax's FY2024 financial results reveal a cash position of €144.2M as of December 31, 2024, down from €261.0M year-over-year, providing runway into Q4 2025. This cash runway is strategically sufficient to support the company through full enrollment of its Phase 3 ABTECT trials in Q2 2025 and to obtain top-line induction trial results in Q3 2025—a critical inflection point for the company.

The increased R&D expenditure of €146.5M (up from €103.2M in 2023) reflects planned intensification of clinical development activities, primarily driven by the advancement of the Phase 3 program for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis and preparation for the Phase 2b trial in Crohn's disease. This investment pattern is appropriate for a late-stage biotech approaching potential commercialization.

G&A expenses increased to €32.9M (from €22.4M), reflecting the infrastructure build-out necessary to support operations as a dual-listed public company. While burn rate has increased, this aligns with the company's clinical development timeline and appears well-managed within their financial planning.

The projected cash runway positions Abivax to reach their next major value-creating milestone (Phase 3 top-line data) before requiring additional financing. This careful financial sequencing demonstrates disciplined capital management, allowing them to potentially negotiate from a stronger position should the Phase 3 data prove positive.

Clinical Development Expert

Abivax's Phase 3 ABTECT program for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis is progressing on schedule, with full enrollment expected in Q2 2025 and top-line results anticipated in Q3 2025. This timeline appears realistic given current recruitment rates and suggests confidence in the operational execution of these pivotal trials.

The company's development strategy for obefazimod demonstrates appropriate pipeline progression, now advancing from successful Phase 2b results into the definitive Phase 3 program while simultaneously expanding into related indications like Crohn's disease at the Phase 2b stage. This parallel development approach leverages their understanding of obefazimod's mechanism of action across inflammatory bowel diseases.

The 44-week maintenance trial completion expected in Q2 2026 will provide crucial long-term efficacy and safety data essential for regulatory submission and market differentiation. The comprehensive development program addresses both induction and maintenance phases of treatment, which will be necessary for competitive positioning in the ulcerative colitis market.

The company's focus on inflammatory bowel diseases represents a targeted approach to areas of significant unmet need despite recent therapeutic advances. If successful, obefazimod's novel mechanism of action could position it as a differentiated option in a market that continues to seek improved efficacy and safety profiles for maintenance therapy.

Abivax Announces Full Year 2024 Financial Results

•        Cash balance of EUR 144.2M as of December 31, 2024; cash runway into Q4 2025

• Full enrollment in Phase 3 ABTECT trial evaluating obefazimod for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (“UC”) expected in Q2 2025 with top-line results from the 8-week induction trials expected in Q3 2025
  
  

PARIS, France – March 24, 2025 – 8:30 AM CET – Abivax SA (Euronext Paris: FR0012333284 – ABVX / Nasdaq: ABVX) (“Abivax” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, announced today its full-year financial results, as of December 31, 2024. The 2024 financial statements, approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on March 20, 2025, have been audited by the Company’s statutory auditors, and the financial reports will be filed with the French and U.S. securities regulatory authorities, respectively, on March 24, 2025.

Marc de Garidel, CEO of Abivax, commented: “2025 is set to be a transformational year for Abivax, marking a pivotal moment in our journey. We are very pleased with our achievements in 2024, demonstrating both strong financial discipline and significant clinical progress. Our cash position secures a projected financial runway into Q4 2025, supporting the full enrollment of ABTECT in Q2 2025 and the anticipated top-line results from the 8-week induction trials in Q3 2025, a major inflection point for Abivax.”

Financial Highlights

• Cash Position: The Company had a cash balance of EUR 144.2M as of December 31, 2024, providing a projected cash runway into Q4 2025.
  
  
  • Operational Expenditures: R&D expenses increased year-over-year, reflecting continued investments in the Phase 3 ABTECT clinical program and manufacturing scale-up.
    
    
  • Financial Outlook: The Company remains focused on disciplined financial management while advancing its clinical development pipeline and preparing for potential commercialization.
    
    

Upcoming Milestones

• Completion of Phase 3 ABTECT induction trials enrollment – Q2 2025
  
  
• Top-line results from induction trials – Q3 2025
  
  
• Completion of 44-week maintenance trial – Q2 2026
  
  
• Top-line results from maintenance study – Q2 2026
  
  

2024 financial highlights (IFRS figures)

Income Statement		FY 2024	FY 2023		Change
in millions of euros
Total operating income		12.5	4.6		7.9
Total operating expenses
of which Research and Development costs		(146.5)	(103.2)		(43.3)
of which Sales and Marketing costs		(6.0)	(6.4)		0.4
of which General and Administrative costs		(32.9)	(22.4)		(10.5)
Operating loss		(172.9)	(127.4)		(45.5)
Financial loss		(3.3)	(20.4)		17.1
Net loss for the period		(176.2)	(147.8)		(28.4)

Balance Sheet		FY2024	FY2023		Change
in millions of euros
Net financial position		53.4	203.2		(149.7)
of which other financial assets and other receivables and assets*		23.2	28.3		(5.1)
of which fixed-term deposits (maturing in > 1 year)		0.0	0.0		0.0
of which fixed-term deposits (maturing in < 1 year)		0.0	9.0		(9.0)
of which available cash and cash equivalents		144.2	251.9		(107.7)
(of which financial liabilities)**		(114.0)	(77.0)		(37)
Total Assets		205.2	327.1		(121.9)
Total Shareholders’ Equity		40.6	196.0		(155.4)
* Excluding items of the liquidity contract (liquidity and own shares) and prepaid expenses ** Financial liabilities include borrowings, convertible loan notes, derivative instruments, royalty certificates and other financial liabilities

• Operating income increased by EUR 7.9M to EUR 12.5M in 2024 compared to EUR 4.6M from 2023. The increase was primarily driven by the following:
  
  
  • EUR 2.2M of additional Research Tax Credits, out of which EUR 1.0M related to the 2021 tax year and the remaining amount related to the 2024 tax year. The increase in the 2024 tax credits was due to the net reimbursements of conditional advances made to Bpifrance in relation to the RNP-VIR and CARENA projects, following the termination of both projects.
  • Subsidies increased by a non-cash amount of EUR 4.1M, which was recognized following the termination of the RNP-VIR and CARENA conditional advances granted by Bpifrance. In connection with the termination, Bpifrance agreed to waive 60% of the remaining conditional advances and accrued interests.

• Research and development (R&D) expenses increased by EUR 43.3M to EUR -146.5M in 2024 compared to EUR -103.2M in 2023. This increase was predominantly driven by increase in expenses related to:
  
  
  • Our UC clinical program, driven by the progression of Phase 3 clinical trials for obefazimod in UC;
  • A EUR 4.6M increase in expenses related to our Crohn’s disease (CD) clinical program, driven by planning costs incurred for and progression of the Phase 2b CD trial; and
  • A EUR 8.2M, or 76%, increase related to the overall expansion of the research and development headcount to support our organizational growth and the issuance of new equity awards to officers and employees in research and development.
    
    
• Sales and marketing (S&M) expenses remained relatively consistent between 2024 and 2023.
  
  
• General and administrative (G&A) expenses increased by EUR 10.5M to -32.9M compared to EUR -22.4M for 2023. This increase was primarily driven by the full year impact of the build out of our G&A organization (increased headcount and equity-based compensation costs) which started in late 2023 to support the expansion of the Company, as well as increased legal and professional fees and other costs associated with operating as a dual-listed public company.
  
  
• Total number of employees as of December 31, 2024 was 69 compared to 61 as of December 31, 2023.
  
  
• For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s EUR -3.3M net financial loss was driven primarily by the following items:
  
  
  • Interest expenses of EUR -11.6M relating to borrowings and loans;
  • Non-cash expense of EUR -0.8M in relation to the fair value of the Company’s royalty certificates;
  • Non-cash expense of EUR -1.4M in relation to an increase in the fair value of the Heights convertible notes;
  • Non-cash expense of EUR -1.5M in relation to an increase in the fair value of the Kreos / Claret share warrants (“BSA”); and
  • Transaction costs amounting to EUR 1.6M in connection with the drawdowns of Tranches B and C of the Kreos/Claret financing;
  • Partially offset by interest income of EUR 8.2M in relation to the invested proceeds from the Company’s U.S. initial public offering and listing on Nasdaq and concurrent global private offering, and foreign exchange gains of EUR 2.8M (EUR 1.7M non-cash impact of the revaluation of U.S. dollar-denominated cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024).
    
    
• Cash position as of December 31, 2024, was EUR 144.2, compared to EUR 261.0 (including other financial assets of EUR 9.0M) as of December 31, 2023. The decrease was driven by:
  
  
  • EUR 154.1M being used in operating activities to advance the Phase 3 clinical trials of obefazimod in UC and the initiation of the Phase 2b trial for CD, and the full year impact of increased legal and professional fees and other infrastructure costs associated with operating as a dual-listed public company and changes in working capital; and
  • Debt and interest repayments of EUR 20.9M;
  • Partially offset by drawdowns on Tranches B and C of the Kreos/Claret Financing of EUR 50.0M.

Based on the currently available funds and the expected reimbursement of the research tax credits (CIR) from 2024 in the second half of 2025 amounting to EUR 5.7M, Abivax expects to be able to finance its operating cash flow requirements into Q4 2025.

About Abivax

Abivax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics that harness the body’s natural regulatory mechanisms to stabilize the immune response in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. Based in France and the United States, Abivax’s lead drug candidate, obefazimod (ABX464), is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

Contact:

Patrick Malloy
SVP, Investor Relations
Abivax SA
patrick.malloy@abivax.com
+1 847 987 4878

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates, including those relating to the Company’s business and financial objectives. Words such as “design,” “expect,” “forward,” “future,” “potential,” “plan,” “project,” “will” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements concerning or implying the therapeutic potential of Abivax's drug candidates, Abivax’s expectations regarding the availability of data and timing of reporting results from its clinical trials, including its Phase 3 ABTECT-1 and ABTECT-2 induction trials and Phase 3 ABTECT maintenance trial, enrollment of patients in clinical trials, Abivax’s cash runway, and other statements that are not historical fact. Although Abivax’s management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks, contingencies and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Abivax, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. A description of these risks, contingencies and uncertainties can be found in the documents filed by the Company with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers pursuant to its legal obligations including its universal registration document (Document d’Enregistrement Universel) and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the caption “Risk Factors.” These risks, contingencies and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug candidate, as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates. Special consideration should be given to the potential hurdles of clinical and pharmaceutical development including further assessment by the Company and regulatory agencies and IRBs/ethics committees following the assessment of preclinical, pharmacokinetic, carcinogenicity, toxicity, CMC and clinical data. Furthermore, these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates are made only as of the date of this press release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Abivax disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, forecasts or estimates to reflect any subsequent changes that the Company becomes aware of, except as required by law. Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) that is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement. This press release is for information purposes only, and the information contained herein does not constitute either an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for securities of the Company in any jurisdiction. Similarly, it does not give and should not be treated as giving investment advice. It has no connection with the investment objectives, financial situation or specific needs of any recipient. It should not be regarded by recipients as a substitute for exercise of their own judgment. All opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. The distribution of this document may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

FAQ

What is the current cash runway for Abivax (ABVX) following 2024 results?

Abivax's cash balance of EUR 144.2M as of December 31, 2024, provides runway into Q4 2025.

When will Abivax (ABVX) report Phase 3 ABTECT trial results for ulcerative colitis?

Top-line results from 8-week induction trials are expected in Q3 2025, with maintenance trial results in Q2 2026.

How much did Abivax's R&D expenses increase in 2024?

R&D expenses increased by EUR 43.3M to EUR 146.5M in 2024, up from EUR 103.2M in 2023.

What was Abivax's (ABVX) operating income for 2024?

Operating income increased to EUR 12.5M in 2024, up EUR 7.9M from EUR 4.6M in 2023.

How many employees did Abivax have at the end of 2024?

Abivax had 69 employees as of December 31, 2024, compared to 61 at the end of 2023.