Inhibikase Therapeutics Announces 2024 Financial Results and Highlights Recent Activity

Rhea-AI Summary

Inhibikase Therapeutics (IKT) reported its 2024 financial results and key developments, highlighting a strategic focus on advancing IkT-001 for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) treatment. The company secured $110 million through a private placement in October 2024, with potential additional proceeds of up to $275 million if warrants are exercised.

Key financial metrics for 2024 include:

• Net loss of $27.5 million ($1.16 per share) vs $19.1 million in 2023
• R&D expenses increased to $17.2 million from $13.6 million in 2023
• SG&A expenses rose to $11.4 million from $6.7 million in 2023
• Cash position of $97.5 million as of December 31, 2024

The company strengthened its leadership team with Mark Iwicki as CEO, Chris Cabell as President and Head of R&D, and John Adams as CSO. The FDA issued a Study May Proceed letter for IkT-001's Phase 2b trial in September 2024.

Positive

• Secured $110 million private placement with potential additional proceeds up to $275 million
• Strong cash position of $97.5 million as of December 31, 2024
• FDA clearance received for Phase 2b trial of IkT-001
• Strengthened leadership team with experienced PAH industry executives

Negative

• Net loss increased to $27.5 million from $19.1 million year-over-year
• R&D expenses increased 26% to $17.2 million
• SG&A expenses rose 70% to $11.4 million

Insights

Financial Analyst

Inhibikase's 2024 financial results present a mixed picture with important strategic developments. The company secured $110 million in private placement financing, potentially up to $275 million if warrants are exercised, which substantially strengthens their financial position with $97.5 million cash on hand at year-end. This provides crucial runway for their PAH clinical program.

However, the company's losses widened to $27.5 million ($1.16/share) from $19.1 million in 2023, with R&D expenses increasing 26.5% to $17.2 million and SG&A costs jumping 70.1% to $11.4 million. This higher burn rate is typical for companies transitioning to late-stage clinical development, but warrants monitoring.

The management overhaul brings in executives with specific PAH expertise, including Mark Iwicki as CEO and the addition of leadership from Arena Pharmaceuticals and BELLUS Health—companies with successful track records in pulmonary therapeutics. These appointments signal a strategic focus on advancing IkT-001 through late-stage trials, with the financing providing sufficient resources to execute their development plan.

The FDA's Study May Proceed letter for IkT-001's Phase 2b trial represents an important regulatory milestone, especially given the drug's potential as a disease-modifying treatment based on imatinib's prior data in PAH. The substantial stock option grants to new executives (5,060,000 shares total) reflect the board's commitment to aligning management incentives with clinical advancement.

New Leadership and Focus on Advancement of IkT-001 into a Late-Stage Clinical Trial Program in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

BOSTON, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKT) (“Inhibikase” or “Company”), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company innovating small molecule kinase inhibitor therapeutics to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (“PAH”), today reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024 and highlighted recent developments.

“The financing concluded in October positioned us to focus our clinical development efforts on advancing IkT-001 toward a late-stage clinical trial in PAH,” said Mark Iwicki, Chief Executive Officer of Inhibikase. “To drive the Company toward its next phase of growth, we subsequently added depth to our management team with the additions of Chris Cabell and John Adams, two accomplished scientific leaders with established track records in the PAH space. Additionally, we expect Chris and John will enable us to accelerate the build out of our team as we make preparations to execute on the IkT-001 Phase 2b clinical trial in PAH. We enter 2025 well positioned to aggressively advanced our IkT-001 development plan.”

Recent Developments:

• Closed a private placement with gross proceeds of approximately $110 million in October 2024 in support of advancing IkT-001 into a late-stage clinical trial in PAH. If the warrants issued in such offering are exercised for cash, the aggregate total gross proceeds from the financing may be up to $275 million.
• Announced the appointments of Mark Iwicki as Chief Executive Officer, Chris Cabell, M.D., MHS, FACC, as President and Head of Research & Development, and John Adams, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer.
• Added highly accomplished leaders in biopharmaceutical development to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”):
  • Amit Munshi, Chief Executive Officer of Orna Therapeutics and former CEO of Arena Pharmaceuticals; Mr. Munshi has been appointed as the independent Chair of the Board.
  • Vince Aurentz, former Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer at Arena Pharmaceuticals and former member of the Board at Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Roberto Bellini, Managing Partner of BSQUARED Capital and former Chief Executive Officer of BELLUS Health Inc.
  • David Canner, Partner at Soleus Capital.
  • Mark Iwicki, Chair of the Board of Akero Therapeutics.
  • Arvind Kush, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer of Candid Therapeutics and former CFO of RayzeBio.
• Advancement of IkT-001 as a therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension:
  • The Company received its Study May Proceed letter for the Phase 2b trial in September 2024.
  • The active ingredient in IkT-001, imatinib, has previously been shown to be disease-modifying for PAH.

2024 Financial Results

Net Loss: Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $27.5 million, or $1.16 per share, compared to a net loss of $19.1 million, or $3.16 per share in the year ended December 31, 2023.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $17.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to $13.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2023.

SG&A Expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $11.4 million compared to $6.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $97.5 million as of December 31, 2024.

Grant of Inducement Awards Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

The Board approved the grant of non-statutory stock options to each of Mr. Adams and Mr. Cabell to purchase an aggregate of 2,250,000 and 2,810,000 shares of common stock, respectively, as an inducement material to the employees’ acceptance of employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The options have an exercise price of $2.97 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on February 21, 2025, the effective date of grant. The options have a ten year term, vesting annually over three years, commencing on the one-year anniversary of the employee’s date of hire. The options are subject to the employee’s continued service with the Company on each such vesting date and the terms and conditions of an award agreement.

About Inhibikase (www.inhibikase.com)

Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKT) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing Abelson Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor therapeutics for Cardiopulmonary disease. Inhibikase’s cardiopulmonary disease portfolio is led by IkT-001, a prodrug of imatinib mesylate, for PAH. Inhibikase is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with offices in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Social Media Disclaimer

Investors and others should note that the Company announces material financial information to investors using its investor relations website, press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. The Company intends to also use X, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube as a means of disclosing information about the Company, its services and other matters and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “plans,” or similar expressions or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express the Company’s intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any other statements related to the initiation of the Company’s Phase 2b trial of IkT-001 in PAH, the Company’s future activities, or future events or conditions; and expectations regarding the anticipated contribution of Dr. Cabell and Dr. Adams to our operations and progress. These forward-looking statements are based on Inhibikase’s current expectations and assumptions. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause Inhibikase’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include our ability to commence and execute a Phase 2b ‘702’ trial to evaluate IkT-001 as a treatment for PAH, as well as such other factors that are included in our periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. Inhibikase undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

Contacts:
Investor Relations:
Michael Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

---tables to follow---

Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
		December 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
Assets						​
Current assets:						​
Cash and cash equivalents		$	56,490,579			$	9,165,179
Marketable securities			41,052,949				4,086,873
Prepaid research and development			81,308				219,817
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			826,473				739,179
Total current assets			98,451,309				14,211,048
Equipment and improvements, net			47,100				73,372
Right-of-use asset			101,437				222,227
Total assets		$	98,599,846			$	14,506,647
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity						​
Current liabilities:						​
Accounts payable		$	943,019			$	646,767
Lease obligation, current			110,517				150,095
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			2,680,030				2,259,955
Insurance premium financing payable			-				381,784
Total current liabilities			3,733,566				3,438,601
Lease obligation, net of current portion			-				90,124
Total liabilities			3,733,566				3,528,725
Commitments and contingencies						​
Stockholders’ equity:		​				​
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023			-				-
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 69,362,439 and 6,186,280 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023			69,362				6,186
Additional paid-in capital			189,254,777				77,871,584
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income			(37,248	)			877
Accumulated deficit			(94,420,611	)			(66,900,725	)
Total stockholders' equity			94,866,280				10,977,922
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	98,599,846			$	14,506,647

Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited)
		Year ended December 31,
		2024				2023
Revenue:
Grant revenue		$	—			$	260,501
Total revenue			—				260,501
Costs and expenses:
Research and development			17,210,548				13,618,348
Selling, general and administrative			11,378,520				6,731,945
Total costs and expenses			28,589,068				20,350,293
Loss from operations			(28,589,068	)			(20,089,792	)
Interest income			1,069,182				1,060,909
Net loss			(27,519,886	)			(19,028,883	)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Unrealized loss on marketable securities			(38,125	)			(103,841	)
Comprehensive loss		$	(27,558,011	)		$	(19,132,724	)
Net loss per share – basic and diluted		$	(1.16	)		$	(3.16	)
Weighted-average number of common shares – basic and diluted			23,712,220				6,028,210

FAQ

What was Inhibikase Therapeutics (IKT) net loss for 2024?

IKT reported a net loss of $27.5 million ($1.16 per share) for 2024, compared to $19.1 million in 2023.

How much funding did IKT raise in their October 2024 private placement?

IKT raised $110 million in gross proceeds, with potential additional proceeds up to $275 million if warrants are exercised.

What is the current cash position of Inhibikase Therapeutics (IKT)?

As of December 31, 2024, IKT had $97.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

When did IKT receive FDA clearance for the IkT-001 Phase 2b trial in PAH?

IKT received the FDA Study May Proceed letter for the Phase 2b trial in September 2024.

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

R&D expenses increased to $17.2 million in 2024 from $13.6 million in 2023.