Xencor Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Impact

(Moderate)

Rhea-AI Sentiment

(Neutral)

Insights

Xencor's Q4 and full-year 2024 results highlight a company in strategic transition, focusing on protein engineering strengths while narrowing its pipeline to reduce biological uncertainties. The company reported Q4 revenue of $52.8M (up slightly from $51.0M in Q4 2023), primarily from milestone payments from Amgen ($30M) and Novartis ($4M). However, full-year revenue declined to $110.5M from $174.6M in 2023, reflecting a transition in their partnership-driven revenue model.

The company's net loss widened significantly to $232.6M for 2024 ($3.58 per share) from $133.1M in 2023, with a concerning shift from "other income" of $12.7M in 2023 to "other expense" of $56.5M in 2024. This 545% negative swing in the "other" category substantially impacted bottom-line results and warrants investor attention.

On the positive side, Xencor maintains a strong balance sheet with $706.7M in cash and marketable securities, projecting runway into 2028. This provides substantial flexibility to advance their rebalanced pipeline through key inflection points without near-term financing pressure.

The company's strategic pivot is evident in two key decisions: 1) Pausing development of vudalimab to redirect resources, and 2) Expanding into autoimmune diseases, with plamotamab being repurposed from oncology to rheumatoid arthritis. This diversification beyond oncology could reduce clinical development risk while leveraging their existing technology platforms.

For investors, 2025 contains several potential value-creating catalysts:

Initial human data for XmAb942 (anti-TL1A) for IBD in H1 2025, entering a competitive but blockbuster market
Phase 1 data for XmAb819 (ENPP3 x CD3) in renal cell carcinoma in H2 2025
Advancement of partner-developed assets, including Amgen's xaluritamig now in Phase 3 for prostate cancer

The company's strategic realignment to focus on protein engineering strengths while expanding therapeutic areas represents a prudent long-term approach, though investors should expect continued losses as pipeline investments mature toward potential commercialization.

Xencor's Q4 and 2024 results reveal a significant strategic pivot, with the company rebalancing its pipeline to emphasize their core protein engineering capabilities while expanding beyond oncology into autoimmune diseases. This transition appears well-timed as the company's $706.7M cash position provides substantial runway into 2028.

The most notable strategic shift is Xencor's decision to pause vudalimab development despite completed enrollment in multiple studies. This represents a decisive move away from the crowded checkpoint inhibitor space where differentiation is challenging, toward more novel mechanisms where their engineering expertise provides clearer competitive advantages.

Their pipeline now features two distinct technology platforms with compelling near-term catalysts:

T-cell engagers with the proprietary 2+1 format - This architecture provides improved tumor targeting selectivity by incorporating two binding domains for the tumor antigen and one for CD3, potentially addressing the off-target toxicity issues that have many T-cell engagers. XmAb819 (targeting ENPP3 in renal cancer) and XmAb541 (targeting CLDN6 in ovarian cancer) represent first-in-class opportunities with data readouts approaching.
Extended half-life antibodies for autoimmune diseases - XmAb942 (anti-TL1A) enters the competitive IBD space but with potential differentiation through extended dosing intervals and high potency. However, they'll face established competitors including Roche's MSTT1041A and Merck's MK-7240, both in Phase 3 trials.

The repurposing of plamotamab from B-cell malignancies to rheumatoid arthritis represents an innovative approach, leveraging proven B-cell depletion mechanisms in a new therapeutic area. This could provide a differentiated option for patients who have failed current standards of care, though clinical validation remains pending.

Partner-driven development continues to validate their platform technology, with Amgen advancing xaluritamig to Phase 3 in prostate cancer. These partnerships provide non-dilutive funding while enabling Xencor to focus internal resources on wholly-owned assets with higher return potential.

The reduction in R&D expenses to $227.7M from $253.6M despite advancing multiple programs suggests improved operational discipline, though investors should monitor whether this impacts program quality or timeline adherence.

02/27/2025 - 08:01 AM

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ:XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered antibodies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024 and provided clinical updates and priorities for 2025.

“In 2024, we began rebalancing our pipeline to focus on XmAb® drug candidates that leverage our protein engineering strengths and reduce exposure to biological uncertainties—changes we believe increase our overall opportunities for clinical success. We are enthusiastic about ongoing advancement within our oncology portfolio of T-cell engager programs that are nearing important clinical inflection points. We have also introduced several candidates to be developed for patients with autoimmune disease, where there is a great need for new therapeutic agents beyond standard of care, and many of these programs will reach clinical milestones this year,” said Bassil Dahiyat, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer at Xencor.

“In the first half of 2025, we look forward to presenting initial first-in-human healthy volunteer data for XmAb942, our potentially best-in-class, high potency, anti-TL1A antibody with extended half-life, which we are developing for people living with inflammatory bowel disease. In the second half of the year, we plan to present data from our Phase 1 dose-escalation study of XmAb819, our bispecific T-cell engager targeting ENPP3 in ccRCC at a major medical meeting.”

Clinical Program Updates and 2025 Priorities

XmAb942 (Xtend™ anti-TL1A), a potential best-in-class, high-potency, extended half-life antibody in development for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Xencor initiated dosing of healthy volunteers in the first-in-human study of XmAb942. In the first half of 2025, Xencor will present initial data from the single-ascending dose portion of the study. In the second half of 2025, Xencor will present data from the multiple-ascending dose portion of the study and plans to initiate a Phase 2 study in participants with ulcerative colitis.
XmAb819 (ENPP3 x CD3), a first-in-class, tumor-targeted, T-cell engaging 2+1 bispecific antibody in development for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). XmAb819 engages the immune system and activates T cells for highly potent and targeted lysis of tumor cells expressing ENPP3. Xencor is conducting a Phase 1 study to evaluate XmAb819 in patients with advanced ccRCC and plans to present initial data at a medical conference during the second half of 2025.
XmAb541 (CLDN6 x CD3), a first-in-class, tumor-targeted, T-cell engaging 2+1 bispecific antibody in development for patients with advanced solid tumors expressing CLDN6. Like XmAb819, XmAb541 engages the immune system and activates T cells for highly potent and targeted lysis of tumor cells expressing CLDN6. The 2+1 multivalent format enables greater selectivity for targeting the tumor-associated antigen CLDN6 over similar Claudin family members, and new preclinical data demonstrating this selectivity were presented in January 2025. A Phase 1 dose-escalation study to evaluate XmAb541 in patients with ovarian cancer and other CLDN6-expressing tumor types is ongoing, with characterization of target dose levels anticipated to begin during 2025.
XmAb808 (B7-H3 x CD28), a bispecific antibody to provide conditional co-stimulation of T cells when also bound to tumor cells. Dose escalation in an ongoing Phase 1 study combining XmAb808 with pembrolizumab resumed late in the fourth quarter of 2024, and enrollment in the final dose-escalation cohort is complete. To date a maximum tolerated dose has not been reached, and data from the study are expected to inform future development decisions for the program. Xencor does not plan to initiate expansion cohorts in combination with pembrolizumab. Potential combination with CD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies is being evaluated.
Vudalimab (PD-1 x CTLA-4), a bispecific antibody that targets two immune checkpoint receptors for selective activation of T cells. In the fourth quarter of 2024, we completed enrollment in two studies of vudalimab in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and in Part 1 of a study in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Xencor has paused further development of vudalimab and has prioritized resources to advance other pipeline programs. Safety data from the three studies of vudalimab remain consistent with prior data disclosures.

Upcoming Clinical Study Initiation Plans

Plamotamab (CD20 x CD3), a clinical stage, B-cell depleting bispecific T-cell engager for development in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Data demonstrating deep peripheral B-cell depletion observed in patients with lymphoma were presented at a medical meeting in December 2024. Xencor plans to evaluate plamotamab in RA, in which patients have progressed through prior standard-of-care treatment and initiate a Phase 1b/2a proof-of-concept study in the first half of 2025. The Phase 1b portion of the study will select a priming and step-up dose regimen based on the regimen established in oncology and will assess the initial safety, efficacy, and biomarkers of plamotamab in patients with RA. The selected dose regimen will then be evaluated in the randomized Phase 2a portion, with efficacy determined at week 12.
XmAb657 (CD19 x CD3), a potent, extended half-life B-cell depleting bispecific T-cell engager for development in autoimmune disease. Xencor plans to initiate a first-in-human study in the second half of 2025.
TL1A x IL23 Program: a bispecific antibody for dual targeting of important inflammatory pathways in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, while avoiding the complexities of dosing and formulary access for two separate TL1A and IL23 targeted drugs. Xencor anticipates selecting a lead candidate in 2025 and initiating first-in-human studies during 2026.

Recent Partnership Developments

Amgen: Xaluritamig is a STEAP1 x CD3 XmAb 2+1 bispecific T-cell engager that our partner Amgen is advancing for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Amgen initiated a Phase 3 study of xaluritamig in patients with mCRPC who have previously been treated with taxane-based chemotherapy. We earned $30 million in milestone revenue, which we received in 2025. Multiple Phase 1 or Phase 1b studies evaluating xaluritamig as a monotherapy or in combination are enrolling patients with earlier prostate cancer.
Novartis: In the fourth quarter of 2024, Novartis initiated a Phase 2 study to evaluate an investigational antibody that incorporates an XmAb Fc domain, and Xencor earned $4 million in milestone revenue, which we received in 2025.

Financial Guidance: Based on current operating plans, Xencor expects to end 2025 with between $535 million and $585 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities, and to have cash to fund research and development programs and operations into 2028.

Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year Ended December 31, 2024

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable debt securities totaled $706.7 million as of December 31, 2024 compared to $697.0 million as of December 31, 2023.

Total revenue for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 was $52.8 million compared to $51.0 million for the same period in 2023. Revenue earned in the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily the milestone revenue from Amgen and Novartis, as well as non-cash royalty revenue from Ultomiris and Monjuvi compared to the same period in 2023, which was primarily the research and milestone revenue from the two J&J collaboration agreements and non-cash royalty revenue from Ultomiris and Monjuvi. Revenue for the full year ended December 31, 2024 was $110.5 million compared to $174.6 million for the same period in 2023. Revenue in 2024 was primarily milestone revenue from Amgen and Novartis, licensing revenue, as well as non-cash royalty revenue from Ultomiris and Monjuvi compared to 2023, which was primarily milestone revenue from Alexion, Gilead, J&J, Omeros and Zenas and collaboration revenue from the second J&J collaboration.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 were $51.1 million compared to $63.0 million for the same period in 2023. R&D expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2024 were $227.7 million compared to $253.6 million for the same period in 2023. Lower R&D expenses reflect decreased spending on the wind down costs of terminated programs, partially offset by increased spending on programs such as XmAb819, XmAb657 and XmAb942.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 were $14.9 million compared to $15.3 million for the same period in 2023. G&A expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2024 were $61.2 million compared to $53.4 million for the same period in 2023. Increased G&A spending reflects additional compensation costs on general and administrative staffing and spending on professional fees.

Other expense, net for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 was $31.4 million compared to other income, net of $14.7 million for the same period in 2023. Other expense, net for the full year ended December 31, 2024 was $56.5 million compared to other income, net of $12.7 million in the same period in 2023.

Net loss attributable to Xencor for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 was $45.6 million or $(0.62) on a fully diluted per share basis compared to net loss of $26.1 million or $(0.43) on a fully diluted per share basis, for the same period in 2023. For the full year ended December 31, 2024 net loss attributable to Xencor was $232.6 million or $(3.58) on a fully diluted per share basis compared to net loss of $133.1 million or $(2.20) on a fully diluted per share basis, for the same period in 2023.

Upcoming Investor Conferences

Company management will participate at multiple upcoming investor conferences:

TD Cowen 45th Annual Health Care Conference
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Presentation Time: 11:10 a.m. ET / 8:10 a.m. PT
Leerink Partners Global Healthcare Conference
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Presentation Time: 2:20 p.m. ET / 11:20 a.m. PT

Live webcasts of the presentations will be available under “Events & Presentations” in the Investors section of the Company’s website located at www.xencor.com. Replays of the events will be available on the Xencor website for at least 30 days following the presentations.

About Xencor

Xencor is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered antibodies for the treatment of patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. More than 20 candidates engineered with Xencor's XmAb® technology are in clinical development, and multiple XmAb medicines are marketed by partners. Xencor's XmAb engineering technology enables small changes to a protein’s structure that result in new mechanisms of therapeutic action. For more information, please visit www.xencor.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements that are not purely statements of historical fact, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as “potential,” “can,” “will,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “look forward,” “believe,” “committed,” “investigational,” and similar terms, or by express or implied discussions relating to Xencor’s business, including, but not limited to, statements regarding expectations and opportunities for clinical progress and success, expectations regarding advancement within Xencor’s portfolio, expectations regarding clinical milestones, planned receipt and presentations of clinical data, including the expected timing thereof, XmAb candidates and programs, planned and ongoing clinical trials, including the expected timing thereof, projected financial resources and financial guidance, including estimated cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities at year end and cash runway for research and development programs and operations, the quotations from Xencor's chief executive officer, and other statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. Such statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of the management of Xencor and are subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements and the timing of events to be materially different from those implied by such statements, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such risks include, without limitation, the risks associated with the process of discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics and other risks, including the ability of publicly disclosed preliminary clinical trial data to support continued clinical development and regulatory approval for specific treatments, in each case as described in Xencor's public securities filings. For a discussion of these and other factors, please refer to Xencor's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as well as Xencor's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Xencor undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.

Xencor, Inc.
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(in thousands)

	December 31,		December 31,
		2024		2023

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable debt securities - current	$	449,846	$	551,515
Other current assets		127,755		84,088
Marketable debt securities - long term		256,833		145,512
Other long-term assets		117,511		184,020
Total assets	$	951,945	$	965,135

Total current liabilities	$	87,432	$	73,915
Debt - long term		115,159		161,772
Other long term liabilities		75,328		67,361
Total liabilities		277,919		303,048
Total stockholders' equity		674,026		662,087
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	951,945	$	965,135

Xencor, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
		2024			2023			2024			2023
	(Unaudited)
Revenue	$	52,794		$	50,966		$	110,493		$	174,615

Operating expenses
Research and development		51,056			63,046			227,686			253,598
General and administrative		14,916			15,272			61,215			53,379
Total operating expenses		65,972			78,318			288,901			306,977
Loss from operations		(13,178	)		(27,352	)		(178,408	)		(132,362	)

Other income (expense), net		(31,404	)		14,705			(56,515	)		12,728
Loss before income tax		(44,582	)		(12,647	)		(234,923	)		(119,634	)

Income tax expense		1,617			13,663			1,617			13,662
Net loss		(46,199	)		(26,310	)		(236,540	)		(133,296	)

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest		(647	)		(163	)		(3,922	)		(163	)
Net loss attributable to Xencor, Inc.		(45,552	)		(26,147	)		(232,618	)		(133,133	)

Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized (loss) gain on marketable debt securities available-for-sale		(2,464	)		1,999			(1,954	)		8,243
Comprehensive loss attributable to Xencor, Inc.	$	(48,016	)	$	(24,148	)	$	(234,572	)	$	(124,890	)

Net loss per common share attributable to Xencor, Inc.:
Basic and Diluted	$	(0.62	)	$	(0.43	)	$	(3.58	)	$	(2.20	)
Weighted average common shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to Xencor, Inc.
Basic and Diluted		73,175,549			60,847,854			65,041,265			60,503,283

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250226858165/en/

For Investors:

Charles Liles

cliles@xencor.com

(626) 737-8118

For Media:

Cassidy McClain

Inizio Evoke

cassidy.mcclain@inizioevoke.com

(619) 694-6291

Source: Xencor, Inc.

FAQ

What were Xencor's (XNCR) Q4 2024 financial results?

Q4 2024 revenue was $52.8M with a net loss of $45.6M ($0.62 per share). Cash position was $706.7M as of December 31, 2024.

What milestone payments did XNCR receive in Q4 2024?

Xencor received a $30M milestone payment from Amgen and $4M from Novartis in Q4 2024.

What are the key clinical trial updates for XNCR in 2025?

XmAb942 initial data expected in H1 2025, XmAb819 data presentation in H2 2025, and XmAb657 first-in-human study initiation in H2 2025.

How long will XNCR's current cash position fund operations?

Xencor expects to have sufficient cash to fund operations into 2028, with projected year-end 2025 cash between $535M-$585M.

Xencor Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Insights

FAQ

What were Xencor's (XNCR) Q4 2024 financial results?

What milestone payments did XNCR receive in Q4 2024?

What are the key clinical trial updates for XNCR in 2025?

How long will XNCR's current cash position fund operations?

NASDAQ:XNCR

XNCR Rankings

XNCR Latest News

XNCR Stock Data

Trending News

Xencor Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Insights

Financial Analyst neutral

Biotechnology Expert neutral

FAQ

What were Xencor's (XNCR) Q4 2024 financial results?

What milestone payments did XNCR receive in Q4 2024?

What are the key clinical trial updates for XNCR in 2025?

How long will XNCR's current cash position fund operations?

NASDAQ:XNCR

XNCR Rankings

XNCR Latest News

XNCR Stock Data