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Investing.com -- Zealand Pharma (CSE:ZELA) shares fell more than 4% on Thursday following its full-year 2024 results, which posted a wider-than-expected loss and increased expenditures.
The Danish biotech firm reported a net loss of DKK 1.08 billion for 2024, compared to DKK 703.74 million a year ago.
On a per-share basis, the loss widened to DKK 16.24 from DKK 12.44. Loss before tax also increased to DKK 1.083 billion from DKK 708.87 million.
Annual revenues dropped significantly to DKK 62.69 million from DKK 342.79 million in 2023, which had been bolstered by milestone payments from Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY).
Meanwhile, net operating expenses surged to DKK 1.33 billion from DKK 895.85 million. For 2025, the company projects operating expenses between DKK 2.0 billion and DKK 2.5 billion, primarily driven by increased R&D spending on its obesity drug pipeline.
The market reaction reflected investor concerns over the company’s increasing costs amid a lack of new partnership announcements.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) noted that financial results were not expected to be a major driver for Zealand Pharma at this stage, as investor focus remains on potential catalysts and partnership deals. However, the absence of updates on these fronts weighed on sentiment.
Despite ongoing clinical progress, including planned Phase 2b trials for its obesity drugs and preparations for Phase 3 studies, Zealand Pharma’s uncertainty around revenue generation remains a critical concern.
The company does not provide revenue guidance, citing the unpredictable timing and size of potential partnership income.
Morgan Stanley analysts maintained an "equal-weight" rating on the stock, citing increased competition in the obesity treatment market and limited near-term catalysts until 2026.
The brokerage also pointed to uncertainties surrounding the timing and financial terms of any out-licensing deal for petrelintide, Zealand’s investigational amylin analog.
In its rare disease segment, Zealand Pharma is awaiting further clarity from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the design of its Phase 3 trial for glepaglutide, a treatment for short bowel syndrome.
Additionally, the company is still awaiting FDA inspection of a third-party manufacturing facility before refiling for regulatory approval of its dasiglucagon treatment for congenital hyperinsulinism.