Earnings call transcript: Acurx Pharmaceuticals Q3 2025 reveals cautious outlook

Acurx Pharmaceuticals LLC (ACXP) reported its third-quarter 2025 financial results, highlighting a reduced net loss compared to the previous year. Despite this improvement, the company’s stock saw a 4.12% decline in premarket trading, reflecting investor caution over future financial projections. The company’s ongoing development of its unique antibiotic, ibezapolstat, and recent patent acquisition in Australia were positive highlights, yet the market remains wary of its financial sustainability.

Key Takeaways

• Acurx’s Q3 2025 net loss decreased to $2 million from $2.8 million in Q3 2024.
• Stock price declined 4.12% in premarket trading after a 6.29% increase at the last close.
• Continued development of ibezapolstat, with FDA FAST TRACK designation, is ongoing.
• New patent secured in Australia, adding to the company’s intellectual property portfolio.
• Future EPS projections remain negative, signaling potential financial challenges.

Company Performance

Acurx Pharmaceuticals showed a year-over-year improvement in its financial performance, with a significant reduction in net loss. This improvement was partly due to decreased research and development expenses. The company continues to focus on developing ibezapolstat, an innovative antibiotic for C. diff infections, which has received FDA FAST TRACK designation. However, the broader market remains cautious, as reflected in the premarket stock decline.

Financial Highlights

• Net loss: $2 million, improved from $2.8 million in Q3 2024.
• Cash position: $5.9 million, up from $3.7 million in December 2024.
• Research and development expenses: $0.4 million, down from $1.2 million.
• General and administrative expenses: Stable at $1.6 million.

Outlook & Guidance

Acurx Pharmaceuticals is exploring public-private partnerships and planning a 20-patient trial in the secondary C. diff market. The company projects continued cash availability, with approximately $7 million in cash and $9 million remaining on its equity line. Despite these efforts, future EPS forecasts remain negative, indicating ongoing financial challenges.

Executive Commentary

CEO Dave Luci expressed confidence in the company’s strategy, stating, "We expect to be able to cure those patients of their C. diff with lasting cures." He also hinted at potential major news in the next earnings call. Dr. Kevin Garry from the University of Houston emphasized the positive results of ibezapolstat studies, suggesting a class effect for the microbiome-sparing mechanism.

Risks and Challenges

• Ongoing net losses and negative future EPS projections could affect financial sustainability.
• Reduced research and development expenses may impact innovation and product development.
• Market volatility and premarket stock decline indicate investor caution.
• Dependence on successful clinical trials and regulatory approvals for ibezapolstat.
• Potential competition in the antibiotic market could challenge market positioning.

Q&A

During the earnings call, analysts focused on the potential FDA prioritization of domestically manufactured antibiotics and the regulatory pathways for ibezapolstat. The company’s unique microbiome-sparing mechanism was highlighted as a key differentiator, with executives expressing confidence in their clinical strategy.

Full transcript - Acurx Pharmaceuticals LLC (ACXP) Q3 2025:

Maria, Conference Call Operator: Welcome to the Acurx Pharmaceuticals’ third quarter 2025 conference call and business update. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A brief question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Robert Shawah, Chief Financial Officer. Thank you, sir. You may begin.

Rob Shawah, Chief Financial Officer, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Thank you, Maria. Good morning and welcome to our call. This morning, we issued a press release providing financial results and company highlights for the third quarter of 2025, which is available on our website at acurxpharma.com. Joining me today is Dave Luci, President and CEO of Acurx, who will give a corporate update and outlook. Following that, I’ll provide some highlights of the financials from the third quarter ended September 30, 2025, and then turn the call back over to Dave for his closing remarks. As a reminder, during today’s call, we’ll be making certain forward-looking statements, which are based on current information, assumptions, estimates, and projections about future events that are subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.

Investors should consider these risks and other information described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which we filed today, Wednesday, November 12, 2025. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and Acurx disclaims any obligation to update such statements at any time in the future. This conference call contains time-sensitive information that’s accurate only as of the date of this live broadcast today, November 12, 2025. I’ll now turn the call over to Dave Luci. Dave?

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Thanks, Rob. Good morning, everyone, and thank you so much for joining us to review our financial results for the third quarter 2025, and also to hear some recent updates. We would be pleased to take any questions. First, I’d like to briefly summarize a few of our key activities for the third quarter, or in some cases, shortly thereafter. On August 4, we effected a 1-for-20 reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, and as a result of the reverse split, on August 26, we regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirements of $1 per share under the NASDAQ listing rules. In addition, we met the minimum stockholder equity threshold of $2.5 million under the NASDAQ listing rules.

We’re now in full compliance with all NASDAQ continued listing requirements, and our common stock will remain listed and traded on the NASDAQ stock market. In September, the Australian Patent Office granted a new patent for the company’s class of DNA polymerase 3C inhibitors, including composition of matter. To date, Acurx has obtained three U.S. patents: one Israeli patent, one Japanese patent, one Indian patent, and now the Australian patent, in each case which cover the ACX-375C program related to DNA polymerase 3C inhibitors for infections caused by gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA, VRE, and PRSP, with other country-level filings in process. Also, in September, at our special meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase the total number of authorized shares of common stock from 200 million to 250 million.

In late September, we filed the amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with immediate effect. In October, the company received gross proceeds from the exercise of 170,000 Series F warrants for approximately $1.4 million. Also, in October, we are one of five companies selected to make a formal presentation at ID Week in Atlanta at the session entitled "New Antimicrobials in the Pipeline." Presenting on behalf of Acurx were Dr. Michael Silverman, our Medical Director, and Dr. Kevin Garry, Professor and Chair of University of Houston College of Pharmacy and the Principal Investigator for Microbiology and Microbiome Aspects of the ibezapolstat clinical trial program. The company’s presentation included an update on ibezapolstat and its microbiome-sparing properties. Also presented were new colonic microbiome data from a state-of-the-art mouse infection model showing a potential microbiome-sparing class effect of representative compounds from our DNA polymerase 3C inhibitor preclinical pipeline.

In describing the work performed at his laboratory at the University of Houston, Dr. Garry stated, "Initial work on novel lead DNA polymerase 3C inhibitor compounds indicates that the positive microbiome-sparing results from our ibezapolstat studies may be a class effect. This is an important finding because microbiome-sparing likely contributed to ibezapolstat’s sustained efficacy in the phase two trial for C. diff infection, where no patient cured of C. diff experienced a recurrence. In our recent experiments, mice given the comparator antibiotic linezolid demonstrated an overabundance of uncommon and harmful gram-negative bacteria known to contribute to recurrence of infection. Dr. Garry further stated, ’These data indicate a low probability for DNA polymerase 3C inhibitors to increase the risk of causing a C.

diff infection, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus, or other gut microbiome-related infections. Next, this month, on November 10, the company announced that the Nature Communications scientific journal published results from our scientific collaboration with Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, demonstrating structural biology research that reveals, for the first time, a DNA polymerase 3C inhibitor, ibezapolstat, bound to its target. The publication is entitled, "A unique inhibitor conformation selectively targets the DNA polymerase 3C of gram-positive priority pathogens." This is an important milestone in our highly productive scientific collaboration with Leiden University Medical Center in advancing development of these new-to-nature compounds, fortifying the foundation for the rational development of our innovative class of antimicrobials against other gram-positive priority pathogens. We continue to identify and pursue funding opportunities for a phase three clinical trial program for ibezapolstat, as well as consideration of alternative pathways to achieve success.

We have several initiatives underway to this end, and we’ll report in future updates as appropriate. As we’ve continually reported, ibezapolstat clinical and non-clinical results continue to outperform in a serious and potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by C. diff bacteria that the CDC categorizes as an urgent threat and calls for new classes of antibiotics for initial treatment that also have a low incidence of recurrence. I’d also like to highlight that our company does recognize the month of November as C. diff Awareness Month, as designated by the CDC, and supports the work of the Peggy Lillis Foundation in raising awareness, educating, and advocating for the prevention, treatments, clinical trials, and environmental safety of C. diff infections worldwide. For more information about the work of the Peggy Lillis Foundation, please visit their website at cdiff.org. Additionally, ibezapolstat has FDA QIDP and FAST TRACK designation for treatment of C.

diff, as well as SME, small and medium enterprise status in the EU. We also believe that ibezapolstat, if approved, could make a favorable economic impact by reducing the overall annual U.S. cost burden for C. diff infection of approximately $5 billion, of which $2.8 billion is due to recurrent infection. We remain confident that while development of ibezapolstat’s competitive profile continues to strengthen, we will continue to navigate successfully through these challenging times in the macroeconomic environment and in our industry sector. Now back to our CFO, Rob Shawah, to guide you through the highlights of our financial results for the third quarter of 2025. Rob?

Rob Shawah, Chief Financial Officer, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Thanks, Dave. Our financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025, were included in our press release issued earlier this morning. The company ended the quarter with cash totaling $5.9 million, compared to $3.7 million as of December 31, 2024. During the quarter, the company raised a total of approximately $1.7 million of gross proceeds through purchases under the equity line of credit. In addition, after quarter end, the company raised an additional $1.4 million from a warrant exercise by one institutional investor. Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, were $0.4 million, compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, a decrease of $0.8 million. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease in manufacturing costs of $0.1 million and a decrease in consulting costs of $0.7 million as a result of the prior year trial-related expenses.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, research and development expenses were $1.6 million versus $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease of $3 million was primarily due to a reduction of $0.7 million in manufacturing costs and a $2.3 million decrease in consulting costs due to higher trial-related costs in the prior year. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, were $1.6 million, compared to $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The expenses remained relatively consistent from the prior year, as a $0.2 million decrease in compensation-related costs were offset by a $0.1 million increase in legal fees. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, general and administrative expenses were $4.9 million versus $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, a decrease of $1.9 million.

The decrease was primarily due to a $0.6 million decrease in professional fees and a $1.3 million decrease in share-based compensation. The company reported a net loss of $2 million, or $1.23 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2025. That was compared to a net loss of $2.8 million, or $3.45 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2024. A net loss of $6.4 million, or $5.01 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, that was compared to a net loss of $11.3 million, or $14.23 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, all for the reasons previously mentioned. The company had 1,800,299 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2025. With that, I’ll turn the call back over to Dave.

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Thank you, Rob. And to all of you for joining us today. Now back to the operator to open the call for questions. Maria?

Maria, Conference Call Operator: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press Star 1 on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate that your line is in the question queue. You may press Star 2 if you would like to remove your question from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before pressing the Star keys. One moment, please, while we poll for questions. Our first question comes from Jason McCarthy with Maxim Group. Please proceed with your question.

Joanne Lee, Analyst (for Jason McCarthy), Maxim Group: Hi. This is Joanne Lee.

Maria, Conference Call Operator: Good morning.

Joanne Lee, Analyst (for Jason McCarthy), Maxim Group: Oh, sorry. This is Joanne Lee on the call for Jason McCarthy. Thank you for taking our questions. Starting with, given recent changes under the current FDA administration, do you see increased potential for the agency to prioritize domestically manufactured novel antibiotics? If you could share your perspective on the PASTOR Act, if there is any still meaningful potential for it to advance or impact the antibiotic funding landscape. Thank you.

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Thank you, Joanne. So with regard to the FDA, we certainly see buds on the trees. Maybe this relates more to a sister agency that we’re talking about with a public-private partnership. We’re already FDA, FAST TRACK, and QIDP. There is some legislation that may be coming out related to novel drugs that treat life-threatening conditions that we may be able to avail ourselves to. We’re not sure yet. We would be the first antibiotic under that program, but we’re certainly on it and looking into it. The second component of your question, the PASTOR Act, I don’t think anyone in Washington is focused on the PASTOR Act or Project Bioshield. Given what’s going on in Washington, I think 90% of the folks down there are wondering what their new appropriation is going to be for fiscal 2026 because of the shutdown and that kind of thing.

It’s going to be until the end of the year until folks are sure what they’re going to have to spend. I would expect both of those will continue to be under consideration when normalcy returns to the capital. That may take some time.

Joanne Lee, Analyst (for Jason McCarthy), Maxim Group: Got it. That was helpful. And just given recent shifts under the current FDA leadership, do you see increased potential for the agency? I’m sorry. Does the proposed clinical priority review voucher framework impact the company’s regulatory approach or commercial strategy going forward?

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: No. It would be the same strategy. We would certainly try to avail ourselves of that program at the appropriate time. We’re aware of it. We have a couple of phase three trials in front of us, along with the 20-patient take-all-comers trial in the secondary C. diff market that we’d like to get underway kind of ASAP.

Joanne Lee, Analyst (for Jason McCarthy), Maxim Group: Got it. And just the last one for me. Has the team explored the possibility of filing for approval based solely on the phase two ibezapolstat data? And I guess, what would the regulatory pathway look like if you were to take that route?

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Yeah. We couldn’t. If we could do that, we would. You need a safety database. We’re going to need whatever we’re able to kind of follow as the most recent regulatory pathway. If a new one, the conditional approval pathway, for example, we’re still going to need phase three trial data to support the safety database.

Joanne Lee, Analyst (for Jason McCarthy), Maxim Group: Got it.

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: We don’t have enough patients yet for the FDA to be comfortable.

Joanne Lee, Analyst (for Jason McCarthy), Maxim Group: Got it. Thank you so much. Appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions.

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Thank you, Joanne.

Maria, Conference Call Operator: Our next question comes from Matt Keller with HC Wainwright. Please proceed with your question.

Matt Keller, Analyst, HC Wainwright: Hello. Good morning. Thanks for taking our questions. Just one from us. You kind of touched on this, but you’ve had a number of recent publications and presentations. I’m kind of curious how these data might be informing or potentially changing your clinical strategy going forward, particularly ahead of the start of the potential phase three.

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: I mean, the data is compelling. I mean, to have a microbiome-sparing class effect, that means that as we get our second antibiotic in the pipeline into clinical trials, if our second program is effectively treating MRSA and anthrax and VRE, we’ll be very confident that there are going to be very, very few or no reinfections because of the class effect of the microbiome-sparing mechanism of action. It doesn’t really change the clinical program. What it does do is it makes us confident that we’ll be able to demonstrate to the scientific community that we deserve a seat at the table. The way we’ll do that is to do in the secondary or salvage market for C. diff. In the worst of the worst cases, we’ll dose up to 20 patients who have had three prior episodes or more of C.

diff treated by the standards of care. We expect to be able to show that we’re able to cure those patients of their C. diff with lasting cures because of the elucidation we have now in our mechanism of action. We’ll basically be saying to the scientific community worldwide, "The existing antibiotics that are standards of care are fine, but we deserve a seat at the table." We think that data will be compelling. We would anticipate that data will help us to engender a public-private partnership. It doesn’t really change your primary strategy.

Matt Keller, Analyst, HC Wainwright: Yeah. It totally makes sense. Thanks for the update. Thanks again for taking the question.

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Thanks, Matt.

Maria, Conference Call Operator: Our next question comes from James Malloy with Alliance Global Partners. Please proceed with your question.

James Malloy, Analyst, Alliance Global Partners: Hey, guys. Good morning. Thank you very much for taking my questions. I wonder if there’s any way to put a framework or a timing around potential partnership discussions. I know it’s always partnerships never there until it’s there. You highlighted alternative or additional pathways in your prepared remarks for getting to phase three. Is there any way to put some error bars around when that could potentially happen? I have a couple of follow-ups. Thank you.

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: No problem. Thank you, Jim. Good morning. A partnership is a two-way street. We can’t tell exactly when the people we’re talking to are going to come to terms or if they’re going to come to terms. I would be surprised if on the next earnings call, there hasn’t been some major news for the company.

James Malloy, Analyst, Alliance Global Partners: Excellent. Thank you for that. On the QIDP and FAST TRACK designation, there’s no sort of expectation or time limit or sort of movement that has to go forward for those to keep going? Once you get them, you sort of have them in perpetuity?

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Absolutely.

James Malloy, Analyst, Alliance Global Partners: Got it. Thank you. And then just the last question too on the OpEx. Pretty steady state right now. You guys are, in some respects, holding fast. Are these numbers the numbers we should anticipate going forward, again, barring something substantial being announced before the next call?

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Yes. We continue to tighten our belt. We would think that, if anything, our costs will continue to gradually go down. We’ve done a lot of cost cutting. I’m sure we can find more corners to cut. We’re in kind of a good position with, I think we said $5.9 million, plus we had the $1.4 million after the end of the quarter. With $7 million-ish in the tank and another $9 million remaining on our ELOC, we can kind of bide our time while we wait for a public-private partnership or some sort of M&A activity.

James Malloy, Analyst, Alliance Global Partners: Absolutely. Comments to Rob for keeping the steady hand of the tiller. Thank you, guys, for taking the questions.

Dave Luci, President and CEO, Acurx Pharmaceuticals: Thank you so much, James.

Maria, Conference Call Operator: We have reached the end of our question-and-answer session, which now concludes today’s teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation.

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