Why did Lantern Pharma's operating expenses surge in Q4 2024?

Lantern Pharma's operating expenses for Q4 2024 are not currently available, but I can provide analysis based on the latest data from Q3 2024, and the company's recent activities that may give some insight into its potential expenses for Q4 2024. 1. **Clinical Trial Activities**: Lantern Pharma has been actively expanding its clinical trials, including the dosing of the first patient in Taiwan for a Phase II trial of LP-300 in never-smoker patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Such activities likely involve significant expenses related to trial setup, patient enrollment, and dosing, which could contribute to an increase in operating expenses. 2. **Research and Development**: The company's focus on AI-driven oncology and the development of targeted cancer therapies, as evidenced by its HARMONIC trial and LP-300, suggests that R&D expenses are likely to be a significant component of its operating expenses. Clinical trials, especially those involving novel therapeutics, can be costly, including the development of new drug candidates like LP-300. 3. **Operational Expansion**: The enrollment of patients in Taiwan marks an expansion of Lantern's HARMONIC trial into Asia, which could involve additional operational costs associated with entering new markets, including regulatory compliance, local hiring, and adapting trial protocols to local regulations. 4. **Financial Projections**: Despite the surge in potential operating expenses, Lantern Pharma's stock rose by 14.4% this quarter, indicating investor confidence or positive market reactions to recent developments, such as the FDA Fast Track Designation for LP-184 in triple negative breast cancer. In conclusion, the surge in Lantern Pharma's operating expenses in Q4 2024 is likely due to a combination of clinical trial expansions, research and development activities, and operational expansions. These factors, coupled with the company's strategic focus on AI-driven oncology, suggest that Q4 2024's expenses may have been higher than previous quarters due to the increased costs associated with advancing its pipeline and entering new markets.