Why did Prelude's operating expenses surge in Q4 2024?

The surge in operating expenses for Prelude Therapeutics in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors:

1. **Increased Research and Development Expenses**: The company's R&D expenses increased significantly, primarily due to higher costs supporting pre-clinical and clinical programs. This suggests that Prelude may have been advancing its pipeline with more clinical trials or may have encountered unexpected challenges that required additional resources to overcome.
2. **General and Administrative Expenses**: The G&A expenses also rose, driven by higher professional fees to support research and development efforts. This could indicate that the company has been investing in more sophisticated or specialized services to aid in its drug development process.

In summary, the rise in operating expenses reflects Prelude's active investment in its research and development initiatives, including clinical trials and related administrative costs, which are critical for advancing its pipeline of precision oncology treatments.