Dermata Therapeutics shares surge 40.86% premarket after closing $12.4M private placement to fund OTC acne kit launch and R&D.

Dermata Therapeutics (DRMA) surged 40.86% in premarket trading following the announcement of a $12.4 million private placement, including $4.1 million upfront and up to $8.3 million in additional proceeds from warrants. The at-the-market offering, led by H.C. Wainwright & Co., involved 2.02 million shares and warrants exercisable at $2.04 per share, with company insiders participating. Proceeds will fund consumer research, pre-launch activities for its OTC acne kit, and strategic acquisitions. The press release emphasized a strategic pivot to OTC dermatologic solutions, positioning the capital raise as a catalyst for growth ahead of the acne kit’s 2026 launch. The stock’s sharp rise reflects investor optimism about the financing’s role in advancing product development and market expansion.