Lisata Therapeutics Q4 2024: Navigating Contradictions in ASCEND Trials and Kuva Deal Expectations

These are the key contradictions discussed in Lisata Therapeutics latest 2024Q4 earnings call, specifically including: ASCEND trial data expectations and patient enrollment in trials:



Financial Performance and Expense Reduction:
- Lisata Therapeutics reported revenue of $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily from an upfront license fee related to a collaboration agreement with Kuva Labs, Inc., as compared to no revenue in the previous year.
- The company's operating expenses decreased to $23.4 million for 2024, down from $25.7 million in 2023, driven by a reduction in research and development expenses and lower equity expenses.

Research and Development Advancements:
- The ASCEND trial, a pivotal study for certainpetide, is expected to provide final results for Cohort B in the second to fourth quarter of 2025.
- The data from Cohort B is expected to be akin to Cohort A's preliminary results, which showed a positive trend in overall survival with four complete responses in the certaineptide treated group compared to none in the placebo treated group.

Pancreatic Cancer and other Solid Tumors:
- Certepetide's potential in treating advanced solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, glioblastoma, colon cancer, appendiceal cancer, and melanoma, is supported by preliminary results from Cohort A of the ASCEND trial and the iLSTA trials.
- These data reinforce ceramics potential as a critical component of future treatment regimens for these cancers.

Preclinical and Collaborative Efforts:
- Lisata recently entered into preclinical research collaborations to further investigate the therapeutic potential of certainpetide, including a partnership with the University of Cincinnati to assess ceramics combination with bevacizumab in treating endometriosis.
- These collaborations aim to identify new strategic opportunities for the drug's development and explore potential applications beyond oncology.