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Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • XDEMVY sales grew over 69%: Second quarter XDEMVY net product sales rose more than 69% year over year. Management attributed the increase to higher volume and a better gross-to-net discount. Source
  • Second quarter net loss narrowed: Net loss was $18.6 million, against $20.3 million a year earlier. Basic and diluted loss per share was $(0.43), compared with $(0.48). Source
  • Prescribing depth doubled year over year: The number of eye care professionals prescribing XDEMVY five or more times a week doubled year over year, which management cites as depth of adoption. Source
  • R&D spending rose on TP-05 Calliope: Second quarter R&D expenses were $31.0 million against $15.6 million, including $8.0 million of TP-05 Calliope program costs and $3.2 million of payroll and personnel costs. Source
  • Calliope enrollment completed: Calliope, a Phase 2 trial of TP-05 for Lyme disease prevention, has completed enrollment. Management says it could support a Phase 3-ready package. Source
  • Alkeus deal adds Stargardt program: Tarsus agreed to acquire Alkeus Pharmaceuticals and its ALK-001, an oral once-daily candidate for Stargardt disease with a Phase 3 program. The deal is pending. Source
  • Cash and securities rose to $449.7 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $449.7 million at June 30, 2026, up from $388.7 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • $125 million private placement priced: The company priced a $125 million private placement, with top-tier funds and several existing Alkeus investors participating. Source

“XDEMVY delivered another record quarter, reflecting strong underlying demand and commercial execution,”

Bobak Azamian, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Tarsus

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
XDEMVY net product sales Sourcefull-year 2026$685-705 millionRaised from $670-700 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 XDEMVY net product sales guidance raised from $670-700 million to $685-705 million. Source
  • New: Agreement to acquire Alkeus Pharmaceuticals announced, pending completion, adding ALK-001 and a Phase 3 Stargardt program. Source
  • New: A $125 million private placement was priced, with participation from top-tier funds and existing Alkeus investors. Source
  • New: The iRenix Medical acquisition was completed, giving Tarsus its first strategic position in retina. Source
  • New: Neera Clase was appointed Interim Chief Commercial Officer. Source

Quarter results and growth

  • XDEMVY sales grew over 69%: Second quarter XDEMVY net product sales rose more than 69% year over year. Management attributed the increase to higher volume and a better gross-to-net discount. Source
  • Second quarter net loss narrowed: Net loss was $18.6 million, against $20.3 million a year earlier. Basic and diluted loss per share was $(0.43), compared with $(0.48). Source
  • Year-to-date license revenue from China: Year-to-date product sales were $319.3 million. License revenue of $16.7 million reflects a $15.0 million China regulatory milestone, with $1.7 million of withholding tax recorded gross. Source
  • Year-to-date net loss was $25.5 million: Year-to-date net loss was $25.5 million, against $45.5 million. Basic and diluted loss per share was $(0.59), compared with $(1.11). Source

Products and prescriber adoption

  • Prescribing depth doubled year over year: The number of eye care professionals prescribing XDEMVY five or more times a week doubled year over year, which management cites as depth of adoption. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer campaigns lifted web activity: Website engagement rose after a celebrity campaign with John Cena and an unbranded television campaign featuring 'Barry the Cat' began. Source
  • Unaided awareness near 30%: Unaided awareness of Demodex blepharitis is now about 30%, up from 2% of patients surveyed when the direct-to-consumer campaign began. Source

“This performance gives us the commercial foundation and financial strength to remain intensely focused on growing XDEMVY while strategically investing in our next wave of growth.”

Bobak Azamian, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Tarsus

Costs, margins and spending

  • Gross margin held at 93%: Gross margin was 93% in the second quarter, against 94% a year earlier. Cost of sales rose to $12.1 million on manufacturing, royalty and milestone amortization. Source
  • R&D spending rose on TP-05 Calliope: Second quarter R&D expenses were $31.0 million against $15.6 million, including $8.0 million of TP-05 Calliope program costs and $3.2 million of payroll and personnel costs. Source
  • Year-to-date R&D included in-license payment: Year-to-date R&D expenses were $53.4 million, including a $2.0 million upfront payment for an in-license agreement signed in February 2026. Source
  • Second quarter SG&A rose on promotion: SG&A was $150.7 million against $103.0 million. Commercial and marketing costs, including DTC advertising, added $21.2 million, and patient support, IT, legal and professional costs added $19.5 million. Source
  • Year-to-date SG&A reached $287.1 million: Year-to-date SG&A was $287.1 million against $188.0 million. Added payroll costs for commercial and corporate hires totaled $11.1 million. Source

Pipeline and clinical programs

  • KORE trial of TP-04 progressing: The Phase 2 KORE trial of TP-04 for ocular rosacea continues to progress, with topline data expected in the first half of 2027. Source
  • Calliope enrollment completed: Calliope, a Phase 2 trial of TP-05 for Lyme disease prevention, has completed enrollment. Management says it could support a Phase 3-ready package. Source
  • IRX-101 Phase 3 start planned: A Phase 3 COMFORT trial of IRX-101, an ocular antiseptic, is anticipated to start in the first half of 2027, with topline results in 2028. Source

“Together with today’s announcement of our agreement to acquire Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, we are building what we believe is one of the most compelling late-stage pipelines, with multiple opportunities to improve patient care and create long-term value.”

Bobak Azamian, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Tarsus

Acquisitions and retina strategy

  • Alkeus deal adds Stargardt program: Tarsus agreed to acquire Alkeus Pharmaceuticals and its ALK-001, an oral once-daily candidate for Stargardt disease with a Phase 3 program. The deal is pending. Source
  • IRenix gave first retina position: The completed iRenix acquisition added IRX-101, an ocular antiseptic for pain and corneal toxicity from intravitreal injections, in a market the company puts at more than 11 million annual U.S. procedures. Source
  • Stargardt population cited at 36,000: Management says Stargardt disease affects more than 36,000 patients in the United States and can lead to blindness. Source
  • Retina named a growth focus: Management described retina as one of the largest and fastest-growing specialties, and the Alkeus deal as an advance in its plan to become a leading eye care company. Source

Capital, cash and leadership

  • Cash and securities rose to $449.7 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $449.7 million at June 30, 2026, up from $388.7 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • $125 million private placement priced: The company priced a $125 million private placement, with top-tier funds and several existing Alkeus investors participating. Source
  • Shares outstanding increased: Shares outstanding were 43,271,347 at June 30, 2026, up from 43,021,312 at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Interim commercial chief named: Neera Clase was appointed Interim Chief Commercial Officer as the company enters its next phase of growth. Management describes her as instrumental to the commercial strategy. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • KORE topline data in 2027: Topline data from the Phase 2 KORE trial of TP-04 are expected in the first half of 2027. Source
  • Calliope topline data in 2027: Topline data from the Phase 2 Calliope trial are expected in the first half of 2027, with potential to support a Phase 3-ready package. Source
  • COMFORT Phase 3 start in 2027: The Phase 3 COMFORT trial of IRX-101 is anticipated to begin in the first half of 2027, with topline results in 2028. Source
  • Alkeus acquisition awaiting completion: The Alkeus acquisition is pending, and the document gives no closing date. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
XDEMVY net product sales, second quarter 2026 Source$173.9 million
XDEMVY net product sales, year to date 2026 Source$319.3 million
R&D expenses, second quarter 2026 Source$31.0 million
R&D expenses, year to date 2026 Source$53.4 million
Pipeline milestone: TP-04 KORE topline data SourceFirst half of 2027

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Calliope topline timing is restated as the first half of 2027, the same window given in the first quarter release. Source
  • Not stated: The KORE trial is described as continuing to progress, with the first half of 2027 timing unchanged from the first quarter release. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.