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Zymeworks Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 2 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose 39%: Revenue was $106.0 million for 2025, up 39% from $76.3 million. Fourth quarter revenue was $2.5 million, against $31.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Milestones and option exercise lifted revenue: Growth came mainly from significant clinical and regulatory milestones and an option exercise under partner collaborations with J&J, BeOne, GSK, Daiichi Sankyo and BMS. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $81.1 million: The 2025 net loss was $81.1 million, down from $122.7 million in 2024. The fourth quarter loss was $41.2 million, against $23.5 million a year earlier, with the change driven by higher revenue and lower total operating expenses. Source
  • Cash of $270.6 million at year-end: At December 31, 2025, the company held $270.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. That comprised $41.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $229.4 million of marketable securities. Source
  • Note pledges only 30% of Ziihera royalty: The $250.0 million royalty-backed note pledges only 30% of Ziihera royalty interests as collateral. The other 70% stays unencumbered through the loan term. Source
  • Buybacks reach $62.5 million: As of March 2, 2026, $62.5 million of the $125.0 million authorization was used to buy 2,580,415 shares at an average $24.22, up from $19.0 million in the prior release. Source

“Over the past year, we have redefined our approach to what success can look like at Zymeworks.”

Kenneth Galbraith, Chair, Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer of Zymeworks

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted gross operating expense Source2026approximately 20% lower than $170.5 million (2025 level)New
Adjusted gross operating expense Sourcethree-year period ending December 31, 2028approximately $300.0 millionKept
Share repurchase Sourcecurrent authorized programup to $125.0 millionKept
Cash runway Sourcebeyond 2028beyond 2028Kept
Ziihera GEA milestone payments Sourcefuture regulatory approvals in U.S., Europe, Japan and Chinaup to $440.0 millionKept
Ziihera GEA supplemental BLA (Jazz) Sourcefirst quarter of 2026completion of sBLA submission in the first quarter of 2026
Ziihera GEA commercial launch (Jazz) Sourcesecond half of 2026potential launch in second half of 2026New
EmpowHER-303 trial (Jazz) Sourceenrollment completion in first half of 2027; readout later in 2027 or early 2028enrollment completion first half of 2027; top-line readout later in 2027 or early 2028New
Multispecific IND filings Sourcefrom 2028one planned IND filing per annum commencing in 2028Kept
Pasritamig milestone payments (J&J) Sourcedevelopment and commercial milestonesup to $18.0 million development; up to $186.5 million commercialNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A 2026 adjusted gross operating expense figure was given, about 20% below the 2025 level of $170.5 million. The prior release gave no 2026 dollar figure. Source
  • New: Zymeworks entered a $250.0 million royalty-backed note financing with Royalty Pharma in March 2026. Source
  • New guidance: Jazz expects a potential Ziihera commercial launch in first-line GEA in the second half of 2026. The prior release gave no launch timing. Source
  • Ended: ZW171 was discontinued during 2025 after its clinical studies had progressed. Source

Results and revenue drivers

  • Full-year revenue rose 39%: Revenue was $106.0 million for 2025, up 39% from $76.3 million. Fourth quarter revenue was $2.5 million, against $31.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Milestones and option exercise lifted revenue: Growth came mainly from significant clinical and regulatory milestones and an option exercise under partner collaborations with J&J, BeOne, GSK, Daiichi Sankyo and BMS. Source
  • Jazz support revenue declining: Development-support and drug-supply revenue from Jazz fell as Jazz took over certain zanidatamab clinical activities. Management expects Jazz royalty revenue to grow as commercial Ziihera sales rise. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $81.1 million: The 2025 net loss was $81.1 million, down from $122.7 million in 2024. The fourth quarter loss was $41.2 million, against $23.5 million a year earlier, with the change driven by higher revenue and lower total operating expenses. Source
  • Lower interest income and FX loss: Other income fell to $12.8 million for 2025 from $20.5 million, mainly on lower interest income from a smaller cash balance and a net foreign exchange loss. Source

Partnered programs: Ziihera and pasritamig

  • Further Ziihera milestones total $89.0 million: Beyond the $440.0 million tied to GEA, milestones for approvals in further indications total $89.0 million, payable by Jazz and BeOne. Source
  • Tiered Jazz royalties on Ziihera sales: Jazz royalties run from 10% to high teens on global Ziihera sales up to $2.0 billion, then 20%. BeOne royalties run from mid-single to mid-double digits up to $1.0 billion, then 19.5%. Source
  • New pasritamig data at ASCO-GU: J&J presented new pasritamig clinical data at ASCO-GU in February 2026, including a Phase 1b study of pasritamig with docetaxel and an Asian population study. Source
  • Ziihera combination trial started: Jazz is pursuing combinations of Ziihera with novel therapies. A Phase 1 trial with Boehringer Ingelheim's zongertinib in metastatic HER2+ breast cancer was recently initiated. Source

“In 2026, we remain focused on timely execution of each element of our novel strategy.”

Kenneth Galbraith, Chair, Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer of Zymeworks

Wholly-owned pipeline and R&D priorities

  • ZW220 paused; zanidatamab moved to Jazz: Spending on ZW220 was paused and zanidatamab development moved to Jazz. Zanidatamab zovodotin was discontinued in 2023. Source
  • ADVANCE research focus beyond 2026: After 2026, the ADVANCE research effort is to center on multispecific antibody and engineered-cytokine platforms, partly funded by early-stage partnerships. Source
  • Publications and data sharing continue: Management intends to keep publishing peer-reviewed and clinical data across preclinical and clinical programs while evaluating partnerships. Source

Operating costs and expense trends

  • R&D expense up on preclinical work: R&D expense was $137.0 million for 2025, up from $134.6 million, mainly on preclinical spending for ZW209 and ZW1528, plus higher stock-based compensation, consulting and rent. Source
  • G&A flat as stock compensation rose: G&A was $61.5 million for 2025, matching 2024. Higher non-cash stock-based compensation was offset by lower salaries from reduced headcount, consulting, rent and IT costs. Source
  • Total GAAP operating expense $198.5 million: GAAP operating expenses for 2025 totaled $198.5 million, compared with $213.4 million in 2024, which included an impairment on acquired in-process R&D assets. Source

“Designed and developed in-house, zanidatamab reflects the strength of our proprietary Azymetric platform, with our teams now applying our capabilities to advance our next-generation assets”

Paul Moore, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Zymeworks

Cash, liquidity and royalty note financing

  • Cash of $270.6 million at year-end: At December 31, 2025, the company held $270.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. That comprised $41.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $229.4 million of marketable securities. Source
  • Note pledges only 30% of Ziihera royalty: The $250.0 million royalty-backed note pledges only 30% of Ziihera royalty interests as collateral. The other 70% stays unencumbered through the loan term. Source
  • Note keeps more near-term royalty cash: Management said the structure preserves more near-term royalty cash flows for buybacks or acquisitions than a traditional royalty loan, with limited impact on long-term economics. Source

Share repurchases and shares outstanding

  • Buybacks reach $62.5 million: As of March 2, 2026, $62.5 million of the $125.0 million authorization was used to buy 2,580,415 shares at an average $24.22, up from $19.0 million in the prior release. Source
  • Repurchases aimed at reducing share count: Management said the program reflects confidence in long-term growth, reduces share count, and keeps cash for operations and growth investments. Source
  • Share count about 73.7 million: Approximately 73,749,607 common shares were outstanding at March 2, 2026, unaudited. Source

Strategy and leadership

  • Royalties plus internal R&D model: The company describes its strategy as aggregating royalty-generating assets alongside an internal R&D engine that advances its own programs. Source
  • Chair, CEO and interim CFO: Kenneth Galbraith holds the roles of Chair, Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer. Paul Moore is Chief Scientific Officer. Source
  • Structured financing as a tool: Management cites creative financings and partnerships as ways to drive long-term value for shareholders, pointing to the Royalty Pharma structure. Source

Coming up, as management said on 2 March 2026

  • AACR presentation in April 2026: Management plans to present continued R&D portfolio progress at the AACR Annual Meeting in April 2026 in San Diego. Source
  • Note proceeds for buybacks and deals: Proceeds from the Royalty Pharma note are planned to support the ongoing buyback, potential acquisitions and cash runway beyond 2028. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
R&D spend Source$137.0 million for 2025; $31.2 million in 4Q-2025
Regulatory approval SourceHealth Canada, January 2026 (biliary tract cancer)
Regulatory approval SourceUK MHRA, February 2026 (biliary tract cancer)
Trial readout SourcePhase 3 HERIZON-GEA-01 topline results, November 2025
Phase 3 trial initiation SourceTwo pasritamig Phase 3 trials initiated in 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Under the Royalty Pharma note, any duration risk is shared between the company and Royalty Pharma. Source
  • Demand: Royalty growth depends on Ziihera commercial sales rising after regulatory approvals in global GEA markets. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the INDs for multispecific programs ZW209 and ZW1528 remain on track for submission in 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management said more adjusted gross operating expense is expected in 2026, with declines in 2027 and 2028. Source
  • Not stated: Management stated its intention to continue Phase 1 studies for ZW191 and ZW251 in 2026, as set in its January R&D priorities. 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.