Stoke Therapeutics Announces Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates
–Phase 3 EMPEROR study of zorevunersen, an investigational medicine for Dravet syndrome: ~110 patients through Week 28 primary endpoint, ~20 patients through Week 52 and all continuing into open-label treatment period; data readout anticipated in Q3 2027 followed by the planned
–Successful
–STK-002, an investigational medicine for ADOA: Dose escalation in the Phase 1 OSPREY study continues with dosing of third cohort underway; initial safety and efficacy data anticipated in H1 2027–
–$358.8M in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of
–Webcast and conference call for analysts and investors at
“The Phase 3 EMPEROR study of zorevunersen continues to progress well. Approximately 110 of 162 enrolled patients have completed their Week 28 visit when the primary endpoint of change in major motor seizure frequency is measured and approximately 20 are through Week 52, the end of the treatment period. All 20 of these patients are continuing into the open-label extension period of the study and to date, no patients have discontinued treatment,” said
Program Highlights
Dravet syndrome (zorevunersen)
-
Pivotal Phase 3 EMPEROR Study Progress: Global enrollment is now complete. Enrollment of 162 patients in the primary analysis population (
the United States ,United Kingdom andJapan ) was completed inJune 2026 , and a data readout from these patients is anticipated in the third quarter of 2027. Patients are progressing through the study and as ofOctober 29, 2026 :- All 162 patients are through Week 8 and have received either two 70 mg loading doses of zorevunersen or sham.
- Approximately 130 are through Week 24 and therefore have completed three of the four doses of zorevunersen or sham in the 52-week treatment period.
- Approximately 110 are through Week 28, the time point at which the primary endpoint of change from baseline in log-transformed major motor seizure frequency is measured.
- Approximately 65 are through Week 40 and have therefore completed all doses of zorevunersen or sham in the 52-week treatment period.
- Approximately 20 are through Week 52, the end of the treatment period. All of these patients are continuing into the open-label treatment period.
- No patients have discontinued treatment in the study.
-
Successful Meeting with the
FDA : Stoke recently met with theU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) to align on key aspects of the plannedU.S . New Drug Application (NDA) for zorevunersen. Stoke plans to continue actively engaging with theFDA and to submit data throughout the first half of 2027 to support rapid completion of the NDA submission in the second half of 2027. An important outcome from the discussion included:- New Multicomponent Assessment: For the NDA, Stoke plans to use a multicomponent assessment of four prespecified Vineland-3 subdomains to evaluate changes in cognition and behavior in the Phase 3 EMPEROR study. These four subdomains, expressive communication, receptive communication, interpersonal relationships and personal skills, were selected based on feedback from clinicians and caregivers and their potential to demonstrate meaningful effects for patients within the 52-week treatment period where patients receive zorevunersen or sham. The treatment effect for each subdomain will be calculated using a multivariate mixed model for repeated measures, or MMRM. These scores will then be averaged to produce a single score that reflects the overall treatment effect on cognition and behavior.
-
Additional EMPEROR Study Patients: Enrollment of 34 patients in
Europe (Germany ,France ,Spain andItaly ) was completed inAugust 2026 . Enrollment of 5 patients inChina was completed inOctober 2026 . -
Continuing awareness of Dravet syndrome and appreciation for 5 years of clinical data for zorevunersen:
-
Stoke and Biogen recently presented long-term clinical data that supported the disease-modifying potential of zorevunersen at the 16th
European Epilepsy Congress (EEC) and the 55thChild Neurology Society (CNS) Annual Meeting. These data included a new exploratory sub-analysis that showed substantial reductions in the most severe seizure types, which are the leading risk factor for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). -
The Company is continuing its educational efforts at major neurology and epilepsy congresses through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. Analyses of data will support efforts to increase clinician understanding of zorevunersen while the Phase 3 EMPEROR study advances toward completion and the Company prepares for a potential
U.S . approval and launch in early 2028.
-
Stoke and Biogen recently presented long-term clinical data that supported the disease-modifying potential of zorevunersen at the 16th
Pipeline beyond zorevunersen
-
The Phase 1 OSPREY study of STK-002 in people with ADOA is continuing through dose escalation. Dosing is complete in the first two cohorts, with dosing of the third cohort recently initiated and expected to complete by the end of 2026. Cohorts three and four have the potential to reach therapeutic levels of dosing, with initial safety and efficacy data from these latter cohorts anticipated in the first half of 2027.
-
Preclinical data and progress of the Phase 1 OSPREY study were recently presented at the
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2026 Annual Meeting. Presentations connected insights from ADOA disease biology and natural history findings with preclinical proof-of-concept data, supporting the disease-modifying potential of STK-002 in ADOA.
-
Preclinical data and progress of the Phase 1 OSPREY study were recently presented at the
- Lead optimization is underway to identify a development candidate for the treatment of SYNGAP1-related disorders. SYNGAP1-related disorders are rare and often severe neurodevelopmental diseases.
Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
-
The Company has
$358.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as ofSeptember 30, 2026 . This cash position is expected to fund operations into early 2028. -
Revenue recognized for the three months ended
September 30, 2026 , was$11.3 million , an increase from$10.6 million for the same period in 2025. Revenue is generated from satisfying contractual obligations of the collaboration and licensing agreements with Acadia and Biogen. -
Net loss for the three months ended
September 30, 2026 , was$73.6 million (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of$11.0 million ), or$1.08 per share, compared to a net loss of$38.3 million (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of$8.0 million ), or$0.65 per share, for the same period in 2025. -
Research and development expenses for the three months ended
September 30, 2026 , were$59.8 million , compared to$37.7 million for the same period in 2025. The increase was driven by increased activities and personnel expenses to support the advancement of zorevunersen. -
Sales, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended
September 30, 2026 , increased to$28.7 million from$16.0 million for the same period in 2025. The increase was driven by growth in personnel and launch readiness expenses.
Year-to-Date 2026 Financial Results
-
Revenue recognized for the nine months ended
September 30, 2026 , was$26.8 million , a decrease from$183.0 million for the same period in 2025. The decrease in revenue is primarily driven by the recognition of$150.8 million related to the Biogen IP license performance obligation during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2025 . -
Net loss for the nine months ended
September 30, 2026 , was$185.3 million (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of$30.6 million ), or$2.81 per share, compared to a net income of$51.0 million (including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of$22.4 million ), or$0.85 per diluted share, for the same period in 2025. -
Research and development expenses for the nine months ended
September 30, 2026 , were$149.0 million , compared to$96.2 million for the same period in 2025. The increase was driven by increased activities and personnel expenses to support the advancement of zorevunersen. -
Sales, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended
September 30, 2026 , increased to$74.0 million from$45.9 million for the same period in 2025. The increase was driven by growth in personnel and launch readiness expenses.
Stoke Webcast and Conference Call for Analysts and Investors
Stoke management will host a webcast and conference call for analysts and investors on
About Dravet Syndrome
Dravet syndrome is a severe genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) characterized by recurrent seizures as well as significant cognitive and behavioral impairments. Most cases of Dravet are caused by mutations in one copy of the SCN1A gene, leading to insufficient levels of NaV1.1 protein in neuronal cells in the brain. Even when treated with the best available anti-seizure medicines (ASMs), up to 57% of patients with Dravet syndrome do not achieve ≥50 percent reduction in seizure frequency. Complications of the disease often contribute to a poor quality of life for patients and their caregivers. Developmental and cognitive impairments often include intellectual disability, developmental delays, movement and balance issues, language and speech disturbances, growth defects, sleep abnormalities, disruptions of the autonomic nervous system and mood disorders. Compared with the general epilepsy population, people living with Dravet syndrome have a higher risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP; up to 20 percent of children and adolescents with Dravet syndrome die before adulthood due to SUDEP, prolonged seizures, seizure-related accidents or infections1. Dravet syndrome occurs globally and is not concentrated in a particular geographic area or ethnic group. Currently, it is estimated that up to 38,000 people are living with Dravet syndrome in the
About Zorevunersen
Zorevunersen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that is designed to treat the underlying cause of Dravet syndrome by increasing functional NaV1.1 protein production in brain cells from the unaffected (wild-type) copy of the SCN1A gene. This highly differentiated mechanism of action aims to reduce seizure frequency beyond what has been achieved with anti-seizure medicines and to improve neurodevelopment, cognition and behavior. Zorevunersen has demonstrated the potential for disease modification and has been granted orphan drug designation by the
About the Phase 3 EMPEROR Study
The Phase 3 EMPEROR Study (NCT06872125) is a global, double-blind, sham-controlled study evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of zorevunersen in children ages 2 to <18 with Dravet syndrome with a confirmed variant in the SCN1A gene not associated with gain-of-function. Enrollment in
Participants are randomized 1:1 to receive either zorevunersen via intrathecal administration or a sham comparator for a 52-week treatment period following a baseline period. The primary endpoint in the
About Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA)
ADOA is the most common inherited optic nerve disorder, affecting approximately one in 25,000 people globally with a higher incidence of one in 10,000 in
About STK-002
STK-002 is a proprietary antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) in clinical development for the treatment of ADOA. Stoke believes that STK-002 has the potential to be the first disease-modifying therapy for people living with ADOA. An estimated 65% to 90% of ADOA cases are caused by variants in the OPA1 gene, of which more than 600 have been reported in people diagnosed with ADOA. Most of these variants in the OPA1 gene lead to a haploinsufficiency resulting in 50% OPA1 protein expression and disease manifestation. STK-002 is designed to upregulate OPA1 protein expression by leveraging the non-mutant (wild-type) copy of the OPA1 gene to restore OPA1 protein expression with the aim to improve vision in people with ADOA. Stoke has generated preclinical data demonstrating proof-of-mechanism and proof-of-concept for STK-002. STK-002 has been granted orphan drug designation by the
About the Phase 1 OSPREY Study
The OSPREY study is a Phase 1, dose-escalating open-label study of children and adults ages 6 to 55 who have an established diagnosis of ADOA and have a confirmed disease-causing variant in the OPA1 gene. The primary objectives for the study are to assess the safety and tolerability of single ascending doses of STK-002, as well as to determine the exposure in blood. Secondary objectives are to assess changes in visual function, ocular structure and quality of life after single doses of STK-002. The OSPREY study follows a standard dose escalation design with participants enrolled into sequential cohorts receiving increasing dose levels of STK-002. Dosing of the first two cohorts of patients is complete, with dosing of the third cohort expected to complete by the end of 2026. Subject to ongoing safety assessments, dosing of the fourth cohort is expected to follow in early 2027. Initial safety and efficacy results are anticipated in the first half of 2027. Data from the OSPREY study will help to inform potential future development of STK-002.
All eight planned OSPREY clinical trial sites are now active in the
About Stoke Therapeutics
Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK), is a biotechnology company dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body’s potential with RNA medicine. Using Stoke’s proprietary TANGO (Targeted Augmentation of Nuclear Gene Output) approach, Stoke is developing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to selectively restore naturally-occurring protein levels. Stoke’s first medicine in development, zorevunersen, has demonstrated the potential for disease modification in patients with Dravet syndrome and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 study. Stoke’s initial focus are diseases of the central nervous system and the eye that are caused by a loss of ~50% of normal protein levels (haploinsufficiency). Proof of concept has been demonstrated in other organs, tissues, and systems, supporting broad potential for Stoke’s proprietary approach. Stoke is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to: the Company’s quarterly results and cash runway; its future operating results and current or future financial position and liquidity; the ability of zorevunersen to treat the underlying causes of Dravet syndrome and reduce seizures or show improvements in behavior and cognition at the indicated dosing levels or at all; the potential benefits, safety and efficacy of zorevunersen; the design, timing and results of clinical studies, enrollment timelines, data readouts, regulatory submissions or decisions and other presentations for zorevunersen and STK-002; the Company’s ability to achieve an NDA submission or approval on the expedited timeframe disclosed or at all, and the associated timing, if any, of a potential U.S. commercial launch; the ability of STK-002 to treat the underlying causes of Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA) and improve vision; our expectations, plans, aspirations and goals, including those related to the potential of zorevunersen and our collaborations with Biogen and Acadia. Statements including words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “will,” or “may” and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they prove incorrect or do not fully materialize, could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: the Company’s ability to advance, obtain regulatory approval for, and ultimately commercialize its product candidates; that if the Company’s partners were to breach or terminate their collaboration with the Company, the Company would not obtain the anticipated financial or other benefits; the possibility that the Company and Biogen may not be successful in their development of zorevunersen and that, even if successful, they may be unable to successfully commercialize zorevunersen; the potential that positive results in a clinical trial may not be replicated in subsequent trials or successes in early stage clinical trials may not be predictive of results in later stage trials; the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property; the Company’s ability to fund development activities and achieve development goals into 2028; and the other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and the other documents it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Financial Tables Follow
| Condensed consolidated balance sheets | ||||||||
| (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
|
|
2025 |
|
||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
107,271 |
|
$ |
84,220 |
|
||
| Marketable securities - current |
|
211,916 |
|
|
200,450 |
|
||
| Accounts receivable |
|
8,543 |
|
|
5,936 |
|
||
| Prepaid expenses |
|
17,596 |
|
|
8,736 |
|
||
| Interest receivable |
|
1,533 |
|
|
1,969 |
|
||
| Other current assets |
|
7,558 |
|
|
4,389 |
|
||
| Total current assets |
$ |
354,417 |
|
$ |
305,700 |
|
||
| Marketable securities - long-term |
|
39,602 |
|
|
106,260 |
|
||
| Restricted cash - long-term |
|
3,227 |
|
|
227 |
|
||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets |
|
1,233 |
|
|
3,101 |
|
||
| Property and equipment, net |
|
8,213 |
|
|
3,146 |
|
||
| Total assets |
$ |
406,692 |
|
$ |
418,434 |
|
||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable |
$ |
4,029 |
|
$ |
4,939 |
|
||
| Accrued and other current liabilities |
|
38,584 |
|
|
41,035 |
|
||
| Deferred revenue - current portion |
|
6,364 |
|
|
11,901 |
|
||
| Total current liabilities |
$ |
48,977 |
|
$ |
57,875 |
|
||
| Deferred revenue - net of current portion |
|
4,446 |
|
|
6,961 |
|
||
| Other long-term liabilities |
|
681 |
|
|
1,141 |
|
||
| Total long-term liabilities |
|
5,127 |
|
|
8,102 |
|
||
| Total liabilities |
$ |
54,104 |
|
$ |
65,977 |
|
||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Common stock, par value of |
|
6 |
|
|
5 |
|
||
| Additional paid-in capital |
|
1,036,612 |
|
|
849,624 |
|
||
| Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
|
(1,050 |
) |
|
543 |
|
||
| Accumulated deficit |
|
(682,980 |
) |
|
(497,715 |
) |
||
| Total stockholders’ equity |
$ |
352,588 |
|
$ |
352,457 |
|
||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ |
406,692 |
|
$ |
418,434 |
|
||
| Condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Nine Months Ended |
||||||||||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
|
|
2025 |
|
|
|
2026 |
|
|
|
2025 |
|||
| Revenue |
$ |
11,255 |
|
$ |
10,632 |
|
$ |
26,808 |
|
$ |
183,018 |
|||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development |
|
59,831 |
|
|
37,696 |
|
|
149,004 |
|
|
96,227 |
|||||
| Sales, general and administrative |
|
28,739 |
|
|
16,027 |
|
|
73,966 |
|
|
45,942 |
|||||
| Total operating expenses |
|
88,570 |
|
|
53,723 |
|
|
222,970 |
|
|
142,169 |
|||||
| (Loss) income from operations |
|
(77,315 |
) |
|
(43,091 |
) |
|
(196,162 |
) |
|
40,849 |
|||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net |
|
3,665 |
|
|
3,463 |
|
|
10,564 |
|
|
10,141 |
|||||
| Other income |
|
6 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
333 |
|
|
59 |
|||||
| Total other income (expense) |
|
3,671 |
|
|
3,466 |
|
|
10,897 |
|
|
10,200 |
|||||
| (Loss) income before income taxes |
$ |
(73,644 |
) |
$ |
(39,625 |
) |
$ |
(185,265 |
) |
$ |
51,049 |
|||||
| Provision for income taxes |
|
— |
|
|
(1,278 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|||||
| Net (loss) income |
$ |
(73,644 |
) |
$ |
(38,347 |
) |
$ |
(185,265 |
) |
$ |
51,049 |
|||||
| Net (loss) income per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ |
(1.08 |
) |
$ |
(0.65 |
) |
$ |
(2.81 |
) |
$ |
0.88 |
|||||
| Diluted |
|
(1.08 |
) |
|
(0.65 |
) |
|
(2.81 |
) |
|
0.85 |
|||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
|
68,362,880 |
|
|
58,611,677 |
|
|
65,834,172 |
|
|
58,278,812 |
|||||
| Diluted |
|
68,362,880 |
|
|
58,611,677 |
|
|
65,834,172 |
|
|
60,397,681 |
|||||
| Comprehensive (loss) income: | ||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income |
$ |
(73,644 |
) |
$ |
(38,347 |
) |
$ |
(185,265 |
) |
$ |
51,049 |
|||||
| Other comprehensive (loss) gain: | ||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities |
|
(508 |
) |
|
350 |
|
|
(1,593 |
) |
|
597 |
|||||
| Total other comprehensive (loss) gain |
$ |
(508 |
) |
$ |
350 |
|
$ |
(1,593 |
) |
$ |
597 |
|||||
| Comprehensive (loss) income |
$ |
(74,152 |
) |
$ |
(37,997 |
) |
$ |
(186,858 |
) |
$ |
51,646 |
|||||
References:
- Symonds, J. et al. Early childhood epilepsies: epidemiology, classification, aetiology, and socio-economic determinants. Brain. 2021;144(9):2879-2891.
- Based on Stoke Therapeutics’ preliminary estimates, which scaled annual incidence to prevalence using country-specific live birth rates over the past 85 years and adjusted for Dravet-specific mortality. The estimate is based on incidence rates published by Wu et al., Pediatrics, 2015.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261029090140/en/
Stoke Media & Investor Contacts:
Vice President, Corporate Communications
swillson@stoketherapeutics.com
415-509-8202
Investor Relations
IR@stoketherapeutics.com
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