Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025 or
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-36829
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
04-3475813
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
9 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ
08512
(Address of principal executive office)
(Zip Code)
(609) 659-8001
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
RCKT
Nasdaq Global Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☒
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of May 2, 2025, there were 107,737,919 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.
Page
Summary of Abbreviated Terms
3
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
4
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
6
Item 1.
Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2025 (unaudited) and December 31, 2024
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited)
7
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited)
8
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited)
9
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited)
10
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
11
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
25
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
40
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
41
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
42
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Other Information
Item 6.
Exhibits
43
Signatures
44
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. may be referred to as Rocket, the Company, we, our or us, in this Quarterly Report, unless the context otherwise indicates. Throughout this Quarterly Report, we have used terms which are defined below:
AAV
Adeno-associated virus
ICD
Implantable cardiac defibrillator
ACM
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
IND
Investigational New Drug application
ASC
Accounting Standard Codification
IPR&D
In process research and development
ASGCT
American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy
KCCQ
Kansas City Cardiovascular Questionnaire
BAG3
BLC2-associated athanogene 3
LAD-I
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency-I
BAG3-DCM
BLC2-associated athanogene 3 mutations associated with dialted cardiomyopathy
LAMP2
Lysosome-associated membrane protein 2
BLA
Biologics License Application
LV
Lentiviral vector
BNP
Brain natriuretic peptide
MAA
Marketing Authorization Application
CHF
Congestive heart failure
NYHA
New York Heart Association
cGMP
Current Good Manufacturing Practice
Offering
Equity offering on December 12, 2024
CIRM
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
PKD
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
CMC
Chemistry Manufacturing Controls
PKP2-ACM
Plakophilin-2 Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy
CODM
Chief Operating Decision Maker
PSU
Performance Stock Unit
CRL
Complete Response Letter
PRIME
Priority Medicines
Cowen
Cowen and Company, LLC
Private Placement
Issuance of warrants on December 12, 2024
CTIS
Clinical Trials Information Systems
R&D
Research and development
DCM
Dilated cardiomyopathy
RBC
Red blood cell
DD
Danon Disease
Renovacor
Renovacor, Inc. acquired on December 1, 2022
DNA
Deoxyrubonucleic acid
RMAT
Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy
EMA
European Medicines Agency
RSU
Restricted stock unit
ESB Lease Agreement
Office lease in the Empire State Building in NYC
RTW
RTW Investments, L.P
EU
European Union
SCD
Sudden cardiac death
FA
Fanconi Anemia
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
FANCA
Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group A
Stanford
Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine
FDA
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
GMP
Good Manufacturing Practice
U.S.
United States
HNJ
Hospital Infantil de Niño Jesús
U.S. GAAP
U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
HSCT
Hematopoietic stem cell transplant
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We make such forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “develop,” “estimate,” “expect,” “expand,” “future,” “hope,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “pursue,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Any forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflect our current views with respect to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, particularly in the “Risk Factors” section incorporated by reference from our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2024, on Form 10-K, that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments we may make or enter into.
You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results, performance, or achievements may be materially different from what we expect. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for certain diseases, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events, or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources. This Quarterly Report contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents.
5
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except shares and per share amounts)
March 31, 2025
December 31, 2024
(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
49,810
163,635
Investments
268,354
208,701
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
6,329
5,847
Total current assets
324,493
378,183
Property and equipment, net
34,565
36,786
Goodwill
39,154
Intangible assets
25,150
Restricted cash
1,362
Deposits
514
529
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
4,003
4,173
Finance lease right-of-use asset, net
41,825
42,363
Total assets
471,066
527,700
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
32,435
37,827
Operating lease liabilities, current
1,006
1,001
Finance lease liability, current
1,870
1,856
Total current liabilities
35,311
40,684
Operating lease liabilities, non-current
3,095
3,258
Finance lease liability, non-current
19,381
19,383
Other liabilities
1,141
Total liabilities
58,928
64,466
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 5,000,000 shares:
Series A convertible preferred stock; 300,000 shares designated; 0 shares issued and outstanding
-
Series B convertible preferred stock; 300,000 shares designated; 0 shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 180,000,000 shares authorized; 106,753,886 and 106,453,818 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively
1,068
1,065
Additional paid-in capital
1,690,547
1,680,219
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
(27
)
66
Accumulated deficit
(1,279,450
(1,218,116
Total stockholders' equity
412,138
463,234
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Revenue
Operating expenses:
35,942
45,227
General and administrative
28,446
22,148
Total operating expenses
64,388
67,375
Loss from operations
(64,388
(67,375
Interest expense
(472
(471
Interest and other income, net
1,336
3,029
Accretion of discount on investments, net
2,190
2,763
Net loss
(61,334
(62,054
Net loss per share - basic and diluted
(0.56
(0.66
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted
110,093,461
93,549,884
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
($ in thousands)
Other comprehensive loss:
Net unrealized loss on investments
(93
(454
Total comprehensive loss
(61,427
(62,508
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024
($ in thousands except share amounts)
Accumulated
Additional
Other
Total
Common Stock
Paid-In
Comprehensive
Stockholders'
Shares
Amount
Capital
Income/(Loss)
Deficit
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2024
106,453,818
Issuance of common stock pursuant to vesting of restricted stock units
300,068
(3
Unrealized comprehensive loss on investments
Stock-based compensation
10,331
Balance at March 31, 2025
106,753,886
Balance at December 31, 2023
90,282,267
903
1,450,722
319
(959,370
492,574
Issuance of common stock pursuant to exercise of stock options
73,745
1,184
290,578
10,252
Balance at March 31, 2024
90,646,590
906
1,462,155
(135
(1,021,424
441,502
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment
2,451
1,716
Amortization of finance lease right of use asset
538
(2,075
(2,754
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
1,111
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(467
(1,151
(5,258
(2,413
Operating lease liabilities and right of use assets, net
12
13
Finance lease liability
27
(2,141
Net cash used in operating activities
(55,790
(56,856
Investing activities:
Purchases of investments
(139,931
(63,947
Proceeds from maturities of investments
82,260
101,016
Purchases of property and equipment
(364
(2,035
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(58,035
35,034
Financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, pursuant to exercise of stock options
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(113,825
(20,638
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
164,997
57,276
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
51,172
36,638
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing and investing activities:
Accrued purchases of property and equipment, ending balance
51
923
Investment maturity receivables and purchase payables, ending balance
8,648
Operating lease liabilities
1,134
Operating lease right of use assets
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
($ in thousands, except shares and per share data) (Unaudited)
Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a fully integrated, late-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of first, only and best in class gene therapies, with direct on-target mechanism of action and clear clinical endpoints, for rare and devastating diseases.
The Company has two clinical stage and one pre-clinical stage in vivo adeno-associated viral (AAV) programs in the U.S., which include programs for:
In September 2023, the Company announced its alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its pivotal study design for RP-A501 in Danon disease. Completion of enrollment in this study was announced in September 2024, and the trial and follow-up are ongoing. The Company has received FDA clearance of an investigational new drug (IND) application for RP-A601, and has initiated a Phase 1 study for this program. For the BAG3 program, nonclinical and IND enabling studies are ongoing. Submission of the IND is anticipated in mid-2025.
The Company also has three clinical-stage ex vivo lentiviral (LV) programs, which include programs for:
In September 2023, the FDA accepted the Biologics License Application (BLA) and granted priority review for RP-L201 for the treatment of severe LAD-I. In June 2024, the Company announced that the FDA had issued a CRL in response to the BLA wherein the FDA requested limited additional CMC information to complete its review. Submission of a complete BLA to resolve the CRL is anticipated in 2025. With respect to RP-L201, treatments in the FA Phase 2 studies were completed in 2023 and submission of a BLA on a rolling review basis was initiated in September 2024. In April 2024, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted our Marketing Authorization Applications (MAA) for RP-L102. Additional work on a gene therapy program for the less common FA subtypes C and G is ongoing. With respect to RP-L301, the Company has reached agreement with the FDA on the study design of the Phase 2 pivotal trial for RP-L301, our ex vivo LV-based program targeting PKD. While the Phase 2 RP-L301 study is ready for patient enrollment, the Company is currently focusing our resources on other programs and have not initiated enrollment in the Phase 2 RP-L301 study.
The Company has global commercialization and development rights to all of these product candidates under royalty-bearing license agreements.
The Company has not generated any revenue and has incurred losses since inception. Operations of the Company are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among others, uncertainty of drug candidate development, technological uncertainty, uncertainty regarding patents and proprietary rights, having no commercial manufacturing experience, marketing or sales capability or experience, dependency on key personnel, compliance with government regulations and the need to obtain additional financing. Drug candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel infrastructure, and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities.
The Company’s product candidates are in the development and clinical stage. There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully completed, that adequate protection for the Company’s intellectual property will be obtained, that any products developed will obtain necessary government approval or that any approved products will be commercially viable. Even if the Company’s product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will generate significant revenue from product sales. The Company operates in an environment of rapid change in technology and substantial competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The Company has experienced negative cash flows from operations and had an accumulated deficit of $1.28 billion as of March 31, 2025. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had $318.2 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments. The Company expects such resources will be sufficient to fund the Company’s operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2026.
In the longer term, the future viability of the Company is dependent on its ability to generate cash from operating activities or to raise additional capital to finance its operations. The Company’s failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on its financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategies.
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2025. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2025 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025. The financial data and other information disclosed in these consolidated notes related to the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 are unaudited. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2025 and any other interim periods or any future year or period.
The significant accounting policies used in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025 are consistent with those disclosed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in the 2024 Form 10-K with most significant policies also being listed here.
The consolidated financial statements represent the consolidation of the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries in conformity with U.S. GAAP. All intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include but are not limited to goodwill and intangible asset impairments, the accrual of R&D expenses, the valuation of equity transactions, and stock-based awards. Changes in estimates and assumptions are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash consists of bank deposits, certificates of deposit and money market accounts with financial institutions. Cash equivalents are carried at cost which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature and which the Company believes do not have a material exposure to credit risk. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash and cash equivalent accounts, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.
Restricted cash consists of deposits collateralizing letters of credit issued by a bank in connection with the Company’s operating leases (see Note 12 “Leases” for additional disclosures) and a deposit collateralizing a letter of credit issued by a bank supporting the Company’s corporate credit cards. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash consist of the following:
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Concentrations of credit risk and off-balance sheet risk
Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalent balances with high quality financial institutions and, consequently, the Company believes that such funds are subject to minimal credit risk. The Company’s marketable securities consist of U.S. Treasury Securities. The Company’s investment policy limits the amounts the Company may invest in any one type of investment and requires all investments held by the Company to be at least AA-/Aa3 rated, thereby reducing credit risk exposure.
Investments consist of U.S. Treasury Securities. Management determines the appropriate classification of these securities at the time they are acquired and evaluates the appropriateness of such classifications at each balance sheet date. The Company classifies its investments as available-for-sale pursuant to ASC 320, Investments-Debt and Equity Securities. Investments are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity and a component of total comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, until realized. Realized gains and losses are included in investment income on a specific-identification basis. The Company estimates expected credit losses for investments when unrealized losses exist. Unrealized losses that are credit related are recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations and unrealized losses that are not credit related are recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, there were no unrealized losses that were credit related. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 there were net unrealized loss on investments of $0.1 and $0.5 million, respectively.
Intangible assets consisted of an indefinite lived intangible IPR&D asset. Intangible assets related to IPR&D projects are considered to be indefinite-lived until the completion or abandonment of the associated R&D efforts. If and when development is complete, which generally occurs if and when regulatory approval to market a product is obtained, the associated assets would be deemed finite-lived and would then be amortized based on their respective estimated useful lives at that point in time. IPR&D intangible assets which are determined to have had a decrease in their fair value are adjusted downward and an expense is recognized in R&D expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. These IPR&D intangible assets are tested at least annually or when a triggering event occurs that could indicate a potential impairment based on indicators including progress of R&D activities, changes in projected development of assets, and changes in regulatory environment and future commercial markets. If a triggering event occurs that would indicate a potential impairment, the Company will perform a quantitative analysis to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value is below carrying amount.
The Company is required to disclose information on all assets and liabilities reported at fair value that enables an assessment of the inputs used in determining the reported fair values. ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a hierarchy of inputs used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy applies only to the valuation inputs used in determining the reported fair value of the investments and is not a measure of the investment credit quality. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, deposits, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their respective carrying values due to the short-term nature of most of these instruments.
The Company accounts for stock warrants as either equity instruments, liabilities or derivative liabilities in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and/or ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, depending on the specific terms of the warrant agreement. Liability-classified warrants are recorded at their estimated fair values at each reporting period until they are exercised, terminated, reclassified or otherwise settled. Changes in the estimated fair value of liability-classified warrants are included in interest and other income in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. Warrants classified as equity instruments are recorded within additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance and are not subject to remeasurement.
The Company issues stock-based awards to employees and non-employees, generally in the form of stock options, RSUs and PSUs.
The Company measures the compensation expense of employee and non-employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the grant date. The cost of a stock option or RSU is recognized over the requisite service period of the award on a straight-line basis with forfeitures recognized as they occur. The vesting condition for PSUs is performance based and the cost of a PSU is recognized when it is likely that the performance goal associated with the PSU will be achieved and the award will vest.
The fair value of options on the date of grant is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on key assumptions such as expected volatility and expected term.
The Company classifies stock-based compensation expense in its Consolidated Statements of Operations in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs and services are classified or in which the award recipient’s service payments are classified.
Segment Reporting
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer and the senior leadership team. The CODM manages the Company’s operations on an integrated basis for the purpose of allocating resources. When evaluating the Company’s financial performance, the CODM regularly reviews total expenses and expenses by significant areas to make decisions on a company wide basis. Included in these expenses are R&D expenses by program.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Adopted as of March 31, 2025
ASU 2023-09: Income Taxes Topic 740 - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This update standardizes categories for the effective tax rate reconciliation, requires disaggregation of income taxes and additional income tax-related disclosures. This update is required to be effective for the Company for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2023-09 will have on its financial statements and disclosures.
ASU 2024-03: Expense Disaggregation Disclosures. This update requires disaggregated disclosure of income statement expenses. This update will be effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2024-03 will have on its financial statements and disclosures.
14
Items measured at fair value on a recurring basis are the Company’s investments and warrant liability. The following table sets forth the Company’s financial investments that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy:
Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2025 Using:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Assets:
Cash equivalents:
Money market mutual funds
46,580
Investments:
U.S. Treasury securities
314,934
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2024 Using:
139,948
7,453
147,401
216,154
356,102
The Company classifies its money market mutual funds as Level 1 assets under the fair value hierarchy, as these assets have been valued using quoted market prices in active markets without any valuation adjustment. The Company classifies its U.S. Treasury Securities as Level 2 assets as these assets are not traded in an active market and have been valued through a third-party pricing service based on quoted prices for similar assets.
The Company’s warrant liability, which expired on April 23, 2025 and is recorded as part of other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3). The warrant liability balance was approximately $0 at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.
The Company utilizes a Black-Scholes model to value the warrant liability (see Note 10 “Warrants”) at each reporting period, with changes in fair value recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimated fair value of the warrant liability is determined using Level 3 inputs. Inherent in an options pricing model are assumptions related to expected share-price volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The Company estimates the expected volatility of its common stock based on historical volatility of its common stock, considering the expected remaining life of the warrants. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon yield curve on the valuation date for a maturity similar to the expected remaining life of the warrants. The expected life of the warrants is assumed to be equivalent to their remaining contractual term. The dividend rate is based on the historical rate, which the Company anticipates will remain at zero.
15
The fair value of the warrant liability has been estimated with the following assumptions:
Stock price
6.67
12.57
Exercise price
65.23
Expected volatility
76.02
%
52.24
Risk-free interest rate
4.38
4.24
Expected dividend yield
Expected life (years)
0.06
0.31
Fair value per warrant
The Company’s property and equipment consisted of the following:
Laboratory equipment
32,372
32,205
Machinery and equipment
12,875
12,857
Computer equipment
1,015
Furniture and fixtures
2,777
Leasehold improvements
7,327
7,282
Internal use software
1,903
58,269
58,039
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
(23,704
(21,253
Total property and equipment, net
During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $2.5 million and $1.7 million of depreciation and amortization expense, respectively.
The Company’s intangible assets consisted of an acquired IPR&D asset received in the acquisition of Renovacor. Intangible assets as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are summarized as follows:
Gross carrying value
Accumulated amortization
Total intangible assets
The carrying value of Goodwill as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $39.2 million.
The Company’s accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following:
13,628
16,768
Employee compensation
7,073
11,944
Property and equipment
185
Professional fees
8,738
7,305
2,945
1,625
Total accounts payable and accrued expenses
16
Public Offerings and Private Placements
On December 12, 2024, the Company completed the Offering of 15,180,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $12.50 per share and Private Placement of pre-funded warrants to purchase 400,000 shares of common stock at a price of $12.49 per warrant. The gross proceeds from the Offering and Private Placement were approximately $194.7 million, net of $12.2 million of offering costs, underwriting discounts and commissions, legal and other expenses for net proceeds from the Offering and Private Placement of $182.5 million.
The weighted average assumptions that the Company used in a Black-Scholes pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options granted to employees, non-employees and directors were as follows:
4.35
5.16
Expected term (in years)
5.42
5.88
71.29
73.62
0.00
10.73
29.46
Fair value of common stock
The following table summarizes stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
Weighted
Average
Aggregate
Number of
Exercise
Contractual
Intrinsic
Price
Term (Years)
Value
Outstanding as of December 31, 2024
16,044,686
16.19
4.67
63,295
Granted
1,414,793
9.39
Exercised
Cancelled or forfeited
(258,945
21.68
Outstanding as of March 31, 2025
17,200,534
15.66
4.71
30,666
Options vested and exercisable as of March 31, 2025
13,872,270
15.03
3.69
Options unvested as of March 31, 2025
3,328,264
18.27
8.95
The weighted average grant-date fair value per share of stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 was $6.05 and $19.92, respectively.
The total fair value of options vested during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $10.7 million and $11.5 million, respectively.
17
The following table summarizes the Company’s RSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Unvested as of December 31, 2024
1,414,210
23.02
3,066,671
9.06
Vested
(300,068
24.41
Forfeited
(132,350
20.60
Unvested as of March 31, 2025
4,048,463
12.42
The total fair value of RSUs vested during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $7.3 million and $5.6 million, respectively.
The following table summarizes the Company’s PSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:
69,661
28.71
PSU vesting and expense recognition is based on achievement of specific performance goals within certain time periods. PSU awards that are not achieved within specific time periods are forfeited. No performance goals were probable of achievement as of March 31, 2025 and no PSUs were forfeited or expired during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Stock-based compensation expense recognized by award type was as follows:
Stock options
5,907
6,938
Restricted stock units
4,424
3,314
Total stock-based compensation expense
Stock-based compensation expense by classification included within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss was as follows:
4,388
4,637
5,943
5,615
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had an aggregate of $76.5 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options, RSU and PSU grants. The stock options and RSU grants had an aggregate of $74.5 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.21 years.
18
A summary of the warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2025 is as follows:
Exercise Price
Outstanding
Grant/Assumption Date
Expiration Date
$57.11
603,386
December 21, 2020
December 21, 2030
$33.63
301,291
August 9, 2021
August 9, 2031
$22.51
153,155
December 17, 2021
December 17, 2031
$65.23
617,050
December 1, 2022
April 23, 2025
760,086
December 1, 2026
$0.01
3,126,955
September 15, 2023
N/A
400,000
December 12, 2024
6,115,078
Warrants Issued in Public Offerings
The Company issued warrants to a related party during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company sold pre-funded warrants to purchase 400,000 and 3,126,955 shares of common shares, respectively at a price of $0.01 per share (see Note 8 “Stockholders Equity”). The pre-funded warrants were acquired by funds affiliated with RTW (see Note 16 “Related Party Transactions”).
Assumed Renovacor Warrants
In conjunction with the acquisition of Renovacor, Rocket assumed pre-acquisition public warrants that were converted into Rocket warrants with a right to purchase 760,086 of Rocket common shares at an exercise price of $65.23 per share.
In conjunction with the acquisition of Renovacor, Rocket assumed pre-acquisition private warrants that were converted into Rocket warrants with a right to purchase 617,050 of Rocket common shares at an exercise price of $65.23 per share. The Company determined that the private warrants did not meet all of the criteria for equity classification. Accordingly, the Company classifies these as a derivative liability in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company measures the fair value of these warrants at the end of each reporting period and recognizes changes in the fair value from the prior period in the Company’s operating results for the current period. See Note 4 “Fair Value of Financial Instruments” for discussion of fair value measurement of the warrant liability.
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders was calculated as follows:
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
Denominator:
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders - basic and diluted
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company included the 3,126,955 potential shares from the pre-funded warrants acquired by RTW in 2023 in the basic weighted-average common shares outstanding as the warrants only require the holder to pay $0.01 per share upon exercise.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company included the 3,126,955 potential shares from the pre-funded warrants acquired by RTW in 2023 and the 400,000 potential shares from the pre-funded warrants acquired by RTW in 2024 in the basic weighted-average common shares outstanding as the warrants only require the holder to pay $0.01 per share upon exercise.
19
The Company excluded the following potential shares of common stock, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
Warrants exercisable for common shares
2,588,123
1,740,745
Performance stock units
139,323
Options to purchase common shares
15,923,806
Total potential shares excluded from diluted net loss per share
23,906,781
20,391,997
The Company has a lease for a facility in Cranbury, New Jersey, consisting of 103,720 square feet of space including areas for offices, process development, research, and development laboratories and 50,000 square feet dedicated to AAV cGMP manufacturing facilities to support the Company’s pipeline (such lease, as amended, the “NJ Lease Agreement”). The NJ Lease Agreement has a 15-year term from September 1, 2019, with an option to renew for two consecutive five-year renewal terms.
Estimated rent payments for the NJ Lease Agreement are $1.2 million per annum, payable in monthly installments, and subject to annual base rent increases of 3%. The total commitment under the lease is estimated to be approximately $29.3 million over the 15-year term of the lease. The Company paid a cash security deposit of $0.3 million to the landlord in connection with the NJ Lease Agreement which has been reflected as part of deposits in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.
On June 7, 2018, the Company entered into a three-year ESB Lease Agreement. In connection with the ESB Lease Agreement, the Company established an irrevocable standby letter of credit for $0.8 million. On March 26, 2021, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to the ESB Lease Agreement that extended the term of the lease agreement to June 30, 2024. On March 29, 2024, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 to the ESB Lease Agreement that extended the term of the lease agreement to July 31, 2027. The letter of credit serves as the Company’s security deposit on the lease in which the landlord is the beneficiary and expires September 30, 2027.
The Company has a certificate of deposit of $0.8 million with a bank as collateral for the ESB Lease Agreement letter of credit which is classified as part of restricted cash in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.
On December 1, 2022, in connection with the acquisition of Renovacor, the Company added operating leases for space at facilities in Hopewell, New Jersey and Cambridge, Massachusetts with remaining lease terms of approximately 10.3 and 1.3 years, respectively. The Company recognized total right-of-use assets of $3.8 million with corresponding total lease liabilities of $3.6 million at lease commencement dates. The Company intends to sublease the facilities in Hopewell, New Jersey and signed the first agreement to sublease one of these facilities in January 2024. Rental income received under sublease agreements was less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Rent expense excluding rental income was $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
The total restricted cash balance for the Company’s operating and finance leases as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $0.8 million.
20
The following table summarizes lease cost for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:
Lease cost
Operating lease cost
397
369
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right of use assets
Interest on lease liabilities
472
471
Total lease cost
1,407
1,378
The following table summarizes the future lease payments of the Company’s operating lease liabilities on an undiscounted cash flow basis:
Fiscal Year Ending December 31,
2025 (nine months)
751
2026
1,005
2027
759
2028
522
2029
539
Thereafter
1,881
Total lease payments
5,457
Less: interest
(1,356
Total operating lease liabilities
4,101
The following table summarizes the future lease payments of the Company’s finance lease liabilities on an undiscounted cash flow basis:
1,396
1,911
1,969
2,028
2,089
38,915
48,308
(27,057
Total finance lease liability
21,251
The following table summarizes the operating and financing lease liabilities and right-of-use assets as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024:
Leases
Operating right-of-use assets
Operating current lease liabilities
Operating noncurrent lease liabilities
4,259
Finance right-of-use assets
Finance current lease liability
Finance noncurrent lease liability
21,239
21
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases
364
333
Cash flows from finance lease
460
443
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases
6.5 years
7.1 years
Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance lease
19.4 years
20.4 years
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases
8.82
Weighted-average discount rate - finance lease
8.96
OK
From time to time, the Company may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe it is party to any other claim or litigation the outcome of which, if determined adversely to the Company, would individually or in the aggregate be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on its business. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on the Company because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
Pursuant to its bylaws and as permitted under Delaware law, the Company has indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company or anyone serving in these capacities. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to pay is unlimited. The Company has insurance that reduces its monetary exposure and would enable it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result, the Company believes that the estimated fair value of these indemnification commitments is minimal.
Throughout the normal course of business, the Company has agreements with vendors that provide goods and services required by the Company to run its business. In some instances, vendor agreements include language that requires the Company to indemnify the vendor from certain damages caused by the Company’s use of the vendor’s goods and/or services. The Company has insurance that would allow it to recover a portion of any future amounts that could arise from these indemnifications. As a result, the Company believes that the estimated fair value of these indemnification commitments is minimal.
The Company, directly and through its subsidiary Spacecraft Seven, LLC, has various license and research and collaboration arrangements. The transactions principally resulted in the acquisition of rights to intellectual property which is in the preclinical phase and has not been tested for safety or feasibility. In all cases, the Company did not acquire tangible assets, processes, protocols, or operating systems. The Company expenses the acquired intellectual property rights as of the acquisition date on the basis that the cost of intangible assets purchased from others for use in R&D activities has no alternative future uses.
On April 30, 2019, CIRM awarded the Company up to $7.5 million under a CLIN2 grant award to support the clinical development of its LV-based gene therapy, RP-L201. Proceeds from the grant helped fund clinical trial costs as well as manufactured drug product for Phase 1/2 patients enrolled at the U.S. clinical site, University of California, Los Angeles Mattel Children’s Hospital, led by principal investigator Donald Kohn, M.D., UCLA Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Pediatrics (Hematology/Oncology), Molecular and Medical Pharmacology and member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA. As of March 31, 2025, the Company has received $5.9 million in total RP-L201 grants from CIRM. The Company received a final milestone grant of $0.05 million on January 2, 2024 and no additional payments are available under the grant awards program.
22
DD CIRM Grant
On August 18, 2024, CIRM awarded the Company up to $5.8 million under a CLIN2 grant award to support the clinical development of its AAV-based gene therapy, RP-A501 for the treatment of DD. Proceeds from the grant would help fund clinical trial costs as well as manufactured drug product for Phase 1/2 patients. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company received grants of $2.7 million, which were recorded as a reduction of R&D expenses. Through March 31, 2025, the Company has received RP-A501 grants of $5.0 million from CIRM.
In June 2023, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with the spouse of one of the Company’s executive officers for information technology advisory services. The Company incurred expenses of approximately $0 and $2,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, for services provided under this agreement.
In December 2024, in connection with a public offering, the Company sold 400,000 pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock to funds affiliated with RTW, the Company’s largest shareholder (see Note 8 “Stockholders’ Equity”).
In February 2025, the Company enter into a consulting agreement with one of the Company’s board members, effective March 3, 2025, for services related to the Company’s research and development activities. As compensation for services rendered during 2025, the consultant will receive $125,000 to be paid in equal monthly installments and $125,000 of RSU’s valued as of the closing price on March 3, 2025 which will cliff vest on December 31, 2025. The agreement will terminate on December 31, 2025 unless terminated earlier by the Company for cause or voluntarily by consultant. The board member was paid approximately $12,500 for the period ended March 31, 2025 for services provided under the consulting agreement.
The Company has a defined contribution savings plan (the “Plan”) under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. This Plan covers substantially all employees who meet minimum age and service requirements and allows participants to defer a portion of their annual compensation on a pre-tax basis. Company contributions to the Plan may be made at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company has elected the safe harbor match of 4% of employee contributions to the Plan, subject to certain limitations. The Company’s matching contribution for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, was $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively.
23
The Company has one reportable segment related to R&D and commercial readiness of its gene therapies.
The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer and the senior leadership team. The CODM manages the Company’s operations on an integrated basis for the purpose of allocating resources. When evaluating the Company’s financial performance, the CODM regularly reviews total expenses and expenses by significant areas to make decisions on a company wide basis. Included in these expenses are R&D expenses by program.
The table below is a summary of the segment loss, including significant segment expenses:
Non-commercial general and administrative
20,615
15,776
Commercial general and administrative
7,831
6,372
Accretion of discount and amortization of premium on investments, net
Net Segment loss and Net loss
The Company’s CODM uses net loss to evaluate past spending and to guide decisions of future spending. Net loss is used to monitor budget versus actual results. The CODM also uses net loss in analysis of programs and along with the monitoring of budgeted versus actual results in assessing performance of the segment and in establishing manager’s compensation.
24
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the consolidated financial statements and related notes that are included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K, filed on February 27, 2025 with the SEC. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current plans, expectations and beliefs that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the 2024 Form 10-K and in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In preparing this MD&A, we presume that readers have access to and have read the MD&A in our 2024 Form 10-K.
We are a fully integrated, late-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of first, only and best in class gene therapies, with direct on-target mechanism of action and clear clinical endpoints, for rare and devastating diseases.
We have two clinical stage and one pre-clinical stage in vivo adeno-associated viral (AAV) programs in the U.S., which include programs for:
In September 2023, we announced our alignment with the FDA on our pivotal study design for RP-A501 in DD. Completion of enrollment in this study was announced in September 2024, and the trial and follow-up are ongoing. We have received FDA clearance of an IND application for RP-A601, and we have initiated a Phase 1 study for this program. For the BAG3 program, nonclinical and IND enabling studies are ongoing. Submission of the IND is anticipated in the first half of 2025.
We also have three clinical-stage ex vivo lentiviral (LV) programs, which include programs for:
In September 2023, the FDA accepted the BLA and granted priority review for RP-L201 for the treatment of severe LAD-I. In June 2024, we announced that the FDA had issued a CRL in response to the BLA wherein the FDA requested limited additional CMC information to complete its review. Submission of a complete BLA to resolve the CRL is anticipated in 2025. With respect to RP-L102, treatments in the FA Phase 2 studies were completed in 2023 and submission of a BLA on a rolling review basis was initiated in September 2024. In April 2024, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted our Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for RP-L102. Additional work on a gene therapy program for the less common FA subtypes C and G is ongoing. With respect to RP-L301, we have reached agreement with the FDA on the study design of the Phase 2 pivotal trial for RP-L301, our ex vivo LV-based program targeting PKD. While the Phase 2 RP-L301 study is ready for patient enrollment, we are currently focusing our resources on other programs and have not initiated enrollment in the Phase 2 RP-L301 study.
We have global commercialization and development rights to all of these product candidates under royalty-bearing license agreements.
Gene Therapy Overview
Genes are composed of sequences of deoxyribonucleic acid, which provide the code for proteins that perform a broad range of physiologic functions in all living organisms. Although genes are passed on from generation to generation, genetic changes, also known as mutations, can occur in this process. These changes can result in the lack of production of proteins or the production of altered proteins with reduced or abnormal function, which can in turn result in disease.
Gene therapy is a therapeutic approach in which an isolated gene sequence or segment of DNA is administered to a patient, most commonly for the purpose of treating a genetic disease that is caused by genetic mutations. Currently available therapies for many genetic diseases focus on administration of large proteins or enzymes and typically address only the symptoms of the disease. Gene therapy aims to address the disease-causing effects of absent or dysfunctional genes by delivering functional copies of the gene sequence directly into the patient’s cells, offering the potential for curing the genetic disease, rather than simply addressing symptoms.
We are developing gene therapies utilizing modified, non-pathogenic viruses as delivery vehicles. Viruses are inherently effective for gene delivery due to their natural ability to enter cells and deliver genetic material. In engineering our viral vectors, the native viral genes are removed and replaced with a functional copy of the missing or mutated gene responsible for a patient’s genetic disorder. This functional copy, referred to as a “therapeutic gene” or “transgene,” is introduced through a process known as “transduction.” Once modified, the virus is termed a “viral vector,” capable of delivering the transgene to targeted tissues or organs, such as the bone marrow.
We are advancing two categories of viral vectors: adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors and lentiviral (LV) vectors. We believe that our AAV- and LV-based programs have the potential to confer significant and durable therapeutic benefits. Our gene therapies are administered either (1) ex vivo, whereby a patient’s cells are collected, transduced with the viral vector in a controlled laboratory environment, and subsequently reinfused into the patient, or (2) in vivo, whereby the viral vector is delivered directly into the patient, either intravenously or through targeted tissue injection, to enable in situ transduction of the desired cell populations.
We believe that scientific advances, clinical progress, and the greater regulatory acceptance of gene therapy have created a promising environment to advance gene therapy products as these products are being designed to restore cell function and improve clinical outcomes, which in many cases include prevention of death at an early age. The FDA approval of several gene therapies in recent years indicates that there is a regulatory pathway forward for gene therapy products.
Strategy
We seek to bring hope and relief to patients with devastating, undertreated and rare pediatric diseases through the development and commercialization of potentially curative first in class gene therapies. As a fully-integrated biotechnology company, we are well positioned to achieve these objectives. In the near and medium-term, we intend to develop our first-in-class product candidates, which target devastating diseases with substantial unmet need, develop proprietary in-house analytics and manufacturing capabilities and continue to conduct registration trials for our currently planned programs. In the medium and long-term, pending favorable data, we expect to submit BLAs for the rest of our suite of clinical programs, and establish our gene therapy platform and expand our pipeline to target additional indications that we believe to be potentially compatible with our gene therapy technologies. In addition, during that time, we believe that our currently planned programs will become eligible for priority review vouchers from the FDA that provide expedited review. We have assembled a leadership and research team with expertise in cell and gene therapy, rare disease drug development, product approval and commercial launches.
We believe that our competitive advantage lies in our disease-based selection approach, a rigorous process to identify target diseases and ability to develop products to treat identified target diseases. We believe that this approach to asset development differentiates us as a gene therapy company and potentially provides us with a first-mover advantage and first-to-market of meaningful treatments for devastating, undertreated, and rare pediatric diseases.
26
Pipeline Overview
The chart below shows the current phases of development of our programs and product candidates:
Cardiovascular Programs
DD is a multi-organ lysosomal-associated disorder leading to early death due to heart failure. DD is caused by mutations in the gene encoding lysosome-associated membrane protein 2, a mediator of autophagy. This mutation results in the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles, predominantly in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Male patients often require heart transplantation and typically die in their teens or twenties from progressive heart failure. Along with severe cardiomyopathy, other DD-related manifestations can include skeletal muscle weakness and intellectual impairment. There are no specific therapies available for the treatment of DD and medications typically utilized for the treatment of CHF are not believed to modify progression to end-stage CHF. Patients with end-stage CHF may undergo heart transplant, which currently is available to a minority of patients, is associated with significant short- and long-term complications and is not curative of the disorder in the long-term. RP-A501 is in clinical trials as an in vivo therapy for DD, which is estimated to have a prevalence of 15,000 to 30,000 patients in the U.S. and the EU.
DD is an X-linked dominant, monogenic rare inherited disorder characterized by progressive cardiomyopathy which is almost universally fatal in males even in settings where cardiac transplantation is available. The causative mutation has been identified in the gene encoding for lysosome-associated membrane protein (LAMP2), and in particular the LAMP2B version of the gene which is primarily expressed in heart, skeletal muscle and brain tissue. This results in accumulation of autophagosomes and glycogen, particularly in cardiac muscle and other tissues, which ultimately leads to heart failure. DD predominantly affects males early in life and is characterized by absence of LAMP2B expression in the heart and other tissues. Preclinical models of DD have demonstrated that AAV-mediated transduction of the heart results in reconstitution of LAMP2B expression and improvement in cardiac function.
We currently have one AAV program targeting DD, RP-A501. We have treated seven patients in the RP-A501 Phase 1 clinical trial, which enrolled adult/older adolescent and pediatric male DD patients. This includes a first cohort evaluating a low-dose (6.7e13 genome copies (gc)/kilogram (kg)) in adult/older adolescent patients aged 15 or greater (n=3), a second cohort evaluating a higher dose (1.1e14 gc/kg) in adult/older adolescent patients aged 15 or greater (n=2), and a pediatric cohort at a low dose level (6.7e13 gc/kg; n=2).
As previously disclosed, a patient receiving therapy on the high dose cohort (1.1e14 gc/kg dose) had progressive heart failure and underwent a heart transplant at month five following therapy. This patient had more advanced disease than the four other adult/older adolescent patients who received treatment in the low and high dose cohorts, as evidenced by diminished baseline left ventricle ejection fraction (35%) on echocardiogram and markedly elevated left ventricle filling pressure prior to treatment. The patient’s clinical course was characteristic of DD progression. The patient is doing well post-transplant.
Based on the initial efficacy observed in the low dose cohort and to mitigate complement-mediated safety concerns observed in the high dose cohort (thrombotic microangiopathy) and in agreement with the FDA, we have moved forward with the low dose (6.7e13 gc/kg). Additional safety measures were implemented and are reflected in the updated trial protocol for Phase 1 and the protocol for our ongoing pivotal Phase 2 study. These measures include exclusion of patients with end-stage heart failure, and a refined immunomodulatory regimen involving transient B- and T-cell mediated inhibition, with emphasis on preventing complement activation, while also enabling lower steroid doses and earlier steroid taper, with all immunosuppressive therapy discontinued 2-3 months following administration of RP-A501.
We conducted a variety of efficacy assessments in the Phase 1 clinical study to measure the prospect of benefit for patients. These assessments included the following:
In November 2024, we announced positive results and presented long-term safety and efficacy results of the Phase 1 study at the American Heart Association’s 2024 Late-Breaking Science sessions and simultaneously published these data in the New England Journal of Medicine. The long-term safety and efficacy results from the Phase 1 RP-A501 study showed that RP-A501 was generally well tolerated and all evaluable DD patients demonstrated LAMP2 protein expression at 12 months (sustained up to 60 months) and reduction of left ventricular mass index by ≥10% at 12 months (sustained up to 54 months) after treatment.
28
The safety and preliminary efficacy of RP-A501 was evaluated in a single-arm, open-label, multi-center Phase 1 study in male patients with Danon disease. Five patients [pediatric (n=2) and adult/adolescent (n=3)] were treated with the low dose (6.7 x 1013 GC/kg), and 2 adult/adolescent patients were treated with the high dose (1.1 x 1014 GC/kg). Data from the Phase 1 study (cut-off April 19, 2024) showed that RP-A501 in conjunction with a transient immunomodulatory regimen was generally well tolerated. Evidence of sustained clinically meaningful improvement was observed in pediatric patients followed up to 24 months and adult/adolescent patients followed up to 60 months.
29
All evaluable patients in the Phase 1 trial demonstrated:
Results from the Phase 1 DD trial represent one of the most comprehensive investigational gene therapy datasets for any cardiac condition. RP-A501 was generally well tolerated with evidence of durable treatment activity and improvement of DD for both pediatric patients with up to nine months of follow-up and four adult/older adolescent patients with up to 54 months of follow-up. All adult/older adolescent and pediatric patients who received a closely monitored immunomodulatory regimen showed improvements across tissue, laboratory, and imaging-based biomarkers, as well as in NYHA class (from II to I) and KCCQ scores with follow-up of 24 to 54 months.
In September 2023, we announced that alignment was reached with the FDA on the global Phase 2 pivotal trial of RP-A501 for DD. The global, single-arm, multi-center Phase 2 pivotal trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of RP-A501 in 12 patients with DD, including a pediatric safety run-in (n=2), with a natural history comparator and a dose level of 6.7 x 1013 GC/kg.
30
In January 2024, we received CTIS approval to include clinical trial sites in certain EU Member States. The global Phase 2 study is ongoing in the U.S. and EU.
Drug product for the Phase 2 study is being produced in-house in our GMP manufacturing facility in Cranbury, NJ. We have successfully produced multiple commercial-grade Danon AAV cGMP batches since 2022. These batches have superior specifications to Phase 1 material in both titer and full versus empty particles. We believe the improved quality of our in-house manufactured product will allow for full dosing with lower total viral particles, potentially further optimizing the safety profile of RP-A501. Furthermore, we have reached agreement with the FDA on the continued utilization of HEK-293 cell-based process through commercialization, our comparability approach and our potency assay.
Recently Achieved Milestones
In February 2023, we announced that RP-A501 received RMAT designation from the FDA, and in May 2023, we received PRIME designation from the EMA. In September 2024, we announced completion of enrollment of 12 patients in the Phase 2 study across sites in the U.S. and EU. The trial and follow-up are ongoing.
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inheritable cardiac disorder that is characterized by a high propensity for arrhythmias and sudden death, a progressive loss of cardiac muscle mass, severe right ventricular dilation, dysplasia, and fibrofatty replacement of the myocardium. Most commonly, the cardiomyopathy initially manifests in the right ventricular free wall, so the disease was termed arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy. However, since left dominant and biventricular forms have also been observed, this has led more recently to the use of the term ACM. Mutations in the PKP2 gene comprise the most frequent genetically identified etiology of familial ACM. PKP2 encodes for the protein Plakophilin-2, which is a component of the desmosome, an intercellular complex involved in cell-cell adhesion. PKP2 is also involved in transcriptional regulation of calcium signaling between cardiomyocytes. Patients with mutations in PKP2 are typically heterozygous and demonstrate reduced expression of PKP2 in the myocardium. Mean presentation is at the age of 35, and patients have a very high lifetime risk of ventricular arrhythmias, structural ventricular abnormalities, and sudden cardiac death (SCD).
There are no specific available medical therapies available that have been shown to be highly effective for ACM, and current treatment protocols follow standard ventricular arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy guidelines, which involve lifestyle modifications (i.e. exercise limitation) and include drug treatments such as beta blockers, anti-arrhythmics and diuretics. The use of these therapies is driven by the arrhythmia burden and severity of cardiomyopathy. These therapies do not modify the course of the disease, and generally provide only symptomatic and/or palliative support. Upon diagnosis, a substantial percentage of patients receive an ICD for primary or secondary prevention of ventricular arrhythmias and SCD. Of note, ICDs are not curative, and breakthrough life-threatening arrythmias may persist with ongoing risk of death. Furthermore, ICDs do not prevent the progression to end-stage heart failure. ICD firings, although lifesaving, are physically and emotionally traumatic events. Patients whose condition progresses to end-stage heart failure are considered for cardiac transplantation which, while curative of underlying disease, is itself associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Hence there exists a high unmet medical need in this population. PKP2-ACM is estimated to have a prevalence of 50,000 patients in the U.S. and EU.
We currently have one AAV program targeting PKP2-ACM, RP-A601, which is a recombinant AAVrh.74 vector expressing PKP2a. PKP2-ACM is typically caused by heterozygous pathogenic mutations in the PKP2 gene resulting in reduced PKP2 expression in the myocardium. A once-administered gene therapy that addresses the root cause of the disease (PKP2 deficiency) early in the disease course, could mitigate the early electrical remodeling and diminish the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and SCD associated with ACM, potentially impeding the development of irreversible cardiac structural changes. Prevention of syncopal episodes, life-threatening arrythmias, SCD, ICD shocks and the resulting anxiety, discomfort and hospitalizations is anticipated to result in a vastly improved quality of life and survival benefit. Furthermore, such an approach could spare patients the need for lifelong adherence to multiple arrhythmia and heart failure drugs that are nonspecific for PKP2-ACM and are associated with their own side effects, enabling patients an opportunity to live without exercise restrictions and with diminished concern for arrhythmias, palpitations, ICD shocks and progression to end-stage heart failure.
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In May 2023, we presented preclinical efficacy data for RP-A601 at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy 26th Annual meeting. Nonclinical studies of RP-A601 demonstrated efficacy in altering the natural history of PKP2-driven ACM. 100% of PKP2 conditional knockout (cKO) animals treated with the study drug exhibited extended survival to the longest timepoint measured (5 months), reduced cardiac dilation and fibrofatty replacement/fibrosis of the myocardium, preserved left ventricular function, and mitigation of the arrhythmic phenotype. Untreated PKP2 cKO mice had a median survival of approximately one month. These results were published in January 2024 in the journal Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
We have initiated a multi-center Phase 1 study for RP-A601. The multi-center Phase 1 dose escalation trial is evaluating the safety and preliminary efficacy of RP-A601 in adult PKP2-ACM patients with ICDs and overall high risk for arrhythmias. The study will assess the impact of RP-A601 on PKP2 myocardial protein expression, cardiac biomarkers, and clinical predictors of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Patients in the dose-escalation trial will receive a single dose of RP-A601. The starting dose will be 8 x 1013 GC/kg.
In June 2023, we announced receipt of FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designations. In May 2024, we announced receipt of Orphan Medicinal Product Designation from the European Commission. Enrollment in the U.S. Phase 1 study has completed.
BAG3 Dilated Cardiomyopathy
DCM is the most common form of cardiomyopathy and is characterized by progressive thinning of the walls of the heart resulting in enlarged heart chambers that are unable to pump blood. A familial association of DCM can be identified in 20-50% of DCM patients, with up to 40% of familial patients having an identifiable genetic cause. Mutations in the BAG3 gene (BCL-2-associated athanogene 3) are among the more common pathogenic genetic variants observed in familial DCM and these variants are highly penetrant, with approximately 80% of individuals with disease-causing genetic variants in the BAG3 gene developing DCM at > 40 years of age. BAG3 protein is associated with a variety of cellular functions including cardiac contractility, protein quality control (as a co-chaperone), cardiomyocyte structural support and anti-apoptosis. BAG3 associated dilated cardiomyopathy (BAG3-DCM) leads to early onset, rapidly progressing heart failure and significant mortality and morbidity. We estimate that the prevalence of BAG3-associated DCM in the U.S. to be as many as 30,000 individuals.
Currently, DCM patients with a BAG3 mutation are treated with the standard of care for heart failure, which include angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, neprilysin inhibitors, beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, or beta-blockers, aldosterone antagonists and/or diuretics, along with certain lifestyle changes, and do not address the underlying cause of disease. Patients who meet specific parameters may also undergo placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a cardiac resynchronization device or a combination of the two. There is no current therapy directly targeting the underlying mechanism of BAG3 associated DCM, and patients diagnosed with BAG3 associated DCM appear to progress to end-stage heart failure and death more rapidly than patients with DCM not associated with BAG3 variants. For example, approximately 19% of patients with BAG3-DCM require mechanical cardiac support, heart transplant, or have heart failure related death at 12 months after diagnosis, nearly twice the rate of similarly staged non-BAG3-DCM patients.
In December 2022, we completed our acquisition of Renovacor which provided the Company with Renovacor’s recombinant AAV9-based gene therapy program designed to deliver a fully functional BAG3 gene to augment BAG3 protein levels in cardiomyocytes and slow or halt progression of BAG3-DCM. Initial proof of concept for AAV9-BAG3 has been demonstrated in studies of BAG3-knockout mouse models, which show treated mice have improved ejection fraction versus untreated knockout mice and comparable ejection fraction to walk test controls at timepoints 4- and 6-weeks post injection.
Nonclinical, IND-enabling studies are ongoing. Submission of the IND is anticipated in mid-2025.
Hematology Programs
Introduction to Hematology Programs
Each of our hematology programs utilizes third-generation, self-inactivating LV to correct defects in patients’ HSCs, which are the cells found in bone marrow capable of generating blood cells over a patient’s lifetime. Defects in the genetic coding of HSCs can result in severe, and potentially life-threatening anemia, when a patient’s blood lacks enough properly functioning red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Stem cell defects can also result in severe and potentially life-threatening decreases in white blood cells, which may result in susceptibility to infections, and in platelets responsible for blood clotting, which may result in severe and potentially life-threatening bleeding episodes.
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FA, a rare and life-threatening DNA-repair disorder, generally arises from a mutation in a single FA gene. Patients with FA have a genetic defect that prevents the normal repair of genes and chromosomes within blood cells in the bone marrow. An estimated 60% to 70% of cases arise from mutations in the FANCA gene, which is the focus of our program. FA frequently results in bone marrow failure, developmental abnormalities, acute myeloid leukemia, and other myeloid dysplastic syndrome types of blood cancers, often during the early years and decades of life. Bone marrow aplasia, which is bone marrow that no longer produces any or very few red and white blood cells and platelets leading to infections and bleeding, is the most frequent cause of early morbidity and mortality in FA, with a median onset before 10 years of age. Leukemia is the next most common cause of mortality, ultimately occurring in about 20% of patients later in life. Solid organ malignancies, such as head and neck cancers, can also occur, although at lower rates during the first two to three decades of life. The average lifespan of an FA patient is estimated to be 30 to 40 years. The prevalence of FA in the U.S. and EU is estimated to be approximately 4,000 patients in total.
Although improvements in allogeneic (donor-mediated) HSCT, currently the most frequently utilized therapy for FA, have resulted in frequent hematologic correction of the disorder, HSCT is associated with both acute and long-term risks, including transplant-related mortality, graft failure, and graft versus host disease, a sometimes fatal side effect of allogeneic transplant characterized by painful ulcers in the GI tract, liver toxicity and skin rashes, as well as increased risk of subsequent cancers. Our gene therapy program in FA is designed to enable a minimally toxic hematologic correction using a patient’s own stem cells early in the disease course and administered without conditioning. We believe that the development of a broadly applicable autologous gene therapy can be transformative for these patients. In light of the efficacy seen in non-conditioned patients, the addressable annual market opportunity is now believed to be 400 to 500 patients collectively in the U.S. and EU.
We currently have one ex vivo LV-based program targeting FA, RP-L102. Our Phase 2 registrational enabling clinical trials treating FA patients with RP-L102 at the Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and Hospital Infantil de Nino Jesus in Spain has completed treatment. The trial has treated a total of 12 patients from the U.S. and EU. Two additional patients were treated in the U.S. Phase 1 study at Stanford such that a total of 14 patients have received RP-L102 on Rocket-sponsored clinical trials. Patients received a single intravenous infusion of RP-L102 that utilizes fresh cells and an improved process which incorporates a modified stem cell enrichment process, transduction enhancers, as well as commercial-grade vector and final drug product.
Resistance to mitomycin-C, a DNA damaging agent, in bone marrow stem cells at a minimum time point of one year post treatment is the primary endpoint for our ongoing Phase 2 study. Per agreement with the FDA and EMA, engraftment leading to bone marrow restoration exceeding a 10% mitomycin-C resistance threshold could support a marketing application for approval.
In May 2023, we presented updated clinical data for RP-L102 at the ASGCT 26th Annual Meeting. As of the data cut-off (April 17, 2023), RP-L102 conferred sustained genetic correction in 8 of 12 evaluable patients and comprehensive phenotypic correction in 7 of 12 evaluable patients with ≥12 months of follow-up as demonstrated by increased resistance to mitomycin-C in bone marrow-derived colony forming cells and hematologic stabilization. The safety profile of RP-L102 has been highly favorable, and the treatment, administered without any cytotoxic conditioning, has been well tolerated. No signs of bone marrow dysplasia, clonal dominance or insertional mutagenesis related to RP-L102 have been observed. Polyclonal integration patterns have been observed in each of the seven patients with phenotypic, genetic, and hematologic evidence of engraftment.
In May 2024, we provided an incremental clinical update at the ASGCT 27th Annual Meeting (data cut-off September 11, 2023). RP-L102 continued to demonstrate sustained genetic correction, phenotypic correction, and hematologic stability in 8 of 12 patients with greater than 12 months of follow-up. RP-L102 continued to be well tolerated with no significant safety signals.
Anticipated Milestones
Pivotal trial enrollment and treatment have been completed.
On April 2, 2024, we announced that the EMA accepted our MAA for RP-L102. Submission of a BLA on a rolling review basis was initiated on September 26, 2024. Anticipated final module submission of the BLA in late 2025/early 2026.
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LAD-I is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of white blood cell adhesion and migration, resulting from mutations in the ITGB2 gene encoding for the Beta-2 Integrin component, CD18. Deficiencies in CD18 result in an impaired ability for neutrophils (a subset of infection-fighting white blood cells) to leave blood vessels and enter tissues where these cells are needed to combat infections. As is the case with many rare diseases, accurate estimates of incidence are difficult to confirm; however, several hundred cases across the spectrum of severity have been reported to date. Most LAD-I patients are believed to have the severe form of the disease. Severe LAD-I is notable for recurrent, life-threatening infections and substantial infant mortality in patients who do not receive an allogeneic HSCT. Mortality for severe LAD-I has been reported as 60 to 75% by age two in the absence of allogeneic HCST.
We currently have one ex vivo program targeting LAD-I, RP-L201. UCLA and its Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research served as the lead U.S. clinical research center, and Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús (HNJ) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) served as the lead clinical sites in Spain and United Kingdom, respectively for the global registrational clinical trial for LAD-I. This study has received a $5.9 million CLIN2 grant award from the CIRM to support the clinical development of gene therapy for LAD-I.
The open-label, single-arm, Phase 1/2 registration-enabling clinical trial of RP-L201 for severe LAD-I has completed enrollment and treated nine patients. The first patient was treated at UCLA in the third quarter of 2019, and enrollment is now complete for both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 portions of the study. In May 2024, we presented updated follow-up data at the ASGCT 27th Annual Meeting, including 18- to 45-month follow-up data (data cut-off July 24, 2023). We continued to observe 100% survival without the need for allogeneic transplant, with all patients enrolled at less than 12 months of age surpassing 24 months without transplant. Compared to pre-treatment history, patients demonstrated substantial reductions in significant infections requiring hospitalization or intravenous antimicrobials, along with evidence of resolution of LAD-I-related skin and periodontal lesions and restoration of wound healing capabilities. RP-L201 remained well tolerated, with no new safety events related to the treatment.
Recently Achieved and Anticipated Milestones
A BLA filing for RP-L201 was accepted by the FDA with priority review in September 2023 with an initial Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of March 31, 2024. In February 2024, the review time was extended by three months, to June 30, 2024, to allow additional time to review clarifying CMC information submitted by us in response to FDA information requests. In June 2024, we announced that the FDA issued a CRL in response to the BLA wherein the FDA requested limited additional CMC information to complete its review. Submission of a complete BLA to resolve CRL is anticipated in 2025.
Red blood cell PKD is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the pyruvate kinase L/R gene encoding for a component of the red blood cell glycolytic pathway. PKD is characterized by chronic non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia, a disorder in which RBCs do not assume a normal spherical shape and are broken down, leading to decreased ability to carry oxygen to cells, with anemia severity that can range from mild (asymptomatic) to severe forms that may result in childhood mortality or a requirement for frequent, lifelong RBC transfusions. The pediatric population is the most commonly and severely affected subgroup of patients with PKD, and PKD often results in splenomegaly (abnormal enlargement of the spleen), jaundice and chronic iron overload which is likely the result of both chronic hemolysis and the RBC transfusions used to treat the disease. The variability in anemia severity is believed to arise in part from the large number of diverse mutations that may affect the pyruvate kinase L/R gene. Estimates of disease incidence have ranged between 3.2 and 51 cases per million in the white U.S. and EU population. Industry estimates suggest at least 2,500 cases in the U.S. and EU have already been diagnosed. Market research indicates the application of gene therapy to broader populations could increase the market opportunity from approximately 250 to 500 patients per year.
We currently have one clinical stage ex vivo LV-based program targeting PKD, RP-L301.
We are conducting a global Phase 1 open-label, single-arm, clinical study with 2 adult patients and 2 pediatric patients (age 8-17) currently enrolled in the U.S. and Europe for assessing the safety, tolerability, and preliminary activity of RP-L301. Stanford serves as the lead site in the U.S. for adult and pediatric patients, HNJ serves as the lead site in Europe for pediatrics, and Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz serves as the lead site in Europe for adult patients. Both adult and pediatric enrollment is completed in the Phase 1 study.
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In May 2023, we presented positive updated clinical data at the ASGCT 26th Annual Meeting (data cut-off May 3, 2023), which included up to 30 months of follow-up from the two treated adult patients and early clinical data from the first pediatric patient treated with RP-L301. Robust and sustained efficacy was observed in both adult patients at up to 30 months post-infusion evidenced by normalized hemoglobin (from baseline pre-treatment levels in the 7.0-7.5 g/dL range), improved hemolysis parameters, and red blood cell transfusion independence. Furthermore, both adult patients reported improved quality of life with documented improvements via formal quality of life assessments. The safety profile continues to appear highly favorable, with no RP-L301-related serious adverse events in either of the adult patients. Insertion site analyses in peripheral blood and bone marrow in both adult patients through 24 months post-RP-L301 demonstrated highly polyclonal patterns and there has been no evidence of insertional mutagenesis. The first pediatric patient infusion of RP-L301 was well tolerated, with engraftment achieved at day +15, hospital discharge less than one month following infusion, no RP-L301 related serious adverse events and early signs of efficacy. There were no red blood cell transfusion requirements following engraftment. Both adult and pediatric enrollment is completed in the Phase 1 study.
In February 2024, we presented further clinical updates at the ASGCT 27th Annual Meeting (data cut-off February 5, 2024), which included 36 months of follow-up on the two adult patients and 12 months of follow-up on the two pediatric patients. Sustained and clinically meaningful hemoglobin improvement was observed in all patients including hemoglobin normalization in three of four patients. No patients have required red blood cell transfusion following neutrophil engraftment. Improvements in hemoglobin supported by improved markers of hemolysis and quality of life have been observed. RP-L301 remains well-tolerated, with no drug-related serious adverse events. Insertion site analyses in the peripheral blood and bone marrow for both adult patients through 36 months post-RP-L301 continued to demonstrate highly polyclonal patterns with no clonal dominance or insertional mutagenesis.
In May 2023, we announced receipt of FDA RMAT designation and in August 2023, we announced EMA PRIME designation for RP-L301 based on the robust efficacy observed in the Phase 1 treated patients.
We have reached agreement with FDA on study design of Phase 2 pivotal trial of RP-L301. Based on positive safety and efficacy data from the Phase 1 study, we have aligned with the FDA on the pivotal study design to support accelerated approval with a 10-patient, single-arm Phase 2 pivotal trial with a primary endpoint of ≥1.5 point Hgb improvement at 12 months.
cGMP Manufacturing
We have a 103,720 square foot manufacturing facility located in Cranbury, New Jersey. This facility supports clinical development of our growing pipeline of LV and AAV gene therapies from discovery through pivotal trials, with space for potential future expansion and commercialization.
Future Opportunities
In addition to the programs specified in this Quarterly Report, we are also conducting exploratory preclinical research and development to expand potential applications of proprietary LV and/or AAV program platforms. Research focus areas include the development of new candidates for the treatment of additional monogenic rare genetic diseases.
Financial Overview
Since our inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to organizing and staffing the Company, business planning, raising capital, acquiring or discovering product candidates and securing related intellectual property rights, conducting discovery, R&D activities for our product candidates and planning for potential commercialization. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. From inception through March 31, 2025, we raised net cash proceeds of approximately $1.2 billion from investors through both equity and convertible debt financing to fund operating activities.
To date, we have not generated any revenue from any sources, including from product sales, and we do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the near future. If our development efforts for product candidates are successful and result in regulatory approval or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from product sales.
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Research and Development Expenses
Our R&D program expenses consist of both internal and external costs incurred for the development of our product candidates. These expenses include:
We recognize external development costs based on contractual payment schedules aligned with program activities, invoices for work incurred, and milestones that correspond with costs incurred by the third parties. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in R&D activities are recorded as prepaid expenses.
Our direct R&D expenses are tracked on a program-by-program basis for product candidates and consist primarily of external costs, such as research collaborations and third-party manufacturing agreements associated with our preclinical research, process development, manufacturing, and clinical development activities. Our direct R&D expenses by program also include fees incurred under license agreements. Our personnel, non-program and unallocated program expenses include costs associated with activities performed by our internal R&D organization and generally benefit multiple programs. These costs are not separately allocated by product candidate and consist primarily of:
We allocate salary and benefit costs directly related to specific programs. We do not allocate personnel-related discretionary bonus or stock-based compensation costs, costs associated with our general discovery platform improvements, depreciation or other indirect costs that are deployed across multiple projects under development and, as such, the costs are separately classified as other R&D expenses.
The following table presents R&D expenses tracked on a program-by-program basis as well as by type and nature of expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:
Direct Expenses:
Danon Disease (AAV) RP-A501
886
6,821
Plakophilin-2 Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (AAV) RP-A601
1,811
1,193
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (LV) RP-L201
5,135
Fanconi Anemia (LV) RP-L102
6,020
3,520
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (LV) RP-L301
1,090
2,784
Other product candidates
346
2,386
Total direct expenses
14,156
21,839
Unallocated Expenses:
12,239
13,617
Stock based compensation expense
Depreciation and amortization expense
1,864
1,467
Laboratory and related expenses
914
1,034
1,060
1,148
Other expenses
1,321
1,485
Total other research and development expenses
21,786
23,388
Total research and development expense
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We cannot determine with certainty the duration and costs to complete current or future clinical studies of product candidates or if, when, or to what extent we will generate revenues from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates that obtain regulatory approval. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. The duration, costs, and timing of clinical studies and development of product candidates will depend on a variety of factors, including:
We expect R&D expenses to increase for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in R&D activities related to developing product candidates, including investments in manufacturing, as our programs advance into later stages of development and as we conduct additional clinical trials. The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming, and the successful development of product candidates is highly uncertain. As a result, we are unable to determine the duration and completion costs of R&D projects or when and to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates.
Our future R&D expenses will depend on the clinical success of our product candidates, as well as ongoing assessments of the commercial potential of such product candidates. In addition, we cannot forecast with any degree of certainty which product candidates may be subject to future collaborations, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our development plans and capital requirements. We expect our R&D expenses to increase for the foreseeable future as we seek further development of our product candidates.
The successful development and commercialization of our product candidates is highly uncertain. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development and commercialization, including the uncertainty of:
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of our product candidates that we may develop could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of our product candidates. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical trials or other testing beyond those that we currently contemplate for the completion of clinical development of any of our product candidates that we may develop or if we experience significant delays in enrollment in any of our clinical trials, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development of that product candidate.
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related benefit costs for personnel, including stock-based compensation and travel expenses for our employees in commercial, executive, operational, finance, legal, business development, and human resource functions. In addition, other significant general and administrative expenses include professional fees for legal, consulting, investor and public relations, auditing, and tax services as well as other expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, insurance and other supplies used in general and administrative activities. We expect general and administrative expenses to increase for the foreseeable future due to anticipated increases in headcount to support the continued advancement of our product candidates and our progression to commercial operations. We also anticipate that as we continue to operate as a public company with increasing complexity, we will continue to incur increased accounting, audit, legal, regulatory, compliance and director and officer insurance costs as well as investor and public relations expenses.
Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was related to our financing lease obligation for our Cranbury, NJ facility.
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Interest and other income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was related to interest earned from investments and cash equivalents. Interest and other income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was related to interest earned from investments and cash equivalents and reduced fair value of warrant liability.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements during the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to those disclosed in our 2024 Form 10-K.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024
The following table summarizes our results of operations, in thousands, for each of the periods presented:
Change
(9,285
6,298
(2,987
2,987
(1
(1,693
(573
Total other income, net
3,054
5,321
(2,267
720
R&D expenses decreased $9.3 million to $35.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease in R&D expenses was primarily driven by decreases in manufacturing and development and direct costs of $2.5 million, lab supplies and office expense of $2.3 million, compensation and benefits expense of $1.4 million due to decreased R&D headcount, and professional fees of $1.6 million. Reflected in the decrease in R&D expenses was the receipt of $2.7 million of CIRM grant recorded as a reduction of R&D expenses.
General and Administrative Expenses
G&A expenses increased $6.3 million to $28.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in G&A expenses was primarily driven by increases in commercial preparation related expenses of $1.5 million, legal expenses of $4.0 million, and non-cash stock compensation expense of $0.7 million.
Other Income, Net
Other income decreased $2.3 million to $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease in other income was primarily driven by a decrease in accretion of discount on investments, net, of $0.6 million and a decrease in interest and other income, net, of $1.7 million due to a decrease in interest earned on investments due to lower interest rates year over year and a decrease in fair value of warrant liabilities in 2024.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have not generated any revenue and have incurred losses since inception. Operations of the Company are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among others, those related to drug candidate development, technology and data security, patents and proprietary rights, our lack of commercial manufacturing marketing or sales experience, dependency on key personnel, compliance with government regulations and the need to obtain additional financing. Drug candidates currently under development will require significant additional R&D efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel infrastructure, and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities.
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Our drug candidates are in the development and clinical stage. There can be no assurance that our R&D will be successfully completed, that adequate protection for our intellectual property will be obtained, that any products developed will obtain necessary government approval or that any approved products will be commercially viable. Even if our product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, we will generate significant revenue from product sales. We operate in an environment of rapid change in technology and substantial competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. Rocket has incurred net losses and negative cash flows from its operations each year since inception. We incurred net losses of $61.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and $258.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. We have experienced negative cash flows from operations and as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $1.28 billion and $1.22 billion, respectively. As of March 31, 2025, we had $318.2 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale investments will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2026. We have financed our operations primarily through proceeds from the sale of equity securities and continue to manage our capital resources with discipline and a focus on long-term sustainability.
In the longer term, our future viability is dependent on our ability to generate cash from operating activities or to raise additional capital to finance our operations. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders will experience dilution. Any future debt financing into which we enter may impose upon us additional covenants that restrict our operations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens or additional debt, pay dividends, repurchase our common stock, make certain investments and engage in certain merger, consolidation, or asset sale transactions. Any debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms that are not favorable to us or our stockholders. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and ability to pursue our business strategies.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, in thousands, for each of the periods presented:
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, operating activities used $55.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, primarily resulting from our net loss of $61.3 million offset by net non-cash charges of $11.2 million, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $10.3 million, depreciation and amortization expense of $3.0 million, partially offset by accretion of discount on investments of $2.1 million. Changes in our operating assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2025 included a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $5.3 million and an increase in our prepaid expenses of $0.5 million.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, operating activities used $56.9 million of cash and cash equivalents, primarily resulting from our net loss of $62.1 million offset by net non-cash charges of $10.9 million, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $10.3 million, depreciation and amortization expense of $2.3 million, partially offset by accretion of discount on investments of $2.8 million and reduction in fair value of warrant liabilities of $1.1 million. Changes in our operating assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2024, included of a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $2.4 million, an increase in our prepaid expenses of $1.2 million, and a decrease in other liabilities of $2.1 million.
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, net cash used by investing activities was $58.0 million, primarily resulting from proceeds of $82.3 million from the maturities of investments, offset by purchases of investments of $139.9 million, and purchases of property and equipment of $0.4 million.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash provided by investing activities was $35.0 million, primarily resulting from proceeds of $101.0 million from the maturities of investments, offset by purchases of investments of $63.9 million, and purchases of property and equipment of $2.0 million.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2025, no cash was provided or used by financing activities.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, financing activities provided $1.2 million of cash, consisting of proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Information regarding contractual obligations and commitments may be found in Note 13 of our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that are material or reasonably likely to become material to our financial condition or results of operations.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
There were no recent accounting pronouncements that impacted the Company, or which had a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $318.2 million and $372.3 million, respectively. The Company’s investments are primarily in U.S. Treasury Securities. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate sensitivity, which is affected by changes in U.S. interest rates and our investments that can decline in value if market interest rates increase. We do not utilize interest rate hedging agreements or other interest rate derivative instruments.
If market interest rates were to increase immediately and uniformly by 100 basis points, or one percentage point, from levels at March 31, 2025, the net effect on the net fair value of our investments would have resulted in a hypothetical decline of $1.0 million. While we believe our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities do not contain excessive risk, we cannot provide absolute assurance that, in the future, our investments will not be subject to adverse changes in market value.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive and our principal financial officer,evaluated, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2025, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of such date were effective at the reasonable assurance level. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business activities. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe we are party to any other claim or litigation the outcome of which, if determined adversely to us, would individually or in the aggregate be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on its business. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our material risk factors are disclosed in Item 1A of our 2024 Form 10-K. There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in such filing.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, none of our directors or officers adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit Number
Description of Exhibit
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of September 12, 2017, by and among Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., and Rome Merger Sub (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8- K (001-36829), filed with the SEC on September 13, 2017)
2.2
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 19, 2022, by and among Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Renovacor, Inc., Zebrafish Merger Sub, Inc. and Zebrafish Merger Sub II, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (001-36829), filed with the SEC on September 20, 2022)
3.1
Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective as of February 23, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (001-36829), filed with the SEC on March 31, 2015)
3.2
Certificate of Amendment (Reverse Stock Split) to the Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, effective as of January 4, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (001-36829), filed with the SEC on January 5, 2018)
3.3
Certificate of Amendment (Name Change) to the Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, effective January 4, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (001-36829), filed with the SEC on January 5, 2018)
3.4
Certificate of Amendment (Declassify Board of Directors) to the Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, effective as of June 25, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (001-36829), filed with the SEC on June 25, 2019
3.5
Certificate of Amendment (Authorized Shares Increase) to the Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 20, 2024)
3.6
Amended and Restated By-Laws of Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective as of March 29, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (001-36829), filed with the SEC on April 4, 2018)
10.1#*
Executive Employment Agreement, dated April 7, 2025, by and between the registrant and Sarbani Chaudhuri
31.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1**
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbase Documents.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
* Filed herewith.
# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
** The certification furnished in Exhibit 32.1 hereto is deemed to be furnished with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ROCKET PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
May 8, 2025
By:
/s/ Gaurav Shah, MD
Gaurav Shah, MD
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Aaron Ondrey
Aaron Ondrey
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)