Upstream Bio, Inc.
For the period ended Sep 30, 2025. Filed Nov 5, 2025.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Sep 30, 2025 · Filed Nov 5, 2025
What changed in Risk Factors?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-Q
Period ended 2025-06-30; filed 2025-08-06.
0000950170-25-103534
Item 1A. Risk FactorsUnregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of ProceedsDefaults Upon Senior SecuritiesMine Safety DisclosuresOther InformationCurrent report: 10-Q
Period ended 2025-09-30; filed 2025-11-05.
0001193125-25-265713
Item 1A. Risk FactorsUnregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of ProceedsDefaults Upon Senior SecuritiesMine Safety DisclosuresOther InformationThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 414 previous paragraphs and 414 current paragraphs.
405 unchanged; 9 reworded; 0 added; 0 removed; 0 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 0 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Reworded paragraphs (9)
Previous wording
We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales to date. Verekitug is currently our only product candidate. We will continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related to our preclinical and clinical development of verekitug and ongoing operations. As a result, we are not profitable and have incurred losses in each period since our inception. Net losses and negative cash flows have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity (deficit) and working capital. Our net losses totaled $67.2 million and $25.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of June 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $258.0 million. We expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect these losses to increase as we continue our research and development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, verekitug in multiple indications.
Current wording
We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales to date. Verekitug is currently our only product candidate. We will continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related to our preclinical and clinical development of verekitug and ongoing operations. As a result, we are not profitable and have incurred losses in each period since our inception. Net losses and negative cash flows have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity (deficit) and working capital. Our net losses totaled $101.0 million and $41.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of September 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $291.8 million. We expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect these losses to increase as we continue our research and development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, verekitug in multiple indications.
Previous wording
As of June 30, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments in the amount of $393.6 million. Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2027. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could expend our available capital resources sooner than we expect. We may also raise additional financing on an opportunistic basis in the future. For example, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. Attempting to secure additional financing may divert our management from our day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop verekitug. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including but not limited to:
Current wording
As of September 30, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments in the amount of $372.4 million. Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2027. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could expend our available capital resources sooner than we expect. We may also raise additional financing on an opportunistic basis in the future. For example, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. Attempting to secure additional financing may divert our management from our day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop verekitug. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including but not limited to:
Previous wording
We currently have a single product candidate, verekitug, which is in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of severe asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (“CRSwNP”), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”). Our business presently depends entirely on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and commercialize verekitug for one or more of the indications that we are pursuing in a timely manner. This may make an investment in our company riskier than similar companies that have multiple product candidates in active development and may be able to better sustain the delay or failure of a lead product candidate.
Current wording
We currently have a single product candidate, verekitug, which is in clinical development for the treatment of severe asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (“CRSwNP”), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”). Our business presently depends entirely on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and commercialize verekitug for one or more of the indications that we are pursuing in a timely manner. This may make an investment in our company riskier than similar companies that have multiple product candidates in active development and may be able to better sustain the delay or failure of a lead product candidate.
Previous wording
Our product candidate, verekitug, is in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of severe asthma, CRSwNP, and COPD. Our initial focus is on developing verekitug for the treatment of severe respiratory disorders.
Current wording
Our product candidate, verekitug, is in clinical development for the treatment of severe asthma, CRSwNP, and COPD. Our initial focus is on developing verekitug for the treatment of severe respiratory disorders.
Previous wording
We currently rely on and engage third-party manufacturers to provide all of the APIs and the final drug product formulation of verekitug that is being used in our clinical trials and preclinical studies, including WuXi Biologics (Hong Kong) Limited (“WuXi”). There have been Congressional legislative proposals, such as the bill titled the BIOSECURE Act, which would have, among other things, prohibited U.S. federal funding in connection with biotechnology equipment or services produced or provided by certain named Chinese “biotechnology companies of concern” (which includes WuXi) and loans and grants to, and federal contracts with any entity that uses biotechnology equipment or services from one of these entities in performance of the government contract, grant, or loan. The legislation also would have given the federal government the authority to name additional “biotechnology companies of concern” that are engaged in research activities with the Chinese government and that pose a risk of U.S. national security. Although the BIOSECURE Act did not pass, if legislation similar to the BIOSECURE Act is proposed and enacted in the future, implementation of such law could materially impact our agreement with WuXi.
Current wording
We currently rely on and engage third-party manufacturers to provide all of the APIs and the final drug product formulation of verekitug that is being used in our clinical trials and preclinical studies, including WuXi Biologics (Hong Kong) Limited (“WuXi”). There have been Congressional legislative proposals (such as the previously considered bill titled the BIOSECURE Act) that would, among other things, prohibit U.S. federal funding in connection with biotechnology equipment or services produced or provided by “biotechnology companies of concern” and loans and grants to, and federal contracts with any entity that uses biotechnology equipment or services from one of these entities in performance of the government contract, grant, or loan. Such legislation would also give the federal government the authority to name “biotechnology companies of concern” that are engaged in research activities with the Chinese government and that pose a risk of U.S. national security. If legislation similar to the BIOSECURE Act is proposed and enacted in the future, implementation of such law could materially impact our agreement with WuXi or any agreement with other Chinese biotechnology companies.
Previous wording
The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 200 (the “BPCIA”) created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed reference biological product. Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product may not be submitted to the FDA until four years following the date that the reference product was first licensed by the FDA. In addition, the approval of a biosimilar product may not be made effective by the FDA until 12 years from the date on which the reference product was first licensed. During this 12-year period of exclusivity, another company may still market a competing version of the reference product if the FDA approves a full BLA for the competing product containing the sponsor’s own preclinical data and data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency of its product.
Current wording
The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2010 (the “BPCIA”) created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed reference biological product. Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product may not be submitted to the FDA until four years following the date that the reference product was first licensed by the FDA. In addition, the approval of a biosimilar product may not be made effective by the FDA until 12 years from the date on which the reference product was first licensed. During this 12-year period of exclusivity, another company may still market a competing version of the reference product if the FDA approves a full BLA for the competing product containing the sponsor’s own preclinical data and data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency of its product.
Previous wording
Currently, federal agencies in the U.S. are operating under a continuing resolution that is set to expire on September 30, 2025. Without appropriation of additional funding to federal agencies, our business operations related to our product development activities for the U.S. market could be impacted. The ability of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory, and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies or comparable foreign regulatory authorities on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.
Current wording
Without appropriation of additional funding to federal agencies, our business operations related to our product development activities for the U.S. market could be impacted. The ability of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory, and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies or comparable foreign regulatory authorities on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.
Previous wording
Disruptions at the FDA, other government agencies or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may also slow the time necessary for new drugs to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, including as a result of reaching the debt ceiling, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
Current wording
Disruptions at the FDA, other government agencies or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may also slow the time necessary for new drugs to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times, including most recently a shutdown which began on October 1, 2025, and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical employees and stop critical activities. The duration of the current government shutdown is unknown. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, including as a result of reaching the debt ceiling, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
Previous wording
There are also current geopolitical tensions with China that may affect our operations. For example, there have been Congressional legislative proposals, such as the bill titled the BIOSECURE Act in 2024, which would have, among other things, prohibited U.S. federal funding in connection with biotechnology equipment or services produced or provided by certain named Chinese “biotechnology companies of concern” (which includes WuXi) and loans and grants to, and federal contracts with any entity that uses biotechnology equipment or services from one of these entities. Although the BIOSECURE Act did not pass the U.S. Senate, any additional executive action, legislative action or potential sanctions with China could materially impact one of our current manufacturing partners, WuXi, and our agreement with them. We continue to assess the legislation as it develops to determine the effect, if any, on our contractual relationships. Furthermore, any disruptions to our supply chain as a result of unfavorable global economic conditions, including due to geopolitical conflicts or public health crises, could negatively impact the timely execution of our ongoing and future clinical trials.
Current wording
There are also current geopolitical tensions with China that may affect our operations. For example, there have been Congressional legislative proposals, such as the bill titled the BIOSECURE Act in 2024, which would have, among other things, prohibited U.S. federal funding in connection with biotechnology equipment or services produced or provided by certain named Chinese “biotechnology companies of concern” (which includes WuXi) and loans and grants to, and federal contracts with any entity that uses biotechnology equipment or services from one of these entities. Although the BIOSECURE Act did not pass the U.S. Senate, any additional executive action, legislative action or potential sanctions with China could materially impact one of our current manufacturing partners, WuXi, and our agreement with them. We continue to assess new legislation as it develops to determine the effect, if any, on our contractual relationships. Furthermore, any disruptions to our supply chain as a result of unfavorable global economic conditions, including due to geopolitical conflicts or public health crises, could negatively impact the timely execution of our ongoing and future clinical trials.