– Global Phase 3 EMPEROR study patient recruitment ongoing in the U.S., UK, and Japan with more than 20 patients randomized to zorevunersen or sham; Study on track to complete enrollment in second half of 2026 –
– As of September 30, 2025, the Company had $328.6 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, anticipated to fund operations to mid-2028 –
– Webcast and conference call for analysts and investors at 4:30PM Eastern Time today –
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: STOK) is a biotechnology company dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body’s potential with RNA medicine and has a lead investigational medicine, zorevunersen, in development as a first-in-class potential disease-modifying treatment for Dravet syndrome. The Company today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025 and provided business updates.
"Stoke’s progress in 2025 has the Company on an important growth trajectory. We are creating an understanding of the devastating impacts of Dravet syndrome on people’s lives and the potential of zorevunersen to improve outcomes for them through substantial seizure reductions and improvements in cognition and behavior,” said Ian F. Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Stoke Therapeutics. “In just three months since the initiation of our Phase 3 EMPEROR study, we have made significant progress with more than 20 patients randomized into dosing and a steady progression of more patients entering the screening period. At the same time, presentations of new clinical data at medical congresses have provided greater understanding of zorevunersen’s disease-modifying potential that is highly differentiated from any currently available treatments. We look forward to meeting with the FDA under our Breakthrough Therapy Designation before year-end, at which time we will review the four years of safety and efficacy data from our clinical studies and discuss how we can work together to deliver zorevunersen to patients through expedited regulatory pathways.”
Mr. Smith continued, “Our strong financial position is allowing us to invest in the business, including enhancing our internal capabilities to rapidly scale in preparation for potential commercialization, while also expanding our pipeline in the areas of ADOA and SYNGAP1 as well as broadening our research activities.”
Third Quarter 2025 Business Highlights and Recent Developments
Dravet Syndrome (Zorevunersen)
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The global Phase 3 EMPEROR study is actively recruiting patients in the U.S., UK, and Japan. European sites are expected to initiate in the first half of 2026. The Company previously disclosed that more than 150 patients had been identified by investigators as potential study candidates. As of the end of October, more than 20 patients were randomized and approximately 35 additional patients entered the formal 8-week screening period that immediately precedes randomization to zorevunersen or sham.
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In October, the Company presented new two-year data from an analysis that was initially performed to understand the potential effects of the Phase 3 dosing regimen on cognition and behavior at the 54th Child Neurology Society (CNS) Annual Meeting. The results showed continuing improvements in cognition and behavior at two years that contrast with findings from a two-year natural history study in which patients with Dravet syndrome who were treated with standard of care showed minimal changes. In addition, similar improvements in overall clinical status were reported separately by clinicians and caregivers in 95% of patients treated with zorevunersen in the ongoing open-label extension (OLE) studies (n=19). (press release link)
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In September, the Company presented three-year safety and efficacy data from patients who were treated in the ongoing OLE studies following initial treatment in the Phase 1/2a studies at the 36th International Epilepsy Congress (IEC). Zorevunersen was generally well tolerated across studies to date and no new safety findings have emerged. Efficacy data showed durable reductions in major motor seizure frequency on top of standard-of-care anti-seizure medicines and continuing improvements in cognition and behavior. (press release link)
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The Company plans to present new data from the zorevunersen clinical development program at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) 2025 Annual Meeting, December 5–9, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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The Company is scheduled to meet with the FDA before year-end 2025 to review four years of safety and efficacy data from clinical studies of zorevunersen in patients with Dravet syndrome and to discuss how the Company and Agency can work together under our Breakthrough Therapy Designation to deliver zorevunersen to patients through potential expedited regulatory pathways.
Pipeline and Corporate
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Today, the Company announced that patient recruitment into the Phase 1 OSPREY study of STK-002 is underway in the UK. STK-002 is a potential disease-modifying medicine for the treatment of Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA), the most common inherited optic nerve disorder. The OSPREY study has also been authorized by the European Medicines Authority and European sites are expected to activate in early 2026.
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In October, the Company presented 24-month data from the FALCON natural history study at the 2025 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting. Data provide insights into disease etiology, progression and clinical assessments that are helping to inform clinical development of STK-002. (press release link)
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Lead optimization is underway to identify a clinical candidate for the treatment of SYNGAP1 in 2026. SYNGAP1 is a severe and rare genetic neurodevelopmental disease.
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In October, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed Ian F. Smith as Chief Executive Officer after serving as Interim CEO since March 2025 and as a Director and advisor to the Company since 2023. Mr. Smith will continue to serve as a Director on the Company’s Board of Directors. Arthur Tzianabos, Ph.D., resumed his role as Chairman after serving as Executive Chairman during the CEO search. (press release link)
Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results
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As of September 30, 2025, the Company had $328.6 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, anticipated to fund operations to mid-2028.
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Since September 30, 2025, the Company sold approximately 1.8 million shares of its common stock and received $48.7 million after deducting commissions based on the Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement.
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Revenue recognized for Q3 2025 was $10.6 million, an increase from $4.9 million in Q3 2024. The increase of $5.7 million is driven by contractual obligations under agreements with Acadia and Biogen. There was an increase of $6.7 million from global development activities related to Biogen with an offset of $1.0 million related to the Acadia agreement.
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Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $38.3 million, or $0.65 per share, compared to a net loss of $26.4 million, or $0.47 per share, for the same period 2024.
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Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased to $37.7 million from $22.2 million for the same period 2024. The increase of $15.5 million was driven by an increase in activities and personnel expenses to support the advancement of zorevunersen.
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Sales, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased to $16.0 million from $12.7 million for the same period 2024. The increase of $3.3 million was driven by an increase in personnel and launch readiness expenses.
Year-to-Date 2025 Financial Results
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Revenue recognized for the nine months ending September 30, 2025, was $183.0 million, an increase from $13.9 million for the same period 2024. The increase of $169.1 million was primarily driven by $150.8 million related to the IP license performance obligation and $11.5 million for global development activities as part of the Biogen Agreement and $6.8 million related to the Acadia Agreement.
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Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $51.0 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $78.5 million, or $1.48 per share, for the same period in 2024.
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Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, increased to $96.2 million from $65.7 million for the same period 2024. The increase of $30.5 million was driven by an increase in activities and personnel expenses to support the advancement of zorevunersen.
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Sales, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased to $45.9 million from $36.0 million for the same period 2024. The increase of $9.9 million was driven by an increase in personnel and launch readiness expenses.
Stoke Webcast and Conference Call for Analysts and Investors
Stoke management will host a webcast and conference call for analysts and investors on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 4:30pm Eastern Time. The webcast will be available on the Investors & News section of Stoke’s website at https://investor.stoketherapeutics.com/. Research analysts who plan to join the call and participate in the Q&A session may register here to receive the dial-in details and a unique PIN. All other participants are invited to access the listen-only webcast by clicking here. A replay of the webcast will be archived and available for at least 90 days following the event.
About Dravet Syndrome
Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) characterized by severe, recurrent seizures as well as significant cognitive and behavioral impairments. Most cases of Dravet are caused by mutations in one copy of the SCN1A gene, leading to insufficient levels of NaV1.1 protein in neuronal cells in the brain. More than 90 percent of patients continue to experience seizures despite treatment with the best available anti-seizure medicines. Complications of the disease often contribute to a poor quality of life for patients and their caregivers. Developmental and cognitive impairments often include intellectual disability, developmental delays, movement and balance issues, language and speech disturbances, growth defects, sleep abnormalities, disruptions of the autonomic nervous system and mood disorders. Compared with the general epilepsy population, people living with Dravet syndrome have a higher risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, or SUDEP. Dravet syndrome occurs globally and is not concentrated in a particular geographic area or ethnic group. Currently, it is estimated that up to 38,000 people are living with Dravet syndrome in the U.S. (~16,000), UK, EU-4 and Japan.1
About Zorevunersen
Zorevunersen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide that is designed to treat the underlying cause of Dravet syndrome by increasing functional NaV1.1 protein production in brain cells from the non-mutated (wild-type) copy of the SCN1A gene. This highly differentiated mechanism of action aims to reduce seizure frequency beyond what has been achieved with anti-seizure medicines and to improve neurodevelopment, cognition, and behavior. Zorevunersen has demonstrated the potential for disease modification and has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA and the EMA. The FDA has also granted zorevunersen rare pediatric disease designation and Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of Dravet syndrome with a confirmed mutation not associated with gain-of-function, in the SCN1A gene. Stoke has a strategic collaboration with Biogen to develop and commercialize zorevunersen for Dravet syndrome. Under the collaboration, Stoke retains exclusive rights for zorevunersen in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; Biogen receives exclusive rest of world commercialization rights.
About the EMPEROR Study
The EMPEROR Phase 3 Study (NCT06872125) is a global, double-blind, sham-controlled study evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of zorevunersen in children ages 2 to
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