2Q-2026
Filed Aug 6, 2026Zymeworks Provides Corporate Update and Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Revenue declined to $4.6 million from $48.7 million, while R&D expenses fell 20% and the company retained $322.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The second half outlook depends on the August 25, 2026 PDUFA target action date for zanidatamab and completion of the proposed Theravance Biopharma acquisition.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenueGAAP | $4.6 million | – | – |
| Royalty revenue from Jazz Pharmaceuticals and BeOne Medicinesother | $1.8 million | – | – |
| Research and development expensesGAAP | $27.4 million | – | 20% lower |
| General and administrative expensesGAAP | $19.3 million | – | – |
| Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securitiesGAAP | $322.5 million | – | – |
2H 2026 and Q1 2027 outlook
- NoteAugust 25, 2026 U.S. PDUFA target action date for zanidatamab.
- NotePotential $250 million milestone upon approval in the U.S., the first of up to a total of $440 million potential global regulatory milestones for zanidatamab in 1L HER2+ GEA.
- NoteThe top-line results from the second interim overall survival analysis for the HERIZON-GEA-01 trial doublet regimen are expected in the third quarter of 2026.
- NoteProposed acquisition of Theravance Biopharma expected to be accretive to earnings and generate positive cash flow upon closing in 2H 2026.
- NoteYUPELRI® U.S. profit share and ex-U.S. royalties expected to generate ~$60 million annualized cash flow at current run-rates, with continued expected growth.
- NoteZymeworks expects to receive $100 million in TRELEGY ELLIPTA® milestones in Q1 2027, assuming milestone conditions are met, in 2026.
- NoteSubject to the successful completion of the transaction, the Company expects to provide an updated financial outlook following closing that reflects the combined business.
Capital returns
- In May 2026, the Board of Directors authorized a 2026 share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $125.0 million of its outstanding common stock, par value $0.00001 per share.
- As of August 4, 2026, the Company has utilized approximately $49.4 million of this current approved repurchase program to acquire 1,971,454 shares at an average price of $25.04 per share (exclusive of commission expense and estimated excise tax).
- Since initiating its share repurchase program in August 2024, the Company has cumulatively utilized $213.6 million to reacquire 10,571,316 shares at an average price of $20.21 per share (exclusive of commission expense and estimated excise tax).
What drove it
- The revenue decrease was driven mainly by absence of significant non-recurring collaboration revenue recognized in 2026, as well as continued declines in development support and drug supply revenue from Jazz.
- Current-year revenue reflects ongoing collaboration activity and increased royalty revenue, which is expected to grow over time as commercial sales of Ziihera® increase.
- R&D expense reduction primarily reflected reduced spending on later-stage and discontinued programs, as well as an overall decrease in spending for earlier-stage programs and research platforms.
- The Company is pursuing the proposed acquisition of Theravance Biopharma to add durable commercial cash flows and diversify its revenue base.
- J&J increased planned enrollment for its Phase 3 pasritamig trial from approximately 663 to 1,203 participants and the anticipated primary completion date is now estimated as December 2027, compared with the previously estimated May 2028 date.
Concerns
- Total revenue was $4.6 million in 2Q-2026 compared to $48.7 million for the same period in 2025.
- The timing and economics of the zanidatamab milestones are subject to regulatory approval.
- The Theravance Biopharma acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
- The Company no longer intends to provide cash runway guidance.
- The previously communicated operating expense framework does not reflect the expected operating profile of the combined organization.
What to watch
- August 25, 2026 U.S. PDUFA target action date for zanidatamab in first-line HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.
- Top-line results from the second interim overall survival analysis for the HERIZON-GEA-01 trial doublet regimen expected in the third quarter of 2026.
- Planned closing of the Theravance Biopharma acquisition in 2H 2026 and the updated financial outlook expected following closing.
- Phase 1b clinical data for pasritamig in combination with JNJ-9401 expected during the second half of 2026.
- Strategic partnering opportunities for ZW191 and potential formation of a separate entity for the Pan-RAS ADC platform.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- $322.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2026.
- As of August 4, 2026, the Company had approximately 71.0 million common shares outstanding.
- Transaction financed primarily by $350 million non-recourse note secured solely by U.S. YUPELRI® profit share from OMERS Life Sciences, and Theravance Biopharma’s expected net cash balance of $360 million at closing, with Zymeworks contributing the remainder of the purchase price in cash at closing.
Analysis
Zymeworks reported a marked revenue decline in 2Q-2026, with total revenue of $4.6 million compared with $48.7 million in the same period in 2025. Management attributed the decline mainly to the absence of significant non-recurring collaboration revenue recognized in 2026 and continued declines in development support and drug supply revenue from Jazz. Royalty revenue from Jazz and BeOne Medicines was $1.8 million in the three months ended June 30, 2026, driven primarily by Ziihera® net product sales by Jazz in the United States.
Expense discipline was evident in R&D, which declined to $27.4 million from $34.4 million and was described as 20% lower than 2Q-2025. The reduction reflected lower spending on later-stage and discontinued programs, as well as lower earlier-stage program and research-platform spending. G&A expense increased to $19.3 million from $15.0 million. The filing does not provide reported operating income, net income, EPS, or cash-flow results in the supplied text, limiting assessment of the quarter's total operating loss and cash usage.
The balance sheet included $322.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2026. The company also continued returning capital under its new authorization, using approximately $49.4 million to repurchase 1,971,454 shares as of August 4, 2026. Since August 2024, it had cumulatively utilized $213.6 million to reacquire 10,571,316 shares. These repurchases occur alongside the proposed Theravance Biopharma transaction, which is expected to be financed primarily by a $350 million non-recourse note, Theravance Biopharma’s expected net cash balance of $360 million at closing, and Zymeworks cash.
The near-term outlook is defined by two events rather than conventional financial guidance. Zanidatamab has an August 25, 2026 U.S. PDUFA target action date, with a potential $250 million U.S. approval milestone and up to a total of $440 million potential global regulatory milestones in the indicated first-line setting. Management expects royalty revenue to increase as Ziihera® commercial sales and global approvals expand. It also expects HERIZON-GEA-01 second interim overall-survival results in the third quarter of 2026.
The proposed Theravance Biopharma acquisition is expected to close in 2H 2026, be accretive to earnings, and generate positive cash flow upon closing. Management cited expected YUPELRI® U.S. profit-share and ex-U.S. royalty cash flow of ~$60 million annualized at current run-rates, with continued expected growth. However, the company has withdrawn cash-runway guidance, said its prior operating-expense framework does not reflect the combined company, and plans an updated financial outlook only after closing. Regulatory approval, transaction closing conditions, milestone conditions, and the pace of Ziihera® commercialization therefore remain the principal items to monitor.
Management, verbatim
The first half of 2026 has been a transformative period for Zymeworks, demonstrating the continued evolution of our business into a diversified, revenue-generating biotechnology business.
Kenneth Galbraith, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Zymeworks
Subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, the August U.S. PDUFA target action date for zanidatamab and the planned closing of the Theravance Biopharma acquisition, respectively, would immediately strengthen our revenue base and cash flow outlook.
Kenneth Galbraith, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Zymeworks
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Gross profit and gross margin
- Operating income or loss
- Net income or loss
- GAAP and non-GAAP EPS
- Non-GAAP financial metrics
- Total operating expenses
- Income tax expense and tax rate
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Capital expenditures
- Debt balance as of June 30, 2026
- Dividends
- Revenue by operating segment
- Prior-quarter comparisons for revenue and expenses
- Full financial statements and notes, as the supplied filing text ends during the G&A expense discussion
- Prior outlook section for comparison against actual results
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.