Zura Bio shares plunge 76% after trial failure
By Brie CarterKey points
- Zura Bio reported that its experimental drug tibulizumab failed to meet the primary and key secondary endpoints in a Phase 2 trial involving 247 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.
- Shares plunged approximately 76% to US$0.97 after touching a record low of US$0.93, putting the stock on track for its worst single-day decline.
- Zura discontinued tibulizumab development for the skin disease but will continue studies targeting systemic sclerosis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
Zura Bio (NASDAQ:ZURA) shares plunged approximately 76% after its experimental drug tibulizumab failed to meet the primary endpoint in a Phase 2 trial involving 247 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.
The TibuSHIELD study found that the two treatment doses reduced skin lesion counts by 56% and 58.1%, respectively, compared with 52.5% for placebo after 16 weeks, while key secondary targets were also missed.
The company will discontinue tibulizumab development for hidradenitis suppurativa, while continuing its Phase 2 systemic sclerosis programme and planned polymyalgia rheumatica study.
Following the announcement, the Zura Bio share price was down approximately 76% at US$0.97, after touching an intraday record low of US$0.93, with shares down approximately 81% year-to-date.
Zura reported US$187.7 million in cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2026, and expects its existing funds to support planned operations through at least the end of 2028.
The company continues to evaluate tibulizumab, which targets IL-17 and BAFF immune pathways, with systemic sclerosis trial results expected in the first half of 2027 and polymyalgia rheumatica data expected in the fourth quarter of 2028.
