Item 7. 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 our financial statements and the related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis contain forward-looking statements based upon our current plans and expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and beliefs. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated as a result of various factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” and included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should carefully read the sections titled “Note on Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described below.
A discussion regarding our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023 can be found under Part II - Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 26, 2025.
Overview
We are a clinical stage biotechnology company advancing therapies to address significant unmet needs in inflammatory skin and joint diseases. We are currently a single asset company focused on the development of Sonelokimab (“SLK”), a novel tri-specific IL-17A and IL-17F inhibiting Nanobody, that we exclusively licensed from Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (“MHKDG”) and that has the potential, based on response levels seen in clinical trials, to drive disease modification in dermatology and rheumatology patients.
SLK is a proprietary Nanobody that was discovered by Ablynx N.V., Belgium, a Sanofi company (“Ablynx”), and previously studied by MHKDG and Avillion LLP (“Avillion”) under a 2017 co-development agreement. The terms “Nanobody” and “Nanobodies” used herewith are registered trademarks of Ablynx. Nanobodies are able to bind selectively to a specific antigen with high affinity. Nanobodies have a fraction of the molecular weight compared to traditional antibodies. They offer a number of potential advantages over traditional monoclonal antibodies, including the potential to create multivalent molecules with enhanced ability to penetrate inflamed tissue, especially when containing an additional albumin binding domain such as SLK, an easier manufacturing process and a higher thermostability.
We currently develop SLK in inflammatory diseases in dermatology and rheumatology where the pathophysiology is known to be driven by IL-17A and IL-17F. This group of diseases comprises our current target diseases, hidradenitis suppurativa (“HS”), psoriatic arthritis (“PsA”), axial spondyloarthritis (“axSpA”), palmoplantar pustulosis (“PPP”), and several other inflammatory conditions, including psoriasis (“PsO”). Our current target diseases affect millions of people worldwide, and we believe there is a need for improved treatment options. We believe that SLK has a differentiated mechanism of action and that its purposefully designed molecular characteristics, including its small size and its albumin binding site, facilitate deep tissue penetration in the skin and joints. We envision SLK as a key therapeutic alternative in our initial target indications and potentially in multiple other IL-17 driven inflammatory conditions.
HS Trials and Plans for Commercial Launch
In May 2022, we initiated a Phase 2b trial of SLK in patients with moderate-to-severe HS (the MIRA trial (M1095-HS-201)), and in June 2023, we announced positive top-line results from this trial, which met its primary endpoint of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (“HiSCR”) 75 with 43% of patients treated with SLK 120mg achieving such response at week 12. In October 2023, we announced positive 24-week top-line results showing that the maintenance treatment with SLK led to further improvements in HiSCR75 response rates and other clinically relevant outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe HS. In February 2024, we announced the successful outcome of our end-of-Phase 2 interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), as well as positive feedback from our interactions with the E.U. European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), with both regulatory bodies supporting our proposed
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approach for advancing our Phase 3 program of SLK in HS. In May 2024, we announced the screening of the first patients in the Phase 3 VELA-1 (M1095-HS-301) and VELA-2 trials (M1095-HS-302). In April 2025, we announced completion of enrollment of the VELA program and presented baseline characteristics of enrolled patients. In September 2025, we announced primary endpoint data from the VELA-1 and VELA-2 clinical trials. In the combined VELA program, patients treated with SLK experienced a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement across all primary and key secondary endpoints using both pre-specified strategies (p<0.001). In VELA-1, SLK achieved statistical significance for all primary and key secondary endpoints using both pre-specified strategies (HiSCR75, delta to placebo of 17%, p<0.001). 34% of patients treated with SLK 120mg achieved a HiSCR75 response at the week 16 primary endpoint. In VELA-2, response rates associated with SLK were similar to those observed in VELA-1 (HiSCR75 response of 34%), but a higher-than-expected placebo arm precluded the study from achieving statistical significance in the week 16 primary endpoint using the composite strategy (HiSCR75, delta to placebo of 9%, p=0.053). Impact on HS lesions, including draining tunnels, was matched by improvements in all key Patient Reported Outcomes (“PROs”), such as quality-of-life and pain scores, that are meaningful for HS patients and their treating physicians. The safety profile of SLK was consistent with previously reported studies with no new safety signals observed. This included the absence of new signals in key events of interest with IL-17A and F therapies such as Suicidal Ideation and Behavior, hepatic events, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (“IBD”) and non-infectious diarrhea, Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (“MACE”), and Eczema and Dermatitis. In February 2026, we presented an interim analysis of the long-term data from the VELA trials, which indicated that monthly maintenance treatment with SLK can lead to further improvements in clinically relevant outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe HS, including an as-observed HiSCR75 response rate of 69% in VELA-1 (n=104) and 67% in VELA 2 (n=123) after 52 weeks of treatment with SLK 120mg. The VELA trials are expected to continue to week 52, followed by an open-label extension for up to two years (the VELA-OLE trial (M1095-HS-303)). We expect the full one-year data of VELA-1 and VELA-2 to become available in the second quarter of 2026. In parallel, we are conducting a Phase 3 trial of SLK in adolescent patients with HS (the VELA-TEEN trial (M1095-HS-304)), which we initiated in January 2025. In February 2026, we presented an interim analysis of the VELA-TEEN clinical trial which showed that 67% of patients achieved a HiSCR75 response at week 16 (n=21). We expect to complete the VELA-TEEN clinical trial in mid-2026.
In November 2025, we were granted a Type B meeting with the FDA to discuss adequacy of the current clinical evidence package of SLK in HS to support a Biologics License Application (“BLA”) and in January 2026, we announced positive feedback from this interaction, confirming that we may establish substantial evidence of effectiveness (“SEE”) without additional clinical trials in HS. The FDA specifically advised to include the results of the MIRA trial together with the results of the VELA trials in the submission to establish SEE. Based on the positive feedback, we expect to submit a BLA for SLK in adult and adolescent HS in the second half of 2026. Subject to FDA approval, we expect a first commercial launch in the United States in the second half of 2027.
PsA Trials
In December 2022, we initiated a Phase 2b trial in patients with active PsA (the ARGO trial (M1095-PSA-201)), and in November 2023, we announced positive top-line results from this trial, which met its primary endpoint of American College of Rheumatology (“ACR”) 50 with 46% of patients on 60mg SLK achieving such response at week 12. In March 2024, we announced positive 24-week data from the ARGO trial in PsA showing that continued treatment with SLK led to significant improvements across all key outcomes. In June 2024, we announced the successful outcome of our end-of-Phase 2 interactions with the FDA, as well as positive feedback from our interactions with the EMA, with both regulatory bodies supporting our proposed approach for advancing our Phase 3 program of SLK in PsA. In November 2024, we announced the screening of the first patients in the IZAR-1 trial (M1095-PSA-301) and IZAR-2 trial (M1095-PSA-302). In February 2026, we announced completion of enrollment for the IZAR-1 trial. We expect a readout of the primary and key secondary endpoints of the IZAR-1 clinical trial in mid-2026 and of the IZAR-2 clinical trial in the second half of 2026. In addition, in January 2025, we initiated another Phase 2 clinical trial of SLK in patients with PsA where we are applying novel imaging techniques (the P-OLARIS trial (M1095-snSpA-202)). We expect results of the P-OLARIS trial to become available at the end of 2026.
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PPP Trials
In November 2024, we initiated a Phase 2 trial in patients with PPP (the LEDA trial (M1095-PPP-201)) and in November 2025, we presented positive results of this trial, suggesting that SLK could provide clinically meaningful improvements in patients with PPP. Patients treated with SLK achieved a mean percent change from baseline in the Palmoplantar Pustular Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (“PPPASI”) of 64% at week 16, and 39% of patients achieved a ≥75% reduction in the PPPASI (“PPPASI75”). In February 2026, we announced that we received Fast Track designation from the FDA for SLK in moderate-to-severe PPP. We expect to commence a Phase 3 clinical trial in PPP in the third quarter of 2026.
axSpA Trials
In February 2025, we initiated a Phase 2 trial in patients with axSpA (the S-OLARIS trial (M1095-axSpA-202)) and in February 2026, we presented positive results of this trial, suggesting that SLK could provide clinically meaningful improvements in patients with axSpA. Of the patients (n=26) treated with SLK, 81% achieved an Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society 40 (“ASAS40”) response at week 12, showing at least 40% improvement and an absolute improvement of ≥2 units on a numerical rating scale (0 to 10) from baseline in at least three of the four key domains (Patient Global Assessment (“PGA”) of disease activity, total back pain, physical function, inflammation). More than 80% of patients have achieved a “clinically important improvement” as per ASDAS-CRP score by week 12, confirming the strong result in this clinically relevant endpoint.
PET and MRI imaging data collected as part of the clinical trial confirm a significant reduction in inflammation in the deep tissue of the spine and sacroiliac joint affected by axSpA in a pooled analysis comparing baseline to week 12. Additional objective biomarker and tissue analyses conducted as part of the clinical trial reinforce rapid and sustained effect of the treatment with SLK in axSpA patients. The safety profile of SLK in the S-OLARIS trial was consistent with previous trials with no new safety signals detected.
Additional Trials for Other Indications
SLK was also studied in a Phase 2b trial in PsO patients where it showed a significant improvement in the primary end point as compared with placebo and for which results were presented in peer-reviewed scientific publications and conferences. In addition, Phase 1 single ascending and multiple ascending dosing trials were previously completed.
Financial summary
We do not have any product candidates approved for commercial sale, and we have not generated any revenue from product sales. Our ability to generate revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of SLK in one or more indications, which we expect to take a number of years. We expect to continue to incur substantial expenses and operating losses for at least the next two years as we continue the development of SLK and prepare for commercial launches. We expect that operating losses will fluctuate notably from year to year depending on the timing of our planned clinical development programs, efforts to achieve regulatory approval, and planned marketing and sales expenditures leading up to a commercial launch.
As of December 31, 2025, we had $334.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. Based on our current operating plans and the Loan and Security Agreement (as defined below), we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities, together amounting to $394.0 million, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2027.
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Financial Operations Overview
Revenue
To date, we have not generated any revenue from product sales. If our development efforts for SLK are successful and result in regulatory approval or new license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from product sales or milestone payments. However, there can be no assurance as to when we will generate such revenue, if at all.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research activities, including third-party license fees and efforts relating to the development of SLK. We expense research and development costs as incurred, which include:
•employee-related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, benefits, share-based compensation, and other related costs for those employees involved in research and development efforts;
•external research and development expenses incurred under agreements with Clinical Research Organizations (“CROs”) as well as consultants that conduct our research program and development services;
•costs incurred under collaboration agreements;
•costs related to manufacturing material for our research program, clinical studies, and pre-launch inventory;
•costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements; and
•facilities, depreciation and other allocated expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent, utilities and insurance.
We estimate research and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions, CROs, and Clinical Manufacturing Organizations (“CMOs”) that conduct and manage research studies and clinical trials on our behalf based on actual time and expenses incurred by them or probable achievement of milestone events that are associated with contractually agreed milestone payments.
We account for advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities as expenses when the services have been performed or when the goods have been received rather than when the payment is made.
We do not allocate employee costs, facilities costs, including depreciation, or other indirect costs to specific programs because these costs are deployed across multiple programs and, as such, are not separately classified. We use internal resources primarily for managing our research program, clinical development, and manufacturing activities.
The successful development of SLK is highly uncertain. We expect to incur considerable research and development expenses for the foreseeable future as we continue the development and manufacturing partnerships for SLK, conduct research activities and potentially expand our pipeline by pursuing additional indications for SLK or including new product candidates in our portfolio. We cannot determine with certainty the timing of initiation, the duration, or the completion costs of current or future research studies and clinical trials of SLK due to the inherently unpredictable nature of research activities and clinical development. Clinical development timelines, the probability of success and the development costs can differ materially from expectations. We anticipate that we will make determinations as to which indications to pursue and how much funding to direct to each indication on an ongoing basis in response to the results of ongoing and future research studies and clinical trials, regulatory developments, and our ongoing assessments as to each indication’s commercial potential.
Any changes in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of SLK could mean a notable change in the costs and timing associated with its development. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for SLK. We may obtain unexpected results from our clinical trials. We may elect to discontinue, delay or modify
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clinical trials or focus on other product candidates. For example, if the FDA, the EMA, or another regulatory authority were to delay our planned start of clinical trials or require us to conduct clinical trials or other testing beyond those that we currently expect or if we experience delays in enrollment in any of our planned clinical trials, we could be required to expend additional financial resources and time on the completion of SLK’s clinical development.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expense (“G&A”) consists primarily of employee related costs, including salaries, bonuses, benefits, share-based compensation and other related costs for our executive and administrative functions. G&A expense also includes professional services, including legal, accounting and audit services and other consulting fees, as well as facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses, insurance and other general administrative expenses.
Based on our strategy, there are a number of factors that we expect will impact the level of research and development expenses, G&A expenses, and capital expenditures incurred by the business.
These factors include:
•Completing the development of SLK in our current focus indications, HS, PsA, axSpA and PPP — We expect to incur considerable research and development expenses, and G&A expenses as we: (i) conduct clinical trials for SLK including the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in HS, PsA and adolescent HS, the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial in PsA, and potential future Phase 3 clinical trials in PPP and axSpA; (ii) attract, hire and retain additional clinical, scientific, quality control, and administrative personnel; and (iii) add clinical, operational, financial and management information systems and personnel.
•Strengthening the differentiation elements for future SLK patients — In parallel with our clinical trials, we expect to incur additional research expenditures as we conduct non-clinical research to continue refining our understanding of SLK/Nanobody biology and the potential impact in our selected therapeutic indications.
•Preparing for commercialization of SLK — We have started preparing the BLA to seek approval of SLK in the United States in HS and adolescent HS. We expect to incur research and development expense, and G&A expenses in this process, as we make milestone and commercial payments under the In-License Agreement, dated April 29, 2021, by and between MoonLake AG and MHKDG (the "In-License Agreement") (based on regulatory filing acceptances, first commercial sales, and aggregate annual net sales) and as we establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize SLK including establishing a presence in the United States. We expect to submit the BLA in the second half of 2026 after completion of the VELA program, and, subject to FDA approval, we expect a commercial launch in the United States in the second half of 2027.
•Building our manufacturing capabilities — We do not own or operate manufacturing facilities, and currently have no plans to establish any. We partner with third-party CMOs for both drug substance and finished drug product. We obtain our supplies from these manufacturers based on purchase orders. Therefore, we expect to incur research and development costs for the purchase of our supplies on an as needed basis to conduct our clinical trials. We have executed technology transfers for drug substance and drug product to commercial scale CMOs, and we have successfully manufactured Process Performance Qualification batches, but we may pursue additional technology transfers and process improvements. This is designed to allow us to scale up while SLK is in clinical development and advance potential commercial requirements. The improvement of our manufacturing capabilities will be important in driving efficiency, maintaining high standards of quality control, and ensuring that investigators, physicians, and patients have adequate access to our product candidates, if approved. We began stock-piling drug substance as pre-launch inventory during the third quarter of 2025 and expect to continue doing so in 2026.
•Deepening our intellectual property portfolio to support our Nanobody technology and product candidates — We expect to continue to incur additional research and development expenditures as we continue extending our global intellectual property portfolio consisting of patents and patent applications, trade secrets, trademarks, and know-how to protect the product candidates developed from our Nanobody technology. We
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plan to expand our intellectual property portfolio as we continue to advance and develop existing product candidates.
•Broadening our portfolio — We believe that there are other indications beyond HS, PsA, axSpA and PPP where SLK has the potential to represent a differentiated therapeutic alternative and we may initiate clinical trials of SLK in such other indications. In addition, to further enhance our overall potential and provide increased optionality, we may supplement our current strategy with the in-licensing or acquisition of additional product candidates for clinical development (beyond SLK), rather than discovering such candidates ourselves, which would lead to additional research and development expenses, G&A expenses, and capital expenditures.
•Granting share-based compensation awards and vesting of existing plans — We expect to continue to grant awards to selected employees, directors and non-employees pursuant to the MoonLake Immunotherapeutics 2022 Equity Incentive Plan. Further, we expect to continue to incur share-based compensation charges in connection with the above-mentioned plan and the vesting of awards made under MoonLake AG’s Employee Share Participation Plan.
We also expect to incur additional IT, legal, accounting, leasing, and other expenses as we continue to grow our business. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, depending on the timing of our clinical trials and our expenditures on other research and development activities.
We expect our existing cash and cash equivalents to be sufficient to advance the development of SLK in multiple indications, including the above-mentioned clinical trials in HS, PsA, adolescent HS, PPP and axSpA, and to submit a BLA for SLK. Clinical development involves a lengthy and expensive process with uncertain outcomes and is subject to risks described in Item 1A. Risk Factors, including that our non-clinical studies or clinical trials may not be conducted as planned or completed on schedule and may not satisfy the requirements of the FDA, EMA, or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities. If we are required to conduct additional preclinical studies or clinical trials of SLK beyond those that we currently contemplate, if we are delayed or unable to successfully complete clinical trials of SLK or other testing, or if the results of these trials or tests are not positive or are only modestly positive or if there are safety concerns, we may require additional funding. Moreover, we will require additional capital to commercialize SLK and to discover, develop, obtain regulatory approval and commercialize any future product candidates, as applicable. We expect to finance future cash needs through public or private equity, additional debt, or product collaborations. Additional capital may not be available in sufficient amounts or on reasonable terms, if at all. The current market environment for small biotechnology companies, like us, and broader macroeconomic factors may preclude us from successfully raising additional capital.
If we do not raise additional capital, we may not be able to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, our business and financial condition will be negatively impacted and we may need to: significantly delay, scale back or discontinue research and discovery efforts and the development or commercialization of SLK or any other product candidates or cease operations altogether; seek strategic alliances for research and development programs when we otherwise would not, or at an earlier stage than we would otherwise desire or on terms less favorable than might otherwise be available; or relinquish, or license on unfavorable terms, our rights to technologies or SLK or any other product candidates that we otherwise would seek to develop or commercialize ourselves.
Foreign Currency
Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Balances and transactions denominated in foreign currencies are converted as follows: monetary assets and liabilities are translated using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates and non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. Income and expenses are translated at the daily exchange rate on the respective transaction date.
Gains or losses from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in “Other income, net”. We recognized a net foreign currency transaction gain of $599 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2025, a net foreign currency transaction loss of $42 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2024, and a net foreign currency transaction gain of $151 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2023.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
Operating expenses
Actuarial gain (loss) on employee benefit plans 641 (87) 728 (836.8) %
Research and Development
Research and development expenses were $202.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $112.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase of $90.1 million, or 79.9%, is primarily related to an increase of $54.5 million in expenses pertaining to clinical development trials with CROs, including the Phase 3 VELA program in HS and the Phase 3 IZAR program in PsA, as well as the additional trials in adolescent HS (the VELA-TEEN trial), PPP (the LEDA trial), axSpA (the S-OLARIS trial) and PsA (the P-OLARIS trial), an increase of $21.6 million in manufacturing, supply and logistics expenses through CMOs, which is primarily related to the production of stockpiled pre-launch inventory, and increases of $5.5 million and $4.7 million in personnel-related costs and consulting expenses, respectively, to support our research and development efforts.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses were $42.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $30.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase of $11.7 million, or 38.4%, is primarily related to an increase of $7.0 million in personnel-related costs, an increase of $3.2 million in expenses for advisory and professional services, both to support organizational growth, an increase of $1.4 million in legal expenses to support the Loan and
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Security Agreement, and an increase of $0.7 million in market research expenses. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $0.7 million for insurance expenses.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $nil for the year ended December 31, 2024. The interest expense during the current period is related to recognized interest on the Loan and Security Agreement.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net was $22.4 million for year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $22.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase of $0.2 million, or 1.1%, is primarily related to an increase of $0.6 million in net currency gains, partially offset by a decrease of $0.5 million in realized interest on cash held in banks and cash investments in short-term marketable debt securities.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The expense for each period is related to corporate income tax of our subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Portugal.
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other comprehensive loss was $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to other comprehensive income of $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in other comprehensive income of $7.1 million, or (272.5)%, is primarily related to the reclassification of unrealized gains from investments in short-term marketable debt securities recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income to other income, net during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have no products approved for commercial sale, have not generated any revenue from product sales, and cannot guarantee when or if we will generate any revenue from product sales.
We expect our expenses and capital requirements to remain consistent with our current spending levels as we continue to:
•contract with third parties, including CROs and CMOs, to support the clinical trials of SLK, including trials in HS, PsA, adolescent HS, PPP and axSpA, and to produce pre-launch inventory;
•conduct other research and development activities related to SLK;
•prepare for regulatory filing and commercialization of SLK;
•attract, hire and retain additional management, scientific and administrative personnel;
•maintain, protect and expand our intellectual property portfolio, including patents, trade secrets and know how;
•implement operational, financial and management information systems; and
•operate as a public company.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, we incurred a loss of $230.3 million, which includes non-cash items such as share-based compensation expense of $12.9 million, and cash outflow from operations of $196.0 million. As of December 31, 2025, we had a total of $394.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities. Based on our current operating plans and the Loan and Security Agreement, we believe our available cash, cash
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equivalents, and short-term marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2027.
We expect to incur notable expenses and operating losses for at least the next two years, assuming we continue the clinical development of, and seek regulatory approval for, our product candidate under an in-licensing agreement. It is expected that operating losses will fluctuate significantly from year to year due to the timing of clinical development programs, efforts to achieve regulatory approval, and sales and marketing efforts. We may require additional funding to bring our product candidate to market and support our continuing operations. In addition, with a change in the presidential administration in 2025, there has been an economic policy shift towards increasing tariffs, which in turn has led and could lead to further retaliatory tariffs. These may have the potential to impact expenses as well as our ability to, if ever, generate revenue or maintain profitability. Until such time that we can generate significant revenue from product sales or other sources, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through the sale of equity, debt financings, or other capital sources, which may include income from collaborations, strategic partnerships, or marketing, distribution, licensing or other strategic arrangements with third parties, or from grants. If we are unable to acquire additional capital or resources, we will be required to modify our operational plans to fund our operating expense requirements. Refer to “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Limited Operating History, Business, Financial Condition, and Results of Operations” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details related to the risk of raising additional capital to fund our operations.
Term Loan Facility
In March 2025, we entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan and Security Agreement”) with Hercules Capital, Inc. (“Hercules”) and certain of its affiliates (collectively with Hercules, the “Lenders”) for an aggregate principal amount of $500.0 million, of which $300.0 million was fully committed subject to achievement of milestones (the “Credit Facility”). An initial tranche of $75.0 million (the “Tranche 1 Loan”) was funded under the Loan and Security Agreement on March 31, 2025. In addition to the Tranche 1 Loan, the Credit Facility provides for additional tranches as follows:
a.Subject to our announcement that the VELA-1 and VELA-2 Phase 3 studies of SLK in adult patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa each achieved their protocol-specified primary endpoint with SLK having demonstrated an acceptable safety profile (the “Tranche 2 Milestone”), a second tranche with additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $125.0 million, available on the Tranche 2 Milestone achievement date through the earlier of (i) 30 days following such date and (ii) December 31, 2025,
b.Subject to our announcement that the IZAR-1 and IZAR-2 Phase 3 studies of SLK in patients with active psoriatic arthritis each achieved their protocol-specified primary endpoint with SLK having demonstrated an acceptable safety profile (the “Tranche 3 Milestone”), a third tranche with additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million, available on the Tranche 3 Milestone achievement date through the earlier of (i) 60 days following such date and (ii) September 15, 2026,
c.Subject to our achievement of the Tranche 2 Milestone and Tranche 3 Milestone and the FDA’s acceptance of the Company’s submission of a BLA for SLK (collectively, the “Tranche 4 Milestone”), a fourth tranche with additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million, available on the Tranche 4 Milestone achievement date through the earlier of (i) 60 days following such date and (ii) March 15, 2027, and
d.Subject to approval by the Lenders in their discretion, a fifth tranche of additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million.
On September 28, 2025, we announced the primary endpoint results of the VELA-1 and VELA-2 Phase 3 studies. While VELA-1 met the primary endpoint, a higher-than-expected placebo response at week 16 precluded VELA-2 from meeting the pre-specified primary endpoint and, as a result, we did not achieve the Tranche 2 and Tranche 4 Milestones, reducing the committed amount under the Loan and Security agreement by $175.0 million. As of December 31, 2025, we had $250.0 million of remaining undrawn tranches, representing the aggregate principle amount available to be drawn under the Credit Facility.
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The Credit Facility matures on April 1, 2030 (the “Maturity Date”) and bears interest at an annual rate equal to the greater of (i) prime rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal plus 1.45% and (ii) 8.45% with the initial interest rate equal to 8.95%. As of December 31, 2025, the Credit Facility bears interest at 8.45%. This rate is subject to a 0.25% reduction upon achievement of the FDA’s approval of a BLA for SLK. Certain additional commitment and undrawn amount fees are also payable in connection with the Credit Facility.
The Credit Facility does not provide for scheduled amortization payments during the term. All principal will be due on the Maturity Date. We may, at our option at any time, prepay all loans under the Credit Facility by paying the principal balance, plus accrued and unpaid interest, subject to (i) a prepayment premium equal to a range of 2.0% to 0.0% and (ii) an end of term charge equal to a range of 6.95% to 4.25%, each based on when the prepayment occurs. If the Credit Facility is repaid in full as a result of a change of control of the Company, the prepayment premium shall be waived.
The Loan and Security Agreement allows for us to satisfy a portion of the cash interest payments by capitalizing such interest payments as payment-in-kind (“PIK”). No PIK interest relating to the term loan has been recorded and included in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2025.
All obligations under the Loan and Security Agreement will be secured on a first-priority basis, subject to certain exceptions, by security interests in substantially all of our assets and our material subsidiaries, including our intellectual property, and will be guaranteed by our material subsidiaries, including foreign subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions.
The Loan and Security Agreement contains customary covenants, such as financial covenants and certain events of default after which loans under the Credit Facility may be due and payable immediately. We were in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2025.
On February 20, 2026 (the “Amendment Date”), we executed a first amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement (the “Amendment”), pursuant to which the parties agreed to, among other things, revise available tranches, milestone dates, and financial covenants, resulting in $25.0 million drawn as a second tranche upon execution of the Amendment, and up to $400.0 million remaining available as future tranches.
We are permitted to use the proceeds of the Credit Facility for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Company and our subsidiaries.
Equity Offerings
At-the-Market Offerings
On May 11, 2023, we entered into a Sales Agreement (the “May 2023 Sales Agreement”) with Leerink Partners LLC (formerly known as SVB Securities LLC) (“Leerink Partners”), through which we could issue and sell up to $200.0 million of our Class A Ordinary Shares (the “May 2023 ATM Shares”), through Leerink Partners as sales agent. The May 2023 ATM Shares to be sold under the May 2023 Sales Agreement, if any, would be issued and sold pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-271546), which was declared effective by the SEC on May 9, 2023, and a prospectus supplement thereto filed with the SEC on May 11, 2023.
On June 27, 2023, we reduced the maximum aggregate offering amount of our Class A Ordinary Shares that could be issued and sold under the May 2023 Sales Agreement to $0 and no longer intend to sell Class A Ordinary Shares under the May 2023 Sales Agreement unless we file a further prospectus supplement indicating an amount of shares proposed to be sold.
On August 31, 2023, we entered into a Sales Agreement with Leerink Partners (the “August 2023 Sales Agreement” and together with the May 2023 Sales Agreement, the “Sales Agreements”), through which we could issue and sell up
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to $350.0 million of our Class A Ordinary Shares (the “August 2023 ATM Shares”), through Leerink Partners as sales agent. The August 2023 ATM Shares to be sold under the August 2023 Sales Agreement, if any, would be issued and sold pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-274286), which was declared effective by the SEC on September 11, 2023, and a prospectus supplement thereto filed with the SEC on August 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2025, there was $265.0 million remaining for future sales under the August 2023 ATM Sales Agreement.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we sold 914,828 Class A Ordinary Shares through the Sales Agreements for net proceeds of $52.5 million after deducting sales agent's commissions and transaction costs. For the three months and year ended December 31, 2025, there were no sales under the August 2023 Sales Agreement.
Public Offering of Class A Ordinary Shares
On June 27, 2023, we entered into an underwriting agreement with Leerink Partners and Guggenheim Securities LLC as the representatives of the underwriters named therein to issue and sell 8,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at a public offering price of $50.00 per share (the “2023 Offering”). In addition, we granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 Class A Ordinary Shares at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions (the “Option”), and such Option was exercised in full by the underwriters.
The 2023 Offering closed on June 30, 2023, and net proceeds, including proceeds from the exercise in full by the underwriters of the Option, were $436.7 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and the offering expenses in the amount of $23.3 million.
Following the completion of the 2023 Offering, we opted to direct a substantial portion of the net proceeds to MoonLake Immunotherapeutics AG, a Swiss stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) registered with the commercial register of the Canton of Zug, Switzerland under the number CHE-433.093.536 (“MoonLake AG”). This was executed as a two-step process: (i) we acquired the remaining 22,756 common shares in MoonLake AG (“MoonLake AG Common Shares”) held in treasury through a share purchase and assignment agreement formally executed on July 09, 2023 ($38.9 million) and (ii) additional funds were contributed to MoonLake AG’s capital reserves through a cash contribution agreement formally executed on July 10, 2023 ($275 million). A stamp duty tax of $2.8 million was levied on the aforementioned capital contribution which we have classified as cash flows from financing activities in order to correctly mirror the underlying nature of the transaction.
On March 8, 2024, we executed a similar transaction as a two-step process: (i) we acquired 501 MoonLake AG Common Shares held in treasury through a share purchase and assignment agreement ($0.8 million) and (ii) we contributed an additional $150.0 million of funds to MoonLake AG's capital reserves through a cash contribution. A stamp duty tax of $1.5 million, net of refund received, was levied on the capital contribution which we have classified as cash flows from financing activities in order to correctly mirror the underlying nature of the transaction. The aforementioned increase in treasury shares occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2024 as a result of an employee termination entitling MoonLake AG to repurchase such employee's unvested shares (501 MoonLake AG Common Shares and 16,853 Class C Ordinary Shares) previously awarded as part of a share-based compensation program. Since the shares were subsequently sold to MoonLake, the corresponding Class C Ordinary Shares were canceled.
On November 5, 2025, we entered into an underwriting agreement with Leerink Partners as the underwriter, to issue and sell 7,142,857 Class A Ordinary Shares at a public offering price of $10.50 per share (the “2025 Offering”). The 2025 Offering closed on November 6, 2025, and net proceeds from the 2025 Offering were $72.4 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering expenses in the amount of $2.6 million.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated.
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Effect of movements in exchange rates on cash held 1,109 128 981 766.4 %
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
We did not generate any cash inflows from our operating activities. Our cash flows from operating activities are significantly influenced by our use of cash for operating expenses and working capital requirements, and we have historically experienced negative cash flows from operating activities as we invested in clinical research and related development.
Net cash used in operating activities was $196.0 million and $116.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase of net cash used in operating activities of $79.4 million was primarily driven by the increase in net loss of $109.1 million, a decrease in cash from changes in accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $2.6 million and an increase in cash paid for changes in other non-current assets of $0.6 million. The increase in cash used was partially offset by a decrease in cash paid for changes in prepaid expenses of $13.5 million and an increase in cash from changes in trade and other payables of $13.4 million.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2025, net cash provided by investing activities was $203.0 million, consisting predominantly of $468.4 million in proceeds received from maturities of short-term marketable debt securities, partially offset by $265.4 million related to the purchase of short-term marketable debt securities. During the year ended December 31, 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $205.6 million, consisting predominantly of $350.3 million related to the purchase of short-term marketable debt securities, partially offset by $145.2 million in proceeds received from maturities of short-term marketable debt securities with original maturities longer than three months.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2025, net cash provided by financing activities was $146.0 million consisting primarily of $73.0 million in net proceeds from the Loan and Security Agreement and $72.4 million in net proceeds from the shares sold under the 2025 Offering. During the year ended December 31, 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $51.3 million consisting primarily of $52.5 million in net proceeds from the shares sold under the August 2023 Sales Agreement.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following summarizes our significant contractual obligations and other obligations as of December 31, 2025, which we generally expect to satisfy with cash on hand and the maturity of short-term marketable debt securities:
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(in thousands) Total Less than 1 year 1 to 5 Years More than 5 years
____________
(1) Purchase obligations refer to an agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding on the Company that specifies all significant terms. The figures presented primarily relate to contractual commitments towards contract manufacturing and contract research organizations.
(2) We have committed ourselves to five leases, with terms that commenced on November 1, 2021, October 9, 2023, October 13, 2023, January 15, 2024, and September 8, 2024. These future lease commitments relate to the office leases for our headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, Cambridge, United Kingdom, and Porto, Portugal, and reflect minimum payments due.
(3) We have committed ourselves to a long-term debt obligation, with a term that commenced on March 31, 2025. This debt obligation relates to the Loan and Security Agreement and reflects the expected payments due, including principal repayment, interest payments, and an end of loan term charge.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, expenses and related disclosures. We continually evaluate these judgments, estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from our expectations as a result of changes in estimates.
An accounting policy is considered critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time such an estimate is made, and if different accounting estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the financial statements. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Acquisitions
We evaluate acquisitions of assets and other similar transactions to assess whether or not the transaction should be accounted for as a business combination or asset acquisition by first assessing whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets. The In-License Agreement for the SLK program has been accounted for as an asset purchase on the basis that there were no tangible assets acquired or liabilities assumed by us under the In-License Agreement and substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired related to the in-process research and development expenditure (“IPR&D”) of SLK. IPR&D represents incomplete technologies we acquire, which at the time of acquisition, are still under development and have no alternative future use.
Share-Based Compensation
We measure all share-based awards granted to employees, directors and non-employees based on the fair value on the date of grant and recognize compensation expense of those awards over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. We grant share options and restricted share awards that are subject to either service or performance-based vesting conditions.
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We classify share-based compensation expense in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipient’s service payments are classified.
All awards granted under our various share-based compensation plans are classified as equity-settled share-based arrangements and depending on the relevant equity plan, are settled with shares of MoonLake or MoonLake AG, as applicable.
Prior to the completion of the transactions (the “Business Combination”) contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated October 4, 2021 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company (formerly Helix Acquisition Corp. (“Helix”)), MoonLake AG, the existing equityholders of MoonLake AG set forth on the signature pages to the Business Combination Agreement and the equityholders of MoonLake AG that executed joinders to the Business Combination Agreement (collectively, the “ML Parties”), Helix Holdings LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company and the sponsor of Helix, and the representative of the ML Parties, given that there had been no public market for MoonLake AG Common Shares, the estimated fair value of MoonLake AG Common Shares was determined by reference to separate market-based transactions involving the sale of its shares to two third-party investors that were not considered related parties to us or MHKDG.
Subsequent to the closing of the Business Combination, the fair value of each MoonLake AG Common Share granted is determined based on the closing price of MoonLake's Class A Ordinary Shares as reported by Nasdaq on the date of grant and multiplied by 33.638698.
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including the expected share price volatility, the expected term of the award, the risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends.
We estimate our expected share price volatility based on the historical volatility of publicly traded peer companies and expect to continue to do so until such time as we have adequate historical data regarding the volatility of our own traded share price. The expected term of options granted has been determined based on the expected period that share-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. Expected dividend yield is based on the fact that we have never paid cash dividends on MoonLake AG Common Shares and do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Recoverability of Deferred Tax Assets
In assessing the recoverability of our deferred tax assets, we considered whether it was more likely than not that some or all of our deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. We considered the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, the seven-year expiry of tax losses carried forward under Swiss tax legislation, projected future taxable income (including the risks associated with the completion of the development and obtaining regulatory approvals to commercialize the product), and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on the weight of all evidence, we determined that it is not more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance has been recorded against the full amount of the deferred tax assets.
Research and Development Contract Costs and Accruals
As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued research and development expenses. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our applicable personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated costs incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual costs. The majority of our service providers invoice us in arrears for services performed, on a pre-determined
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schedule or when contractual milestones are met; however, some require advance payments. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in the consolidated financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. We periodically confirm the accuracy of the estimates with the service providers and make adjustments if necessary. Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include fees paid to:
•vendors, including research laboratories, in connection with preclinical development activities;
•CROs and investigative sites in connection with preclinical studies and clinical trials; and
•CMOs in connection with drug substance and drug product formulation of preclinical studies, clinical trial materials, and pre-launch inventory.
We base our expenses related to preclinical studies and clinical trials on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to quotes and contracts with multiple research institutions and CROs that supply, conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract, and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of patients and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, we adjust the accrual or the prepaid expense accordingly. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K for more information about recent accounting pronouncements, the timing of their adoption, and our assessment to the extent it has been made, of their potential impact on our financial condition, our results of operations, and cash flows.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As of December 31, 2025, we have cash and cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities of $394.0 million, which consist primarily of bank deposits and certificates of deposit. The investments in these financial instruments are made in accordance with an investment policy which specifies the categories, allocations and ratings of securities permissible for investment. The primary objective of the investment activities is non-trading related and instead to preserve principal as well as maximizing income received without significantly increasing risk.
To minimize any inherent market risk, we maintain a diverse and highly liquid portfolio which includes cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investment securities available-for-sale in a variety of securities including certificates of deposit, all with various maturity dates. The fair value of the cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments would not be significantly affected by either an increase or decrease in interest rates due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. Since they are classified as “available-for-sale”, no gains or losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss due to changes in interest rates unless such securities are sold prior to maturity or declines in fair value are due to credit losses. We have the ability to hold all such investments until maturity. A hypothetical 10% change in interest rates during any of the periods presented would not have had a material effect on our financial results or financial condition as of December 31, 2025.
As of December 31, 2025, we had $74.1 million in variable rate debt outstanding. The Tranche 1 Loan, which had a principal balance of $75.0 million, matures in April 2030, with interest-only monthly payments. The Tranche 1 Loan
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bears interest at a floating rate equal to 8.45% as of December 31, 2025, calculated as the greater of: (i) the prime rate as reported in the Wall Street Journal plus 1.45% and (ii) 8.45%. A hypothetical 1% change in interest rate during any of the periods presented would not have had a material effect on our financial results or financial condition as of December 31, 2025.
We do not hold or issue derivatives, derivative commodity instruments, or other financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The financial statements required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are appended to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. An index of those financial statements is found in Item 15, Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
As of December 31, 2025, our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2025, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
As of December 31, 2025, our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013 Framework). Based on this assessment, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2025.
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The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 has been audited by Baker Tilly US, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included in Item 15, Exhibits and Financial Statements Schedules, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act) during the three months ended December 31, 2025, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
The effectiveness of any system of internal control over financial reporting is subject to inherent limitations, including the exercise of judgment in designing, implementing, operating, and evaluating the controls and procedures, and the inability to eliminate misconduct completely. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs. Lastly, 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.
Item 9B. Other Information
Trading Arrangements
On October 26, 2025, Dr. Kristian Reich, the Chief Scientific Officer of the Company, terminated a trading plan that was originally adopted on June 26, 2025. This plan was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b5-1(c) and provided for the sale, subject to certain conditions, of up to 300,000 Class A Ordinary Shares through March 31, 2026.
On December 10, 2025, Mr. Matthias Bodenstedt, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, terminated a trading plan that was originally adopted on June 17, 2025. This plan was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b-1(c) and provided for the sale, subject to certain conditions, of up to 300,000 Class A Ordinary Shares through March 31, 2026.
On December 10, 2025, Mr. Bodenstedt, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, adopted a trading plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense of Rule 10b-1(c). Mr. Bodenstedt's plan provides for the sale, subject to certain conditions, of up to 385,870 Class A Ordinary Shares through December 31, 2026.
During the three months ended December 31, 2025, no other director or Section 16 officer of the Company adopted or terminated any “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 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
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PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to information in our proxy statement for our 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “2026 Proxy Statement”), which we expect to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, including under the headings “Election of Directors”, “Corporate Governance”, “Insider Trading Policy”, “Executive Officers” and, as applicable, “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports”.
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive, principal financial and principal accounting officers, or persons performing similar functions. Our Code of Ethics is posted on our website located at https://ir.moonlaketx.com/, under “Corporate Governance”. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of the Code of Ethics, and waivers of the Code of Ethics granted to executive officers and directors, on the website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to information in the 2026 Proxy Statement, including under the headings “Compensation Committee Interlocks”, “Director Compensation”, “Executive Compensation” and “Report of the Compensation Committee”.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to information in the 2026 Proxy Statement, including under the heading “Certain Information About Our Ordinary Shares”.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to information in the 2026 Proxy Statement, including under the headings “Corporate Governance” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to information in the 2026 Proxy Statement, including under the heading “Ratification of Independent Auditor Selection”.
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s
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(a) Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 F-4
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-10
(b) Financial Statement Schedules:
All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not required, or the information required is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.
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(c) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
No. Description of Exhibit
4.1* Description of Securities.
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19.1* Insider Trading Policy.
23.1* Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
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101.INS* Inline XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE* Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished.
† The annexes, schedules, and certain exhibits to this Exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5).
+ Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan.
# Portions of the Exhibit have been omitted because they are both (i) customarily and actually treated as private and confidential and (ii) not material.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
/s/ Dr. Jorge Santos da Silva
Date: February 25, 2026 Name: Dr. Jorge Santos da Silva
Title: Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Matthias Bodenstedt
Date: February 25, 2026 Name: Matthias Bodenstedt
Title: Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Dr. Jorge Santos da Silva and Matthias Bodenstedt, and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to sign in any and all capacities (including, without limitation, the capacities listed below), this Annual Report on Form 10-K, any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and anything necessary to be done to enable the registrant to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act and all the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute, or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name Title Date
Dr. Jorge Santos da Silva (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Matthias Bodenstedt Chief Financial Officer February 25, 2026
Matthias Bodenstedt (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Simon Sturge Chairperson; Director February 25, 2026
Simon Sturge
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SIGNATURES
/s/ Spike Loy Director February 25, 2026
Spike Loy
/s/ Catherine Moukheibir Director February 25, 2026
Catherine Moukheibir
/s/ Dr. Andrew Phillips Director February 25, 2026
Dr. Andrew Phillips
/s/ Dr. Ramnik Xavier Director February 25, 2026
Dr. Ramnik Xavier
105
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-4
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss F-5
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity F-6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-9
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-10
F-1
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of MoonLake Immunotherapeutics
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MoonLake Immunotherapeutics and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are
F-2
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 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.
Critical Audit Matter
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
/s/ Baker Tilly US, LLP
Santa Clara, California
February 25, 2026
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
F-3
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Assets
Current assets
Non-current assets
Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,566 2,922
Property and equipment, net 577 722
Other non-current assets 596 —
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 14,691 12,099
Short-term portion of operating lease liabilities 1,234 1,372
Non-current liabilities
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities 374 1,458
Pension liability — 621
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Shareholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive income 604 4,997
Noncontrolling interests — 6,566
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-4
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Operating expenses
Interest expense (7,248) — —
Actuarial gain (loss) on employee benefit plans 641 (87) (336)
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-5
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(in thousands except share data) Shares Amount Shares Amount
Refund of stamp duty fees — — — — (1) — — (1) 1 —
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-6
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(in thousands except share data) Shares Amount Shares Amount
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-7
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(in thousands except share data) Shares Amount Shares Amount
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-8
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flow from operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Operating lease right-of-use assets — (6) (66)
Other non-current assets (587) — —
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 2,591 5,169 (327)
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment (35) (520) (284)
Cash flow from financing activities
Proceeds from long-term debt, net of issuance costs 73,022 — —
Stamp duty on capital injection from MoonLake to MoonLake AG — (1,470) (2,753)
Proceeds from options exercised under Employee Stock Option Plan 100 — —
Effect of movements in exchange rates on cash held 1,109 128 (76)
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest $ 5,059 $ — $ —
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-9
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Overview of the Company
Corporate Information
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics (“the Company” or “MoonLake”) is a clinical stage biotechnology company advancing therapies to address significant unmet needs in inflammatory skin and joint diseases. MoonLake Immunotherapeutics is currently a single asset company focused on the development of Sonelokimab (“SLK”), a novel tri-specific IL-17A and IL-17F inhibiting Nanobody that has the potential, based on response levels seen in clinical trials, to drive disease modification in dermatology and rheumatology patients. The Company's Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the trading symbol “MLTX”.
The Company, a Cayman Islands exempted company was originally incorporated on August 13, 2020 under the name Helix Acquisition Corp. (“Helix”) as a special purpose acquisition company, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On April 5, 2022 Helix consummated such business combination with MoonLake Immunotherapeutics AG ("MoonLake AG"), a stock-based company incorporated in Switzerland in 2021, pursuant to that certain business combination agreement, dated October 4, 2021 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Helix, MoonLake AG, the existing equityholders of MoonLake AG set forth on the signature pages to the Business Combination Agreement and the equityholders of MoonLake AG that executed joinders to the Business Combination Agreement (collectively, the “ML Parties”), Helix Holdings LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company and the sponsor of Helix, and the representative of the ML Parties (such transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, collectively, the “Business Combination”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Helix changed its name from “Helix Acquisition Corporation” to “MoonLake Immunotherapeutics", and MoonLake AG merged with and into Helix, with MoonLake AG as the surviving company in the Business Combination and, after giving effect to such Business Combination, MoonLake AG became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. For financial accounting and reporting purposes, MoonLake AG was deemed the accounting acquirer and Helix was treated as the accounting acquiree, and the Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include those of the Company and its subsidiaries, MoonLake AG, a Swiss stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) registered with the commercial register of the Canton of Zug, Switzerland under the number CHE-433.093.536, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics Ltd., a private limited company incorporated in the United Kingdom, and MNLK Immunotherapeutics, Unipessoal Lda, a private limited company incorporated in Portugal, after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. The accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes hereto have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative U.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
All amounts are presented in U.S. Dollar (“$”), unless otherwise indicated. The term and “CHF” refer to the legal currency of Switzerland, "GBP" refers to the legal currency of the United Kingdom, and “€” and "Euro" refer to the legal currency of Portugal.
F-10
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses. Items of significance for the Company relate to:
•determining assumptions used in estimating the fair value of share-based compensation;
•estimating the recoverability of the deferred tax asset; and
•estimating the amount of accruals in connection with the completion of clinical trial milestones.
The Company bases its judgments and estimates on various factors and information, which may include, but are not limited to, the Company’s forecasts and future plans, current economic conditions and observable market-based transactions of its own shares, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities and recorded amounts of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. To the extent there are material differences between the Company’s estimates and the actual results, the Company’s future results of operation may be affected.
Segment Information
The Company operates as a single operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker ("CODM"), its Chief Executive Officer, manages the Company’s operations on a stand-alone basis for the purposes of allocating resources, and assessing financial performance.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company considers $nil and $59.7 million of short-term marketable debt securities in the form of eurocommercial papers and certificates of deposit to be cash equivalents as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Marketable Securities and Short-Term Investments
The Company invests in short-term marketable securities in the form of debt securities. At the time of purchase, the Company assesses whether such debt security should be classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale debt securities.
Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity debt securities are carried at amortized cost, adjusted for accretion of discounts or amortization of premiums to maturity computed under the effective interest method. Such accretion or amortization is included in “Other income, net”. Marketable debt securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair value.
Net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities are excluded from the determination of earnings and are instead recognized in the “Accumulated other comprehensive income” component of shareholders’ equity until realized. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities are computed based upon the historical cost of these securities, using the specific identification method.
Interest income is recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses are included in "Other income, net" and the cost of securities sold is determined using the specific-identification method.
Marketable debt securities are classified as either “Cash and cash equivalents” or “Short‐term marketable debt securities” according to their original maturity at the time of acquisition. Changes in unrealized gains and losses
F-11
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
pertaining to cash equivalent securities are added back into the consolidated statements of cash flows as those are excluded from the determination of earnings but impact the cash and cash equivalents position.
The Company estimates credit losses expected over the life of financial assets based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. There is no material impact to the consolidated financial statements given the investments are highly liquid thereby carrying negligible credit loss risk and are all held with reputable companies with a low risk of default.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of cash accounts in large financial institutions which, at times, may exceed the CHF 100,000 deposit protection limit in Switzerland, the $250,000 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation deposit insurance coverage limit in the United States, the GBP 85,000 Financial Services Compensation Scheme deposit protection limit in the United Kingdom, or the €100,000 Fundo de Garantia de Depósitos deposit protection limit in Portugal. The Company believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial strength of the depository institutions in which the cash and cash equivalents are held. Additionally, the Company ensures further protection against credit risk by diversifying its cash holdings across a variety of credit institutions, thereby minimizing the potential impact of any adverse events on a single institution. Further, the Company's investment strategy for cash (in excess of current business requirements) is set to invest in short-term marketable debt securities. Management actively monitors credit risk in the investment portfolio. Credit risk exposures are controlled in accordance with policies approved by the board of directors to identify, measure, monitor and control credit risks.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
There are three levels of inputs to fair value measurements:
•Level 1, meaning the use of quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;
•Level 2, meaning the use of quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active or are directly or indirectly observable; and
•Level 3, meaning the use of unobservable inputs. Observable market data is used when available.
Transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy are recognized at the end of the reporting period when the respective transaction occurred.
Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt is recognized as the amount of cash proceeds received plus the accreted present value of the End of Term Charge (as defined in the Loan and Security Agreement, as defined in Note 4 — Debt), less the unamortized End of Term Charge, debt issuance costs, and debt discount. It is subsequently reported at amortized cost. Interest expense is calculated using the effective interest method and any difference between the proceeds (net of unamortized debt discount, debt issuance costs, End of Term Charge, and accreted present value of End of Term Charge) and the principal amount is recognized through interest expense over the estimated life of the related debt. For the undrawn term loan tranches, allocated issuance costs are recorded as deferred charges - long-term debt, which is included in "Other non-current assets" on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets until drawn. In the case of a milestone event not being met or the tranche availability window expiring undrawn, the deferred asset will be recorded as interest expense on the Company's consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
F-12
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at contract inception. For these arrangements, it is evaluated if the arrangement involves an identified asset that is physically distinct or whether the Company has the right to substantially all of the capacity of an identified asset that is not physically distinct. In arrangements that involve an identified asset, there is also judgment in evaluating if the Company has the right to direct the use of that asset.
MoonLake does not have any finance leases. As of December 31, 2025, the Company has five operating leases related to the office spaces located in (i) Dorfstrasse 29, 6300, Zug, Switzerland (comprised of two leases), (ii) 95 Regent Street, CB2 1AW, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom, and (iii) Rua Manuel Pinto de Azevedo 860, 4150-335, Porto, Portugal (comprised of two leases). The operating leases are recognized over a straight-line basis over the lease term commencing on the date the Company has the right to use the leased property. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are measured at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the remaining lease payments over the lease term, determined using the discount rate for the lease at the commencement date. Because the rate implicit in the leases is not readily determinable, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate, which approximates the interest rate at which the Company could borrow on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments and in similar economic environments.
Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less and that do not have the option to purchase the underlying asset are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets, with lease expense for these leases recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term commencing on the date the Company has the right to use the leased property.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, net is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of three to five years. As of December 31, 2025, property and equipment, net relates to information technology, office equipment, and leasehold improvements.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews all long-lived assets, which consist of operating lease right-of-use assets, and property and equipment, whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that these assets may not be recoverable. When evaluating long-lived assets, if the Company concludes that the estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets are less than their carrying value, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over their respective fair values, which could adversely affect its results of operations. There was no impairment of long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023.
Research and Development Contract Costs and Accruals
Research and development expenses include employee payroll, consulting, contract research, and contract manufacturing costs attributable to research and development activities and manufacturing of pre-launch inventory, which are expensed as incurred.
Upfront payments and milestone payments made for the licensing of technology are expensed as research and development expenses in the period in which it is probable that a liability has been incurred. Advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. The prepaid amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.
The Company has entered into various research and development contracts with companies both inside and outside of the United States. These agreements are generally cancellable, and related payments are recorded as research and development expenses as incurred. The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research costs. When
F-13
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
evaluating the adequacy of the accrued liabilities, the Company analyzes progress of the studies or trials, including the phase or completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Estimates are made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period based on facts and circumstances known at the time. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates. The Company’s historical accrual estimates have not been materially different from the actual costs.
Pre-Launch Inventory
Prior to obtaining regulatory approval of a product candidate, the Company may incur production costs to support the commercial launch of such product. Until the date at which regulatory approval has been received or it is considered probable, and the future economic benefit is expected to be realized, all such costs are recorded as research and development expenses as incurred.
A number of factors are considered in incurring such expenses, including the current status in the regulatory approval process, potential impediments to the approval process such as safety or efficacy, anticipated R&D initiatives that could impact the indication in which the compound will be used, viability of commercialization, marketplace trends, and the shelf life of the compound.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes compensation expense based on estimated fair values for all stock-based payment awards made to eligible employees, members of the board of directors and independent contractors that are expected to vest.
The valuation of stock option awards is determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the Company to make assumptions and judgments about the inputs used in the calculations, such as the fair value of the common stock, expected term, expected volatility of the Company’s common stock, risk-free interest rate and expected dividend yield. The valuation of restricted stock awards is measured by the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant.
For all stock options granted, the Company calculated the expected term as the period that share-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The estimate of expected volatility is based on comparative companies’ volatility within the Company's industry. The risk-free rate is based on the yield available on United States Treasury zero-coupon issues corresponding to the expected term of the award.
The fair value of the common stock granted under the ESPP (as defined in Note 14 — Share-Based Compensation) was historically estimated by management with reference to the market-based transaction with its Series A investors, as there was no public market for the common stock.
Share-based payment arrangements are accounted for under the fair value method. Total compensation is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award at that date, and recorded in earnings over the period the employees are required to render service. The Company recognizes compensation cost only for those awards expected to meet the service conditions on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award.
Foreign Currency
The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. Balances and transactions denominated in foreign currencies are converted as follows: monetary assets and liabilities are translated using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates and non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates. Income and expenses are translated at the daily exchange rate on the respective transaction date.
F-14
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Gains or losses from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in "Other income, net". The Company recognized a net foreign currency transaction gain of $599 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2025, a net foreign currency transaction loss of $42 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2024, and a net foreign currency transaction gain of $151 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes by using the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A valuation allowance is recorded to the extent it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the Company's deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
Net Loss per Class A Ordinary Shares
Basic net loss per Class A Ordinary Share is calculated using the two-class method under which earnings are allocated to both Class A Ordinary Shares and participating securities. Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to Class A Ordinary Shares by the weighted-average number of Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding for the period. The diluted net loss per Class A Ordinary Share is computed by dividing the net loss using the weighted-average number of Class A Ordinary Shares and, if dilutive, potential Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding during the period.
In periods in which the Company reports a net loss attributable to shareholders of Class A Ordinary Shares, diluted net loss per share attributable to shareholders of Class A Ordinary Shares is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to shareholders of Class A Ordinary Shares, since dilutive Class A Ordinary Shares are not assumed to be outstanding if their effect is anti-dilutive.
Acquisitions
The Company evaluates acquisitions of assets and other similar transactions to assess whether or not the transaction should be accounted for as a business combination or asset acquisition by first assessing whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets. On April 29, 2021, MoonLake AG entered into an in-licensing agreement (the “In-License Agreement”) with Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (“MHKDG”) to acquire the Sonelokimab program (the “SLK Program”) and determined that substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired related to IPR&D of SLK. Therefore, this transaction was accounted for as an asset acquisition. IPR&D represents incomplete technologies that the Company acquires, which at the time of acquisition, are still under development and have no alternative future use. The fair value of such technologies is expensed upon acquisition.
Contingent consideration payments (for example milestone payments due upon the occurrence of a specific event) in asset acquisitions are recognized in the period in which it is probable that a liability has been incurred (unless the contingent consideration meets the definition of a derivative, in which case the amount becomes part of the cost in the asset acquired). Upon recognition of the contingent consideration payment, the amount is expensed if it relates to IPR&D or capitalized if it relates to a developed product which is generally considered to be when clinical trials have been completed and regulatory approval obtained.
Future royalty payments due on net sales will be recognized in cost of goods sold when net sales are recognized.
F-15
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Pensions
The Company accounts for pension assets and liabilities, which requires the recognition of the funded status of pension plans in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The liability in respect to defined benefit pension plans is the projected benefit obligation calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The projected benefit obligation represents the actuarial present value of the estimated future payments required to settle the obligation that is attributable to employee services rendered before that date. Service costs for such pension plans, represented in the net periodic pension benefit cost, are included in the personnel expenses of the various functions where the employees are engaged. The other components of net benefit cost are included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss separately from the service cost component, in “Other income, net.” Plan assets are recorded at their fair value.
Gains or losses arising from plan curtailments or settlements are accounted for at the time they occur. Any net pension asset is limited to the present value of the future economic benefits available to the Company in the form of refunds from the plan or expected reductions in future contributions to the plan. Actuarial gains and losses arising from differences between the actual and the expected return on plan assets are recognized in "Accumulated other comprehensive income".
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes - Improvements to Income Taxes Disclosure, which amends guidance on to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures by disaggregating information about a reporting entity's effective tax rate reconciliation as well as additional information on income taxes paid. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company adopted a prospective application of ASU 2023-09 during the year ended December 31, 2025. Refer to Note 15 — Income Taxes for the inclusion of new disclosures required.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosure, which requires a public entity to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to financial statements on an annual and interim basis. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-01 to clarify that all public entities, including non-calendar year-end entities, should adopt the disclosure requirements of ASU 2024-03. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Prior Period Reclassification
The amortization expense in the consolidated statements of cash flows in prior periods has been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation. The amortization expense was reclassified from "Other non-cash items" to “Depreciation and amortization” for the year ended December 31, 2023. The change did not have any impact on the net cash flow used in operating activities.
Note 3 — Risks and Liquidity
Going Concern, Liquidity and Capital Resources
MoonLake is subject to risks common to companies in the biopharmaceutical industry, and the Company believes that changes in any of the following areas could have a material adverse effect on the Company's future financial position or
F-16
MOONLAKE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
results of operations: ability to obtain future financing, regulatory approval and market acceptance of, and reimbursement for, product candidates, performance of third-party contract research organizations and manufacturers upon which the Company relies, protection of the Company's intellectual property, litigation or claims against the Company based on intellectual property, patent, product, regulatory, clinical or other factors, and the Company's ability to attract and retain employees necessary to support its growth.
The Company is dependent on third-party manufacturers to supply products for research and development activities in its programs and for eventual commercialization. In particular, the Company relies and expects to continue to rely on a small number of manufacturers to supply the Company with its requirements for the active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulated drugs related to these programs. These programs could be adversely affected by a significant interruption in the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulated drugs.
The Company's ability to generate revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of SLK in one or more indications, which is expected to take a number of years. The Company expects to continue to incur substantial expense and operating losses for at least the next two years as the Company continues the development of SLK and prepares for commercial launches. It is expected that operating losses will fluctuate notably from year to year depending on the timing of the Company's planned clinical development programs, efforts to achieve regulatory approval, and planned marketing and sales expenditures leading up to a commercial launch.
The Company incurred a loss of $230.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s current assets exceeded its current liabilities by $376.2 million.
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $334.5 million of cash and cash equivalents. Based on the Company's current operating plan and the Loan and Security Agreement as defined in Note 4 — Debt, management believes that the Company has sufficient capital to fund its operations and capital expenditures into the second half of 2027.
Note 4 – Debt
On March 31, 2025 (the “Closing Date”), MoonLake as a guarantor entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan and Security Agreement”) with its subsidiary, MoonLake AG, as borrower, the lenders party thereto (the “Lenders”), and Hercules Capital, Inc., as the administrative and collateral agent for itself and the Lenders. The Loan and Security Agreement provides a non-dilutive senior secured term loan facility (the “Credit Facility”) of up to an aggregate principal amount of $500.0 million. The Credit Facility matures on April 1, 2030 and bears interest at an annual rate equal to the greater of (i) prime rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal plus 1.45% and (ii) 8.45%, subject to a 0.25% reduction upon achievement of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (“FDA”) approval of a Biologics License Application (“BLA”) for SLK.
The Credit Facility comprises:
a.A first tranche (the “Tranche 1 Loan”) in an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million fully funded on the Closing Date,
b.Subject to MoonLake’s announcement that the VELA-1 and VELA-2 Phase 3 studies of SLK in adult patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa each achieved their protocol-specified primary endpoint with SLK having demonstrated an acceptable safety profile (the “Tranche 2 Milestone”), a second tranche with additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $125.0 million, available on the Tranche 2 Milestone achievement date through the earlier of (i) 30 days following such date and (ii) December 31, 2025,
c.Subject to MoonLake's announcement that the IZAR-1 and IZAR-2 Phase 3 studies of SLK in patients with active psoriatic arthritis each achieved their protocol-specified primary endpoint with SLK having demonstrated an acceptable safety profile (the “Tranche 3 Milestone”), a third tranche (the “Tranche 3 Loan”)
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with additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million, available on the Tranche 3 Milestone achievement date through the earlier of (i) 60 days following such date and (ii) September 15, 2026,
d.Subject to the Company’s achievement of the Tranche 2 Milestone and Tranche 3 Milestone and the FDA’s acceptance of the Company’s submission of a BLA for SLK (collectively, the “Tranche 4 Milestone”), a fourth tranche with additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $50.0 million, available on the Tranche 4 Milestone achievement date through the earlier of (i) 60 days following such date and (ii) March 15, 2027, and
e.Subject to approval by the Lenders’ in their discretion, a fifth tranche (the "Tranche 5 Loan") of additional term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $200.0 million.
On September 28, 2025, the Company announced the primary endpoint results of the VELA-1 and VELA-2 Phase 3 studies. While VELA-1 met the primary endpoint, a higher-than-expected placebo response at week 16 precluded VELA-2 from meeting the pre-specified primary endpoint and, as a result, the Company did not achieve the Tranche 2 and Tranche 4 Milestones. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $250.0 million of remaining undrawn tranches, representing the aggregate principal amount available to be drawn under the Credit Facility.
As of December 31, 2025, the Company's carrying value of long-term debt and recognized deferred charges on the consolidated balance sheet consists of the following:
(in thousands)
Non-current liabilities December 31, 2025
Accreted present value of End of Term Charge 3,618
Unamortized End of Term Charge (2,837)
Unamortized debt issuance cost (958)
Unamortized debt discount (723)
Non-current assets
Deferred charges - long-term debt $ 587
The effective interest rate is 10.41% and the Company recognized interest expense of $7.2 million on the Loan and Security Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2025. A portion of the debt issuance costs related to the undrawn third and fifth tranches were recognized as deferred charges until drawn. The debt issuance costs related to the second and fourth tranches have been recognized as interest expense in the current period.
The Company may prepay advances in whole at any time subject to a prepayment charge. Upon repayment of all term loans on or after April 1, 2027, the Company is further required to pay an additional charge equal to 6.95% for the Tranche 1 Loan and any draws under the Tranche 3 Loan; 4.25% for any draw under the Tranche 5 Loan, and if repayment occurs prior to 24 months, the charge applied will be 4.25% ("End of Term Charge"). As of December 31, 2025, the End of Term Charge is accrued at 6.95% of the Tranche 1 Loan balance and is recorded at present value as an addition to the long-term debt in non-current liabilities whereas the unamortized portion is recorded as contra non-current liabilities. The unamortized contra-liability will be amortized and the present value will be accreted up to the future value over the loan term as interest expense. The Tranche 1 Loan has a maturity requirement of $75.0 million due in 2030, with no other principal payments due for each of the five years following the date of the latest consolidated balance sheets presented. Additional fees will be payable in connection with the Credit Facility upon drawing of future tranches.
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The Loan and Security Agreement allows for the Company to satisfy a portion of the cash interest payments by capitalizing such interest payments as payment-in-kind (“PIK”). No PIK interest relating to the term loan has been recorded and included in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2025.
The Loan and Security Agreement contains customary covenants, such as financial covenants and certain events of default after which loans under the Credit Facility may be due and payable immediately. The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2025.
All obligations under the Loan and Security Agreement will be secured on a first-priority basis, subject to certain exceptions, by security interests in substantially all assets of the Company and material subsidiaries of the Company, including its intellectual property, and will be guaranteed by material subsidiaries of the Company, including foreign subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions.
Refer to Note 18 — Subsequent Events for further discussion on the amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2025.
Note 5 — Fair Value Measurements
The following table presents information about the Company's short-term marketable debt securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level in the fair value hierarchy in which the Company classifies the fair value measurement:
Level 2 Total Level 2 Total
Cash and accounts payable approximate their fair values as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, due to their short-term nature. Pension plan assets fair value is determined based on Level 2 inputs. The fair value of the long-term debt is estimated using the net present value of the payments, discounted at an interest rate that is consistent with a market interest rate, which is a Level 2 input as it is not actively traded. As of December 31, 2025, long-term debt of $74.1 million is reported at amortized cost which approximates the fair value.
Note 6 — Investments
The fair value and amortized cost of investments in short-term marketable debt securities by major security type as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 are as follows:
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(in thousands) December 31, 2025
Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair value
(in thousands) December 31, 2024
Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair value
Of which classified within cash and cash equivalents 59,311 372 — 59,683
The following table presents the changes in fair values of the Company’s short-term marketable debt securities, classified as Level 2 financial assets, and recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively:
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications 10,299 16,433 8,751