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Vivoryon Therapeutics Reports Q1 2026 Loss, Highlights Kidney-Disease Data and Funding Needs
When the next wave of kidney‑disease treatments is on the horizon, Vivoryon Therapeutics’ Q1 results paint a clear picture of progress and the challenges that lie ahead.
The Dutch‑listed company announced a net loss of €1.8 million for the quarter ended March 31 2026, a sharp improvement from the €2.5 million loss posted in the same period a year earlier. Research and development costs fell to €0.9 million from €1.2 million, largely because the company has begun to wind down its Phase 2 studies VIVIAD and VIVA‑MIND. General and administrative spending also eased to €0.9 million from €1.3 million, driven by a €0.2 million reduction in personnel costs and legal fees.
Cash and cash equivalents stood at €4.0 million as of March 31, down from €5.6 million at the end of 2025. Vivoryon reiterated that its current cash position should keep operations running through the fourth quarter of 2026, barring unforeseen events and without the assumption of additional financing. The company warned that launching a Phase 2b study in advanced diabetic kidney disease (DKD) – and any future trials – will require new funding or a partnership.
At the heart of Vivoryon’s pipeline is varoglutamstat, an oral inhibitor of glutaminyl cyclase (QPCT/L). In two independent, randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled Phase 2 studies – VIVIAD and VIVA‑MIND – the drug produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful gains in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) versus placebo. The benefit was most pronounced in elderly diabetic patients and those with lower baseline eGFR (average 60 mL/min/1.73 m²). The company showcased these findings in a poster presentation at the World Congress of Nephrology in Yokohama, Japan, on March 28 2026, underscoring QPCT/L’s promise as a therapeutic target in DKD.
Pre‑clinical work has broadened the understanding of varoglutamstat’s mechanism. A webcast released on April 22, 2026, highlighted the roles of QPCT and QPCTL in inflammation, fibrosis, collagen maturation, and podocyte function. Vivoryon plans a dedicated Phase 2b, randomized, placebo‑controlled study in patients with advanced DKD stage 3b/4 to confirm the Phase 2 results.
Looking ahead, the company’s 2026 priority is securing capital to advance varoglutamstat into the planned Phase 2b study. Vivoryon is in confidential due‑diligence talks with several potential biopharma partners and strategic investors. CEO Frank Weber said the company remains “actively engaged with multiple parties who, like us, understand the need for disease‑modifying therapeutics that could improve or stabilize kidney function.”
Vivoryon anticipates continued operating losses and will need additional capital to fund future development. Its 2025 annual report, published on April 23 2026, notes that the company’s ability to continue as a going concern in 2026 hinges on raising more funding. The next financial and business update conference call is scheduled for August, when the company will release its first‑half results.
Vivoryon’s focus on kidney disease, its promising Phase 2 data, and its active search for partnership partners underscore a strategy to deliver a novel therapeutic to a high‑need patient population.
The Dutch‑listed company announced a net loss of €1.8 million for the quarter ended March 31 2026, a sharp improvement from the €2.5 million loss posted in the same period a year earlier. Research and development costs fell to €0.9 million from €1.2 million, largely because the company has begun to wind down its Phase 2 studies VIVIAD and VIVA‑MIND. General and administrative spending also eased to €0.9 million from €1.3 million, driven by a €0.2 million reduction in personnel costs and legal fees.
Cash and cash equivalents stood at €4.0 million as of March 31, down from €5.6 million at the end of 2025. Vivoryon reiterated that its current cash position should keep operations running through the fourth quarter of 2026, barring unforeseen events and without the assumption of additional financing. The company warned that launching a Phase 2b study in advanced diabetic kidney disease (DKD) – and any future trials – will require new funding or a partnership.
At the heart of Vivoryon’s pipeline is varoglutamstat, an oral inhibitor of glutaminyl cyclase (QPCT/L). In two independent, randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled Phase 2 studies – VIVIAD and VIVA‑MIND – the drug produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful gains in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) versus placebo. The benefit was most pronounced in elderly diabetic patients and those with lower baseline eGFR (average 60 mL/min/1.73 m²). The company showcased these findings in a poster presentation at the World Congress of Nephrology in Yokohama, Japan, on March 28 2026, underscoring QPCT/L’s promise as a therapeutic target in DKD.
Pre‑clinical work has broadened the understanding of varoglutamstat’s mechanism. A webcast released on April 22, 2026, highlighted the roles of QPCT and QPCTL in inflammation, fibrosis, collagen maturation, and podocyte function. Vivoryon plans a dedicated Phase 2b, randomized, placebo‑controlled study in patients with advanced DKD stage 3b/4 to confirm the Phase 2 results.
Looking ahead, the company’s 2026 priority is securing capital to advance varoglutamstat into the planned Phase 2b study. Vivoryon is in confidential due‑diligence talks with several potential biopharma partners and strategic investors. CEO Frank Weber said the company remains “actively engaged with multiple parties who, like us, understand the need for disease‑modifying therapeutics that could improve or stabilize kidney function.”
Vivoryon anticipates continued operating losses and will need additional capital to fund future development. Its 2025 annual report, published on April 23 2026, notes that the company’s ability to continue as a going concern in 2026 hinges on raising more funding. The next financial and business update conference call is scheduled for August, when the company will release its first‑half results.
Vivoryon’s focus on kidney disease, its promising Phase 2 data, and its active search for partnership partners underscore a strategy to deliver a novel therapeutic to a high‑need patient population.
