Seres Therapeutics Pauses Key Drug Study, Cuts Jobs To Save Cash

Core Viewpoint - Seres Therapeutics Inc. is undergoing a strategic shift to prioritize emerging programs in inflammatory and immune diseases, leading to a decline in its stock price and raising investor concerns about its pipeline and funding strategies [1]. Group 1: Lead Drug Update - The company has finalized the protocol for its Phase 2 study of SER-155 in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) but is pausing further investment in this program while seeking funding [2]. - Seres is supporting the read-out of clinical results from the fully enrolled Investigator-sponsored SER-155 study in immune checkpoint-related enterocolitis (irEC), with results expected in early Q2 2026 [3]. Group 2: Strategic Focus - The company's future strategy will prioritize advancing early-stage programs, including SER-603, targeting inflammatory and immune indications such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and irEC, while discussions for potential collaborations are ongoing [4]. - A workforce reduction of approximately 30% has been announced to extend the cash runway through Q3 2026, allowing the company to focus on early-stage live biotherapeutic programs and pursue collaborations [5]. Group 3: Market Performance - Seres Therapeutics shares were down 16.25% at $11.80 during premarket trading, indicating company-specific concerns despite a generally positive market environment [6][9]. - The stock is trading 24.4% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 33% below its 100-day SMA, reflecting a bearish trend, with a 12-month decrease of 13.86% [7].