Shares of Autolus Therapeutics PLC (NASDAQ: AUTL) plunged 5.15% in Thursday's pre-market trading session following the release of its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 financial results, which fell short of analyst expectations. The biopharmaceutical company, which recently launched its FDA-approved CAR-T therapy AUCATZYL, reported a wider-than-anticipated loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Autolus posted a GAAP earnings per share (EPS) loss of $0.86 for Q4 2024, significantly missing analysts' estimates of a $0.20 loss. This represents a considerable increase in losses compared to the same period in the previous year when the company reported a loss of $0.45 per share. For the full year 2024, Autolus reported a net loss of $220.7 million, or $0.86 per share, compared to a net loss of $208.4 million, or $1.20 per share, in 2023.

Despite the disappointing financial results, Autolus highlighted several positive developments in its business update. The company reported progress in the U.S. commercial launch of AUCATZYL, with 33 authorized treatment centers as of March 19, 2025, surpassing its initial target. Additionally, Autolus secured coverage for over 85% of total U.S. medical lives, indicating strong potential for market penetration. The company also noted advancements in its pipeline, including the dosing of initial patients in a Phase 1 trial for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). However, investors seem to be focusing on the increased expenses and widening losses, with research and development expenses rising to $138.4 million and selling, general and administrative expenses more than doubling to $101.1 million in 2024.