Genocea Reports First Quarter 2016 Financial Results
- Positive 12-month efficacy data for GEN-003 for genital herpes strengthens value proposition -
- Multiple 2016 clinical milestones for GEN-003 anticipated -
"Our positive GEN-003 Phase 2 12-month efficacy data suggests that annual treatment with GEN-003 may offer genital herpes patients similar benefits to a full year of daily administration of oral antivirals. These data give us confidence in the potential of GEN-003 to become the cornerstone therapy for patients suffering from genital herpes," said
Recent Business Highlights and Anticipated Milestones
GEN-003 - Immunotherapy for treatment of genital herpes in Phase 2 development. Greater than
• Reported positive 12-month efficacy data from Phase 2 dose optimization trial
• Full data to be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting
In
Multiple anticipated 2016 clinical milestones for GEN-003
• Phase 2b virologic efficacy data expected in third quarter of 2016
• Phase 2b 6-month clinical efficacy data expected in late 2016
• End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the
In the third quarter of 2016, Genocea expects to report virologic efficacy data from a Phase 2b trial to confirm the efficacy of GEN-003 manufactured with
Phase 3 processes at increased scale. Around the end of 2016, Genocea expects to report 6-month clinical efficacy versus placebo against the potential Phase 3 endpoint of the percentage of patients that are lesion free at 6-months after dosing. Positive data would provide an important step toward the end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the
This ongoing trial has enrolled approximately 135 subjects across the
Genocea also expects to commence a planned Phase 2b antiviral combination study in the second half of 2016. Clinical efficacy data from this trial is expected in the first half of 2017. If GEN-003 is additive to the effect of chronic suppressive oral anti-viral therapy, this would further strengthen GEN-003's value proposition to patients and physicians.
First Quarter 2016 Financial Results
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of
March 31, 2016 were$95.7 million compared to$106.4 million as ofDecember 31, 2015 . Genocea expects that these funds will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2017. - Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses for
the quarter ended
March 31, 2016 decreased$1.2 million , to$7.3 million , from the same period in 2015. The decrease was driven by lower clinical costs due to the completion of the GEN-004 Phase 2a trial, which was ongoing in the first quarter of 2015, and the conduct of a smaller Phase 2 trial for GEN-003 in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. GEN-003 manufacturing costs also decreased due to the timing of activities in support of clinical trial supply. These lower costs were partially offset by higher personnel and lab-related costs to advance Genocea's pre-clinical product candidates and develop the ATLAS platform for immuno-oncology. - General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses for the first quarter of 2016 were $3.9 million, compared to $3.4 million for the same period in 2015. The increase reflects higher personnel costs, consulting and professional fees, and depreciation expense, all of which support Genocea's expanding R&D operations.
- Refund of Research and Development Expense: A gain of
$1.6 million for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2016 resulted from cash received pursuant to contractual obligations under a collaboration agreement withIsconova AB ("Isconova") (since acquired by Novavax, Inc.) to refund R&D expenses paid by Genocea toIsconova between 2009 and 2011 relating to the development of the Matrix-M2TM adjuvant technology. - Net Loss: Net loss was $9.8 million for the quarter ended
March 31, 2016 , compared to a net loss of $12.1 million for the same period in 2015.
Conference Call
Genocea will host a conference call and webcast today at
About
Genocea is harnessing the power of T cell immunity to develop
life-changing vaccines and immunotherapies. T cells are increasingly recognized as a critical element of protective immune responses to a wide range of diseases, but traditional discovery methods have proven unable to identify the targets of such protective immunity. Using ATLAS, its proprietary technology platform, Genocea identifies these targets to potentially enable the rapid development of medicines to address critical patient needs. Genocea's pipeline of novel clinical stage T cell-enabled product candidates includes GEN-003 for genital herpes, GEN-004 for the prevention of infection by all serotypes of pneumococcus (development suspended), and earlier-stage programs in chlamydia, genital herpes, malaria, Epstein-Barr virus infections and related cancers, and cancer immunotherapy. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.genocea.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements herein relating to future business performance, conditions or strategies and other financial and business matters, including expectations regarding clinical developments, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Genocea cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or historical experience include risks and uncertainties, including Genocea's ability to progress any
product candidates in preclinical or clinical trials; the ability of ATLAS to identify promising oncology vaccine and immunotherapy product candidates; the scope, rate and progress of its preclinical studies and clinical trials and other research and development activities; anticipated clinical trial results; current results may not be predictive of future results; even if the data from preclinical studies or clinical trials is positive, regulatory authorities may require additional studies for approval and the product may not prove to be safe and efficacious; Genocea's ability to enter into future collaborations with industry partners and the government and the terms, timing and success of any such collaboration; risks associated with the manufacture and supply of clinical and commercial product; the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other
intellectual property rights; Genocea's ability to obtain rights to technology; competition for clinical resources and patient enrollment from drug candidates in development by other companies with greater resources and visibility; the rate of cash utilized by Genocea in its business and the period for which existing cash will be able to fund such operation; Genocea's ability to obtain adequate financing in the future through product licensing, co-promotional arrangements, public or private equity or debt financing or otherwise; general business conditions; competition; business abilities and judgment of personnel; the availability of qualified personnel and other factors set forth under "Risk Factors" in Genocea's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and investments | $ | 95,656 | $ | 106,432 | |||
Other assets | 6,999 | 5,710 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 102,655 | $ | 112,142 | |||
Debt, long-term | $ | 16,592 | $ | 16,477 | |||
Accounts payable | 2,151 | 1,757 | |||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 2,922 | 4,012 | |||||
Deferred revenue | — | 235 | |||||
Total liabilities | 21,665 | 22,481 | |||||
Stockholders' equity | 80,990 | 89,661 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 102,655 | $ | 112,142 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Three months ended | |||||||
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Grant revenue | $ | 235 | $ | 121 | |||
Operating expenses: | |||||||
Research and development | 7,332 | 8,509 | |||||
General and administrative | 3,924 | 3,389 | |||||
Refund of research and development expense | (1,592 | ) | — | ||||
Total operating expenses | 9,664 | 11,898 | |||||
Loss from operations | (9,429 | ) | (11,777 | ) | |||
Other income and expense: | |||||||
Interest income | 109 | 12 | |||||
Interest expense | (431 | ) | (319 | ) | |||
Total other income and expense | (322 | ) | (307 | ) | |||
Net loss | $ | (9,751 | ) | $ | (12,084 | ) | |
Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.35 | ) | $ | (0.64 | ) | |
Weighted-average number of common shares used in computing net loss per share | 28,152 | 18,834 |
For media:Source:Liz Bryan Spectrum Science Communications O: 202-587-2526 lbryan@spectrumscience.com For investors:Jonathan Poole Genocea Biosciences O: 617-876-8191 jonathan.poole@genocea.com
News Provided by Acquire Media