Genocea Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2016 Financial Results
- Positive Phase 2b clinical data confirm attractive profile for GEN-003; expected to start Phase 3 program in 4Q 2017 -
- Neoantigen cancer vaccine program on track to file first IND by end of 2017-
- Conference call at
"We are proud to report on our 2016 achievements, as we made important advances in both our GEN-003 and immuno-oncology programs," said
Program Highlights
GEN-003 Program Milestones
March 2016 : Announced positive efficacy data from the Phase 2 dose-optimization trial, demonstrating sustained reductions in the rate of viral shedding and clinical efficacy across secondary clinical endpoints 12 months after dosingJune 2016 : Presented detailed 6- and 12-month clinical and viral shedding data from the Phase 2 dose-optimization trial at theAmerican Society for Microbiology annual general meeting, ASM Microbe 2016September 2016 : Announced the first data from the placebo-controlled Phase 2b trial evaluating a new Phase 3-ready formulation, with GEN-003 demonstrating significant reduction in viral shedding immediately after dosingOctober 2016 : Presented 12-month immunogenicity data from the Phase 2 dose-optimization trial at theInfectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) annual meeting, IDWeek 2016, demonstrating GEN-003 effects clear and robust T and B cell responsesJanuary 2017 : Announced positive 6-month results from the Phase 2b clinical trial showing statistical significance vs. placebo for multiple clinical endpoints
Immuno-Oncology Program Milestones
November 2016 : Announced new findings supporting the potential of the proprietary ATLAS technology to identify clinically meaningful neoantigens compared to those identified by predictive algorithms and presented the results at theSociety for Immunotherapy of Cancer's 31st Annual Meeting & Associated Programs, SITC 2016December 2016 : Announced two immuno-oncology collaborations,Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and US Oncology, each employing ATLAS to characterize T cell responses to optimize clinical development and to discover new antigens, respectively
Anticipated Upcoming Milestones and Events
Milestones
- 1Q 2017: GEN-003 end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expected; will confirm the design of the GEN-003 Phase 3 program - 2H 2017: GEN-003 24-month Phase 2 data expected; will inform likely timing of maintenance dosing for GEN-003
- 2H 2017: GEN-003 12-month Phase 2b data anticipated; expected to reconfirm clinical profile of GEN-003 at 1 year post dosing
- 4Q 2017: GEN-003 Phase 3 program start expected
- 4Q 2017: GEN-009 neoantigen cancer vaccine Investigational New Drug (IND) application filing expected
Events
March 2017 : Presentation at the Cowen 37th AnnualHealth Care Conference inBoston April 2017 : Presentation at theNeedham & Company 16th Annual Healthcare Conference in NYC
Financial Guidance
Genocea expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and investments are sufficient to support its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the first quarter of 2018, without assuming any receipt of proceeds from potential business development partnerships, equity financings or debt drawdowns. This guidance assumes commencing Phase 3 trials for GEN-003 for genital herpes in the fourth quarter of 2017 and filing an IND for GEN-009 for cancer by the end of the year, however it is Genocea's strategy to secure additional sources of financing in advance of starting GEN-003 Phase 3 clinical trials.
Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2016 Financial Results
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of
December 31, 2016 were$63.4 million compared to$75.5 million as ofSeptember 30, 2016 . - Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses for the quarter ended
December 31, 2016 increased$5.3 million , to$11.8 million , from the same period in 2015, driven by higher manufacturing and clinical costs for GEN-003 together with higher personnel and lab-related costs related to Genocea's immuno-oncology programs. These increases were partially offset by reduced spending on early stage infectious disease programs. - General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $3.9 million, compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2015. The slight increase reflects higher personnel costs to support Genocea's expanding R&D operations.
- Net Loss: Net loss was $16.0 million for the quarter ended
December 31, 2016 , compared to a net loss of $10.3 million for the same period in 2015.
Full Year 2016 Financial Results
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of December 31, 2016 were
$63.4 million , compared to $106.4 million as of December 31, 2015. - R&D Expenses: R&D expenses for the year ended
December 31, 2016 were$34.6 million , compared to$28.0 million for the same period in 2015, reflecting higher personnel costs, consulting and professional services costs, clinical costs, and lab-related costs to support the continued advancement of GEN-003. These increased costs were partially offset by lower GEN-003 manufacturing costs in 2016 compared to 2015. Increases in personnel and lab related costs across early stage research programs were offset by a reduction in GEN-004 costs for which a clinical trial was completed in late 2015 and further development of this program was suspended. - G&A Expenses: G&A expenses were $15.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2016 , compared to $14.0 million for the same period in 2015, reflecting an increase in market research costs to support GEN-003 and higher depreciation costs from facility expansion in late 2015. - 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-M adjuvant technology. - Net Loss: Net loss was $49.6 million for the year ended
December 31, 2016 , compared to a net loss of $42.5 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 includes GEN-003, a novel T cell-enabled immunotherapy for genital herpes currently in Phase 2 clinical development, and
earlier-stage investments in immuno-oncology. 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 | $ | 63,362 | $ | 106,432 | |||
Other assets | 6,534 | 5,710 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 69,896 | $ | 112,142 | |||
Debt, current and long-term | $ | 16,958 | $ | 16,477 | |||
Accounts payable | 3,043 | 1,757 | |||||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 4,354 | 4,012 | |||||
Deferred revenue | — | 235 | |||||
Total liabilities | 24,355 | 22,481 | |||||
Stockholders' equity | 45,541 | 89,661 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 69,896 | $ | 112,142 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) | |||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||
Three months ended | Twelve months ended | ||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||||
Grant revenue | $ | — | $ | 221 | $ | 235 | $ | 670 | |||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Research and development | 11,824 | 6,513 | 34,645 | 28,049 | |||||||||||
General and administrative | 3,858 | 3,781 | 15,427 | 13,987 | |||||||||||
Refund of research and development expense | — | — | (1,592 | ) | — | ||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 15,682 | 10,294 | 48,480 | 42,036 | |||||||||||
Loss from operations | (15,682 | ) | (10,073 | ) | (48,245 | ) | (41,366 | ) | |||||||
Other income and expense: | |||||||||||||||
Interest income | 87 | 93 | 410 | 163 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | (439 | ) | (334 | ) | (1,738 | ) | (1,280 | ) | |||||||
Total other income and expense | (352 | ) | (241 | ) | (1,328 | ) | (1,117 | ) | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (16,034 | ) | $ | (10,314 | ) | $ | (49,573 | ) | $ | (42,483 | ) | |||
Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.56 | ) | $ | (0.37 | ) | $ | (1.75 | ) | $ | (1.74 | ) | |||
Weighted-average number of common shares used in computing net loss per share | 28,394 | 28,118 | 28,299 | 24,460 |
For media:Source:Jennifer LaVin O: 617-715-6687 jennifer.lavin@genocea.com For investors:Jonathan Poole O: 617-876-8191 jonathan.poole@genocea.com
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