Aimmune Therapeutics Announces Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results
BRISBANE, California, August 8, 2017 — Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:AIMT), a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for life-threatening food allergies, today announced financial results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017. As of June 30, 2017, cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaled $237.3 million.
“During the second quarter, Aimmune continued to make significant progress in our Phase 3 clinical development program for AR101 as well as in our commercial manufacturing readiness,” said Aimmune CEO Stephen Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. “We are looking forward to completing our core Phase 3 PALISADE trial around the end of this year, and we continue to anticipate sharing topline results in the first quarter of 2018.”
“Also during the second quarter, we initiated the RAMSES and ARTEMIS trials, which are designed to support regulatory filings in the U.S. and Europe, respectively, which we expect to occur in late 2018,” continued Dr. Dilly. “In parallel with our clinical activities, we achieved an important milestone on the commercial front as we celebrated the ribbon-cutting for our commercial manufacturing plant. Financially, we continue to be in a strong position to support our planned development activities through regulatory submissions for AR101.”
Second Quarter Corporate Highlights
Initiated the ARTEMIS Phase 3 Trial. In June, Aimmune initiated ARTEMIS (AR101 Trial in Europe Measuring oral Immunotherapy Success), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of AR101, which will enroll approximately 160 peanut-allergic children and adolescents ages 4-17 at multiple sites in several European countries. The trial is designed to evaluate a primary endpoint of tolerating at least 1,000 mg of peanut protein after nine months of treatment.
Reported new AR101 clinical data at EAACI. In June, Aimmune reported findings from pre-randomization, preliminary clinical data collected from the European screening population of the PALISADE trial at the 2017 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress. More than 100 patients, many with multiple food allergies, in eight EU countries were enrolled in PALISADE.
Reported on up-dosing in PALISADE. In June, Aimmune announced its estimate from the blended rate of discontinuations in PALISADE that the proportion of AR101-treated patients successfully completing up-dosing appears to be similar to what was observed in Aimmune’s Phase 2 clinical trial. Aimmune believes this is positive in the context of a much larger trial (554 vs. 55 patients) and a much larger number of treatment centers in PALISADE compared to the Phase 2 clinical trial (74 vs. 8 centers).
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Announced commercial manufacturing milestone. In June, Aimmune hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of its commercial manufacturing facility in Clearwater, Florida. The new manufacturing facility contains more than 20,000 square feet of space and will handle full-scale cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) commercial production of AR101 in anticipation of potential regulatory approvals. It will also supply future clinical trials of AR101 as well as trials of future product candidates.
Initiated the RAMSES Phase 3 trial. In May, Aimmune initiated RAMSES (The Real-World AR101 Market-Supporting Experience Study in Peanut-Allergic Children Age 4-17 Years, or RAMSES (ARC007), which is designed to gain experience with AR101 in a real-world setting, without the use of a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge to confirm peanut allergy. The trial will assess the safety and tolerability of AR101 versus placebo.
Appointed healthcare industry veteran Eric Bjerkholt as CFO. In April, Aimmune announced the appointment of Eric Bjerkholt as CFO. Mr. Bjerkholt was most recently CFO at Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he oversaw multiple aspects of governance, corporate relations, and other functions. Prior to Sunesis, he was CFO at IntraBiotics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and LifeSpring Nutrition, Inc. Mr. Bjerkholt began his healthcare career at J.P. Morgan & Co. as an investment banker in New York and then launched the company’s Western U.S. healthcare practice.
Second Quarter Financial Results
For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017, net loss was $32.5 million and $58.4 million, respectively, compared to net loss of $18.1 million and $33.7 million for the comparable periods of 2016.
On a per share basis, net loss for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 was $0.65 and $1.16, respectively, compared to net loss per share of $0.43 and $0.81 for the comparable periods of 2016. The weighted average shares outstanding for each of the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 was 50.2 million compared to 41.8 million and 41.7 million shares for the comparable periods in 2016.
Research and development expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $22.2 million and $39.6 million, respectively, compared to $11.8 million and $21.8 million for the comparable periods in 2016. The increase was primarily due to the progression of the PALISADE trial, enrollment of patients in the open-label follow-on study of PALISADE (ARC004) and other AR101 clinical trials and contract manufacturing related costs of AR101.
General and administrative expenses for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $10.8 million and $19.7 million, respectively, compared to $6.5 million and $12.2 million for the comparable periods in 2016. The increase was primarily due to additional employee-related costs, including stock-based compensation expense, as Aimmune continues to build the infrastructure to support the development and potential commercialization of AR101.
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Cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaled $237.3 million at June 30, 2017, compared to $282.5 million at December 31, 2016. The decrease primarily reflects cash used in operations.
About Aimmune Therapeutics
Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for life-threatening food allergies. The company’s Characterized Oral Desensitization ImmunoTherapy (CODIT™) approach is intended to achieve meaningful levels of protection by desensitizing patients with defined, precise amounts of key allergens. Aimmune’s first investigational biologic product using CODIT™, AR101 for the treatment of peanut allergy, has received the FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the desensitization of peanut-allergic patients 4-17 years of age and is currently being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical trials. For more information, please see www.aimmune.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: Aimmune’s expectations for its Phase 3 PALISADE trial of AR101, including that final study visits will be completed around year-end 2017, that topline data for the trial will be available in the first quarter of 2018 and that the proportion of AR101-treated patients successfully completing up-dosing in PALISADE appears to be similar to what was observed in Phase 2; Aimmune’s plan to submit marketing approval regulatory filings for AR101 in the United States and the European Union in late 2018; Aimmune’s expectations for its RAMSES and ARTEMIS trials; Aimmune’s expectations for its commercial manufacturing facility for AR101, including expectations that the facility will be cGMP compliant and capable of producing commercial supplies of AR101 and clinical supplies for additional product candidates; Aimmune’s expectations regarding the potential benefits of AR101; Aimmune’s expectations regarding the sufficiency of its capital resources; and Aimmune’s expectations regarding potential applications of the CODIT™ approach to treating life-threatening food allergies. Risks and uncertainties that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the expectation that Aimmune will need additional funds to finance its operations; Aimmune’s ability to initiate and/or complete clinical trials; the unpredictability of the regulatory process; the possibility that Aimmune’s clinical trials will not be successful; Aimmune’s dependence on the success of AR101; Aimmune’s reliance on third parties for the manufacture of its product candidates; and possible regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Aimmune's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Aimmune undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.
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This press release concerns a product that is under clinical investigation and that has not yet been approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is currently limited to investigational use, and no representation is made as to its safety or effectiveness for the purposes for which it is being investigated.
# # #
Contacts:
Investors
Laura Hansen, Ph.D.
(650) 396-3814
lhansen@aimmune.com
Media
Stephanie Yao
(650) 351-6479
syao@aimmune.com
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|
AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
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(In thousands) |
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|
|
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|
|
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|
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June 30, |
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|
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|
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2017 (Unaudited) |
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December 31, 2016 (1) |
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Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
84,451 |
|
|
$ |
124,010 |
|
|
|
Short-term investments |
|
|
152,874 |
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|
|
124,921 |
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|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
5,287 |
|
|
|
2,749 |
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
242,612 |
|
|
|
251,680 |
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|
|
Long-term investments |
|
|
— |
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|
|
33,602 |
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
13,142 |
|
|
|
10,391 |
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|
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
|
600 |
|
|
|
3,116 |
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|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
256,354 |
|
|
$ |
298,789 |
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|
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|
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|
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|
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
$ |
18,040 |
|
|
$ |
11,450 |
|
|
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
1,523 |
|
|
|
1,367 |
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity |
|
|
236,791 |
|
|
|
285,972 |
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|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
256,354 |
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|
$ |
298,789 |
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(1) Derived from the audited financial statements, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. |
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
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(In thousands, except per share amounts) |
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Quarter Ended June 30, |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2017 |
2016 |
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2017 |
2016 |
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Operating expenses |
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|
|
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|
Research and development (1) |
$ 22,191 |
$ 11,820 |
|
$ 39,608 |
$ 21,796 |
|
General and administrative (1) |
10,813 |
6,466 |
|
19,737 |
12,189 |
|
Total operating expenses |
33,004 |
18,286 |
|
59,345 |
33,985 |
|
Loss from operations |
(33,004) |
(18,286) |
|
(59,345) |
(33,985) |
|
Interest income, net |
507 |
147 |
|
978 |
323 |
|
Net loss |
$ (32,497) |
$ (18,139) |
|
$ (58,367) |
$ (33,662) |
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|
|
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Net loss per common share, basic and diluted |
$ (0.65) |
$ (0.43) |
|
$ (1.16) |
$ (0.81) |
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Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted |
50,230 |
41,800 |
|
50,150 |
41,678 |
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(1)Includes stock-based compensation expenses of: |
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Quarter Ended June 30, |
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Six Months Ended June 30, |
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|
2017 |
2016 |
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2017 |
2016 |
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|
Research and development |
$ 1,191 |
$ 1,272 |
|
$ 2,177 |
$ 2,217 |
|
General and administrative |
3,008 |
1,802 |
|
5,615 |
3,388 |
|
Total stock-based compensation expense |
$ 4,199 |
$ 3,074 |
|
$ 7,792 |
$ 5,605 |
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