Aug 08, 2013 Press Release for Alnylam
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2013 Financial Results
Aug 08, 2013
— Reported Positive Clinical Data from Two "Alnylam 5x15" Programs: ALN-TTR02 for the Treatment of Transthyretin (TTR)-Mediated Amyloidosis (ATTR) Patients with Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy (FAP) and ALN-TTRsc for the Treatment of ATTR Patients with Familial Amyloidotic Cardiomyopathy (FAC) —
— Advanced Additional "Alnylam 5x15" Programs with Key Data Presented at Scientific Meetings —
— Maintained Strong Balance Sheet with
"This was an exceptional, data-rich quarter and recent period for
Alnylam, where we reported positive clinical results from multiple
‘Alnylam 5x15' programs. First, we presented positive interim data from
our Phase II multi-dose trial of ALN-TTR02, where we showed up to 93%
knockdown of circulating wild-type and mutant TTR in ATTR patients. In
the coming weeks we plan to have patients treated in this Phase II study
roll over into an open-label extension study, which will include a
number of clinical endpoint measurements with initial data expected to
be presented in 2014. We also remain on track to start a Phase III
pivotal trial for ALN-TTR02 by the end of 2013," said
"In addition to the positive clinical data we reported recently, we were
also pleased to report promising pre-clinical data, including key
proof-of-concept data, from multiple ‘Alnylam 5x15' programs. In our
ALN-AT3 hemophilia program, we presented a robust set of data at the
ISTH meeting — including results in multiple models of hemophilia —
that highlight the potential and the innovative nature of this program.
Notably, we demonstrated that subcutaneous administration of ALN-AT3 can
fully normalize thrombin generation in a non-human primate hemophilia
‘inhibitor' model, an important finding as thrombin generation is
closely correlated with degree of disease severity in hemophilia
patients. Certain IND-enabling pre-clinical and CMC work is being
completed for this program resulting in a one quarter shift in
timelines, and we now expect to file an IND for ALN-AT3 in the fourth
quarter of 2013 and to initiate our Phase I clinical trial in early
2014," said
Cash,
At
Net Loss
The net loss according to accounting principles
generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP) for the second quarter of 2013 was
Revenues
Revenues were
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development
(R&D) expenses were
General and Administrative Expenses
General and
administrative (G&A) expenses were
Investment in Regulus Therapeutics
Equity in loss of joint
venture was zero for the second quarter of 2013 and
Interest Income
Interest income was
Benefit from Income Taxes
The company had a benefit from
income taxes of
2013 Financial Guidance
The company expects that its cash,
cash equivalents and total marketable securities balance will be greater
than
"Alnylam continues to maintain a solid balance sheet, ending this second
quarter with
Second Quarter 2013 and Recent Significant Corporate Highlights
Key "Alnylam 5x15" Program Highlights
-
Reported Positive Phase II Data for ALN-TTR02, an RNAi Therapeutic
Targeting Transthyretin (TTR) for the Treatment of TTR-Mediated
Amyloidosis (ATTR). Interim results from a Phase II study showed
that multiple doses of ALN-TTR02, an intravenously delivered RNAi
therapeutic, led to robust and statistically significant (p < 0.001)
knockdown of serum TTR protein levels of up to 93%. Knockdown of TTR,
the disease-causing protein in ATTR, was found to be rapid, dose
dependent, and durable, with similar activity observed toward both
wild-type and mutant protein. In addition, ALN-TTR02 was found to be
generally safe and well tolerated in this study. The Phase II study
has nearly completed enrollment with about 30 patients, and Alnylam
intends to present the final data from this study at the IXth
International Symposium on Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy (ISFAP)
to be held in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ,November 10 — 13, 2013. In addition, the company remains on track to initiate in mid-2013 an open-label extension (OLE) study of ALN-TTR02 for patients treated in the Phase II study. The OLE study will include a number of clinical endpoint measures including Neuropathy Impairment Score, or "NIS," and initial data are expected to be presented in 2014. Furthermore, the company intends to start a Phase III pivotal trial for ALN-TTR02 in FAP patients by the end of 2013. -
Announced Top-Line Phase I Results for ALN-TTRsc, a Subcutaneously
Administered RNAi Therapeutic Targeting TTR for the Treatment of ATTR. ALN-TTRsc
achieved robust and statistically significant (p < 0.01) knockdown of
serum TTR protein levels of greater than 80% in healthy volunteer
subjects, in line with results previously reported in non-human
primates. In addition, ALN-TTRsc was found to be generally safe and
well tolerated. These top-line human study results are the first to be
reported for Alnylam's proprietary GalNAc-siRNA conjugate delivery
platform, enabling subcutaneous dosing of RNAi therapeutics with a
wide therapeutic index. Full results from the Phase I study will be
presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the
Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), being heldSeptember 22 — 25, 2013 inOrlando, Fla. -
Advanced ALN-AT3, a Subcutaneously Administered RNAi Therapeutic
Targeting Antithrombin (AT) for the Treatment of Hemophilia and Rare
Bleeding Disorders (RBD), Toward Investigational New Drug (IND)
Filing. Alnylam presented new pre-clinical data with ALN-AT3 at
the
XXIV Congress of theInternational Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) that was heldJune 29 —July 4, 2013 inAmsterdam . The new pre-clinical results demonstrated that ALN-AT3 can normalize thrombin generation and improve hemostasis in hemophilia mice and fully correct thrombin generation in a non-human primate (NHP) hemophilia "inhibitor" model. In addition, the company presented results of tolerability studies that support a broad therapeutic index for ALN-AT3 in the hemophilia setting. Alnylam is completing a number of IND-enabling pre-clinical and CMC studies, and now expects a one quarter shift in the program timeline, resulting in the filing of an IND in the fourth quarter of 2013 and initiation of a Phase I clinical trial in early 2014. -
Advanced ALN-AS1, a Subcutaneously Administered RNAi Therapeutic
Targeting Aminolevulinic Acid Synthase-1 (ALAS-1), for the Treatment
of Porphyria. New pre-clinical data in rodent models of acute
intermittent porphyria (AIP) were presented at the
International Congress of Porphyrins and Porphyrias , which was heldMay 16 — 18, 2013 in Lucerne,Switzerland . Results demonstrated that RNAi therapeutics targeting ALAS-1 can completely block the abnormal production of toxic intermediates of the heme biosynthesis pathway that cause the symptoms and disease pathology of AIP. The new research results support the advancement of RNAi therapeutics as a promising strategy for the prevention and/or treatment of acute attacks in patients with AIP. The company is on track to designate a GalNAc-siRNA development candidate, ALN-AS1, in late 2013 and plans to file an IND in 2014. -
Designated ALN-CC5, a Subcutaneously Administered RNAi Therapeutic
Targeting Complement Component C5 for the Treatment of
Complement-Mediated Diseases, as a New "Alnylam 5x15" program. Alnylam
presented pre-clinical data with ALN-CC5 at the 6th
International Conference on Complement Therapeutics that was heldJune 18 — 23, 2013 in Kos,Greece . The new research demonstrated potent, dose-dependent, and durable RNAi-mediated knockdown of serum C5 and inhibition of complement-mediated hemolytic activity of approximately 90%. The complement system plays a central role in immunity as a protective mechanism for host defense, but its dysregulation results in life-threatening complications in a broad range of human diseases including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome (aHUS), neuromyelitis optica, amongst others. C5, which is predominantly expressed in liver cells, is a genetically and clinically validated target; loss-of-function human mutations are associated with an attenuated immune response against certain infections, and intravenous anti-C5 monoclonal antibody therapy has demonstrated clinical activity and tolerability in a number of complement-mediated diseases. A subcutaneously administered RNAi therapeutic that silences C5 represents a novel approach to the treatment of complement-mediated diseases. The company is performing additional optimization of the current GalNAc-siRNA conjugate lead molecule and expects to nominate its ALN-CC5 development candidate in late 2013. - Advanced Additional "Alnylam 5x15" Programs. Alnylam continued to advance additional programs as part of its "Alnylam 5x15" product strategy, including ALN-PCS, an RNAi therapeutic targeting PCSK9 for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia; ALN-TMP, an RNAi therapeutic targeting TMPRSS6 for the treatment of beta-thalassemia and iron-overload disorders; and ALN-AAT, an RNAi therapeutic targeting alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) for the treatment of liver disease associated with AAT deficiency. At its recent R&D Day, the company provided an update from its ALN-PCS program, which is partnered with The Medicines Company, showing pre-clinical results with a GalNAc-siRNA conjugate targeting PCSK9 (ALN-PCSsc) that enables subcutaneous dose administration. Specifically, in non-human primate studies performed in the absence of concomitant statin therapy, ALN-PCSsc showed greater than 80% knockdown of plasma PCSK9 with greater than 50% reductions in LDL-c.
Business and Organizational Highlights
-
Expanded Management Team. Alnylam appointed
John Frenz , Ph.D., to the position of Vice President of Manufacturing. Before joining Alnylam, Dr. Frenz was the Vice President of Operations atGlobeImmune, Inc. , where he oversaw clinical supply of seven products across two Phase II and multiple Phase I trials. Prior to GlobeImmune, John was atGenentech, Inc. , where he was Plant Manager of Biochemical Manufacturing in South San Francisco. In that role he oversaw the production of all of Genentech's clinical products and about half of its commercial production.
Conference Call Information
Management will provide an
update on the company, discuss second quarter 2013 results, and discuss
expectations for the future via conference call on
About RNA Interference (RNAi)
RNAi (RNA interference) is a
revolution in biology, representing a breakthrough in understanding how
genes are turned on and off in cells, and a completely new approach to
drug discovery and development. Its discovery has been heralded as "a
major scientific breakthrough that happens once every decade or so," and
represents one of the most promising and rapidly advancing frontiers in
biology and drug discovery today which was awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize
for Physiology or Medicine. RNAi is a natural process of gene silencing
that occurs in organisms ranging from plants to mammals. By harnessing
the natural biological process of RNAi occurring in our cells, the
creation of a major new class of medicines, known as RNAi therapeutics,
is on the horizon. Small interfering RNA (siRNA), the molecules that
mediate RNAi and comprise Alnylam's RNAi therapeutic platform, target
the cause of diseases by potently silencing specific mRNAs, thereby
preventing disease-causing proteins from being made. RNAi therapeutics
have the potential to treat disease and help patients in a fundamentally
new way.
About
Alnylam is a biopharmaceutical
company developing novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, or
RNAi. The company is leading the translation of RNAi as a new class of
innovative medicines with a core focus on RNAi therapeutics toward
genetically defined targets for the treatment of serious,
life-threatening diseases with limited treatment options for patients
and their caregivers. These include: ALN-TTR02, an intravenously
delivered RNAi therapeutic targeting transthyretin (TTR) for the
treatment of TTR-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR) in patients with familial
amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP); ALN-TTRsc, a subcutaneously delivered
RNAi therapeutic targeting TTR for the treatment of ATTR in patients
with familial amyloidotic cardiomyopathy (FAC); ALN-AT3, an RNAi
therapeutic targeting antithrombin (AT) for the treatment of hemophilia
and rare bleeding disorders (RBD); ALN-AS1, an RNAi therapeutic
targeting aminolevulinate synthase-1 (ALAS-1) for the treatment of
porphyria including acute intermittent porphyria (AIP); ALN-PCS, an RNAi
therapeutic targeting PCSK9 for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia;
ALN-TMP, an RNAi therapeutic targeting TMPRSS6 for the treatment of
beta-thalassemia and iron-overload disorders; ALN-AAT, an RNAi
therapeutic targeting alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) for the treatment of AAT
deficiency liver disease; and ALN-CC5, an RNAi therapeutic targeting
complement component C5 for the treatment of complement-mediated
diseases, amongst other programs. As part of its "Alnylam 5x15TM"
strategy, the company expects to have five RNAi therapeutic products for
genetically defined diseases in clinical development, including programs
in advanced stages, on its own or with a partner by the end of 2015.
Alnylam has additional partnered programs in clinical or development
stages, including ALN-RSV01 for the treatment of respiratory syncytial
virus (RSV) infection and ALN-VSP for the treatment of liver cancers.
The company's leadership position on RNAi therapeutics and intellectual
property have enabled it to form major alliances with leading companies
including Merck, Medtronic, Novartis, Biogen Idec, Roche,
About "Alnylam 5x15™"
The "Alnylam 5x15" strategy, launched
in
Alnylam Forward-Looking Statements
Various statements in
this release concerning Alnylam's future expectations, plans and
prospects, including without limitation, Alnylam's expectations
regarding its "Alnylam 5x15" product strategy, Alnylam's views with
respect to the potential for RNAi therapeutics, including ALN-TTR02 and
ALN-TTRsc, ALN-AT3, ALN-AS1, ALN-CC5, ALN-PCS, ALN-TMP, and ALN-AAT, its
expectations with respect to the timing and success of its clinical and
pre-clinical trials, the expected timing of regulatory filings,
including its plan to file IND or IND equivalent applications and
initiate clinical trials for ALN-AT3 and ALN-AS1, its expectations
regarding reporting of data from its clinical studies, including its
ALN-TTR02 and ALN-TTRsc studies, its plans to seek a partner for certain
‘Alnylam 5x15' programs, its plans regarding commercialization of RNAi
therapeutics, and its expected cash position as of
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| Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues from research collaborators |
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| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development (1) | 24,215 | 21,723 | 46,394 | 42,797 | ||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative (1) | 5,784 | 11,228 | 12,051 | 21,634 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 29,999 | 32,951 | 58,445 | 64,431 | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (21,312 | ) | (12,067 | ) | (31,116 | ) | (22,960 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in loss of joint venture (Regulus Therapeutics Inc.) | - | (1,139 | ) | - | (2,028 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 270 | 271 | 494 | 494 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other (expense) income | (11 | ) | (21 | ) | (6 | ) | 170 | |||||||||||||
| Total other income (expense) | 259 | (889 | ) | 488 | (1,364 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (21,053 | ) | (12,956 | ) | (30,628 | ) | (24,324 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Benefit from income taxes | 2,884 | - | 3,446 | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss |
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| Net loss per common share - basic and diluted |
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Weighted average common shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per common share |
61,661 | 51,280 | 60,424 | 48,877 | ||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss |
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| Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax | 7,309 | (25 | ) | 12,468 | 103 | |||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss |
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| (1) Non-cash stock-based compensation expenses included in operating expenses are as follows: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development |
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| General and administrative | 1,177 | 1,098 | 2,165 | 2,166 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||
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| 2013 | 2012 | |||
| Cash, cash equivalents and total marketable securities |
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| Billed and unbilled collaboration receivables | 460 | 104 | ||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 4,205 | 2,641 | ||
| Property and equipment, net | 18,045 | 19,799 | ||
| Investment in equity securities of Regulus Therapeutics Inc. | 60,336 | 38,748 | ||
| Total assets |
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| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 18,254 | 15,978 | ||
| Total deferred revenue | 131,196 | 132,291 | ||
| Total deferred rent | 4,933 | 5,198 | ||
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Total stockholders' equity (62.5 million and 52.5 million common
shares issued and outstanding at |
308,175 | 134,053 | ||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
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This selected financial information should be read in conjunction with
the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in
Alnylam's Annual Report on Form 10-K which includes the audited
financial statements for the year ended
Vice
President, Investor Relations and
or
Vice President, Finance and Treasurer
Source:
News Provided by Acquire Media
For Media Inquiries, please contact:
Christine Akinc
Chief Corporate Communications Officer media@alnylam.com 617-682-4340
For Investor Inquiries, please contact:
Josh Brodsky
VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications investors@alnylam.com 617-551-8276
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