Albireo Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALBO), a clinical-stage rare
pediatric liver disease company developing novel bile acid
modulators, today provided a business update and reported financial
results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31,
2020.
“2020 was a tremendous year as we delivered on several key
milestones, including announcement of positive results from our
pivotal PEDFIC 1 Phase 3 study in PFIC patients, completion of
regulatory filings in the U.S. and EU in record time, and
initiation of two additional pivotal Phase 3 studies in Alagille
syndrome and biliary atresia,” said Ron Cooper, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Albireo. “We anticipate 2021 to be a similar
year of significant accomplishments with the planned approval and
commercialization of odevixibat in the U.S. and EU, issuance of our
priority review voucher, enrollment advancing in our Phase 3 trials
and fully characterizing our two new bile acid modulators with
novel MOAs.”
Recent and Upcoming Highlights
Odevixibat
- The Company filed a New Drug
Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European
Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking approval of odevixibat for the
treatment of patients with progressive familial intrahepatic
cholestasis (PFIC) in the fourth quarter with follow-on
announcement January 25, 2021 of the acceptance from both U.S. and
EU regulatory agencies.
- The FDA granted Priority Review and
set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of July 20,
2021. Odevixibat previously received Fast Track, Rare Pediatric
Disease and Orphan Drug Designations in the U.S.
- In Europe, odevixibat is the only
ileal bile acid transport inhibitor (IBATi) granted accelerated
assessment by the EMA, and has been granted Orphan Designation as
well as access to the PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) scheme for the
treatment of PFIC. The EMA’s Pediatric Committee has agreed to
Albireo’s odevixibat Pediatric Investigation Plans.
- With U.S. and EU regulatory filings
for odevixibat in PFIC completed, the Company anticipates potential
regulatory approvals and issuance of a rare pediatric disease
Priority Review Voucher, and continues to advance launch plans for
the second half of 2021 with focus on global market access,
distribution and patient support.
- The Company entered into a limited
co-promotion agreement in the US with Travere Therapeutics. Travere
is a leading rare disease company and marketer of Cholbam® (cholic
acid) capsules, which are used by pediatric hepatologists who are
the main call point for odevixibat. The co-promotion agreement is
set for two years with optionality for extending the relationship.
Albireo will book all revenue and will pay Travere certain fees to
compensate its sales representatives for their efforts in selling
odevixibat.
- Completed first ex-U.S. commercial
distributorship with Medison Pharma, Ltd. ("Medison”) for
odevixibat in Israel. Medison is a leading international commercial
partner for highly innovative therapies. Under the agreement,
Medison will be responsible for approval and commercialization in
Israel in close alignment and with oversight from Albireo.
- BOLD, the first and only pivotal
Phase 3 trial of an IBAT inhibitor in biliary atresia was
initiated, with 42 sites activated and global enrollment continuing
despite COVID-19 challenges.
- Initiated and enrolling the ASSERT
Study, a global Phase 3 pivotal trial of odevixibat in patients
with Alagille Syndrome (ALGS).
Early-Stage Pipeline
- The Company is exploring multiple
approaches for modulating bile acids to significantly change the
bile acid transporter approach in adult liver and viral diseases
through new mechanisms of action. The planned primary focus is on
primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary
cholangitis (PBC) as well as viral liver diseases such as hepatitis
B and D.
- Unveiled novel bile acid modulator
approaches and lead candidate A3907, a systemic oral apical
sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) inhibitor for adult
liver diseases, having completed IND-enabling studies with plans
for Phase 1 study initiation by end of the first quarter and
topline results by the end of the year.
- Selected new development candidate
A2342, an oral systemic sodium-taurocholate co-transporting peptide
(NTCP) inhibitor for viral disease.
Corporate
- The Company hosted a Commercial Day
on February 11, 2021 with presentations on corporate ambition and
outlook, the larger market opportunity in rare pediatric and adult
liver disease and global commercialization and launch plans for
odevixibat following anticipated approval for progressive familial
intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) patients.
- Recently appointed key leadership
positions: Kevin Springman as the President of the Americas is in
place, and Steve Arnold as the President of International starting
in March. These leaders are finalizing specialized U.S. and
international teams to have in place starting in the second half of
2021. Springman has had a successful track record in sales,
marketing and market access roles at Sobi and before that at
AstraZeneca. Arnold has extensive experience building and leading
international teams, most recently at Intercept, and prior to that
at UCB and Gilead.
Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Results
- Revenues were $2.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020,
compared to $6.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The
decrease in revenue primarily relates to a sales-based milestone
achieved in 2019 offset by higher sales-based royalties earned in
2020. The royalty revenue is passed on to HealthCare Royalty
Partners.
- R&D expenses were $20.1 million for the fourth quarter of
2020, compared to $14.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The
higher expenses were principally due to personnel expenses as we
continue to increase our headcount and program activities. The
increase in program activities related primarily to odevixibat for
regulatory submissions in PFIC, and the initiation of clinical
trials for additional indications for biliary atresia and
ALGS.
- G&A expenses were $14.2 million for the fourth quarter of
2020, compared to $6.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The
increase is attributable to personnel and related expenses as the
Company continues to increase headcount and commercialization
readiness activities.
- Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $24.8 million, or
$(1.30) per share, compared to $7.5 million, or $(0.57) per share
for the fourth quarter of 2019.
Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31,
2020
- Revenues were $8.3 million for the year ended December 31,
2020, compared to $9.6 million for the year ended December 31,
2019. The year-over-year decrease in revenue primarily relates to a
sales-based milestone achieved in 2019 offset by higher sales-based
royalties earned in 2020.
- R&D expenses were $76.8 million for 2020, compared to $45.6
million for the same period in 2019. The higher research and
development expenses for the 2020 period were principally due to
personnel expenses as we continue to increase our headcount and
program activities. The increase in program activities related
primarily to odevixibat for regulatory submissions in PFIC, the
initiation of clinical trials for additional indications for
biliary atresia and ALGS, and preclinical programs.
- G&A expenses were $42.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2020 compared with $23.0 million for
the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase is
attributable to personnel and related expenses as the Company
continues to increase headcount and commercialization readiness
activities.
- Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $107.6
million, or $(6.73) per share, compared to $62.7 million, or
$(5.04) per share for the year ended December 31, 2019.
- The Company had cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2020,
of $251.3 million, which compares to $131.8 million at December 31,
2019. The Company has sufficient capital resources to fund the
planned launch and development programs. Cash runway into 2023 and
plans to monetize a Priority Review Voucher, if received upon
approval. The 2021 operating cash burn is anticipated to be in the
range of $120-$130 million. 2021 revenue from odevixibat is
anticipated to be in the low single digit US $ millions.
Conference CallAlbireo will host a conference
call and webcast today, February 25 at 10:00 a.m. ET. To access the
live conference call by phone, dial 877-407-0792 (domestic) or
201-689-8263 (international), and provide the access code 13715566.
Live audio webcast will be accessible from the Media &
Investors page of Albireo’s website ir.albireopharma.com/. To
ensure a timely connection to the webcast, it is recommended that
participants register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled
start time. An archived version of the webcast will be available
for replay on the Events & Presentations section of the Media
& Investors page of Albireo’s website for 3 months following
the event.
About OdevixibatOdevixibat is an
investigational product candidate being developed to treat rare
pediatric cholestatic liver diseases, including PFIC, biliary
atresia and ALGS. A potent, once-daily, non-systemic ileal bile
acid transport inhibitor (IBATi), odevixibat acts locally in the
small intestine. Odevixibat does not require refrigeration and
can be taken as a capsule for older children, or opened and
sprinkled onto food, which are factors of key importance for
adherence in a pediatric patient population. The FDA has granted
Priority Review and set a PDUFA goal date of July 20, 2021. In
Europe, the EMA validated MAA. Odevixibat is the only IBATi granted
accelerated assessment by the EMA.
Odevixibat also been granted Orphan Designation, as well as
access to the PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) scheme for the treatment
of PFIC. The EMA’s Pediatric Committee has agreed to Albireo’s
odevixibat Pediatric Investigation Plans for PFIC and biliary
atresia. In addition to PFIC, odevixibat has Orphan Drug
Designations for the treatment of Alagille syndrome, biliary
atresia and primary biliary cholangitis. With FDA and EMA
regulatory submissions complete, odevixibat has the potential to
become the first approved drug treatment for patients with PFIC in
the U.S and Europe. The Company anticipates potential regulatory
approvals, issuance of a rare pediatric disease priority review
voucher and launch in the second half of 2021.
The MAA and NDA filings are supported by results from PEDFIC 1
and PEDFIC 2 Phase 3 studies. PEDFIC 1 was the first and largest,
global, pivotal Phase 3 study conducted in PFIC, which evaluated
the efficacy and tolerability of odevixibat in reducing pruritus
and serum bile acids in a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial. In the PEDFIC 1 study, odevixibat met
both primary endpoints and was well tolerated with very low
incidence of diarrhea/frequent bowel movements (9.5% of odevixibat
treated patients vs. 5.0% of placebo patients).
ir.albireopharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/albireo-phase-3-trial-meets-both-primary-endpoints-odevixibat.
PEDFIC 2 is a long-term, open-label Phase 3 extension study. The
Company also provides an Expanded Access Program (EAP) for eligible
patients with PFIC in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia.
Odevixibat is also currently being evaluated in the BOLD Phase 3
trial in patients with biliary atresia, and the global Phase 3
ASSERT trial for ALGS.
About AlbireoAlbireo Pharma is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel bile
acid modulators to treat rare pediatric and adult liver diseases.
Albireo’s lead product candidate, odevixibat, is being developed to
treat rare pediatric cholestatic liver diseases with Phase 3
pivotal trials in PFIC, Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia. The
Company completed IND-enabling studies for new preclinical
candidate A3907 and plans to advance development in adult liver
disease. Albireo was spun out from AstraZeneca in 2008 and is
headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with its key operating
subsidiary in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Boston Business
Journal named Albireo one of the 2020 Best Places to Work
in Massachusetts for the second consecutive year. For more
information on Albireo, please visit albireopharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release
includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements include statements, other
than statements of historical fact, regarding, among other things:
the plans for, or progress, scope, cost, initiation, duration,
enrollment, results or timing for availability of results of,
development of odevixibat or any other Albireo product candidate or
program; including expectations regarding the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on our business and our ability to adapt our
plans and activities as appropriate; the pivotal trial
for odevixibat in biliary atresia (BOLD), and the pivotal trial for
odevixibat in Alagille syndrome (ASSERT); the target indication(s)
for development or approval, the size, design, population,
location, conduct, cost, objective, enrollment, duration or
endpoints of any clinical trial, or the timing for initiation or
completion of or availability or reporting of results from any
clinical trial, including the long-term open-label extension study
for odevixibat in PFIC, the pivotal trial for odevixibat in biliary
atresia, the pivotal trial for odevixibat in Alagille syndrome; the
potential approval and commercialization of odevixibat; the
potential for odevixibat to become the first approved drug for PFIC
patients; discussions with the FDA or EMA regarding our programs;
the potential benefits or competitive position of odevixibat or any
other Albireo product candidate or program or the commercial
opportunity in any target indication; the potential effects of
odevixibat of the treatment of PFIC patients and its potential to
improve the current standard of care; the potential benefits of an
orphan drug designation; the potential issuance of a rare pediatric
disease priority review voucher; or Albireo’s plans, expectations
or future operations, financial position, revenues, costs or
expenses. Albireo often uses words such as “anticipates,”
“believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “projects,” “future,” “intends,”
“may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “estimates,” “predicts,”
“potential,” “planned,” “continue,” “guidance,” or the negative of
these terms or other similar expressions to identify
forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or
experience may differ materially from those expressed or implied by
any forward-looking statement as a result of various risks,
uncertainties and other factors, including, but not limited to:
whether the NDA for odevixibat for the treatment of pruritus in
patients with PFIC will be approved by the FDA and whether the MAA
for odevixibat in PFIC will be approved by the EMA; whether the FDA
or EMA will complete their respective reviews within the target
timelines, including the FDA’s PDUFA goal date, as a potential
result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise; the
risk that the NDA will not be approved despite the FDA’s acceptance
of the NDA for review; whether the FDA will require additional
information, whether we will be able to provide in a timely manner
any additional information that the FDA requests, and whether such
additional information will be satisfactory to the FDA; other
potential negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on
manufacturing, supply, conduct or initiation of clinical trials, or
other aspects of our business; whether favorable findings from
clinical trials of odevixibat to date, including findings in
indications other than PFIC, will be predictive of results from
other clinical trials of odevixibat; whether either or both of
the FDA and EMA will determine that the primary endpoint
for their respective evaluations and treatment duration of the
double-blind Phase 3 trial in patients with PFIC are sufficient to
support approval of odevixibat in the United States or
the European Union, to treat PFIC, a symptom of PFIC, a
specific PFIC subtype(s) or otherwise; the outcome and
interpretation by regulatory authorities of the ongoing third-party
study pooling and analyzing of long-term PFIC patient data; the
timing for initiation or completion of, or for availability of data
from, clinical trials of odevixibat, including the pivotal program
in biliary atresia or the pivotal program in Alagille syndrome, and
the outcomes of such trials; Albireo’s ability to obtain coverage,
pricing or reimbursement for approved products in the United
States or European Union; delays or other challenges in
the recruitment of patients for, or the conduct of, company’s
clinical trials; and Albireo’s critical accounting policies. These
and other risks and uncertainties that Albireo faces are described
in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in Albireo’s
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or in subsequent filings
that it makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As
a result of risks and uncertainties that Albireo faces, the results
or events indicated by any forward-looking statement may not occur.
Albireo cautions you not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statement. In addition, any forward-looking
statement in this press release represents Albireo’s views only as
of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as
representing its views as of any subsequent date. Albireo disclaims
any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as
required by applicable law.
Media Contact:Colleen Alabiso,
857-356-3905, colleen.alabiso@albireopharma.comLisa Rivero,
617-947-0899, lisa.rivero@syneoshealth.com
Investor Contact:Hans Vitzthum, LifeSci
Advisors, LLC., 617-430-7578
Albireo Pharma,
Inc.Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheets(in thousands, except share and per share
data)(unaudited)
|
|
December 31, |
|
December
31, |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
251,272 |
|
|
$ |
131,843 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
10,593 |
|
|
|
9,956 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
261,865 |
|
|
|
141,799 |
|
Property and
equipment, net |
|
|
478 |
|
|
|
597 |
|
Goodwill |
|
|
17,260 |
|
|
|
17,260 |
|
Other
assets |
|
|
6,004 |
|
|
|
5,413 |
|
Total
assets |
|
$ |
285,607 |
|
|
$ |
165,069 |
|
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
5,283 |
|
|
$ |
4,785 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
19,051 |
|
|
|
13,486 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
948 |
|
|
|
653 |
|
Total
current liabilities |
|
|
25,282 |
|
|
|
18,924 |
|
Liability
related to sale of future royalties |
|
|
65,894 |
|
|
|
48,714 |
|
Note
payable, net of discount |
|
|
9,621 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other
long-term liabilities |
|
|
3,579 |
|
|
|
4,270 |
|
Total
liabilities |
|
|
104,376 |
|
|
|
71,908 |
|
Stockholders’ Equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share — 50,000,000 authorized
at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019; 0
and 0 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and
December 31, 2019, respectively |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share — 30,000,000 authorized at
December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019;
19,107,040 and 12,749,443 issued and outstanding at
December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019,
respectively |
|
|
191 |
|
|
|
127 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
456,472 |
|
|
|
245,769 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
|
|
(8,612 |
) |
|
|
6,452 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(266,820 |
) |
|
|
(159,187 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
181,231 |
|
|
|
93,161 |
|
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
285,607 |
|
|
$ |
165,069 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albireo Pharma,
Inc.Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations(in thousands, except share and per
share data)(unaudited)
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
Revenue |
$ |
2,716 |
|
|
$ |
6,431 |
|
|
$ |
8,308 |
|
|
$ |
9,636 |
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
20,050 |
|
|
|
14,216 |
|
|
|
76,777 |
|
|
|
45,575 |
|
|
General and administrative |
|
14,158 |
|
|
|
6,175 |
|
|
|
42,448 |
|
|
|
22,963 |
|
|
Other operating (income) expense, net |
|
(10,090 |
) |
|
|
(4,109 |
) |
|
|
(14,646 |
) |
|
|
2,210 |
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
24,118 |
|
|
|
16,282 |
|
|
|
104,579 |
|
|
|
70,748 |
|
|
Operating
loss |
|
(21,402 |
) |
|
|
(9,851 |
) |
|
|
(96,271 |
) |
|
|
(61,112 |
) |
|
Interest
expense, net |
|
(3,397 |
) |
|
|
(1,362 |
) |
|
|
(11,362 |
) |
|
|
(5,296 |
) |
|
Other
non-operating income |
|
— |
|
|
|
3,691 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,691 |
|
|
Net
loss |
$ |
(24,799 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,522 |
) |
|
$ |
(107,633 |
) |
|
$ |
(62,717 |
) |
|
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted |
$ |
(1.30 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.57 |
) |
|
$ |
(6.73 |
) |
|
$ |
(5.04 |
) |
|
Weighted-average common shares used to compute basic and diluted
net loss per common share |
|
19,082,963 |
|
|
|
12,698,492 |
|
|
|
15,983,058 |
|
|
|
12,437,742 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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