Arvinas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARVN), a clinical-stage biotechnology
company creating a new class of drugs based on targeted protein
degradation, today reported financial results for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2024 and provided a corporate update.
“Our recently announced agreement with Novartis creates
significant value for Arvinas and further validates our innovative
PROTAC protein degrader platform and its potential to deliver
important new treatment options for patients,” said John Houston,
Ph.D., Chairperson, President and Chief Executive Officer at
Arvinas. “In addition to this strategic transaction, and together
with Pfizer, we continued making meaningful progress advancing our
Phase 3 clinical programs with vepdegestrant in ER+/HER2-
metastatic breast cancer. During the quarter we also advanced
ARV-102, our first PROTAC degrader with the potential to treat
neurodegenerative diseases, into a Phase 1 clinical trial and we
remain on track to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial
with ARV-393, our BCL6 targeting PROTAC degrader, by the end
of the second quarter. We also further strengthened our management
team with key hires as we approach our first Phase 3 readout and
continue progressing multiple ongoing and planned clinical-stage
programs.”
Recent Developments and First Quarter Business
HighlightsStrategic Transaction with
Novartis
- Announced an exclusive strategic license agreement with
Novartis (NYSE: NVS) for the worldwide development and
commercialization of ARV-766, Arvinas’ second generation PROTAC®
androgen receptor (AR) degrader for patients with prostate cancer,
and the sale of Arvinas’ preclinical AR-V7 program.
- Upon closing, Arvinas will receive a $150 million upfront
payment for the license of ARV-766 and the sale of Arvinas’
preclinical AR-V7 program, with the potential under the License
Agreement for up to $1.01 billion in development, regulatory, and
commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties.
Vepdegestrant
- Completed enrollment of the study lead-in for the VERITAC-3
Phase 3 clinical trial of vepdegestrant and palbociclib as a
first-line treatment in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)
positive/human growth epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) negative
(ER+/HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
- Received U.S. Food and Drug Administration Fast Track
designation for the investigation of vepdegestrant for monotherapy
in the treatment of adults with ER+/HER2- locally advanced or
metastatic breast cancer previously treated with endocrine-based
therapy.
- Initiated dosing in a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial with
vepdegestrant plus Pfizer’s novel CDK4 inhibitor atirmociclib
(PF-07220060) (TACTIVE-K: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT06206837).
- Initiated dosing in an additional arm of the Phase 1b/2
combination umbrella trial with the CDK7 inhibitor samuraciclib
(TACTIVE-U: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT05548127,
NCT05573555, and NCT06125522).
- Announced the inclusion of an additional arm in the I-SPY-2
Endocrine Optimization Platform (EOP) study (NCT01042379) that will
evaluate vepdegestrant in combination with abemaciclib.
- Vepdegestrant is also being evaluated in a monotherapy arm and
in combination with letrozole arm in the ongoing I-SPY TRIAL
endocrine optimization program sponsored by Quantum Leap.
Pipeline
- Initiated dosing in a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial in
healthy volunteers with ARV-102, the Company’s first neuroscience
PROTAC degrader targeting leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) as a
potential treatment for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and
progressive supranuclear palsy.
Corporate
- Announced the appointment of Noah Berkowitz, M.D, Ph.D., to the
role of Chief Medical Officer.
- Announced the appointment of Jared Freedberg, J.D., as General
Counsel.
- Announced the resignation of Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer, Sean Cassidy, effective February
29, 2024.
- Announced the appointment of Randy Teel, Ph.D., Arvinas’
current Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development
and Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to the newly
created position of Chief Business Officer.
- Dr. Teel will remain in his interim roles while the Arvinas
board of directors continues its search for a permanent Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer.
Anticipated Upcoming Milestones and
ExpectationsVepdegestrant As part of
Arvinas’ global collaboration with Pfizer, the companies plan
to:
- Complete enrollment and announce topline data for the VERITAC-2
Phase 3 monotherapy trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT05654623) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (2H
2024).
- Determine the recommended Phase 3 dose of palbociclib to be
administered in combination with vepdegestrant from the study-lead
in of the VERITAC-3 Phase 3 trial of vepdegestrant and palbociclib
as a first-line treatment in patients with ER+/HER2- locally
advanced or metastatic breast cancer (2H 2024).
- Continue enrollment of the ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial
with vepdegestrant plus Pfizer’s novel CDK4 inhibitor atirmociclib
(TACTIVE-K: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06206837).
- Continue enrollment of the ongoing Phase 1b combination
umbrella trial evaluating combinations of vepdegestrant with
abemaciclib, ribociclib, or samuraciclib (TACTIVE-U:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCTC05548127, NCTC05573555, and
NCT06125522).
- Initiate discussion with regulatory authorities on a
second-line Phase 3 trial of vepdegestrant in combination with
palbociclib and potentially other CDK4/6 inhibitors, and a new
first-line Phase 3 trial of vepdegestrant plus atirmociclib,
Pfizer’s novel CDK4 inhibitor.
ARV-766
- Following US antitrust regulatory review, currently expected to
conclude in Q2 2024, initiate exclusive strategic license agreement
with Novartis for the worldwide development and commercialization
of ARV-766 and asset purchase agreement for the sale of Arvinas’
preclinical AR-V7 program.
Pipeline
- Continue enrollment in Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy
volunteers with PROTAC LRRK2 degrader ARV-102.
- Initiate dosing in first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial in
B-cell lymphomas with PROTAC BCL6 degrader ARV-393 (2Q 2024).
Financial GuidanceBased on its current
operating plan, Arvinas believes its cash, cash equivalents,
restricted cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2024, is
sufficient to fund planned operating expenses and capital
expenditure requirements into 2027.
First Quarter Financial ResultsCash,
Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Position: As of
March 31, 2024, cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and
marketable securities were $1,174.8 million as compared with
$1,266.5 million as of December 31, 2023. The decrease in cash,
cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities of
$91.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was
primarily related to cash used in operations of $92.1 million,
unrealized losses on marketable securities of $1.3 million and
leasehold improvements of $0.1 million, partially offset by
proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $1.8 million.
Research and Development Expenses: Research and
development expenses were $84.3 million for the quarter ended March
31, 2024, as compared with $95.3 million for the quarter ended
March 31, 2023. The decrease in research and development expenses
of $11.0 million for the quarter was primarily due to a decrease in
expenses related to our AR program (which includes ARV-766 and
bavdegalutamide (ARV-110)) of $8.2 million, our ER program (which
includes the cost sharing of vepdegestrant under the Vepdegestrant
(ARV-471) Collaboration Agreement) of $2.3 million and our platform
and exploratory programs of $0.5 million.
General and Administrative Expenses: General
and administrative expenses were $24.3 million for the quarter
ended March 31, 2024, as compared with $24.9 million for the
quarter ended March 31, 2023. The decrease of $0.6 million was
primarily due to a decrease in personnel and infrastructure related
costs of $2.4 million, partially offset by an increase in
professional fees of $1.3 million and increases related to
establishing our commercial operations of $0.6 million.
Revenues: Revenues were $25.3 million for the
quarter ended March 31, 2024 as compared with $32.5 million for the
quarter ended March 31, 2023. Revenue is related to the
Vepdegestrant (ARV-471) Collaboration Agreement, the collaboration
and license agreement with Bayer, the collaboration and license
agreement with Pfizer, the amended and restated option, license and
collaboration agreement with Genentech and revenue related to our
Oerth Bio joint venture. The decrease in revenue of $7.2 million
was primarily due to a decrease in revenue from the Vepdegestrant
(ARV-471) Collaboration Agreement of $12.5 million, a decrease of
$1.8 million related to the conclusion of the performance period
under the collaboration agreement with Genentech and a decrease of
$1.1 million of previously constrained deferred revenue related to
our Oerth Bio joint venture, offset in part by year over year
increases in revenue of $5.5 million and $2.6 million from our
collaboration and license agreements with Bayer and Pfizer,
respectively, due to changes in estimates in 2023 of the
performance period duration resulting from updated research
timelines.
About Vepdegestrant (ARV-471) Vepdegestrant is
an investigational, orally bioavailable PROTAC protein degrader
designed to specifically target and degrade the estrogen receptor
(ER) for the treatment of patients with ER positive (ER+)/human
epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative (ER+/HER2-)
breast cancer. Vepdegestrant is being developed as a potential
monotherapy and as part of combination therapy across multiple
treatment settings for ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
In July 2021, Arvinas announced a global collaboration with
Pfizer for the co-development and co-commercialization of
vepdegestrant; Arvinas and Pfizer will share worldwide development
costs, commercialization expenses, and profits.
Vepdegestrant has been granted Fast Track designation by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the investigation of
vepdegestrant for monotherapy in the treatment of adults with
ER+/HER2- locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously
treated with endocrine-based therapy.
About ARV-766ARV-766 is an investigational
orally bioavailable PROTAC protein degrader designed to selectively
target and degrade the androgen receptor (AR). Preclinically,
ARV-766 has demonstrated activity in models of wild type androgen
receptor tumors in addition to tumors with AR mutations or
amplification, both common potential mechanisms of resistance to
currently available AR-targeted therapies.
About ArvinasArvinas is a clinical-stage
biotechnology company dedicated to improving the lives of patients
suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases through
the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapies that
degrade disease-causing proteins. Arvinas uses its proprietary
PROTAC Discovery Engine platform to engineer proteolysis targeting
chimeras, or PROTAC targeted protein degraders, that are designed
to harness the body’s own natural protein disposal system to
selectively and efficiently degrade and remove disease-causing
proteins. In addition to its robust preclinical pipeline of PROTAC
protein degraders against validated and “undruggable” targets, the
company has four investigational clinical-stage programs:
vepdegestrant (ARV-471) for the treatment of patients with locally
advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer; ARV-766 and
bavdegalutamide for the treatment of patients with metastatic
castration-resistant prostate cancer; and ARV-102 for the treatment
of patients with neurodegenerative disorders. For more information,
visit www.arvinas.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve
substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements
regarding: the expected timing in connection with the completion of
enrollment and readout of top-line data from the VERITAC-2 clinical
trial; the expected timing of the initiation of a first-in-human
Phase 1 clinical trial with ARV-393; the potential of Arvinas’
PROTAC protein degrader platform and its potential to deliver new
treatment options to patients; Arvinas’ and Pfizer, Inc.’s
(“Pfizer”) plans to determine the recommended Phase 3 dose of
palbociclib to be administered in combination with vepdegestrant
from the study-lead in of the VERITAC-3 Phase 3 trial of
vepdegestrant and palbociclib; Arvinas’ and Pfizer’s plans to
initiate a discussion with regulatory authorities on a second-line
Phase 3 trial of vepdegestrant in combination with palbociclib and
potentially other CDK4/6 inhibitors, and a new first-line Phase 3
trial of vepdegestrant plus atirmociclib; the closing of the
transaction with Novartis and the receipt of upfront, milestone,
and royalty payments in connection with the transaction and the
future development, potential marketing approval and
commercialization of ARV-766; and statements regarding
Arvinas’ cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable
securities. All statements, other than statements of historical
fact, contained in this press release, including statements
regarding Arvinas’ strategy, future operations, future financial
position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and
objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,”
“might,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,”
“will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
although not all forward-looking statements contain these
identifying words.
Arvinas may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or
expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you
should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans,
intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking
statements Arvinas makes as a result of various risks and
uncertainties, including but not limited to: Arvinas’ and Pfizer’s
performance of the respective obligations with respect to Arvinas’
collaboration with Pfizer; whether Arvinas and Pfizer will be able
to successfully conduct and complete clinical development for
vepdegestrant; whether Arvinas will be able to successfully conduct
and complete development for its other product candidates,
including ARV-766, and including whether Arvinas initiates and
completes clinical trials for its product candidates and receive
results from its clinical trials on its expected timelines or at
all; whether Arvinas and Pfizer, as appropriate, will be able to
obtain marketing approval for and commercialize vepdegestrant,
ARV-766 and other product candidates on current timelines or at
all; the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set forth
in the license agreement with Novartis, each party’s performance of
its obligations under the license agreement; whether Novartis will
be able to successfully conduct and complete clinical development,
obtain marketing approval for and commercialize ARV-766;
Arvinas’ ability to protect its intellectual property portfolio;
whether Arvinas’ cash and cash equivalent resources will be
sufficient to fund its foreseeable and unforeseeable operating
expenses and capital expenditure requirements; and other important
factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Arvinas’ Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and
subsequent other reports on file with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in
this press release reflect Arvinas’ current views with respect to
future events, and Arvinas assumes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as
representing Arvinas’ views as of any date subsequent to the date
of this release.
ContactsInvestors:Jeff Boyle+1
(347) 247-5089Jeff.Boyle@arvinas.com
Media:Kathleen Murphy+1 (760)
622-3771Kathleen.Murphy@arvinas.com
Arvinas, Inc. |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) |
|
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts) |
March 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
Assets |
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
88.0 |
|
|
$ |
311.7 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
5.5 |
|
|
|
5.5 |
|
Marketable securities |
|
1,081.3 |
|
|
|
949.3 |
|
Other receivables |
|
7.1 |
|
|
|
7.2 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
8.4 |
|
|
|
6.5 |
|
Total current assets |
|
1,190.3 |
|
|
|
1,280.2 |
|
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net |
|
10.4 |
|
|
|
11.5 |
|
Operating lease right of use assets |
|
2.0 |
|
|
|
2.5 |
|
Collaboration contract asset and other assets |
|
9.9 |
|
|
|
10.4 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
1,212.6 |
|
|
$ |
1,304.6 |
|
Liabilities and stockholders' equity |
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ |
76.4 |
|
|
$ |
92.2 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
162.9 |
|
|
|
163.0 |
|
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
1.9 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
240.8 |
|
|
|
257.1 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
361.0 |
|
|
|
386.2 |
|
Long term debt |
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
0.8 |
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
602.9 |
|
|
|
644.6 |
|
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, zero shares issued and
outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023,
respectively |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 68.3 and 68.0 shares issued and
outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023,
respectively |
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
(1,402.1 |
) |
|
|
(1,332.7 |
) |
Additional paid-in capital |
|
2,016.1 |
|
|
|
1,995.7 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
(4.4 |
) |
|
|
(3.1 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
609.7 |
|
|
|
660.0 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ |
1,212.6 |
|
|
$ |
1,304.6 |
|
Arvinas, Inc. |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) |
|
For the Three Months Ended March
31, |
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts) |
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
Revenue |
$ |
25.3 |
|
|
$ |
32.5 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
84.3 |
|
|
|
95.3 |
|
General and administrative |
|
24.3 |
|
|
|
24.9 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
108.6 |
|
|
|
120.2 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
(83.3 |
) |
|
|
(87.7 |
) |
Interest and other income |
|
14.0 |
|
|
|
6.5 |
|
Net loss before income taxes and loss from equity method
investment |
|
(69.3 |
) |
|
|
(81.2 |
) |
Income tax (expense) benefit |
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
0.4 |
|
Loss from equity method investment |
|
— |
|
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
Net loss |
$ |
(69.4 |
) |
|
$ |
(81.9 |
) |
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.97 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.54 |
) |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and
diluted |
|
71.7 |
|
|
|
53.3 |
|
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