uniQure Announces Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results and
Highlights Recent Company Progress
uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ: QURE), a leading gene therapy company
advancing transformative therapies for patients with severe medical
needs, today reported its financial results for the third quarter
of 2022 and highlighted recent progress across its business.
“We are pleased that following a comprehensive
review of all available safety, biomarker and imaging data, the
Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has recommended that we resume
patient enrollment at the higher dose in the ongoing Phase Ib/II
study evaluating AMT-130 in Huntington’s disease,” stated Matt
Kapusta, chief executive officer of uniQure. “Patient safety will
always be our utmost priority, and we are grateful for the close
collaboration between our clinical team, study investigators and
most importantly, the patients, all of whom were instrumental in
completing our comprehensive investigations. We believe that
AMT-130 has the potential to provide a positive impact for patients
with this devastating disease for which there is no currently
approved treatment. We look forward to finishing patient enrollment
in the higher-dose cohort of the European study in the first half
of 2023 and remain on track to announce data from the U.S. Phase
I/II study in the second quarter of 2023.”
“In the third quarter, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
completed site inspections of our Lexington, Massachusetts gene
therapy manufacturing facility, and we have since received good
manufacturing practice (GMP) certification from the European
authorities. This is an important milestone as we seek to establish
industry-leading commercial gene therapy manufacturing
capabilities. Our partner, CSL Behring, continues to interact with
U.S. and European health authorities as they complete their review
of the marketing applications for etranacogene dezaparvovec and,
assuming approval, we look forward to partnering with our
colleagues at CSL Behring to bring this potentially
transformational treatment option to people living with hemophilia
B.”
Recent Updates
- Advancing etranacogene dezaparvovec
for the treatment of hemophilia B
- In May 2022, the Company’s global
commercialization partner, CSL Behring, announced that the biologic
license application (BLA) for etranacogene dezaparvovec (AMT-061)
was accepted by the FDA for priority review. This followed the EMA
validation of the marketing application authorization (MAA) in
March 2022. In accordance with the Company’s commercialization and
license agreement, CSL Behring is solely responsible for all
regulatory activities, including any filings and agency
interactions associated with etranacogene dezaparvovec and the
companion diagnostic test for neutralizing antibodies to AAV5.
- In the United States, the BLA
remains under Priority Review with etranacogene dezaparvovec having
Breakthrough Therapy Designation. In July 2022, CSL Behring was
notified by the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) in Europe
that they will be unable to complete their review in accordance
with the accelerated assessment timetable and will switch to a
standard review procedure.
- In July and August 2022,
respectively, the EMA and the FDA conducted comprehensive,
multi-day, pre-approval inspections of the Company’s Lexington
manufacturing site. Following the inspection, EMA issued a GMP
certificate related to the production of commercial supply of
etranacogene dezaparvovec.
- Advancing AMT-130 for the treatment
of Huntington’s disease
- In October 2022, the DSMB reviewed
all available safety, biomarker and imaging data from the ongoing
Phase I/II clinical trials of AMT-130 and recommended resuming
treatment at the higher dose. As previously announced in August
2022, patient enrollment at the higher dose had been voluntarily
paused following the reporting of suspected unexpected significant
adverse reactions (SUSARs) in three patients shortly after they
received the higher dose of AMT-130. The SUSAR events in all three
patients have since fully resolved.
- The DSMB recommended implementing
additional risk mitigation procedures during the first two weeks
after the surgical administration of AMT-130, including a
seven-day, in-person post-surgical visit. The DSMB also made no
change to the treatment protocol regarding the use of
immunosuppression that will continue to be at the discretion of the
treating physician.
- The Company plans to resume patient
dosing in the open-label European clinical study as soon as
possible and complete enrollment in the first half of 2023. To
date, 10 patients have been treated in the European study,
including all six patients in the lower-dose cohort and four of
nine patients in the higher-dose cohort.
- The Company still plans to announce
one to two-years of follow up data from the U.S. Phase I/II
clinical study in the second quarter of 2023.
- All 26 patients have been enrolled
in the first two cohorts of the randomized, controlled and
double-blinded U.S. Phase I/II study of AMT-130, including 10
patients in the lower-dose cohort (6 treated patients and 4 control
patients) and 16 patients in the higher-dose cohort (10 treated
patients and 6 control patients). One control patient from the
higher-dose cohort was successfully crossed over to treatment in
the third quarter of 2022 and received the lower dose of
AMT-130.
- In June 2022, the Company announced
12-month follow-up data from the lower-dose cohort of the U.S.
Phase I/II study of AMT-130.
- The lower dose was generally
well-tolerated with no serious adverse events related to
treatment.
- In the four treated patients with
evaluable data from this cohort, mean levels of mutant Huntingtin
protein (mHTT) in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) declined at all
timepoints compared to baseline and decreased by 53.8% at 12 months
of follow-up.
- In the six treated patients in the
lower-dose cohort, measurements of neurofilament light chain (NfL)
in the CSF, a biomarker of neuronal damage, initially increased as
expected following the AMT-130 surgical procedure and declined
thereafter, nearing baseline at 12 months of follow-up.
- Progress towards 2023
Investigational New Drug (IND) Applications
- AMT-260 for the treatment of
refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (rTLE) – In July 2022, the
Company initiated an IND-enabling GLP toxicology study in non-human
primates to support an IND submission expected in 2023.
- AMT-191 for the treatment of Fabry
disease – In August 2022, the Company initiated a GLP toxicology
study of AMT-191 in non-human primates which is expected to support
an IND submission in 2023.
- The Company plans to host a virtual
investor event on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 to highlight the unmet
medical need of patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy and
its gene therapy candidate AMT-260, as well as advancements in
platform technology and AAV manufacturing capabilities.
- Strong cash position to advance the
Company’s programs
- As of September 30, 2022, the Company had cash and cash
equivalents of $440.3 million. The Company expects that its cash
and cash equivalents will fund operations into the first half of
2025 assuming the achievement of the first commercial sales
milestones under the CSL Behring Agreement.
Upcoming
Investor Events
• Stifel
2022 Healthcare Conference, Wednesday, November 16, 2022, New York,
NY • uniQure virtual investor event, Monday, November
29, 2022
Financial Highlights
Cash position: As of September
30, 2022, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of $440.3
million, compared to $556.3 million as of December 31, 2021.
Revenues: Collaboration revenue
for the three months ended September 30, 2022, was $1.4 million,
compared to collaboration revenue of $2.0 million for the same
period in 2021.
Cost of contract manufacturing:
Cost of contract manufacturing for the three months ended September
30, 2022, was $0.9 million compared to nil for the same period in
2021. Costs incurred in 2022 related to the manufacture of
etranacogene dezaparvovec for CSL Behring.
R&D expenses: Research and
development expenses were $48.1 million for the three months ended
September 30, 2022, compared to $36.4 million during the same
period in 2021. The increase was primarily related to an increase
in the fair value of contingent consideration associated with the
acquisition of Corlieve Therapeutics SAS, the preclinical
development of temporal lobe epilepsy (AMT-260), an increase in
facility-related expenses and an increase in disposable costs.
SG&A expenses: Selling,
general and administrative expenses were $13.3 million for the
three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $12.0 million
during the same period in 2021. The increase was primarily related
to the recruitment of personnel and contractor-related
expenses.
Other non-operating items, net:
Other non-operating income, net was income of $11.3 million for the
three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to other
non-operating income, net of $8.6 million for the same period in
2021. The increase in other non-operating income, net was primarily
related to an increase in net foreign currency gains of $3.9
million partially offset by an increase in interest expense related
to the long-term debt with Hercules Capital, Inc.
Net loss:The net loss for the
three months ended September 30, 2022, was $47.9 million, or $1.02
basic and diluted loss per ordinary share, compared to $36.5
million net loss for the same period in 2021, or $0.79 basic and
diluted loss per ordinary share.
About uniQure
uniQure is delivering on the promise of gene
therapy – single treatments with potentially curative results. We
are leveraging our modular and validated technology platform to
rapidly advance a pipeline of proprietary gene therapies to treat
patients with hemophilia B, Huntington's disease, refractory
temporal lobe epilepsy, Fabry disease, and other
diseases. www.uniQure.com
uniQure Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact
are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms
such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," “establish,” "estimate,"
"expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan,"
"potential," "predict," "project," “seek,” "should," "will,"
"would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are
based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information
available to management only as of the date of this press release.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
whether we will announce data from the U.S. Phase I/II study in the
second quarter of 2023, whether we are able to bring AMT-061 to
people living with hemophilia B and whether the treatment will be
transformational, whether we will resume patient dosing in the
open-label European study [in the fourth quarter of 2022] or
complete enrollment in the first half of 2023, whether we will
announce one to two-years of follow up data from the U.S. Phase
I/II study in the second quarter of 2023, whether we will file an
IND in 2023 for our rTLE program or for our Fabry program. The
Company’s actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons,
including, without limitation, risks associated with the impact of
the postponement in our clinical trial for Huntington’s disease,
the impact of financial and geopolitical events on our Company and
the wider economy and health care system, our Commercialization and
License Agreement with CSL Behring, our clinical development
activities, clinical results, collaboration arrangements,
regulatory oversight, product commercialization and intellectual
property claims, as well as the risks, uncertainties and other
factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s
periodic securities filings, including its Annual Report on Form
10-K filed February 25, 2022. Given these risks, uncertainties and
other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation
to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information
becomes available in the future.
uniQure Contacts:
FOR INVESTORS: |
|
FOR MEDIA: |
|
|
|
Maria E. Cantor |
Chiara Russo |
Tom Malone |
Direct: 339-970-7536 |
Direct: 617-306-9137 |
Direct: 339-970-7558 |
Mobile: 617-680-9452 |
Mobile: 617-306-9137 |
Mobile: 339-223-8541 |
m.cantor@uniQure.com |
c.russo@uniQure.com |
t.malone@uniQure.com |
|
|
|
uniQure N.V.UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
SHEETS |
|
|
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except share and per share
amounts) |
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
440,313 |
|
|
$ |
556,256 |
|
Accounts receivable and contract asset |
|
|
3,603 |
|
|
|
58,768 |
|
Inventories |
|
|
4,075 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
13,692 |
|
|
|
10,540 |
|
Other current assets and receivables |
|
|
2,894 |
|
|
|
2,675 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
464,577 |
|
|
|
628,239 |
|
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net |
|
|
47,886 |
|
|
|
43,505 |
|
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
|
|
27,804 |
|
|
|
25,573 |
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
|
53,837 |
|
|
|
62,686 |
|
Goodwill |
|
|
23,418 |
|
|
|
27,633 |
|
Deferred tax assets, net |
|
|
14,627 |
|
|
|
15,647 |
|
Other non-current assets |
|
|
6,085 |
|
|
|
5,897 |
|
Total non-current assets |
|
|
173,657 |
|
|
|
180,941 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
638,234 |
|
|
$ |
809,180 |
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
7,566 |
|
|
$ |
2,502 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
26,437 |
|
|
|
28,487 |
|
Current portion of contingent consideration |
|
|
23,537 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
|
|
6,434 |
|
|
|
5,774 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
63,974 |
|
|
|
36,763 |
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt |
|
|
102,394 |
|
|
|
100,963 |
|
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion |
|
|
29,893 |
|
|
|
28,987 |
|
Contingent consideration, net of current portion |
|
|
9,158 |
|
|
|
29,542 |
|
Deferred tax liability, net |
|
|
8,592 |
|
|
|
12,913 |
|
Other non-current liabilities |
|
|
3,053 |
|
|
|
4,236 |
|
Total non-current liabilities |
|
|
153,090 |
|
|
|
176,641 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
217,064 |
|
|
|
213,404 |
|
Shareholders' equity |
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders' equity |
|
|
421,170 |
|
|
|
595,776 |
|
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
|
$ |
638,234 |
|
|
$ |
809,180 |
|
uniQure N.V.UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
|
|
|
Three months ended September 30, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except share and per share
amounts) |
Total revenues |
|
$ |
1,449 |
|
|
$ |
1,989 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Cost of contract revenues |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Cost of contract manufacturing |
|
|
(861 |
) |
|
|
Research and development expenses |
|
|
(48,068 |
) |
|
|
(36,432 |
) |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
|
(13,324 |
) |
|
|
(12,023 |
) |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(62,253 |
) |
|
|
(48,455 |
) |
Other income |
|
|
1,485 |
|
|
|
1,680 |
|
Other expense |
|
|
(199 |
) |
|
|
(214 |
) |
Loss from operations |
|
|
(59,518 |
) |
|
|
(45,000 |
) |
Non-operating items, net |
|
|
11,332 |
|
|
|
8,558 |
|
Loss before income tax benefit / (expense) |
|
$ |
(48,186 |
) |
|
$ |
(36,442 |
) |
Income tax benefit / (expense) |
|
|
329 |
|
|
|
(89 |
) |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(47,857 |
) |
|
$ |
(36,531 |
) |
Earnings per ordinary share - basic |
|
|
|
|
Basic net (loss) per ordinary share |
|
$ |
(1.02 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.79 |
) |
Earnings per ordinary share - diluted |
|
|
|
|
Diluted net (loss) per ordinary share |
|
$ |
(1.02 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.79 |
) |
Weighted average shares - basic |
|
|
46,772,430 |
|
|
|
46,152,404 |
|
Weighted average shares - diluted |
|
|
46,772,430 |
|
|
|
46,152,404 |
|
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