Prothena Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Provides R&D Update

• Net cash used in operating and investing activities was $31.8 million in the first quarter; quarter-end cash and restricted cash position of $433.1 million supports advancement through key milestones of R&D pipeline
• Entered into global neuroscience research & development collaboration with Celgene to advance novel therapies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases
• Initiated a first-in-human study of PRX004 in patients with ATTR amyloidosis

DUBLIN, Ireland, May 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prothena Corporation plc (NASDAQ:PRTA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies in the neuroscience and orphan categories, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2018. In addition, the Company provided an update on its R&D programs.

“We are moving several programs in our clinical and discovery pipeline forward and have recently initiated a Phase 1 study of PRX004 in patients with ATTR amyloidosis,” said Gene Kinney, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Prothena. “Through our recently announced neuroscience R&D collaboration with Celgene, we are advancing three discovery programs that target a broad range of neurodegenerative diseases. While we recently discontinued development of NEOD001, we remain focused on pursuing new and better treatment options for patients through a scientifically rigorous approach in our research and development efforts.”

First Quarter 2018 and Recent Highlights:

• Entered into a global neuroscience research & development collaboration with Celgene Corporation to develop new therapies for a broad range of neurodegenerative diseases. The collaboration is focused on three targets implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, inducing tau, TDP-43 and a third that is undisclosed. Prothena received a $100 million upfront payment and a $50 million equity investment by Celgene and is eligible to receive future potential exercise payments and regulatory and commercial milestones for each licensed program. Prothena is also eligible to receive additional royalties on net sales of any resulting marketed products.
  
  
• Presented a broad range of scientific and health outcomes data in oral and poster presentations at the 16^th International Symposium on Amyloidosis (ISA). New research was presented at ISA relating to PRX004 for the potential treatment of ATTR amyloidosis, including a proprietary mis-TTR assay developed to measure the misfolded forms of transthyretin (TTR) protein present in plasma of patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis, as well as preclinical research demonstrating that conformation-specific antibodies target misfolded TTR and induce immune mediated clearance through phagocytosis.
  
  
• Announced the discontinuation of development of NEOD001, an investigational antibody that was being evaluated for the treatment of AL amyloidosis. The decision was based on results from the Phase 2b PRONTO study and a futility analysis of the Phase 3 VITAL study.
  
  
• Achieved first-in-human dosing in a Phase 1 clinical study of PRX004 in patients with ATTR amyloidosis. PRX004 is an investigational antibody designed to target and clear the pathogenic, misfolded forms of the TTR protein found in ATTR amyloidosis without affecting the native, or normal tetrameric form of the protein. The Phase 1 study will evaluate PRX004 in patients with ATTR amyloidosis to inform possible future studies and will include the use of Prothena’s propriety mis-TTR assay as a pharmacodynamic measure of the levels of misfolded TTR species in plasma across multiple hereditary TTR mutations.

Upcoming Research and Development Milestones

PRX002/RG7935

• The Phase 2 PASADENA study, initiated in the second quarter of 2017, continues to enroll patients with early Parkinson's disease

PRX004

• The Phase 1 study of PRX004, initiated in the second quarter of 2018, continues to enroll patients with ATTR amyloidosis, and preliminary data from this study is expected in 2019

First Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Updated 2018 Financial Guidance

Prothena reported a net loss of $48.7 million for the first quarter of 2018, as compared to a net loss of $35.4 million for the first quarter of 2017. Net loss per share for the first quarter of 2018 was $1.26, as compared to a net loss per share of $0.99 for the first quarter of 2017.

Prothena reported total revenue of $0.2 million for the first quarter of 2018, as compared to total revenue of $0.3 million for the first quarter of 2017 from our collaboration with Roche.

Research and development (R&D) expenses totaled $34.7 million for the first quarter of 2018, as compared to $25.7 million for the first quarter of 2017. The increase in R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to higher consulting expenses, higher personnel costs, higher expense associated with PRX002/RG7935 and to a lesser extent higher clinical trial costs partially offset by lower product manufacturing expenses. R&D expenses included non-cash share-based compensation expense of $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2018, as compared to $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2017.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses totaled $14.2 million for the first quarter of 2018, as compared to $10.8 million for the first quarter of 2017. The increase in G&A expenses for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to higher personnel costs and to a lesser extent higher legal expense. G&A expenses included non-cash share-based compensation expense of $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2018, as compared to $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Total non-cash share-based compensation expense was $6.9 million for the first quarter of 2018, as compared to $5.6 million for the first quarter of 2017.

As of March 31, 2018, Prothena had $433.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and no debt.

As of April 20, 2018, Prothena had approximately 39.8 million ordinary shares outstanding.

With the recent discontinuation of the NEOD001 program, the Company is assessing its resources relative to its current pipeline and is developing a reorganization plan. It expects to provide an update during the second quarter on reorganization plans and financial guidance for 2018.

About Prothena

Prothena Corporation plc is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies in the neuroscience and orphan categories. Fueled by its deep scientific understanding built over decades of research in protein misfolding, Prothena seeks to fundamentally change the course of progressive, life-threatening diseases associated with this biology. Prothena is advancing a pipeline of antibody therapeutic candidates for a number of indications and novel targets including Parkinson's disease and other related synucleinopathies (PRX002/RG7935) and ATTR amyloidosis (PRX004), as well as tau, Aβ (Amyloid beta) and TDP-43 where its scientific understanding of disease pathology can be leveraged. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.prothena.com and follow us @ProthenaCorp.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to, among other things, the sufficiency of our cash to support advancement of our R&D pipeline through key milestones; our goal of moving several programs in our clinical and discovery pipeline forward, including those under our collaboration with Celgene; amounts we might receive under our collaboration with Celgene; our focus on pursuing new and better treatment options for patients; the design, proposed mechanism of action and potential therapeutic benefits of PRX004; the objective and design of the Phase 1 study of PRX004; the intended use of our proprietary assay as a pharmacodynamic measure across multiple hereditary TTR mutations; the expected timing of having data from the Phase 1 study of PRX004; the possibility of further studies of PRX004; enrollment in the Phase 2 study of PRX002; and our plan and timing to develop a reorganization plan and provide an update on that plan and financial guidance for 2018. These statements are based on estimates, projections and assumptions that may prove not to be accurate, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the “Risk Factors” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 26, 2018 and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. Prothena undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in Prothena's expectations.

PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC
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Media and Investor Contact:

Ellen Rose, Head of Communications
650-922-2405, ellen.rose@prothena.com