Amicus Therapeutics Announces Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results and Corporate Updates


Important New Migalastat Data on Cardiac and Other Key Secondary Endpoints for Study 012 to be Presented At American Society of Nephrology Meeting on November 15

Migalastat Pre-Submission Meeting with European Regulators On Track for 4Q14

Conference Call and Webcast Today at 5:00pm ET

CRANBURY, N.J., Nov. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amicus Therapeutics (Nasdaq:FOLD), a biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of therapies for rare and orphan diseases, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014. The Company also provided program updates and reiterated full-year 2014 operating expense guidance.

"This was another strong quarter for Amicus and built upon the momentum we saw in the first half of the year," said John F. Crowley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. "We look forward to presenting additional important efficacy data for migalastat from Study 012 at the American Society of Nephrology meeting next week. We are now poised for critical and productive discussions with regulatory agencies as we work toward the commercialization of migalastat. Additionally, our next-generation ERTs continue to make excellent progress toward the start of clinical studies. We plan to provide additional updates on these programs before year-end."

Financial Highlights for Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2014

  • Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $85.2 million at September 30, 2014, which includes proceeds from the sale of shares under the 2014 ATM equity financing, compared to $82.0 million at December 31, 2013.
  • Total 3Q14 operating expenses increased to $17.1 million compared to $15.2 million for the third quarter of 2013 due to increases in research and development costs.
  • Net cash spend for 3Q14 was $15.2 million, compared to $13.7 million for the third quarter 2013.
  • Net loss was $17.1 million, or $0.22 per share, compared to a net loss of $14.6 million, or $0.29 per share, for the third quarter 2013.

2014 Financial Guidance

Amicus continues to expect full-year 2014 net cash spend of between $54 million and $59 million. The Company's balance sheet was strengthened with a $40.0 million ATM financing in which a total of 14.3 million shares were sold at various times during the second quarter and early third quarter of 2014. Including the proceeds from this financing, the current cash position is projected to fund Amicus' current operating plan into 2016.

Program Updates

Migalastat Monotherapy for Fabry Disease

Amicus is developing its wholly owned pharmacological chaperone migalastat HCl ("migalastat") monotherapy for the treatment of people with Fabry disease. As a monotherapy, migalastat is designed to bind and stabilize alpha-Gal A enzyme in patients with amenable mutations. Migalastat monotherapy is being investigated in two Phase 3 registration studies (Study 011 and Study 012) and an open-label extension study (Study 041) in Fabry patients with amenable mutations.

Positive Phase 3 Results from Study 011 Reported at American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting

In October 2014, positive results from Study 011 and Study 041 were presented in a poster at ASHG by Daniel G. Bichet, M.D., M.Sc., Professor, Department of Physiology, University of Montreal. Data presented showed that patients receiving migalastat for an average of 32 months showed continued stability of kidney function and compared favorably to published natural history1 in Fabry disease. Decline in kidney function is a key cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Fabry disease.

Positive Phase 3 Results Reported from Study 012

In August, Amicus reported positive 18-month data from its second Phase 3 study (Study 012) of migalastat in Fabry patients with amenable mutations. The study demonstrated comparability of migalastat to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) on both co-primary endpoints of kidney function (estimated GFR and measured GFR).

Data from Study 012 will be presented at a scientific congress for the first time at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2014 in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 15, 2014. The data will be in a poster entitled "Migalastat and Enzyme Replacement Therapy Have Comparable Effects on Renal Function in Fabry Disease: Phase 3 Study Results". This presentation will also include important new data on cardiac and other key secondary endpoints from Study 012.

Based on the positive results from Study 012, Amicus expects to submit a marketing application for migalastat monotherapy in Europe, and is scheduled to meet with the European Medicines Agency in the fourth quarter of this year. Amicus also plans to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the first quarter of 2015 to discuss the data from both Phase 3 Fabry monotherapy studies to determine the fastest U.S. registration pathway for migalastat.

Next-Generation Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) for Fabry Disease

Amicus is also developing a next-generation ERT (migalastat co-formulated with ERT) for Fabry disease. In combination with ERT, migalastat is designed to bind and stabilize the infused alpha-Gal A enzyme, independent of a patient's genetic mutation. Amicus has reported positive data from a Phase 2 clinical study (Study 013) of migalastat co-administered with currently approved ERTs for Fabry disease, as well as positive preclinical data of migalastat co-formulated with a proprietary investigational ERT for Fabry disease (JCR Pharmaceutical Co Ltd's JR-051).

Amicus has completed a successful Phase 1 study assessing the pharmacokinetics of an intravenous formulation of migalastat in healthy volunteers to identify the optimal dose for co-formulation with ERT. The Company has also completed manufacturing of drug supply of co-formulated JR-051. Amicus plans to begin a Phase 1/2 clinical study of its next generation ERT pending the outcome of ongoing business development discussions regarding potential future sources of Fabry enzyme for its product candidate. Amicus expects to provide further updates on the next-generation Fabry ERT development strategy by the end of 2014.

Next-Generation ERT for Pompe Disease

Amicus is advancing a wholly owned recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase (rhGAA) for Pompe disease into late preclinical development. This differentiated Pompe ERT, designated ATB200, has a unique carbohydrate structure and may be further optimized through co-formulation with a pharmacological chaperone to improve enzyme stability and tolerability, and by applying the Company's peptide tagging technology for better targeting. In preclinical studies, ATB200 has shown superior tissue uptake and activity, and superior substrate reduction, compared to current standard of care. Amicus has successfully completed scale-up activities to provide sufficient supply of ATB200 for IND-enabling toxicology studies, and the Company continues to expect to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical study in 2015.

Conference Call and Webcast

Amicus Therapeutics will host a conference call and audio webcast today, November 6, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss third quarter 2014 financial results and program updates. Interested participants and investors may access the conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET by dialing 877-303-5859 (U.S./Canada) or 678-224-7784 (international).

An audio webcast can also be accessed via the Investors section of the Amicus Therapeutics corporate web site at http://www.amicusrx.com, and will be archived for 30 days. Web participants are encouraged to go to the web site 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary software. A telephonic replay of the call will be available for seven days beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET today. Access numbers for this replay are 855-859-2056 (U.S./Canada) and 404-537-3406 (international); participant code 17044123.

About Amicus Therapeutics

Amicus Therapeutics (Nasdaq:FOLD) is a biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of therapies for rare and orphan diseases. The Company is developing novel, first-in-class treatments for a broad range of human genetic diseases, with a focus on delivering new benefits to individuals with lysosomal storage diseases. Amicus' lead programs in development include the small molecule pharmacological chaperone migalastat as a monotherapy for Fabry disease, as well as next-generation enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) products for Fabry disease, Pompe disease, and MPS I.

About Chaperone-Advanced Replacement Therapy (CHART)

The Chaperone-Advanced Replacement Therapy (CHART™) platform combines unique pharmacological chaperones with enzyme replacement therapies (ERTs) for lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). In a chaperone-advanced replacement therapy, a unique pharmacological chaperone is designed to bind to and stabilize a specific therapeutic enzyme in its properly folded and active form. This proposed CHART mechanism may allow for enhanced tissue uptake of active enzyme, greater lysosomal activity, more reduction of substrate, and lower immunogenicity compared to ERT alone. Improvements in enzyme stability may also enable more convenient delivery of next-generation therapies. Amicus is leveraging the CHART platform to develop proprietary next-generation therapies that consist of lysosomal enzymes co-formulated with pharmacological chaperones.

1Schiffmann et al., Nephrol Dial Transplant (2009) 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, and the accompanying conference call will contain, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to preclinical and clinical development of Amicus' candidate drug products, the timing and reporting of results from preclinical studies and clinical trials evaluating Amicus' candidate drug products, and the projected cash position for the Company. Words such as, but not limited to, "look forward to," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "potential," "plan," "targets," "likely," "may," "will," "would," "should" and "could," and similar expressions or words identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Amicus that any of its plans will be achieved. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this press release may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions Amicus might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. For example, with respect to statements regarding the goals, progress, timing and outcomes of discussions with regulatory authorities and the potential goals, progress, timing and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the business of Amicus, including, without limitation: the potential that results of clinical or pre-clinical studies indicate that the product candidates are unsafe or ineffective; the potential that it may be difficult to enroll patients in our clinical trials; the potential that regulatory authorities may not grant or may delay approval for our product candidates; the potential that preclinical and clinical studies could be delayed because we identify serious side effects or other safety issues; the potential that we will need additional funding to complete all of our studies and, our dependence on third parties in the conduct of our clinical studies. Further, the results of earlier preclinical studies and/or clinical trials may not be predictive of future results. With respect to statements regarding projections of the Company's cash position, actual results may differ based on market factors and the Company's ability to execute its operational and budget plans. In addition, all forward looking statements are subject to other risks detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Amicus undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 
Table 1 
Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
 (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
         
         
         
  Three Months   Nine Months
  Ended September 30, Ended September 30,
  2013 2014 2013 2014
Revenue:        
Research revenue $39 $293 $39 $1,224
Total revenue $39 $293 $39 $1,224
         
Operating Expenses:        
Research and development $10,110 $12,049 $32,824 $32,019
General and administrative 4,635 5,270 14,288 15,199
Changes in fair value of contingent consideration payable -- (600) -- (400)
Restructuring charges -- 15 -- (74)
Depreciation and amortization 429 375 1,318 1,183
Total operating expenses 15,174 17,109 48,430 47,927
Loss from operations (15,135) (16,816) (48,391) (46,703)
Other income (expenses):        
Interest income 36 55 147 133
Interest expense (7) (377) (26) (1,106)
Change in fair value of warrant liability 517 -- 874 --
Other expense -- (11)  -- (30)
Net loss  $ (14,589)  $ (17,149)  $ (47,396)  $ (47,706)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted  $ (0.29)  $ (0.22)  $ (0.96)  $ (0.68)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted 49,621,188 78,889,346 49,621,188 70,216,251
     
Table 2    
Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
     
     
     
  December 31, September 30,
  2013 2014
Assets:    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $43,640 $19,671
Investments in marketable securities 38,360 65,511
Receivable due from collaboration agreements 1,083 293
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,195 1,762
Total current assets 88,278 87,237
     
Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $9,973 and $11,157 at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2014, respectively 4,120 3,129
In-process research & development 23,000 23,000
Goodwill 11,613 11,613
Other non-current assets 552 508
Total Assets $127,563 $125,487
     
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $10,162 $11,331
Current portion of secured loan 299 2,493
Total current liabilities 10,461 13,824
     
Deferred reimbursements 36,677 36,677
Secured loan, less current portion 14,174 11,809
Contingent consideration payable 10,600 10,200
Deferred tax liability 9,186 9,186
Other non-current liability 714 514
     
Commitments and contingencies    
Stockholders' equity:    
Common stock, $.01 par value, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 61,975,416 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 79,257,588 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2014 679 853
Additional paid-in capital 423,593 468,650
Accumulated other comprehensive income 1 2
Accumulated deficit (378,522) (426,228)
Total stockholders' equity 45,751 43,277
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $127,563 $125,487

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