AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, April 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- uniQure N.V. (Nasdaq:QURE), a leader in human gene therapy, today announced unaudited results for the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2014, and provided an update on multiple gene therapy programs.
2014 and Other Recent Updates
Strategic Collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and uniQure announced today an agreement that provides Bristol-Myers Squibb with exclusive access to uniQure's gene therapy technology platform for multiple targets in the cardiovascular space. The collaboration includes uniQure's proprietary congestive heart failure program targeting S100A1, a calcium sensor and master regulator of heart function, and the companies will collaborate on up to nine other gene therapy targets addressing a broad range of cardiovascular disease and other target-specific disease areas.
Pipeline Updates
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Hemophilia B: As of the end of the first quarter 2015, the Company has initiated the first clinical trial site in Germany for its clinical trial in Hemophilia B patients and anticipates providing top-line data and initial results on this trial in the second half of 2015.
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Sanfilippo B: The Company expects clinical data from its collaborator-sponsored Sanfilippo B program with Institut Pasteur will be available in the second half of 2015 and plans to present those results at a relevant scientific meeting.
- Glybera®: In early 2016, the Company expects to commence an additional clinical evaluation of Glybera® (alipogen tiparvovec) to be included in a future BLA submission with the FDA. The clinical trial will include next-generation manufacturing process enhancements, which are currently being implemented.
In June 2014, uniQure presented six-year follow-up data with commercialization partner Chiesi from Glybera-treated patients. The analysis demonstrated that after a single administration of Glybera, patients have experienced reductions in both the frequency and severity of pancreatitis, long-term clinical benefits that reduce the burden on healthcare resources.
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Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP): In October 2014, the Company announced together with the AIPGENE Consortium top-line, one year follow-up analysis of a completed Phase I dose-escalation clinical trial testing an AAV5-PBGD gene therapy candidate (AMT-021) in AIP patients. The preliminary analysis of the data confirmed the safety and successful transduction of patient's liver cells with the porphobilinogen deaminase gene (PBGD) using uniQure's proprietary AAV5 viral vector, as previously indicated in the interim analysis presented in May.
- Parkinson's Disease: As of mid-year 2014, uniQure's partnership with UCSF and NIH for Parkinson's disease completed dosing of all six patients in the first cohort of the ongoing clinical trial.
Other Business Development and Commercial Updates
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Glybera Commercialization: uniQure's commercialization partner Chiesi has submitted price and reimbursement dossiers in key European countries in order to make Glybera accessible to patients. Glybera is officially available to doctors in Germany. The price has also been accepted by the Department of Health and published in the United Kingdom. In other key European countries the process is on-going according to national procedures. While Chiesi believes the first patient in Germany may receive treatment by mid-2015, the ultimate timing is subject to several factors including the treating physician's decision and relevant patient consent. Chiesi has sole control over commercialization in Europe, and given our limited visibility into these activities, uniQure will no longer provide guidance in this regard.
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Acquisition of InoCard: In August 2014, uniQure announced the acquisition of InoCard GmbH, an innovative, early-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of gene therapy approaches for cardiac diseases. InoCard has developed a novel gene therapy for the one-time treatment of congestive heart failure, a rapidly progressing disease affecting 26 million people worldwide. InoCard founders Prof. Patrick Most and Prof. Hugo Katus joined uniQure as Managing Director of uniQure Germany and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, for Cardiovascular Diseases, respectively.
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Collaboration with Treeway: In January 2015, uniQure entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Treeway B.V., a private company founded by entrepreneurs Bernard Muller and Robbert Jan Stuit, both diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, to develop a gene therapy treatment for ALS.
- Technology Platform Collaborations: In January 2014, uniQure entered into a collaboration and license agreement with 4D Molecular Therapeutics ("4D") for the discovery and optimization of next-generation AAV vectors. uniQure gained exclusive access to 4D's AAV vector discovery and optimization technology for gene delivery to the central nervous system and liver. The Company expects to make a preliminary selection of new synthetic vectors in the first half of 2015.
In January 2015, uniQure entered into a collaborative license agreement with Synpromics Limited to strengthen its technology platform with respect to therapeutic indications that require high-level therapeutic gene expression or comprise large therapeutic genes. uniQure will exclusively own the results of this collaborative effort.
Other Corporate Highlights
- Financial: In February 2014, uniQure completed IPO on NASDAQ, placing 5,400,000 shares at $17 per share, raising a total of gross $91.8 million (€67.3 million).
In July 2014, uniQure announced the closing of an additional $10 million venture debt loan with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.
- Human Resources: In January 2015, uniQure announced the appointment of Matt Kapusta to Chief Financial Officer.
In April 2014, uniQure announced the appointment of Eric Goossens as its Chief Operating Officer and Deya Corzo, M.D. as its Vice President, Medical Affairs for the U.S.
In June 2014, uniQure announced Will Lewis will join the Company's supervisory board.
- Infrastructure: As of early 2015, the Company completed the build out of the Lexington, Massachusetts 53,000 sq. ft. (4,923 m2) manufacturing facility which now houses over 40 employees.
Jörn Aldag, uniQure Chief Executive Officer, commented: "2014 was a highly productive year for uniQure. We secured a public listing on the NASDAQ stock market providing new resources, moved multiple promising programs forward, completed the build-out of our Lexington facility, which we believe is the largest, most versatile gene therapy manufacturing facility in the world, and generated promising data in our quest to bring gene therapies to patients around the world. We also gained access to new technologies for future programs and acquired InoCard to broaden the scope of gene therapy beyond monogenic orphan diseases."
"With the announcement of a landmark collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb in the field of cardiovascular disease and several important clinical data read-outs later in the year, we believe 2015 will be a transformation year for uniQure that will further solidify our leadership in the gene therapy space," Mr. Aldag continued.
Financial Highlights
As of December, 2014, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of €53.2 million. Licensing and collaboration revenues for the 12 months ended December 31, 2014 were €4.7 million, compared with €2.9 million in revenues in 2013. The majority of 2014 revenues are related to development activities that were reimbursable by Chiesi under the Company's co-development agreement for Hemophilia B.
Research and development expenses were €33.9 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2014, compared to €13.2 million for the comparable period in 2013. The increase reflects the higher level of research and development spend to support further development of the Company's product candidates.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were €11.2 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2014, compared to €11.6 million in 2013. The net loss for the full year 2014 was €37.0 million or €2.16 per share, compared to €26.8 million or €2.48 per share for the full year 2013.
For the three months ended December 31, 2014 the Company recorded licensing and collaboration revenue of €1.5 million compared with €0.9 million for the same period in 2013.
Research and development expenses were €9.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014, compared to €3.6 million for the comparable period in 2013. This change is in line with the increase in research and development for the twelve month period. Selling, general and administrative expenses were €3.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014, compared to €4.1 million in 2013. This decrease related to the expenses incurred in 2013 in preparation of the initial public offering. The net loss for the three month period ended December 31, 2014 was €11.2 million, compared to €6.8 million for the comparable period in 2013.
About uniQure
uniQure is delivering on the promise of gene therapy through single treatments with potentially curative results. We have developed a modular platform to rapidly bring new disease-modifying therapies to patients with severe disorders. We are engaged in multiple partnerships and have obtained regulatory approval of our lead product, Glybera, in the European Union for a subset of patients with LPLD. www.uniQure.com
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," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "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, statements regarding the commercial launch of Glybera in the EU, the risk of cessation or delay of any of the ongoing or planned clinical studies and/or development of our product candidates, the risk of delay or failure to successfully commercialize or obtain further regulatory approval of our products, and the risk that our collaborations or our other collaboration partners will not continue or will not be successful. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, risks associated with our clinical development activities, manufacturing processes and facilities regulatory oversight, product commercialization, intellectual property claims, and the risks, uncertainties and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in uniQure's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated April 25, 2014. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
uniQure:
Aicha Diba
Investor Relations
Direct : +31 20 240 6100
Main: +31 20 566 7394
a.diba@uniQure.com
Media inquiries:
Gretchen Schweitzer
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Direct: +49 172 861 8540
Main: +49 89 2424 3494 or +1 781 235 3060
gschweitzer@macbiocom.com
UNIQURE N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(€ in thousands)
| DECEMBER 31, | DECEMBER 31, | |||
| 2013 | 2014 | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Non-current assets | ||||
| Goodwill | - | 1,342 | ||
| Intangible assets other than Goodwill | 7,775 | 16,368 | ||
| Property, plant and equipment | 2,614 | 19,667 | ||
| Other non-current assets | 923 | 1,022 | ||
| Total non-current assets | 11,312 | 38,399 | ||
| Current assets | ||||
| Receivables from related parties | 1,425 | 2,426 | ||
| Trade and other receivables | 1,557 | 1,542 | ||
| Inventories | 865 | 200 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 23,810 | 53,219 | ||
| Total current assets | 27,657 | 57,387 | ||
| Total assets | 38,969 | 95,786 | ||
| Equity | ||||
| Share capital | 610 | 905 | ||
| Share premium | 142,459 | 206,111 | ||
| Other reserves | 6,536 | 17,149 | ||
| Accumulated deficit | (144,041) | (181,081) | ||
| Total equity | 5,564 | 43,084 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||
| Borrowings | 6,292 | 16,418 | ||
| Financial lease liabilities | 302 | 134 | ||
| Deferred rent | 680 | 5,658 | ||
| Deferred revenue | 15,679 | 15,387 | ||
| Deferred tax liabilities | - | 1,379 | ||
| Contingent considerations | - | 1,454 | ||
| Total non-current liabilities | 22,953 | 40,430 | ||
| Current liabilities | ||||
| Trade and other payables | 7,601 | 9,617 | ||
| Debt to related party - derivative | 722 | 645 | ||
| Borrowings | 633 | - | ||
| Borrowings - derivative | 217 | 207 | ||
| Deferred rent | - | 475 | ||
| Deferred revenue | 1,279 | 1,328 | ||
| Total current liabilities | 10,452 | 12,272 | ||
| Total liabilities | 33,405 | 52,702 | ||
| Total equity and liabilities | 38,969 | 95,786 | ||
UNIQURE N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(€ in thousands, except share and per share data)
| YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, | |||||
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||
| License revenues | - | 440 | 883 | ||
| Collaboration revenues | - | 2,503 | 3,802 | ||
| Total revenues | - | 2,943 | 4,685 | ||
| Cost of goods sold | - | (800) | - | ||
| Other income | 649 | 585 | 773 | ||
| Research and development expenses | (10,231) | (13,182) | (33,932) | ||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (4,564) | (11,628) | (11,167) | ||
| Other gains / (losses) - net | (45) | (453) | 5,807 | ||
| Total operating costs | (14,840) | (25,263) | (39,292) | ||
| Operating result | (14,191) | (22,535) | (33,834) | ||
| Finance income | 22 | 102 | 254 | ||
| Finance expense | (547) | (4,387) | (3,460) | ||
| Finance income/(expense)--net | (525) | (4,285) | (3,206) | ||
| Result before corporate income tax | (14,716) | (26,820) | (37,040) | ||
| Corporate income taxes | - | - | - | ||
| Net loss | (14,716) | (26,820) | (37,040) | ||
| Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss | - | 12 | 1,149 | ||
| Other comprehensive income | - | 12 | 1,149 | ||
| Total comprehensive loss | (14,716) | (26,808) | (35,891) | ||
| Loss per share attributable to the equity holders of the Company during the year: | |||||
| Basic and diluted loss per share | (1.70) | (2.48) | (2.16) | ||
UNIQURE N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity/Deficit
(€ in thousands)
| ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY | |||||||||
| Total | |||||||||
| Share | Share | Other | Accumulated | Total | |||||
| Capital | Premium | Reserves | Deficit | Equity/Deficit | |||||
| Balance at January 1, 2012 | 237 | 99,947 | 2,728 | (105,505) | (2,593) | ||||
| Result for the period | (14,716) | (14,716) | |||||||
| Capital contributions | 246 | 14,848 | 15,094 | ||||||
| Share-based payments relating to AMT share option scheme. | 259 | 259 | |||||||
| Adjustment to reserves on expiration of the AMT option scheme. | (2,987) | 2,987 | - | ||||||
| Share-based payment expenses relating to the uniQure share option scheme | 1,508 | 1,508 | |||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2012 | 483 | 114,795 | 1,508 | (117,234) | (448) | ||||
| Result for the period | (26,820) | (26,820) | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income | 12 | 12 | |||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | (26,808) | (26,808) | |||||||
| Capital contributions | 127 | 27,664 | 27,791 | ||||||
| Result on conversion of loan | 3,005 | 3,005 | |||||||
| Share based payment/expense | 2,023 | 2,023 | |||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2013 | 610 | 142,459 | 6,536 | (144,041) | 5,564 | ||||
| Result for the period | (37,040) | (37,040) | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income | 1,149 | 1,149 | |||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | 1,149 | (37,040) | (35,891) | ||||||
| Proceeds from shares issued | 295 | 64,320 | 64,615 | ||||||
| Share issuance costs | (668) | (668) | |||||||
| Share based payment/expense | 9,464 | 9,464 | |||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2014 | 905 | 206,111 | 17,149 | (181,081) | 43,084 | ||||
UNIQURE N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(€ in thousands)
| YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, | |||||
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |||
| Cash flow from operating activities | |||||
| Net loss | (14,716) | (26,820) | (37,040) | ||
| Adjustments for: | |||||
| Depreciation | 548 | 535 | 1,539 | ||
| Lease incentive | - | 134 | 5,452 | ||
| Derivative result | (22) | 2,113 | (87) | ||
| Derivative result arising on early conversion of loan | 464 | 1,333 | - | ||
| Exchange result | 45 | 49 | (4,692) | ||
| Other non-cash items | - | - | 153 | ||
| Share-based expenses | 1,767 | 2,023 | 9,464 | ||
| Changes in other non-current assets | - | (923) | - | ||
| Changes in trade and other receivables | 243 | (1,439) | (952) | ||
| Movement in inventories | - | (865) | 664 | ||
| Changes in trade and other payables | 180 | 359 | (989) | ||
| Changes in deferred revenue and provisions | - | 16,958 | (242) | ||
| Movement in other liabilities | 161 | 2,052 | 1,068 | ||
| Interest (income) / expense | 61 | 1,244 | 1,461 | ||
| Cash used in operations | (11,269) | (3,247) | (24,201) | ||
| Interest paid | (8) | (889) | (1,224) | ||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (11,277) | (4,136) | (25,425) | ||
| Cash flow from investing activities | |||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (392) | (1,336) | (15,769) | ||
| Purchases of intangible assets | (553) | (4,652) | (3,367) | ||
| Interest received | 113 | 17 | 148 | ||
| Acquisition of businesses | - | - | (1,463) | ||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (832) | (5,971) | (20,451) | ||
| Cash flow from financing activities | |||||
| Capital contribution from shareholders | 9,774 | 14,294 | - | ||
| Proceeds from shares issued | - | - | 63,097 | ||
| Share issuance cost | - | - | (668) | ||
| Convertible loans drawn down | 1,498 | 11,999 | - | ||
| Proceeds from borrowings | - | 7,492 | 7,184 | ||
| Redemption of financial lease | - | (143) | (156) | ||
| Net cash generated from financing activities | 11,272 | 33,642 | 69,457 | ||
| Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and other bank overdrafts | (837) | 23,535 | 23,581 | ||
| Currency effect cash and cash equivalents | - | 12 | 5,828 | ||
| Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at beginning of the period | 1,100 | 263 | 23,810 | ||
| Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at end of the period | 263 | 23,810 | 53,219 | ||
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