- $9 million Underwritten Public Offering Closed -
- Oral Bivalent Norovirus Vaccine Meets Primary and Secondary Endpoints in Phase 1b Study -
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vaxart, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines that are administered by tablet rather than by injection, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019 and provided a corporate update.
“The positive topline results from the Phase 1b clinical trial were a major milestone for the norovirus program,” said Wouter Latour, M.D., chief executive officer of Vaxart. “The vaccine was well tolerated and elicited robust mucosal responses in 90 – 93% of subjects for the new norovirus GII component, and 78 – 86% for the norovirus GI component. This data suggests that our oral norovirus vaccine is likely to provide mucosal immunity in the intestine, the actual site of norovirus infection. We believe this is the optimal approach to protect against norovirus disease and puts Vaxart in a unique position to develop an effective oral vaccine targeting an estimated $3+ billion US market.”
The CDC estimates that norovirus causes $60 billion in global healthcare related costs annually.
Vaxart plans to focus its efforts and resources on progressing the clinical development of its oral tableted bivalent norovirus vaccine. The Company will also continue the development of its first therapeutic vaccine targeting cervical cancer and dysplasia caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and explore opportunities to apply its VAASTTM oral vaccine platform for indications such as influenza and RSV.
Recent Corporate Highlights:
In mid-November, Vaxart will be hosting a Key Opinion Leader Meeting in New York City on the Health Economics of Norovirus.
Financial Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
About Vaxart
Vaxart is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing oral recombinant protein vaccines based on its proprietary oral vaccine platform. Vaxart’s vaccines are designed to generate broad and durable immune responses that protect against a wide range of infectious diseases and may also be useful for the treatment of chronic viral infections and cancer. Vaxart’s vaccines are administered using a convenient room temperature-stable tablet, rather than by injection. Vaxart believes that tablet vaccines are easier to distribute and administer than injectable vaccines and have the potential to significantly increase vaccination rates. Vaxart’s development programs include oral tablet vaccines that are designed to protect against norovirus, seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV). For more information, please visit www.vaxart.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding our strategy, prospects, plans and objectives, results from preclinical and clinical trials, commercialization agreements and licenses, beliefs and expectations of management are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as “believe,” “could,” “potential,” “will” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the Vaxart’s ability to develop and commercialize its product candidates and clinical results and trial data; Vaxart’s plans to start a phase 2 study with its bivalent norovirus vaccine in 2020; Vaxart’s expectations with respect to its collaboration with Janssen and the timing of expected results in 2020; Vaxart’s intention to continue its efforts to advance its oral tablet vaccines for seasonal influenza, RSV and HPV; the ability of Lonza Houston to supply vaccine for Vaxart’s planned Phase 2 bivalent norovirus vaccine study in 2020; and Vaxart’s expectations with respect to the important advantages it believes its oral vaccine platform can offer over injectable alternatives, particularly for mucosal pathogens such as norovirus, flu and RSV. Vaxart may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, expectations and projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that Vaxart makes, that Vaxart’s product candidates may not be approved by the FDA or non-U.S. regulatory authorities; that, even if approved by the FDA or non-U.S. regulatory authorities, Vaxart’s product candidates may not achieve broad market acceptance; that Vaxart may experience manufacturing issues and delays; and other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of Vaxart’s Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the SEC. Vaxart does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Contacts
Investors & Media
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Hans Herklots
t: +41 79 598 7149
e: hherklots@lifesciadvisors.com
Company Contact
Brant Biehn
Vaxart Inc
650 550 3500
IR@vaxart.com
Vaxart, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
September 30, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | (1 | ) | |||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||
Assets | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 19,558 | $ | 11,506 | |||||
Accounts receivable | 559 | 1,796 | |||||||
Prepaid and other assets | 1,282 | 1,446 | |||||||
Property and equipment, net | 1,469 | 1,066 | |||||||
Right-of-use assets, net | 2,301 | — | |||||||
Intangible assets, net | 17,526 | 19,413 | |||||||
Total Assets | $ | 42,695 | $ | 35,227 | |||||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | |||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 1,049 | $ | 962 | |||||
Accrued and other liabilities | 1,621 | 1,675 | |||||||
Liability related to sale of future royalties | 16,154 | 17,741 | |||||||
Secured promissory note | 2,454 | 3,611 | |||||||
Operating lease liabilities | 2,514 | — | |||||||
Total liabilities | 23,792 | 23,989 | |||||||
Stockholders’ equity | 18,903 | 11,238 | |||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 42,695 | $ | 35,227 |
(1) Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Vaxart, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2018, included on the Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2019.
Vaxart, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 454 | $ | 281 | $ | 5,946 | $ | 2,392 | ||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Research and development | 3,713 | 4,381 | 11,249 | 12,801 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative | 1,455 | 1,674 | 4,856 | 5,455 | ||||||||||||
Impairment charges | — | 106 | — | 1,706 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 5,168 | 6,161 | 16,105 | 19,962 | ||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (4,714 | ) | (5,880 | ) | (10,159 | ) | (17,570 | ) | ||||||||
Bargain purchase gain | — | — | — | 6,660 | ||||||||||||
Other income and (expenses), net | (515 | ) | (668 | ) | (1,783 | ) | (2,166 | ) | ||||||||
Provision for income taxes | (31 | ) | — | (294 | ) | (29 | ) | |||||||||
Net loss | $ | (5,260 | ) | $ | (6,548 | ) | $ | (12,236 | ) | $ | (13,105 | ) | ||||
Net loss attributable to common stockholders | $ | (5,260 | ) | $ | (6,548 | ) | $ | (12,236 | ) | $ | (13,444 | ) | ||||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.32 | ) | $ | (0.92 | ) | $ | (0.96 | ) | $ | (2.23 | ) | ||||
Shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted | 16,249,032 | 7,141,189 | 12,748,665 | 6,038,001 |