Solid Biosciences Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
–IGNITE DMD clinical trial expected to resume dosing in the first quarter of 2021–
-Collaboration with Ultragenyx creates opportunities to develop additional gene therapies for Duchene muscular dystrophy-
– Enhanced cash position resulting from Ultragenyx collaboration and fund-raising activity expected to provide financial runway into the second half of 2021 –
– Conference call and webcast scheduled for
“With the FDA’s lifting of the clinical hold on the IGNITE DMD trial, we are well underway in completing the activities necessary to resume dosing, which we expect will occur in the first quarter of 2021,” said Ilan Ganot, Chief Executive Officer, President and Co-Founder of Solid Biosciences. “This important event and establishing a strategic collaboration with Ultragenyx to develop additional gene therapies for Duchenne mark important progress toward our goal of improving the lives of patients living with Duchenne. We are also increasing production of SGT-001 using our improved manufacturing process in support of dosing additional patients in 2021. Additionally, we strengthened our balance sheet with additional capital from the Ultragenyx collaboration and our recent at-the-market, or ATM, equity financing, both of which will support our planned clinical advancement of SGT-001.”
Recent Developments
- In
October 2020 , Solid announced that theU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted the clinical hold placed on the Company’s IGNITE DMD Phase I/II clinical trial. Solid expects to resume dosing in the clinical trial in the first quarter of 2021.- Solid implemented and shared with the FDA manufacturing process changes that remove the majority of empty viral capsids. The improved process is averaging approximately 90% full capsids, allowing target dosing to be achieved with fewer viral particles.
- Solid submitted data from a new, quantitative, in vitro microdystrophin expression assay that demonstrates comparability between SGT-001 manufactured by the two processes.
- Solid is reducing the maximum weight of the next two patients dosed to 18 kg. This reduction, in conjunction with the delivery of fewer viral particles as a result of the company’s manufacturing process improvements, will reduce patients’ total viral load while continuing dosing at the 2E14 vg/kg dose.
- Solid has amended the IGNITE DMD clinical protocol to include the prophylactic use of both anti-complement inhibitor eculizumab and C1 esterase inhibitor, and an increase in prednisone dose in the first month post dosing.
- Solid also provided the FDA with updated functional efficacy data (including 6-Minute Walk Test and North Star Ambulatory Assessment data) for all patients dosed to date in IGNITE DMD.
- In
October 2020 , Solid and Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (Ultragenyx) announced a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize new gene therapies for Duchenne. The parties will collaborate to develop products that combine Solid’s differentiated microdystrophin construct and Ultragenyx’s HeLa producer cell line (PCL) manufacturing platform for adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors using AAV8 variants. The goal of the collaboration is to expand the pipeline of potential gene therapies for patients living with Duchenne.- Ultragenyx made a
$40 million investment in Solid at a 33% premium. - Ultragenyx has also agreed to pay up to
$255 million in cumulative milestone payments per product upon achievement of specified milestone events, and tiered royalties on worldwide net sales. Upon achievement of proof-of-concept, Solid has the right to opt-in to co-fund collaboration programs in return for participation in a profit share or increased royalty payments. - Solid retains full rights to SGT-001 as well as the opportunity to establish additional partnerships around SGT-001 or the Company’s proprietary and differentiated microdystrophin construct outside of AAV8 variants.
- Ultragenyx made a
- In October 2020, Solid announced that it sold shares of its common stock pursuant to a sales agreement dated
March 13, 2019 , between the Company andJefferies LLC that resulted in gross proceeds of$23.9 million (ATM Sale).
Financial Highlights
Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were $16.0 million, compared to $22.8 million for the third quarter of 2019. Research and development expenses for the first nine months of 2020 were $49.2 million, compared to $67.7 million for the first nine months of 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in personnel and facility related expenses as a result of the restructuring that occurred in
General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were $5.2 million, compared to $6.9 million for the third quarter of 2019. General and administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2020 were $16.0 million, compared to $19.3 million for the first nine months of 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to decreased personnel costs and corporate expenses partially due to the restructuring that occurred in
Net loss for the third quarter of 2020 was $21.2 million, compared to $29.3 million for the third quarter of 2019. Net loss for the first nine months of 2020 was $66.9 million, compared to $85.4 million for the first nine months of 2019.
Solid had $24.8 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2020. The Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents, combined with proceeds of
Conference Call
Management will host a webcast and conference call to discuss Solid’s third quarter 2020 financial results and business update today,
A live webcast of the call will be available on the Company's website at www.solidbio.com under the “News & Events” tab in the Investor Relations section, or by clicking here. Participants may also access the call, by dialing 866-763-0341 for domestic callers or 703-871-3818 for international callers.
The archived webcast will be available for in the “News and Events” section of the Company's website.
About SGT-001
Solid’s SGT-001 is a novel adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated gene transfer therapy designed to address the underlying genetic cause of Duchenne. Duchenne is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene that result in the absence or near absence of dystrophin protein. SGT-001 is a systemically administered candidate that delivers a synthetic dystrophin gene, called microdystrophin, to the body. This microdystrophin encodes for a functional protein surrogate that is expressed in muscles and stabilizes essential associated proteins, including neuronal nitric oxide synthase nNOS. Data from Solid’s preclinical program suggests that SGT-001 has the potential to slow or stop the progression of Duchenne, regardless of genetic mutation or disease stage.
SGT-001 is based on pioneering research in dystrophin biology by Dr.
About Solid Biosciences
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the timing and ability of the Company to resume dosing and move the IGNITE DMD clinical trial forward, the safety or potential efficacy of SGT-001, the sufficiency of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents to fund its operations, potential milestone payments or royalty payments in connection with the Ultragenyx collaboration and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would,” “working” and similar expressions. Any forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the Company’s ability to resume and/or continue IGNITE DMD on the timeline expected or at all; obtain and maintain necessary approvals from the FDA and other regulatory authorities; obtain and maintain the necessary approvals from investigational review boards at IGNITE DMD clinical trial sites and the IGNITE DMD independent data safety monitoring board; enroll patients in IGNITE DMD; continue to advance SGT-001 in clinical trials; replicate in clinical trials positive results found in preclinical studies and earlier stages of clinical development; advance the development of its product candidates under the timelines it anticipates in current and future clinical trials; successfully optimize and scale its manufacturing process; obtain, maintain or protect intellectual property rights related to its product candidates; compete successfully with other companies that are seeking to develop DMD/Duchenne treatments and gene therapies; manage expenses; and raise the substantial additional capital needed, on the timeline necessary, to continue development of SGT-001, achieve its other business objectives and continue as a going concern. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the “Risk Factors” section, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors, in the Company’s most recent filings with the
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
|||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||
Research and development | 16,045 | 22,792 | 49,158 | 67,671 | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 5,181 | 6,925 | 15,957 | 19,317 | ||||||||||||||
Restructuring charges | - | - | 1,944 | - | ||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 21,226 | 29,717 | 67,059 | 86,988 | ||||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (21,226 | ) | (29,717 | ) | (67,059 | ) | (86,988 | ) | ||||||||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest (expense) income | (20 | ) | 406 | 131 | 1,281 | |||||||||||||
Other income | - | 56 | 1 | 345 | ||||||||||||||
Total other income (expense), net | (20 | ) | 462 | 132 | 1,626 | |||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (21,246 | ) | $ | (29,255 | ) | $ | (66,927 | ) | $ | (85,362 | ) | ||||||
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted | $ | (0.44 | ) | $ | (0.67 | ) | $ | (1.39 | ) | $ | (2.26 | ) | ||||||
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted | 48,295,468 | 43,467,618 | 48,172,686 | 37,727,640 |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||||
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 24,797 | $ | 76,043 | ||||||
Available-for-sale securities | - | 7,481 | ||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 2,365 | 2,778 | ||||||||
Total current assets | 27,162 | 86,302 | ||||||||
Property and equipment, net | 8,869 | 11,645 | ||||||||
Operating lease, right-of-use assets | 3,951 | 4,988 | ||||||||
Other non-current assets | 209 | 209 | ||||||||
Restricted cash | 327 | 327 | ||||||||
Total assets | $ | 40,518 | $ | 103,471 | ||||||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 4,083 | $ | 7,124 | ||||||
Accrued expenses | 8,550 | 9,178 | ||||||||
Operating lease liabilities | 1,930 | 1,736 | ||||||||
Finance lease liabilities | 202 | 186 | ||||||||
Other current liabilities | - | 52 | ||||||||
Total current liabilities | 14,765 | 18,276 | ||||||||
Operating lease liabilities, excluding current portion | 2,943 | 4,414 | ||||||||
Finance lease liabilities, excluding current portion | 579 | 733 | ||||||||
Total liabilities | 18,287 | 23,423 | ||||||||
Common Stock | 48 | 48 | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 405,389 | 396,278 | ||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | - | 1 | ||||||||
Accumulated deficit | (383,206 | ) | (316,279 | ) | ||||||
Total stockholders' equity | 22,231 | 80,048 | ||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 40,518 | $ | 103,471 |
Source: Solid Biosciences Inc.