“Several months into UPLIZNA’s launch, we have gained valuable insights into how to meet our customer’s needs, which continue to evolve during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are encouraged by the increasing product uptake and our commercial team remains nimble in how we engage with individual practitioners and centers of excellence across the U.S.,” said
Added
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
UPLIZNA® (inebilizumab-cdon)
UPLIZNA® is a CD19-directed cytolytic antibody indicated for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in adult patients who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive.
- As part of its commercialization strategy for UPLIZNA®, Viela continues to focus on both centers of excellence and community neurologists throughout the
U.S. To date, UPLIZNA® has been prescribed to a mix of newly diagnosed patients and those experiencing an inadequate response to their current maintenance regimen. - Viela recently initiated a Phase 3 trial with inebilizumab in patients with myasthenia gravis, a chronic, rare autoimmune neuromuscular disorder which affects about 56,000 people in the
U.S. - Viela initiated a Phase 3 trial in patients with IgG4-related disease, a group of disorders marked by tumor-like swelling and fibrosis of affected organs.
- The Phase 2 trial for kidney transplant desensitization remains voluntarily paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Regulatory applications have been filed in several Asian countries based on results from the N-MOmentum study. If approved,
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) and Hansoh Pharma—Viela’s partners in Asia—will be responsible for commercializing inebilizumab in their respective territories, and Viela will be eligible for payments based on certain commercial milestones, as well as royalties on sales revenue.
VIB4920
VIB4920 is an investigational fusion protein designed to bind to CD40L on activated T cells, blocking their interaction with CD40-expressing B cells.
- Viela is currently conducting a Phase 2b trial with VIB4920 in Sjögren’s syndrome in addition to Phase 2 trials in patients with kidney transplant rejection and rheumatoid arthritis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new patient enrollment in the Sjögren’s syndrome and kidney transplant rejection trials had been voluntarily paused, but has recently resumed in both trials.
VIB7734
VIB7734 is designed to target and bind to ILT7, a cell surface molecule specific to pDCs, leading to their depletion. This depletion may also decrease other inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6, which are critical to the pathogenesis of a number of autoimmune diseases.
- Viela recently reported the final data from its Phase 1b trial with VIB7734 in an oral presentation during a late-breaking session at the
American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2020—a premiere medical conference for inflammatory disease research. The results confirmed previously reported data, demonstrating that VIB7734 effectively reduced blood and skin plasmacytoid dendritic cells, leading to reduced type I Interferon levels in the blood and inflamed skin of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). More CLE subjects treated with VIB7734 than placebo had a clinically significant improvement in CLASI-A scores—a scale that quantifies skin disease activity. Rates of adverse events were similar between VIB7734 and placebo groups. - Based on results from the Phase 1b study, Viela has selected systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as the lead indication of a planned Phase 2 trial, anticipated to initiate in H1 2021.
- Viela is currently enrolling patients into its Phase 1 study with VIB7734 for the treatment of COVID-19-related acute lung injury. Results from this study are anticipated in H1 2021, at which time the Company will decide whether to pursue additional clinical trials in this indication.
FINANCIAL RESULTS
- Total net product sales for the third quarter of 2020 were $2.3 million, resulting from sales of UPLIZNA®. The company did not generate product sales in the third quarter of 2019.
- For the third quarter of 2020, Viela reported a net loss of $37.6 million, compared to a net loss of $48.4 million for the third quarter of 2019. As of September 30, 2020, Viela had $387.5 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments and no outstanding debt. Research and development expenses were $26.0 million for the third quarter of 2020, which include $1.4 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expenses.
- Selling, general and administrative expenses were $14.0 million for the third quarter of 2020, which include $2.0 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expenses.
- Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2020 totaled $38.2 million, compared to $48.9 million for the third quarter of 2019. Non-cash share-based compensation expenses totaled $3.4 million for the third quarter of 2020, compared to $0.9 million for the third quarter of 2019.
Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss financial results and program highlights for the third quarter of 2020 today at 5:00 p.m. EST.
The webcast will be accessible on the Events & Presentations page of Viela Bio’s website. Individuals can participate in the conference call by dialing (877) 783-8848 (domestic) or (631) 350-0960 (international) and referring to conference ID #: 1237908.
The archived webcast will be available for replay on the Viela Bio website approximately two hours after the event.
About Viela Bio
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, prospects, plans, objectives of management; our expectations regarding the commercialization of UPLIZNA®; our belief that UPLIZNA® provides prescribing physicians an important new treatment option for patients living with NMOSD; our belief that UPLIZNA® could reduce attacks which can lead to devastating and irreversible disability in patients living with NMOSD; our estimate of the number of people in the U.S. suffering from NMOSD; our estimate of the percentage of patients with NMOSD that test positive for anti-AQP4 antibodies; statements regarding the timing and progress of our ongoing clinical trials with inebilizumab in additional indications, as well as the initiation, timing, progress and results of our completed, ongoing and planned clinical trials for our other product candidates; statements regarding the timing and potential approval of UPLIZNA® in countries outside
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||
Revenue: | |||||||||||||||
Product revenue, net | $ | 2,316 | $ | — | $ | 2,316 | $ | — | |||||||
License revenue | — | — | — | 20,000 | |||||||||||
Total revenue | 2,316 | — | 2,316 | 20,000 | |||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of products sold | 650 | — | 650 | — | |||||||||||
Research and development | 25,890 | 38,700 | 78,131 | 72,113 | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 13,995 | 10,230 | 43,685 | 24,575 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 40,535 | 48,930 | 122,466 | 96,688 | |||||||||||
Loss from operations | (38,219 | ) | (48,930 | ) | (120,150 | ) | (76,688 | ) | |||||||
Other income: | |||||||||||||||
Interest income | 574 | 520 | 2,871 | 1,829 | |||||||||||
Total other income | 574 | 520 | 2,871 | 1,829 | |||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (37,645 | ) | $ | (48,410 | ) | $ | (117,279 | ) | $ | (74,859 | ) | |||
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted | $ | (0.69 | ) | $ | (64.59 | ) | $ | (2.23 | ) | $ | (150.34 | ) | |||
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted | 54,760,381 | 749,539 | 52,583,103 | 497,924 | |||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | |||||||||||||||
Unrealized gains (loss) on marketable securities, net | $ | (302 | ) | $ | (30 | ) | $ | 348 | $ | (30 | ) | ||||
Total other comprehensive income (loss) | (302 | ) | (30 | ) | 348 | (30 | ) | ||||||||
Total comprehensive loss | $ | (37,947 | ) | $ | (48,440 | ) | $ | (116,931 | ) | $ | (74,889 | ) | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||
September 30, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 111,649 | $ | 200,851 | |||
Marketable securities | 273,534 | 113,945 | |||||
Accounts receivable, net | 2,507 | 30,000 | |||||
Inventory | 438 | — | |||||
Prepaid and other current assets | 14,944 | 6,242 | |||||
Total current assets | 403,072 | 351,038 | |||||
Marketable securities, non-current | 2,354 | 31,415 | |||||
Property and equipment, net | 1,933 | 1,499 | |||||
Capital lease assets | 965 | — | |||||
Intangible assets, net | 19,151 | — | |||||
Other assets | 122 | 102 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 427,597 | $ | 384,054 | |||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 5,083 | $ | 7,459 | |||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 10,752 | 9,192 | |||||
Related party liability | 4,638 | 12,892 | |||||
Capital lease liability - current | 186 | — | |||||
Total current liabilities | 20,659 | 29,543 | |||||
Capital lease liability - non-current | 788 | — | |||||
Total liabilities | 21,447 | 29,543 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) | |||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||
Preferred stock, as of | — | — | |||||
Common stock, shares issued and outstanding as of | 55 | 51 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 799,720 | 631,154 | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 353 | 5 | |||||
Accumulated deficit | (393,978 | ) | (276,699 | ) | |||
Total stockholders’ equity | 406,150 | 354,511 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 427,597 | $ | 384,054 | |||
Source:
Contacts: Investors: Solebury TroutChad Rubin 646-378-2947 crubin@soleburytrout.com Media: Solebury TroutAmy Bonanno 914-450-0349 abonanno@soleburytrout.com
Source:
2020 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source