Statistically Significant Reductions in Plasma Arginine with Accompanying Clinical Improvements with Pegzilarginase in Phase 1/2 Reaffirm Pivotal Trial Design
Gross Proceeds of $69 Million from February 2019 Public Offering Extends Cash Runway Through Q1 of 2021
Pivotal Phase 3 Trial of Pegzilarginase for ARG1-D on Track for First Patient Dosing During 2Q19
AUSTIN, Texas, May 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGLE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that engineers next generation human enzymes to provide solutions for diseases with unmet medical need, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 and corporate highlights.
“Aeglea built on its momentum from 2018 with a terrific start to the year, including the presentation of new compelling clinical data from the Phase 1/2 trial of pegzilarginase for Arginase 1 Deficiency,” said Anthony G. Quinn, M.B Ch.B, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer. “We see marked and sustained reductions in plasma arginine in all patients with clinically meaningful improvements in mobility and adaptive behavior. We believe the emergent data from this trial reaffirms the design of our upcoming pivotal Phase 3 PEACE trial, with first patient dosing on track for this quarter.”
Corporate Highlights
Pegzilarginase in Arginase 1 Deficiency: Continued progress towards commercialization of the Company’s lead program
Aeglea presented new positive Phase 1/2 data for pegzilarginase in patients with Arginase 1 Deficiency (ARG1-D) at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (SIMD). The oral presentation was delivered by Dr. George Diaz, M.D., Ph.D., Division Chief of Medical Genetics in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, and a Principal Investigator on the pegzilarginase Phase 1/2 trial. Highlights of the presentation included the following:
- Plasma arginine reduction was statistically significant (p<0.001) at eight weeks with sustained control through longer-term dosing.
- Five of five (100%) and eight of 14 (57%) patients showed overall clinical response (mobility or adaptive behavior) at 20 weeks and eight weeks, respectively. Clinical responses were effectively captured using mobility and adaptive behavior assessments.
- Pegzilarginase was generally well tolerated. Serious adverse events included hypersensitivity and hyperammonemia. Hypersensitivity reactions were infrequent, managed with standard treatment and did not lead to any patient discontinuations.
Upcoming Events
Aeglea will present at the following conferences, with details regarding the date and time of the presentations and webcasts to be announced prior to the events.
- Jefferies 2019 Healthcare Conference to be held June 4-7 in New York, NY.
- BMO 2019 Prescriptions for Success Healthcare Conference to be held June 25 in New York, NY.
First Quarter 2019 Financial Results
As of March 31, 2019, Aeglea had available cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $123.7 million. Based on Aeglea’s current operating plan, management believes it has sufficient capital resources to fund anticipated operations through the first quarter of 2021.
Research and development expenses totaled $14.4 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared with $6.9 million for the first quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to expanded clinical development activity, investment in manufacturing and pre-commercial activities for Aeglea’s lead product candidate, pegzilarginase, and a ramp-up in manufacturing activities for our Homocystinuria program.
General and administrative expenses totaled $3.3 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared with $2.9 million for the first quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily due to additional employee headcount and compensation to support company growth.
Net loss totaled $17.2 million and $8.1 million for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively, with non-cash stock compensation expense of $1.1 million and $0.8 million for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively.
About Pegzilarginase in Arginase 1 Deficiency
Pegzilarginase is an enhanced human arginase that enzymatically depletes the amino acid arginine. Aeglea is developing pegzilarginase for the treatment of patients with Arginase 1 Deficiency, a rare debilitating disease presenting in childhood with persistent hyperargininemia, severe progressive neurological abnormalities and early mortality. Pegzilarginase is intended for use as an enzyme replacement therapy in patients to reduce elevated blood arginine levels. Aeglea’s Phase 1/2 data for pegzilarginase in patients with Arginase 1 Deficiency demonstrated clinical improvements and sustained lowering of plasma arginine. The Company intends to initiate its single, global pivotal Phase 3 PEACE trial designed to assess the effects of treatment with pegzilarginase versus placebo over 24 weeks with a primary endpoint of plasma arginine reduction.
About Aeglea BioTherapeutics
Aeglea a clinical-stage biotechnology company that engineers next generation human enzymes with enhanced properties and novel activity to provide solutions for diseases with unmet medical need. Aeglea is developing pegzilarginase, its lead investigational therapy, for the treatment of Arginase 1 Deficiency and in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor for small cell lung cancer. In addition, Aeglea has an active pipeline of other human enzyme-based approaches including programs for both Homocystinuria and Cystinuria. For more information, please visit http://aegleabio.com.
Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what we expect. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our cash forecasts, the timing and success of our clinical trials and related data, the timing and expectations for regulatory submissions and approvals, the timing of announcements and updates relating to our clinical trials and related data, our ability to enroll patients into our clinical trials, success in our collaborations and the potential therapeutic benefits and economic value of our lead product candidate or other product candidates. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect our business and its financial results are detailed in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other reports as filed with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Media Contact:
David Calusdian
Sharon Merrill Associates
617.542.5300
AGLE@investorrelations.com
Investor Contact:
Joey Perrone
Director, Finance & Investor Relations
Aeglea BioTherapeutics
investors@aegleabio.com
Financials
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 85,645 | $ | 22,461 | ||||
| Marketable securities | 38,070 | 52,052 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 3,103 | 2,158 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 126,818 | 76,671 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 952 | 1,018 | ||||||
| Other non-current assets | 749 | 50 | ||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 128,519 | $ | 77,739 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 3,223 | $ | 663 | ||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 317 | — | ||||||
| Accrued and other current liabilities | 8,266 | 9,576 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 11,806 | 10,239 | ||||||
| Non-current operating lease liabilities | 372 | — | ||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 52 | 72 | ||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 12,230 | 10,311 | ||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 | — | — | ||||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; 28,837,352 shares and 24,140,097 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 250,301 | 184,314 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 13 | (27 | ) | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (134,028 | ) | (116,861 | ) | ||||
| TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | 116,289 | 67,428 | ||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | 128,519 | $ | 77,739 | ||||
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||
| Grant | $ | — | $ | 1,510 | ||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 14,389 | 6,870 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 3,268 | 2,885 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 17,657 | 9,755 | ||||||
| Loss from operations | (17,657 | ) | (8,245 | ) | ||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||
| Interest income | 507 | 143 | ||||||
| Other expense, net | (17 | ) | (17 | ) | ||||
| Total other income | 490 | 126 | ||||||
| Net loss | $ | (17,167 | ) | $ | (8,119 | ) | ||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.59 | ) | $ | (0.49 | ) | ||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 29,011,737 | 16,672,125 | ||||||