On track to file a U.S. Investigational New Drug (IND) application for THB335 and initiate clinical studies in 1H’24
Strong financial position with cash and cash equivalents totaling $273.9 million as of September 30, 2023
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Third Harmonic Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: THRD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing the next wave of medicine for inflammatory diseases, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.
“We continue to make important progress in advancing THB335, our orally available KIT inhibitor, towards clinical trials in the first half of 2024, which we believe has the potential to be a transformative treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria and other mast cell-driven diseases,” said Natalie Holles, Chief Executive Officer of Third Harmonic Bio. “With the continued momentum of THB335 and our strong cash position, we are well-positioned for meaningful value creation in the next phase of our company’s growth.”
Recent Corporate Updates
- With IND-enabling studies continuing to progress, the company is on track to file a U.S. IND and initiate a Phase 1 SAD/14-day MAD study of THB335 to evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics during the first half of 2024.
- Results from the truncated Phase 1b clinical trial of THB001 were presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Annual Congress during a poster session: A Phase 1b, Open-label Study in Patients with Cold Urticaria (ColdU) Using THB001, an Orally Available, Potent and Highly Selective Small Molecule Inhibitor of Wild Type KIT Receptor Tyrosine Kinase.
- On October 31, 2023, Third Harmonic Bio announced the transition of Adrian S. Ray, Ph.D., from Chief Scientific Officer to Scientific Advisor effective November 1, 2023. In his new role, Dr. Ray will continue support the IND application for THB335, which is expected to be filed during the first half of 2024. Additionally, the company announced that Robert Ho, Chief Financial Officer, is departing the organization on November 10, 2023. The company has initiated executive searches for their successors.
- The company retains a strong financial position with cash and cash equivalents totaling $273.9 million as of September 30, 2023, and continues to be operated in a capital efficient manner.
Summary of Financial Results
Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents totaled $273.9 million as of September 30, 2023. Based on the company’s current operating plan, Third Harmonic Bio believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least 2025.
R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses increased to $6.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $4.8 million for the same period in 2022. R&D expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased to $18.0 million, from $15.1 million for the same period in 2022. The increases were primarily due to increases in discovery and development and personnel-related costs relating to the research and nonclinical development of THB335 and other next-generation discovery efforts.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses increased to $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, from $3.8 million for the same period in 2022. G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 increased to $15.5 million, from $9.0 million for the same period in 2022. The increases were primarily attributable to increased costs associated with being a public company and personnel-related expenses.
Net Loss: Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2023 decreased to $7.3 million from a net loss of $8.2 million for the same period in 2022. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $24.0 million, compared to a net loss of $23.7 million for the same period in 2022. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily due to increases in R&D and public company costs, partially offset by increases in interest income.
About Third Harmonic Bio, Inc.
Third Harmonic Bio is a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing the next wave of medicine for inflammatory diseases through the development of novel highly selective, small-molecule inhibitors of KIT, a cell surface receptor that serves as the master regulator of mast cell function and survival. Early clinical studies demonstrate that KIT inhibition has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a broad range of mast-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases, and that a titratable, oral, intracellular small molecule inhibitor may provide the optimal therapeutic profile against this target. Third Harmonic Bio’s lead product candidate, THB335, is a titratable, oral, intracellular small molecule inhibitor expected to enter clinical trials during the first half of 2024. For more information, please visit the Third Harmonic Bio website: www.thirdharmonicbio.com.
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, including, but not limited to, the timing of filing a U.S. IND application for THB335, the expected timing for clinical activities, and the sufficiency of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least 2025. 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, including risks and uncertainties related to Third Harmonic Bio’s cash forecasts, ability to advance its product candidates, the receipt and timing of potential regulatory submissions, designations, approvals and commercialization of product candidates, our ability to protect our intellectual property, the timing and results of preclinical and clinical trials, changes to laws or regulations, market conditions, geopolitical events, and further impacts of pandemics or health epidemics, that could cause actual results to differ materially from what Third Harmonic Bio expects. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect Third Harmonic Bio’s business and its financial results are detailed under the heading “Risk Factors” included in Third Harmonic Bio’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 9, 2023, and in Third Harmonic Bio’s other filings filed from time to time with the SEC. Third Harmonic Bio undertakes 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.
Investor & Media Contact:
Lori Murray
lori.murray@thirdharmonicbio.com
THIRD HARMONIC BIO, INC.
Condensed consolidated balance sheet data
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
| December 31, 2022 | September 30, 2023 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 288,877 | $ | 273,892 | |||
| Other current assets | 3,958 | 2,837 | |||||
| Non-current assets | 5,840 | 5,521 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 298,675 | $ | 282,250 | |||
| Liabilities | |||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 5,653 | $ | 5,888 | |||
| Non-current liabilities | 3,954 | 3,403 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 9,607 | 9,291 | |||||
| Stockholders' equity | 289,068 | 272,959 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 298,675 | $ | 282,250 | |||
THIRD HARMONIC BIO, INC.
Condensed consolidated statements of operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of, except per share and share amounts)
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
| 2022 | 2023 | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||
| Research and development | $ | 15,150 | $ | 18,046 | |||
| General and administrative | 9,008 | 15,503 | |||||
| Total operating expenses | 24,158 | 33,549 | |||||
| Loss from operations | 24,158 | 33,549 | |||||
| Other (income) expense, net | (493 | ) | (9,561 | ) | |||
| Net loss | $ | 23,665 | $ | 23,988 | |||
| Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted | $ | 3.99 | $ | 0.61 | |||
| Weighted-average common stock outstanding, basic and diluted | 5,935,206 | 39,567,206 | |||||
