On August 11, 2022 Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ABEO), a fully-integrated leader in cell and gene therapy, reported financial results for the second quarter of 2022 (Press release, Abeona Therapeutics, AUG 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234618149]). The Company will host a conference call and webcast today, August 11, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. ET, to discuss its financial results and business update.
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"We have taken decisive action to focus our resources on our lead asset EB-101, for which we expect pivotal Phase 3 VIITAL topline results in the coming months," said Vish Seshadri, Chief Executive Officer of Abeona. "With Ultragenyx assuming all financial responsibility for the continued development of ABO-102, we were able to extend our cash runway well beyond the VIITAL data readout. The additional runway puts us in a strong position to forge the optimal commercial partnership that fully appreciates the value of EB-101 post-data readout."
Second Quarter and Recent Operating Highlights
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. and Abeona entered into an exclusive license agreement for ABO-102 (now UX111) for Sanfilippo syndrome type A (MPS IIIA), under which Ultragenyx assumes responsibility for the ABO-102 program and in return Abeona is eligible to receive tiered royalties and commercial milestone payments following potential regulatory approval.
Topline data from the Phase 3 VIITAL study of EB-101 in RDEB is on track for late third quarter to early fourth quarter of 2022 upon completion of the last patient monitoring visit, which is expected by mid-September. Baseline wound characteristics underscore the large size and severe pain associated with wounds included in VIITAL. Treated randomized wounds had mean per patient body surface area of 156 cm2, the largest reported for pivotal studies in RDEB. Baseline pain reported for randomized wounds using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale of 0-10 further highlights the severity of these wounds, with eight of the 11 patients reporting a minimum pain score of 6 in at least one randomized wound and four of the 11 patients reporting a maximum baseline pain score of 10 for certain randomized wounds.
Additional long-term follow up data up to eight years and quality of life data from a completed Phase 1/2 study evaluating EB-101 for RDEB were presented at the Society of Investigative Dermatology (SID) Annual Meeting. The data showed EB-101 treatment of large chronic RDEB wounds resulted in considerable wound healing with mean 5.9 years of follow-up. In addition, reduced wound burden was associated with long-term symptomatic relief, including reduction in pain.
Reported non-human primate data for AAV204, a novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid from Abeona’s AIM capsid library, highlighting its ability to produce more robust transduction in the macula area of the eye following para-retinal administration, which unlike subretinal administration does not create a retinal detachment. The data was featured at the Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2022 Annual Meeting.
On July 19, 2022, Abeona received notice from Nasdaq that the Company has regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Second Quarter Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments totaled $26.0 million as of June 30, 2022. Net cash used in operating activities was $9.0 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $13.7 million in the first quarter of 2022.
License and other revenues in the second quarter of 2022 were $1.0 million, compared to nil in the second quarter of 2021. The revenue in the second quarter of 2022 resulted from a clinical milestone achieved under a sublicense agreement with Taysha Gene Therapies relating to an investigational AAV-based gene therapy for Rett syndrome, including certain intellectual property relating to MECP2 gene constructs and regulation of their expression.
Research and development (R&D) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022 were $6.7 million, compared to $8.5 million for the same period of 2021. General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $3.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $5.2 million for the same period of 2021.
Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the second quarter of 2022 was $12.1 million, or $2.08 loss per common share as compared to $15.2 million, or $3.93 loss per common share, in the second quarter of 2021.
Conference Call Details
Abeona Therapeutics will host a conference call and webcast today, August 11, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. ET, to discuss its financial results and business update. To access the call, dial 877-545-0523 (U.S. toll-free) or 973-528-0016 (international) and Entry Code: 857476 five minutes prior to the start of the call. A live, listen-only webcast and archived replay of the call can be accessed on the Investors & Media section of Abeona’s website at www.abeonatherapeutics.com. The archived webcast replay will be available for 30 days following the call.