On February 25, 2020 Allakos Inc. (the Company) (Nasdaq: ALLK), a biotechnology company developing antolimab (AK002) for the treatment of eosinophil and mast cell related diseases, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019 and provided an update of its ongoing and planned development activities (Press release, Allakos, FEB 25, 2020, View Source [SID1234554717]).

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2019 Accomplishments

Reported positive results from ENIGMA, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study using antolimab (AK002) in patients with Eosinophilic Gastritis (EG) and/or Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis (EGE). The study met all prespecified primary and secondary endpoints.
Podium presentations of the ENIGMA study results were made at the 2019 United European Gastroenterology Week (Barcelona, Spain; October 2019) by Dr. Joseph Murray, MD and at the 2019 American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting (San Antonio, Texas; October 2019) by Dr. Evan Dellon, MD, MPH.
Reported positive topline results with antolimab (AK002) in three open-label studies in patients with Chronic Urticaria (CU), Severe Allergic Conjunctivitis (SAC) and Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis (ISM). In these studies, antolimab (AK002) depleted blood eosinophils and improved patient and physician reported symptoms.
Closed an underwritten public offering in August 2019, issuing 5,227,272 shares of common stock at an offering price of $77.00 per share. Aggregated net proceeds received from the offering were approximately $377.5 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.
Granted orphan drug designation in October 2019 from the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) with antolimab (AK002).
Upcoming 2020 Milestones

Initiation of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study using antolimab (AK002) in patients with EG and/or EGE in the first quarter 2020.
Initiation of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2/3 study using antolimab (AK002) in patients with EoE in the first quarter 2020.
Clinical safety and efficacy results from a six-month, open-label Phase 1 study using antolimab (AK002) in patients with Mast Cell Gastrointestinal Disease (MGID) in the first quarter of 2020.
Clinical safety and efficacy results from the open-label, long-term extension component of the ENIGMA study in patients with EG and/or EGE in the first half of 2020.
Completion of a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a subcutaneous formulation of antolimab (AK002) in the second half of 2020.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results

Research and development expenses were $16.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared to $11.0 million in the same period in 2018, an increase of $5.6 million. Research and development expenses were $61.9 million for the full year 2019 as compared to $33.3 million in the same period in 2018, an increase of $28.6 million.

General and administrative expenses were $10.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared to $4.5 million in the same period in 2018, an increase of $5.8 million. General and administrative expenses were $29.6 million for the full year 2019 as compared to $12.4 million in the same period in 2018, an increase of $17.2 million.

Allakos reported a net loss of $24.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared to $14.5 million in the same period in 2018, an increase of $10.1 million. Net loss per basic and diluted share was $0.51 for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $0.35 in the same period in 2018. For the full year 2019, net loss was $85.4 million and net loss per basic and diluted share was $1.89 compared to $43.5 million and $2.20, respectively, for the same period in 2018.

Allakos ended fiscal year 2019 with $495.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.