On March 18, 2021 ARCA biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABIO), a biopharmaceutical company applying a precision medicine approach to developing genetically targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases, reported 2020 financial results and provided a corporate update (Press release, Arca biopharma, MAR 18, 2021, View Source [SID1234576863]).

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Dr. Michael Bristow, ARCA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are currently actively enrolling patients in a Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating rNAPc2 as a potential treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who are at high risk for thrombotic complications, as indicated by elevated D-dimer levels, which are elevated in nearly 70% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. We believe rNAPc2’s combination of anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, give it the potential to be effective in addressing the impact of COVID-19 from multiple pathways. We look forward to sharing the trial results in the third quarter of this year. As a therapeutic aimed at a host response to a disease syndrome, we believe rNAPc2 has therapeutic potential for future viral outbreaks beyond the current pandemic, even after safe and effective vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 are successfully deployed."

Pipeline Update

rNAPc2 (AB201) – a small recombinant protein being developed as a potential treatment for RNA virus associated disease, initially focusing on COVID-19.

Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating rNAPc2 as a potential treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 initiated in December 2020.
Phase 2b topline data anticipated in the third quarter of 2021.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated the investigation of rNAPc2 as a potential treatment for COVID-19 as a Fast Track development program.
GencaroTM (bucindolol hydrochloride) – a pharmacologically unique beta-blocker and mild vasodilator being developed as a potential genetically-targeted treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF).

In February 2021, ARCA was issued a new patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for use of Gencaro in treating AF in the HF population that ARCA plans to enroll in Phase 3 development, a population that includes more than half of all HF patients in the United States and Europe and has few approved or effective drug therapies. The Company believes this patent would provide effective patent coverage in the United States into 2039. ARCA has filed similar patent applications in other countries.
The FDA has issued a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement for a single Phase 3 clinical trial (PRECISION-AF) to examine Gencaro as a genetically targeted therapy for the prevention of AF recurrence in certain heart failure patients. We continue to evaluate the feasibility and potential timing for initiation of PRECISION-AF relative to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability to recruit patients for a cardiovascular clinical trial.
Full Year 2020 Summary Financial Results

Cash and cash equivalents were $49.1 million as of December 31, 2020, compared to $8.4 million as of December 31, 2019. ARCA believes that its current cash and cash equivalents, together with the $23.3 million of net proceeds raised through February 2021 from sales of the common stock under the Company’s "at-the-market" offering, will be sufficient to fund its operations through 2022.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $1.8 million for 2019. The $3.2 million increase in R&D expenses in 2020 as compared to 2019 was primarily related to the initiation of the rNAPc2 clinical trial in the second half of 2020. R&D expenses in 2021 are expected to be higher than 2020, as the Company continues the rNAPc2 Phase 2b clinical trial.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $4.0 million for 2019, an increase of approximately $0.8 million. The increase in expenses during 2020 was comprised primarily of increased legal and professional costs, insurance costs and higher personnel costs in 2020, as compared to 2019. G&A expenses in 2021 are expected to be consistent with those in 2020 as the Company maintains administrative activities to support our ongoing operations.

Total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $9.8 million compared to $5.8 million in 2019.

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $9.7 million, or $2.07 per basic and diluted share, compared to $5.5 million, or $4.15 per basic and diluted share in 2019.