On February 27, 2025 Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024, and provided a business update (Press release, Altimmune, FEB 27, 2025, View Source [SID1234650726]).
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"2024 was a year of important progress for Altimmune as we continued to advance pemvidutide in multiple indications," said Vipin K. Garg, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Altimmune. "As announced previously, we completed enrollment of the IMPACT Phase 2b trial of pemvidutide in MASH and are on track to report top-line data in the second quarter of 2025. IMPACT was one of the fastest enrolling biopsy-driven Phase 2b MASH trials, which we believe reflects the attractiveness of pemvidutide to patients and providers, specifically the compound’s potent reduction of both liver fat and body weight. Based on the totality of the data generated to date, including multiple non-invasive biomarkers of liver inflammation and fibrosis, we are confident that pemvidutide will achieve statistically significant improvements in biopsy endpoints, both MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement, at trial readout. We anticipate holding an end-of-Phase 2 meeting with FDA by the end of 2025 to gain alignment on the registrational Phase 3 program."
Dr. Garg continued, "In-line with our previously stated plan, we submitted INDs for two additional indications in Q4 2024, and I am excited to report that both have received FDA clearance, and we are on track to initiate Phase 2 efficacy studies mid-2025. We look forward to providing information on these additional indications and our development plans during the upcoming virtual R&D Day on March 13. We believe that these indications reinforce our vision for the broad therapeutic utility of pemvidutide."
Recent Highlights and Anticipated Milestones
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)
IMPACT, the Company’s biopsy-driven Phase 2b trial of pemvidutide in MASH, is on track for top-line data readout in Q2 2025
IMPACT is evaluating the efficacy and safety of pemvidutide in approximately 190 subjects with biopsy-confirmed MASH.
With a successful readout from IMPACT, pemvidutide would be the first incretin to achieve statistical significance on MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement at only 24 weeks of treatment, and the first therapy in any class to achieve these endpoints along with meaningful weight loss at this timepoint.
Additional Indications for Pemvidutide
The Company submitted IND applications for pemvidutide in two additional indications at the end of 2024, both of which have been cleared by FDA
Phase 2 trials in additional indications are expected to initiate in mid-2025.
R&D Day March 13, 2025
Altimmune will hold a virtual R&D Day on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 12:00pm Eastern Time
The program will feature presentations on pemvidutide development from Company management and key opinion leaders in obesity, MASH and the two additional indications which will be disclosed during the event.
Details of the R&D Day, including registration information, are available at View Source Additional information related to the event will be posted to this site.
Corporate Update
The Company strengthened its Board of Directors with the appointments of pharmaceutical industry veterans Teri Lawver and Jerry Durso
Ms. Lawver has nearly 30 years of experience spanning pharmaceuticals, medical devices and consumer health technology. She most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Dexcom. Previously she served for over 20 years at Johnson & Johnson in various leadership roles, including as Global Vice President for the Cardiovascular & Metabolism therapeutic area and Worldwide Vice President for the Immunology business at Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Mr. Durso brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the life sciences industry, most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer at Intercept Pharmaceuticals where he built a successful rare liver disease franchise and ultimately led the Company through its acquisition by Alfasigma. Prior to Intercept, he spent over two decades in a variety of leadership roles at Sanofi, including Chief Commercial Officer for its U.S. Pharmaceuticals business.
Financial Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2024
Altimmune reported cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $131.9 million on December 31, 2024.
Research and development expenses were $19.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $16.9 million in the same period in 2023. The expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, included $13.6 million in direct costs related to development activities for pemvidutide.
General and administrative expenses were $5.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $4.3 million in the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in stock compensation.
Interest income was $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to $2.0 million for the same period in 2023.
Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2024, was $23.2 million, or $0.33 net loss per share, compared to a net loss of $31.6 million, or $0.54 net loss per share, in the same period in 2023. The net loss for 2023 included the $12.4 million noncash impairment charge related to the discontinuation of development of HepTcell.
Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024
Research and development expenses were $82.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $65.8 million in the same period in 2023. The expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, included $53.3 million in direct costs related to development activities for pemvidutide and $1.3 million in initial costs for additional research and discovery projects.
General and administrative expenses were $21.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $18.1 million in the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to a $2.7 million increase in stock compensation and other labor-related expenses, including the $1.0 million increase in stock compensation expense caused by modifications of stock awards.
Interest income was $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $7.4 million for the same period in 2023.
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $95.1 million, or $1.34 net loss per share, compared to a net loss of $88.4 million, or $1.66 net loss per share, in the same period in 2023. The net loss for 2023 included the $12.4 million noncash impairment charge related to the discontinuation of development of HepTcell.
Conference Call Information:
Date: February 27, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Webcast: To listen, the conference call will be webcast live on Altimmune’s Investor Relations website at View Source
Dial-in: To participate or dial-in, register here to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call.
Following the conclusion of the call, the webcast will be available for replay on the Investor Relations (IR) page of the Company’s website at www.altimmune.com. The Company has used, and intends to continue to use, the IR portion of its website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
About Pemvidutide
Pemvidutide is a novel, investigational, peptide-based GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist in development for the treatment of obesity and MASH. Activation of the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors is believed to mimic the complementary effects of diet and exercise on weight loss, with GLP-1 suppressing appetite and glucagon increasing energy expenditure. Glucagon is also recognized as having direct effects on hepatic fat metabolism, which is believed to lead to rapid reductions in levels of liver fat and serum lipids. In clinical trials to date, once-weekly pemvidutide has demonstrated compelling weight loss with class-leading lean mass preservation, and robust reductions in triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, liver fat content and blood pressure. The U.S. FDA has granted Fast Track designation to pemvidutide for the treatment of MASH. Pemvidutide recently completed the MOMENTUM Phase 2 obesity trial and is being studied in the ongoing IMPACT Phase 2b MASH trial.