On March 26, 2019 Arvinas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARVN), a biopharmaceutical company creating a new class of therapies that degrade disease-causing proteins, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Arvinas, MAR 26, 2019, View Source [SID1234534623]).
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"Since our founding in 2013, Arvinas has been focused on leading and advancing the field of targeted protein degradation and we are proud of our progress to date. 2018 was a transition year for Arvinas with preparations for moving into the clinic with our two lead programs. The hard work and dedication of our team recently enabled us to initiate patient dosing in our first Phase 1 clinical trial of ARV-110, our oral androgen receptor (AR)-targeted PROTAC protein degrader for the treatment of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer," said John Houston, Ph.D., President and CEO of Arvinas. "We believe ARV-110 is the first in this new class of targeted protein degraders to enter human clinical trials, and we anticipate bringing ARV-471, an estrogen receptor (ER)-targeted PROTAC protein degrader for the treatment of women with locally advanced or metastatic ER+ / HER2- breast cancer, into the clinic in the third quarter of 2019."
"While our initial clinical programs will be in oncology, this is just the beginning for Arvinas. There are many protein targets for which our PROTAC technology may be advantageous, including ‘undruggable’ targets. We are moving into new and exciting therapeutic areas, developing new PROTAC protein degraders against neurodegenerative targets such as tau, which is implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease. We have engineered targeted PROTAC protein degraders that, in preclinical studies, have achieved blood-brain barrier penetration, a key step in developing drugs with the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases," continued Dr. Houston.
Business Highlights and Recent Developments
Initiated patient dosing in the first Phase 1 clinical trial of ARV-110, which will evaluate the safety and tolerability of ARV-110 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have progressed on standard of care therapies. Arvinas believes ARV-110 is the first in a new class of targeted protein degraders to enter human clinical trials and anticipates preliminary data from the study in the second half of 2019.
Completed an initial public offering ("IPO") in October 2018, issuing an aggregate of 7,700,482 shares of common stock, including 200,482 additional shares of common stock upon the exercise in part by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares at a public offering price of $16.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $123.2 million.
Closed a $55 million Series C financing in March 2018. The financing was led by new investor Nextech Invest, with participation from additional new investors Deerfield Management, and Hillhouse Capital. All existing investors also participated in this financing round, including Canaan Partners, 5AM Ventures, RA Capital Management, OrbiMed, and New Leaf Venture Partners.
Presented positive preclinical data, at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) on ARV-471, a PROTAC protein degrader for the degradation of the estrogen receptor (ER), which demonstrated:
Potent ER degradation in wild-type and mutant ER-expressing cell lines
Tumor shrinkage after oral administration in an orthotopic MCF7 breast cancer xenograft model, accompanied by near-complete ER degradation
More robust tumor growth inhibition and ER degradation compared to fulvestrant, a standard of care agent
Significant tumor regressions when combined with a CDK4/6 inhibitor and overall superior anti-tumor activity when compared to the combination of fulvestrant and a CDK4/6 inhibitor
Tumor growth inhibition of tamoxifen-resistant and ER gene (ESR1) mutant tumors while also reducing tumor ER levels
No ER agonist activity
Anticipated Milestones and Expectations
Disclose preliminary data from the Phase 1 clinical trial of ARV-110 in the second half of 2019.
Initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of ARV-471 in women with locally advanced or metastatic ER+ positive / HER2- negative breast cancer in the third quarter of 2019 and collect preliminary clinical data in 2020.
Present preclinical data from our tau program in the second half of 2019.
Financial Guidance
Based on its current operating plan, Arvinas expects its cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2018 will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the first half of 2021.
Full Year and Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Position: As of December 31, 2018, cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $187.8 million as compared to $39.2 million as of December 31, 2017. The increase related to net proceeds from our IPO of $114.6 million, proceeds from our Series C financing of $55.0 million, proceeds from our Pfizer collaboration of $28.0 million, and proceeds from a partially forgivable loan of $2.0 million; offset by cash used to fund operations and professional fees paid related to our IPO of $51.0 million. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities increased by $98.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. This increase related to net proceeds from our IPO of $114.6 million, offset by cash used to fund operations, and professional fees paid related to our IPO of $16.6 million.
Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses were $45.2 million and $14.6 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2018, respectively as compared to $28.8 million and $6.7 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2017, respectively. The increase in research and development expenses for the year and quarter primarily related to investigational new drug application ("IND")-enabling costs associated with ARV-110 and ARV-471 in addition to increases in costs associated with our discovery operations.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $12.9 million and $5.8 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2018, respectively as compared to $3.5 million and $1.2 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2017, respectively. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the year and quarter primarily relate to increases in our infrastructure in preparation of becoming a publicly traded company.
Revenues: Revenue was $14.3 million and $3.4 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2018, respectively as compared to $7.6 million and $2.6 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2017, respectively. This increase in the year and quarter was due to an increase in license and rights to technology and research and development activities primarily related to the Pfizer collaboration agreement initiated in January 2018 and the expanded Genentech agreement that was initiated in November 2017.
Net Loss: Net loss was $41.5 million and $16.1 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2018, respectively as compared to $24.0 million and $4.7 million for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2017, respectively. The increase in net loss for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2018 was primarily due to the progression of ARV-110 through IND-enabling activities, clinical trial start-up costs for ARV-110, the initiation of IND-enabling activities for ARV-471, investments in our discovery programs and investments in our infrastructure in preparation for becoming a publicly traded company offset by an increase in revenue primarily related to the expanded Genentech collaboration agreement initiated in November 2017 and the Pfizer collaboration agreement initiated in January 2018.
About ARV-110
ARV-110 is an orally-bioavailable PROTAC protein degrader designed to selectively target and degrade androgen receptor (AR). ARV-110 is being developed as a potential treatment for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). ARV-110 has demonstrated activity in preclinical models of AR mutation or overexpression, both common mechanisms of resistance to currently available AR-targeted therapies. Arvinas believes the differentiated pharmacology of ARV-110, including its iterative activity, has the potential to translate into improved clinical outcomes for patients.
About ARV-471
ARV-471 is targeting the estrogen receptor (ER) for the treatment of women with locally advanced or metastatic ER+ / HER2- breast cancer. A Phase 1 clinical trial for ARV-471 in women with locally advanced or metastatic ER+ positive / HER2- negative breast cancer, is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2019 and preliminary clinical data is expected in 2020.