On August 5, 2021 Galapagos NV (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) reported its progress on earlier-stage programs as well as its commercial launch of filgotinib in Europe. Following recent setbacks, the company is moving forward with its revised strategy and operational restructuring announced in May (Press release, Galapagos, AUG 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234585857]). The unaudited H1 financial and operational results are further detailed in the H1 2021 report available on the website, www.glpg.com.
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"Multiple assets are moving through clinical development, and we recently reported positive topline data on our TYK2 compound GLPG3667. In a Phase 1b trial in psoriasis (Pso), clinical activity was observed at 4 weeks, combined with an encouraging safety and tolerability profile. We currently are running an extended dose escalation study in healthy volunteers, and plan to progress GLPG3667 to a Phase 2b dose finding study in Pso as well as a Phase 2 study in ulcerative colitis (UC) in 2022.
We continue to develop our SIK portfolio of molecules, and recently reported encouraging early data from the first patient studies with SIK2/3 inhibitor GLPG3970. In a Phase 1b trial in Pso (CALOSOMA), clinical activity was observed at 6 weeks, and in a Phase 2a trial in UC (SEA TURTLE), biologically important effects were observed on a number of objective endpoints, both of which point to the potential of SIK inhibition as a novel mode of action in inflammation. No activity was observed in the LADYBUG study in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). GLPG3970 was generally safe and well tolerated. Based on these encouraging data, we work on optimizing the pharmacology of follow-up compounds from our SIK portfolio, and plan to bring an improved SIK2/3 molecule into the clinic in 2022.
On the commercial side, we report rapid progress in establishing our commercial operations for Jyseleca across Europe, with 11 countries launched to date. Reimbursement procedures are on track, and we are on target to achieve our commercial objectives.
We remain excited about the potential of our target discovery platform, our drug development capabilities, and the strength of our teams. We want to thank our shareholders for their continued support and patience as we are working hard to build our pipeline and establish Galapagos as a fully integrated European biopharma," said Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos.
Bart Filius, President and COO, added, "Following the strategic exercise announced at Q1, we are focused on advancing our pipeline, implementing our savings program, and diligently evaluating business development opportunities. At the same time, we have been delivering on the launch of Jyseleca, building out our organization in new European markets. In line with our review, we reiterate our 2021 operational cash burni guidance of between €580 million and €620 million. We believe that the decisions and actions taken put us on the strongest footing for the future. We look forward to a busy second half of the year, not the least of which is the expected outcome of the regulatory review in Europe of Jyseleca in UC."
(*) The 2020 comparatives have been restated to consider the impact of classifying the Fidelta business as discontinued operations in 2020.
Details of the financial results
Due to the sale of our fee-for-service business (Fidelta) to Selvita on 4 January 2021 for a total consideration of €37.1 million (including customary adjustments for net cash and working capital), the results of Fidelta are presented as "Net profit from discontinued operations" in our unaudited condensed consolidated income statements for the six months ended 30 June 2021 and 30 June 2020.
Revenues and other income from continuing operations
Our revenues and other income from continuing operations for the first six months of 2021 increased to €277.2 million compared to €217.2 million in the first six months of 2020. Our revenues from the Gilead collaboration in the first six months of 2021 (€253.2 million) related to (i) the exclusive access to our drug discovery platform (€115.7 million), (ii) the filgotinib revenue recognition (€136.1 million) and (iii) royalties (€1.4 million).
Our deferred income balance on 30 June 2021 includes €1.9 billion allocated to our drug discovery platform that is recognized linearly over 10 years, and €0.7 billion allocated for the filgotinib development (including considerations for the previous and the renegotiated collaboration combined) that is recognized over time until the end of the development period.
Results from continuing operations
We realized a net loss from continuing operations of €77.2 million for the first six months of 2021, compared to a net loss of €169.2 million for the first six months of 2020.
We reported an operating loss amounting to €97.6 million for the first six months of 2021, compared to an operating loss of €134.4 million for the same period last year.
Our R&D expenditure in the first six months of 2021 amounted to €268.8 million, compared to €262.9 million for the first six months of 2020. This increase, primarily related to our filgotinib program and our Toledo program, was compensated by a decrease for ziritaxestat, the osteoarthritis (OA) program with GLPG1972, and the program in atopic dermatitis (AtD) with MOR106. Personnel costs increased due to an increase in headcount compared to the same period last year and increased costs of our subscription right plans. This factor, and the increased cost of the commercial launch of filgotinib in Europe, contributed to the increase in our S&M and G&A expenses, which were respectively €29.1 million and €76.9 million in the first six months of 2021, compared to respectively €26.9 million and €61.8 million in the first six months of 2020.
We reported a non-cash fair value gain from the re-measurement of initial warrant B issued to Gilead, amounting to €2.8 million, mainly due to the decreased implied volatility of the Galapagos share price and its evolution between 31 December 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Net other financial income in the first six months of 2021 amounted to €17.1 million, compared to net other financial loss of €13.0 million for the first six months of 2020, which was primarily attributable to €33.4 million of currency exchange gain on our cash and cash equivalents and current financial investments in U.S. dollars, to €8.7 million of negative changes in (fair) value of current financial investments and financial assets and to €4.4 million of interest expenses. The other financial expenses also contained the effect of discounting our long term deferred income of €4.8 million.
Results from discontinued operations
The net profit from discontinued operations for the six months ended 30 June 2021 consisted of the gain on the sale of Fidelta, our fee-for-services business, for €22.2 million.
Group net results
We reported a group net loss for the first six months of 2021 of €55.0 million, compared to a group net loss of €165.6 million for the first six months of 2020.
Cash position
Current financial investments and cash and cash equivalents totaled €5,006.6 million on 30 June 2021, as compared to €5,169.3 million on 31 December 2020.
Total net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and current financial investments amounted to €162.7 million during the first six months of 2021, compared to a net decrease of €214.3 million during the first six months of 2020. This net decrease was composed of (i) €223.2 million of operational cash burn, (ii) offset by €2.6 million of cash proceeds from capital and share premium increase from exercise of subscription rights in the first six months of 2021, (iii) €5.8 million negative changes in (fair) value of current financial investments and €35.0 million of mainly positive exchange rate differences, (iv) €28.7 million cash in from disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash disposed.
Finally, our balance sheet on 30 June 2021 held a receivable from the French government (Crédit d’Impôt Rechercheiv) and a receivable from the Belgian Government for R&D incentives, for a total of both receivables of €142.7 million.
Outlook 2021
In 2021, we expect the European regulatory assessment of filgotinib for the treatment of UC and anticipate both an opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and a decision from the European Commission later this year. We also expect additional reimbursement decisions for filgotinib in RA across a number of European countries. We are on track to complete the transition from our collaboration partner Gilead to us of the full European commercial operations for filgotinib by year-end, and we anticipate reporting on our own European sales of filgotinib starting in the second half of the year.
Completion of the recruitment in the global DIVERSITY Phase 3 trial with filgotinib in Crohn’s disease by our collaboration partner Gilead is also expected later this year.
With regard to our SIK portfolio, we are advancing our SIK3 inhibitor GLPG4399 in healthy volunteers this year, and we aim to advance a follow-up SIK2/3 preclinical candidate into the clinic in 2022.
Following the positive topline data from our TYK2 inhibitor, GLPG3667, we currently are running an extended dose escalation study in healthy volunteers, and we are preparing for a Phase 2b trial in Pso and a Phase 2 trial in UC next year.
In our other programs, by year-end we intend to finalize recruitment into the GLPG2737 Phase 2a trial in polycystic kidney disease.
Following the previously announced review of our plans for 2021, we reiterate our guidance for full year 2021 operational cash burn of €580 to €620 million.
First half-year report 2021
Galapagos’ financial report for the first half-year ended 30 June 2021, including details of the unaudited consolidated results, is accessible via www.glpg.com/financial-reports.
Conference call and webcast presentation
Galapagos will conduct a conference call open to the public tomorrow, 6 August 2021, at 14:00 CET / 8 AM ET, which will also be webcasted. To participate in the conference call, please call one of the following numbers ten minutes prior to commencement:
A question and answer session will follow the presentation of the results. Go to www.glpg.com to access the live audio webcast. The archived webcast will also be available for replay shortly after the close of the call.