On March 30, 2021 Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: PLX) (TASE: PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, production and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins produced by its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system, reported financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and provided a business update on recent corporate and clinical developments (Press release, Protalix, MAR 30, 2021, View Source [SID1234577333]).
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"2020 was an important year for Protalix, as we continued to strengthen the clinical profile of PRX–102 for the treatment of Fabry disease and advance towards potential commercialization of our lead pipeline program," said Dror Bashan, Protalix’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "We advanced our earlier stage pipeline with the exclusive partnership we announced with SarcoMed USA for our PRX–110 asset, and we solidified our balance sheet to provide the financial backing to drive the Company through our 2021 milestones."
"We expect 2021 will also be an important year for Protalix as we await the FDA’s review of the PRX–102 BLA on the upcoming April 27, 2021 PDUFA date. We are grateful to our employees and external partners for their commitment and dedication during a very challenging time with the global pandemic. We look forward to continuing to build stockholder value," concluded Mr. Bashan.
2020 Full-Year and Recent Business Highlights
Regulatory Advancements
On August 11, 2020, the Company, together with its development and commercialization partner, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., or Chiesi, announced that the FDA had accepted the BLA for PRX–102, and granted Priority Review designation for PRX–102, for the proposed treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease. The FDA indicated in the BLA filing communication letter that it is not currently planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. The FDA set a PDUFA action date of January 27, 2021. However, as previously announced in November 2020, the FDA subsequently extended the PDUFA action date to April 27, 2021. As we disclosed last year, the FDA has advised that it will have to inspect our manufacturing facility and the facility of a third party in Europe that performs fill and finish processes for PRX-102 as part of its review of the BLA to ensure cGMP compliance. Due to COVID-19-related FDA travel restrictions, the FDA has advised that it may be unable to conduct the inspections prior to the PDUFA action date. The Company, together with Chiesi, is addressing this issue.
Clinical Advancements
On February 23, 2021, the Company, together Chiesi, announced positive topline results from the phase III BRIGHT clinical trial, a study designed to evaluate the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of pegunigalsidase alfa, or PRX–102, treatment, 2 mg/kg every four weeks, in up to 30 patients with Fabry disease previously treated with a commercially available enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) (agalsidase alfa – Replagal or agalsidase beta – Fabrazyme). Topline results indicate that 2 mg/kg of PRX-102 administered by intravenous infusion every four weeks was found to be well tolerated among treated patients, and stable clinical presentation was maintained in adult Fabry patients.
On December 30, 2020, the Company, together with Chiesi, announced final study results from the phase III BRIDGE clinical trial, a 12–month open-label, single arm switch-over study evaluating the safety and efficacy of PRX–102, 1 mg/kg infused every two weeks, in up to 22 Fabry patients. Final results of the data generated in the study showed substantial improvement in renal function as measured by mean annualized estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR slope) in both male and female patients who were switched from agalsidase alfa to PRX-102.
On October 2, 2020, the Company, together with Chiesi, announced the launch of an Expanded Access Program (EAP) in the United States for PRX–102 for the proposed treatment of Fabry disease.
Corporate & Financial Developments
On February 17, 2021, the Company successfully completed a public offering of its common stock raising gross proceeds of approximately $40.2 million at a price equal to $4.60 per share, before deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses of the offering, which was led by BofA Securities and Oppenheimer & Co.
On February 10, 2021, the Company entered into an exclusive partnership with SarcoMed USA for the worldwide development and commercialization of alidornase alfa, or PRX-110, for use in the treatment of any human respiratory disease or condition including, but not limited to, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and other related diseases via inhaled delivery.
On March 18, 2020, the Company successfully completed a private placement of its common stock to certain existing and new institutional and other accredited investors raising aggregate net proceeds of approximately $41.3 million at a price equal to $2.485 per share. Each share of common stock issued in the transaction was accompanied by a warrant to purchase an additional share of common stock at an exercise price equal to $2.36.
On March 16, 2020, the Company announced that it had agreed to conduct a feasibility study with Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, or Kirin, to evaluate the production of a novel complex protein utilizing ProCellEx. Kirin is providing research funding for Protalix scientists to conduct cell line engineering and protein expression studies on the target protein.
Financial Results
For the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019
The Company recorded revenues from selling goods of $16.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to revenues of $15.9 million for the same period of 2019.
Revenue from licenses and R&D services for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $46.7 million compared to $38.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Revenue from license agreements is recognized in conjunction with the license and supply agreements with Chiesi. The increase is primarily due to revenues recognized in connection with an updated cost estimation of two completed phase III clinical trials of PRX-102.
Cost of goods sold was $10.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019.
Research and development expenses net for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $38.2 million compared to $44.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is primarily due to the completion of two out of the three phase III clinical trials of PRX-102 and reduced costs related to the phase III BALANCE study, as well as a decrease in costs related to manufacturing of the Company’s drug in development as some of the manufactured drug product and related costs have been recorded as inventory. The Company expects research and development expenses to continue to be its primary expense as it enters into a more advanced stage of preclinical and clinical trials for certain of its product candidates.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, an increase of $1.2 million, or 12%, from $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in share-based compensation costs.
Financial expenses, net was $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $7.6 million for the same period of 2019.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits were approximately $38.5 million on December 31, 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company raised gross proceeds of $8.8 million from the sale of common stock under its ATM program and gross proceeds of $40.2 million via the public offering of its common stock.
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $6.5 million, or $0.22 per share, basic and diluted, compared to a net loss of $18.3 million, or $1.23 per share, basic and diluted, for the same period in 2019.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
The Company will host a conference call today, March 30, 2021 at 8:30 am Eastern Daylight Time, to review the clinical, corporate, and financial highlights, which will also be available by webcast. To participate in the conference call, please dial the following numbers prior to the start of the call:
Conference Call Details:
The conference call will be webcast live from the Company’s website and will be available via the following links:
Webcast Details:
Company Link: View Source
Webcast Link: View Source
Conference ID: 13716316
Please access the websites at least 15 minutes ahead of the conference to register, download and install any necessary audio software.
The conference call will be available for replay for two weeks on the Events Calendar of the Investors section of the Company’s website, at the above link.