On March 1, 2021 Viela Bio (Nasdaq:VIE), a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases, reported financial results and provided program and business highlights for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, Viela Bio, MAR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234575846]).
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"2020 was a year of great progress for Viela, despite the many external challenges resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic," said Bing Yao, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Viela Bio. "Most significantly, we received FDA approval for UPLIZNA to treat adult patients with AQP4+ NMOSD and achieved solid product uptake, closed a successful public offering and continued to advance our full pipeline with the initiation of several clinical trials, including pivotal studies."
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
UPLIZNA (inebilizumab-cdon)
UPLIZNA is a CD19-directed cytolytic antibody indicated for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in adult patients who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive.
UPLIZNA in NMOSD
In June 2020, UPLIZNA became the first and only FDA-approved B-cell-depleting humanized monoclonal antibody for the treatment of NMOSD, in adults who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive.
Recently, Viela presented four scientific abstracts at the American Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) 2021 forum, reporting positive interim data from the open-label extension period (OLE) of the pivotal N-MOmentum trial in patients with NMOSD. Among the highlights, a reduction of attacks was sustained for the duration of the four-year observation period and no new safety signals were observed, regardless of the patient’s prior exposure to off-label therapy.
Regulatory applications have been filed for inebilizumab in several Asian countries based on results from the N-MOmentum study. If approved, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) and Hansoh Pharma—Viela’s partners in Asia—will be responsible for commercializing inebilizumab in their respective territories.
UPLIZNA in Additional Indications
Viela continues to enroll patients in two of its recently initiated Phase 3 trials for patients with myasthenia gravis (a chronic, rare autoimmune neuromuscular disease) and in IgG4-related disease (a group of disorders marked by tumor-like swelling and fibrosis of affected organs).
The Phase 2 trial for kidney transplant desensitization remains voluntarily paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
VIB4920
VIB4920 is an investigational fusion protein designed to bind to CD40L on activated T cells, blocking their interaction with CD40-expressing B cells.
Viela continues to advance its Phase 2b trial of VIB4920 in Sjögren’s syndrome and Phase 2 trials in patients with kidney transplant rejection and rheumatoid arthritis.
VIB7734
VIB7734 is an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to target and bind to ILT7, a cell surface molecule specific to pDCs, leading to their depletion. This depletion may also decrease other inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6, which are critical to the pathogenesis of a number of autoimmune diseases.
Viela reported final data at the virtual American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2020 from its Phase 1b trial of VIB7734 confirming previously reported results. Data demonstrated that VIB7734 effectively reduced blood and skin plasmacytoid dendritic cells, leading to reduced type I Interferon levels in the blood and inflamed skin of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Based on these results, Viela selected systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as its lead indication. The Phase 2 trial for patients with SLE is anticipated to initiate in the H1 2021.
Viela anticipates results from its Phase 1 study of VIB7734 for the treatment of COVID-19 related acute injury in H1 2021.
BUSINESS UPDATES
On February 1, 2021, Viela Bio and Horizon Therapeutics announced that the companies entered into a definitive agreement for Horizon Therapeutics to acquire Viela Bio. The acquisition is structured as a two-step cash tender offer for all the issued and outstanding shares of Viela Bio, Inc. common stock at a price of $53.00 per share. Following successful completion of the tender offer, Horizon will acquire all remaining shares not tendered in the offer through a second step merger at the same price per share as in the tender offer. The transaction has been unanimously approved by Horizon’s and Viela’s boards of directors and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Financial Results
Total net product revenue for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $9.4 million, resulting from sales of UPLIZNA. For the full year of 2020, total net product revenue was $11.7 million from sales of UPLIZNA. The Company did not generate product revenue in 2019.
For the fourth quarter of 2020, Viela reported a net loss of $33.4 million, compared to a net loss of $11.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. For the full year of 2020, Viela reported a net loss of $150.7 million, compared to a net loss of $86.4 million for the full year of 2019.
As of December 31, 2020, Viela had $378.5 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and no outstanding debt.
Research and development expenses were $25.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, which include $1.4 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expenses. For the full year of 2020, research and development expenses were $103.3 million, which include $5.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $16.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, which include $1.7 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expenses. For the full year of 2020, selling, general and administrative expenses were $60.2 million, which include $6.5 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expenses.
Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2020 totaled $43.1 million, compared to $43.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Non-cash share-based compensation expenses totaled $3.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $1.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.
Total operating expenses for the full-year 2020 totaled $165.5 million, compared to $139.7 million for the full-year 2019. Non-cash share-based compensation expenses totaled $12.2 million for the full-year 2020, compared to $3.6 million for the full-year 2019.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
The tender offer described in this press release (the "Offer") has commenced, and this press release is neither a recommendation, nor an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any shares of the common stock of Viela or any other securities. A tender offer statement on Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, a letter of transmittal and related documents, was filed on February 12, 2020 with the SEC by Horizon, Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc. and Teiripic Merger Sub, Inc., and a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 was filed on the same day with the SEC by Viela. The offer to purchase shares of Viela common stock will only be made pursuant to the offer to purchase, the letter of transmittal and related documents filed as a part of the Schedule TO. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ BOTH THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT REGARDING THE OFFER, AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TENDER OFFER. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these statements and other documents filed with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by directing such requests to the Information Agent for the Offer, which will be named in the tender offer statement. Investors may also obtain, at no charge, the documents filed or furnished to the SEC by Viela under the "Investors/Media" section of Viela’s website at www.vielabio.com.