On February 21, 2020 vTv Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:VTVT) reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, and provided an update on recent clinical achievements (Press release, vTv Therapeutics, FEB 21, 2020, View Source [SID1234554596]).

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"Our success in enrolling and executing clinical trials for our lead development candidates in 2019 positions us for significant pipeline advancement in the year ahead," said Steve Holcombe, chief executive officer, vTv Therapeutics. "The promising top-line data presented earlier this month from the SimpliciT-1 Study suggest that TTP399 has significant potential to benefit and improve outcomes for patients with type 1 diabetes. We believe this therapy could positively impact the lives of type 1 diabetes patients by addressing some of the most critical challenges they face, including decreasing the amount of insulin needed during the day and increasing their time in range. Rapidly advancing this program to the next stage of clinical development will be a key priority as we move through 2020. We are also focused on continuing to enroll patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes in the Elevage study of azeliragon, in order to confirm and expand the promising, previously reported data showing improved cognition in this patient population. We believe that the anticipated attainment of additional clinical milestones and data readouts from the SimpliciT-1 and Elevage studies in 2020 and 2021 will validate our clinical development expertise and provide additional inflection points for value creation."

Recent Achievements and Outlook

Announcement of Positive Results for Part 2 of the SimpliciT-1 Study. In February 2020, the Company announced that Part 2 of the SimpliciT-1 Study of TTP399 as an adjunct to insulin in type 1 diabetes achieved its primary objective by demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in HbA1C (a measure of long-term glucose control) for TTP399 compared with placebo. TTP399 also improved patients’ daily time in glycemic range, without increasing hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis, relative to placebo. For the full announcement, please refer to the press release available here.

Full results from the SimpliciT-1 Study will be presented later this year. We plan to initiate discussions with the FDA regarding the design of the next six-month trial to test TTP399 in patients with type 1 diabetes. We expect the next trial to be initiated this year and that it will support potential registration of TTP399 for the treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes.

Alzheimer’s Disease Study

Enrollment continues for Phase 2 Elevage Study of azeliragon. vTv Therapeutics continues to enroll patients in the Phase 2 part of the Elevage Study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of azeliragon in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes.

The Company expects to report topline results from the Phase 2 proof of concept study in the first half of 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Cash Position: The Company’s cash position as of December 31, 2019, was $4.3 million compared to $4.2 million as of September 30, 2019. Of these amounts, $2.5 million is restricted due to the requirements of its Loan Agreement.

Revenue: Revenues were insignificant for both the third and fourth quarters of 2019.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $4.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 and $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2019. The increase in these costs was driven primarily by recognition of an offset to research and development expense in the third quarter for a milestone payment received under the collaboration agreement with JDRF International.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were relatively consistent between the fourth and third quarters of 2019 at $2.0 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

Net Loss Before Non-Controlling Interest: Net loss before non-controlling interest was $6.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $6.0 million for the third quarter of 2019.

Net Loss Per Share: GAAP net loss per share was $0.13 for each of the three months ended December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, based on weighted-average shares of 38.0 million and 32.1 million for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively. Non-GAAP net loss per fully exchanged share was $0.11 and $0.10 for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively, based on non-GAAP fully exchanged weighted-average shares of 61.0 million and 55.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

Full Year 2019 Financial Results

Revenue: Revenues were $2.8 million and $12.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in revenue between years was primarily driven by the recognition of revenue related to the Huadong license agreement in 2018 based on the completion of the technology transfer obligations under the agreement in late 2018.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $15.1 million and $23.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Costs in 2018 were higher due to the STEADFAST Study and related open label extension which were ongoing and were wound down in the first half of 2018. The decrease in costs for these studies was offset by increases in cost for the Simplici-T1 Study, Part 2 of which was conducted in 2019. Further, the corporate restructuring announced at the end of 2018 resulted in lower compensation costs for R&D personnel in 2019.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $8.5 million and $9.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Such decreases were primarily driven by lower professional fees and the impact of gains recognized on the sale of equipment in connection with the Company’s corporate restructuring.

Net Loss Before Non-Controlling Interest: Net loss before non-controlling interest was $21.9 million and $23.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Net Loss Per Share: GAAP net loss per share was $0.59 and $0.69 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, based on weighted-average shares of 30.3 million and 12.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Non-GAAP net loss per fully exchanged share was $0.37 and $0.62 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, based on non-GAAP fully exchanged weighted-average shares of 53.4 million and 35.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.