Arvinas Reports Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

815 Days ago

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arvinas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARVN), a biotechnology company creating a new class of drugs based on targeted protein degradation, today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2019 and provided a corporate update.

“We made significant progress throughout the first half of 2019, highlighted by both clinical and corporate advances. We initiated first-in-human studies with ARV-110 in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this indication. The FDA also cleared our IND for ARV-471 in ER positive/HER2 negative breast cancer,” said John Houston, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Arvinas. “The potential of our targeted protein degrader technology was further validated by our agreement with Bayer, which expands the application of our technology beyond human health and therapeutics to include agricultural applications.”

“In addition, we greatly enhanced our leadership strength with the addition of Ronald Peck, M.D., as our Chief Medical Officer and with the appointment of Leslie Norwalk, Esq., to our Board of Directors. Both are experienced executives with significant and relevant experience that will be instrumental in guiding Arvinas forward with a new class of drugs based on our proprietary targeted protein degradation platform,” added Dr. Houston.

Business Highlights and Recent Developments

Strengthened the management team with the appointment of Ronald Peck, M.D. to the newly created position of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Peck brings to Arvinas more than twenty years of clinical and drug development experience, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Clinical Research at Tesaro, where he oversaw all clinical development efforts for the company’s entire pipeline, including Zejula® (niraparib) and Tesaro’s immuno-oncology programs.
Announced the appointment of Leslie Norwalk, Esq., to the Arvinas Board of Directors. Ms. Norwalk provides strategic counsel to a number of biotechnology companies and served in the George W. Bush Administration as the Acting Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Presented preclinical data from the company’s tau-targeted PROTAC® protein degrader program at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC). In preclinical studies, the tau-targeted PROTAC® protein degrader eliminated more than 95% of disease-causing (pathologic) tau protein in the brain, in a well-characterized mouse tauopathy model, following peripheral administration. The data further indicated that the tau protein degradation is dose- and concentration-dependent, signifying the tau-targeted PROTAC® protein degrader effectively crosses the blood brain barrier.
Entered into an agreement with Bayer to leverage Arvinas’ novel PROTAC® protein degrader technology to develop new human therapeutics for patients with cardiovascular, oncological, and gynecological diseases. In addition, Bayer and Arvinas will jointly launch a new company to leverage Arvinas’ PROTAC® technology for agricultural applications. The overall series of arrangements includes over $110 million in upfront cash and committed funding for the human disease collaboration, the agricultural joint venture, and a direct equity investment by Bayer in Arvinas.
Announced that Arvinas’ lead PROTAC® protein degrader, ARV-110, was granted Fast Track designation by the FDA for the treatment of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) whose disease has progressed after treatment with two or more systemic therapies.
Announced that the FDA cleared the Company’s Investigational New Drug application (IND) for ARV-471, an oral estrogen receptor (ER) PROTAC® protein degrader, designed to selectively target ER for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic ER positive/HER2 negative breast cancer.

Anticipated Milestones and Expectations

Present preliminary safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic data from the Phase 1 clinical trial of ARV-110 in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Present additional clinical data from the Phase 1 trial of ARV-110 in the first half of 2020.
Initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of ARV-471 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic ER positive/HER2-negative breast cancer in the third quarter of 2019 and share preliminary clinical data in 2020.

Financial Guidance

Based on its current operating plan, Arvinas expects its cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and proceeds from Bayer will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2021.

Financial Highlights

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities Position: As of June 30, 2019, cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $159.2 million as compared to $187.8 million as of December 31, 2018. These amounts exclude proceeds from the private placement and collaboration agreement with Bayer, which closed on July 16, 2019 and will provide an additional $51.5 million. The decrease in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $28.6 million in the first six months of 2019 was primarily related to net cash used in operating activities of $26.3 million, the purchase of lab equipment and lease hold improvements of $3.3 million partially offset by net cash provided by financing activities of $0.3 million and changes in unrealized gain on marketable securities of $0.5 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2019 we received $2.7 million from a collaborator and $1.0 million related to the exchange of research and development tax credits with the State of Connecticut. Our cash used to fund operations for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was $33.3 million.

Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses were $16.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $10.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The increase in research and development expenses for the quarter primarily related to expenses associated with the initiation of our Phase 1 clinical trial of ARV-110 and IND-enabling expenses associated with ARV-471 as well as increased personnel and other expenses related to our platform research and exploratory programs research.

General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $6.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $1.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the quarter was primarily related to increased employee expenses and other compliance costs associated with becoming a public company in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Revenues: Revenue was $4.0 million for the quarter ended June 2019, as compared to $3.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. Revenues are generated from the license and rights to technology fees and research and development activities related to the collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer that was initiated in January 2018 and the amended and restated option, license and collaboration agreement with Genentech that was initiated in November 2017.

Net Loss: Net loss was $17.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $7.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The increase in net loss for the quarter was primarily due to increased research and development expenses and increased general and administrative expenses.

About ARV-110
ARV-110 is an orally-bioavailable PROTAC® protein degrader designed to selectively target and degrade the androgen receptor protein (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 mechanism of action, has the potential to translate into improved clinical outcomes for patients. Arvinas expects to present preliminary clinical data regarding ARV-110 in the fourth quarter of 2019, and to present additional clinical data for the Phase 1 trial in the first half of 2020.

About ARV-471
ARV-471 is an orally-bioavailable PROTAC® protein degrader designed to target the estrogen receptor protein (ER). A Phase 1 clinical trial for ARV-471 in patients 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.

About Arvinas
Arvinas is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases through the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapies that degrade disease-causing proteins. Arvinas uses its proprietary technology platform to engineer proteolysis targeting chimeras, or PROTAC® targeted protein degraders, that are designed to harness the body’s own natural protein disposal system to selectively and efficiently degrade disease-causing proteins. The company’s lead program, ARV-110 for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, began a Phase 1 clinical trial in the first quarter of 2019. For more information, see www.arvinas.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the development and regulatory status of our product candidates, including the timing of our clinical trial for ARV-471, and data from our clinical trial for ARV-110 and ARV-471 and the potential advantages and therapeutic potential of our product candidates, the sufficiency of cash resources, whether the pharmaceutical collaboration with Bayer will yield any viable product candidates, and the potential benefits of the Bayer collaboration and joint venture in the human therapeutic and agricultural fields, respectively. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: whether we will be able to successfully conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial for ARV-110, successfully initiate and conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial for ARV-471, complete other clinical trials for our product candidates on our expected timelines, or at all, each party’s ability to perform its obligations under the Bayer collaboration and/or the joint venture, whether our cash resources will be sufficient to fund our foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements on our expected timeline and other important factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” sections contained in our quarterly and annual reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views with respect to future events, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

Contacts for Arvinas

Investors
Will O’Connor, Stern Investor Relations
ir@arvinas.com

Media
Cory Tromblee, ScientPR
pr@arvinas.com

Arvinas, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended June 30,						For the Six Months Ended June 30,
		2019			2018			2019			2018
Revenue	$	4,016,489		$	3,399,895		$	8,032,979		$	7,508,491
Operating expenses:
Research and development		16,000,638			10,337,835			30,190,996			17,481,652
General and administrative		6,440,779			1,579,605			12,081,409			2,826,492
Total operating expenses		22,441,417			11,917,440			42,272,405			20,308,144
Loss from operations		(18,424,928	)		(8,517,545	)		(34,239,426	)		(12,799,653	)
Other income (expenses)
Other income, net		191,729			130,945			434,850			258,394
Change in fair value of preferred unit warrant		—			2,516			—			(193,779	)
Interest income		1,091,331			539,413			2,281,853			750,650
Interest expense		(22,778	)		(9,871	)		(46,416	)		(20,540	)
Total other income		1,260,282			663,003			2,670,287			794,725
Net loss		(17,164,646	)		(7,854,542	)		(31,569,139	)		(12,004,928	)
Change in fair value of redeemable convertible preferred units		—			(14,834,049	)		—			(86,316,147	)
Net loss attributable to common shares/units	$	(17,164,646	)	$	(22,688,591	)	$	(31,569,139	)	$	(98,321,075	)
Net loss per common share/unit, basic and diluted	$	(0.55	)	$	(11.96	)	$	(1.01	)	$	(51.81	)
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding, basic and diluted		31,440,051			1,897,544			31,408,658			1,897,544

Arvinas, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

	June 30, 2019			December 31, 2018
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	11,342,178		$	3,190,056
Marketable securities		147,831,005			184,637,640
Account receivable		—			2,775,831
Other receivables		1,402,085			2,255,966
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,685,820			2,818,286
Total current assets		163,261,088			195,677,779
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net		6,366,491			3,583,036
Operating lease right of use assets		2,397,789			—
Other assets		20,760			20,760
Total assets	$	172,046,128		$	199,281,575
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,411,471		$	2,758,184
Accrued expenses		3,998,974			4,001,276
Deferred revenue		14,815,957			16,065,957
Current portion of long-term debt		71,499			154,461
Current portion of operating lease liability		647,872			—
Total current liabilities		20,945,773			22,979,878
Deferred revenue		30,701,736			37,484,714
Long term debt, net of current portion		2,000,000			2,000,000
Operating lease liability		1,893,359			—
Other noncurrent liability		—			150,000
Total liabilities		55,540,868			62,614,592
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 31,523,474 and 31,235,458 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively		31,524			31,236
Accumulated deficit		(333,833,758	)		(302,264,619	)
Additional paid-in capital		450,007,344			439,118,089
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		300,150			(217,723	)
Total stockholders’ equity		116,505,260			136,666,983
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	172,046,128		$	199,281,575