Full Press Release Details
Chief Financial Officer
Zafgen Reports Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results
Quarter Highlighted by Completion of Enrollment in bestPWS Phase 3 Clinical Trial Six Month
Data on Track for Release in Early Q1 2016
On Track to Report Data from Ongoing ZAF-203 Clinical Trial in Severe Obesity Complicated by
Type 2 Diabetes in Late 2015/Very Early 2016
Ends Quarter with Cash and Marketable Securities of $220 Million
BOSTON, Mass., August 11, 2015 Zafgen, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZFGN), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to significantly improving the health and
well-being of patients affected by obesity and complex metabolic disorders, today announced its second quarter 2015 financial results.
We are very pleased with our accomplishments for the second quarter of 2015. We are
executing very well on two important clinical trials, the bestPWS Phase 3 clinical trial in PWS and the ZAF-203 Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with severe obesity complicated by type 2 diabetes, said Dr.
Thomas Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of Zafgen. We are also growing our company and continuing to attract very high caliber employees as we head towards commercialization.
With enrollment completed in our bestPWS Phase 3 trial this past quarter and enrollment now greater than 95% in our Phase 2b trial (ZAF-203) in patients
with severe obesity complicated by type 2 diabetes, we remain on track to release data in late 2015 or very early 2016 for both of these clinical trials, said Dr. Dennis Kim, Chief Medical Officer of Zafgen. The bestPWS trial is the
first Phase 3 trial conducted for a potential treatment of hyperphagia and weight loss in this hard to treat patient population. We are also extremely excited to see the six-month interim data from the ZAF-203 clinical trial which will provide our
first look at the effects of beloranib treatment on both body weight and glycemic control chronically in the setting of type 2 diabetes, an important and vexing co-morbidity of obesity.
We are pleased to have a strong cash position that is enabling us to meet our 2015 goals, ending the current quarter with a total cash position of
approximately $220 million, said Patricia Allen, Chief Financial Officer of Zafgen. This is an incredibly productive and exciting time for Zafgen and we are investing this capital in the development of beloranib in multiple indications,
along with advancing our ZGN-839 program in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, and our second-generation MetAP2 inhibitors for obesity. We are also expanding our organization to deliver on our multiple development programs and establish our
commercial operations in anticipation of approval of beloranib in PWS.
Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
As of June 30, 2015, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling $220.1 million.
The Company reported a net loss for the
second quarter of 2015 of $17.8 million, or $0.66 per share, compared to a $6.4 million net loss, or $2.96 per share, for the second quarter of 2014, which was the quarter that the Company completed its initial public offering. The weighted average
common shares (basic and diluted) outstanding used to compute net loss per share were 27,011,960 for the second quarter of 2015, compared to 2,178,465 for the second quarter of 2014.
Research and Development Expenses
development expenses for the second quarter of 2015 were $12.5 million, compared to $4.7 million for the second quarter of 2014. The increase in research and development expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 as compared to the second
quarter of 2014 was primarily due to increased costs associated with the advancement of the Company s beloranib program, ZGN-839 and our second-generation MetAP2 inhibitors, as well as personnel related costs.
General and Administrative Expenses
administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2015 were $5.1 million, compared to $1.3 million for the second quarter of 2014. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 as compared to the second
quarter of 2014 was primarily due to increased personnel related costs, increased public company costs, increased travel and other related costs, and increased professional fees, primarily commercial-readiness activities related to PWS.
2015 Financial Guidance
The Company continues to expect that its cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities balance will be greater than $145.0 million at December 31,
Conference Call Information
an investor conference call today, August 11, 2015 at 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, to discuss the Company s second quarter 2015 results as well as other forward-looking information about Zafgen s business. Investors and other interested
parties may participate by dialing 844-824-7428 in the United States or 973-500-2177 outside the United States. The call will also be webcast live on the Company s website at http://ir.zafgen.com/events.cfm. You can access the replay for seven
days by dialing 855-859-2056 in the United States or 404-537-3406 outside the United States and referencing conference ID number 3095656.
Beloranib is a novel, first-in-class injectable small molecule therapy with a unique mechanism of action that reduces hunger while
stimulating the use of stored fat as an energy source. Beloranib is a potent inhibitor of MetAP2, an enzyme that modulates the activity of key cellular processes that control metabolism. MetAP2 inhibitors work, at least in part, by directing MetAP2
binding to cellular stress mediators, and, thus, reducing the tone of signals that drive lipid synthesis by the liver and fat storage throughout the body. In this manner, MetAP2 inhibition increases metabolism of fat as an energy source. Zafgen
holds exclusive worldwide rights (exclusive of South Korea) for the development and commercialization of beloranib. Zafgen exclusively licensed beloranib from Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation (CKD Pharma) of South Korea.
About Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)
Prader-Willi syndrome
(PWS), the most common known genetic cause of life-threatening obesity, results in constant and unrelenting hunger that drives patients with PWS to engage in problematic hunger-related behaviors and to gain excessive weight. As a result, many of
those affected with PWS become morbidly obese and suffer significant mortality. Currently, there is no cure for this disease. Although the cause of PWS is complex, it results from a deletion or loss of function of a cluster of genes on the 15th
chromosome. PWS typically causes low muscle mass and function, short stature, incomplete sexual development, and a chronic feeling of hunger that, when coupled with a metabolism that utilizes drastically fewer calories than normal, can lead to
excessive eating and life-threatening obesity. PWS occurs in males and females equally and in all races, with the same incidence around the world. Prevalence estimates have ranged from 1:8,000 to 1:50,000.
About Hypothalamic Injury-Associated Obesity (HIAO)
the hypothalamus, a small area of the brain responsible for many hormonal and metabolic functions including the desire to eat, is injured, a syndrome of intractable weight gain can ensue, resulting in severe obesity and a poor quality of life. This
rare and complicated medical condition occurs in affected individuals most commonly due to a benign central nervous system tumor called craniopharyngioma, which presents as a mass in or near the hypothalamus. When the tumor is treated with surgical
resection and radiation therapy, the hypothalamus often becomes severely damaged and/or dysfunctional, which can result in loss of appetite control and reduction in metabolic rate. Craniopharyngioma-associated obesity incidence estimates have
ranged from 0.13 to 0.17 per 100,000 per year. Other comparably located tumors such as pituitary macroadenoma, medulloblastoma, and pineal germinoma, affect a smaller number of patients, but patients with these tumors can have a similar
clinical presentation with respect to obesity. Rarely, this form of obesity also has been reported in cases of head trauma or stroke leading to injury to the hypothalamus.
Zafgen (NASDAQ: ZFGN) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to significantly improving the health and well-being of patients affected by obesity and complex
metabolic disorders. Zafgen is focused on developing novel therapeutics that treat the underlying biological mechanisms through the MetAP2 pathway. Beloranib, Zafgen s lead product candidate, is a novel, first-in-class, twice-weekly
subcutaneous injection being developed for the treatment of multiple indications, including severe obesity in two rare diseases, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), hypothalamic injury-associated obesity (HIAO), including craniopharyngioma-associated
obesity; and severe obesity in the general population. Zafgen is also developing ZGN-839, a liver-targeted MetAP2 inhibitor, for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, and abdominal obesity, as well as second-generation MetAP2
inhibitors. Zafgen aspires to improve the lives of patients through targeted treatments and has assembled a team accomplished in bringing therapies to patients with both rare and prevalent metabolic diseases.
Safe Harbor Statement
Various statements in this release
concerning Zafgen s future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, Zafgen s expectations regarding beloranib as a treatment for PWS, HIAO and other forms of severe obesity, its expectations with respect to the
timing and success of its clinical trials of beloranib and other product candidates, its plans regarding commercialization of beloranib and its expectations relating to available cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities at the end of 2015
may constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such
as anticipate, believe, could, could increase the likelihood, estimate, expect, intend, is planned, may, should,
will, will enable, would be expected, look forward, may provide, would or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation, Zafgen s ability to successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its product candidates, the
pre-clinical and clinical results for its product candidates, which may not support further development of such product candidates, actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials, obtaining,
maintaining and protecting intellectual property, Zafgen s ability to enforce its patents against infringers and defend its patent portfolio against challenges from third parties, competition from others developing products for similar uses,
Zafgen s ability to manage operating expenses, Zafgen s ability to obtain additional funding to support its business activities and establish and maintain strategic business alliances and new business initiatives, Zafgen s dependence
on third parties for development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of products, the outcome of litigation, and unexpected expenditures, as well as those risks more fully discussed in the section entitled Risk Factors in
Zafgen s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Zafgen s subsequent filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Zafgen s views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Zafgen explicitly disclaims any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 12,526 | 4,695 | 22,741 | 7,970 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 5,084 | 1,291 | 8,109 | 2,537 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 17,610 | 5,986 | 30,850 | 10,507 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (17,610 | ) | (5,986 | ) | (30,850 | ) | (10,507 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 63 | 1 | 102 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (213 | ) | (443 | ) | (426 | ) | (445 | ) | ||||||||
| Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net | 4 | 28 | (54 | ) | 93 | |||||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | (146 | ) | (414 | ) | (378 | ) | (351 | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss | (17,756 | ) | (6,400 | ) | (31,228 | ) | (10,858 | ) | ||||||||
| Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value | (43 | ) | (92 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common stockholders | $ | (17,756 | ) | $ | (6,443 | ) | $ | (31,228 | ) | $ | (10,950 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted | $ | (0.66 | ) | $ | (2.96 | ) | $ | (1.19 | ) | $ | (7.51 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 27,011,960 | 2,178,465 | 26,316,619 | 1,457,931 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
| June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 83,573 | $ | 58,103 | ||||
| Marketable securities | 136,547 | 57,359 | ||||||
| Tax incentive receivable | 367 | 391 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,143 | 1,345 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 221,630 | 117,198 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 215 | 79 | ||||||
| Tax incentive receivable | 673 | |||||||
| Other assets | 84 | 242 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 222,602 | $ | 117,519 | ||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 4,297 | $ | 2,348 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 4,441 | 3,172 | ||||||
| Notes payable, current | 2,820 | 1,381 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 11,558 | 6,901 | ||||||
| Notes payable, net of discount, long-term | 4,851 | 6,177 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 16,409 | 13,078 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014; no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 | ||||||||
| Common stock, $0.001 par value; 115,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014; 27,117,822 and 22,879,160 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively | 27 | 23 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 342,839 | 209,838 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (136,613 | ) | (105,385 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (60 | ) | (35 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders equity | 206,193 | 104,441 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders equity | $ | 222,602 | $ | 117,519 |
This selected financial information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
included in the Company s Annual Report on Form 10-K which includes the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014.