Full Press Release Details
Prothena Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Financial Results and Provides 2015 Financial Guidance and R&D Update
DUBLIN, Ireland - March 5, 2015 - Prothena Corporation plc (NASDAQ:PRTA), a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel protein immunotherapy programs, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2014 and provided 2015 financial guidance and an update on its lead programs.
Prothena reported net losses of $13.1 million and $7.2 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, compared to net losses of $11.1 million and $41.0 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively.
"Over the last year, we made significant progress with each of our protein immunotherapy programs, transitioning into a late-stage clinical biotechnology company with the initiation of The VITAL Amyloidosis Study, our global Phase 3 registrational trial evaluating the benefit of adding NEOD001 to standard of care for the treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis and cardiac dysfunction," said Dale Schenk, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Prothena. "In addition, together with Roche, we advanced PRX002 into clinical development, with data expected from a Phase 1 single ascending dose trial in March, and a second ongoing Phase 1 study in patients with Parkinson's disease with data expected in first half of 2016."
"Importantly, we strengthened our balance sheet by raising $117.4 million in net proceeds through a successful secondary public offering, providing a solid financial foundation for continued progress," continued Dr. Schenk. "Complementing the PRX002 results in March, we anticipate a catalyst-rich 2015, with The VITAL Amyloidosis Study expected to enroll patients at numerous sites globally, new data anticipated from our ongoing Phase 1/2 study of NEOD001 in patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction, as well as the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for PRX003 expected in the first half of this year."
Full Year 2014 and Recent Highlights
NEOD001 is a monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of AL amyloidosis:
PRX002 is a monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of Parkinson's disease and other related synucleinopathies, and is the primary focus of Prothena's worldwide collaboration with Roche:
PRX003 is a monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases:
Upcoming Research and Development Pipeline Milestones
Prothena's research and development pipeline includes three lead protein immunotherapy programs.
Fourth Quarter and Year End 2014 Financial Results and 2015 Financial Guidance
Prothena reported net losses of $13.1 million and $7.2 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, as compared to net losses of $11.1 million and $41.0 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively. Net losses per share were $0.48 and $0.29 for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, as compared to net losses per share of $0.52 and $2.20 for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively.
Prothena reported total revenue of $2.0 million and $50.9 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, as compared to total revenue of $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively. The increase was primarily due to $1.9 million and $50.3 million in collaboration revenue recognized in relation to the PRX002 collaboration with Roche in the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively.
Research and development (R&D) expenses totaled $10.1 million and $38.5 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, as compared to $5.6 million and $26.1 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively. The increase in R&D expenses was primarily due to increased external expenses related to product manufacturing and clinical trials, and higher personnel costs. R&D expenses included non-cash share-based compensation expense of $0.6 million and $2.3 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, as compared to $0.4 million and $1.0 million of the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses totaled $5.0 million and $19.1 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, as compared to $5.3 million and $15.1 million for fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively. The increase in G&A expenses was primarily due to increases in personnel costs and higher consulting expenses for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014. G&A expenses included non-cash share-based compensation expense of $0.8 million and $3.3 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, as compared to $0.7 million and $2.1 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively.
Total non-cash share-based compensation expense was $1.4 million and $5.6 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014, respectively, as compared to $1.1 million and $3.1 million for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, respectively.
As of December 31, 2014, Prothena had $293.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and no outstanding debt. As of February 27, 2015, Prothena had 27.4 million ordinary shares outstanding.
The Company expects the full year 2015 net cash burn from operating and investing activities to be $66 to $72 million, ending the year with approximately $225 million in cash (mid-point). The estimated full year 2015 net cash burn from operating and investing activities is primarily driven by an estimated net loss of $77 to $83 million, which includes an estimated $9 million of non-cash share-based compensation expense.
Conference Call Details
Prothena management will discuss these results and its 2015 outlook in a live audio webcast and conference call today, Thursday, March 5, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. ET. The webcast will be made available on the Company's website at www.prothena.com under the Investors tab in the Events and Presentations section. Following the live audio webcast, a replay will be available on the Company's website for 90 days.
To access the call via dial-in, please dial (877) 887-5215 (U.S. toll free) or (315) 625-3069 (international) five minutes prior to the start time and refer to conference ID number 82696406. A replay of the call will be available until March 12, 2015 via dial-in at (855) 859-2056 (U.S. toll free) or (404) 537-3406 (international), Conference ID Number 82696406.
Prothena Corporation plc is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel protein immunotherapy programs for the potential treatment of diseases that involve amyloid or cell adhesion. The Company is developing antibody-based product candidates that target a number of potential indications including AL amyloidosis (NEOD001), Parkinson's disease and other related synucleinopathies (PRX002) and psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases (PRX003).
For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.prothena.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to, among other things, the strength of our cash position; the enrollment for our VITAL Amyloidosis Study for NEOD001; the timing of reporting additional data from the multiple ascending dose and expansion phase portion of our ongoing Phase 1/2 study for NEOD001; the timing of reporting data from our Phase 1 single ascending dose and multiple ascending dose studies for PRX002; the timing of initiating our Phase 1 single ascending dose and multiple ascending dose studies for PRX003 and the timing of proof-of-biology of PRX003; our anticipated net cash burn from operating activities for 2015 and expected cash balance at the end of 2015; and our estimated net loss and non-cash share-based compensation expense for 2015. These statements are based on estimates, projections and assumptions that may prove not to be accurate, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the "Risk Factors" sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 7, 2014, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and our Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC for our fiscal year 2014. Prothena undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in Prothena's expectations.
PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited - amounts in thousands except per share data)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||
| Collaboration revenue | $ | 1,891 | $ | - | $ | 50,320 | $ | - | ||||||||
| Revenue-related party | 122 | 167 | 534 | 676 | ||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 2,013 | 167 | 50,854 | 676 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 10,107 | 5,600 | 38,452 | 26,052 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 5,011 | 5,269 | 19,051 | 15,051 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 15,118 | 10,869 | 57,503 | 41,103 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (13,105 | ) | (10,702 | ) | (6,649 | ) | (40,427 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 118 | (204 | ) | 310 | (154 | ) | ||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (12,987 | ) | (10,906 | ) | (6,339 | ) | (40,581 | ) | ||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 123 | 148 | 811 | 415 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (13,110 | ) | $ | (11,054 | ) | $ | (7,150 | ) | $ | (40,996 | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to holders of ordinary shares | $ | (0.48 | ) | $ | (0.52 | ) | $ | (0.29 | ) | $ | (2.20 | ) | ||||
| Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to holders of ordinary shares | 27,384 | 21,394 | 24,672 | 18,615 |
PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited - amounts in thousands)
| December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
| 2014 | 2013 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 293,579 | $ | 176,677 | |||
| Other current assets | 5,696 | 1,545 | |||||
| Total current assets | 299,275 | 178,222 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net | 3,121 | 3,372 | |||||
| Other non-current assets | 1,720 | 816 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 304,116 | $ | 182,410 | |||
| Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | |||||||
| Accrued research and development | $ | 2,285 | $ | 1,542 | |||
| Other current liabilities | 9,754 | 5,864 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 12,039 | 7,406 | |||||
| Non-current liabilities: | 2,188 | 1,734 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 14,227 | 9,140 | |||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 289,889 | 173,270 | |||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 304,116 | $ | 182,410 |
Investors: Tran Nguyen, CFO
650-837-8535, IR@prothena.com
Media: Angela Bitting
925-202-6211, angela.bitting@prothena.com