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Zafgen Reports First Quarter 2019 Operating and Financial Results
[May 09, 2019]

Zafgen Reports First Quarter 2019 Operating and Financial Results


Recently announced positive results for second cohort of Phase 2 clinical trial of ZGN-1061

            Company is currently in the formal regulatory process related to the clinical hold for ZGN-1061; Update still anticipated in Q2 2019

PATH for PWS study continues enrollment with strong support from PWS community

BOSTON, May 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zafgen, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZFGN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary knowledge of MetAP2 systems biology to develop novel therapies for patients affected by a range of metabolic diseases, today reported its first quarter 2019 operating and financial results.

“Since our last update, we have continued to concentrate on addressing the FDA’s comments on the ZGN-1061 IND clinical hold. The team has generated a substantial amount of new data since ZGN-1061 was placed on clinical hold, which we believe support a constructive dialogue with the FDA,” said Jeffrey Hatfield, Chief Executive Officer. “We still expect to update investors on ZGN-1061 in the second quarter of 2019.”

Corporate Updates

ZGN-1061

  • In January 2019, Zafgen announced positive data for the second cohort of its Phase 2 clinical trial of ZGN-1061 in patients with type 2 diabetes. The clinical trial met all of its primary objectives at the 1.8 mg dose, which included glycemic control, or change in A1C, and safety and tolerability. The data also showed a favorable safety and tolerability profile for ZGN-1061 through 12 weeks of treatment, with no treatment-related serious adverse events and no cardiovascular (CV) safety signals observed.
     
  • Zafgen is currently in the formal regulatory process related to the previously disclosed clinical hold for ZGN-1061. An update on ZGN-1061 is still anticipated in Q2 2019.

ZGN-1258

  • As previously announced in March 2019, Zafgen suspended plans to file an investigational new drug (IND) application for ZGN-1258 for Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), based on an unexpected finding in muscle tissue in long-term rodent toxicology studies. Zafgen will provide an update on its plans for ZGN-1258 at a later time, if warranted, following further evaluation.
     
  • PATH for PWS, Zafgen’s natural history study conducted in collaboration with the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR) continues enrollment. The data from this study are intended to inform the development and clinical trial design of potential new treatments.

Corporate

  • In March 2019, Zafgen appointed a key executive to its leadership team, Priya Singhal, M.D., M.P.H., as Head of Research and Development, who brings nearly a decade of senior drug development experience in R&D strategy, drug safety and benefit-risk management. Dr. Singhal is responsible for leading and overseeing research, clinical and manufacturing strategy and implementation across the Company’s portfolio of investigational MetAP2 inhibitors.

First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

As of March 31, 2019, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $104.7 million.

Net Loss

The Company reported a net loss for the first quarter of 2019 of $13.1 million, or $0.35 per share, compared to a net loss of $16.0 million, or $0.58 per share, for the first quarter of 2018.

The weighted average common shares (basic and diluted) outstanding used to compute net loss per share were 37,313,947 for the first quarter of 2019 compared to 27,541,594 for the same quarter of 2018.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $9.6 million compared to $12.4 million for the first quarter of 2018. The decrease in research and development expenses compared to the prior year period was primarily due to decreased clinical costs related to ZGN-1061 as the results of the second cohort of the Phase 2 clinical trial in type 2 diabetes were reported in January 2019. There was also a decrease in the ZGN-1258 program costs due to the suspension of the program during the first quarter of 2019. There were also decreases in discovery and screening costs and non-cash stock-based compensation expense in the first quarter of 2019 as compared to the first quarter of 2018. These decreases in research and development costs were partially offset by an increase in costs related to the ZGN-1345 program as the program advances as a development stage candidate.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $3.6 million, compared to $3.3 million for the first quarter of 2018. The increase in general and administrative expenses as compared to the prior year period was primarily due to an increase in personnel related costs and non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

About Zafgen
Zafgen (Nasdaq:ZFGN) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary MetAP2 biology platform to develop novel therapies for patients affected by complex metabolic diseases. Zafgen has pioneered the study of MetAP2 inhibitors in both common and rare metabolic disorders. Learn more at www.zafgen.com.

Safe Harbor Statement 
Various statements in this release concerning Zafgen's future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, Zafgen's expectations regarding the development and use of ZGN-1258, ZGN-1061, ZGN-1345 and other second-generation MetAP2 inhibitors as treatments for metabolic diseases including Prader-Willi syndrome, type 2 diabetes, liver diseases and obesity, the collection of medical history and medical events from PATH for PWS participants to inform development for potential treatments for Prader-Willi syndrome and Zafgen's expectations with respect to the timing and success of its ability to collect and analyze PATH for PWS data for development and clinical trial design and with respect to its nonclinical studies and clinical trials of ZGN-1258, ZGN-1061, ZGN-1345 and its other product candidates, Zafgen’s expected cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balance as of March 31, 2019, and Zafgen’s expectations regarding the length of its cash runway, may constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions of 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 ZGN-1258, ZGN-1061, ZGN-1345 and its other product candidates and to differentiate them from first generation MetAP2 inhibitors, such as beloranib, the nonclinical and clinical results for ZGN-1258, ZGN-1061, ZGN-1345 and its other product candidates, which may not support further development and marketing approval, actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of nonclinical studies and clinical trials of its product candidates, Zafgen's ability to successfully engage with the FDA concerning the clinical hold on a clinical trial of ZGN-1061 and to design and conduct a nonclinical study or clinical trial demonstrating sufficient data to exclude cardiovascular risk to an acceptable degree, Zafgen’s ability to overcome the full clinical hold place on ZGN-1061 by the FDA and obtain regulatory approval, Zafgen’s ability to continue to evaluate ZGN-1258 and to advance the program in nonclinical and clinical development, Zafgen's ability to obtain, maintain and protect its 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 when needed, Zafgen’s ability to attract and retain personnel, Zafgen's dependence on third parties for development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of product candidates, and unexpected expenditures, as well as those risks more fully discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Zafgen's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K 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, including without limitation Zafgen’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. 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.

Media/Investor Relations Contacts:
Zafgen, Inc.
Patricia Allen
Chief Financial Officer
617-648-9792

Media
Krystle Gibbs
Ten Bridge Communications 
[email protected]
508-479-6358

Investors
John Woolford
Westwicke
[email protected]
443-213-0506


 
ZAFGEN, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
(In thousands, except share and per share data) 
(Unaudited)
     
  Three Months Ended March 31,
   2019   2018 
Revenue $  -  $  - 
Operating expenses:    
Research and development    9,631     12,433 
General and administrative    3,646     3,269 
Total operating expenses    13,277     15,702 
Loss from operations    (13,277)    (15,702)
Other income (expense):    
Interest income    642     267 
Interest expense    (500)    (458)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net    23     (63)
Total other income (expense), net    165     (254)
Net loss $  (13,112) $  (15,956)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $  (0.35) $  (0.58)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted    37,313,947     27,541,594 
 




 
ZAFGEN, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
(In thousands, except share and per share data) 
(Unaudited)
 
  March 31, December 31,
   2019   2018 
     
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $  36,423  $  49,331 
Marketable securities    68,243     68,735 
Tax incentive receivable    1,550     1,536 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets    1,259     1,728 
Total current assets    107,475     121,330 
Property and equipment, net     337     375 
Operating lease right-of-use assets    883     - 
Tax incentive receivable, net of current portion    94     - 
Restricted cash    1,339     - 
Other assets    57     57 
Total assets $  110,185  $  121,762 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $  3,156  $  3,590 
Accrued expenses and other    3,299     4,261 
Notes payable, current    7,273     5,455 
Total current liabilities    13,728     13,306 
Notes payable, long-term    13,526     15,185 
Operating lease liabilities    567     - 
Total liabilities    27,821     28,491 
Stockholders' equity:    
Preferred stock; $0.001 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized as of 
  March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; no shares issued and outstanding as of
  March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
    -     - 
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 115,000,000 shares authorized as of 
  March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; 37,323,079 and 37,287,221 shares issued
  and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
    37     37 
Additional paid-in capital    446,383     444,212 
Accumulated deficit    (364,057)    (350,945)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss    1     (33)
            Total stockholders' equity    82,364     93,271 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $  110,185  $  121,762 
     


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