TMCnet News

Viela Bio Reports Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Program Highlights
[August 12, 2020]

Viela Bio Reports Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Program Highlights


GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viela Bio (Nasdaq:VIE), a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatments for autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases, today reported financial results and provided program highlights for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

“Viela had another productive quarter marked by the U.S. FDA approval of UPLIZNA™—also known as inebilizumab—in the U.S.,” said Bing Yao, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Viela Bio. “In parallel, we continue to advance the development of inebilizumab in the U.S. in additional indications such as myasthenia gravis and IgG4-related disease.”

Added Dr. Yao: “Beyond UPLIZNA™, we continue to make progress throughout our entire pipeline. We recently reported positive interim Phase 1b data from our ongoing trial with VIB7734 and selected systemic lupus erythematosus as our area of focus for a Phase 2 trial. Separately, we are planning to initiate a Phase 1 trial with this product candidate in patients with COVID-19-related acute lung injury. Looking toward our objectives for the rest of the year and beyond, we are well-positioned having recently raised gross proceeds of approximately $169 million in an underwritten public offering, which will support our clinical and commercial execution and extends our cash runway into 2023.”

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

UPLIZNA™ (inebilizumab-cdon)

  • UPLIZNA™ Commercial Launch Underway
    On June 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved UPLIZNA™ for the treatment of adult patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are anti-AQP4 antibody positive as a twice-a-year maintenance regimen following initial doses. UPLIZNA™ is the first and only treatment designed to deplete B cells that is approved by the FDA for this patient population. Commercial launch activities are currently underway, with focus on both centers of excellence and community neurologists throughout the U.S.  
     
  • Viela Preparing for Additional Clinical Trials with Inebilizumab
    Phase 3 trials of inebilizumab in myasthenia gravis and IgG4-related disease are projected to initiate in Q4 2020. The Company is also conducting a Phase 2 trial for kidney transplant desensitization, which due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remains voluntarily paused.

VIB4920

  • Viela Resumes New Patient Enrollment in Ongoing Trial with VIB4920
    Viela is currently conducting a Phase 2b trial with VIB4920 in Sjögren’s syndrome as well as a Phase 2 trial in patients with kidney transplant rejection. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new patient enrollment in both trials had been voluntarily paused, but has recently resumed in the kidney transplant rejection trial, with enrollment in the Sjögren’s trial anticipated to resume in Q4 2020. The Company continues to explore other potential indications associated with the CD40/CD40L co-stimulatory pathway for potential additional clinical studies.

VIB7734

  • Company Reports Interim Results from Phase 1b trial with VIB7734 and Selects SLE for Phase 2 Trial
    In May, the Company reported positive interim data from a Phase 1b study with VIB7734, its novel anti-ILT7 therapy. Interim findings indicated safety and tolerability comparable to placebo control across all cohorts with the final data analysis expected to be completed in Q3 2020. Based on the positive interim results, as well as additional efficacy and biomarker data from cohort 3, the Company has selected systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as the lead indication of a planned Phase 2 trial.
  • Viela Prepares for New Study in COVID-19-Related Acute Lung Injury
    Viela is planning to initiate a Phase 1 study in Q3 2020 with VIB7734 in patients with COVID-19-related acute lung injury. Results from this study are anticipated in Q1 2021, at which time the Company will decide whether to pursue additional clinical trials in this indication.

FINANCIAL RESULTS

  • For the second quarter of 2020, Viela reported a net loss of $38.9 million, compared to a net loss of $5.5 million for the second quarter of 2019. As of June 30, 2020, Viela had $448.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments and no outstanding debt. In June 2020, Viela completed an underwritten public offering of its common stock and issued and sold 3,600,000 shares of common stock, at a public offering price of $47.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $169.2 million.

  • Research and development expenses were $25.4 million for the second quarter of 2020, which include $1.4 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expenses.
     
  • General and administrative expenses were $14.4 million for the second quarter of 2020, which include $1.7 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expenses.
     
  • Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2020 totaled $39.8 million, compared to $6.1 million for the second quarter of 2019. Non-cash share-based compensation expenses totaled $3.1 million for the second quarter of 2020, compared to $0.6 million for the second quarter of 2019.

Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss financial results and program highlights for the second quarter of 2020 today at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

The webcast will be accessible on the Events & Presentations page of Viela Bio’s website. Individuals can participate in the conference call by dialing (877) 783-8848 (domestic) or (631) 350-0960 (international) and referring to conference ID #: 4945969

The archived webcast will be available for replay on the Viela Bio website approximately two hours after the event.

About Viela Bio
Viela Bio, headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel treatments for autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases. For more information, please visit www.vielabio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, prospects, plans, objectives of management; our expectations regarding the commercialization of UPLIZNA™; our belief that UPLIZNA™ provides prescribing physicians an important new treatment option for patients living with NMOSD; our belief that UPLIZNA™ could reduce attacks which can lead to devastating and irreversible disability in patients living with NMOSD; our estimate of the number of people in the U.S. suffering from NMOSD; our estimate of the percentage of patients with NMOSD that test positive for anti-AQP4 antibodies; statements regarding the timing and progress of our ongoing clinical trials with inebilizumab in additional indications, as well as with our other product candidates; potential benefits of UPLIZNA™; our expectations regarding the availability of UPLIZNA™; and the commercialization and market acceptance of UPLIZNA™; our expectations about sufficiency of our existing cash balance and the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our commercialization efforts, business, operations and clinical trials; and our plans and the expected timing for the availability and reporting of data from our ongoing clinical trials are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, which 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. Various factors may cause differences between our expectations and actual results as discussed in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 that was filed with the SEC on March 25, 2020 and our subsequent periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
 2020
 2019
 2020
 2019 
Revenue:               
License revenue$  $20,000  $  $20,000 
Total revenue    20,000      20,000 
Operating expenses:               
Research and development 25,412   16,811   52,241   33,426 
General and administrative 14,408   9,296   29,690   14,333 
Total operating expenses 39,820   26,107   81,931   47,759 
Loss from operations (39,820)  (6,107)  (81,931)  (27,759)
Other income:               
Interest income 963   634   2,297   1,310 
Total other income 963   634   2,297   1,310 
Net loss$(38,857) $(5,473) $(79,634) $(26,449)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted$(0.74) $(8.94) $(1.55) $(72.06)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted 52,212,006   612,059   51,482,502   367,041 
Other comprehensive income               
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net$776  $  $650  $ 
Total other comprehensive income 776      650    
Total comprehensive loss$(38,081) $(5,473) $(78,984) $(26,449)
                



Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 June 30,
2020
  December 31,
2019
 
Assets       
Current assets:       
Cash and cash equivalents$131,551  $200,851 
Marketable securities 293,995   113,945 
Accounts receivable    30,000 
Prepaid and other current assets 11,261   6,242 
Total current assets 436,807   351,038 
Marketable securities, non-current 22,832   31,415 
Property and equipment, net 1,517   1,499 
Capital lease assets 1,017    
Intangible assets 19,700    
Other assets 122   102 
Total assets$481,995  $384,054 
Liabilities and stockholders equity       
Current liabilities:       
Accounts payable$6,337  $7,459 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 29,930   9,192 
Related party liability 4,490   12,892 
Capital lease liability - current 184    
Total current liabilities 40,941   29,543 
Capital lease liability - non-current 836    
Total liabilities 41,777   29,543 
Commitments and contingencies       
Stockholders equity:       
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; no shares issued or outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019     
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; 54,722,948 and 50,617,868 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively 54   51 
Additional paid-in capital 795,842   631,154 
Accumulated other comprehensive income 655   5 
Accumulated deficit (356,333)  (276,699)
Total stockholders’ equity 440,218   354,511 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$481,995  $384,054 

Source: Viela Bio


Contacts:

Investors:
Solebury Trout
Chad Rubin
646-378-2947
[email protected] 

Media:
Solebury Trout
Amy Bonanno
914-450-0349
[email protected]

Primary Logo


[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]