Investing.com
Published May 16, 2022 13:38
HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (HOOK) today reported financial results and business highlights for the first quarter of 2022.
“We observed strong external validation of our novel arenaviral platform in the first quarter with our collaboration agreement with Gilead (NASDAQ:GILD) and our capital raise, which drew funding from new and existing top-tier investors,” said Joern Aldag, Chief Executive Officer at HOOKIPA. “On the heels of our AACR data presentations, which showcased T cell and tumor response with our technology alone and in novel combinations, we remain focused on advancing our portfolio across cancer types. We look forward to sharing Phase 1 data from our HB-200 program mid-year and early Phase 2 data on HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab in late 2022, as well as progressing with IND preparations for our HB-300 program in prostate cancer.”
Quarter Highlights
Upcoming Milestones
First Quarter 2022 Financial ResultsCash Position: HOOKIPA’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of March 31, 2022 was $141.8 million compared to $66.9 million as of December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to funds resulting from the amended and restated Gilead collaboration agreement, and the follow-on financing in March 2022, partly offset by cash used in operating activities.
Revenue was $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, and $5.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to lower cost reimbursements received under the Collaboration Agreement with Gilead and the fact that the $4.0 million milestone payment and the $15.0 million initiation fee received in the three months ended March 31, 2022 were mostly recorded as deferred revenue to be recognized in future accounting periods.
Research and Development Expenses: HOOKIPA’s research and development expenses were $16.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $20.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
The decrease for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was attributable to a decrease in direct research and development expenses, partially offset by an increase in indirect research and development expenses.
The decrease in direct research and development expenses was primarily driven by lower manufacturing expenses for our HB-200 and Gilead partnered programs and lower clinical study expenses due to the completion of patient enrollment of the Phase 2 study for our HB-101 program. Indirect research and development expenses increased slightly because of an increase in professional and consulting fees, partially offset by a decrease in personnel related costs.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were $5.0 million, compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase in professional and consulting fees, and an increase in personnel-related expenses, partially offset by a decrease in other expenses. The increase in personnel-related expenses resulted from increased stock compensation expenses, a growth in headcount along with increased salaries in our general and administrative functions. The increase in professional and consulting fees was primarily attributable to intellectual property costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications as well as third-party license fees.
Net Loss: HOOKIPA’s net loss was $18.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to a net loss of $17.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This increase was due to a decrease in revenues from collaboration and licensing, a decrease in grant income, an increase in general and administrative expenses, partially offset by a decrease in research and development expenses.
About HOOKIPAHOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (HOOK) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel immunotherapies, based on its proprietary arenavirus platform, that are designed to mobilize and amplify targeted T cells and thereby fight or prevent serious disease. HOOKIPA’s replicating and non-replicating technologies are engineered to induce robust and durable antigen-specific CD8+ cell responses and pathogen-neutralizing antibodies. HOOKIPA’s pipeline includes its wholly-owned investigational arenaviral immunotherapeutics targeting HPV16+ cancers, prostate cancer, KRAS-mutated cancers (including colorectal, pancreatic and lung), and other undisclosed programs. In addition, HOOKIPA aims to develop functional cures of HBV and HIV in collaboration with Gilead.
Find out more about HOOKIPA online at www.hookipapharma.com.
HOOKIPA Forward Looking StatementsCertain statements set forth in this press release constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” or similar expressions and the negative of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause HOOKIPA’s research and clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, including HOOKIPA’s programs’ early stage of development, the process of designing and conducting preclinical and clinical trials, the regulatory approval processes, the timing of regulatory filings, the challenges associated with manufacturing drug products, HOOKIPA’s ability to successfully establish, protect and defend its intellectual property, risks relating to business interruptions resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak or similar public health crises, the impact of COVID-19 on the enrollment of patients and timing of clinical results, and other matters that could affect the sufficiency of existing cash to fund operations and HOOKIPA’s ability to achieve the milestones under the agreement with Gilead. HOOKIPA undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the company in general, see HOOKIPA’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 which is available on the Security and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov and HOOKIPA’s website at www.hookipapharma.com.
Investors and others should note that we announce material financial information to our investors using our investor relations website (https://ir.hookipapharma.com/), SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. We use these channels, as well as social media, to communicate with our members and the public about our company, our services and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the U.S. social media channels listed on our investor relations website.
HOOKIPA Pharma Inc.Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)(In thousands, except share and per share data) | ||||||||
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Revenue from collaboration and licensing | $ | 1,445 | $ | 5,301 | ||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||
Research and development | (16,620 | ) | (20,164 | ) | ||||
General and administrative | (4,972 | ) | (4,309 | ) | ||||
Total operating expenses | (21,592 | ) | (24,473 | ) | ||||
Loss from operations | (20,147 | ) | (19,172 | ) | ||||
Total interest, other income and taxes, net | 2,179 | 1,934 | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (17,968 | ) | $ | (17,238 | ) | ||
Net loss per share — basic and diluted | (0.40 | ) | (0.53 | ) |
Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)(In thousands) | ||||||
As of | As of | |||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 141,803 | $ | 66,912 | ||
Total assets | 195,711 | 126,045 | ||||
Total liabilities | 47,782 | 36,453 | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 147,929 | 89,592 |
For further information, please contact: | |
Media enquiries Instinctif Partners hookipa@instinctif.com +44 (0) 7457 2020 | InvestorsMatt Beck Executive Director - Investor Relationsmatthew.beck@hookipapharma.com |
Source: HOOKIPA Pharma Inc.
Written By: Investing.com
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