On March 12, 2020 Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Idera") (NASDAQ: IDRA) reported on March 11, 2020 its financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 (Press release, Idera Pharmaceuticals, MAR 12, 2020, View Source [SID1234555459]).

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"In 2019, we made great progress with ILLUMINATE-301, our registrational trial of tilsotolimod in combination with ipilimumab in anti-PD-1 refractory patients with advanced melanoma. This was the result of outstanding focus and dedication across our organization and enabled us to finish enrollment in the first quarter of 2020, earlier than anticipated. It also positions us to have initial data from the trial early next year," stated Vincent Milano, Idera’s Chief Executive Officer. "2019 was also notable for our progress in taking tilsotolimod beyond melanoma through both our collaboration in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and through our ILLUMINATE-206 trial, which we initiated in the microsatellite stable colorectal cancer cohort."

ILLUMINATE (tilsotolimod) Clinical Development Update

ILLUMINATE-301: Randomized phase 3 trial of tilsotolimod in combination with ipilimumab versus ipilimumab alone in patients with anti-PD-1 refractory advanced melanoma:

·Primary endpoint family of ORR per RECIST v1.1 and overall survival (OS);
·Trial initiated in March 2018;
·Enrollment completed in March 2020; and
·ORR and other preliminary data expected in Q1 2021.

ILLUMINATE-206: Phase 2, open-label, multicohort, multicenter study to test the safety and effectiveness of tilsotolimod in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab for the treatment of solid tumors:

·Trial initiated in September 2019 with the microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) cohort;

·Initial safety run-in cohort of 10 patients with MSS-CRC fully enrolled; and
·Preliminary data from this cohort expected in Q2 2020.

ILLUMINATE-204: Phase 1/2 trial of tilsotolimod in combination with ipilimumab or pembrolizumab in patients with anti-PD-1 refractory advanced melanoma:

·Enrollment completed in February 2019 at tilsotolimod 8 mg with ipilimumab; and
·Final top-line results from the ILLUMINATE-204 trial, to include ORR, median OS, duration of response (DOR), and safety, are expected to be released in Q2 2020.

Corporate Updates

Since September 30, 2019, the following corporate updates were announced:

·Received new U.S. Patent for tilsotolimod, providing exclusivity through September 2037 when tilsotolimod is used with certain checkpoint inhibitors.
·Entered into private placement financing of up to $97.7 million, with $10.1 million received in December 2019 from initial proceeds and option fees.
·Dr. Jonathan Yingling departed Idera as its Chief Scientific Officer effective January 31, 2020.

Financial Results

Fourth Quarter Results

Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2019 and 2018 was nominal. Research and development expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2019 totaled $8.4 million compared to $8.9 million for the same period in 2018. General and administrative expense for the three months ended December 31, 2019, totaled $3.4 million compared to $3.6 million for the same period in 2018.

Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2019 the Company recorded $0.6 million and $11.0 million of non-cash warrant revaluation expense and non-cash future tranche right revaluation expense, respectively. These expenses were related to a private placement transaction consummated pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2019, by and between us and certain institutional investors, whereby the Company sold shares of Series B1 convertible preferred stock and warrants to purchase common stock for $3.9 million and received an upfront option fee of approximately $6.2 million related to certain rights provided to such institutional investors to purchase shares of Series B2, Series B3, and Series B4 convertible preferred stock and warrants to purchase common stock in future tranches, subject to shareholder approval to increase authorized shares. The 2019 period also included non-cash deemed dividends of approximately $28.0 million, increasing net loss attributable to common stockholders, related to the transaction.

As a result of the factors above, net loss applicable to common stockholders for the three months ended December 31, 2019, was $51.3 million, or $1.76 per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss applicable to common stockholders of $12.2 million, or $0.45 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2018. Net loss applicable to common stockholders excluding non-cash expense of approximately $11.6 million and deemed dividends of approximately $28.0 million related to the Securities Purchase Agreement for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was $11.7 million, or $0.40 per basic and diluted share.

Full Year Results

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019, was $1.5 million compared to revenue of $0.7 million for the same period in 2018. Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019, totaled $34.9 million compared to $41.8 million for the same period in 2018. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019, totaled $12.5 million compared to $15.4 million for the same period in 2018. Merger-related costs, net for the year ended December 31, 2018, totaled $1.2 million. No such costs were incurred during 2019. Restructuring costs for the year ended December 31, 2019, totaled $0.2 million compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2018 and related to our decision in July 2018 to wind-down our discovery operations.

The 2019 period also included $0.6 million and $11.0 million of non-cash warrant revaluation expense and non-cash future tranche right revaluation expense, respectively, as well as non-cash deemed dividends of approximately $28.0 million, increasing net loss attributable to common stockholders, as further discussed above under fourth quarter results.

As a result of the factors above, net loss applicable to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2019, was $84.6 million or $2.96 per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss applicable to common stockholders of $59.9 million, or $2.25 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2018. Net loss applicable to common stockholders excluding non-cash expense of approximately $11.6 million and deemed dividends of approximately $28.0 million related to the Securities Purchase Agreement for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was $45.0 million, or $1.57 per basic and diluted share.

As of December 31, 2019, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $42.8 million, which includes a $6.2 million contingently refundable option fee received in connection with the December 2019 private placement transaction, discussed above. We currently anticipate that, based on our current operating plan, our current cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, excluding the $6.2 million contingently refundable option fee, will fund our operations into the first quarter of 2021.