On August 3, 2020 Aduro Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADRO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies targeting the A Proliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL) and Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) pathways for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 (Press release, Aduro Biotech, AUG 3, 2020, View Source [SID1234562702]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"The second quarter of 2020 was highlighted by the announcement of our planned merger with Chinook Therapeutics as well as significant progress in our BION-1301 program for IgA nephropathy (IgAN). We recently dosed the first IgAN patient with BION-1301 in Part 3 of our ongoing Phase 1 study and presented positive data from Parts 1 and 2 of this study in healthy volunteers at the 57th ERA-EDTA Virtual Congress. The data indicated BION-1301 was well-tolerated, had a half-life of approximately 33 days, achieved over 90% target engagement with a single 450 mg dose of BION-1301 and demonstrated dose-dependent and durable reductions in IgA and IgM levels, and to a lesser extent, IgG levels," said Stephen T. Isaacs, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Aduro. "We continue to enroll patients in our Phase 2 study of ADU-S100 in combination with pembrolizumab in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and make progress on our cGAS-STING antagonist research collaboration with Lilly." Isaacs continued, "We ended the second quarter of 2020 with a cash position of $186.1 million, which we believe will enable us to continue our ongoing STING and APRIL programs in the near-term and also meet our net cash requirements at the close of the merger with Chinook."

Recent Highlights

Announced definitive merger agreement with Chinook Therapeutics, which is expected to close in the second half of 2020, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to completion of the merger. Following completion of the merger, the combined company will operate as Chinook Therapeutics and advance a pipeline of precision medicines for kidney diseases, led by atrasentan and BION-1301 in IgAN, assuming satisfaction of the conditions to closing the merger.

Presented healthy volunteer data from Part 1 (single ascending dose) and Part 2 (multiple ascending dose) of the ongoing Phase 1 study of BION-1301 at the 57th ERA-EDTA Virtual Congress.

Presented nonclinical toxicology studies of BION-1301 evaluating intravenous administration for up to six months and subcutaneous administration for up to one month at the 57th ERA-EDTA Virtual Congress.

Dosed the first patient with IgAN in Part 3 of the ongoing Phase 1 study of BION-1301.

Financial Results

Cash Position – Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $186.1 million at June 30, 2020, compared to $213.6 million at December 31, 2019. Cash spend year to date was offset by the receipt of a $10 million development milestone payment from Merck in the first quarter of 2020.

Revenue – Revenue was $5.6 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $19.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $4.9 million and $8.8 million, respectively for the same periods in 2019. The increase in revenue for the quarter was primarily due to fluctuations in revenue recognized under our Novartis collaboration which is dependent on clinical timelines and progress under the research and collaboration agreement. In addition to the Novartis collaboration, the increase in revenue for the year to date period included the recognition of the $10.0 million development milestone payment received under our license and research collaboration agreement with Merck.

Research and development expenses were $11.1 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $26.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $16.7 million and $34.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2019. The decrease in expense from 2019 to 2020 was primarily due to 2019 costs related to the deprioritized programs that were substantially wound down in 2019 offset by higher costs for our STING and APRIL programs. The decrease was also attributable to lower compensation and related personnel costs as well as stock-based compensation as compared to 2019 due to reduced headcount as a result of the January 2020 restructuring.

General and administrative expenses were $9.3 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $17.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $7.8 million and $16.1 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2019. The quarter and year to date increases were due to higher professional services expenses associated with the merger transaction, the increase was offset by lower personnel and stock-based compensation expense, as compared to 2019, due to reduced headcount as a result of the January 2020 restructuring.

Restructuring and related expenses were $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2020 and $6.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $0.4 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2019. The year to date restructuring and related expenses consisted of severance and employee retention costs as well as the impairment of property and equipment associated with the planned closure of the Aduro Biotech Europe facility in Oss, The Netherlands as part of the January 2020 corporate restructuring plan. The $3.4 million restructuring and related expenses recorded in 2019, which included employee severance and retention payments, related to the January 2019 strategic reset.

Net Loss – Net loss for the second quarter of 2020 was $16.6 million or $0.21 per share and $24.2 million or $0.30 per share for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to net loss of $18.6 million or $0.23 per share and $42.0 million or $0.53 per share, respectively, for the same periods in 2019. In addition to the factors described above, the net loss was offset by approximately $5.6 million of income tax benefit related to an income tax carryback claim allowed by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The income tax refund is expected to be received in the second half of 2020.