On March 12, 2024 Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGS, "Aligos"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics to address unmet medical needs in liver and viral diseases, reported recent business progress and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 (Press release, Aligos Therapeutics, MAR 12, 2024, View Source [SID1234641059]).

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"Last year we built the foundation for a critical 2024 by closing a $92 million PIPE from healthcare-dedicated institutional investors and successfully completing our Phase 2a enabling activities for ALG-055009," stated Lawrence Blatt, Ph.D., MBA, Chairman & CEO of Aligos Therapeutics. "In addition, we presented unprecedented antiviral activity from our ALG-000184 program for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). With these important accomplishments in hand, we are well positioned to deliver important planned milestones in 2024, which include releasing topline data in subjects with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in the ALG-055009 Phase 2a study (HERALD) and completing Phase 2 enabling activities for ALG-000184 by the end of the year. We look forward to sharing our achievements with our stakeholders throughout this year."

Recent Business Progress

Aligos Portfolio of Drug Candidates

ALG-055009: Potential best-in-class small molecule THR-β agonist for MASH

Phase 2a enabling activities, including completion of supporting nonclinical/Phase 1 studies and manufacturing of drug supply, were completed
The Phase 2a HERALD protocol was filed with the FDA in Q4 2023
First subject dosed expected in Q2 2024 and topline HERALD data anticipated in Q4 2024
ALG-000184: Potential best-in-class small molecule CAM-E for CHB

Dosing continues in the ongoing Phase 1a/1b ALG-000184-201 study, with multiple subjects now having been dosed for >1 year (total planned dosing duration is 96 weeks). Interim data readouts are planned to be presented this year at the following conferences: Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
Phase 2 enabling activities, including regulatory interactions and drug supply manufacturing, are underway
ALG-097558: Potential best-in-class small molecule pan-coronavirus protease inhibitor

The ongoing Phase 1 first in human study is nearing completion of dosing (Q2), with topline data to be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) Annual Meeting, occurring in April 2024
Phase 2 enabling activities are underway with financial support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023

Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $135.7 million as of December 31, 2023, compared with $125.8 million as of December 31, 2022. Additionally, in October 2023, we raised $92.1 million in gross proceeds in a private placement financing, before deducting placement agent’s fees and other expenses. Including the proceeds from the private placement financing, we continue to believe our cash balance provides sufficient cash to fund planned operations through the end of 2025.

Net losses for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were $27.9 million or basic and diluted net loss per common share of $(0.22), compared to net losses of $21.9 million or basic and diluted net loss per common share of $(0.51) for the three months ended December 31, 2022.

Net losses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $87.7 million or basic and diluted net loss per common share of $(1.36), compared to net losses of $96.0 million or basic and diluted net loss per common share of $(2.25) for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were $22.3 million, compared with $19.1 million for the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily due third party expenses due to the milestone payments made as a result of dosing the first patient in a clinical trial. Total R&D stock-based compensation expense incurred for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $1.5 million, compared with $1.9 million for the same period of 2022.

R&D expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, were $73.0 million, compared with $85.1 million for the same period of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in third-party expenses mainly related to our discontinued STOPs and ASO programs in 2022, partially offset by increases in our ongoing activities and related expenditures associated with our CAM clinical trial activities and MASH program, as well as the milestone payment to Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) under its collaboration agreement related to the coronaviruses and the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Total R&D stock-based compensation expense incurred for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $6.8 million, compared with $8.0 million for the same period of 2022.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were $6.4 million, compared with $7.1 million for the same period of 2022. The decrease in G&A expenses for this comparative period is primarily due to a decrease in facility costs. Total G&A stock-based compensation expense incurred for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $1.1 million, compared with $1.6 million for the same period of 2022.

G&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, were $30.6 million, compared with $26.4 million for the same period of 2022. This was due to an increase in third-party expenses primarily due to higher legal and patent attorney costs, partially offset by a decrease in facility expenses. Total G&A stock-based compensation expense incurred for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $5.8 million, compared with $6.7 million for the same period of 2022.