On March 1, 2021 Allakos Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq: ALLK), a biotechnology company developing lirentelimab (AK002) for the treatment of eosinophil and mast cell-related diseases, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 and provided a business update (Press release, Allakos, MAR 1, 2021, View Source [SID1234575828]).

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!

2020 Accomplishments

Announced positive results from our prospective prevalence study showing that 45% (181/405) of symptomatic patients biopsied with chronic unexplained gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms or functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD) met the histologic criteria for eosinophilic gastritis (EG) and/or eosinophilic duodenitis (EoD). The results suggest that EG and/or EoD are significantly underdiagnosed among these patients. Millions of patients in the U.S. are under the care of a gastroenterologist and suffer from chronic unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms or FGIDs. These results provide evidence that prevalence of EG and EoD is significantly higher than reported in the literature.
Announced positive safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study of subcutaneous (SC) lirentelimab in healthy volunteers. Bioavailability of SC lirentelimab was 63% and SC lirentelimab resulted in extended eosinophil suppression at all dose levels tested. At dose levels of 3.0 and 5.0 mg/kg and with the fixed dose of 300 mg, SC lirentelimab resulted in eosinophil suppression in all subjects through Day 85. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic results suggest that SC lirentelimab may be given monthly or potentially less frequently. SC lirentelimab was well tolerated, and there were no serious adverse events, no injection site reactions and no infusion-related reactions with SC lirentelimab.
Published results from a Phase 2 study of lirentelimab in patients with EG and/or EoD (ENIGMA) in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Announced positive interim results from an open-label long term extension study of ENIGMA. The results were accepted for oral presentation and presented virtually at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) Annual Meeting.
Closed an underwritten public offering, issuing 3,506,098 shares of common stock at an offering price of $82.00 per share. Aggregate net proceeds received from the offering were approximately $271.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions.
Upcoming 2021 Milestones

Topline data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study of lirentelimab in patients with EG and/or EoD expected in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Topline data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2/3 study of lirentelimab in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) expected in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Initiation of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study of lirentelimab in patients with EoD expected in the second quarter of 2021.
Initiation of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2/3 study of SC lirentelimab in patients with EG and/or EoD expected in the second half of 2021.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Research and development expenses were $28.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to $16.6 million in the same period in 2019, an increase of $11.9 million. Research and development expenses were $105.5 million for the full year 2020 as compared to $61.9 million in the same period in 2019, an increase of $43.6 million.

General and administrative expenses were $15.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to $10.3 million in the same period in 2019, an increase of $5.5 million. General and administrative expenses were $51.5 million for the full year 2020 as compared to $29.6 million in the same period in 2019, an increase of $21.9 million.

Allakos reported a net loss of $44.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to $24.6 million in the same period in 2019, an increase of $19.7 million. Net loss per basic and diluted share was $0.86 for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $0.51 in the same period in 2019. Net loss was $153.5 million for the full year 2020 as compared to $85.4 million in the same period in 2019, an increase of $68.1 million. Net loss per basic and diluted share was $3.10 for the full year 2020 compared to $1.89 in the same period in 2019.

Allakos ended the fiscal year 2020 with $659.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.