On March 19, 2020 HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK, ‘HOOKIPA’), a company developing a new class of immunotherapeutics targeting infectious diseases and cancers based on its proprietary arenavirus platform, reported its financial results and corporate update for the fourth quarter and full year 2019 (Press release, Hookipa Pharma, MAR 19, 2020, View Source [SID1234555695]).
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"In 2019, HOOKIPA achieved its development progress and financial goals," commented Joern Aldag, HOOKIPA’s Chief Executive Officer. "We dosed our first patient in HB-201, our first immuno-oncology clinical trial in Human Papillomavirus-positive cancers, continued enrolling our Cytomegalovirus prophylaxis trial HB-101, progressed our collaboration with Gilead for HBV and HIV, and executed our Series D and IPO early in the year to fund our clinical trials beyond proof of concept. Well prepared for an important, data-rich year 2020, we now have to assume that the coronavirus pandemic will very likely affect how we will operate in order to fully execute our 2020 strategic plan in order to remain on track for our previously announced clinical milestones. Focusing first on our people and then on business continuity, we have instituted a work from home policy for those who do not need the company infrastructure for their work. We maintain our labs for business critical projects and stay in close connection with manufacturers and clinical trial sites. Our people are remarkable in doing everything under our control to deliver in the context of this situation."
R&D Pipeline Update and Clinical Progress
HB-101, lead product candidate in infectious diseases
HOOKIPA’s VaxWave-based prophylactic Cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine candidate, HB- 101, continues to enroll patients in a Phase 2 randomized, double-blinded clinical trial in CMV-negative patients awaiting kidney transplantation from CMV-positive donors. Based on HB-101’s tolerability profile in the target patient population dosed to date and to gain further insights that will inform the Phase 3 trial design, the Company added a new cohort of CMV-positive recipients awaiting kidney transplantation from CMV-positive or -negative donors to the trial protocol in early 2020. HOOKIPA expects to report safety and immunogenicity data in the first half of 2020 from approximately one-third of the total 150 patients to be enrolled, including placebo recipients. The immunogenicity data set will contain both CMV-specific antibody (gB) and CMV-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Preliminary efficacy data is on track to follow late in the second half of 2020.
HB-201 and HB-202, programs for the treatment of Human Papillomavirus-positive cancers
HB-201 and HB-202, HOOKIPA’s TheraT-based lead oncology product candidates, are in development for the treatment of Human Papillomavirus serotype 16-positive (HPV16+) cancers. HOOKIPA dosed the first patient in an open label, dose escalating Phase 1/2 clinical trial for HB-201 in December 2019, HOOKIPA’s first clinical trial in immuno-oncology. The Company expects preliminary results in late 2020 or early 2021. HOOKIPA’s second planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial will assess the safety and efficacy of the combination of HB‑201 and HB‑202 in HPV16+ cancers, with or without an approved checkpoint inhibitor. HOOKIPA remains on track to file the HB‑202 Initial New Drug submission with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the first half 2020. The planned HB-202/201 clinical trial is an open label, dose escalation Phase 1/2 trial with the primary endpoint to evaluate safety and tolerability. That trial is expected to commence later in 2020.
Strategic Collaborations
Gilead Sciences Collaboration for HIV and HBV Therapeutic Vaccines
During 2019, HOOKIPA received $6.0 million in milestone payments from Gilead for the delivery of research vectors and advancing the programs closer to clinical trials. Based on preclinical data generated to date, Gilead committed to preparations to advance the HBV and HIV vectors toward development, with the HBV development decision triggering a milestone payment of $4.0 million, which the Company received in early 2020. To enable the development activities and expanded research programs, Gilead agreed to reserve manufacturing capacity and increase reimbursement budgeted for the Company’s expanded resources allocated to the Gilead collaboration.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results
Cash Position: HOOKIPA’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of December 31, 2019 was $113.6 million compared to $48.6 million as of December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily attributable to $37.3 million in net proceeds received from the issuance of shares of Series D convertible preferred stock in February 2019, and $74.6 million in net proceeds received from HOOKIPA’s initial public offering in April 2019, offset by cash used in operating and investing activities. On April 23, 2019, HOOKIPA completed an initial public offering of its common stock by issuing 6.0 million shares of its common stock, at $14.00 per share.
Revenue was $3.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, and $11.9 million for the full year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $5.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and $7.6 million for the full year ended December 31, 2018. Revenue was driven by the recognition of milestone payments and partial recognition of the upfront payment as well as cost reimbursements received under the Collaboration Agreement with Gilead.
Research and Development Expenses: HOOKIPA’s research and development expenses were $11.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, and $46.3 million for the full year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $4.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and $22.0 million for the full year ended December 31, 2018.
The primary drivers of the increase for 2019 were an increase in direct research and development expenses by $19.9 million, and an increase in personnel expenses by $3.1 million. Direct research and development expenses increased primarily due to the costs for conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial for the Company’s HB-101 program the preparation costs of clinical trials for HOOKIPA’s HB-201 and HB‑202 programs, expansion of earlier stage programs and costs in connection with securing manufacturing capacity for production of clinical trial material. In addition, costs related to HOOKIPA’s collaboration with Gilead contributed to the increase in direct expenses.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $5.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, and $16.7 million for the full year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $2.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and $6.8 million for the full year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was mainly due to the growth in personnel related expenses, an increase in professional and consulting fees as well as costs associated with ongoing business activities and costs to operate as a public company.
Net Loss: HOOKIPA’s net loss was $10.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and $43.0 million for the full year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a net loss of $1.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and $16.2 million for the full year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due to an increase in research and development expenses, mainly driven by the progression of HOOKIPA’s oncology programs, and an increase in general and administrative expenses following HOOKIPA’s IPO.
Conference Call
To access the live conference call, please dial +1 631 510 7495 (from the US) or +44 207 192 8000 (international) and refer to conference ID 1769733. A live audio webcast of the event will also be available within the Investors & Media section of HOOKIPA’s website at View Source An archived replay will be accessible for 30 days following the event.