On May 9, 2024 Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA), a leading clinical-stage gene editing company focused on revolutionizing medicine with CRISPR-based therapies, reported operational highlights and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (Press release, Intellia, MAY 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234642994]).

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"Intellia continues to make outstanding progress across our pipeline of in vivo and ex vivo single-dose CRISPR-based therapies. With one ongoing and two soon-to-be-initiated pivotal Phase 3 trials, Intellia is undoubtedly at the forefront of a new era in medicine," said Intellia President and Chief Executive Officer John Leonard, M.D. "We have been extremely pleased with the speed of enrollment in the Phase 3 MAGNITUDE trial for patients with ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy, which is tracking ahead of our initial projections. In addition, we now expect to start a pivotal Phase 3 trial of NTLA-2001 for patients with polyneuropathy by year-end, based on productive discussions with the FDA. Moving to NTLA-2002, we expect to report key data readouts from the Phase 1/2 study this year. These data will support the dose selection for the Phase 3 trial and highlight what we believe is the potential for NTLA-2002 to dramatically change the HAE treatment paradigm. Building on our success with in vivo gene inactivation, we are excited to initiate the first-in-human study of NTLA-3001 for AATD this year, positioning us to be the first to clinically validate CRISPR-based gene insertion. We look forward to continuing our strong execution, with many notable milestones to mark the progress against our strategic priorities."

First Quarter 2024 and Recent Operational Highlights

Transthyretin (ATTR) Amyloidosis

NTLA-2001: NTLA-2001 is an investigational in vivo CRISPR-based therapy designed to inactivate the TTR gene in the liver and thereby prevent the production of transthyretin (TTR) protein for the treatment of ATTR amyloidosis. NTLA-2001 offers the possibility of halting and reversing the disease by driving a deep, consistent and potentially lifelong reduction in TTR protein after a single dose. Intellia leads development and commercialization of NTLA-2001 in collaboration with Regeneron.
ATTR Amyloidosis with Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM):
The pivotal Phase 3 MAGNITUDE trial is rapidly enrolling. In March, the first patients in the U.S. and globally were dosed. Enrollment is currently tracking well ahead of the Company’s initial projections, with over 30 patients dosed to date and more than 40 additional patients in screening. Many additional sites are expected to open in the weeks and months ahead to further accelerate enrollment.
Hereditary ATTR Amyloidosis with Polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN):
Intellia announced today alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a pivotal Phase 3 trial design to support a biologics license application (BLA) filing for NTLA-2001 as a single-dose treatment for people living with ATTRv-PN, subject to review of its investigational new drug (IND) application. The study is expected to be a small, placebo-controlled trial conducted at ex-U.S. sites with approximately 50 ATTRv-PN patients. The Company plans to initiate the study by year-end.
The Company plans to present updated data from the ongoing Phase 1 study in the second half of 2024.
Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)

NTLA-2002: NTLA-2002 is a wholly owned, investigational in vivo CRISPR-based therapy designed to knock out the KLKB1 gene in the liver, with the goal of lifelong control of HAE attacks after a single dose.
Intellia plans to initiate the global pivotal Phase 3 study, including U.S. patients, in the second half of 2024, subject to regulatory feedback.
The Company will present updated data from the Phase 1 study at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress 2024, taking place May 31 – June 3 in Valencia, Spain. Long-term data from the Phase 1 portion of the Phase 1/2 study will include safety, kallikrein reduction and attack rate data, including number of patients who continue to be completely attack free through the latest follow-up. Additionally, Intellia plans to report topline results from the Phase 2 portion in mid-2024 and present full results at a medical meeting in the second half of 2024.
In January, landmark findings from the Phase 1 portion of the Phase 1/2 study of NTLA-2002 were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD)-Associated Lung Disease

NTLA-3001: NTLA-3001 is a first-in-class CRISPR-mediated in vivo targeted gene insertion development candidate for the treatment of AATD-associated lung disease. It is designed to precisely insert the wild-type SERPINA1 gene, which encodes the alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein, with the potential to restore permanent expression of fully functional AAT protein to normal levels after a single dose. This is Intellia’s first wholly owned gene insertion program.
Intellia expects to dose the first patient in a Phase 1 study of NTLA-3001 in 2024.
In Vivo Platform Expansion

Intellia is expanding the range of diseases that can be targeted with its CRISPR-based technologies by deploying new editing and delivery innovations. This includes advancing gene editing programs in five different tissues outside the liver, either independently or in collaboration with partners. These research and preclinical programs are targeting diseases that originate in the bone marrow, brain, muscle, lung and eye, which, if successful, could dramatically expand the opportunities for CRISPR-based treatments.
In February, Intellia and ReCode announced a strategic collaboration to develop novel genomic medicines for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). The collaboration will leverage Intellia’s proprietary CRISPR-based gene editing platform, including its DNA writing technology, and ReCode’s proprietary Selective Organ Targeting (SORT) lipid nanoparticle delivery platform to precisely correct one or more CF disease-causing gene mutations.
Ex Vivo Program Updates

Intellia is advancing multiple programs, wholly owned and in collaboration with partners, utilizing its allogeneic platform for the treatment of immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The Company’s proprietary allogeneic cell engineering platform avoids both T cell- and NK cell-mediated rejection in preclinical models, a key unsolved challenge with other investigational allogeneic approaches. Cell therapies engineered with Intellia’s allogeneic platform, combined with edits to enhance cell function, offer a new approach to target solid tumors.
Corporate Updates

Corporate Responsibility Report: In April, Intellia published its 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report. The report highlights the Company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and practices as part of its objective to build a sustainable company, while delivering on its commitments to patients, employees and shareholders.
Upcoming Events

The Company will participate in the following events during the second quarter of 2024:

Bank of America Health Care Conference, May 14, Las Vegas
RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference, May 14, New York
EAACI Congress 2024, May 31 – June 3, Valencia, Spain
Goldman Sachs 45th Annual Global Healthcare Conference, June 10, Miami
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $953.4 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $1.0 billion as of December 31, 2023. The decrease was driven by cash used to fund operations of $137.2 million. The decrease was offset in part by $58.0 million of net equity proceeds from the Company’s "At the Market" (ATM) program, $12.6 million of interest income, $5.9 million of reimbursement from its collaborators, and $2.0 million in proceeds from employee-based stock plans. The cash position is expected to fund operations into late 2026.
Collaboration Revenue: Collaboration revenue was $28.9 million during the first quarter of 2024, compared to $12.6 million during the first quarter of 2023. The $16.3 million increase was mainly driven by a $21.0 million non-cash revenue recognition adjustment related to the AvenCell collaboration.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $111.8 million during the first quarter of 2024, compared to $97.1 million during the first quarter of 2023. The $14.7 million increase was primarily driven by the advancement of our lead programs. Stock-based compensation expense included in research and development expenses was $20.2 million for the first quarter of 2024.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $31.1 million during the first quarter of 2024, compared to $27.4 million during the first quarter of 2023. The $3.7 million increase was primarily related to stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses was $14.0 million for the first quarter of 2024.
Net Loss: Net loss was $107.4 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $103.1 million during the first quarter of 2023.
Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter 2024 Results

The Company will discuss these results on a conference call today, Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. ET.
To join the call:

U.S. callers should dial 1-833-316-0545 and international callers should dial 1-412-317-5726 approximately five minutes before the call. All participants should ask to be connected to the Intellia Therapeutics conference call.
Please visit this link for a simultaneous live webcast of the call.
A replay of the call will be available through the Events and Presentations page of the Investors & Media section on Intellia’s website at intelliatx.com, beginning on May 9 at 12 p.m. ET.