On February 24, 2021 vTv Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:VTVT) reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, and provided an update on the progress of its clinical programs (Press release, vTv Therapeutics, FEB 24, 2021, View Source [SID1234575545]).

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"Despite the challenges of operating through a global pandemic, 2020 was a successful year for vTv Therapeutics," said Steve Holcombe, president and CEO. "We had positive results in the Phase 2 SimpliciT-1 Study with our lead compound, TTP399, paving the way for our continued development of this asset in patients with type 1 diabetes. In addition, we strengthened our current and future financial position with the initiation of our ATM, agreement with Lincoln Park Capital, and licensing agreement with Anteris Bio."

"In 2021, we look forward to building on these successes as we advance our two lead programs for the treatment of type 1 diabetes and psoriasis. We plan to initiate our first pivotal study of TTP399 along with other supporting studies to demonstrate our unique glucokinase activator’s potential to reduce the incidence of hypoglycemia in people with type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, we have commenced a multiple ascending dose study with HPP737 to be followed by a phase 2 study in patients with psoriasis in order to demonstrate HPP737’s potential to be a well-tolerated, next-generation PDE4 inhibitor."

Recent Achievements and Outlook

Type 1 Diabetes

Mechanistic Study of Ketoacidosis with TTP399. To further support the hypothesis that TTP399 may help reduce the incidence of ketoacidosis, vTv will begin dosing of a mechanistic study of TTP399 in patients with type 1 diabetes during Q1 of 2021 to determine the impact of TTP399 on ketone body formation during a period of acute insulin withdrawal. The FDA agreed with the Company’s recommendation that such a mechanistic study be performed in support of the Company’s planned pivotal trials. vTv expects to report topline results from the mechanistic study in Q2/Q3 2021.
Pivotal Study Planning. The Company is planning to initiate the first of two pivotal, placebo-controlled, six-month clinical trials of TTP399 in approximately 400 subjects with type 1 diabetes in 2H 2021. The studies will be designed to assess TTP399’s ability to reduce the incidence of hypoglycemia when administered as an oral adjunct to insulin therapy.
Publication of SimpliciT-1 Results. Diabetes Care, the American Diabetes Association’s journal of clinical research, published the positive results of the Phase 2 SimpliciT-1 Study of TTP399 as an adjunct therapy to insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes, which showed statistically significant reductions in HbA1c and clinically meaningful reductions in hypoglycemia.
Psoriasis

First-Patient First-Visit of Multiple Ascending Dose Study with HPP737. The Company has begun dosing of a phase 1 multiple ascending dose study to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of HPP737, a PDE4 inhibitor, in healthy volunteers. The phase 1 study will inform dose selection for the planned phase 2 study in psoriasis that the Company expects to begin later this year.
Strategic Partnership with Anteris Bio

License Agreement for Nrf2 Activator HPP971. In December 2020, the Company announced a new license agreement with Anteris Bio for worldwide rights to vTv’s novel, clinical-stage Nrf2 activator compound, HPP971. Anteris will be pursuing indications in renal disease with HPP971.
Azeliragon (TTP488)

Discontinuation of azeliragon for Alzheimer’s disease. On December 15, 2020, vTv announced that the phase 2 Elevage Study of azeliragon did not meet its primary objective. vTv has discontinued development of azeliragon for Alzheimer’s disease, but the Company is evaluating potential alternative indications in partnership with other interested parties.
Capital Raising

At-the-Market (ATM) Offering. In January, the Company filed a prospectus supplement for $5.5 million of additional capacity under the Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. As of the date of this release, the full $5.5 million remains available.
Lincoln Park. The Company continues to leverage its partnership with Lincoln Park to raise capital to fund its on-going and planned clinical trials and corporate operations on an opportunistic basis.
Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Cash Position: The Company’s cash position as of December 31, 2020, was $5.7 million compared to $1.8 million as of September 30, 2020.
Revenue: Revenue for the fourth quarter was $6.4 million and was insignificant for the third quarter of 2020. The revenue for the fourth quarter was primarily attributable to the upfront consideration, consisting of cash and an equity interest, received in connection with the Company’s license agreement with Anteris Bio.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $2.5 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively. This increase of $0.8 million was driven primarily by the reversal of certain performance-based compensation accruals which occurred in the third quarter.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $2.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $1.1 million for the third quarter, respectively. The increase of $1.0 million was driven by the reversal of certain performance-based compensation accruals in the third quarter.
Net Income/(Loss) Before Non-Controlling Interest: Net income before non-controlling interest was $1.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to a net loss of $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2020.
Net Income/(Loss) Per Share: Diluted net income per share was $0.02 for the three months ended December 31, 2020 compared to a diluted net loss per share of ($0.03) for the three months ended September 30, 2020, based on weighted-average diluted shares of 74.4 million and 48.2 million for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively. Non-GAAP net income per fully exchanged share was $0.02 for the three months ended December 31, 2020 compared to a net loss per fully exchanged share of ($0.02) at September 30, 2020, based on non-GAAP fully exchanged weighted-average shares of 74.4 million and 71.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020, respectively.
Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Revenue: Revenues were $6.4 million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The 2020 revenue is attributable to the upfront payment and fair value of the equity interest received by the Company in connection with the license agreement with Anteris Bio. The revenue earned during 2019 primarily relates to the recognition of amounts deferred for the license agreement with Reneo and a milestone received under the license agreement with Newsoara.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $11.0 million and $15.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This decrease was attributable primarily to lower spending on clinical trials for azeliragon and TTP399 in 2020 coupled with the impact of reversals of performance-based compensation accruals in 2020.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $7.3 million and $8.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Such decreases were primarily driven by lower compensation costs related to a reversal of accruals for performance-based compensation and lower share-based compensation expense in 2020.
Net Loss Before Non-Controlling Interest: Net loss before non-controlling interest was $12.8 million and $21.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Net Loss Per Share: GAAP net loss per share was $0.18 and $0.59 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, based on weighted-average shares of 47.1 million and 30.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Non-GAAP net loss per fully exchanged share was $0.17 and $0.37 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, based on non-GAAP fully exchanged weighted-average shares of 70.2 million and 53.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.