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BRISBANE, Calif., Nov. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERA), a late-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing transformative treatments for patients with serious immunological diseases, today reported its business highlights and financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.
“During the third quarter of 2022, we continued to make progress advancing our late-stage clinical pipeline of atacicept and MAU868,” said Marshall Fordyce, M.D., Founder and CEO of Vera Therapeutics. “At the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2022 Annual Meeting, we were pleased to share new data supporting the disease modifying mechanism of action of atacicept. Atacicept targets B-cells, and we have now shown that it reduces the first three hits of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) pathogenesis – serum galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1), anti-Gd-IgA1, and now immune complex levels. Our ongoing Phase 2b ORIGIN clinical trial will demonstrate how atacicept has the potential to improve kidney function, as measured by proteinuria, and topline results are expected to be announced in early first quarter of 2023. Data from the ORIGIN trial are expected to support the initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of atacicept in 2023. IgAN is a common cause of kidney failure and there is a high unmet medical need for treatment of IgAN globally.”
“We are also pleased to announce initiation of our pivotal Phase 3 COMPASS clinical trial of atacicept in lupus nephritis. This is a significant next step for the program, as we believe atacicept has the potential to be a best-in-disease treatment for lupus nephritis patients. There is an immense unmet medical need, with a high rate of morbidity and mortality, with many patients progressing to end-stage renal disease. We believe lupus nephritis represents a multi-billion-dollar aggregate annual market opportunity for novel therapeutics in the United States, Europe and Japan,” he continued.
“We also recently announced positive safety and clinically meaningful results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of MAU868 to treat BK Virus (BKV) in kidney transplant patients in an oral presentation at ASN Kidney Week 2022. We believe these data support our plan to initiate a Phase 2b or Phase 3 clinical trial of MAU868 in kidney transplant patients with BK viremia in 2023,” concluded Dr. Fordyce.
Third Quarter and Recent Business Highlights
Upcoming Milestones
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2022
For the three months ended September 30, 2022, the company reported a net loss of $24.7 million, or a net loss per diluted share of $0.91, compared to a net loss of $7.6 million, or a net loss per diluted share of $0.36, for the same period last year.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $46.4 million, compared to $17.3 million for the same period last year.
Vera reported $114.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of September 30, 2022.
About Atacicept
Atacicept is an investigational recombinant fusion protein self-administered as a subcutaneous injection once weekly that contains the soluble transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) receptor that binds to the cytokines B lymphocyte stimulator (BlyS) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL). These cytokines are members of the tumor necrosis factor family that promote B-cell survival and autoantibody production associated with certain autoimmune diseases, including IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and lupus nephritis. Atacicept showed a dose-dependent effect on key biomarkers and clinical markers in a Phase 2a clinical study in patients with IgAN. Vera believes atacicept is positioned for best-in-class potential, targeting B cells and plasma cells to reduce autoantibodies and having been administered to more than 1,400 patients in clinical studies across different indications.
About MAU868
MAU868, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody, has the potential to neutralize infection by blocking BK Virus (BKV) virions from binding to host cells. BK Virus is a polyoma virus that can be reactivated in settings of immunosuppression, such as in kidney transplant. It is a leading cause of kidney transplant loss and transplant-associated morbidity; there are currently no approved treatments for BKV. Vera holds an exclusive worldwide license from Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., for the development and commercialization of MAU868 in all indications.
About Vera
Vera Therapeutics is a late-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for serious immunological diseases. Vera’s mission is to advance treatments that target the source of immunologic diseases in order to change the standard of care for patients. Vera’s lead product candidate is atacicept, a fusion protein self-administered as a subcutaneous injection once weekly that blocks both B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL), which stimulate B cells and plasma cells to produce autoantibodies contributing to certain autoimmune diseases, including IgA nephropathy (IgAN), also known as Berger’s disease, and lupus nephritis. In addition, Vera is evaluating additional diseases where the reduction of autoantibodies by atacicept may prove medically useful. Vera is also developing MAU868, a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize infection with BK Virus, a polyomavirus that can have devastating consequences in certain settings such as kidney transplant. For more information, please visit www.veratx.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters, events or results that may occur in the future are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, Vera’s expectations regarding the strength and adequacy of its balance sheet, the timing and result of topline results from the Phase 2b ORIGIN clinical trial, Vera’s expectations regarding the initiation of a Phase 2b or 3 clinical trial of MAU868 in BK viremia in kidney transplant recipients in 2023, and Vera’s product candidates, strategy, and regulatory matters. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “potential,” “plan,” “expect,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Vera’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the regulatory approval process, results of earlier clinical trials may not be obtained in later clinical trials, risks and uncertainties associated with Vera’s business in general, the impact of geopolitical and macroeconomic events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and the other risks described in Vera’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. Vera undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Contact:
Joyce Allaire
LifeSci Advisors
212-915-2569
jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com
Media Contact:
Kathy Vincent
Greig Communications, Inc.
kathy@greigcommunications.com
VERA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 19,656 | $ | 3,564 | $ | 42,317 | $ | 9,731 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 5,588 | 3,688 | 15,005 | 8,086 | |||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 25,244 | 7,252 | 57,322 | 17,817 | |||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (25,244 | ) | (7,252 | ) | (57,322 | ) | (17,817 | ) | |||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | 565 | (359 | ) | 705 | 2,055 | ||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (24,679 | ) | $ | (7,611 | ) | $ | (56,617 | ) | $ | (15,762 | ) | |||
| Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities | (127 | ) | - | (279 | ) | - | |||||||||
| Total loss and comprehensive loss | $ | (24,806 | ) | $ | (7,611 | ) | $ | (56,896 | ) | $ | (15,762 | ) | |||
| Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted | $ | (0.91 | ) | $ | (0.36 | ) | $ | (2.16 | ) | $ | (1.46 | ) | |||
| Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted | 27,215,874 | 21,265,519 | 26,184,816 | 10,793,436 | |||||||||||
VERA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share amounts)
| September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Assets | (unaudited) | ||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term marketable securities | $ | 114,420 | $ | 79,674 | |||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 10,562 | 2,863 | |||||
| Total current assets | 124,982 | 82,537 | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 5,768 | - | |||||
| Non-marketable equity securities | 122 | 867 | |||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 498 | 344 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 131,370 | $ | 83,748 | |||
| Liabilities and stockholder's equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 7,012 | $ | 1,385 | |||
| Operating lease liabilities | 2,689 | - | |||||
| Restructuring liability | - | 377 | |||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 6,219 | 5,928 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 15,920 | 7,690 | |||||
| Long-term debt | 4,966 | 4,923 | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent | 4,480 | - | |||||
| Restructuring liability, noncurrent | - | 1,257 | |||||
| Accrued and other noncurrent liabilities | 286 | 286 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 25,652 | 14,156 | |||||
| Stockholders' equity | |||||||
| Common stock | 28 | 21 | |||||
| Additional paid-in-capital | 286,642 | 193,627 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (279 | ) | - | ||||
| Accumulated deficit | (180,673 | ) | (124,056 | ) | |||
| Total stockholders' equity | 105,718 | 69,592 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 131,370 | $ | 83,748 | |||