AlloVir Reports Full-Year 2021 Financial Results and 2022 Outlook

Rhea-AI Summary

AlloVir (ALVR) reported its 2021 financial results, revealing a net loss of $172 million or $2.74 per share, worsening from a $70 million loss in 2020. The company holds a strong cash position of $248.1 million. In 2022, AlloVir plans to execute three Phase 3 studies for its lead product, posoleucel, targeting life-threatening viral infections with ongoing patient enrollment. Additionally, it aims to expand its pipeline with two new therapies, ALVR106 for respiratory viruses and ALVR107 for hepatitis B.

Positive

• Strong cash position of $248.1 million as of December 31, 2021.
• Initiating three Phase 3 registrational studies for posoleucel in 2022 targeting critical viral infections.
• Posoleucel granted RMAT designation by the FDA, indicating recognition of its potential in significant unmet medical needs.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $172 million in 2021 from $70 million in 2020.
• Operating expenses rose to $169.8 million for 2021, significantly higher than $71.3 million in 2020.

Three ongoing Phase 3 registrational studies of posoleucel expected in 2022, targeting treatment and prevention indications with no approved therapies

Expanded enrollment in Phase 2 proof-of-concept study of posoleucel for the preemptive treatment of BK viremia in kidney transplant recipients; initial data submitted for presentation in 1H 2022

Advancing two additional virus-specific T cell therapies – ALVR106 to treat common respiratory viral infections and ALVR107 for hepatitis B cure

Strong cash position, with $248.1 million as of year-end 2021

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AlloVir (Nasdaq: ALVR), a late clinical-stage allogeneic T cell immunotherapy company, today reported full-year 2021 financial results for the period ended December 31, 2021. The company also provided the outlook for 2022 across its pipeline of allogeneic, off-the-shelf, virus-specific T cell (VST) therapies for immunocompromised patients, including its lead product posoleucel, an investigational VST in development for the treatment and prevention of infections and diseases caused by six common devastating viruses – adenovirus (AdV), BK virus (BKV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and JC virus (JCV).

“2022 is a year of execution and expansion for our clinical development program, as we implement three Phase 3 registrational studies across sites in North America, Europe and Asia, present new data that expand on posoleucel’s potential in both the treatment and prevention of six life-threatening viruses, and continue to advance two additional VST therapies,” said Diana Brainard, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of AlloVir. “Beyond our clinical development programs, we are also advancing the manufacturing of posoleucel in anticipation of commercial product requirements and global distribution. Our non-gene-edited VST manufacturing platform is commercially scalable and can achieve cost of goods similar to biologics. This positions us well for the next stage of our company’s growth as our pipeline continues to mature.”

Recent Highlights

• Advancing Posoleucel Development
• At the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in December 2021, AlloVir reported positive preliminary data from the open-label Phase 2 study assessing the safety and efficacy of posoleucel for the prevention of multiple viruses in high-risk allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) patients. The preliminary data set demonstrated a substantial reduction in the expected rate of clinically significant viral infections or diseases and facilitates an accelerated path to Phase 3 development, which has been agreed to in principle by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Phase 3 registrational study is expected to initiate in the first half of 2022.
• In December 2021, AlloVir initiated a global Phase 3 registrational study of posoleucel for the treatment of AdV infections in adult and pediatric allo-HCT patients. The study is the second registrational trial of posoleucel to initiate. AdV-associated viral disease is among the leading causes of life-threatening complications following allo-HCT, often involving multiple vital organs, including the brain, lungs and liver, and occurs in 32% of pediatric and 6% of adult allo-HSCT patients.
• The FDA granted posoleucel Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation for the treatment of AdV infections, based on Phase 2 data and in recognition of the potential for posoleucel to address an unmet medical need. The FDA previously granted RMAT and orphan drug designations (ODD) to posoleucel for the treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) caused by BKV in adults and children following allo-HCT. The European Medicines Agency has granted posoleucel PRIority Medicines (PRIME) designation for the treatment of serious infections with AdV, BKV, CMV, EBV and HHV-6, and Orphan Medicinal Product (OMP) designation as a potential treatment of viral diseases and infections in patients undergoing HCT.
• Following a review at the end of last year of initial, blinded safety data from the ongoing posoleucel proof-of-concept (POC) study for BK viremia treatment in adult kidney transplant recipients, the study has been amended to begin enrolling patients with higher viral loads. BKV is detected in up to 20% of kidney transplant patients and can lead to graft loss and a return to end-stage renal disease and dialysis. There are no approved or effective BKV treatments.

Expanding into Respiratory Viruses

• A Phase 1/2 POC study of ALVR106, an investigational multi-respiratory VST therapy designed to target infections and diseases caused by human metapneumovirus, influenza, parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus in autologous and allo-HCT recipients initiated in December 2021.
• Data on ALVR109, a SARS-CoV-2 targeted VST available via compassionate use, further validated the potential of AlloVir’s VSTs for the treatment of respiratory viruses. A case report detailing the use of ALVR109 in an immunocompromised heart transplant patient with severe refractory COVID-19 was published in the American Journal of Transplantation in December 2021; rapid clinical and virologic improvement occurred following the administration of ALVR109. Recent preclinical testing has demonstrated that ALVR109 retains potent antiviral activity against a broad range of variant strains including Omicron.

Manufacturing

• AlloVir established regional clinical distribution capabilities for its VSTs in Europe and Asia Pacific, thereby opening these geographies to participation in its clinical trials.
• AlloVir conducted a technology transfer of its VST manufacturing platform to ElevateBio’s BaseCamp facility. In doing so, AlloVir added capacity and redundancy to its external manufacturing network of contract development and manufacturing organizations.

2022 Outlook

Three Phase 3 Studies of Posoleucel in Three Distinct Indications with No Approved Therapies

• Global enrollment is ongoing in registrational studies of posoleucel for the treatment of virus-associated HC and for the treatment of AdV infections, both in adult and pediatric allo-HCT patients. Enrollment of the HC trial is expected to be complete in the first half of 2023.
• A Phase 3 registrational trial for multi-virus prevention, using the dose, dosing interval and key endpoints from the Phase 2 study, is expected to initiate in the first half of this year, pending FDA review of the final study protocol. Multi-virus prevention has the potential to be clinically transformative, while also expanding the addressable patient population for posoleucel.

New Data Adding to the Understanding of the Potential for Posoleucel

• The company expects to report initial data from the ongoing posoleucel POC study for BKV treatment in KT recipients at a scientific meeting in the first half of 2022. The study is the first to evaluate the use of posoleucel in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients; results from this study will also inform plans for a multi-virus prevention study in SOT patients. SOT represents a large opportunity to significantly expand the addressable patient population for posoleucel.
• Final results, including persistence data, from the posoleucel Phase 2 study for multi-virus prevention are expected to be presented at a scientific meeting in the second half of 2022.

Advancing Two Additional VST Therapies

• Enrollment in the Phase 1/2 POC study of ALVR106 for the treatment of multiple respiratory viral infections is ongoing.
• Preclinical and IND-enabling studies of ALVR107 to treat and cure hepatitis B will be completed in 2022 to support advancement into a POC study.

2021 Financial Highlights

• Research and development expenses were $120.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $49.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase year-over-year is attributable to costs related to the development of the company’s product candidates, increased activity in outsourcing of manufacturing, and an increase in headcount and external consultants in support of research activities.
• General and administrative expense was $49.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $21.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase year-over-year was primarily attributable to increased headcount and professional fees for legal and accounting associated with operating as a public company.
• Stock-based compensation expense was $44.0 million and $9.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively.
• As of December 31, 2021, AlloVir had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $248.1 million, compared with cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $356.3 million as of December 31, 2020.
• For the year ended December 31, 2021, net loss was $172.0 million or $2.74 per share, compared with a net loss of $69.8 million or $2.59 per share for the year ended December 31, 2020.

2022 Financial Guidance

• For fiscal year 2022, AlloVir expects operating expenses to be in the range of $130 million to $145 million, excluding non-cash stock compensation expenses.

About AlloVir
AlloVir is a leading late clinical-stage cell therapy company with a focus on restoring natural immunity against life-threatening viral diseases in pediatric and adult patients with weakened immune systems. The company’s innovative and proprietary technology platforms leverage off-the-shelf, allogeneic, single- and multi-virus-specific T cells for patients with T cell deficiencies who are at risk from the life-threatening consequences of viral diseases. AlloVir’s technology and manufacturing process enable the potential for the treatment and prevention of a spectrum of devastating viruses with each single allogeneic cell therapy. The company is advancing multiple mid- and late-stage clinical trials across its product portfolio. For more information, visit www.allovir.com or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding AlloVir’s development and regulatory status of our product candidates, the planned conduct of its preclinical studies, and clinical trials and its prospects for success in those studies and trials, and its strategy, business plans and focus. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those related to AlloVir’s financial results, the timing for the initiation and successful completion of AlloVir’s clinical trials of its product candidates, whether and when, if at all, AlloVir’s product candidates will receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, or other foreign regulatory authorities, competition from other biopharmaceutical companies, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AlloVir’s product development plans, supply chain, and business operations and other risks identified in AlloVir’s SEC filings. AlloVir cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. AlloVir disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent AlloVir’s views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date.

ALLOVIR, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited, in thousands)
	December 31,
		2021	2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	248,120	$	356,324
Other current assets		5,228		4,993
Total current assets		253,348		361,317
Other assets		33,246		9,504
Total assets	$	286,594	$	370,821
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities	$	37,853	$	12,294
Long-term liabilities		23,475		5,463
Total liabilities		61,328		17,757
Total stockholders’ equity		225,266		353,064
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	286,594	$	370,821

ALLOVIR, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Years Ended December 31,
	2021		2020
Operating expenses:
Research and development		120,735		49,663
General and administrative		49,083		21,646
Total operating expenses		169,818		71,309
Loss from operations		(169,818)		(71,309)
Total other income (loss), net:
Interest income		1,315		1,330
Other (loss) income, net		(2,452)		195
Loss before income taxes		(170,955)		(69,784)
Income tax expense		1,007		—
Net loss	$	(171,962)	$	(69,784)
Net loss per share --- basic and diluted	$	(2.74)	$	(2.59)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding --- basic and diluted		62,782,126		26,897,390

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210005313/en/

Media and Investors:

Sonia Choi

AlloVir

schoi@allovir.com

Source: AlloVir

FAQ

What were AlloVir's financial results for 2021?

AlloVir reported a net loss of $172 million or $2.74 per share for 2021, compared to $70 million or $2.59 per share in 2020.

What is the future outlook for AlloVir in 2022?

AlloVir plans to conduct three Phase 3 registrational studies for posoleucel in 2022, focusing on treatment of life-threatening viral infections.

What is AlloVir's cash position?

As of December 31, 2021, AlloVir had a strong cash position of $248.1 million.

What designations has posoleucel received?

Posoleucel has been granted RMAT designation by the FDA and PRIME designation by the European Medicines Agency for treating serious viral infections.