Arcturus Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Update and Pipeline Progress

Rhea-AI Summary

Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings announced significant financial results for Q4 2022, highlighting a revenue surge to $160.3 million, driven by a $200 million payment from CSL collaboration. The company achieved $90 million in development milestones in March 2023, bolstering its cash runway into 2026. ARCT-154 Phase 3 trial for COVID-19 booster is fully enrolled in Japan, with ARCT-810 and ARCT-032 advancing in clinical trials. The company reported a net income of $117.3 million for Q4, compared to a loss the previous year. Cash balance was $391.9 million at year-end, reflecting a robust financial position.

Positive

• Revenue increased to $160.3 million in Q4 2022, up from $5.8 million in Q4 2021.
• Achieved $90 million in development milestones in March 2023 under CSL collaboration.
• Net income for Q4 2022 was approximately $117.3 million, a turnaround from a $38.7 million loss in Q4 2021.
• Cash balance at December 31, 2022, was $391.9 million, providing substantial financial stability.

Negative

• None.

$200 million upfront payment received in December 2022 from CSL collaboration

Achieved $90 million in development milestones in March 2023 under CSL collaboration

ARCT-154 Phase 3 COVID-19 booster trial enrollment completed in Japan

Multiple patients enrolled in ARCT-810 Phase 2 multiple ascending dose trial for OTC deficiency

ARCT-032 Phase 1 Cystic Fibrosis trial initiated and enrollment of first two cohorts successfully completed

Investor conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (the “Company”, “Arcturus”, Nasdaq: ARCT), a global late-stage clinical messenger RNA medicines company focused on the development of infectious disease vaccines and opportunities within liver and respiratory rare diseases, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2022, and provided corporate updates.

“Arcturus has continued to make remarkable operational and pipeline progress. This was recently exemplified by the completion of the initial objectives with our partnered COVID-19 and Flu vaccine programs with CSL,” said Joseph Payne, President and CEO of Arcturus Therapeutics. “We are also pleased to report the completion of full enrollment ahead of schedule in the Phase 3 study being conducted by Meiji Pharma to evaluate ARCT-154 as a booster vaccine for COVID-19.”

“Within the first four months of our CSL collaboration, we successfully achieved multiple program objectives, triggering $90 million in milestone payments,” said Andrew Sassine, CFO of Arcturus Therapeutics, “Additionally, with the elimination of $33.3 million of non-recourse debt to Singapore, our cash runway now extends into the beginning of 2026.”

Recent Corporate Highlights

• In December 2022, the Company received a $200 million upfront payment associated with the exclusive global collaboration and license agreement with CSL Seqirus, for the research, development, manufacture, and commercialization of next generation mRNA vaccines. Arcturus is eligible to receive up to $4.3 billion in potential development and commercial milestones if all products are registered in the licensed fields, 40% profit sharing for COVID-19 vaccines and up to low double-digit royalties on influenza vaccine revenues.
• Arcturus achieved development milestones in March 2023, including milestones associated with nominating next generation vaccine candidates, resulting in $90 million invoiced to CSL Seqirus.
• In December 2022, the Company announced an agreement with Meiji Pharma to conduct a Phase 3 comparative study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of ARCT-154, a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine, as a booster for COVID-19. The ARCT-154 Phase 3 non-inferiority study, now fully enrolled, is being conducted in Japan to compare the immunogenicity of ARCT-154 to Comirnaty® (Pfizer/BioNTech) in over 800 adult participants. Meiji Pharma and the Japanese government are funding the study.
• ARCT-810, the Company’s mRNA therapeutic candidate for OTC deficiency, is being evaluated in a Phase 2 study, presently enrolling up to 24 adolescents and adults with OTC deficiency. The Phase 2 study is being conducted in the UK and Europe and 9 sites in 6 countries have been activated to date. Multiple patients have been enrolled. The study is designed to evaluate two dose levels and allow for six (6) bi-weekly administrations for each participant. The Company expects to share interim Phase 2 data on a subset of participants later in 2023.
• ARCT-032, the Company’s inhaled mRNA therapeutic for cystic fibrosis, has advanced to a Phase 1 study, presently enrolling up to 32 participants in New Zealand. The primary objective of this study is to assess safety and tolerability at four (4) dose levels. The first two cohorts have been dosed successfully with no significant adverse events reported to date. The Company expects to complete the full 32 subject study enrollment in Q2 2023.
• Arcturus will present LUNAR-HBV pre-clinical gene editing mRNA platform data for Hepatitis B Virus on April 27, 2023, at the 18^th annual Global Hepatitis Summit Conference in Paris, France.

Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2022

Revenues in conjunction with strategic alliances and collaborations: Arcturus’ primary sources of revenues were from license fees, consulting and related technology transfer fees, reservation fees and collaborative payments received from research and development arrangements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. For the three months ended December 31, 2022, the Company reported revenue of $160.3 million compared with $5.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, and $13.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022, was $206.0 million compared with $12.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in fourth quarter and year-over-year revenues primarily relates to the $200 million upfront payment we received from the CSL transaction.

Operating expenses: Total operating expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2022, were $38.8 million compared with $43.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, and $50.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The decline in operating expenses when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2021, was primarily due to lower Covid-19 manufacturing and clinical related expenses. Total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, were $193.8 million compared with $215.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Research and development expenses: Research and development expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2022, were $27.0 million compared with $32.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, and $37.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The decline in research and development expenses when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2021, was primarily due to lower Covid-19 manufacturing and clinical related expenses. Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, were $147.8 million compared with $173.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Net Income: For the three months ended December 31, 2022, Arcturus reported net income of approximately $117.3 million or $4.33 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $38.7 million, or $1.47 per diluted share in the three months ended December 31, 2021, and a net loss of $35.3 million, or $1.33 per diluted share in the three months ended September 30, 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2022, Arcturus reported a net income of approximately $9.3 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $203.7 million, or $7.74 per diluted share in the year ended December 31, 2021.

Cash Position and Balance Sheet: The Company’s cash balance totaled $391.9 million at December 31, 2022, compared to a cash balance of $370.5 million at December 31, 2021. In March 2023, the Company repaid Singapore $17.1 million which triggered the elimination of $33.3 million in non-recourse debt pertaining to the ARCT-021 program.

Earnings Call: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 @ 4:30 pm ET
Domestic: 1-877-407-0784
International: 1-201-689-8560
Conference ID: 13735876
Webcast: Link

About Arcturus Therapeutics

Founded in 2013 and based in San Diego, California, Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ARCT) is a global late-stage clinical mRNA medicines and vaccines company with enabling technologies: (i) LUNAR® lipid-mediated delivery, (ii) STARR™ mRNA Technology (samRNA) and (iii) mRNA drug substance along with drug product manufacturing expertise. Arcturus’ pipeline includes RNA therapeutic candidates to potentially treat ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency and cystic fibrosis, along with its partnered mRNA vaccine programs for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and influenza. Arcturus’ versatile RNA therapeutics platforms can be applied toward multiple types of nucleic acid medicines including messenger RNA, small interfering RNA, circular RNA, antisense RNA, self-amplifying RNA, DNA, and gene editing therapeutics. Arcturus’ technologies are covered by its extensive patent portfolio (patents and patent applications issued in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and other countries). For more information, visit www.ArcturusRx.com. In addition, please connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, are forward-looking statements, including those regarding strategy, future operations, the likelihood of success of the Company’s pipeline (including ARCT-032 and ARCT-810) and partnered programs (including the COVID-19 and flu programs partnered with CSL Seqirus), the anticipated receipt of $90 million in milestone payments from CSL Seqirus, the period of the Company’s cash runway, the anticipated timing and filing of a J-NDA submission and opportunity for Japanese regulatory PMDA approval of ARCT-154, the sharing of interim Phase 2 data for ARCT-810, the anticipated timing and completion of study enrollment in the ARCT-032 Phase 1 study, the likelihood of success of the collaboration with CSL Seqirus or any collaborations including the achievement of any milestones or other payments, the likelihood that preclinical or clinical data will be predictive of future clinical results, the likelihood that results to date for ARCT-154 or any other clinical candidate will be predictive of future clinical results, the timing and nature of any study results, the likelihood that a patent will issue from any patent application, its current cash position and expected cash burn and the impact of general business and economic conditions. Arcturus may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in any forward-looking statements such as the foregoing and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These statements are only current predictions or expectations, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Arcturus’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in subsequent filings with, or submissions to, the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as otherwise required by law, Arcturus disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

Trademark Acknowledgements

The Arcturus logo and other trademarks of Arcturus appearing in this announcement, including LUNAR® and STARR™, are the property of Arcturus. All other trademarks, services marks, and trade names in this announcement are the property of their respective owners.

ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
		December 31,				September 30,				December 31,
(in thousands, except par value information)		2022				2022				2021
Assets						(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	391,883			$	237,676			$	370,492
Accounts receivable			2,764				2,044				3,367
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			8,686				6,960				5,102
Total current assets			403,333				246,680				378,961
Property and equipment, net			12,415				11,347				5,643
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net			32,545				33,519				5,618
Equity-method investment			—				—				515
Non-current restricted cash			2,094				2,081				2,077
Total assets		$	450,387			$	293,627			$	392,814
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	7,449			$	17,962			$	10,058
Accrued liabilities			30,232				25,529				23,523
Current portion of long-term debt			60,655				27,702				22,474
Deferred revenue			28,648				4,656				43,482
Total current liabilities			126,984				75,849				99,537
Deferred revenue, net of current portion			20,071				5,179				19,931
Long-term debt, net of current portion			—				32,038				40,633
Operating lease liability, net of current portion			30,216				31,218				4,502
Other non-current liabilities			2,804				3,676				—
Total liabilities			180,075				147,960				164,603
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock: $0.001 par value; 60,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding shares were 26,555 at December 31, 2022, 26,492 at September 30, 2022 and 26,372 at December 31, 2021			27				26				26
Additional paid-in capital			608,426				601,129				575,675
Accumulated deficit			(338,141	)			(455,488	)			(347,490	)
Total stockholders’ equity			270,312				145,667				228,211
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	450,387			$	293,627			$	392,814

ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(unaudited)
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,								September 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)		2022				2021				2022
Revenue:
Collaboration revenue		$	160,049			$	5,794			$	13,369
Grant revenue			244				—				—
Total revenue			160,293				5,794				13,369
Operating expenses:
Research and development, net			26,981				32,633				37,688
General and administrative			11,860				10,806				12,488
Total operating expenses			38,841				43,439				50,176
Income (loss) from operations			121,452				(37,645	)			(36,807	)
(Loss) gain from equity-method investment			—				(156	)			—
(Loss) gain from foreign currency			(3,835	)			(337	)			1,862
Finance expense, net			1,025				(525	)			(321	)
Net income (loss) before income taxes			118,642				(38,663	)			(35,266	)
Provision for income taxes			1,295				—				—
Net income (loss)		$	117,347			$	(38,663	)		$	(35,266	)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic		$	4.43			$	(1.47	)		$	(1.33	)
Diluted		$	4.33			$	(1.47	)		$	(1.33	)
Weighted-average shares used in calculation of earnings (loss) per share:
Basic			26,508				26,359				26,467
Diluted			27,080				26,359				26,467
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)		$	117,347			$	(38,663	)		$	(35,266	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	117,347			$	(38,663	)		$	(35,266	)

ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
		Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)		2022				2021
Revenue:
Collaboration revenue		$	205,755			$	12,359
Grant revenue			244				—
Total revenue			205,999				12,359
Operating expenses:
Research and development, net			147,751				173,760
General and administrative			46,071				41,451
Total operating expenses			193,822				215,211
Income (loss) from operations			12,177				(202,852	)
(Loss) gain from equity-method investment			(515	)			515
(Loss) gain from foreign currency			(598	)			584
Finance expense, net			(420	)			(1,921	)
Net income (loss) before income taxes			10,644				(203,674	)
Provision for income taxes			1,295				—
Net income (loss)		$	9,349			$	(203,674	)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic		$	0.35			$	(7.74	)
Diluted		$	0.35			$	(7.74	)
Weighted-average shares used in calculation of earnings (loss) per share:
Basic			26,445				26,317
Diluted			27,093				26,317
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)		$	9,349			$	(203,674	)
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	9,349			$	(203,674	)

 

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IR and Media Contacts

Arcturus Therapeutics

Neda Safarzadeh

VP, Head of IR/PR/Marketing

(858) 900-2682

IR@ArcturusRx.com

Kendall Investor Relations

Carlo Tanzi, Ph.D.

(617) 914-0008

ctanzi@kendallir.com

Source: Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc.

FAQ

What were the financial results of Arcturus (ARCT) for Q4 2022?

Arcturus reported revenue of $160.3 million for Q4 2022, up from $5.8 million in Q4 2021, with a net income of approximately $117.3 million.

How much did Arcturus receive from CSL collaboration?

Arcturus received a $200 million upfront payment from CSL in December 2022.

What milestones did Arcturus achieve under its CSL collaboration?

In March 2023, Arcturus achieved $90 million in development milestones under its collaboration with CSL.

What is the status of the ARCT-154 Phase 3 trial?

The ARCT-154 Phase 3 COVID-19 booster trial is fully enrolled in Japan.

When is Arcturus's next earnings call?

Arcturus's next earnings call is scheduled for March 28, 2023, at 4:30 PM ET.