Bicycle Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update
Bicycle Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BCYC) reported Q3 2020 financial results, highlighting advancements in its clinical pipeline despite COVID-19 challenges. Notable developments include the initiation of Phase IIa trials for BT1718 and BT8009, and a $50 million capital raise through an At-the-Market (ATM) offering. The company holds $149.8 million in cash as of September 30, 2020, up from $92.1 million at year-end 2019. However, it recorded a net loss of $10.1 million, slightly increasing from $9.5 million year-over-year. The company continues to expand its Scientific Advisory Board, enhancing its research capabilities.
- Raised $50 million through ATM offering, strengthening financial position.
- Cash position improved to $149.8 million, a significant increase from $92.1 million in Dec 2019.
- Initiated dosing in Phase II trials for BT1718 and BT8009, indicating progress in clinical development.
- Net loss increased to $10.1 million for Q3 2020, slightly higher than $9.5 million in Q3 2019.
- Research and development expenses rose to $7.4 million, indicating higher operational costs.
- General and administrative expenses increased by $2.4 million, reflecting higher operational costs as a public company.
CAMBRIDGE, England, & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bicycle Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ:BCYC), a biotechnology company pioneering a new and differentiated class of therapeutics based on its proprietary bicyclic peptide (Bicycles®) technology, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020 and discussed recent corporate updates.
“Amidst the uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bicycle has made significant advances during the third quarter, including the initiation of dosing in a Phase IIa trial of BT1718, in a Phase I/II trial of BT8009, and in Oxurion’s Phase II study of THR-149,” said Kevin Lee, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Bicycle Therapeutics. “As we advance and expand our clinical portfolio, with multiple potential inflection points in the coming year, we have thoughtfully bolstered our balance sheet through our ATM program and the closing of a non-dilutive debt financing. We have also enhanced Bicycle’s clinical leadership with the appointment of Dominic Smethurst as Chief Medical Officer and the addition of prominent scientists and clinicians to our Scientific Advisory Board, now chaired by renowned immunologist Sir Keith Peters. We believe we are well-positioned as we pursue our goal of realizing the full potential of our disruptive Bicycle technology.”
Third Quarter 2020 and Recent Highlights
- Announced Expansion of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). In October 2020, Bicycle announced that Drs. Garret FitzGerald, Jane Grogan, Caetano Reis e Sousa, and Charles Swanton have joined the Company’s SAB. The SAB works closely with Bicycle’s senior management team to advance the Company’s growing pipeline of potential Bicycle-based treatments for cancer and other difficult-to-treat diseases.
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Raised
$50 Million Through At-the-Market (ATM) Offering Program and Entered into Debt Financing from Hercules Capital. Also in October, Bicycle announced that it had utilized its ATM offering program, initiated during the third quarter, generating gross proceeds of$50.0 million . In addition, it closed a debt financing with Hercules Capital, Inc. for a term loan of up to$40.0 million ,$15.0 million of which was drawn at closing. - Presented Trials in Progress Poster for BT8009 at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020. The poster describes the design of the ongoing Phase I/II trial of BT8009 in advanced solid tumors associated with Nectin-4 expression. BT8009 is a second-generation, Nectin-4 targeting Bicycle Toxin Conjugate (BTC).
- Dosed First Patient in Phase I Dose Escalation Portion of Phase I/II Trial of BT8009 in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumor Malignancies. In September 2020, Bicycle announced that the first patient had been dosed in the Phase I dose escalation portion of its Phase I/II trial of BT8009 in patients with advanced solid tumors associated with Nectin-4 expression.
- Dosed First Patient in Phase IIa Expansion Portion of Phase I/IIa Trial, Sponsored by Cancer Research UK, Evaluating BT1718 in Patients with MT1-MMP-Positive Tumors. Also in September, Bicycle announced that the first patient had been dosed in the Phase IIa expansion portion of a Phase I/IIa trial of BT1718 in a cohort of patients with MT1-MMP-positive squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in a basket cohort of patients with other MT1-MMP-positive solid tumors. BT1718 is a BTC targeting the tumor antigen MT1-MMP.
- Announced First Patient Dosed in Oxurion’s Phase II Study of THR-149 in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). In September, Bicycle announced that the first patient had been dosed in Oxurion’s Phase II study of THR-149, a novel Bicycle-based plasma kallikrein (PKal) inhibitor, in patients with DME. The Phase II trial, named KALAHARI, is expected to include approximately 122 patients with central involved DME who do not respond adequately to anti-VEGF therapy.
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Awarded Innovate UK Grant to Pursue Exploratory Research into Novel Bicycle-based Interventions for SARS-CoV-2. In response to an invitation from the UK government, Bicycle applied for, and was awarded,
$2.8 million to explore the utility of Bicycle technology to generate binders to a range of SARS-CoV-2 targets. The application of the Bicycle platform to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could enable the development of next-generation antivirals and diagnostics. Furthermore, this application of Bicycles offers a rapid and differentiated approach that can be swiftly deployed in response to current and future viral threats. - Appointed Dominic Smethurst as Chief Medical Officer. The Company appointed Dominic Smethurst, MBchB, MRCP, MFPM as Chief Medical Officer in August 2020. Dr. Smethurst brings to Bicycle extensive expertise in developing bispecific immuno-oncology agents, as well as toxin conjugate therapeutics for cancer and other diseases where patients experience high unmet medical need.
Upcoming Investor Presentations
Bicycle will present at the following investor conferences in the fourth quarter of 2020. The conferences will be held in a virtual meeting format:
- Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 1:10 p.m. ET
- Piper Sandler 32nd Annual Healthcare Conference, December 1-3, 2020
A live webcast of each presentation will be accessible in the Investors & Media section of Bicycle’s website at bicycletherapeutics.com. Archived replays of the webcasts will be available for 90 days following the presentation dates.
Financial Results
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Cash and cash equivalents were
$149.8 million as of September 30, 2020, compared to$92.1 million as of December 31, 2019. The increase in cash is primarily due to net proceeds of$46.4 million from the ATM offering and net proceeds of$14.6 million from a Loan Agreement with Hercules, offset by cash used in operating activities. Cash at September 30, 2020 does not include net proceeds of$1.8 million from the ATM offering received in October 2020. -
Research and development expenses totaled
$7.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to$6.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase of$1.3 million was primarily due to increased clinical program expenses for BT5528 and BT8009, partially offset by lower development expenses of other programs due to timing, and an increase in personnel related costs, including$0.3 million of incremental non-cash share-based compensation expense. -
General and administrative expenses were
$7.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to$4.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase of$2.4 million was primarily due to an increase in professional fees and costs related to operations as a public company, offset by favorable effect of foreign exchange rates, and an increase in personnel related costs, including$0.4 million of incremental non-cash share-based compensation expense. -
Net loss was
$10.1 million , or$(0.52) b asic and diluted net loss per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to net loss of$9.5 million , or$(0.53) b asic and diluted net loss per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2019.
About Bicycle Therapeutics
Bicycle Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BCYC) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, referred to as Bicycles®, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycles are fully synthetic short peptides constrained with small molecule scaffolds to form two loops that stabilize their structural geometry. This constraint facilitates target binding with high affinity and selectivity, making Bicycles attractive candidates for drug development. Bicycle’s lead product candidate, BT1718, a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate (BTC) that targets MT1-MMP, is being investigated in an ongoing Phase I/IIa clinical trial in collaboration with the Centre for Drug Development of Cancer Research UK. Bicycle is also evaluating BT5528, a second-generation BTC targeting EphA2, in a Company-sponsored Phase I/II study. BT8009 is a BTC targeting Nectin-4, a well-validated tumor antigen, and is also currently being evaluated a Company-sponsored Phase I/II trial. Bicycle is headquartered in Cambridge, UK with many key functions and members of its leadership team located in Lexington, MA. For more information, visit bicycletherapeutics.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “seeks,” “will” and variations of these words or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Bicycle’s anticipated advancement and expansion of its clinical pipeline, the application of the Bicycle platform to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or other viral threats, anticipated enrollment in and progression of Bicycle’s and its collaborator’s clinical trials, the therapeutic potential of Bicycle’s product candidates; the availability of future funding under Bicycle’s debt facility with Hercules Capital, Inc., and Bicycle’s ability to achieve planned milestones. Bicycle may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: risks to site initiation, clinical trial commencement, patient enrollment and follow-up, as well as to Bicycle’s and its collaboration partners’ abilities to meet other anticipated deadlines and milestones, presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials and clinical development of Bicycle’s product candidates by Bicycle or its collaboration partners; the risk that Bicycle may not realize the intended benefits of its technology; availability and timing of results from preclinical studies and clinical trials; whether the outcomes of preclinical studies will be predictive of clinical trial results; the risk that trials and studies may be delayed and may not have satisfactory outcomes; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market product; the risk that Bicycle may not satisfy certain conditions precedent to the availability of additional borrowings under its debt facility with Hercules Capital; and other important factors, any of which could cause Bicycle’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Bicycle’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 5, 2020, as well as in other filings Bicycle may make with the SEC in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Bicycle expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) |
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Three Months Ended |
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Nine Months Ended |
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September 30, |
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September 30, |
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2020 |
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2019 |
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2020 |
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2019 |
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Collaboration revenues |
|
$ |
3,842 |
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|
$ |
614 |
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|
$ |
6,542 |
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|
$ |
8,520 |
|
Operating expenses: |
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|
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|
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|
||||
Research and development |
|
|
7,363 |
|
|
|
6,078 |
|
|
|
23,091 |
|
|
|
18,891 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
7,154 |
|
|
|
4,789 |
|
|
|
18,351 |
|
|
|
11,164 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
14,517 |
|
|
|
10,867 |
|
|
|
41,442 |
|
|
|
30,055 |
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Loss from operations |
|
|
(10,675 |
) |
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|
(10,253 |
) |
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|
(34,900 |
) |
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|
(21,535 |
) |
Other income (expense): |
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Interest and other income, net |
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72 |
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440 |
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655 |
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|
594 |
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Other expense, net |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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|
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(5,377 |
) |
Total other expense, net |
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
440 |
|
|
|
655 |
|
|
|
(4,783 |
) |
Net loss before income tax provision |
|
|
(10,603 |
) |
|
|
(9,813 |
) |
|
|
(34,245 |
) |
|
|
(26,318 |
) |
Benefit from income taxes |
|
|
(465 |
) |
|
|
(331 |
) |
|
|
(668 |
) |
|
|
(116 |
) |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(10,138 |
) |
|
$ |
(9,482 |
) |
|
$ |
(33,577 |
) |
|
$ |
(26,202 |
) |
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
|
$ |
(10,138 |
) |
|
$ |
(9,482 |
) |
|
$ |
(33,577 |
) |
|
$ |
(26,202 |
) |
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.52 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.53 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.81 |
) |
|
$ |
(3.00 |
) |
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
|
19,426,833 |
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|
|
17,900,978 |
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|
|
18,504,013 |
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8,734,943 |
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Balance Sheets Data (In thousands) (Unaudited) |
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September 30, |
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December 31, |
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2020 |
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2019 |
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Cash |
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$ |
149,842 |
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$ |
92,117 |
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Working capital |
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147,111 |
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|
95,325 |
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Total assets |
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170,059 |
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|
110,194 |
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Shareholders equity |
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109,551 |
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|
93,198 |
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