Werewolf Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Provides Business Highlights
Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HOWL) reported significant advancements in its clinical development, including FDA clearance for WTX-124, its lead candidate for treating advanced solid tumors. The IND application for WTX-330 is set for submission in 2H22. The company holds a strong cash position of $145.7 million, expected to sustain operations through Q4 2023. Collaboration revenue reached $4.1 million due to an upfront payment from Jazz Pharmaceuticals, though R&D expenses increased to $13.9 million, leading to a net loss of $14.6 million for Q2 2022.
- FDA clearance for WTX-124, marking a transition to clinical-stage company.
- Cash and cash equivalents of $145.7 million providing runway through Q4 2023.
- Collaboration revenue of $4.1 million from licensing agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
- Increased R&D expenses of $13.9 million compared to $7.3 million in Q2 2021.
- Net loss of $14.6 million for Q2 2022, up from $10.9 million in the prior year.
- FDA granted IND clearance for lead candidate WTX-124 for evaluation as a treatment for advanced solid tumors -
- Submission of IND application for WTX-330 planned in 2H22 -
- Q2 cash and cash equivalents balance of
WATERTOWN, Mass., Aug. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “Werewolf”) (Nasdaq: HOWL), an innovative biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of conditionally activated therapeutics engineered to stimulate the body’s immune system for the treatment of cancer, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
“Werewolf continues to advance our conditionally activated INDUKINE™ therapies into clinical development,” said Daniel J. Hicklin, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Werewolf. “Most notably, we received FDA clearance to launch our first-in-human study of WTX-124, an IL-2 INDUKINE, for treatment of advanced solid tumors, marking our transition to a clinical-stage company. Additionally, we are planning to submit an IND for our IL-12 INDUKINE, WTX-330, in the second half of 2022. We believe that these initial candidates offer compelling opportunities not just to advance patient outcomes in their respective indications, but also to validate the distinct advantages of our platform. Importantly, we believe that we remain well-capitalized to advance clinical development for both programs as we proceed with novel discovery efforts in parallel.”
Recent Highlights and Upcoming Milestones
WTX-124: a systemically delivered, conditionally activated Interleukin-2 (IL-2) INDUKINE molecule in development as monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in multiple solid tumor types.
- During the second quarter of 2022, Werewolf received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for WTX-124. This Phase 1/1b clinical trial will evaluate WTX-124 as a monotherapy and in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) therapy, in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.
- The Company plans to provide an update after dosing the first patient in the WTX-124 Phase 1/1b clinical trial.
WTX-330: a systemically delivered, conditionally activated Interleukin-12 (IL-12) INDUKINE molecule in development as monotherapy or in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in refractory and/or immunologically unresponsive tumors.
- Werewolf is concluding IND-enabling work for WTX-330 and is planning to submit an IND application for this program in the second half of 2022.
Corporate:
- In April 2022, Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Jazz) and Werewolf entered into a collaboration and license agreement under which Werewolf granted Jazz certain licenses to develop and commercialize WTX-613 (now known as JZP898), an Interferon alpha (IFNα) molecule. During the second quarter of 2022, Werewolf received an upfront payment of
$15.0 million from Jazz and is eligible to receive up to$520.0 million in development and regulatory milestones and up to$740.0 million in commercial milestone payments, as well as a tiered, mid-single-digit percentage royalty on net sales, pending approval.
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights
- Cash position: As of June 30, 2022, cash and cash equivalents were
$145.7 million , compared to$157.5 million as of December 31, 2021. The Company expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to enable funding of its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least the fourth quarter of 2023. - Collaboration revenue: Collaboration revenue was
$4.1 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to zero for the same period in 2021. Collaboration revenue is related to amortization of the$15.0 million upfront payment received in April 2022 upon the execution of Werewolf’s licensing agreement with Jazz and costs incurred for research services to be reimbursed by Jazz. - Research and development expenses: Research and development expenses were
$13.9 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to$7.3 million for the same period in 2021. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily due to manufacturing expenses incurred to support the production of preclinical and future clinical trial materials associated with the Company’s product candidates WTX-124, WTX-330 and WTX-613, increased employee compensation costs related to increased headcount and increased contract research organization expenses incurred to support IND-enabling studies and clinical start-up activities for WTX-124 and WTX-330. - General and administrative expenses: General and administrative expenses were
$5.2 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to$3.7 million for the same period in 2021. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased personnel and other costs attributable to operating as a public company. - Net loss: Net loss was
$14.6 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to$10.9 million for the same period in 2021.
About Werewolf Therapeutics:
Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc. is an innovative biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of therapeutics engineered to stimulate the body’s immune system for the treatment of cancer. We are leveraging our proprietary PREDATOR™ platform to design conditionally activated molecules that stimulate both adaptive and innate immunity with the goal of addressing the limitations of conventional proinflammatory immune therapies. Our INDUKINE™ molecules are intended to remain inactive in peripheral tissue yet activate selectively in the tumor microenvironment. Our most advanced product candidates, WTX-124 and WTX-330, are systemically delivered, conditionally activated Interleukin-2 (IL-2), and Interleukin-12 (IL-12) INDUKINE molecules, respectively, for the treatment of solid tumors.
To learn more visit www.werewolftx.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risk and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding Werewolf’s strategy, future operations, prospects, plans, objectives of management, the expected timeline for submitting an IND for WTX-330, the planned commencement of the Phase 1/1b clinical trial of WTX-124, the expected cash runway, and the potential activity of product candidates in future preclinical and clinical studies constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “designed to,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “promise,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The Company 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 important factors, including: uncertainties inherent in the development of product candidates, including the conduct of research activities, the initiation and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials; uncertainties as to the availability and timing of results from preclinical studies; the timing of and our ability to submit and obtain regulatory approval for investigational new drug applications and commence clinical trials; whether results from preclinical studies will be predictive of the results of later preclinical studies and clinical trials; the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient cash resources to fund the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and operations; as well as the risks and uncertainties identified in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and in subsequent filings the Company may make with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this presentation. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
This press release contains hyperlinks to information that is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this press release.
Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Revenue: | |||||||||||||||
| Collaboration revenue | $ | 4,148 | $ | — | $ | 4,148 | $ | — | |||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 13,887 | 7,265 | 24,832 | 12,082 | |||||||||||
| General and administrative | 5,233 | 3,691 | 9,654 | 6,326 | |||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 19,120 | 10,956 | 34,486 | 18,408 | |||||||||||
| Operating loss | (14,972 | ) | (10,956 | ) | (30,338 | ) | (18,408 | ) | |||||||
| Other income | 378 | 35 | 401 | 52 | |||||||||||
| Net loss | (14,594 | ) | (10,921 | ) | (29,937 | ) | (18,356 | ) | |||||||
| Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value | — | (56,926 | ) | — | (151,942 | ) | |||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common stockholders | $ | (14,594 | ) | $ | (67,847 | ) | $ | (29,937 | ) | $ | (170,298 | ) | |||
| Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted | $ | (0.53 | ) | $ | (3.82 | ) | $ | (1.09 | ) | $ | (17.86 | ) | |||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 27,517 | 17,750 | 27,455 | 9,535 | |||||||||||
Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc.
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (unaudited)
(amounts in thousands)
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 145,712 | $ | 157,531 | |
| Working capital | $ | 123,797 | $ | 149,194 | |
| Total assets | $ | 175,329 | $ | 179,250 | |
| Total deferred revenue | $ | 13,071 | $ | — | |
| Total stockholders’ equity | $ | 129,841 | $ | 152,787 | |
Investor Contact:
Josh Rappaport
Stern IR
212.362.1200
Josh.rappaport@sternir.com
Media Contact:
Amanda Sellers
VERGE Scientific Communications
301.332.5574
asellers@vergescientific.com
Company Contact:
Ellen Lubman
Chief Business Officer
Werewolf Therapeutics
elubman@werewolftx.com
FAQ
What is the significance of FDA clearance for WTX-124 by Werewolf Therapeutics?
When is the IND application for WTX-330 planned by Werewolf Therapeutics?
What is Werewolf Therapeutics' cash position as of Q2 2022?
What were the research and development expenses for Werewolf in Q2 2022?
What was the net loss reported by Werewolf Therapeutics for Q2 2022?
