Karuna Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Provides General Business Updates

Rhea-AI Summary

Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX) announced its financial results for Q3 2022, reporting a net loss of $77 million, up from $50.9 million in Q3 2021. This loss was driven by enhanced research and development expenses totaling $62 million, primarily due to ongoing Phase 3 trials for schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s psychosis. The company bolstered its cash reserves to $1.2 billion, expected to support operations through 2025. Key milestones include the NDA submission for KarXT in schizophrenia anticipated in mid-2023 and topline data from ongoing trials, with positive outcomes from the EMERGENT-2 trial.

Positive

• Completed enrollment in the Phase 3 EMERGENT-3 trial with topline data expected in 1Q 2023.
• Positive results from the Phase 3 EMERGENT-2 trial, showing a significant 9.6-point reduction in PANSS score compared to placebo.
• Strengthened pipeline with initiation of the ADEPT-1 trial for Alzheimer's disease psychosis.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $77 million from $50.9 million year-over-year.
• R&D expenses rose to $62 million, reflecting high trial costs and increased personnel expenses.

Initiated the Phase 3 ADEPT-1 trial of KarXT in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis in the third quarter of 2022

Phase 3 EMERGENT-3 trial completed enrollment in the fourth quarter of 2022, with topline data anticipated in the first quarter of 2023

On track to submit New Drug Application (NDA) for KarXT in schizophrenia with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in mid-2023

$1.2 billion in cash is expected to fund operations through the end of 2025

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: KRTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company driven to create and deliver transformative medicines for people living with psychiatric and neurological conditions, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2022 and provided a general business update.

“The third quarter was truly a transformational time for Karuna, marked by the positive results from the Phase 3 EMERGENT-2 trial and further diversification of our pipeline through the initiation of ADEPT-1, our Phase 3 trial in psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease, the third therapeutic area we’re evaluating with KarXT,” said Steve Paul, M.D., chief executive officer, president, and chairman. “The work our team has accomplished this quarter illustrates and underscores our ongoing commitment to developing and delivering transformational medicines – such as KarXT, a true ‘pipeline in a product’ – to people living with serious psychiatric and neurological conditions.”

Pipeline Updates
Karuna is advancing a pipeline of novel drug candidates for the treatment of various psychiatric and neurological conditions. The clinical pipeline is led by KarXT (xanomeline-trospium), an oral investigational medicine with a novel mechanism of action mediated via muscarinic cholinergic receptors, that is currently being evaluated in ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials as a potential treatment for schizophrenia as a monotherapy and adjunctive therapy, as well as psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease.

KarXT for the treatment of schizophrenia:

• The EMERGENT program: The clinical program evaluating KarXT for the treatment of schizophrenia as a monotherapy. The EMERGENT program consists of the completed positive registrational EMERGENT-1 and EMERGENT-2 trials, one ongoing Phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of KarXT (EMERGENT-3), and two ongoing Phase 3 trials evaluating the long-term safety of KarXT (EMERGENT-4 and EMERGENT-5).
  • Positive results from the Phase 3 EMERGENT-2 trial in schizophrenia announced in August 2022. The trial met its primary endpoint, with KarXT demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 9.6-point reduction in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score compared to placebo (-21.2 KarXT vs. -11.6 placebo; p<0.0001) at Week 5. KarXT also met key secondary endpoints, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in both positive symptoms and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, as measured by the PANSS positive, PANSS negative and PANSS negative Marder factor subscales, compared to placebo. KarXT was generally well tolerated, with the most common treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) all rated mild to moderate in severity, consistent with prior trials.
    • Results from the EMERGENT-2 trial were presented at the 35^th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Annual Congress in October. The poster and symposium presentation included previously reported efficacy and safety data, as well as additional new safety analysis from the trial. The additional analysis highlighted that common cholinergic TEAEs associated with KarXT were mild to moderate in severity, time limited, and resolved with repeated dosing, consistent with prior trials.
    • Additional data analyses from the EMERGENT-2 trial to be presented at the Neuroscience Education Institute Congress, held November 3-6, 2022. The poster presentation will highlight efficacy and safety data from EMERGENT-2, including additional pre-specified secondary efficacy endpoints that have not been previously disclosed.
  • The Company completed enrollment in the Phase 3 EMERGENT-3 trial in the fourth quarter of 2022 and anticipates topline data in the first quarter of 2023. EMERGENT-3 is a five-week inpatient trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of KarXT compared to placebo in 256 adults with schizophrenia in the U.S. and Ukraine.
  • The Company remains on track to submit an NDA for KarXT in schizophrenia with the U.S. FDA in mid-2023.
• The PENNANT trial: A planned three-year, open-label, outpatient Phase 3b trial evaluating the long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of KarXT as a monotherapy in up to 380 adults with schizophrenia in the U.S. Data from the trial will provide insight into the long-term use of KarXT over a period of multiple years.
  • The Company expects to initiate the Phase 3b PENNANT trial in the fourth quarter of 2022.
• The ARISE program: The Phase 3 clinical program evaluating KarXT as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia. The ARISE program consists of the ARISE trial, a six-week outpatient trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of KarXT compared to placebo, and ARISE-2, an open-label extension trial of ARISE evaluating the long-term safety of KarXT.
  • Topline data from the ARISE trial is anticipated in the first half of 2024.

KarXT for the treatment of psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease:

• The ADEPT program: The Phase 3 clinical program evaluating KarXT for the treatment of psychosis related to Alzheimer’s disease. The ADEPT program consists of the ongoing ADEPT-1 trial, a Phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of KarXT compared to placebo, and the planned ADEPT-2 and ADEPT-3 trials evaluating the efficacy and long-term safety of KarXT.
  • The Company initiated the ADEPT-1 trial in the third quarter of 2022, with topline data anticipated in 2025.
  • The Company plans to initiate the ADEPT-2 and ADEPT-3 trials in 2023. Topline data from the ADEPT-2 trial is anticipated in 2025.

Discovery and early-stage pipeline:

• The Company continues to advance its novel formulations of KarXT, earlier pipeline of muscarinic receptor targeted programs, and artificial intelligence-based target agnostic drug discovery program for treating psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Corporate Updates

• The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted two additional patents with anticipated patent expiration dates out to 2039 and the potential for patent term extension. The USPTO granted US Patent Nos. 11,452,692 and 11,471,413 in September and October 2022, respectively.

Anticipated Upcoming Milestones

• Initiation of the Phase 3 PENNANT trial (4Q 2022)
• Topline data from the Phase 3 EMERGENT-3 trial (1Q 2023)
• Initiation of the Phase 3 ADEPT-2 trial (2023)
• Initiation of the Phase 3 ADEPT-3 trial (2023)
• NDA submission of KarXT in schizophrenia (mid-2023)
• Topline data from the Phase 3 ARISE trial (1H 2024)
• Topline data from the Phase 3 ADEPT-1 trial (2025)
• Topline data from the Phase 3 ADEPT-2 trial (2025)

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
The Company reported a net loss of $77.0 million for the third quarter of 2022, as compared to $50.9 million for the prior year period. The increase in net loss for the quarter was driven by research and development expenses related to the Company’s enrollment of the Phase 3 EMERGENT and ARISE trials, NDA-supporting activities, increased employee headcount across the organization, and higher stock-based compensation expense.

Research and development expenses were $62.0 million for the third quarter of 2022, as compared to $38.8 million for the prior year period. The increase in research and development expenses for the quarter was primarily driven by expenses related to the Company’s Phase 3 EMERGENT, ARISE and ADEPT trials, manufacturing to support ongoing and planned clinical trials, activities to support the Company’s planned NDA submission and potential commercialization of KarXT for schizophrenia, personnel-related costs due to the increase in employee headcount, and higher stock-based compensation expense.

General and administrative expenses were $19.1 million for the third quarter of 2022, as compared to $12.4 million for the prior year period. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in employee headcount and an increase in stock-based compensation expense.

The Company ended the quarter with $1.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investment securities compared to $494.0 million as of December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily the result of the completion of the Company’s public offering in August 2022, which resulted in net proceeds of $819.1 million. The Company expects that current cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investment securities as of September 30, 2022, will enable to Company to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the end of 2025.

About Karuna Therapeutics
Karuna Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company driven to create and deliver transformative medicines for people living with psychiatric and neurological conditions. At Karuna, we understand there is a need for differentiated and more effective treatments that can help patients navigate the challenges presented by serious mental illness. Utilizing our extensive knowledge of neuroscience, we are harnessing the untapped potential of the brain in pursuit of novel pathways to develop medicines that make meaningful differences in peoples’ lives. For more information, please visit www.karunatx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding our expectations about the timing of our ongoing and planned clinical trials and regulatory filings, our goals to develop and commercialize our product candidates, our liquidity and capital resources and other statements identified by words such as “could,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward looking statements are not promises or guarantees of future performance, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. These factors include risks related to our limited operating history, our ability to obtain necessary funding, our ability to generate positive clinical trial results for our product candidates and other risks inherent in clinical development, the timing and scope of regulatory approvals, changes in laws and regulations to which we are subject, competitive pressures, our ability to identify additional product candidates, risks relating to business interruptions resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and other risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by such forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except share and per share data)
		Three Months Ended										Nine Months Ended
		September 30,										September 30,
		2022						2021				2022				2021
License and other revenue		$	81					$	—			$	5,359			$	—
Operating expenses:
Research and development			61,950						38,775				158,243				83,108
General and administrative			19,125						12,393				51,756				32,554
Total operating expenses			81,075						51,168				209,999				115,662
Loss from operations			(80,994	)		—			(51,168	)			(204,640	)			(115,662	)
Other income (loss), net:
Interest income			3,884						114				4,611				363
Sublease income			147						122				433				131
Impairment loss on right-of-use assets			—						—				—				(677	)
Total other income (loss), net			4,031						236				5,044				(183	)
Net loss before income taxes			(76,963	)					(50,932	)			(199,596	)			(115,845	)
Income tax provision			—						—				(528	)			—
Net loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(76,963	)				$	(50,932	)		$	(200,124	)		$	(115,845	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		$	(2.38	)				$	(1.72	)		$	(6.52	)		$	(4.00	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted			32,349,111						29,572,289				30,693,117				28,953,654

 

Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (in thousands)
		September 30, 2022				December 31, 2021
Cash, cash equivalents and investments		$	1,192,034			$	493,991
Working capital			1,178,933				497,121
Total assets			1,228,412				527,671
Total stockholders’ equity		$	1,183,955			$	502,026

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221103005136/en/

Investor Contact:

Alexis Smith

518-338-8990

asmith@karunatx.com



Media Contact:

Lauren Sneider

917-886-0247

lsneider@karunatx.com

Source: Karuna Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What were the financial results for Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX) in Q3 2022?

Karuna reported a net loss of $77 million for Q3 2022, compared to $50.9 million for the same period in 2021.

What is the status of the NDA submission for KarXT?

The NDA submission for KarXT in schizophrenia is expected to be submitted to the FDA in mid-2023.

What are the key developments in the ongoing trials for KarXT?

The EMERGENT-3 trial has completed enrollment, and topline data is anticipated in the first quarter of 2023.

What is the cash position of Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX) as of Q3 2022?

Karuna ended the quarter with $1.2 billion in cash, sufficient to fund operations through the end of 2025.