Larimar Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2024 Operating and Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Larimar Therapeutics (LRMR) reported Q3 2024 financial results with a net loss of $15.5 million ($0.24 per share). The company maintains a strong balance sheet with $203.7 million in cash and equivalents, projecting runway into 2026. Their lead program, nomlabofusp for Friedreich's ataxia, continues advancement with key upcoming milestones including: a program update in mid-December 2024, initiation of PK run-in study in adolescents by year-end, planned global confirmatory study mid-2025, and targeted BLA submission in 2H 2025. The company recently received ILAP designation from MHRA to accelerate market access in the UK.

Positive

• Strong cash position of $203.7M with runway into 2026
• ILAP designation received from MHRA for accelerated UK market access
• Multiple regulatory designations secured (Orphan Drug, Fast Track, PRIME)
• On track for BLA submission in 2H 2025

Negative

• Increased net loss to $15.5M in Q3 2024 vs $9.1M in Q3 2023
• R&D expenses increased to $13.9M from $6.6M YoY
• G&A expenses increased to $4.3M from $3.8M YoY

Insights

Financial Analyst

The Q3 2024 results reveal a strong financial position with $203.7 million in cash and equivalents, providing runway into 2026. However, the increased net loss of $15.5 million ($0.24 per share) vs. $9.1 million in Q3 2023 reflects significant R&D investment scaling. Notable is the 110.6% increase in R&D expenses to $13.9 million, primarily driven by manufacturing scale-up and clinical trial costs. This elevated spending aligns with the company's accelerated development timeline targeting BLA submission in 2H 2025.

The 13.2% increase in G&A expenses to $4.3 million indicates commercial preparation activities. While cash burn has increased, the current runway appears sufficient to reach key milestones including the planned mid-2025 global registration study initiation.

Medical Research Analyst

The development program for nomlabofusp is hitting critical milestones in Friedreich's ataxia treatment. The upcoming December update on safety, PK and frataxin data from patients receiving 25mg daily doses will be important for validating the therapy's potential. The planned initiation of pediatric studies and regulatory progress, including ILAP designation and START program participation, strengthen the pathway to commercialization.

The comprehensive regulatory strategy, including orphan drug designations in US/EU and Fast Track status, positions nomlabofusp favorably for accelerated approval. The expansion into adolescent populations through the PK run-in study demonstrates a strategic approach to broadening the therapeutic application while gathering essential safety data.

• Nomlabofusp program update expected mid-December to include available safety, pharmacokinetic (PK) and frataxin data, as well as available clinical outcomes observations from patients with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) receiving 25 mg of nomlabofusp daily for 30-180 days in ongoing open label extension (OLE) study
• Initiation of PK run-in study in adolescents on track by year-end 2024
• Initiation of global confirmatory/registration study planned mid-2025
• Biologics License Application (BLA) submission for nomlabofusp targeted for 2H 2025 to support potential accelerated approval
• Strong balance sheet of $203.7 million cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2024, with projected cash runway into 2026
  

BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- October 30, 2024 – Larimar Therapeutics, Inc. (Larimar) (Nasdaq: LRMR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for complex rare diseases, today reported its third quarter 2024 operating and financial results.

“Our nomlabofusp program continues to advance, with the potential to be the first frataxin protein replacement therapy for patients with FA. All sites are activated with ongoing enrollment in our OLE study evaluating the long-term safety, PK and frataxin levels in patients with FA following daily subcutaneous administration. In mid-December, we plan to provide a development program update that will include available safety, PK, and frataxin data from patients receiving 25 mg of nomlabofusp daily for up to 180 days in our OLE study. We expect to also provide an update on enrollment,” said Carole Ben-Maimon, MD, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Larimar. “In November, we look forward to presenting at the International Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR) meeting new data on results from our completed dose exploration study including exploratory gene and lipid expression results following nomlabofusp treatment. In addition, we will also be presenting two posters with data from patients participating in our Phase 1 single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) studies and Phase 2 dose exploration study. One poster will provide patient data on baseline disease characteristics and baseline tissue frataxin levels, and the other will present the relationship between dose, PK and tissue frataxin levels using modeling and simulation. We remain on track to initiate a PK run-in study in adolescent patients with FA in the fourth quarter of this year which is the first step towards evaluating nomlabofusp treatment in pediatric patients.”

Dr. Ben-Maimon continued, “On the regulatory front, we were pleased to recently receive Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) designation from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which aims to facilitate patient access by accelerating time to market in the U.K. We also held our first meetings with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of the Support for Clinical Trials Advancing Rare Disease Therapeutics (START) pilot program and appreciate the dialogue and interaction designed to help advance our development program. In parallel, we began work to further understand the continued areas of unmet need in the FA therapeutic landscape from the perspective of physicians, payers, and most importantly, patients. We will use this information to develop our commercial approach and to refine our market entry strategy. Finally, we continue scaling up our manufacturing efforts and collecting required data to support a potential accelerated approval path. Our targeted BLA submission remains on track for the second half of 2025.”

Recent Highlights

• Today, Larimar announced that it will provide a nomlabofusp development program update in mid-December 2024 that will include available safety, PK and frataxin data, as well as available clinical outcomes observations from patients currently receiving a daily 25 mg dose of nomlabofusp for approximately 30 to 180 days in the OLE study. An update on enrollment in the OLE study will also be provided.
• Larimar recently received ILAP designation from the MHRA for nomlabofusp for the treatment of adults and children with FA. ILAP aims to facilitate patient access to novel treatments by accelerating time to market through opportunities for enhanced engagements with U.K. regulatory authorities and other stakeholders. Along with the receipt of the ILAP designation, nomlabofusp has already been granted orphan drug designations in the U.S. and the European Union (EU), Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Disease designations in the U.S., PRIME designation in the EU, and selected to be in the START pilot program by the FDA.
• Larimar is on track to initiate by year-end a PK run-in study in an initial cohort of 12-15 adolescents (12 to 17 years of age) with FA. Initiation of a second cohort of 12-15 children (2 to 11 years of age) is planned to follow next year. Study participants will be randomized 2:1 to receive either nomlabofusp or placebo daily. Following assessment of safety and exposure data of each cohort in the PK run-in study, participants will be eligible to screen for the OLE study.
• Larimar is on track for a planned initiation of a global confirmatory/registration study planned mid-2025 with potential sites in the U.S., Europe, U.K., Canada, and Australia. Larimar continues to target BLA submission for the second half of 2025 to support accelerated approval.
• In September 2024, Larimar announced that data from the Company’s nomlabofusp Phase 1 studies and Phase 2 dose exploration study, some of which has been previously disclosed, will be presented at the ICAR meeting being held November 12-15, 2024, in London, U.K.
  

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling $203.7 million, which provides projected cash runway into 2026.

Third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023

The Company reported a net loss for the third quarter of 2024 of $15.5 million, or $0.24 per share, compared to a net loss of $9.1 million, or $0.21 per share, for the third quarter of 2023.

Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were $13.9 million compared to $6.6 million for the third quarter of 2023. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily driven by an increase of $3.8 million in nomlabofusp manufacturing costs including lyophilization development, production scaling costs and manufacturing costs related to producing doses to be used in ongoing and planned clinical trials, an increase of $1.1 million in personnel expense due to increased headcount, an increase of $0.9 million in assay development costs, an increase of $0.6 million in clinical costs primarily associated with the OLE study which began dosing patients in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $0.3 million of professional fees related to consulting costs, an increase of $0.2 million in stock compensation costs associated with 2024 grants and an increase of $0.2 million in internal lab costs.

General and administrative expenses were $4.3 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2023. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily driven by an increase of $0.4 million in personnel expense and an increase of $0.2 million in professional fees primarily related to consulting costs related to commercial activity and other public company related expenses.

Nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023

The Company reported a net loss for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2024 of $51.8 million, or $0.86 per share, compared to a net loss of $24.0 million, or $0.55 per share, for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2023.

Research and development expenses for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2024 were $46.5 million compared to $17.0 million for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2023. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily driven by an increase of $20.2 million in nomlabofusp manufacturing costs including lyophilization development, production scaling costs and manufacturing costs related to producing doses to be used in ongoing and planned clinical trials, an increase of $3.2 million in personnel expense due to increased headcount, an increase of $2.9 million in clinical costs primarily associated with the OLE study which began dosing patients in the first quarter of 2024, increase of $0.9 million in assay development costs, an increase of $0.8 million related to the Track-FA program, an increase of $0.5 million in stock compensation costs associated with 2024 grants, an increase of $0.5 million in internal lab costs and an increase of $0.3 million of professional fees related to consulting costs.

General and administrative expenses for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2024 were $13.1 million compared to $10.6 million for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2023. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily driven by an increase of $1.0 million in personnel expense, an increase of $1.0 million in professional fees primarily related to consulting costs related to commercial activity and other public company related expenses, an increase of $0.3 million of other expense related to computer software, information technology services and recruiting and an increase of $0.2 million in stock compensation costs associated with 2024 grants.

About Larimar Therapeutics
Larimar Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LRMR), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for complex rare diseases. Larimar’s lead compound, nomlabofusp, is being developed as a potential treatment for Friedreich's ataxia. Larimar also plans to use its intracellular delivery platform to design other fusion proteins to target additional rare diseases characterized by deficiencies in intracellular bioactive compounds. For more information, please visit: https://larimartx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on Larimar’s management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. All statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding Larimar’s ability to develop and commercialize nomlabofusp and other planned product candidates, Larimar’s planned research and development efforts, including the timing of its nomlabofusp clinical trials, interactions and filings with the FDA, expectations regarding potential for accelerated approval or accelerated access and time to market and overall development plan and other matters regarding Larimar’s business strategies, ability to raise capital, use of capital, results of operations and financial position, and plans and objectives for future operations.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the success, cost and timing of Larimar’s product development activities, nonclinical studies and clinical trials, including nomlabofusp clinical milestones and continued interactions with the FDA; that preliminary clinical trial results may differ from final clinical trial results, that earlier non-clinical and clinical data and testing of nomlabofusp may not be predictive of the results or success of later clinical trials, and assessments; that the FDA may not ultimately agree with Larimar’s nomlabofusp development strategy; the potential impact of public health crises on Larimar’s future clinical trials, manufacturing, regulatory, nonclinical study timelines and operations, and general economic conditions; Larimar’s ability and the ability of third-party manufacturers Larimar engages, to optimize and scale nomlabofusp’s manufacturing process; Larimar’s ability to obtain regulatory approvals for nomlabofusp and future product candidates; Larimar’s ability to develop sales and marketing capabilities, whether alone or with potential future collaborators, and to successfully commercialize any approved product candidates; Larimar’s ability to raise the necessary capital to conduct its product development activities; and other risks described in the filings made by Larimar with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including but not limited to Larimar’s periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, filed with or furnished to the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by Larimar and its projections of the future, about which it cannot be certain. As a result, the forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent Larimar’s management’s views only as of the date hereof. Larimar undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

Investor Contact:                                                        
Joyce Allaire                                                                
LifeSci Advisors                                                        
jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com                                                 
(212) 915-2569

Company Contact:
Michael Celano        
Chief Financial Officer
mcelano@larimartx.com
(484) 414-2715

                        

Larimar Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(unaudited)
		September 30,				December 31,
		2024				2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	35,067			$	26,749
Short-term marketable securities			168,640				60,041
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			9,549				3,385
Total current assets			213,256				90,175
Property and equipment, net			779				684
Operating lease right-of-use assets			3,026				3,078
Restricted cash			1,339				1,339
Other assets			621				659
Total assets		$	219,021			$	95,935
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	1,686			$	1,283
Accrued expenses			13,573				7,386
Operating lease liabilities, current			1,026				837
Total current liabilities			16,285				9,506
Operating lease liabilities			4,336				4,709
Total liabilities			20,621				14,215
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock; $0.001 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023; no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023			—				—
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 115,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023; 63,806,628 and 43,909,069 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively			64				43
Additional paid-in capital			438,312				270,150
Accumulated deficit			(240,334	)			(188,554	)
Accumulated other comprehensive gain			358				81
Total stockholders’ equity			198,400				81,720
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	219,021			$	95,935

Larimar Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
Operating expenses:
Research and development		$	13,919			$	6,585			$	46,540			$	17,022
General and administrative			4,345				3,754				13,057				10,574
Total operating expenses			18,264				10,339				59,597				27,596
Loss from operations			(18,264	)			(10,339	)			(59,597	)			(27,596	)
Other income, net			2,765				1,275				7,817				3,640
Net loss		$	(15,499	)		$	(9,064	)		$	(51,780	)		$	(23,956	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		$	(0.24	)		$	(0.21	)		$	(0.86	)		$	(0.55	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted			63,806,158				43,903,738				60,399,697				43,899,670
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss		$	(15,499	)		$	(9,064	)		$	(51,780	)		$	(23,956	)
Other comprehensive gain (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities			508				(5	)			277				38
Total other comprehensive gain (loss)			508				(5	)			277				38
Total comprehensive loss		$	(14,991	)		$	(9,069	)		$	(51,503	)		$	(23,918	)

FAQ

What was Larimar Therapeutics (LRMR) Q3 2024 net loss?

Larimar Therapeutics reported a net loss of $15.5 million ($0.24 per share) for Q3 2024, compared to $9.1 million ($0.21 per share) in Q3 2023.

When is LRMR planning to submit BLA for nomlabofusp?

Larimar Therapeutics is targeting BLA submission for nomlabofusp in the second half of 2025 to support accelerated approval.

What is LRMR's current cash position and runway?

As of September 30, 2024, Larimar has $203.7 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, providing projected cash runway into 2026.

When will LRMR provide the next nomlabofusp program update?

Larimar will provide a nomlabofusp development program update in mid-December 2024, including safety, PK and frataxin data from patients receiving 25 mg daily for 30-180 days.