Lexeo Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results and Operational Highlights
- Lexeo Therapeutics reported $121.5M in cash and cash equivalents at year-end 2023, extending funding into 2027 with a $95.0M equity financing.
- Positive change in frataxin levels observed in Cohort 2 of the SUNRISE-FA trial with potential physiological improvements.
- Initiated SNAPSHOT-PKP2 study to evaluate PKP2-ACM disease progression and all milestones for LX2020 remain on track.
- Lexeo received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for LX2020, with clinical trial start-up activities underway.
- Completed enrollment of all four cohorts in the LEAD Phase 1/2 trial of LX1001 for APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s disease.
- Expected gross proceeds of $95.0M from a private placement of 6,278,905 shares of common stock at $15.13 per share.
- Additional interim data readout from SUNRISE-FA expected in mid-2024, with follow-up out to one year from the low-dose and multiple time points of follow-up expected from at least three patients treated at the mid-dose.
- None.
Insights
The announcement by Lexeo Therapeutics of a successful $95 million equity financing is a significant liquidity event that bolsters the company's financial position. This capital infusion, coupled with their year-end cash reserves, provides a substantial runway that extends their operational funding into 2027. Investors typically view such extended runways as a positive signal of stability, reducing near-term financial risk and potentially enhancing the stock's appeal.
Furthermore, the equity financing might dilute current shareholders but also reflects investor confidence in Lexeo's pipeline and strategy. The pricing of the private placement at $15.13 per share provides a benchmark for market valuation, which analysts and investors will scrutinize in relation to the company's market cap prior to the announcement.
It’s also important to note the strategic timing of the financing, coinciding with positive interim clinical trial results. This timing can create a more favorable investment narrative, potentially impacting the stock price. Investors will be interested in the deployment of these funds, particularly in advancing the clinical trials and potential commercialization efforts.
Lexeo's progress in the SUNRISE-FA clinical trial is a critical milestone for stakeholders, as it represents advancement in a potential treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) cardiomyopathy—a rare disease with high unmet medical need. The reported positive change in frataxin protein levels in the heart tissue of patients is an encouraging sign, as it suggests a therapeutic benefit from LX2006.
Frataxin is crucial for mitochondrial function and its deficiency in FA patients leads to severe cardiac complications. The observed dose-dependent response in protein expression is particularly noteworthy, as it indicates a potential correlation between the administered dose and therapeutic effect, which is a key consideration in drug development.
The initiation of SNAPSHOT-PKP2, a natural history study for PKP2-ACM, is another strategic move. Understanding disease progression through such studies is essential for designing effective clinical trials and can lead to more targeted therapies. The FDA's Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for LX2020 underscore the importance of this program and may facilitate a swifter path to market, subject to successful trial outcomes.
Lexeo's strategic focus on genetic medicines for cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer’s disease positions the company in high-growth therapeutic areas with significant market potential. The advancements in their clinical trials and the FDA's Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for LX2020 are promising indicators of the company's potential to capture market share in these specialized segments.
Given the rarity of the diseases targeted by Lexeo's pipeline, the pricing strategy and market access upon potential approval will be critical factors for success. Orphan drug status not only provides benefits like market exclusivity but also allows for premium pricing due to the lack of alternative treatments.
The interim data readouts expected in mid-2024 will be pivotal events that could influence the company's market valuation and investor sentiment. Positive data could lead to increased interest from larger pharmaceutical companies for partnerships or acquisitions, while negative data could significantly impact the stock's performance.
Lexeo announces
Reports frataxin protein expression data from a subset of the second dose cohort of SUNRISE-FA, a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of LX2006 for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) cardiomyopathy, showing positive change in post-treatment frataxin levels
Additional interim data readout from SUNRISE-FA expected in mid-2024, with follow-up out to one year from the low-dose and multiple time points of follow-up expected from at least three patients treated at the mid-dose
Initiated SNAPSHOT-PKP2, a natural history study designed to evaluate PKP2-ACM disease progression up to two years retrospectively and over twelve months prospectively, in up to 20 patients in the U.S. All milestones for LX2020 remain on track
NEW YORK, March 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lexeo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXEO), a clinical stage genetic medicine company dedicated to pioneering treatments for genetically defined cardiovascular diseases and APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s disease, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results and provided operational highlights.
“The past year has been transformative for Lexeo as we successfully completed our initial public offering and continued to advance our pipeline of genetic medicines,” stated R. Nolan Townsend, Chief Executive Officer of Lexeo Therapeutics. “Building on our success in 2023, we are pleased to report that we have observed a positive change in frataxin levels now in Cohort 2 of the SUNRISE-FA trial. The low baseline protein levels observed in these patients provide unique insights into the biology of FA and we believe the increases in post treatment protein expression mediated by LX2006 may be sufficient to restore mitochondrial function with physiological improvement. These data, combined with our recent financing and progress across our pipeline, reflect exciting developments and add to our track record of clinical execution.”
SUNRISE-FA Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) Assay Protein Expression Data
| Subject | Pre-Treatment FXN Levels (ng/mg protein) | Post-Treatment FXN Levels (ng/mg protein) | Change from Baseline (ng/mg protein) |
| Cohort 1 Subject 1 (1.8x1011 vg/kg) | 0.75 | 0.97 | 0.22 |
| Cohort 2 Subject 1 (5.6x1011 vg/kg) | 0.97 | 2.77 | 1.81 |
| Cohort 2 Subject 2 (5.6x1011 vg/kg) | 1.83 | 2.23 | 0.40 |
Note: Only one patient in Cohort 1 underwent pre and post treatment cardiac biopsy.
- Average pre-treatment FXN level across three subjects was 1.18ng/mg. Compared to FXN levels observed in 29 cadaver tissue samples from 16 individuals without heart disease, we believe the average pre-treatment FXN level represents approximately two percent of healthy individual frataxin levels in the heart.
- To our knowledge, SUNRISE-FA is the first clinical trial to evaluate frataxin levels in the target organ of FA cardiomyopathy patients via cardiac biopsy. Data to date suggest that FA patients may have lower FXN levels in the heart versus peripheral tissues.
- Across all three cardiac biopsies, we observed an increase in FXN levels as measured by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry relative to pre-treatment baseline levels.
- We observed an approximately five-fold increase in protein on average in the second cohort (5.6x1011 vg/kg) to date, relative to the first cohort (1.8x1011 vg/kg). A dose-dependent response was also seen in our IND-enabling preclinical studies, where a non-linear relationship was observed between dose delivered and frataxin protein expression.
Lexeo expects to present additional interim data from SUNRISE-FA Cohorts 1 and 2 in mid-2024, including measures of hypertrophy and other cardiac biomarkers at multiple timepoints(1). Ahead of this interim readout, Lexeo expects to provide an analysis of baseline characteristics from LX2006-treated patients to characterize the cardiovascular disease phenotype seen in FA as well as baseline levels of hypertrophy and other cardiac biomarkers that will be reported at mid-year.
____________
(1) Trial participants receive immune suppression with prednisone beginning on the day prior to treatment/infusion through 14 weeks following LX2006 administration. Given the potential impact of corticosteroids on systemic status and cardiac biomarkers, efficacy data in the mid-2024 data readout will be presented for timepoints following cessation of corticosteroid administration.
Business and Program Updates
- LX2006 for the Treatment of FA Cardiomyopathy: Announced preliminary frataxin protein expression data from the second dose cohort of SUNRISE-FA showing positive change in post-treatment frataxin levels three months following administration of LX2006. Lexeo expects to report additional interim data from the SUNRISE-FA Phase 1/2 clinical trial in mid-2024 with follow-up out to one year from the low-dose and multiple timepoints of follow-up expected from at least three patients treated at the mid-dose.
- LX2020 for the Treatment of PKP2-ACM: In December 2023, the FDA granted Fast Track designation (FTD) and Orphan Drug designation (ODD) to LX2020, which allows more frequent interactions with FDA to facilitate development and expedite review processes. The ODD also provides additional benefits to Lexeo, such as market exclusivity upon regulatory approval. Clinical trial start-up activities are underway and Lexeo expects to dose the first patient in the HEROIC-PKP2 Phase 1/2 clinical trial of LX2020 in 1H 2024, with an interim data readout from Cohort 1 expected in 2H 2024. Lexeo has also initiated SNAPSHOT-PKP2, a natural history study designed to evaluate PKP2-ACM disease progression up to two years retrospectively and over twelve months prospectively in up to 20 patients in the United States.
- APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s Disease Programs: Lexeo completed enrollment of all four cohorts in the LEAD Phase 1/2 clinical trial of LX1001 for the treatment of APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s disease in Q4 2023. The Company expects to provide an interim data readout of all cohorts in 2H 2024.
- Pricing of
$95 Million Equity Financing: Lexeo today announced that it has entered into a common stock purchase agreement with certain new and existing investors to issue and sell an aggregate of 6,278,905 shares of its common stock at a price of$15.13 per share, through a private placement. Lexeo anticipates the gross proceeds from the private placement to be approximately$95.0 million , before deducting any offering related expenses. The financing is expected to close on or about March 13, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. The proceeds from this financing, combined with current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, are expected to fund operating and capital expenditures into 2027. - Completed Initial Public Offering: In November 2023, Lexeo completed its underwritten initial public offering of 10,139,656 shares of its common stock, including the exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase 1,048,746 additional shares of its common stock. The aggregate gross proceeds from the offering were
$111.5 million , before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by Lexeo.
Expected Upcoming Milestones
- LX2006 for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia cardiomyopathy
- Interim data readout in mid-2024
- LX2020 for the treatment of PKP2-ACM
- First patient dosed in 1H 2024
- Interim data readout (Cohort 1) in 2H 2024
- LX1001 for the treatment of APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s disease
- Interim Phase 1/2 data readout (all cohorts) in 2H 2024
- LX2021 for the treatment of DSP cardiomyopathy
- Initiate IND-enabling studies in 2024
Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results
- Cash Position: As of December 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents were
$121.5 million , excluding the$95.0 million gross proceeds expected to be raised in the private placement announced today. Lexeo expects the additional funds raised in the financing to extend its runway into 2027. - R&D Expenses: R&D expenses were
$8.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to$11.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Research and Development expenses were$53.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to$49.2 million for the same period in 2022. - G&A Expenses: G&A expenses were
$6.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to$3.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. G&A expenses were$15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to$12.0 million for the same period in 2022. - Net Loss: Net loss was
$14.2 million or$0.86 per share (basic and diluted) for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to$14.6 million or$8.86 per share (basic and diluted) for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Net loss was$66.4 million or$12.40 per share (basic and diluted) for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to$59.3 million or$36.36 per share (basic and diluted) for the year ended December 31, 2022.
About Lexeo Therapeutics
Lexeo Therapeutics is a New York City-based, clinical stage genetic medicine company dedicated to transforming healthcare by applying pioneering science to fundamentally change how genetically defined cardiovascular diseases and APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s disease are treated. Using a stepwise development approach, Lexeo is leveraging early proof-of-concept functional and biomarker data to advance a pipeline of cardiovascular and APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s disease programs.
Forward looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, our expectations and plans regarding our current product candidates and programs, including the anticipated timing of the initiation of and results from our clinical trials, expectations regarding the time period over which our capital resources will be sufficient to fund our anticipated operations and estimates regarding Lexeo’s financial condition. Words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “develop,” “plan” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While Lexeo believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current information available to the company as well as certain estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties (including, without limitation, those set forth in Lexeo’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC)), many of which are beyond the company’s control and subject to change. Actual results could be materially different from those indicated by such forward looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not limited to: risks and uncertainties related to global macroeconomic conditions and related volatility; expectations regarding the initiation, progress, and expected results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and research and development programs; the unpredictable relationship between preclinical study results and clinical study results; delays in submission of regulatory filings or failure to receive regulatory approval; liquidity and capital resources, including the anticipated closing of the private placement and anticipated runway extension; and other risks and uncertainties identified in our Quarterly Report of 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on December 11, 2023, and subsequent future filings we may make with the SEC. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. Lexeo claims the protection of the Safe Harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for forward-looking statements. Lexeo expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Media Response:
Carolyn Hawley
(619) 849-5382
Carolyn.hawley@inizioevoke.com
Investor Response:
Laurence Watts
(619) 916-7620
laurence@gilmartinir.com
| Lexeo Therapeutics, Inc. Selected Condensed Financial Information (unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Grant revenue | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 654 | ||||||||
| Total revenue | - | - | - | 654 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 8,210 | 11,437 | 53,130 | 49,162 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 6,764 | 3,760 | 15,383 | 12,001 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 14,974 | 15,197 | 68,513 | 61,163 | ||||||||||||
| Operating loss | (14,974 | ) | (15,197 | ) | (68,513 | ) | (60,509 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income and expense | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss on fair value adjustment to convertible SAFE Note | (258 | ) | - | (530 | ) | - | ||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | (8 | ) | (1 | ) | (13 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense | (51 | ) | (54 | ) | (205 | ) | (91 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest income | 1,103 | 675 | 2,867 | 1,325 | ||||||||||||
| Total other income and expense | 786 | 620 | 2,119 | 1,232 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations before income taxes | (14,188 | ) | (14,577 | ) | (66,394 | ) | (59,277 | ) | ||||||||
| Income taxes | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss | $ | (14,188 | ) | $ | (14,577 | ) | $ | (66,394 | ) | $ | (59,277 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per common share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.86 | ) | $ | (8.86 | ) | $ | (12.40 | ) | $ | (36.36 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computation of net loss per common share, basic and diluted | 16,438,237 | 1,644,403 | 5,354,368 | 1,630,348 | ||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data | ||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and investments | $ | 121,466 | $ | 77,335 | ||||
| Total assets | 139,807 | 97,076 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 26,272 | 24,997 | ||||||
| Total convertible preferred stock | - | 185,033 | ||||||
| Total stockholders' equity (deficit) | 113,535 | (112,954 | ) | |||||
FAQ
What is the amount of equity financing announced by Lexeo Therapeutics?
What is the ticker symbol for Lexeo Therapeutics?
What positive change was observed in the frataxin levels in the SUNRISE-FA trial?
What study did Lexeo initiate to evaluate PKP2-ACM disease progression?
What designations did Lexeo receive for LX2020?
What trial did Lexeo complete enrollment for in Q4 2023?
What is the expected gross proceeds from the private placement of common stock by Lexeo?
When is the additional interim data readout from SUNRISE-FA expected?
