Prothena Reports Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Provides R&D Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Prothena Corporation (NASDAQ:PRTA) reported a net loss of $26.3 million for Q2 2020, significantly higher than $15.8 million in Q2 2019. Total revenue for Q2 remained stable at $0.2 million. The company’s cash position is strong, with $336.6 million available to fund ongoing R&D efforts. Upcoming milestones include presentations of clinical data for their Parkinson’s disease treatment, prasinezumab, and updates on PRX004 for ATTR amyloidosis. Prothena expects full-year cash burn between $75-$85 million, predicting an end-of-year cash position of approximately $299 million.

Positive

• Strong cash position of $336.6 million to fund R&D.
• Upcoming presentations of significant clinical data expected to boost investor confidence.
• Progress in early-stage pipeline targeting neurological indications.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $26.3 million, up from $15.8 million in Q2 2019.
• Total revenue remained unchanged at $0.2 million despite increased expenses.

• Net cash used in operating and investing activities was $18.7 million in the second quarter and $41.9 million for the first six months of 2020; quarter-end cash and restricted cash position of $336.6 million provides funding to advance a broad pipeline
  

DUBLIN, Ireland, Aug. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prothena Corporation plc (NASDAQ:PRTA), a clinical-stage company with expertise in protein dysregulation and a diverse pipeline of investigational therapeutics for neurodegenerative and rare peripheral amyloid diseases, today reported financial results for the second quarter and first six months of 2020. In addition, the Company provided an update on its R&D programs.

“We continue to expect multiple clinical data read-outs later this year across our pipeline,” said Gene Kinney, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Prothena. “New data from Part 1 of the Phase 2 prasinezumab study (PASADENA) in Parkinson’s disease, being conducted by Roche will be presented in an oral presentation next month at the Movement Disorders Society congress, and additional data from our Phase 1 study of PRX004 in ATTR amyloidosis are expected in the fourth quarter. In addition, we are making excellent progress on our early-stage pipeline targeting a range of neurological indications and look forward to sharing preclinical data from programs in our Alzheimer’s disease portfolio later this year.”

Second Quarter Research and Development Updates and Upcoming Milestones

Prasinezumab (PRX002/RG7935), a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease, is a monoclonal antibody designed to target alpha-synuclein and is the focus of the worldwide collaboration with Roche

• Part 1 of the Phase 2 PASADENA study in patients with early Parkinson’s disease (N=316), being conducted by Roche, is complete. Results from Part 1 of the study have been selected as an oral Top Abstract presentation at the upcoming virtual International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) on September 14, 2020.
  
  
• The 52-week blinded extension of the study (Part 2 of the Phase 2 PASADENA Study) is ongoing. COVID-19 has caused some participants to miss assessments in Part 2 of the study. Mitigation efforts have been put in place to ensure patient safety, and the situation is improving in most geographies. Roche continues to monitor the situation carefully to minimize patient risk and the impact on the study.

PRX004, a potential treatment for ATTR amyloidosis, is a monoclonal antibody designed to deplete the pathogenic, non-native forms of the TTR protein

• Since interim data from cohorts 1 through 5 were reported in December, patients in all 6 cohorts of the Phase 1 study of PRX004 have received the three infusions and assessments that comprised the dose-escalation portion of the study.
  
  
• The long-term extension (LTE) portion of the study, which allowed for up to 15 additional infusions, experienced disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, 6 patients in cohorts 4 and 5, and 1 patient in cohort 6 completed one post-baseline neuropathy assessment following 9 months of PRX004 administration.
  
  
• The Company expects to report new data in the fourth quarter of this year from the dose-escalation and available LTE portion of the study. This timing, however, is dependent on ongoing COVID-19 restrictions at clinical study sites that can impact data collection and analyses.
  
  
• The Company continues to believe that the study has advanced sufficiently to determine next steps for the program, and has begun further clinical development planning activities, expecting to disclose next steps in the fourth quarter of this year.

Discovery and Preclinical Development: Prothena is advancing an early-stage pipeline of programs for a number of potential neurological indications

• The Company continues to expect to advance IND-enabling activities in 2020 for our preclinical tau program, part of a global neuroscience collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb.
  
  
• The Company continues to expect to initiate IND-enabling activities in 2020 for our preclinical Aβ program.

Upcoming Investor Conference

Members of the senior management team will present and participate in investor meetings at the following upcoming investor conferences:

• BTIG Virtual Biotechnology Conference 2020 on August 11, 2020 at 1:00PM Eastern Time

A live webcast of the presentations can be accessed through the Investors section of the Company's website at www.prothena.com. Following the live presentations, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for at least 90 days following the presentation date.

Second Quarter and First Six Months of 2020 Financial Results

For the second quarter and first six months of 2020, Prothena reported a net loss of $26.3 million and $49.9 million, respectively, as compared to a net loss of $15.8 million and $36.7 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively. The second quarter and first six months of 2019 included a restructuring credit of nil and $0.1 million, respectively, which resulted from an adjustment in previously recorded employee termination benefits associated with the discontinuation of the NEOD001 program. Net loss per share for the second quarter and first six months of 2020 was $0.66 and $1.25, respectively, as compared to a net loss per share of $0.40 and $0.92 for the second quarter and first six months 2019, respectively.

Prothena reported total revenue, primarily from its collaboration with Roche, of $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, as compared to total revenue of $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively.

Research and development (R&D) expenses totaled $17.3 million and $32.5 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, as compared to $9.6 million and $22.9 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively. The increase in R&D expense for the second quarter and first six months of 2020 compared to the same periods in the prior year was primarily due to higher collaboration expense with Roche related to the prasinezumab program and higher manufacturing costs (primarily related to the tau, Aβ and PRX004 programs). R&D expenses included non-cash share-based compensation expense of $2.1 million and $4.1 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, as compared to $2.1 million and $4.2 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses totaled $9.7 million and $19.4 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, as compared to $9.1 million and $19.0 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively. The increase in G&A expenses for the second quarter and first six months of 2020 compared to the same periods in the prior year primarily related to higher costs for our director and officer insurance premiums and higher legal and accounting fees offset in part by lower personnel costs (including share-based compensation expense). G&A expenses included non-cash share-based compensation expense of $3.6 million and $7.1 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, as compared to $4.2 million and $8.3 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively.

Total non-cash share-based compensation expense was $5.7 million and $11.2 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2020, respectively, as compared to $6.3 million and $12.5 million for the second quarter and first six months of 2019, respectively.

As of June 30, 2020, Prothena had $336.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and no debt.

As of July 31, 2020, Prothena had approximately 39.9 million ordinary shares outstanding.

The Company continues to expect its full year 2020 net cash burn from operating and investing activities to be $75-$85 million, and expects to end the year with approximately $299 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (midpoint). The estimated full year 2020 net cash burn from operating and investing activities is primarily driven by estimated net loss of $101-$118 million, which includes an estimated $23 million of non-cash share-based compensation expense.

Inducement Grant Under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(C)(4)

In connection with hiring an employee, the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors granted the individual hired by the Company an option to purchase 60,000 ordinary shares of the Company. The stock option has an exercise price per share equal to $12.76, which was the closing trading price on August 3, 2020, the date of the grant. The inducement award will vest over four years, with 25% of the underlying shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant and 1/48th of the underlying shares vesting monthly thereafter over 36 months. The stock option was granted pursuant to the Company’s 2020 Employment Inducement Incentive Plan, which was approved by the Company’s board of directors under Rule 5635(c)(4) of The Nasdaq Global Market for equity grants to induce new employees to enter into employment with the Company.

About Prothena

Prothena Corporation plc is a clinical-stage company with expertise in protein dysregulation and a diverse pipeline of novel investigational therapeutics with the potential to change the course of devastating neurodegenerative and rare peripheral amyloid diseases. Fueled by its deep scientific expertise built over decades of research, Prothena is advancing a pipeline of therapeutic candidates for a number of indications and novel targets for which its ability to integrate scientific insights around neurological dysfunction and the biology of misfolded proteins can be leveraged. Prothena’s partnered programs include prasinezumab (PRX002/RG7935), in collaboration with Roche for the potential treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other related synucleinopathies, and programs that target tau, TDP-43 and an undisclosed target in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or other neurodegenerative diseases. Prothena’s proprietary programs include PRX004 for the potential treatment of ATTR amyloidosis, and programs that target Aβ (Amyloid beta) for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.prothena.com and follow the Company on Twitter @ProthenaCorp.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to, among other things, the sufficiency of our cash position to fund advancement of a broad pipeline; the treatment potential and proposed mechanisms of action of prasinezumab and PRX004; plans for the ongoing Phase 2 clinical study of prasinezumab and the Phase 1 clinical study of PRX004; the expected timing of reporting data from the Phase 1 clinical study of PRX004 and from the Phase 2 clinical study of prasinezumab; plans for future clinical studies of prasinezumab and PRX004; the continued advancement of our discovery and preclinical pipeline; the timing of IND-enabling activities from our tau and Aβ programs; our anticipated net cash burn from operating and investing activities for 2020 and expected cash balance at the end of 2020; and our estimated net loss and non-cash share-based compensation expense for 2020. These statements are based on estimates, projections and assumptions that may prove not to be accurate, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the effects on our business of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the “Risk Factors” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 3, 2020, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in our subsequent filings with the SEC. Prothena undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in Prothena’s expectations.

PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited - amounts in thousands except per share data)

		Three Months Ended June 30,										Six Months Ended June 30,
		2020					2019					2020					2019
Collaboration revenue		$	145				$	167				$	286				$	353
License revenue		50					—					50					—
Total revenue		195					167					336					353
Operating expenses:
Research and development		17,271					9,583					32,519					22,879
General and administrative		9,656					9,081					19,397					18,986
Restructuring credits		—					—					—					(61		)
Total operating expenses		26,927					18,664					51,916					41,804
Loss from operations		(26,732		)			(18,497		)			(51,580		)			(41,451		)
Other income, net		195					2,531					1,308					4,818
Loss before income taxes		(26,537		)			(15,966		)			(50,272		)			(36,633		)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(255		)			(156		)			(421		)			42
Net loss		$	(26,282	)			$	(15,810	)			$	(49,851	)			$	(36,675	)
Basic and diluted net loss per share		$	(0.66	)			$	(0.40	)			$	(1.25	)			$	(0.92	)
Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share		39,911					39,872					39,910					39,868

PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited - amounts in thousands)

	June 30,				December 31,
	2020				2019
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	333,942			$	375,723
Accounts receivable	56				68
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,125				2,584
Total current assets	341,123				378,375
Property and equipment, net	3,215				3,874
Operating lease right-of-use assets	20,570				23,274
Restricted cash, non-current	2,704				2,704
Other non-current assets	11,321				11,041
Total non-current assets	37,810				40,893
Total assets	$	378,933			$	419,268
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Accrued research and development	$	6,152			$	5,826
Lease liability, current	5,304				5,101
Other current liabilities	7,088				6,787
Total current liabilities	18,544				17,714
Deferred revenue	110,242				110,242
Lease liability, non-current	15,150				17,838
Other non-current liabilities	553				553
Total non-current liabilities	125,945				128,633
Total liabilities	144,489				146,347
Total shareholders’ equity	234,444				272,921
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	378,933			$	419,268

Media and Investor Contact:
Ellen Rose, Head of Communications
650-922-2405, ellen.rose@prothena.com

 

FAQ

What were Prothena's financial results for Q2 2020?

Prothena reported a net loss of $26.3 million and total revenue of $0.2 million for Q2 2020.

What is Prothena's cash burn guidance for 2020?

Prothena expects a cash burn of $75-$85 million for the full year 2020.

When will Prothena present clinical data from its prasinezumab study?

New data from the prasinezumab study will be presented at the Movement Disorders Society congress on September 14, 2020.

How much cash does Prothena have as of June 30, 2020?

Prothena had $336.6 million in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of June 30, 2020.

What are the upcoming milestones for Prothena's drug development?

Prothena plans to report data from its Phase 1 study of PRX004 in ATTR amyloidosis in Q4 2020.