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uniQure Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Highlights Recent Company Progress

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uniQure reported Q3 2024 financial results with a strong cash position of $435.2 million, extending runway through 2027. The company announced positive interim data from AMT-130 trials in Huntington's disease, showing significant disease progression slowing. A Type B FDA meeting is scheduled for Q4 2024 to discuss potential expedited development. The company initiated patient dosing in new Phase I/II studies for SOD1-ALS and Fabry disease treatments.

Q3 net loss was $44.4 million ($0.91 per share), improved from $89.6 million loss in Q3 2023. The company completed organizational restructuring, including the sale of its Lexington facility, expected to reduce annual cash burn by $70 million and eliminate 65% of roles.

uniQure ha riportato i risultati finanziari del terzo trimestre del 2024 con una solida posizione di cassa di $435,2 milioni, estendendo il proprio margine finanziario fino al 2027. L'azienda ha annunciato dati intermedi positivi dagli studi AMT-130 sulla malattia di Huntington, mostrando un significativo rallentamento della progressione della malattia. È prevista una riunione di tipo B con la FDA nel Q4 2024 per discutere un possibile sviluppo accelerato. L'azienda ha avviato la somministrazione ai pazienti in nuovi studi di Fase I/II per i trattamenti della SOD1-ALS e della malattia di Fabry.

La perdita netta del terzo trimestre è stata di $44,4 milioni ($0,91 per azione), in miglioramento rispetto alla perdita di $89,6 milioni nel terzo trimestre del 2023. L'azienda ha completato una ristrutturazione organizzativa, inclusa la vendita della propria struttura a Lexington, che si prevede ridurrà il consumo annuale di cassa di $70 milioni ed eliminerà il 65% delle posizioni.

uniQure reportó los resultados financieros del tercer trimestre de 2024 con una sólida posición de efectivo de $435.2 millones, extendiendo su plazo hasta 2027. La compañía anunció datos interinos positivos de los ensayos de AMT-130 en la enfermedad de Huntington, mostrando una desaceleración significativa de la progresión de la enfermedad. Se programó una reunión de tipo B con la FDA para el cuarto trimestre de 2024 para discutir el potencial desarrollo acelerado. La compañía inició la dosificación en pacientes en nuevos estudios de fase I/II para tratamientos de SOD1-ALS y enfermedad de Fabry.

La pérdida neta del tercer trimestre fue de $44.4 millones ($0.91 por acción), mejorando desde la pérdida de $89.6 millones en el tercer trimestre de 2023. La compañía completó una reestructuración organizativa, incluida la venta de su instalación en Lexington, que se espera reduzca el consumo anual de efectivo en $70 millones y elimine el 65% de los puestos.

uniQure는 2024년 3분기 재무 결과를 발표하며 $435.2 백만의 강력한 현금 보유량을 보고했으며, 2027년까지 자금 운영을 연장했습니다. 이 회사는 헌팅턴병에 대한 AMT-130 임상 시험에서 긍정적인 중간 데이터를 발표하며 질병 진행 속도가 유의미하게 늦춰졌음을 보여주었습니다. FDA와의 B형 회의가 2024년 4분기로 예정되어 있으며, 잠재적인 신속 개발에 대해 논의할 예정입니다. 이 회사는 SOD1-ALS 및 파브리병 치료를 위한 새로운 1/2상 연구에서 환자 투여를 시작했습니다.

3분기 순손실은 $44.4 백만 ($0.91 주당)으로, 2023년 3분기 $89.6 백만 손실에서 개선되었습니다. 이 회사는 레크싱턴 시설 매각을 포함한 조직 restructuring을 완료했으며, 이는 연간 현금 소모를 $70 백만 줄이고 65%의 직무를 없앨 것으로 예상됩니다.

uniQure a rapporté les résultats financiers du troisième trimestre 2024 avec une solide position de liquidités de $435,2 millions, prolongeant ainsi sa viabilité financière jusqu'en 2027. L'entreprise a annoncé des données intermédiaires positives des essais AMT-130 sur la maladie de Huntington, montrant un ralentissement significatif de la progression de la maladie. Une réunion de type B avec la FDA est prévue pour le quatrième trimestre 2024 afin de discuter d'un développement accéléré potentiel. L'entreprise a initié l'administration de traitements aux patients dans de nouvelles études de phase I/II pour l'ALS SOD1 et la maladie de Fabry.

La perte nette du troisième trimestre s'élevait à $44,4 millions ($0,91 par action), s'améliorant par rapport à une perte de $89,6 millions au troisième trimestre 2023. L'entreprise a achevé une restructuration organisationnelle, y compris la vente de son installation à Lexington, ce qui devrait réduire la consommation annuelle de liquidités de $70 millions et éliminer 65 % des postes.

uniQure berichtete über die finanziellen Ergebnisse des dritten Quartals 2024 mit einer soliden Bargeldposition von $435,2 Millionen und verlängert damit die Laufzeit bis 2027. Das Unternehmen kündigte positive Zwischendaten aus den AMT-130-Studien zur Huntington-Krankheit an, die eine signifikante Verlangsamung des Krankheitsfortschritts zeigten. Ein Type-B-Meeting mit der FDA ist für das vierte Quartal 2024 geplant, um mögliche beschleunigte Entwicklungen zu erörtern. Das Unternehmen hat die Patientenverabreichung in neuen Phase-I/II-Studien zu Behandlungen für SOD1-ALS und Fabry-Krankheit initiiert.

Der Nettoverlust im dritten Quartal betrug $44,4 Millionen ($0,91 pro Aktie) und verbesserte sich im Vergleich zum Verlust von $89,6 Millionen im dritten Quartal 2023. Das Unternehmen führte eine organisatorische Umstrukturierung durch, einschließlich des Verkaufs seiner Einrichtung in Lexington, was voraussichtlich den jährlichen Bargeldverbrauch um $70 Millionen senken und 65% der Stellen abbauen wird.

Positive
  • Strong cash position of $435.2 million with runway through 2027
  • Significant reduction in net loss to $44.4M from $89.6M year-over-year
  • Expected $70M annual cash burn reduction through restructuring
  • Positive clinical data showing disease progression slowing in Huntington's trial
  • Retirement of $50M debt, reducing annual interest expense by $5M
Negative
  • Revenue remains low at $2.3M for Q3 2024
  • Elimination of 65% of workforce through restructuring
  • Longer than expected enrollment in mTLE trial due to restrictive inclusion criteria

Insights

The Q3 results reveal significant strategic shifts at uniQure. The company has strengthened its financial position with $435.2 million in cash, extending runway through 2027 after retiring $50 million in debt. Key operational changes include selling the Lexington facility and implementing restructuring that will reduce annual cash burn by $70 million.

Q3 revenues were modest at $2.3 million, but operating expenses showed substantial improvement. R&D expenses decreased by $34.8 million to $30.6 million, while SG&A costs reduced by $6.5 million to $11.6 million. Net loss improved to $44.4 million ($0.91 per share) from $89.6 million year-over-year.

The clinical pipeline shows promising momentum, particularly with AMT-130 for Huntington's disease. The 24-month data demonstrated statistically significant disease progression slowing (p=0.007) and biomarker improvements (p=0.02). The upcoming FDA Type B meeting could potentially accelerate the development pathway under RMAT designation.

The company has also expanded its clinical portfolio with first patient dosing in AMT-162 (SOD1-ALS) and AMT-191 (Fabry disease) trials, plus enrollment initiation for AMT-260 in mTLE. These developments, combined with the streamlined operations, position uniQure for multiple value-driving clinical milestones through 2027.

~ Type B meeting scheduled with the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2024 to initiate discussions regarding a potential expedited clinical development pathway for AMT-130 in Huntington’s disease ~

~ Presented positive interim data from Phase I/II trial of AMT-130 demonstrating slowing of Huntington’s disease progression and reductions in key biomarker of neurodegeneration ~

~ Initiated patient dosing in new Phase I/II studies of AMT-162 in SOD1-ALS and AMT-191 in Fabry disease; First patient enrolled in observational stage of Phase I/II study of AMT-260 in mTLE ~

~ Completed sale of Lexington manufacturing facility and announced organizational restructuring expected to significantly reduce operating expenses and annual cash burn ~

~ Strong cash position of approximately $435 million as of September 30, 2024, following retirement of $50 million of debt, with cash runway through the end of 2027 ~

LEXINGTON, Mass. and AMSTERDAM, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- uniQure N.V. (NASDAQ: QURE), a leading gene therapy company advancing transformative therapies for patients with severe medical needs, today reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2024 and highlighted recent progress across its business.

“uniQure has made significant strides during the third quarter both clinically and operationally. We advanced our pipeline of clinical gene therapy programs, including the presentation of positive long-term follow-up data on AMT-130 supporting significant, dose-dependent slowing of Huntington’s disease progression,” stated Matt Kapusta, chief executive officer of uniQure. “We have scheduled a Type B meeting with the FDA for late November and welcome the opportunity, as part of the Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation, to discuss the potential for an accelerated development pathway for AMT-130. We believe the recently announced compelling clinical data, combined with AMT-130’s manageable safety profile and the lack of therapeutic options for patients in need, present a strong case for accelerated development. In addition, dosing has begun across two new Phase I/II studies in SOD1-ALS and Fabry disease, and we are making substantial progress towards the initiation of a third clinical trial in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, with the first patient recently enrolling into the observational phase of the study.”

“We also delivered on one of our key corporate goals, which was to take meaningful actions to streamline operations and preserve capital. Following the sale of our Lexington manufacturing facility, we announced a strategic reorganization expected to further reduce our cash burn and operating expenses,” he continued. “These decisions, which are delivering an immediate favorable impact, have extended our cash runway through the end of 2027 and multiple clinical and regulatory milestones with the potential to generate shareholder value.”

Mr. Kapusta further commented, “Given the positive interim data on AMT-130, the upcoming Type B meeting, the sale of our manufacturing facility, commencement of three clinical trials and the rightsizing of our organization, uniQure has executed on its key short-term goals. Going forward we are turning our near-term focus toward working with the FDA in an effort to obtain an accelerated pathway for ATM-130 and further advancing our clinical pipeline. We look forward to providing updates on all our progress.”    

Recent Company Updates

  • Advancing AMT-130 for the treatment of Huntington’s disease

    • Based on the granting of the RMAT designation, the Company has scheduled a Type B, multi-disciplinary meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late November at which the Company plans to present the most recent clinical data and initiate discussions regarding the potential for an expedited development pathway for AMT-130. The Company will also discuss with the FDA a future communication plan that is expected to include additional sub-disciplinary meetings to take place in the first half of 2025. Once the Company and the FDA define the registrational pathway for AMT-130, the Company expects to issue a public announcement.

    • In July 2024, uniQure announced positive interim data from the ongoing U.S. and European Phase I/II studies of AMT-130 for the treatment of early-stage Huntington’s disease1. At 24 months, the data demonstrated a statistically significant, dose-dependent slowing in disease progression measured by the composite Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (cUHDRS) in patients receiving the high dose of AMT-130 compared to a propensity score-weighted external control (p=0.007), as well as a statistically significant reduction of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients dosed with AMT-130 compared to baseline (p=0.02). AMT-130 continued to be generally well-tolerated with a manageable safety profile across both doses.

    • Patient dosing is ongoing in a third cohort of up to 12 patients to further evaluate both doses of AMT-130 together with an immunosuppression regimen, with a focus on evaluating near-term safety and tolerability. Enrollment in this third cohort is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    • The Company expects to provide an additional interim update from its ongoing Phase I/II clinical trials of AMT-130 in mid-2025. The update will include follow-up data on all patients treated with AMT-130 in the first two cohorts, including three years of follow-up on 21 treated patients.

  • Initiating new Phase I/II clinical studies

    • AMT-191 for the treatment of Fabry disease – In August 2024, the Company announced that the first patient had been dosed in the Phase I/II clinical trial of AMT-191 for the treatment of Fabry disease. AMT-191 was granted Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations in September and October 2024, respectively. The U.S., multi-center, open-label trial is expected to include up to 12 adult male patients across two dose cohorts.

    • AMT-162 for the treatment of SOD1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – In October 2024, the Company announced that the first patient had been dosed in the Phase I/II clinical trial of AMT-162 for SOD1-ALS. The U.S., multi-center, open-label trial is expected to include up to 12 patients across three dose cohorts.

    • AMT-260 for the treatment of refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) – The first patient has been enrolled into the observational phase of the Phase I/II clinical trial of AMT-260 for the treatment of mTLE. The FDA-approved study protocol provides that the first three patients to be enrolled in the study are required to have MRI-confirmed unilateral, hippocampal sclerosis. Due to the more restrictive inclusion criteria for these sentinel patients, enrollment has taken longer than expected. The Company is rapidly activating recruitment sites with 10 centers currently open and an additional two sites expected to be activated by the end of 2024.

  • Capital preservation initiatives

    • In July 2024, the Company announced the closing of the sale of its Lexington, MA manufacturing facility to Genezen.

    • In August 2024, the Company announced an organizational restructuring which, combined with the Lexington manufacturing facility sale, is expected to eliminate approximately 65% or 300 roles across the organization and reduce recurring cash burn by $70 million per year.

    • In the third quarter of 2024, the Company made significant progress in reducing its operating expenses, with immediate benefit realized as a decrease in fixed costs from the sale of the Lexington facility and the reduction in personnel. The Company expects its expenses to further decline upon the completion of the restructuring, which is expected in the first half of 2025.

    • In July 2024, the Company retired $50 million of its outstanding debt with Hercules Capital, which is expected to reduce annual interest expense by approximately $5 million. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $50 million of debt outstanding.

Upcoming Investor Events

  • Guggenheim Healthcare Talks – Global Healthcare Conference, November 12th – Boston, MA
  • Stifel 2024 Healthcare Conference, November 18th – New York, NY

Financial Highlights

Cash position: As of September 30, 2024, the Company held cash and cash equivalents and investment securities of $435.2 million, compared to $617.9 million as of December 31, 2023. The reduction in cash was in part driven by non-recurring payments made in the third quarter of 2024, including $53 million related to the retirement of debt, $12M of one-time payments related to the Lexington facility transaction, and $1M of severance payments related to the Company’s corporate restructuring. Based on the Company’s current operating plan, the Company expects cash, cash equivalents and investment securities will be sufficient to fund operations through the end of 2027.

Revenues: Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was $2.3 million, compared to $1.4 million in the same period in 2023. The increase of $0.8 million in revenue resulted from a $1.6 million increase in license revenue, a decrease of $0.4 million from collaboration revenue, and a decrease of $0.3 million from contract manufacturing of HEMGENIX® for CSL Behring. Following the divestment of the Lexington facility in July 2024, revenue from contract manufacturing is recorded net of cost within other expenses.

Cost of contract manufacturing revenues: Cost of contract manufacturing revenues were $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $1.0 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease relates to the sale of the Lexington facility. Following the sale of the Lexington facility in July 2024, cost of contract manufacturing is recorded net of revenue within other expenses.

R&D expenses: Research and development expenses were $30.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $65.4 million during the same period in 2023. The $34.8 million decrease was related to a decrease of $14.6 million related to changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, a $13.7 million decrease in employee-related expenses, partially offset by an increase of $3.4 million severance costs related to the reorganization announced in August 2024, a net decrease of $4.9 million in external program spend and a $3.7 million decrease in costs incurred related to preclinical supplies.

SG&A expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $11.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $18.1 million during the same period in 2023. The $6.5 million decrease was primarily related to a $4.0 million decrease in employee-related expenses, partially offset by an increase of $0.7 million severance costs related to the reorganization announced in August 2024, and a $1.3 million decrease in professional fees compared to the prior year period.

Other income: Other income was $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $1.4 million during the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily related to the $1.2 million gain recorded on divesting the Lexington manufacturing facility.

Other expense: Other expense was $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $0.2 million during the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily related to $1.5 million of non-cash expense recognized to amortize the right to purchase HEMGENIX® from Genezen on favorable terms.

Other non-operating items, net: Other non-operating items, net was an expense of $4.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $7.8 million for the same period in 2023. The $3.6 million decrease in other non-operating items, net was primarily related to an increase in net foreign currency gains of $7.4 million, which was partially offset by a decrease of $2.6 million in interest income earned on investment securities and an increase in non-cash interest expense of $1.2 million related to the royalty agreement that the Company entered into in May 2023.

Net loss: The net loss for the three months ending September 30, 2024, was $44.4 million, or $0.91 basic and diluted loss per ordinary share, compared to $89.6 million net loss for the same period in 2023, or $1.88 basic and diluted loss per ordinary share.

About uniQure

uniQure is delivering on the promise of gene therapy – single treatments with potentially curative results. The approvals of uniQure’s gene therapy for hemophilia B – an historic achievement based on more than a decade of research and clinical development – represent a major milestone in the field of genomic medicine and ushers in a new treatment approach for patients living with hemophilia. uniQure is now advancing a pipeline of proprietary gene therapies for the treatment of patients with Huntington's disease, refractory temporal lobe epilepsy, ALS, Fabry disease, and other severe diseases. www.uniQure.com

uniQure Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," “establish,” "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," “seek,” "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. Examples of these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company’s cash runway and its ability to fund its operations through the end of 2027 and multiple milestones with the potential to generate shareholder value; the Company’s expectations regarding its organizational restructuring, including reductions in headcount and reductions in annual cash burn resulting the restructuring; the Company’s plans to announce additional interim updates from its ongoing U.S. and European Phase I/II clinical studies of AMT-130 in mid-2025 along with other future program updates; the Company’s plans to meet the FDA regarding potential expedited clinical development pathways for AMT-130; the strength of the Company’s case for accelerated development; the Company’s future communication plan and additional meetings with FDA expected to take place in the first half of 2025; the Company’s plans regarding the third cohort in its AMT-130 clinical trial and the timing of enrollment for such cohort; and the Company’s site activation plans for its AMT-260 clinical trial and the design of trials for its AMT-191, AMT-260 and AMT-162 programs. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: risks associated with the clinical results and the development and timing of the Company’s programs; the Company’s interactions with regulatory authorities, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials and pathways to approval; the Company’s ability to continue to build and maintain the company infrastructure and personnel needed to achieve its goals; the Company’s effectiveness in managing current and future clinical trials and regulatory processes; the continued development and acceptance of gene therapies; the Company’s ability to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of its gene therapy candidates in clinical trials; the Company’s ability to obtain, maintain and protect intellectual property; and the Company’s ability to fund its operations and to raise additional capital as needed. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 28, 2024, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed May 7, 2024, August 1, 2024 and November 5, 2024, and in other filings that the Company makes with the SEC from time to time. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

uniQure Contacts:

FOR INVESTORS: FOR MEDIA:
   
Chiara Russo Tom Malone
Direct: 617-306-9137 Direct: 339-970-7558
Mobile: 617-306-9137 Mobile:339-223-8541 
c.russo@uniQure.com t.malone@uniQure.com


uniQure N.V.
 
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
 September 30 December 31, 
 2024 2023 
 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents$251,626 $241,360 
Current investment securities 183,615  376,532 
Inventories, net -  12,024 
Accounts receivable 5,322  4,193 
Prepaid expenses 19,286  15,089 
Other current assets and receivables 4,289  2,655 
Total current assets 464,138  651,853 
Non-current assets    
Property, plant and equipment, net$25,566 $46,548 
Other investments 28,260 $2,179 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 14,833  28,789 
Intangible assets, net 76,609  60,481 
Goodwill 24,084  26,379 
Deferred tax assets, net 10,863  12,276 
Other non-current assets 1,453  3,184 
Total non-current assets 181,668  179,836 
Total assets$645,806 $831,689 
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable$5,441 $6,586 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 32,301  30,534 
Current portion of contingent consideration 29,233  28,211 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 4,298  8,344 
Total current liabilities 71,273  73,675 
Non-current liabilities    
Long-term debt 51,113  101,749 
Liability from royalty financing agreement 426,687  394,241 
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 12,185  28,316 
Contingent consideration, net of current portion 12,181  14,795 
Deferred tax liability, net 7,627  7,543 
Other non-current liabilities 8,919  3,700 
Total non-current liabilities 518,712  550,344 
Total liabilities 589,985  624,019 
Shareholders' equity    
Total shareholders' equity 55,821  207,670 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity$645,806 $831,689 
     


uniQure N.V.
 
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 Three months ended September 30,
 2024
 2023
 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Total revenues$2,287  $1,407 
Operating expenses:   
Cost of license revenues (264)   
Cost of contract manufacturing revenues (757)  (1,006)
Research and development expenses (30,595)  (65,400)
Selling, general and administrative expenses (11,575)  (18,074)
Total operating expenses (43,191)  (84,480)
Other income 2,591   1,424 
Other expense (1,915)  (228)
Loss from operations (40,228)  (81,877)
Non-operating items, net (4,181)  (7,763)
Loss before income tax expense$(44,409) $(89,640)
Income tax benefit 31   69 
Net loss$(44,378) $(89,571)
    
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share$(0.91) $(1.88)
Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share 48,718,533   44,770,101 
    



1 All p-values are nominal and unadjusted. Statistical comparisons of patients treated with AMT-130 to the propensity score-weighted external control were conducted on a post-hoc basis.

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.


FAQ

What were uniQure's (QURE) Q3 2024 financial results?

uniQure reported Q3 2024 revenues of $2.3M and a net loss of $44.4M ($0.91 per share), with cash position of $435.2M as of September 30, 2024.

How much will uniQure's (QURE) restructuring save in annual costs?

uniQure's restructuring, including the Lexington facility sale, is expected to reduce annual cash burn by $70 million and eliminate approximately 65% of positions.

What are the latest developments in uniQure's (QURE) AMT-130 Huntington's disease trial?

The Phase I/II trial showed statistically significant dose-dependent slowing in disease progression at 24 months, with a Type B FDA meeting scheduled for Q4 2024 to discuss expedited development.

uniQure N.V.

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