Sana Biotechnology Reports Fourth Quarter and 2020 Financial Results and Business Updates
Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (SANA) reported its 2020 financial results, highlighting a year-end cash position of $412 million, bolstered by $627 million from its IPO. The company emphasizes advancements in engineered cell therapies for diseases like cancer and type 1 diabetes. Key hires include Ed Rebar as CTO and Terry Fry for T Cell Therapeutics. Research and Development (R&D) expenses surged to $257.9 million, reflecting their commitment to expanding capabilities. However, the net loss reached $285.3 million for the year, indicating high expenditure in pursuit of long-term goals.
- Cash position improved to $412 million at year-end 2020, with an additional $627 million from IPO proceeds.
- Significant advancements in engineered cell therapies for serious diseases.
- Key talent acquired for senior leadership roles, enhancing expertise.
- Net loss for 2020 was $285.3 million, reflecting high operational expenses.
- R&D expenses increased by $138.5 million year-over-year, indicating rising costs without immediate revenue.
Expects to present data at multiple scientific conferences in 2021
2020 year-end cash position of
Further strengthened cash position with
SEATTLE, March 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: SANA), a company focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines, today reported financial results and business highlights for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020.
“Engineering cells, whether done in vivo or ex vivo, has the potential to transform outcomes for patients across many diseases. We are excited about our significant progress in 2020 in turning this vision into a reality – continuing to build our scientific team, expanding our technology with key acquisitions and licenses, and generating important data across multiple platforms and programs,” said Steve Harr, Sana’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “With the completion of our initial public offering in February, we have additional capital to execute our long-term vision of engineering cells to treat serious diseases such as cancer, various genetic disorders, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and central nervous system diseases. We look forward to providing updates at multiple scientific conferences throughout the year and driving our multiple programs toward the clinic.”
Recent Corporate Highlights
- Hired key talent to our senior leadership team, including Ed Rebar, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Terry Fry, M.D., Head of T Cell Therapeutics, and Ke Liu, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Regulatory Affairs & Strategy.
- Entered into an exclusive license agreement with Washington University for certain intellectual property rights related to methods of generating, compositions of, and use of cells of endodermal lineage and beta cells.
- Acquired Oscine Corp., a privately-held early stage biotechnology company developing glial progenitor cells focused on brain disorders to complement our broader ex vivo cell engineering platform.
- Expanded our Board of Directors with the addition of Joshua Bilenker, M.D., former CEO of Loxo Oncology, Alise Reicin, M.D., CEO of Tectonic Therapeutic, and Michelle Seitz, CFA, Chairman and CEO of Russell Investments.
- Entered into a non-exclusive license and development agreement with FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, Inc. (FCDI) for access to FCDI induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
- Further strengthened our balance sheet with net proceeds of
$626.6 million from the sale of 27 million shares of common stock in our initial public offering, bringing pro forma cash to over$1 billion as of February 28, 2021.
Fourth Quarter and 2020 Financial Results
GAAP Results
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2020 were
$412.0 million compared to$139.0 million as of December 31, 2019, an increase of$273.0 million . During the year ended December 31, 2020, Sana sold 27.2 million shares of its Series B convertible preferred stock at$16.00 per share for gross proceeds of$435.5 million . - Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, inclusive of non-cash expenses, were
$104.1 million and$257.9 million , respectively, compared to$39.3 million and$119.4 million for the same periods in 2019. The increases of$64.8 million and$138.5 million were primarily due to personnel-related expenses related to increased headcount to expand Sana’s research and development capabilities, costs for laboratory supplies and preclinical studies, and facility costs. The increase was also due to non-cash expenses for the increase in the estimated fair value of the success payment liabilities of$31.0 million and$70.2 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, and the increase in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration of$33.8 million and$34.9 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. The increases in 2020 were offset by higher costs incurred in 2019 for the acquisition of technology. Research and development expense included stock-based compensation of$2.3 million and$4.9 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, and$0.4 million and$1.2 million for the same periods in 2019. - General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, inclusive of non-cash expenses, were
$9.2 million and$28.3 million , respectively, compared with$5.8 million and$21.8 million for the same periods in 2019. The increases of$3.4 million and$6.5 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020, respectively, were primarily due to increased personnel-related expenses attributable to an increase in headcount to build our infrastructure, facility costs, and consulting fees. - Net Loss: Net loss for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 was
$113.2 million , or$7.40 per share, and$285.3 million , or$21.92 per share, respectively. This compares to$43.0 million , or$4.94 per share, and$130.8 million , or$26.68 per share for the same periods in 2019.
Non-GAAP Measures
- Non-GAAP Operating Cash Burn: Non-GAAP operating cash burn for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 was
$37.8 million and$125.0 million , respectively, compared to$27.9 million and$76.2 million for the same periods in 2019. Non-GAAP operating cash burn is the decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities excluding cash inflows from financing activities, cash outflows from business development activities, and the purchase of property and equipment. - Non-GAAP Research and Development Expenses: Non-GAAP research and development expenses for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 were
$36.5 million and$123.0 million , respectively, and$28.3 million and$72.1 million for the same periods in 2019. Non-GAAP research and development expense excludes one-time costs to acquire technology and non-cash expenses related to the change in the estimated fair value of its contingent consideration and success payments. - Non-GAAP Net Loss: Non-GAAP net loss for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 was
$45.5 million , or$2.98 per share, and$150.4 million , or$11.56 per share, respectively. This compares to$32.1 million , or$3.68 per share, and$83.5 million , or$17.04 per share, respectively, for the same periods in 2019. Non-GAAP net loss excludes one-time costs to acquire technology and non-cash expenses related to the change in the estimated fair value of its contingent consideration and success payments.
A discussion of non-GAAP measures, including a reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures, is presented below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
About Sana
Sana Biotechnology, Inc. is focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines for patients. We share a vision of repairing and controlling genes, replacing missing or damaged cells, and making our therapies broadly available to patients. We are more than 250 people working together to create an enduring company that changes how the world treats disease. Sana has operations in Seattle, Cambridge, and South San Francisco. For more information about Sana Biotechnology, please visit https://sana.com/.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including those related to the Company’s vision, progress, and business plans; expectations for its development programs, product candidates and technology platforms, including its pre-clinical and clinical and regulatory development plans and timing expectations; updates at scientific conferences; and the potential use of intellectual property and technology licensed or acquired from Washington University, Oscine Corp., and FCDI. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including, among others, statements regarding the Company’s strategy, expectations, cash runway and future financial condition, future operations, and prospects, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to vary materially, including, among others, the risks inherent in drug development such as those associated with the initiation, cost, timing, progress and results of the Company’s current and future research and development programs, preclinical and clinical trials, as well as the economic, market and social disruptions due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. For a detailed discussion of the risk factors that could affect the Company’s actual results, please refer to the risk factors identified in the Company’s SEC reports, including but not limited to its prospectus dated February 3, 2021. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Investor Relations:
Nicole Keith
investor.relations@sana.com
Media:
Morgan Warners, Finsbury Glover Hering
media@sana.com
Sana Biotechnology, Inc.
Unaudited Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities | $ | 411,995 | $ | 138,982 | ||||
| Total assets | 730,296 | 415,192 | ||||||
| Contingent consideration | 121,901 | 69,108 | ||||||
| Success payment liabilities | 76,494 | 4,352 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 298,583 | 140,375 | ||||||
| Convertible preferred stock | 852,897 | 417,359 | ||||||
| Total stockholders' deficit | (421,184 | ) | (142,542 | ) | ||||
Sana Biotechnology, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 104,117 | $ | 39,274 | $ | 257,879 | $ | 119,375 | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 9,207 | 5,818 | 28,270 | 21,777 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 113,324 | 45,092 | 286,149 | 141,152 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (113,324 | ) | (45,092 | ) | (286,149 | ) | (141,152 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest income, net | 125 | 681 | 747 | 2,856 | ||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 29 | 23 | 97 | (29 | ) | |||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (113,170 | ) | (44,388 | ) | (285,305 | ) | (138,325 | ) | ||||||||
| Benefit from income taxes | - | 1,343 | - | 7,547 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (113,170 | ) | $ | (43,045 | ) | $ | (285,305 | ) | $ | (130,778 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (7.40 | ) | $ | (4.94 | ) | $ | (21.92 | ) | $ | (26.68 | ) | ||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 15,293 | 8,709 | 13,014 | 4,903 | ||||||||||||
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the financial results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), Sana uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its business. Sana’s management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are helpful in understanding Sana’s financial performance and potential future results, as well as providing comparability period over period and in regards to peer companies. In particular, Sana’s management utilizes non-GAAP operating cash burn, non-GAAP research and development expense and non-GAAP net loss and net loss per share. Sana believes the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides management and investors greater visibility into the Company’s ongoing actual costs to operate its business, including actual research and development costs unaffected by non-cash valuation changes and one-time expenses for acquiring technology, as well as facilitating a more meaningful comparison of period to period activity. Sana excludes these items because they are highly variable from period to period and, in respect of the non-cash expenses, provides investors with insight into the actual cash investment in the development of its therapeutic programs and platform technologies.
These are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures and should be read in conjunction with Sana’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures differ from GAAP measures with the same captions, may be different from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies, and do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting. Sana’s management uses these supplemental non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage, and evaluate Sana’s business and make operating decisions. In addition, Sana’s management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because they enhance the ability of investors to compare Sana’s results from period to period and allows for greater transparency with respect to key financial metrics Sana uses in making operating decisions. The following are reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures:
Sana Biotechnology, Inc.
Unaudited Reconciliation of Change in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities to
Non-GAAP Operating Cash Burn
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Beginning cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities | $ | 459,070 | $ | 171,560 | $ | 138,982 | $ | 30,630 | ||||||||
| Ending cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities | 411,995 | 138,982 | 411,995 | 138,982 | ||||||||||||
| Change in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities | (47,075 | ) | (32,578 | ) | 273,013 | 108,352 | ||||||||||
| Cash paid to purchase property and equipment | 9,266 | 5,730 | 23,872 | 26,183 | ||||||||||||
| Change in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, excluding capital expenditures | (37,809 | ) | (26,848 | ) | 296,885 | 134,535 | ||||||||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash paid to acquire technology(1) | - | 6,800 | 7,650 | 12,995 | ||||||||||||
| Cash paid to satisfy contingent liability(2) | - | - | 6,000 | - | ||||||||||||
| Net cash received from the sale of convertible preferred stock | - | (7,815 | ) | (435,538 | ) | (223,739 | ) | |||||||||
| Operating cash burn - Non-GAAP | $ | (37,809 | ) | $ | (27,863 | ) | $ | (125,003 | ) | $ | (76,209 | ) | ||||
(1) The non-GAAP adjustment of
(2) For the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the non-GAAP adjustment of
Sana Biotechnology, Inc.
Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Research and Development Expense
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development expense - GAAP | $ | 104,117 | $ | 39,274 | $ | 257,879 | $ | 119,375 | ||||||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
| Costs to acquire technology(1) | - | (8,000 | ) | (8,500 | ) | (22,928 | ) | |||||||||
| Change in the fair value of the success payment liabilities(2) | (31,505 | ) | (497 | ) | (72,142 | ) | (1,924 | ) | ||||||||
| Change in the fair value of contingent consideration(3) | (36,121 | ) | (2,296 | ) | (52,793 | ) | (17,860 | ) | ||||||||
| Change in the estimated fair value of contingent liability(4) | - | (193 | ) | (1,443 | ) | (4,557 | ) | |||||||||
| Research and development expense - Non-GAAP | $ | 36,491 | $ | 28,288 | $ | 123,001 | $ | 72,106 | ||||||||
Sana Biotechnology, Inc.
Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Net Loss and Net Loss Per Share
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss - GAAP | $ | (113,170 | ) | $ | (43,045 | ) | $ | (285,305 | ) | $ | (130,778 | ) | ||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
| Costs to acquire technology(1) | - | 8,000 | 8,500 | 22,928 | ||||||||||||
| Change in the estimated fair value of the success payment liabilities(2) | 31,505 | 497 | 72,142 | 1,924 | ||||||||||||
| Change in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration(3) | 36,121 | 2,296 | 52,793 | 17,860 | ||||||||||||
| Change in the estimated fair value of contingent liability(4) | - | 193 | 1,443 | 4,557 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss - Non-GAAP | $ | (45,544 | ) | $ | (32,059 | ) | $ | (150,427 | ) | $ | (83,509 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per share - GAAP | $ | (7.40 | ) | $ | (4.94 | ) | $ | (21.92 | ) | $ | (26.68 | ) | ||||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
| Costs to acquire technology(1) | - | 0.92 | 0.65 | 4.68 | ||||||||||||
| Change in the estimated fair value of the success payment liabilities(2) | 2.06 | 0.06 | 5.54 | 0.39 | ||||||||||||
| Change in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration(3) | 2.36 | 0.26 | 4.06 | 3.64 | ||||||||||||
| Change in the estimated fair value of contingent liability(4) | - | 0.02 | 0.11 | 0.93 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss per share - Non-GAAP | $ | (2.98 | ) | $ | (3.68 | ) | $ | (11.56 | ) | $ | (17.04 | ) | ||||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 15,293 | 8,709 | 13,014 | 4,903 | ||||||||||||
(1) The non-GAAP adjustment of
(2) For the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the expense related to the Cobalt success payment liability was
(3) The contingent consideration was recorded in connection with the acquisition of Cobalt.
(4) The contingent liability was recorded in connection with the Harvard license agreement and paid in June 2020.
FAQ
What were the financial results for Sana Biotechnology in 2020?
How much capital did Sana Biotechnology raise from its IPO?
What did Sana Biotechnology plan for 2021?
Who are the new key hires at Sana Biotechnology?
What is the current cash position of Sana Biotechnology?
