Silverback Therapeutics Updates Strategic Priorities and Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Silverback Therapeutics (SBTX) announced a strategic shift focusing on SBT8230 for chronic hepatitis B virus, discontinuing SBT6050 and SBT6290 oncology programs. The company plans to submit a Phase 1 regulatory filing for SBT8230 by Q4 2022. A workforce reduction of 27% aims to streamline operations and extend the cash runway into H2 2026. Financial results revealed a net loss of $23.5 million for Q4 2021, up from $13.1 million in Q4 2020, with total 2021 losses reaching $89.5 million, increasing R&D costs significantly.

Positive

• Focused resources on promising SBT8230 for chronic HBV.
• Phase 1 regulatory submission for SBT8230 on track for Q4 2022.
• Estimated cash runway extended into the second half of 2026.

Negative

• Discontinuation of SBT6050 and SBT6290 due to limited anti-tumor activity.
• Net loss increased to $23.5 million for Q4 2021, compared to $13.1 million in Q4 2020.
• Total net loss for 2021 reached $89.5 million, significantly higher than 2020.

- Strategic realignment to focus resources on SBT8230 for chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) and discovery pipeline by discontinuing SBT6050 and SBT6290 clinical oncology programs

- On track to complete a Phase 1 regulatory submission for SBT8230 in the fourth quarter of 2022

- Silverback to restructure workforce to support prioritized development, reduce operating expense, and extend cash runway

- Estimated cash runway extended into the second half of 2026

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Silverback Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBTX) (“Silverback”), a biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary ImmunoTAC technology platform to develop systemically delivered, tissue targeted therapeutics for the treatment of chronic viral infections, cancer, and other serious diseases, today provided an update on strategic priorities and reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.

“Upon comprehensive review of our clinical and preclinical data for our TLR8 oncology programs, we have made the decision to discontinue the development of SBT6050 and SBT6290, and focus our resources on SBT8230 for chronic HBV as well as our ImmunoTAC discovery programs,” said Laura Shawver, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Silverback. “We would like to thank the investigators and the staff at each of our sites, and most importantly, the patients who participated in our trial and their families.”

Business Update and Strategy

SBT6050 and SBT6290 (HER2-TLR8 and Nectin4-TLR8 ImmunoTAC conjugates for oncology)

Silverback has discontinued the SBT6050 development program. In the Phase 1/1b trial, a total of 58 patients were enrolled and received SBT6050 as monotherapy and in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor at dose levels ranging from 0.15 mg/kg through 1.2 mg/kg with the length of patient experience ranging from 2 weeks through 41 weeks. A dose response was observed in serum and intratumoral exposure, and in pharmacodynamic markers, inclusive of data that demonstrates immune activation in biopsies collected from patients after treatment. Further development was discontinued based on limited monotherapy anti-tumor activity and cytokine-related adverse events that limited the dose in combination with pembrolizumab.

SBT6290, comprised of the same linker payload conjugated to a Nectin4 antibody, was expected to show a similar clinical profile and, therefore, this development program was also discontinued.

SBT8230 (ASGR1-TLR8 ImmunoTAC conjugate for chronic HBV)

“Our understanding of TLR8 conjugates in preclinical species and in the clinic provides a lens for interpretation of the preclinical characteristics of SBT8230,” said Valerie Odegard, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer. “The comparative preclinical data between SBT6050 and SBT8230 suggest that the clinical safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles for SBT8230 will likely be different than those for SBT6050, given the significant differences in preclinical serum exposures and expected overall conjugate disposition for SBT8230 in patients due to its efficient liver targeting. We continue to advance SBT8230 and are on track to complete a Phase 1 regulatory submission in the fourth quarter of 2022.”

SBT8230 is comprised of an ASGR1 monoclonal antibody conjugated to a TLR8 linker-payload and is designed to elicit an anti-viral immune response by targeting TLR8 activation to the liver. ASGR1 is highly expressed in liver and is restricted in its expression to this organ. An anti-viral immune response is achieved through activation of myeloid cells and subsequent indirect activation of B cells and T cells. In non-human-primate studies, SBT8230 demonstrated lower serum exposures compared to SBT6050 due to its efficient localization to liver. Liver-localized TLR8 agonism has the potential to lead to durable responses and possibly seroconversion, an important determinant of functional cure. At the AASLD Liver Meeting 2021, Silverback presented preclinical studies demonstrating that SBT8230 was efficiently delivered to the liver, resulting in myeloid cell activation in the liver but not in the blood. Silverback initiated Phase 1-enabling toxicology studies for SBT8230 in the first quarter of 2022.

ImmunoTAC Discovery Program

Silverback will continue advancement of early-stage discovery research that is focused on exploring different antigen targets, novel linker technologies, and small molecule payloads that expand the reach of the ImmunoTAC platform.

Key Strategic Priorities and Cash Runway Extension

• Complete the Phase 1 regulatory submission for SBT8230 in the fourth quarter of 2022
• Open enrollment for a Phase 1 single ascending dose study of SBT8230 in healthy volunteers in the first half of 2023
• Provide an update on Silverback’s discovery pipeline in the fourth quarter of 2022
• Restructure workforce to focus resources on SBT8230 program and discovery pipeline, reducing headcount by 27%
• Estimated cash runway extended into the second half of 2026 following strategic prioritization

Dr. Shawver added, “Over the course of the next few days and weeks, we are restructuring our workforce and allocating resources around our new strategic priorities. It will be difficult to part with valued team members who have been so committed to the organization, and I’d like to thank each one of them for their valuable contributions towards our mission to develop the next generation of tissue targeted therapeutics.”

Financial Results

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021, Silverback reported a net loss of $23.5 million, compared to a net loss of $13.1 million for the comparable period in 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Silverback reported a net loss of $89.5 million, compared to a net loss of $32.9 million for 2020. Net loss for the fourth quarter and full year of 2021 included non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $5.2 million and $19.2 million, respectively, compared to $2.3 million and $2.6 million for the same periods in 2020, respectively.

Research and development expenses for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021 were $15.9 million, compared to $8.8 million for the same period in 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2021, research and development expenses were $61.5 million, compared to $24.6 million for 2020. The increases in Silverback’s research and development expenses for the 2021 periods, as compared to the same periods in 2020, were primarily attributable to an increase in direct costs related to the development of SBT6050 and SBT6290 and direct costs related to SBT8230 and other preclinical research efforts. Silverback also incurred additional personnel-related expenses in 2021 as compared to 2020 as operations grew in support of program advances.

General and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021 were $7.6 million, compared to $4.3 million for the same period in 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2021, general and administrative expenses were $28.1 million, compared to $8.3 million for 2020. The increases in general and administrative expenses for the 2021 periods, as compared to the same periods in 2020, were primarily attributable to an increase in personnel-related expenses due to increased headcount in 2021, including new executives that were new in 2020 being present for a full year in 2021, as well as increases in salaries, bonuses, and stock-based compensation. To a lesser extent, the increase in general and administrative expenses was due to an increase in professional fees primarily attributable to legal, insurance, and outside consultant costs.

As of December 31, 2021, Silverback reported cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments of $319.1 million, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $386.6 million at December 31, 2020, which is expected to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2026 following strategic prioritization. As of December 31, 2021, Silverback had 35,133,934 shares of common stock outstanding.

Conference Call and Webcast on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 5:00 PM ET

Silverback’s management team will host a conference call on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 5:00 PM ET to discuss the strategic prioritization and corporate update. A live webcast, including slides, can be accessed through the Events section of the Company’s website at https://ir.silverbacktx.com/news-events/events. An archived replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the event.

About Silverback Therapeutics

Silverback Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on leveraging its proprietary ImmunoTAC technology platform to develop systemically delivered and tissue targeted therapeutics for the treatment chronic viral infections, cancer, and other serious diseases. Silverback’s platform enables the strategic pairing of proprietary payloads that modulate key disease modifying pathways with monoclonal antibodies directed at specific disease sites. Silverback Therapeutics is located in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, visit www.silverbacktx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, Silverback’s plans and ability to bring new treatments to patients in need, including the progress and expected timing of Silverback’s drug development programs and planned clinical trials, the potential benefits of SBT8230 as compared to SBT6050, the success and impact of Silverback’s corporate restructuring plan, the strength of Silverback’s balance sheet and the adequacy of cash on hand. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include the risk that compounds that appeared promising in early research or preclinical trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in later preclinical studies or clinical trials, the risk that Silverback may not obtain approval to market its product candidates, uncertainties associated with regulatory filings and applications, risks associated with reliance on third parties to successfully conduct research, preclinical studies or clinical trials, uncertainties related to Silverback’s corporate restructuring plan, the risks associated with reliance on outside financing to meet capital requirements, and other risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. You are urged to consider statements that include the words "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "promise," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "continues," "designed," "goal," or the negative of those words or other comparable words to be uncertain and forward-looking. For a further list and description of the risks and uncertainties that Silverback faces, please refer to Silverback’s periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov. Such forward-looking statements are current only as of the date they are made, and Silverback assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Silverback Therapeutics, Inc. Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share and par value data)
			December 31,
			2021				2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			$	254,045			$	386,569
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				7,447				4,087
Total current assets				261,492				390,656
Investments				64,780				—
Restricted cash				250				350
Right-of-use assets				4,733				2,180
Property and equipment, net				2,212				1,618
Total assets			$	333,467			$	394,804
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable			$	2,078			$	2,583
Accrued expenses				11,727				5,278
Term loan payable, net				—				844
Current portion of lease liability				1,087				896
Total current liabilities				14,892				9,601
Lease liability, net of current portion				4,760				2,326
Total liabilities				19,652				11,927
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2021 and 2020; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020				—				—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2021 and 2020, 35,133,934 and 34,801,537 shares issued and 35,107,651 and 34,701,274 shares outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively				4				3
Additional paid-in capital				500,349				479,608
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(326	)			—
Accumulated deficit				(186,212	)			(96,734	)
Total stockholders’ equity				313,815				382,877
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity			$	333,467			$	394,804

Silverback Therapeutics, Inc. Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (in thousands, except share and per share data)
		Years Ended December 31,
		2021				2020
Operating expenses:
Research and development		$	61,501			$	24,577
General and administrative			28,083				8,341
Total operating expenses			89,584				32,918
Loss from operations			(89,584	)			(32,918	)
Interest income (expense), net			106				(29	)
Net loss		$	(89,478	)		$	(32,947	)
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities			(326	)			—
Comprehensive loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(89,804	)		$	(32,947	)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted		$	(2.56	)		$	(11.33	)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted			34,926,403				2,907,542

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220331005874/en/

Investor Contact:

Miguel Arcinas

Silverback Therapeutics

(206) 736-7946

ir@silverbacktx.com

Media Contact:

Jason Spark

Canale Communications

(619) 849-6005

jason.spark@canalecomm.com

Source: Silverback Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What are the recent developments for Silverback Therapeutics (SBTX) regarding SBT8230?

Silverback is focusing on SBT8230 for chronic hepatitis B virus treatment and plans to complete a Phase 1 regulatory submission by Q4 2022.

Why were SBT6050 and SBT6290 discontinued by Silverback Therapeutics?

The programs were discontinued due to limited anti-tumor activity and adverse events observed during trials.

What was Silverback's net loss for the fourth quarter of 2021?

Silverback reported a net loss of $23.5 million for Q4 2021.

How has Silverback's cash runway changed following their recent strategy update?

The estimated cash runway has been extended into the second half of 2026 after strategic prioritization.

What are the financial results for Silverback Therapeutics for the full year 2021?

For 2021, Silverback reported a net loss of $89.5 million, significantly increasing from $32.9 million in 2020.