Tricida Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Tricida, Inc. (TCDA) announced its financial results for Q4 and the full year of 2021. The company reported a net loss of $50 million for Q4 2021 with a decreased net loss per share of $0.92 compared to $1.09 in Q4 2020. Total net loss for 2021 was $176.6 million. Research & development expenses increased to $36.8 million in Q4 2021, while general & administrative expenses decreased to $9.1 million. The VALOR-CKD trial has completed patient enrollment and is expected to report top-line results in Q4 2022, with sufficient financial resources into Q2 2023.

Positive

• Completed enrollment of 1,480 subjects in the VALOR-CKD trial.
• Reduced general and administrative expenses to $9.1 million in Q4 2021.

Negative

• Net loss of $50 million in Q4 2021, indicating continued financial pressure.
• Increased research and development expenses to $36.8 million in Q4 2021.

Webcast Today at 4:30 pm Eastern Time

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tricida, Inc. (Nasdaq: TCDA) announced today financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2021 and provided an update on key initiatives.

Business Update

• Tricida continued to execute on the conduct of the VALOR-CKD renal outcomes clinical trial. Enrollment of patients in the VALOR-CKD trial was completed at the end of 2021 with 1,480 subjects randomized. As of March 28, 2022, randomized subjects had an average treatment duration of approximately 24 months, and the trial had accrued 217 subjects with positively adjudicated primary endpoint events, defined as renal death, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or greater than or equal to 40% reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).  
  

Upcoming Milestone

• Tricida previously reported that based on its financial runway it intends to stop the VALOR-CKD trial early for administrative reasons in the second quarter of 2022, with continued accrual of primary endpoint events into the third quarter of 2022. The reporting of top-line results from the VALOR-CKD trial is anticipated to occur early in the fourth quarter of 2022, which would allow for approximately six months of financial runway following the announcement.
  

“Against the backdrop of a pandemic and a war, we have managed to remain on track with our projections for primary endpoint events in the VALOR-CKD trial,” said Gerrit Klaerner, Ph.D., Tricida’s Chief Executive Officer and President. “We are very encouraged by our progress and continue to believe that the VALOR-CKD trial will provide interpretable data to evaluate how treatment with veverimer impacts slowing of CKD progression in patients with metabolic acidosis and CKD.”

Financial Results for the Three Months and Year Ended December 31, 2021

Research and development expense was $36.8 million and $27.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $115.4 million and $148.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in research and development expense for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior year was primarily due to increased activities in connection with our veverimer clinical development program related to manufacturing process optimization and the manufacturing of drug substance. The decrease in research and development expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior year was primarily due to decreased activities in connection with our veverimer clinical development program related to manufacturing process optimization and the manufacturing of drug substance and lower personnel costs.

General and administrative expense was $9.1 million and $21.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $37.6 million and $103.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in general and administrative expense for the three months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior year was primarily due to restructuring costs, including one-time termination severance payments and contract termination costs, incurred in the prior year and decreased administrative activities in connection with our veverimer clinical development program, including pre-commercialization and medical affairs. The decrease in general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior year was primarily due to decreased administrative activities in connection with our veverimer clinical development program, including pre-commercialization, medical affairs and personnel costs and restructuring costs, including one-time termination severance payments and contract termination costs, incurred in the prior year.

Net loss was $50.0 million (non-GAAP net loss of $41.1 million) and $54.8 million (non-GAAP net loss of $37.4 million) for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $176.6 million (non-GAAP net loss of $134.7 million) and $264.8 million (non-GAAP net loss of $214.4 million) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Net loss per basic and diluted share was $0.92 and $1.09 for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $3.44 and $5.29 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

As of December 31, 2021, cash, cash equivalents and investments were $150.6 million.

Financial Guidance

Tricida currently has the financial resources to fund its planned operations into early in the second quarter of 2023, which is anticipated to be approximately six months from the announcement of its top-line results for the VALOR-CKD trial.

Tricida Conference Call Information

Tricida will host its Fourth Quarter Financial Results and Business Update Conference Call and webcast today at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. The webcast or conference call may be accessed as follows:

Tricida Fourth Quarter Financial Results Conference Call
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
4:30 pm Eastern Time
	Webcast:	IR.Tricida.com
	Dial-in:	(877) 377-5478
	International:	(629) 228-0740
	Conference ID:	1932119

A replay of the webcast will be available on Tricida’s website approximately two hours following the completion of the call and will be available for up to 90 days following the presentation.

About Tricida

Tricida, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of its investigational drug candidate, veverimer, a non-absorbed, orally-administered polymer designed to slow CKD progression in patients with metabolic acidosis and CKD. Tricida is currently conducting a renal outcomes clinical trial, VALOR-CKD, to determine if veverimer slows CKD progression in patients with metabolic acidosis associated with CKD. Metabolic acidosis is a condition commonly caused by CKD that is believed to accelerate the progression of kidney deterioration. It is estimated to pose a health risk to approximately 4.3 million patients with CKD in the United States. There are currently no therapies approved by the FDA to slow progression of kidney disease by correcting chronic metabolic acidosis in patients with CKD.

For more information about Tricida, please visit Tricida.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, all of the statements under the heading “Upcoming Milestone” and other statements, including the Company’s plans and expectations for the VALOR-CKD trial, including early termination of the trial, event accrual rates for the trial and the estimated timing for receipt of top-line data, and its expectations regarding financial runway. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Company’s plans and expectations with regard to its interactions with the FDA, including the potential resubmission of an NDA for veverimer; the timing of the FDA’s approval of veverimer, if at all; the Company’s plans and expectations for its VALOR-CKD trial and future clinical and product development milestones; the Company’s contractual and financial obligations to our key suppliers and vendors; the Company’s financial projections and cost estimates; risks associated with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine; and risks associated with the Company’s business prospects, financial results and business operations.

These and other factors that may affect the Company’s future business prospects, results and operations are identified and described in more detail in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Company’s most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K and the subsequently filed Quarterly Report(s) on Form 10-Q. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

(Financial Tables to Follow)

Tricida, Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

	December 31,  2021				December 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	21,113			$	137,857
Short-term investments		119,419				171,670
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5,004				4,488
Total current assets		145,536				314,015
Long-term investments		10,043				22,757
Property and equipment, net		769				1,112
Operating lease right-of-use assets		12,158				13,801
Total assets	$	168,506			$	351,685
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	10,023			$	3,508
Current operating lease liabilities		2,736				2,079
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		16,721				28,671
Total current liabilities		29,480				34,258
Term Loan, net		—				76,638
Convertible Senior Notes, net		127,512				118,670
Non-current operating lease liabilities		11,296				13,046
Other long-term liabilities		—				202
Total liabilities		168,288				242,814
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock		—				—
Common stock		55				50
Additional paid-in capital		810,618				742,555
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(91	)			64
Accumulated deficit		(810,364	)			(633,798	)
Total stockholders’ equity		218				108,871
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	168,506			$	351,685

Tricida, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended  December 31,								Years Ended  December 31,
	2021				2020				2021				2020
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$	36,773			$	27,283			$	115,364			$	148,417
General and administrative		9,093				21,766				37,590				102,983
Total operating expenses		45,866				49,049				152,954				251,400
Loss from operations		(45,866	)			(49,049	)			(152,954	)			(251,400	)
Other income (expense), net		(41	)			621				114				5,016
Interest expense		(4,069	)			(6,364	)			(17,602	)			(18,407	)
Loss on early extinguishment of Term Loan		—				—				(6,124	)			—
Loss before income taxes		(49,976	)			(54,792	)			(176,566	)			(264,791	)
Income tax benefit (expense)		—				(50	)			—				—
Net loss		(49,976	)			(54,842	)			(176,566	)			(264,791	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments, net of tax		(14	)			(368	)			(155	)			(129	)
Total comprehensive loss	$	(49,990	)		$	(55,210	)		$	(176,721	)		$	(264,920	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.92	)		$	(1.09	)		$	(3.44	)		$	(5.29	)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted		54,112,250				50,186,615				51,280,697				50,027,735

Tricida, Inc.

GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

A reconciliation between net loss on a GAAP basis and on a non-GAAP basis is as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 31,								Years Ended December 31,
	2021				2020				2021				2020
GAAP net loss, as reported	$	(49,976	)		$	(54,842	)		$	(176,566	)		$	(264,791	)
Adjustments:
Non-cash operating lease costs		(24	)			248				550				845
Accretion of Term Loan and Convertible Senior Notes		2,318				3,012				9,365				8,258
Loss on early extinguishment of Term Loan		—				—				6,124				—
Stock-based compensation		6,582				3,190				25,882				28,298
Changes in compound derivative liability		—				(76	)			(202	)			(775	)
Restructuring costs		(1	)			11,089				106				13,749
Total adjustments		8,875				17,463				41,825				50,375
Non-GAAP net loss	$	(41,101	)		$	(37,379	)		$	(134,741	)		$	(214,416	)

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We supplement our financial statements presented on a GAAP basis by providing additional measures which may be considered “non-GAAP” financial measures under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules. We believe that the disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measures provides our investors with additional information that reflects the amounts and financial basis upon which our management assesses and operates our business. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and should not be viewed in isolation or as a substitute for reported, or GAAP, net loss and diluted earnings per share, and are not a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance performed in conformity with GAAP.

“Non-GAAP net loss” is not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and represents GAAP net loss adjusted to exclude (1) non-cash operating lease costs, (2) accretion of Term Loan and Convertible Senior Notes, (3) loss on early extinguishment of Term Loan, (4) stock-based compensation, (5) changes in fair value of compound derivative liability and (6) restructuring costs, in reconciling of our GAAP to Non-GAAP net loss. Non-GAAP financial measures used by Tricida may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

Contact:
Jackie Cossmon, IRC
Tricida, Inc.
Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Communications
IR@Tricida.com

FAQ

What were Tricida's financial results for Q4 2021?

Tricida reported a net loss of $50 million in Q4 2021, with a loss per share of $0.92.

What is the status of the VALOR-CKD trial?

The VALOR-CKD trial has completed enrollment with 1,480 subjects and is expected to report top-line results in Q4 2022.

What is Tricida's financial outlook after the 2021 results?

Tricida has sufficient financial resources to fund operations into early Q2 2023.

How did Tricida's research and development expenses change in Q4 2021?

Research and development expenses increased to $36.8 million in Q4 2021.

What were the general and administrative expenses for Tricida in Q4 2021?

General and administrative expenses decreased to $9.1 million in Q4 2021.