Trillium Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2021 Operating and Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Trillium Therapeutics (NASDAQ/TSX: TRIL) reported key financial results and operational updates for Q2 2021. The company had cash and cash equivalents of $264.5 million as of June 30, 2021, down from $291.2 million at year-end 2020. R&D expenses rose to $19.9 million, compared to $12.2 million in the prior year, driven by increased clinical trial costs. Net loss decreased to $29.3 million from $39.5 million year-over-year. Trillium has initiated four out of six planned studies, targeting multiple myeloma and other cancers.

Positive

• Initiated four out of six planned clinical studies, enhancing R&D progress.
• Net loss decreased to $29.3 million from $39.5 million, indicating improved financial management.

Negative

• Cash reserves declined by $26.7 million in the first half of 2021.
• R&D expenses increased by $7.7 million due to higher costs, indicating higher burn rate.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ/TSX: TRIL), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer, today reported financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021. All financial amounts in this news release are in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated.

“The second quarter 2021 was an important period for Trillium, during which time we communicated our go-forward strategy and began executing against it,” said Jan Skvarka, Trillium’s President and CEO. “We announced seven priority indications and nine patient settings, with six studies expected to initiate in 2021. As of today, we have already initiated four studies, including in multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia (p53 mutated and wild type), and leiomyosarcoma. With our operating plan being on track, our focus is on strong execution, to ensure a robust flow of new data starting in 4Q 2021 and 2022. We continue to be very excited about Trillium’s position as a leading CD47 company.”

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

• Cash position: As of June 30, 2021, Trillium had cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of $264.5 million, compared to $291.2 million at December 31, 2020. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities was due mainly to cash used in support of operating activities of $28.6 million during the 6 months ended June 30, 2021.
• Research and development expenses: Research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 of $19.9 million were higher than the research and development expenses of $12.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase was due mainly to higher manufacturing costs to support our expanded clinical operations, and higher clinical trial costs related to the initiation of new trials and increased patient enrollment in the TTI-622-01 trial.
• General and administrative expenses: General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 of $10.1 million were lower than general and administrative expenses of $28.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The decrease is due mainly to a non-cash loss of $22.4 million on the revaluation of the deferred share unit liability in the prior period, partially offset by $2.4 million of increased stock-based compensation expense in the current period mainly relating to higher weighted average fair values of stock options outstanding and the fair valuation of stock option liabilities.
• Net loss: Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2021 of $29.3 million was lower than the loss of $39.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The net loss was lower due mainly to a non-cash loss of $22.4 million on the revaluation of the deferred share unit liability in the prior period. This was partially offset by higher stock-based compensation, manufacturing, and clinical trial expenses.

About Trillium Therapeutics

Trillium is an immuno-oncology company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer. The company’s two clinical programs, TTI-622 and TTI-621, target CD47, a “don’t eat me” signal that cancer cells frequently use to evade the immune system.

For more information visit: www.trilliumtherapeutics.com

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable United States federal securities laws and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). The use of words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “seeks,” “endeavor,” potential,” “continue” or the negative of such words or other similar expressions can be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include express or implied statements regarding the therapeutic potential and monotherapy activity of our programs, our clinical development plans, including the expected timing of the release of further data on Trillium’s TTI-622 and TTI-621 studies and our expectations with respect to the timing of clinical development milestones, including with respect to enrolling patients in Phase 1b/2 studies in hematological and solid tumor malignancies, and our expected cash runway. With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Trillium has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations, the effectiveness and timeliness of preclinical and clinical trials; and the completeness, accuracy and usefulness of the data. While Trillium considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant scientific, business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors that could cause Trillium’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. A discussion of risks and uncertainties facing Trillium appears in Trillium’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, each as updated by Trillium’s continuous disclosure filings, which are available at www.sedar.com and at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Trillium disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

Trillium Therapeutics Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(unaudited)
(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

	Three months ended June 30, 2021				Three months ended June 30, 2020				Six months ended June 30, 2021				Six months ended June 30, 2020
Revenue	$	10			$	115			$	10			$	115
Operating expenses
Research and development expenses		13,999				7,174				19,923				12,162
General and administrative expenses		4,677				16,697				10,067				28,372
Total operating expenses		18,676				23,871				29,990				40,534
Operating loss		(18,666	)			(23,756	)			(29,980	)			(40,419	)
Other income (expense)
Interest income, net		352				441				881				853
Net foreign currency gain (loss)		13				125				(22	)			101
Total other income, net		365				566				859				954
Net loss before income taxes		(18,301	)			(23,190	)			(29,121	)			(39,465	)
Income tax expense		98				28				140				51
Net loss		(18,399	)			(23,218	)			(29,261	)			(39,516	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		(0.18	)			(0.28	)			(0.28	)			(0.53	)
Weighted average number of common
shares used in computing net loss per
share, basic and diluted		103,782,222				83,752,156				103,395,342				74,637,214

Trillium Therapeutics Inc.
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(unaudited)
(amounts in thousands)

	June 30, 2021			December 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents, and marketable securities	$	264,537		$	291,165
Total assets		273,684			300,822
Total liabilities		14,118			21,975
Total stockholders’ equity		259,566			278,847

Company Contact:
Rosemary Harrison
SVP, Corporate Development and Strategy
Trillium Therapeutics Inc.
857-412-7029 x225
investors@trilliumtherapeutics.com
www.trilliumtherapeutics.com

Media Relations:
Mike Beyer
Sam Brown Inc.
312-961-2502
mikebeyer@sambrown.com

 

FAQ

What is Trillium Therapeutics' cash position as of June 30, 2021?

Trillium Therapeutics reported cash and cash equivalents of $264.5 million as of June 30, 2021.

How much did Trillium spend on R&D in the first half of 2021?

Trillium incurred $19.9 million in research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

What was Trillium's net loss for the first half of 2021?

Trillium recorded a net loss of $29.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

How many clinical studies has Trillium initiated in 2021?

Trillium has initiated four out of six planned clinical studies in 2021.

What indications is Trillium targeting with its clinical studies?

Trillium has announced priority indications including multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, and leiomyosarcoma.