Tourmaline Bio Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights
- Initiation of pivotal trials in Thyroid Eye Disease and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.
- Completion of a reverse merger with Talaris Therapeutics and a public offering raising $172.5 million.
- Financial results for 2023 showing a cash position of $203.0 million and increased research and development expenses.
- Expectation of cash runway until 2027 to fund key data readouts and expansion into additional indications.
- Increased research and development expenses leading to higher net losses.
- Dilution of shares due to issuance of additional common stock.
- Significant increase in general and administrative expenses.
Insights
The recent announcement by Tourmaline Bio, Inc. reflects substantial progress in its clinical development pipeline, which can be a significant catalyst in the biotechnology sector. The initiation of the spiriTED Phase 2b trial and the alignment with the FDA on the TOUR006 development program in ASCVD indicate a strategic focus on addressing unmet medical needs in immune and inflammatory diseases. These developments are likely to be closely monitored by investors due to their potential to enhance Tourmaline's market position upon successful trial outcomes.
Furthermore, the successful completion of a reverse merger and follow-on public offering has notably strengthened Tourmaline's cash position, providing a runway into 2027. This financial stability is important for sustaining long-term R&D efforts and may reduce the risk profile of the company for potential investors. The expansion of the executive leadership team and Board of Directors, including the appointment of industry veterans, could also contribute positively to investor confidence by bringing in expertise and guiding the company through its next phases of growth.
From a financial perspective, Tourmaline's increased R&D and G&A expenses are indicative of its investment in future growth. The reported net losses are not uncommon for clinical-stage biotech companies, which typically operate at a loss while investing heavily in product development. However, the capital raised through the reverse merger and public offering significantly extends the company's cash runway, which is a positive sign for investors concerned about short-term liquidity and dilution risks.
It's also worth noting that the inclusion of Tourmaline in the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index could potentially increase its visibility among institutional investors and lead to greater trading liquidity. The net proceeds from the public offering are earmarked for key data readouts, which, if positive, could lead to a revaluation of the company's stock. Overall, the company's financial strategy appears to be well-aligned with its clinical goals, which may be attractive to investors looking for growth opportunities in the biotech sector.
The therapeutic potential of TOUR006, an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody, is significant given the broad range of autoantibody-driven disorders it targets. The focus on diseases like TED and ASCVD, which currently have limited treatment options, positions Tourmaline to potentially capture a significant market share. The acceleration of the Phase 3 trial for TED and the IND clearance for ASCVD are key milestones that demonstrate the company's commitment to expediting its drug development timelines.
Moreover, the strategic decision to pursue subcutaneous administration every 8 weeks for TED and quarterly for ASCVD suggests a patient-centric approach, which might lead to better patient compliance and competitive advantage in the market. The pursuit of additional indications under the FcRn+ strategic path could further diversify the company's portfolio and spread its market risk. The progress in the clinical development program, combined with a strong financial position, could make Tourmaline an attractive prospect for partnerships or even acquisition by larger pharmaceutical companies looking to expand their immunology portfolios.
– Initiated pivotal spiriTED Phase 2b trial in Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) in 2023 and expanded TED clinical development plan, including accelerating the planned initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 trial into 2024 –
– Reached alignment with the U.S. FDA on the clinical development program in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) in 2023 and received clearance for Investigational New Drug application (IND) in March 2024 –
– Completed reverse merger with Talaris Therapeutics in October 2023, including a concurrent private placement of
– Completed underwritten follow-on public offering in January 2024, raising gross proceeds of
– Expected cash runway into 2027, providing funding for key TOUR006 data readouts in TED and cardiovascular disease and the opportunity to expand into additional indications –
NEW YORK, March 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tourmaline Bio, Inc. (Tourmaline) (NASDAQ: TRML), a late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing transformative medicines to dramatically improve the lives of patients with life-altering immune and inflammatory diseases, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023 and outlined recent business highlights.
“2023 was a transformational year for Tourmaline. We became a public company and continued our efforts to lead an IL-6 renaissance with TOUR006, which we believe can achieve a best-in-class profile by providing a long-acting, patient-friendly treatment through low-volume subcutaneous injections,” said Sandeep Kulkarni, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tourmaline. “With the support of our expanding team, the clinical and patient communities, and our shareholders, we look forward to executing on our two strategic paths. We aim to harness the exciting and emerging insights in the IL-6 field towards addressing significant unmet medical needs in TED, ASCVD, and other autoantibody and inflammation-driven diseases.”
Clinical Highlights and Upcoming Milestones:
Tourmaline is pursuing development of TOUR006 in two areas of high unmet need: FcRn+ and cardiovascular inflammation.
FcRn+
- Tourmaline believes that TOUR006, a long-acting, fully-human, anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody, can potentially deliver substantial therapeutic benefit to address a wide range of autoantibody-driven disorders, including a more durable response and patient-friendly administration than therapies currently on the market or in clinical development by others.
- The pivotal spiriTED Phase 2b trial in TED is currently enrolling, and Tourmaline continues to expect topline data in the first half of 2025.
- Tourmaline plans to accelerate the initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating subcutaneous TOUR006 every 8 weeks as first-line treatment for TED in 2024, with topline data expected in 2026.
- Tourmaline continues to explore additional indications with significant unmet medical need under its FcRn+ strategic path.
Cardiovascular Inflammation
- During 2023, Tourmaline reached alignment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the clinical development program of TOUR006 in ASCVD, and Tourmaline received clearance for the related IND in March 2024.
- Tourmaline plans to commence a Phase 2 trial evaluating quarterly subcutaneous dosing of TOUR006 in patients with elevated cardiovascular risk in the first half of 2024. Data from this Phase 2 trial are expected in the first half of 2025.
Other Corporate Highlights:
- In October 2023, Tourmaline become a publicly-traded company via reverse merger with Talaris Therapeutics, including a concurrent private placement of
$75.0 million . - In December 2023, Tourmaline expanded its Board of Directors with the appointment of Dr. Clay Siegall as Chairman.
- Tourmaline also continued to expand its executive leadership team during 2023, including the appointments of Gerhard Hagn as SVP, Head of Commercial and Business Development and Dr. Emil deGoma as SVP, Medical Research.
- In December 2023, Tourmaline was added to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (NASDAQ: NBI).
- In January 2024, Tourmaline completed an underwritten follow-on public offering of its common stock, which included the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares, resulting in gross proceeds of
$172.5 million . Net proceeds were$161.3 million after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results:
Cash Position
- Cash, cash equivalents and investments were
$203.0 million as of December 31, 2023, as compared to$8.3 million as of December 31, 2022. Tourmaline anticipates that its current cash, cash equivalents and investments as of the date hereof, which includes$161.3 million of net proceeds received from the January 2024 underwritten public offering, will provide cash runway into 2027, funding key TOUR006 data readouts in TED and cardiovascular disease and the opportunity to expand development efforts into additional indications.
Research and Development Expenses
- Research and development expenses were
$8.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, as compared to$3.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. - Research and development expenses were
$32.4 million for the full year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to$17.5 million for the full year ended December 31, 2022. - The increase in research and development expenses for both periods was primarily driven by employee compensation costs attributable to increased headcount, costs associated with the manufacture of drug substance and drug product for Tourmaline’s clinical trials, and clinical trial costs related to the spiriTED trial.
General and Administrative Expenses
- General and administrative expenses were
$6.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, as compared to$1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. - General and administrative expenses were
$13.0 million for the full year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to$2.2 million for the full year ended December 31, 2022. - The increase in general and administrative expenses for both periods was primarily driven by employee compensation costs attributable to increased headcount, increased recruiting and commercial consulting expenses, and increased professional service fees.
Net Loss
- Net loss was
$12.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 and$4.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, resulting in basic and diluted net loss per share of$0.81 and$5.51 , respectively. - Net loss was
$42.1 million for the full year ended December 31, 2023 and$19.7 million for the full year ended December 31, 2022, resulting in basic and diluted net loss per share of$8.87 and$22.46 , respectively. - The increase in net loss for both periods was attributable to increased operating expenses and the overall growth of Tourmaline during 2023 as compared to 2022. The decrease in net loss per share for both periods was attributable to the issuance of additional shares of common stock in conjunction with the reverse merger and private placement that were completed in October 2023.
About Tourmaline Bio:
Tourmaline is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company driven by its mission to develop transformative medicines that dramatically improve the lives of patients with life-altering immune and inflammatory diseases. Tourmaline’s lead asset is TOUR006.
About TOUR006:
TOUR006 is a long-acting, fully-human, anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody with best-in-class potential and differentiated properties including a naturally long half-life, low immunogenicity, and high binding affinity to IL-6. To date, TOUR006 has been studied in 448 participants, including patients with autoimmune disorders, across six clinical trials. Tourmaline is developing TOUR006 in TED and ASCVD as its first two indications, with additional diseases under consideration.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words and phrases such as “believe,” “designed to,” “expect,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “will” and similar expressions, and are based on Tourmaline’s current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include expectations regarding the development and potential therapeutic benefits of TOUR006; the timing of initiation, progress and results of Tourmaline’s current and future clinical trials for TOUR006, including reporting of data therefrom; the timing and potential of preclinical research and development activities; market opportunities; and Tourmaline’s anticipated cash runway. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include uncertainties inherent in the development of therapeutic product candidates, such as the risk that any one or more of Tourmaline’s current or future product candidates will not be successfully developed or commercialized; the risk of delay or cessation of any planned clinical trials of Tourmaline’s current or future product candidates; the risk that prior results, such as signals of safety, activity or durability of effect, observed from preclinical trials, will not be replicated or will not continue in ongoing or future studies or clinical trials involving Tourmaline’s current or future product candidates; the risk that Tourmaline’s current or future product candidates or procedures in connection with the administration thereof will not have the safety or efficacy profile that Tourmaline anticipates; risks regarding the accuracy of Tourmaline’s estimates of expenses, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; changes in expected or existing competition; changes in the regulatory environment; the uncertainties and timing of the regulatory approval process; unexpected litigation or other disputes; the impacts of macroeconomic conditions Tourmaline’s business, clinical trials and financial position; and other risks and uncertainties that are described in Tourmaline’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on or about March 19, 2024 and other filings that Tourmaline makes with the SEC from time to time. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Tourmaline as of the date hereof, and Tourmaline assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
| Tourmaline Bio, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) (amounts in thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 8,015 | $ | 3,794 | $ | 32,368 | $ | 17,526 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 6,875 | 1,126 | 13,041 | 2,175 | |||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 14,890 | 4,920 | 45,409 | 19,701 | |||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (14,890 | ) | (4,920 | ) | (45,409 | ) | (19,701 | ) | |||||||
| Other income, net | 1,988 | — | 3,285 | — | |||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (12,902 | ) | $ | (4,920 | ) | $ | (42,124 | ) | $ | (19,701 | ) | |||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.81 | ) | $ | (5.51 | ) | $ | (8.87 | ) | $ | (22.46 | ) | |||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 16,003 | 893 | 4,747 | 877 | |||||||||||
| Tourmaline Bio, Inc. Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (unaudited) (amounts in thousands) | ||||||
| December 31, | ||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and investments | $ | 202,951 | $ | 8,258 | ||
| Working capital | $ | 203,872 | $ | 6,949 | ||
| Total assets | $ | 210,295 | $ | 9,098 | ||
| Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) | $ | 205,042 | $ | (19,732 | ) | |
Investor Contact:
Meru Advisors
Lee M. Stern
lstern@meruadvisors.com
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