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UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results and Business Updates

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UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023, highlighting progress in their Phase 2b ASPIRE study for diabetic macular edema. The company's CEO, Anirvan Ghosh, expressed optimism about the positive BEHOLD data and the potential of UBX1325 (foselutoclax) compared to aflibercept.
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Insights

The reporting of financial results by UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. represents a moment of transparency that permits investors to gauge the health of the company. The spotlight on the Phase 2b ASPIRE study and the expansion to 50 patients strengthens investor confidence, as it indicates a belief in the potential efficacy and differentiation of UBX1325 (foselutoclax). It's vital to note that financial and operational discipline, as mentioned by the CEO, suggests effective resource allocation which may provide resilience against market volatility.

Investors should pay attention to the burn rate, cash on hand and the timeline for clinical trials. These factors are critical in understanding the runway available to UNITY before requiring additional capital. Any delay or deviation in the trials could impact the stock due to the speculative nature of biotech investments, where market sentiment can sway significantly with clinical outcomes.

The progression of UBX1325 into a Phase 2b study for diabetic macular edema (DME) is a significant milestone. The comparison against aflibercept, an established standard of care, could either bolster the drug's profile or raise concerns on its efficacy. UBX1325's success in this study could lead to a paradigm shift in DME treatment, which would be a large market opportunity.

However, investors should be aware of the intrinsic risks associated with clinical trials. The data cited (BEHOLD) must translate into statistically significant results in larger, more definitive trials like ASPIRE. Efficacy and safety outcomes will be critical in determining the drug's regulatory path and market potential. Any setbacks could lead to volatility in UNITY's stock price.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. (UNITY) [NASDAQ:UBX], a biotechnology company developing therapeutics to slow, halt, or reverse diseases of aging, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

"On the heels of positive BEHOLD data, our team is currently single-mindedly focused on the enrollment and execution of our Phase 2b ASPIRE study in diabetic macular edema, comparing UBX1325 (foselutoclax) against aflibercept" said Anirvan Ghosh, Ph.D., chief executive officer of UNITY. "I am pleased to note that thanks to the team’s financial and operational discipline we have been able to upsize our ASPIRE study to 50 patients to maximize the ability to differentiate UBX1325 from the current standard of care."

The Phase 2b ASPIRE study in DME is a multi-center, randomized, double-masked, active-controlled study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of UBX1325 in comparison to aflibercept. It is expected to enroll about 50 subjects, with 16-week data expected in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 24-week data expected in the first quarter of 2025. More information about ASPIRE (NCT06011798) can be found here.

Recent and Upcoming Milestones

  • In January, the Company published new research in Nature Medicine, "Therapeutics targeting of cellular senescence in diabetic macular edema: preclinical and phase 1 trial results" discussing the potential of UBX1325 to target senescence cells and thereby leading to long-lasting, disease-modifying intervention for DME
  • UBX1325 16-week safety and efficacy data from the Phase 2b ASPIRE DME study expected in the fourth quarter of 2024
  • UBX1325 24-week safety and efficacy data from the Phase 2b ASPIRE DME study expected in the first quarter of 2025

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $43.2 million as of December 31, 2023 compared with $94.8 million as of December 31, 2022. UNITY believes that current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are sufficient to fund operations into the third quarter of 2025.

Net loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 was $39.9 million compared to $44.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Cash used in operations during the year ended December 31, 2023 was $36.2 million compared to $51.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Total net loss for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $4.3 million compared to $7.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Cash used in operations during the fourth quarter of 2023 was $6.7 million compared to $10.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022.

Research and development expenses decreased by $16.8 million, to $20.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $36.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to decreases of $7.3 million in direct research and development expenses mainly due to the completion of our UBX1325 BEHOLD and ENVISION studies, $7.2 million in personnel costs due to our reduced headcount and reduction in force, $2.0 million in facilities-related costs primarily due to the sublease of our East Grand facility, and $0.3 million in laboratory. Research and development expenses decreased by $4.5 million, to $3.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 from $7.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease was due to decreases of $2.8 million in direct research and development expenses primarily due to the completion of our UBX1325 BEHOLD and ENVISION studies, $1.4 million in personnel-related costs due to reduced headcount, and $0.3 million in facilities-related costs and depreciation.

General and administrative expenses decreased by $1.9 million, to $19.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $21.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to decreases of $2.5 million in personnel-related expenses due to the Company's reduced headcount, partially offset by an increase of $0.6 million in professional fees. General and administrative expenses decreased by $0.9 million, to $4.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 from $5.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily due to decreases of $0.8 million in personnel-related costs due to lower headcount and $0.1 million in facilities-related costs.

About UNITY

UNITY is developing a new class of therapeutics to slow, halt, or reverse diseases of aging. UNITY’s current focus is on creating medicines to selectively eliminate or modulate senescent cells and thereby provide transformative benefit in age-related ophthalmologic and neurologic diseases. More information is available at www.unitybiotechnology.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements including statements related to UNITY’s understanding of cellular senescence and the role it plays in diseases of aging, the potential for UNITY to develop therapeutics to slow, halt, or reverse diseases of aging, including for ophthalmologic and neurologic diseases, the potential for UNITY to successfully commence and complete clinical studies of UBX1325 for DME, AMD, and other ophthalmologic diseases, the expected timing of enrollment and results of the clinical trials in UBX1325, and UNITY’s expectations regarding the sufficiency of its cash runway. These statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including the risk that the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic may continue to negatively impact the development of preclinical and clinical drug candidates, including delaying or disrupting the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, risks relating to the uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, and risks relating to UNITY’s understanding of senescence biology. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company in general, see UNITY’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2024, as well as other documents that may be filed by UNITY from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Unity Biotechnology, Inc.
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
       
  Three Months Ended  Year Ended 
  December 31,  December 31, 
  2023  2022 (Restated)  2023  2022 (Restated) 
  (Unaudited)       
Licensing revenue - Related Party $  $  $  $236 
Operating expenses:            
Research and development  3,271   7,759   20,099   36,859 
General and administrative  4,406   5,280   18,966   20,949 
Impairment of long-lived assets        5,602    
Total operating expenses  7,677   13,039   44,667   57,808 
Loss from operations  (7,677)  (13,039)  (44,667)  (57,572)
Interest income  525   804   2,874   1,220 
Interest expense     (990)  (2,452)  (3,558)
Unrealized gain on warrant liability  3,932   5,869   6,215   16,843 
Other expense, net  (1,119)  (66)  (1,830)  (1,402)
Net loss  (4,339)  (7,422)  (39,860)  (44,469)
Other comprehensive gain (loss)            
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable debt securities  31   24   227   (207)
Comprehensive loss $(4,308) $(7,398) $(39,633) $(44,676)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $(0.28) $(0.52) $(2.70) $(4.68)
Weighted-average number of shares used in
   computing net loss per share, basic and
   diluted
  15,743,772   14,140,520   14,773,612   9,494,421 


Unity Biotechnology, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
       
  December 31,  December 31, 
  2023  2022 (Restated) 
Assets      
Current Assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $19,803  $12,736 
Short-term marketable securities  23,398   82,059 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  3,404   1,740 
Total current assets  46,605   96,535 
Property and equipment, net  5,082   7,825 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  12,981   19,042 
Long-term restricted cash  896   896 
Other long-term assets  126   52 
Total assets $65,690  $124,350 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $1,380  $1,790 
Accrued compensation  1,841   3,020 
Accrued and other current liabilities  4,619   5,334 
Current portion of long-term debt     9,476 
Total current liabilities  7,840   19,620 
Operating lease liability, net of current portion  23,539   26,991 
Long-term debt, net     10,891 
Warrant liability  5,913   10,764 
Total liabilities  37,292   68,266 
Commitments and contingencies      
Stockholders’ equity:      
Common stock  2   1 
Additional paid-in capital  512,773   500,827 
Accumulated other comprehensive gain  (24)  (251)
Accumulated deficit  (484,353)  (444,493)
Total stockholders’ equity  28,398   56,084 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $65,690  $124,350 


Media
Inizio Evoke Comms
Jason Spark
jason.spark@inizioevoke.com

Investor Contact
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Joyce Allaire
jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com


FAQ

What did UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. report in their recent financial results?

UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023.

What study is UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. currently focused on?

UNITY Biotechnology, Inc. is currently focused on the Phase 2b ASPIRE study in diabetic macular edema, comparing UBX1325 against aflibercept.

What is the goal of the Phase 2b ASPIRE study?

The Phase 2b ASPIRE study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of UBX1325 in comparison to aflibercept in diabetic macular edema.

Who is the chief executive officer of UNITY Biotechnology, Inc.?

Anirvan Ghosh, Ph.D., is the chief executive officer of UNITY Biotechnology, Inc.

Unity Biotechnology, Inc.

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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO