vTv Therapeutics Announces 2024 Second Quarter Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

Rhea-AI Summary

vTv Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VTVT) reported Q2 2024 financial results and provided a corporate update. Key highlights include:

• Screened first patient in cadisegliatin pivotal trial for type 1 diabetes (T1D), currently on clinical hold
• Expanded Newsoara Biopharma license agreement for PDE4 inhibitor HPP737 to a global license for $20 million upfront
• Azeliragon received Orphan Drug Designation for pancreatic cancer
• Q2 2024 financial results: Cash position of $45.5 million, R&D expenses of $3.4 million, G&A expenses of $3.7 million
• Net loss of $5.2 million or $0.81 per basic share

The company is working to resolve the clinical hold on cadisegliatin and resume the study as quickly as possible.

Positive

• Expanded global license agreement for HPP737 with Newsoara Biopharma, potentially worth up to $96 million plus royalties
• Azeliragon received Orphan Drug Designation for pancreatic cancer, expanding potential indications
• Cash position increased to $45.5 million from $9.4 million at end of 2023
• R&D expenses decreased by $1.3 million compared to Q2 2023

Negative

• FDA placed a clinical hold on the cadisegliatin program, delaying the pivotal trial
• Net loss of $5.2 million for Q2 2024
• G&A expenses increased by $0.4 million compared to Q2 2023

Insights

Financial Analyst

vTv Therapeutics' Q2 2024 results reveal a mixed financial picture. The company's cash position improved significantly to $45.5 million from $9.4 million at the end of 2023, primarily due to a private placement financing. However, the company still reported a net loss of $5.2 million for the quarter.

R&D expenses decreased by $1.3 million year-over-year, mainly due to reduced spending on cadisegliatin. G&A expenses increased slightly by $0.4 million. The clinical hold on cadisegliatin is a concern, potentially impacting future development timelines and costs.

The expanded global licensing agreement for HPP737 with Newsoara Biopharma could provide significant future revenue if the $20 million upfront fee is received, along with potential milestone payments and royalties. This deal represents a positive step towards monetizing the company's pipeline.

Medical Research Analyst

The clinical hold on cadisegliatin, vTv's lead T1D program, is a significant setback. While the company has screened the first patient for the CATT1 pivotal trial, the hold prevents dosing and delays the study. The FDA's requirement for an in vitro study to characterize an unresolved chromatographic signal raises safety concerns, despite the company's statement that past studies showed no clinically concerning safety issues.

On a positive note, cadisegliatin's Breakthrough Therapy designation for T1D and its potential to improve glycemic control and reduce hypoglycemia remain promising. The drug's previous dosing in over 500 subjects, including 300 diabetes patients, provides a substantial safety database.

The Orphan Drug Designation for azeliragon in pancreatic cancer, licensed to Cantex, is encouraging. Multiple ongoing Phase 2 and a Phase 3 trial for azeliragon in various indications could lead to valuable data readouts in the near future.

Screened first patient in cadisegliatin pivotal trial for type 1 diabetes (T1D); working to resolve clinical hold

Expanded Newsoara Biopharma license agreement for PDE4 inhibitor HPP737 to a global license effective upon payment of the $20 million upfront fee

HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- vTv Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: VTVT), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company with an innovative clinical portfolio of small molecules and lead program in diabetes, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, and provided an update on recent corporate developments.

“Our small molecule portfolio continues to make significant progress across our partnered and Company driven programs. We were pleased to amend our license with Newsoara Biopharma for PDE4 inhibitor, HPP737, to make it a global license contingent upon receipt of the required upfront fee. Azeliragon, a Cantex-partnered program, recently received Orphan Drug Designation in pancreatic cancer and is advancing in several mid- to late-stage clinical trials with broad indication potential,” said Paul Sekhri, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of vTv Therapeutics. “We were pleased to initiate our pivotal trial in T1D for cadisegliatin, our liver selective glucokinase activator with first-in-class potential in T1D. We are working to resolve our clinical hold and resume the study as quickly as possible. Cadisegliatin has shown a favorable safety profile and has been dosed in over 500 subjects to date, including 300 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We are encouraged at the potential of cadisegliatin as an oral therapy for improved glycemic control.”

Recent Company Highlights

• Screened First Patient in Cadisegliatin Pivotal Trial for T1D. In June, vTv Therapeutics screened the first patient in the Company’s CATT1 pivotal trial evaluating cadisegliatin as an adjunct treatment of T1D. CATT1 is one of several trials that are planned to form the core of the future regulatory registrational submission for cadisegliatin, a potential first-in-class, oral, liver selective, glucokinase activator for T1D. In July, vTv Therapeutics announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a clinical hold on the cadisegliatin clinical program following the discovery of a chromatographic signal in a recent human absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) study of cadisegliatin that could not be resolved by standard mass spectroscopy. The FDA requires a single in vitro study to characterize this signal before the cadisegliatin program can resume. No patient was dosed in the CATT1 pivotal study at the time of the clinical hold, and past clinical studies did not reveal any clinically concerning safety issues. vTv Therapeutics is actively working with the FDA to resolve the clinical hold as quickly as possible. Cadisegliatin has previously been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for T1D and has shown clinical potential to improve glycemic control and reduce hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes.
• Expanded to a Global Licensing Agreement for HPP737 with Newsoara Biopharma. In June, vTv Therapeutics amended our license with Newsoara Biopharma for PDE4 inhibitor, HPP737, to make it a global license upon receipt of the required $20 million upfront fee. The terms of the amendment include up to $41 million in development milestones, up to $35 million in sales-related milestones, and royalties in the mid to upper single digits based on sales.
• Orphan Drug Designation Granted for Azeliragon. In May, Cantex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to azeliragon, a well-tolerated once-a-day oral RAGE antagonist, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Azeliragon has also received Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of glioblastoma. Under our license agreement with Cantex, vTv Therapeutics has the potential to receive 20 – 40% of out licensing income or the fair value of the program in the event of a sale of Cantex, or 20% of Cantex’s net profit from commercial sales. Cantex is evaluating azeliragon in several ongoing Phase 2 trials in cancer indications and one Phase 3 trial for acute kidney injury.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

• Cash Position: The Company’s cash position as of June 30, 2024, was $45.5 million compared to $9.4 million as of December 31, 2023. The increase is attributed to receipt of the proceeds from the private placement financing on February 27, 2024.
  
• Research & Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $3.4 million and $4.7 million in each of the three months ended June 30, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The decrease of $1.3 million is primarily attributable to lower spending on cadisegliatin, due to decreases in toxicity study costs and drug manufacturing related costs, partially offset by increases in clinical trial start-up costs and an increase in indirect costs and other projects.
  
• General & Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $3.7 million and $3.3 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The increase of $0.4 million was primarily due to increases in share-based expense, legal expense and higher payroll costs, partially offset by lower other G&A costs.
• Other Income, Net: Other income for the three months ended June 30, 2024, was $0.2 million and was driven by gains related to the change in the fair value of the outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our own stock. Other income for the three months ended June 30, 2023, was $0.6 million and was driven by an unrealized gain related to our investment in Reneo, as well as gains related to the change in the fair value of the outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our own stock issued to related parties.
• Net Loss: Net loss attributable to vTv shareholders for the three months ended June 30, 2024, was $5.2 million or $0.81 per basic share. Net loss attributable to vTv shareholders for the comparable period a year ago was $5.6 million or $2.69 per basic share.

vTv Therapeutics Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands)
	June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	45,526			$	9,446
Accounts receivable		306				102
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		303				1,044
Current deposits		65				65
Total current assets		46,200				10,657
Property and equipment, net		72				117
Operating lease right-of-use assets		186				244
Total assets	$	46,458			$	11,018
Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	6,791			$	10,242
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		177				169
Current portion of contract liabilities		17				17
Current portion of notes payable		—				191
Total current liabilities		6,985				10,619
Contract liabilities, net of current portion		18,669				18,669
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion		79				169
Warrant liability, related party		158				110
Warrant liability		130				—
Total liabilities		26,021				29,567
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest		—				6,131
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Class A Common Stock		24				21
Class B Common Stock		6				6
Additional paid-in capital		307,746				256,335
Accumulated deficit		(291,301	)			(281,042	)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) attributable to vTv Therapeutics Inc.		16,475				(24,680	)
Noncontrolling interest		3,962				—
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)		20,437				(24,680	)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity (deficit)	$	46,458			$	11,018

vTv Therapeutics Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share data)
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
	(Unaudited)								(Unaudited)
Revenue	$	—			$	—			$	1,000			$	—
Operating expenses:
Research and development		3,439				4,691				6,088				8,633
General and administrative		3,716				3,309				7,694				6,794
Total operating expenses		7,155				8,000				13,782				15,427
Operating loss		(7,155	)			(8,000	)			(12,782	)			(15,427	)
Interest income		553				153				632				253
Other income (expense), net		193				638				(178	)			2,191
Loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest		(6,409	)			(7,211	)			(12,328	)			(12,985	)
Income tax provision		—				—				100				—
Net loss before noncontrolling interest		(6,409	)			(7,211	)			(12,428	)			(12,985	)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(1,229	)			(1,592	)			(2,383	)			(2,867	)
Net loss attributable to vTv Therapeutics Inc.	$	(5,180	)		$	(5,619	)		$	(10,045	)		$	(10,118	)
Net loss attributable to vTv Therapeutics Inc. common shareholders	$	(5,180	)		$	(5,619	)		$	(10,045	)		$	(10,118	)
Net loss per share of vTv Therapeutics Inc. Class A common stock, basic and diluted (*)	$	(0.81	)		$	(2.69	)		$	(1.97	)		$	(4.85	)
Weighted average number of vTv Therapeutics Inc. Class A common stock, basic and diluted (*)		6,403,444				2,084,973				5,098,877				2,084,973
(*) Adjusted retroactively for reverse stock split

About vTv Therapeutics

vTv Therapeutics Inc. is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oral, small molecule drug candidates. vTv's clinical pipeline is led by cadisegliatin, a potential adjunctive therapy to insulin for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. vTv and its development partners are investigating additional indications including type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions.

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including statements regarding the timing of our clinical trials, our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to vary from expectations include those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this release and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, merger, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments we may undertake. We qualify all our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

Contact
Ashley Robinson
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
arr@lifesciadvisors.com

FAQ

What was vTv Therapeutics' (VTVT) net loss for Q2 2024?

vTv Therapeutics reported a net loss of $5.2 million or $0.81 per basic share for Q2 2024.

Why is there a clinical hold on vTv Therapeutics' (VTVT) cadisegliatin program?

The FDA placed a clinical hold on the cadisegliatin program due to a chromatographic signal in a recent human ADME study that could not be resolved by standard mass spectroscopy. The FDA requires a single in vitro study to characterize this signal before the program can resume.

What is the status of vTv Therapeutics' (VTVT) agreement with Newsoara Biopharma for HPP737?

vTv Therapeutics expanded its license agreement with Newsoara Biopharma for HPP737 to a global license, contingent upon receipt of a $20 million upfront fee. The deal includes up to $76 million in milestones and royalties in the mid to upper single digits based on sales.

What was vTv Therapeutics' (VTVT) cash position as of June 30, 2024?

vTv Therapeutics reported a cash position of $45.5 million as of June 30, 2024, compared to $9.4 million as of December 31, 2023.