Minerva Neurosciences Reports Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results and Business Updates
Opening of clinical sites in six countries builds momentum in MIN-101 Phase IIb schizophrenia trial
First patient dosed in Phase IIa study with MIN-117 in major depressive disorder
First patient dosed in Phase Ib study with MIN-202 as adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder; MIN-202 data in insomnia presented at SLEEP meeting
Company adds to Board and management
Management to host conference call today at
"Measurable progress has been made in the initiation of clinical sites and enrollment for our Phase IIb trial with MIN-101 in schizophrenia and in the dosing of our first patient in the Phase IIa trial with MIN-117 for major depressive disorder," said Dr.
"We believe that we are now well positioned to achieve our objectives through mid-2016, including data readouts from our most advanced programs, MIN-101 and MIN-117, which will represent significant steps to meeting unmet patient needs in CNS conditions," said
MIN-101:
- Approximately forty clinical sites have been initiated in six countries in the ongoing Phase IIb study with Minerva's lead compound, MIN-101, in schizophrenic patients with a history of negative symptoms. Sites have now been initiated in six countries, and patient enrollment is expected to continue through the end of 2015. The target patient recruitment goal
is 234, with a third of patients dosed at 32 milligrams (mg) daily, a third at 64 mg daily and a third on placebo. The primary study objective is an evaluation of the efficacy of MIN-101 compared to placebo in improving the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Topline results for the core 12-week evaluation period are expected in the second quarter of 2016.
MIN-117:
- The first patient has been dosed in a Phase IIa clinical trial of MIN-117 in patients with major depressive disorder to compare the therapeutic impact of two doses of MIN-117, 0.5 mg and 2.5 mg daily, to paroxetine and to placebo. Eighty patients are expected to be enrolled in this trial, with 20 patients in each of the four groups. The primary endpoint of the trial will be the efficacy of MIN-117 versus placebo in reducing depressive symptoms. Top-line results are expected in the first half of 2016.
MIN-202 (JNJ-42847922):
- Pre-clinical and early clinical data with MIN-202 were presented by
Janssen at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (SLEEP 2015).Janssen has dosed the first patient in a European Phase Ib study in adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder and has opened an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for this indication in the U.S. In addition, Minerva expects thatJanssen will initiate a Phase IIa study with MIN-202 in insomnia disorder within the next few months. Data readouts for both trials are expected in the first half of 2016.
MIN-301:
- Early in 2015, results were announced from a non-human primate study showing that treatment with an analog of MIN-301 resulted in improvements in a range of symptoms associated with a Parkinson's disease model in primates. The next planned steps in this program are the filing of an IND in the U.S. or an Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier (IMPD) in
Europe in 2016, and pending acceptance by regulatory authorities, the initiation of Phase I clinical testing thereafter.
Board and Management:
Fouzia Laghrissi-Thode , M.D. has been appointed to Minerva's board of directors.Dr. Laghrissi-Thode brings extensive experience in global pharmaceutical development to Minerva and has held positions of leadership at AstraZeneca, Roche, Novartis and Sandoz in a broad range of therapeutic areas. She is currently vice president of the cardiovascular and metabolism therapy area at AstraZeneca.Dr. Laghrissi-Thode holds an M.D. from the University Of Tours School Of Medicine inFrance , is board certified in psychiatry and is adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University ofPittsburgh .
William Boni has been named vice president of investor relations and corporate communications. Mr. Boni joins Minerva from ArQule, Inc. He has more than 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including corporate positions with Interneuron /Indevus Pharmaceuticals and Curis, Inc. His agency experience includes Hill &Knowlton and Feinstein Partners . Mr. Boni is a graduate ofTufts University and holds a master's degree fromColumbia University .
Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (current and non-current) as of
June 30, 2015 were approximately$44.8 million , compared to$18.5 million as ofDecember 31, 2014 . Minerva expects that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (current and non-current) will be sufficient to fund its operations into the fourth quarter of 2016.
- R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were
$4.5 million in the second quarter of 2015, compared to$14.6 million in the second quarter of 2014. For the six months endedJune 30, 2015 , R&D expenses were$8.4 million , compared to$15.1 million for the six months endedJune 30, 2014 . The decreases in R&D expenses for the three and six months endedJune 30, 2015 were primarily due to decreases in non-cash stock-based compensation expense of$12.8 million in both periods. Excluding non-cash stock-based compensation expense, R&D expenses for the Company's drug development programs for the three and six months endedJune 30, 2015 totaled$4.3 million and$8.2 million , respectively, versus$1.6 million and$2.1 million in the prior year period. These increases over the prior year in R&D expenses for the Company's drug development programs for the three and six months endedJune 30, 2015 of$2.7 million and$6.1 million , respectively, primarily reflect increased expenses related to the Phase IIb clinical trial of MIN-101, the Phase IIa trial of MIN-117 and the recent MIN-202 Phase I clinical trials.
- G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were
$1.8 million in the second quarter of 2015, compared to$3.1 million in the second quarter of 2014. For the six months endedJune 30, 2015 , G&A expenses were$3.8 million , compared to$5.1 million for the same period in 2014. The decreases in G&A expenses for the three and six months endedJune 30, 2015 were primarily due to a decrease in non-cash stock-based compensation expense of$1.1 million and$1.3 million , respectively.
- Net Loss: Net loss was
$6.6 million for the second quarter of 2015, or a loss per share of$0.27 (basic and diluted), as compared to a net loss of$19.4 million , or a loss per share of$2.55 (basic and diluted) for the second quarter of 2014. Net loss was$12.7 million for the first six months of 2015, or a loss per share of$0.58 (basic and diluted), as compared to a net loss of$22.3 million , or a loss per share of$3.07 (basic and diluted) for the first six months of 2014.
Conference Call Information:
The live webcast can be accessed under "Events and Presentations" in the Investors and Media section of Minerva's website at ir.minervaneurosciences.com. The archived webcast will be available on the website beginning approximately two hours after the event for 90 days.
About
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking
statements are statements that are not historical facts, reflect management's expectations as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements herein with respect to the timing and results of future clinical milestones; the timing of future clinical trials and results of clinical trials; the clinical and therapeutic potential of our compounds; our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our therapeutic products; the sufficiency of our current cash position to fund our operations; and management's ability to successfully achieve its goals. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors including, without limitation, whether any of our other therapeutic products will advance further in the clinical trials
process and whether and when, if at all, they will receive final approval from the
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA | ||
| (Unaudited) | ||
| | | |
| 2015 | 2014 | |
| (in thousands) | ||
| ASSETS | ||
| Current Assets: | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 21,735 | $ 18,546 |
| Marketable securities - current portion | 13,651 | -- |
| Restricted cash | 80 | 35 |
| Prepaid expenses | 309 | 757 |
| Total current assets | 35,775 | 19,338 |
| Marketable securities - noncurrent | 9,444 | -- |
| Equipment, net | 35 | 44 |
| In-process research and development | 34,200 | 34,200 |
| Goodwill | 14,869 | 14,869 |
| Total Assets | $ 94,323 | $ 68,451 |
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT | ||
| Current Liabilities: | ||
| Notes payable - current portion | $ 1,087 | $ -- |
| Accounts payable | 564 | 642 |
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 1,083 | 1,645 |
| Accrued collaborative expenses | 1,078 | 1,222 |
| Total current liabilities | 3,812 | 3,509 |
| Long-Term Liabilities: | ||
| Notes payable - noncurrent | 8,697 | -- |
| Deferred taxes | 13,434 | 13,434 |
| Other non-current liabilities | 3 | 8 |
| Total liabilities | 25,946 | 16,951 |
| Stockholders' Deficit: | ||
| Common stock | 2 | 2 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 155,810 | 126,229 |
| Accumulated deficit | (87,435) | (74,731) |
| Total stockholders' deficit | 68,377 | 51,500 |
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit | $ 94,323 | $ 68,451 |
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||
| Three months ended | Six months ended | |||
| (in thousands, except per share amounts) | (in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |
| Revenues | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- | $ -- |
| Operating expenses: | ||||
| Research and development | 4,485 | 14,555 | 8,446 | 15,140 |
| General and administrative | 1,847 | 3,095 | 3,765 | 5,133 |
| Total operating expenses | 6,332 | 17,650 | 12,211 | 20,273 |
| Foreign exchange (losses)/gains | (29) | 10 | (13) | 4 |
| Interest expense, net | (249) | (1,726) | (479) | (2,035) |
| Net loss | $ (6,610) | $ (19,366) | $ (12,703) | $ (22,304) |
| Loss per share: | ||||
| Basic and diluted | $ (0.27) | $ (2.55) | $ (0.58) | $ (3.07) |
| Weighted average shares: | ||||
| Basic and diluted | 24,721 | 7,605 | 22,084 | 7,256 |
CONTACT:
VP, Investor Relations/
Corp. Communications
(617) 600-7376
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
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