Celladon Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter And Year-End 2014 Financial Results And Recent Highlights

CUPID2 Topline Data Release on Track for Late April

Conference Call March 31, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time

SAN DIEGO, March 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celladon Corporation (Nasdaq:CLDN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company with industry-leading expertise in the development of cardiovascular gene therapy, today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2014 and recent corporate highlights.

"In the last year, Celladon has made significant progress in our clinical programs and pre-commercial planning for MYDICAR, including preparations for commercial manufacturing and other long lead-time activities. Our CUPID2 trial is evaluating the use of MYDICAR to treat systolic heart failure, known as HFrEF, and we received Breakthrough Therapy designation for this program from the FDA in April of last year. The CUPID2 trial is proceeding according to plan and we look forward to un-blinding and announcing top-line data from this trial in late April 2015. Following last year's financing activities, we are well positioned to advance our pipeline and development initiatives in 2015," said Krisztina Zsebo, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Celladon.

Fourth Quarter 2014 and Recent Corporate Highlights

MYDICAR®

  • In February 2015, we reached the last subject's last visit during the 12 month primary data analysis period in the CUPID2 study, thereby reaching the study's primary analysis data cutoff. We remain on track to un-blind the data and announce top-line results from this study in late April 2015.
  • In December 2014, we commenced work with Novasep, Inc. (Novasep) for the potential future commercial manufacture of MYDICAR drug substance (AAV1/SERCA2a), and in March 2015, we announced the execution of a development, manufacturing and supply agreement with Novasep, which, if supported by the CUPID2 data, positions the parties to continue with the process transfer, facility retrofitting, development and manufacturing activities necessary for the future commercial supply of MYDICAR drug substance. If we proceed with the ongoing activities beyond a specified termination period following the un-blinding of CUPID2, we would commit to a multi-year agreement for the future commercial supply of MYDICAR drug substance.
  • In November 2014, we announced the execution of a facility construction and commercial supply agreement with Lonza Biologics, Inc. (Lonza). In exchange for a reservation fee, we have the option, exercisable during a specified timeframe and with further financial obligation, to have Lonza commence construction of a new commercial viral therapeutics manufacturing facility, the exercise of which would commit us to a multi-year agreement for the future commercial supply of MYDICAR drug substance.
  • In December 2014, we conducted initial scale up of our MYDICAR (AAV1/SERCA2a) viral manufacturing process to 2,000 liter commercial scale, completing the first demonstration batch at Lonza's Houston facility.

Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2014 Financial Results

  • Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of December 31, 2014 were $84.9 million.
  • Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses were $7.2 million and $5.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively. Research and development expenses were $22.7 million and $16.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
  • General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $3.8 million and $0.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively. General and administrative expenses were $10.3 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
  • Other Expense, Net: Other expense, net was $0.4 million and $0.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively. Other expense was $0.8 million and $0.1 million for the years ended 2014 and 2013, respectively.
  • Consolidated Net Loss: Consolidated net loss was $11.3 million and $6.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively. Consolidated net loss was $33.9 million and $20.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The consolidated net loss included stock-based compensation of $1.1 million and $0.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively and $3.3 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Conference Call & Webcast

Management will host an investment community conference call to discuss financial results, provide a business update and answer questions.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015 @ 8:30am Eastern Time/5:30am Pacific Time
Domestic: 855-455-6053
International: 484-756-4307
Conference ID: 80188767
Webcast: www.celladon.com
Replays – Available through April 14, 2015
Domestic: 855-859-2056
International: 404-537-3406
Conference ID: 80188767

About Celladon

Celladon is a clinical-stage biotechnology company applying its leadership position in the field of cardiovascular gene therapy to develop novel therapies for diseases with tremendous unmet medical needs. Our lead programs target SERCA enzymes which are a family of enzymes that play an integral part in the regulation of intra-cellular calcium in all human cells. Calcium dysregulation is implicated in a number of important and complex medical conditions and diseases, such as heart failure, vascular disease, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. MYDICAR, the Company's most advanced product candidate, uses gene therapy to target SERCA2a, which is an enzyme that becomes deficient in patients with advanced heart failure. Celladon's CUPID2 trial is a 250 patient Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of MYDICAR in reducing the frequency of, or delaying heart failure-related hospitalizations. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational trial is evaluating a single intracoronary infusion of MYDICAR versus placebo added to a maximal, optimized heart failure regimen in patients with New York Heart Association class III or IV symptoms of chronic heart failure due to systolic dysfunction, or HFrEF. The Company has received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA for this MYDICAR program and expects to report results from the Phase 2b clinical trial in late April 2015. In addition, the Company conducts research and development on its mSCF gene therapy program for cardiac diseases. Celladon has also identified a number of potential first-in-class compounds addressing novel targets in diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases with its small molecule platform of SERCA2b modulators. For more information, please visit www.celladon.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, references to the expected timing of un-blinding and announcing top-line CUPID2 data; the impact of Breakthrough Therapy designation for MYDICAR; the potential future commercial production of MYDICAR drug substance by Novasep and/or Lonza, including Celladon's decision and ability to continue activities under one or both of these agreements following the un-blinding of CUPID2 data; as well as Celladon's ability to advance its pipeline and development initiatives in 2015. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Celladon's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with the process of conducting product development activities and clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to commercialize product candidates, our reliance on third parties, the need to raise additional funding when needed in order to conduct our business, and the degree of market acceptance of MYDICAR by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Celladon's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Celladon undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended December 31, Years Ended December 31,
2014 2013 2014 2013
(unaudited)
Operating expenses:
Research and development $ 7,161 $ 5,220 $ 22,676 $ 16,927
General and administrative 3,797 757 10,342 3,037
Total operating expenses 10,958 5,977 33,018 19,964
Loss from operations (10,958) (5,977) (33,018) (19,964)
Other income (expense), net (383) (202) (835) (127)
Consolidated net loss $ (11,341) $ (6,179) $ (33,853) $ (20,091)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
December 31,
2014 2013
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,435 $ 7,903
Short-term investments 70,513 10,467
Prepaid expenses and other assets 3,135 180
Total current assets 88,083 18,550
Property and equipment, net 763 308
Other assets 264 2,296
Total assets $ 89,110 $ 21,154
Liabilities, preferred stock and stockholders' deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 5,803 $ 2,908
Accrued clinical expenses 731 1,478
Accrued interest 71 14
Long term obligations, current portion 1
Convertible notes, net of discount 1,044
Warrant liability 1,116
Total current liabilities 6,606 6,560
Term loan, net of discount 10,102
Non-current liabilities 298 37
Preferred stock 65,548
Stockholders' equity (deficit) 72,104 (50,991)
Total liabilities, preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit) $ 89,110 $ 21,154
CONTACT: Fredrik Wiklund Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations (858) 432-7215 fwiklund@celladon.com

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