Aligos Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics to address unmet medical needs in viral and liver diseases, reported recent business progress and financial results for the second quarter June 30, 2022.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGS), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics to address unmet medical needs in viral and liver diseases, today reported recent business progress and financial results for the second quarter June 30, 2022.
“In the second quarter, we continued to make strong progress in advancing our drug candidates and discovery programs,” said Lawrence Blatt, PhD, MBA, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Aligos. “We completed enrollment in multiple cohorts across our Phase 1 CAM-2 and NASH studies and presented posters for these and other drug candidates and discovery programs at the recent International Liver Congress meeting hosted by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). We are similarly off to a strong start in Q3, where we have initiated enrollment in a 12-week cohort evaluating the safety and chronic suppressive activity of ALG-000184 in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. We also remain on track to submit a clinical trial application (CTA) this quarter to evaluate our siRNA drug candidate, ALG-125755, in healthy volunteers and CHB patients. We believe our siRNA, which is designed to lower HBsAg levels, is an important addition to our clinical portfolio and has the potential to be a cornerstone of our functional cure strategy.”
Recent Business Progress
Aligos Portfolio of Drug Candidates
HBV Programs
- ALG-000184 (CAM-2): Enrollment of HBeAg positive subjects in 28-day and 12-week cohorts evaluating various dose levels is ongoing. We plan to share data from HBeAg positive cohorts at a scientific conference in Q4 2022.
- ALG-125755 (siRNA): Phase 1 enabling nonclinical studies are nearly complete. We are on track to file a CTA in Q3 2022 to enable the evaluation of the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of ALG-125755. Dosing is planned to begin in healthy volunteers in Q4 2022 and in CHB subjects
in Q1 2023.
NASH
- ALG-055009: Enrollment of hyperlipidemic subjects in all 4 cohorts of the multiple ascending dose portion of our Phase 1 study is now complete. We are currently analyzing these data and remain on track to share top line data from the single and multiple ascending dose portions of this study in Q3 2022.
COVID-19 3CL Protease Inhibitor (PI) Program
- ALG-097558: Evaluation of ALG-097558 in the hamster SARS-CoV-2 infection model indicates that when dosed prior to infection or up to 24 hours post-infection, the compound causes a significant reduction in the levels of infectious virus in the lungs.
- Phase 1 enabling nonclinical studies are on track to be initiated in H2 2022. A subsequent CTA filing for a Phase 1 study evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics of ALG-097558 in healthy volunteers is planned for Q1 2023.
COVID-19 3CL Protease Inhibitor Resistance Profiling
The potential for the emergence of viral resistance to 3CL protease inhibitors used to treat COVID-19 is of considerable concern. Together with our collaborators at KU Leuven, including its Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3), a drug discovery unit and investment fund of KU Leuven, and the Rega Institute for Medical Research, we have begun to investigate the viral resistance profile of our 3CL protease inhibitors. A resistant mutant was derived by incubating SARS-CoV-2 infected cells with an early lead compound, ALG-097161. We identified a combination of 3 amino acid substitutions in the 3CL protease (L50F E166A L167F) that are associated with a greater than 50-fold increase in the EC50 values for ALG-097161 and PF-07321332 (nirmatrelvir) when assessed in a biochemical assay. In contrast, when ALG-097558 was profiled against the L50F E166A L167F resistant mutant, only a 3-fold shift in the EC50 value was observed. Experiments to further evaluate the viral resistance profile of ALG-097558 are currently ongoing.
Financial Results for the Second Quarter 2022
Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $159.3 million as of June 30, 2022, compared with $205.8 million as of December 31, 2021. We continue to believe our cash balance provides sufficient cash to fund planned operations into the first half of 2024.
Net losses for the three months ended June 30, 2022, were $19.9 million or basic and diluted net loss per common share of ($0.47), compared to net losses of $29.8 million or basic and diluted net loss per common share of $(0.79) for the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Research and development (R&D) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022, were $16.5 million compared with $24.6 million for the same period of 2021. The decrease in R&D expenses for this comparative period is primarily attributable to our continued wind-down related to the discontinuation of our STOPS and ASO programs offset by our expenditures related to the ongoing development and manufacturing activities associated with our CAM and NASH clinical program activities. Total R&D stock-based compensation expense incurred for the three months ended June 30, 2022, was $2.2 million compared with $2.0 million for the same period of 2021.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022, were $7.6 million compared with $6.6 million for the same period of 2021. The increase in G&A expenses for this comparative period is primarily attributable to routine employee and facility related costs. Total G&A stock-based compensation expense incurred for the three months ended June 30, 2022, was $1.8 million compared with $1.5 million for the same period of 2021.
About Aligos
Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that was founded in 2018 with the mission to become a world leader in the treatment of viral infections and liver diseases. Aligos is focused on the discovery and development of targeted antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and coronaviruses as well as leveraging its expertise in liver diseases to create targeted therapeutics for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Aligos’ strategy is to harness the deep expertise and decades of drug development experience its team has in liver disease, particularly viral hepatitis, to rapidly advance its pipeline of potentially best-in-class molecules.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be considered “forward-looking statements,” including without limitation statements regarding, our confidence that combinations of drug candidates from our CHB portfolio have the potential to increase the rate of functional cure in CHB subjects; with respect to our siRNA drug candidate, ALG-125755, our remaining on track to submit a clinical trial application (CTA) in Q3 2022 to evaluate such candidate in healthy volunteers and CHB patients with the plan to begin dosing in healthy volunteers in Q4 2022 and in CHB subjects in Q1 2023 and our belief that our siRNA is an important addition to our clinical portfolio and has the potential to be a cornerstone of our functional cure strategy; with respect to ALG-000184 (prodrug of ALG-001075), our ongoing enrollment of HBeAg positive subjects in 28-day and 12-week cohorts and our plan to share at a scientific conference in Q4 2022 data from such HBeAg positive cohorts; with respect to ALG-055009 for NASH, our remaining on track to share top line data from the single and multiple ascending dose portions of our Phase 1 study in Q3 2022; with respect to our COVID-19 protease inhibitor program, our being on track to initiate our Phase 1 enabling nonclinical studies in H2 2022 for ALG-097558, our plan for a subsequent CTA filing for a Phase 1 study evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics of ALG-097558 in healthy volunteers in Q1 2023, the potential for the emergence of viral resistance to 3CL protease inhibitors used to treat COVID-19 and our beginning to investigate the viral resistance profile of our 3CL protease inhibitors; and our continued belief that our cash balance provides sufficient cash to fund planned operations into the first half of 2024. Forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” and other similar terminology indicating future results. Such forward looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our development programs, future results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include without limitation risks and uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, including Aligos’s clinical-stage of development, the process of designing and conducting clinical trials, the regulatory approval processes, the timing of regulatory filings, the challenges associated with manufacturing drug products, Aligos’s ability to successfully establish, protect and defend its intellectual property, other matters that could affect the sufficiency of Aligos’s capital resources to fund operations, reliance on third parties for manufacturing and development efforts, changes in the competitive landscape and the effects on our business of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the developing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Aligos in general, see Aligos’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2022 and its future periodic reports to be filed or submitted with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Aligos undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
| Aligos Therapeutics, Inc | |||||||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | |||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
| Revenue from Collaborations | $ | 3,693 | $ | 1,545 | $ | 6,264 | $ | 2,455 | |||||||||
| Operating Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 16,510 | 24,554 | 48,186 | 47,422 | |||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 7,576 | 6,556 | 14,028 | 12,337 | |||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 24,086 | 31,110 | 62,214 | 59,759 | |||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (20,393 | ) | (29,565 | ) | (55,950 | ) | (57,304 | ) | |||||||||
| Interest and other income (expense), net | 516 | (225 | ) | 510 | (114 | ) | |||||||||||
| Loss before income tax expense | (19,877 | ) | (29,790 | ) | (55,440 | ) | (57,418 | ) | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | (47 | ) | (28 | ) | (99 | ) | (74 | ) | |||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (19,924 | ) | $ | (29,818 | ) | $ | (55,539 | ) | $ | (57,492 | ) | |||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per common share | $ | (0.47 | ) | $ | (0.79 | ) | $ | (1.30 | ) | $ | (1.53 | ) | |||||
| Weighted-average number of shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share | 42,665,598 | 37,619,039 | 42,590,479 | 37,526,650 | |||||||||||||
| Aligos Therapeutics, Inc Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) |
||||||
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||
| (Unaudited) | (1) | |||||
| Assets | ||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 71,172 | $ | 186,816 | ||
| Short-term investments | 88,172 | 3,918 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 8,341 | 13,690 | ||||
| Total current assets | 167,685 | 204,424 | ||||
| Long-term investments | - | 15,110 | ||||
| Other assets | 14,838 | 15,835 | ||||
| Total assets | $ | 182,523 | $ | 235,369 | ||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||
| Current liabilities | 31,653 | $ | 38,957 | |||
| Other liabilities, noncurrent | 13,889 | 11,681 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 45,542 | 50,638 | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 136,981 | 184,731 | ||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 182,523 | $ | 235,369 | ||
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(1) The condensed, consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2021 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
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