Dynavax Reports Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results And Company Update

BERKELEY, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/07/16 -- Dynavax Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: DVAX) today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

The Company had $109.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2016, compared to $196.1 million at December 31, 2015. The net loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $34.7 million, compared to $30.1 million for the third quarter of 2015.

Recent Progress

HEPLISAV-B. In late August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cancelled its previously scheduled Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting to review the Biologics License Application (BLA) for HEPLISAV-B™ [Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Adjuvanted)]. The FDA indicated that remaining questions on the BLA will be addressed between Dynavax and the FDA review team. The Company has since provided responses to information requests by the FDA related to remaining questions. The FDA also confirmed in August that it will not include in its review of the BLA the immunogenicity data submitted by the Company related to sub-populations, including results in individuals with diabetes. The Company plans to submit these data as a supplemental BLA.

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date for the HEPLISAV-B BLA is December 15, 2016.

In late October, we reported sub-group results from HBV-23, demonstrating that HEPLISAV-B, when administered as two doses over one month, induced significantly higher seroprotection rates than the approved hepatitis B vaccine Engerix-B®, when administered as three doses over six months. This result was observed in all prespecified groups of study participants, including those with characteristics that are known to have a reduced immune response to currently licensed hepatitis B vaccines, including older age, high body mass index, diabetes mellitus, male gender and persons who smoke. In the total Phase 3 trial population, the rates of adverse events, serious adverse events and deaths were similar between the HEPLISAV-B and Engerix-B groups. The data were presented at the Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA) annual IDWeek 2016 meeting in New Orleans.

Preparations for launch of HEPLISAV-B are continuing, including pre-commercial activities, manufacturing of launch inventory and continued infrastructure spending related to commercial development and information technology capabilities and related increases in headcount.

Immuno-oncology. In October we announced at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress 2016 the first presentation of findings from an ongoing Phase 1/2 study evaluating SD-101, Dynavax's intratumoral TLR9 agonist, in combination with Keytruda® (pembrolizumab), Merck's anti-PD-1 treatment. Early results evaluating five patients with metastatic melanoma for efficacy and 16 patients for safety were reported. In patients naïve to anti-PD-1 treatment objective responses were observed in three out of four (75%) including one complete response (CR) and two partial responses (PR's). One patient with progressive disease while receiving anti-PD-1 therapy was observed to have stable disease (SD). The drug combination was well-tolerated. No dose-limiting toxicities of the combination were observed in any dose cohort, and a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was not identified. No immune-related adverse events were reported. Additional results from this study will be presented at future scientific meetings.

Financial. In late October we secured a $100 million loan commitment from Deerfield upon FDA approval of HEPLISAV-B and satisfaction of other conditions. We intend to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including the commercialization of HEPLISAV-B.

Financials

Total revenues for the third quarter of 2016 were $0.2 million compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2015. The $1.0 million decrease was due to the conclusion of our work under the research collaboration and license agreement with AstraZeneca for the clinical development of AZD 1419.

Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2016 were $23.2 million compared to $24.1 million for the same period in 2015. This $0.9 million decrease was primarily due to reduction in outside services expense associated with the completion of HBV-23 in the fourth quarter of 2015, partially offset by an increase in employee headcount and regulatory and manufacturing activities in preparation for the anticipated commercial launch of HEPLISAV-B.

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2016 were $11.8 million compared to $5.5 million for the same period in 2015. This $6.3 million increase reflects expenses related to preparation for the commercial launch of HEPLISAV-B including additional headcount, information technology systems and infrastructure to support commercial development.

The net loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $34.7 million, or $0.90 per basic and diluted share, compared to $30.1 million, or $0.82 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2015.

About Dynavax

Dynavax, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, uses TLR biology to discover and develop novel vaccines and therapeutics in the areas of infectious and inflammatory diseases and oncology. Dynavax's lead product candidates are HEPLISAV-B, a Phase 3 investigational adult hepatitis B vaccine, and SD-101, an investigational cancer immunotherapeutic currently in several Phase 1/2 studies. For more information visit www.dynavax.com.

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