Otonomy, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics for neurotology, reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and provided an update on its product pipeline and corporate activities.
SAN DIEGO, May 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Otonomy, Inc. (Nasdaq: OTIC), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics for neurotology, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and provided an update on its product pipeline and corporate activities. In lieu of a conference call today, the company plans to host a program update call in June to review the status and timeline to results for the three ongoing clinical trials including the Phase 3 trial of OTIVIDEX® in Ménière’s disease.
“As we announced several weeks ago, we have taken steps to ensure the health and safety of our employees, patients, and study site healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic while also working diligently to mitigate the impact to our ongoing clinical trials,” said David A. Weber, Ph.D., president and CEO of Otonomy. “Collection of patient-reported symptom data continues to be very good supporting the integrity of these trials. However, quarantine restrictions have slowed new patient enrollment in the OTIVIDEX trial and required us to pause enrollment in the OTO-413 trial, which has now resumed. Regarding the OTO-313 trial, we have enrolled a sufficient number of patients to inform our next steps in the program and have discontinued further enrollment. We look forward to reviewing the status of these trials as well as timing to results during a program update call in June.”
Otonomy Business Updates
- COVID-19 Pandemic: update provided in April 2020. Otonomy has taken steps to protect the health and safety of its employees and community by generally adopting a work from home policy in line with directives from the State of California and guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On-site activities have been restricted to certain essential facility and laboratory support functions and social distancing policies have been implemented. We are also assessing our eligibility for programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
- OTIVIDEX Phase 3 clinical trial in Ménière’s disease: patient compliance for reporting vertigo episodes is high and new patient enrollment is ongoing. This trial is being conducted at approximately 60 trial sites dispersed across different regions of the United States and multiple countries in Europe. We believe there is minimal impact of COVID-19 on the integrity of efficacy data being collected because patients report their vertigo episodes via a daily telephone diary and compliance continues to be high. Quarantine restrictions are impacting the rate of new patient enrollment, which is being managed on a country-by-country and site-by-site basis according to local conditions.
- OTO-313 Phase 1/2 clinical trial in tinnitus: patient enrollment in exploratory efficacy cohort has been completed. An initial safety cohort of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was successfully completed and a second cohort designed to evaluate the activity of OTO-313 across multiple exploratory efficacy endpoints including the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) questionnaire is ongoing. This second cohort has enrolled a total of 35 patients, which Otonomy believes is sufficient to inform next steps for the OTO-313 program. As a result, new patient enrollment has been discontinued and the company will initiate study completion activities following final patient visits. Timing to study results will be provided during the program review call in June.
- OTO-413 Phase 1/2 clinical trial in hearing loss:new patient enrollment has resumed. This is an ascending single dose safety and exploratory efficacy study being conducted at a limited number of trial sites in the United States. As previously announced, we have successfully completed several dose cohorts but temporarily paused new patient enrollment because site visits are required for extensive hearing assessments to evaluate both safety and exploratory efficacy. We have resumed new patient enrollment, which is being managed on a site-by-site basis.
- GJB2 gene therapy program:preclinical data presented for novel and proprietary AAV capsids. Otonomy and Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC) are collaborating to co-develop and co-commercialize an AAV-based gene therapy to restore hearing in patients with hearing loss caused by a mutation in the gap junction beta 2 gene (GJB2) -- the most common cause of congenital hearing loss. Preclinical results presented at the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) meeting in January demonstrated that a gene of interest can be expressed in support cells of the cochlea, which are the relevant target cells for treating GJB2 deficiency, using novel and proprietary AAV capsids.
- OTO-510: preclinical data presented for novel and proprietary class of otoprotectant agents. Cisplatin is a potent chemotherapeutic agent that is widely used to treat a variety of cancers in adults and children, however it is commonly associated with severe adverse effects including cisplatin-induced hearing loss (CIHL). At ARO, Otonomy presented preclinical results demonstrating varying degrees of otoprotection against CIHL for several classes of therapeutic agents. In particular, a novel class of agents that potently binds to cisplatin demonstrated greater otoprotection than anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic molecules, and increased potency relative to other cisplatin-binding molecules currently in development.
- OTO-6XX: preclinical development ongoing for regenerative hearing loss program. Otonomy has demonstrated regeneration of hair cells in a preclinical proof-of-concept model using a class of small molecules formulated for sustained-exposure local delivery, and has selected a lead compound for development. The OTO-6XX program is targeting hair cell regeneration for the treatment of severe hearing loss.
First Quarter Financial Highlights
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $48.6 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $60.7 million as of December 31, 2019.
- Long-term Debt: Otonomy obtained a $15 million term loan from Oxford Finance LLC in December 2018. The loan provides for a 24 month interest-only repayment period, followed by 35 months of amortization.
- Operating Expenses: GAAP operating expenses were $11.5 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $12.1 million for the first quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP operating expenses, which exclude stock-based compensation, were $10.1 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $10.6 million for the first quarter of 2019.
- Research and Development Expenses: GAAP research and development (R&D) expenses for the first quarter of 2020 were $7.7 million, compared to $8.8 million for the first quarter of 2019. The decrease for the quarter was primarily due to reduced third-party development costs that were partially offset by increased compensation expense.
- Selling, General and Administrative Expenses: GAAP selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in the first quarter of 2020 were $3.8 million, compared to $3.3 million for the first quarter of 2019. The increase this quarter was primarily the result of discontinued cost reimbursement received from OTIPRIO co-promotion partners.
- Financial Guidance:
- 2020 Operating Expenses: Otonomy expects that GAAP operating expenses will be in the range of $45-$48 million, and that non-GAAP operating expenses will be in the range of $35-$38 million.
- Cash Runway: Otonomy expects that its current cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund company operations into 2021 and we are managing spending to enable this cash runway to extend through readouts for our three ongoing clinical trials.
Non-GAAP Operating Expenses
In this press release, Otonomy’s operating expenses are provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States and also on a non-GAAP basis. Non-GAAP operating expenses exclude stock-based compensation. Non-GAAP operating expenses are provided as a complement to operating expenses provided in accordance with GAAP because management believes non-GAAP operating expenses help indicate underlying trends in the company’s business, are important in comparing current results with prior period results and provide additional information regarding the company’s financial position. Management also uses non-GAAP operating expenses to establish budgets and operational goals that are communicated internally and externally and to manage the company’s business and to evaluate its performance. The attached financial information includes a reconciliation of the GAAP operating expenses to non-GAAP operating expenses and a reconciliation of GAAP operating expense guidance to non-GAAP operating expense guidance.
About Otonomy
Otonomy is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics for neurotology. The company pioneered the application of drug delivery technology to the ear in order to develop products that achieve sustained drug exposure from a single local administration. This approach is covered by a broad patent estate and is being utilized to develop a pipeline of products addressing important unmet medical needs including Ménière’s disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus. For additional information please visit www.otonomy.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the future financial or operating performance of Otonomy. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the timing of results, patient recruitment and activity for, conduct of, and the impact of COVID-19 on, ongoing clinical trials; expectations regarding operating expenses for 2020 and cash runway; and statements by Otonomy’s president and CEO. Otonomy’s expectations regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: delays and disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental responses to the pandemic, including current and future impacts to Otonomy’s operations, the manufacturing of its product candidates, the progression of its current clinical trials, enrollment in its current and future clinical trials and patient conduct and compliance; Otonomy’s ability to accurately forecast financial results; Otonomy’s ability to obtain additional financing; Otonomy’s dependence on the regulatory success and advancement of its product candidates; the uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process, including, without limitation, Otonomy’s ability to adequately demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its product candidates, the nonclinical and clinical results for its product candidates, which may not support further development, and challenges related to patient enrollment in clinical trials; the integrity of patient-reported outcomes in its current and future clinical trials; the risks of the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could impact Otonomy’s ability to repay or comply with the terms of the loan provided by Oxford Finance LLC; side effects or adverse events associated with Otonomy’s product candidates; Otonomy’s ability to successfully commercialize its product candidates, if approved; competition in the biopharmaceutical industry; Otonomy’s dependence on third parties to conduct nonclinical studies and clinical trials, and for the manufacture of its product candidates; Otonomy’s ability to protect its intellectual property in the United States and throughout the world; expectations regarding potential therapy benefits, market size, opportunity and growth; Otonomy’s ability to manage operating expenses; implementation of Otonomy’s business model and strategic plans for its business, products and technology; general economic and market conditions; and other risks. Information regarding the foregoing and additional risks may be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Otonomy’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 7, 2020, and Otonomy’s future reports to be filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Otonomy as of the date hereof. Otonomy disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Contacts:
Media Inquiries
Spectrum Science
Chloé-Anne Ramsey
Vice President
404.865.3601
cramsey@spectrumscience.com
Investor Inquiries
Westwicke ICR
Robert H. Uhl
Managing Director
858.356.5932
robert.uhl@westwicke.com
