ProQR Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2019
LEIDEN, Netherlands & CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 08, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq:PRQR), a company dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.
“We made significant progress in 2019 thus far with the initiation of both the Phase 2/3 trial for sepofarsen and the proof of concept trial for QR-421a in Usher syndrome as we focus on our mission to become a fully-integrated company developing and commercializing RNA medicines for patients with inherited retinal diseases,” said Daniel A. de Boer, CEO of ProQR. “We expect 2019 to be a transformative year for ProQR as we execute on these trials and advance three additional programs towards the clinic in our effort to bring more innovative medicines for inherited retinal diseases to patients.”
Corporate Highlights and Business Update
Sepofarsen (formerly QR-110) for LCA10
• In April 2019, the first patient was dosed in the Phase 2/3 ILLUMINATE trial in patients with sepofarsen in Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis 10 (LCA10) with data expected around the end of 2020. The protocol included the feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
QR-421a for Usher syndrome type 2
• In March 2019, the first patient was dosed in the Phase 1/2 STELLAR clinical trial for QR-421a in patients with Usher syndrome type 2 or non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Interim data from the study are expected to be announced mid-2019. Earlier, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for QR-421a for Usher syndrome type 2 and non-syndromic RP due to mutations in exon 13 of the USH2A gene.
QR-313 for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
• In March 2019, ProQR announced the strategic spin out of the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (DEB) activities into the newly formed company, Wings Therapeutics. Wings Therapeutics will be led by interim CEO Mark de Souza, PhD, former CEO of Lotus Tissue Repair and Hal Landy, MD, former medical advisor to Lotus Tissue Repair and CMO of Enobia. Wings Therapeutics will focus on developing therapies for Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa and continue to conduct clinical trials with QR-313 in exon 73 as well as progress other RNA molecules that are designed for other mutations that cause DEB. ProQR will have a minority stake in Wings Therapeutics and will be eligible for milestone and royalty payments on sales of commercial products, if any. Financial details were not disclosed.
Scientific Updates
• Data on the ProQR portfolio were presented at three scientific conferences in April and May. One abstract was presented at the Retinal Cell & Gene Therapy Innovation Summit, three abstracts were presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and one abstract was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT).
Business Updates
• In April 2019, ProQR nominated Bart Filius, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Galapagos NV and Theresa Heggie, Senior Vice President, Head of Canada, Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals to join the Supervisory Board, subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Filius will also become chair of the Board Audit Committee upon his election to the board.
Financial highlights
At March 31, 2019, ProQR held cash and cash equivalents of €94.1 million, compared to €105.6 million at December 31, 2018. Net cash used in operating activities during the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 was €12.4 million, compared to €9.7 million for the same period last year.
Research and development (R&D) costs increased to €12.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 from €7.7 million for the same period last year and comprised of allocated employee costs including share-based payments, the costs of materials and laboratory consumables, outsourced activities, license and intellectual property costs and other allocated costs. The increase in R&D expenses was primarily due to initiation of the clinical trials for sepofarsen and QR-421a.
General and administrative costs increased to €3.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 from €2.7 million for the same period last year.
Net loss for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 was €14.2 million, or €0.36 per diluted share, compared to a €10.7 million loss, or €0.33 per diluted share, for the same period last year. For further financial information for the period ending March 31, 2019, please refer to the financial statements appearing at the end of this release.