Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Reports 2020 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results and Highlights
“We are pleased with the substantial progress the Company made in 2020, particularly in light of the significant challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated
Financial Results for the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2020
As of
Operating expenses were
Research and development expenses for the three and twelve month periods ended
General and administrative expenses for the three and twelve month periods ended
Interest income for the three and twelve month periods ended
About Resmetirom (MGL-3196)
Thyroid hormone, through activation of its β-receptor in hepatocytes, plays a central role in liver function impacting a range of health parameters from levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides to the pathological buildup of fat in the liver. Thyroid hormone receptor (THR)-β action in the liver is key to proper function of the liver, including regulation of mitochondrial activity such as breakdown of liver fat and control of the level of normal, healthy mitochondria. Patients with NASH have reduced levels of thyroid hormone activity in the liver with resultant impaired hepatic function, in part due to the inflamed state of the liver that causes degradation of thyroid hormone.
To exploit the thyroid hormone receptor (THR)-β pathway for therapeutic purposes in cardio-metabolic and liver diseases, it is important to avoid activity at the THR-α receptor, the predominant systemic receptor for thyroid hormone that is responsible for activity outside the liver including in heart and bone. The lack of selectivity of older thyromimetic compounds, chemically-related toxicities and undesirable distribution in the body led to safety concerns. Madrigal recognized that greater selectivity for thyroid hormone receptor (THR)-β and liver targeting might overcome these challenges and deliver the full therapeutic potential of THR-β agonism. Resmetirom has been shown to be highly selective based on 1) THR-β receptor functional selectivity based on both in vitro and in vivo assays and 2) specific uptake into the liver, its site of action, virtually avoiding any uptake into tissues outside the liver. In short and long term human and animal studies, resmetirom has been confirmed to be safe and devoid of activity at the THR-α receptor and without impact on bone or cardiac parameters. Resmetirom does not impact the thyroid axis hormones, including the central thyroid axis. Madrigal believes that resmetirom is the first orally administered, small-molecule, liver-directed, truly β-selective THR agonist.
About the Phase 3 Registration Program for the Treatment of NASH (Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)
Analyses from the resmetirom Phase 2 NASH study demonstrate that the magnitude of liver fat reduction accurately predicts NASH resolution and liver fibrosis reduction and, specifically, that the resmetirom doses being used in Madrigal’s Phase 3 MAESTRO-NASH trial could achieve the level of fat reduction predictive of NASH resolution and fibrosis reduction [Madrigal COVID and ABSTRACT Press Release_20200414].
The Phase 3 MAESTRO-NASH trial is expected to enroll 900 patients with biopsy-proven NASH (fibrosis stage 2 or 3), randomized 1:1:1 to receive resmetirom 80 mg once a day, 100 mg once a day, or placebo. After 52 weeks of treatment a second biopsy is performed. The primary surrogate endpoint on biopsy will be NASH resolution, with at least a 2-point reduction in NAS (NASH Activity Score), and with no worsening of fibrosis. Two key secondary endpoints are liver fibrosis improvement of at least one stage, with no worsening of NASH, and lowering of LDL-cholesterol [ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03900429].
A second 52-week Phase 3 multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of resmetirom, MAESTRO-NAFLD-1, was initiated in
These and other data, including safety parameters, form the basis for potential subpart H submission to FDA for accelerated approval for the treatment of NASH. The original 900 patients in the MAESTRO-NASH study will continue on therapy after the initial 52-week treatment period; up to another 1,100 patients are to be added using the same randomization plan and the study is expected to continue for up to 54 months to accrue and measure clinical events, most relevantly progression to cirrhosis.
About Resmetirom’s Potential to Confer Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in NASH patients
Additionally, resmetirom lowers multiple atherogenic lipids, including LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, triglycerides, and lipoprotein (a), as demonstrated in Phase 2, a key differentiating factor compared with other NASH therapeutics. The magnitude of reduction of these lipids support a potential indication for treatment of hyperlipidemia in NASH patients and predicts a potential for benefit on cardiovascular (CV) events in NASH patients who die most frequently of CV, not liver disease.
Because of their diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity in concert with an inflamed, fatty liver, NASH patients, particularly those with advanced fibrosis, are at a substantially increased CV risk compared to the general population. Resmetirom’s ability to decrease liver fat, which is an independent risk factor for CV events, and resmetirom’s effect to reduce atherogenic lipids are being further evaluated in several key secondary endpoints in both MAESTRO Phase 3 clinical studies.
About
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us, but are subject to factors beyond our control. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements or references concerning: our clinical trials; research and development activities; the timing and results associated with the future development of our lead product candidate, MGL-3196 (resmetirom); the timing and completion of projected 2021 clinical milestone events; our primary and secondary study endpoints for resmetirom and the potential for achieving such endpoints and projections; optimal dosing levels for resmetirom; projections regarding potential future NASH resolution, safety, fibrosis treatment, cardiovascular effects, lipid treatment or biomarker effects with resmetirom; the predictive power of liver fat reduction on NASH resolution with fibrosis reduction or improvement; the achievement of enrollment objectives concerning patient number, safety database and/or timing for our studies; potential NASH or NAFLD patient risk profile benefits with resmetirom; and our possible or assumed future results of operations and expenses, business strategies and plans, capital needs and financing plans, trends, market sizing, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities, among other things. Forward-looking statements: reflect management’s current knowledge, assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance or events; include all statements that are not historical facts; and can be identified by terms such as “allow,” “anticipates,” “be,” “believes,” “continue,” “could,” “demonstrates,” ”design,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “future,” “goal,” “hopeful,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” ”predictive,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Although management presently believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and you should be aware that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: our clinical development of resmetirom; enrollment uncertainties, generally and in relation to COVID-19 shelter-in-place and social distancing measures and individual precautionary measures that may be implemented or continued for an uncertain period of time; outcomes or trends from competitive studies; future topline data timing or results; the risks of achieving potential benefits in studies that include substantially more patients than our prior studies; the timing and outcomes of clinical studies of resmetirom; and the uncertainties inherent in clinical testing. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Madrigal undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Please refer to Madrigal's filings with the
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(Tables Follow)
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
Total revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||
Research and development | 53,429 | 24,910 | 184,809 | 72,324 | ||||||||||
General and administrative | 6,126 | 5,044 | 21,864 | 22,648 | ||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 59,555 | 29,954 | 206,673 | 94,972 | ||||||||||
Loss from operations | (59,555 | ) | (29,954 | ) | (206,673 | ) | (94,972 | ) | ||||||
Interest income, net | 432 | 2,214 | 4,329 | 11,024 | ||||||||||
Other income | - | - | 100 | - | ||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (59,123 | ) | $ | (27,740 | ) | $ | (202,244 | ) | $ | (83,948 | ) | ||
Basic and diluted net loss per common share | $ | (3.82 | ) | $ | (1.80 | ) | $ | (13.09 | ) | $ | (5.45 | ) | ||
Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 15,475,291 | 15,429,154 | 15,446,638 | 15,394,659 | ||||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | 284,149 | $ | 439,045 | ||||||||||
Other current assets | 1,014 | 1,152 | ||||||||||||
Other non-current assets | 1,832 | 1,859 | ||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 286,995 | $ | 442,056 | ||||||||||
Liabilities and Equity | ||||||||||||||
Current liabilities | $ | 46,557 | $ | 25,130 | ||||||||||
Long-term liabilities | 468 | 361 | ||||||||||||
Stockholders’ equity | 239,970 | 416,565 | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 286,995 | $ | 442,056 | ||||||||||
Source: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.