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.

About sepofarsen

Sepofarsen (formerly named QR-110) is a first-in-class investigational RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis 10 due to the p.Cys998X mutation (also known as the c.2991+1655A>G mutation) in the CEP290 gene. The p.Cys998X mutation is a substitution of one nucleotide in the pre-mRNA that leads to aberrant splicing of the mRNA and non-functional CEP290 protein. Sepofarsen is designed to restore normal (wild-type) CEP290 mRNA, leading to the production of normal CEP290 protein by binding to the mutated location in the pre-mRNA, causing normal splicing of the pre-mRNA. Sepofarsen is intended to be administered through intravitreal injections in the eye and has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and the European Union and received fast-track designation from the FDA.

About Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis

Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is the most common cause of blindness due to genetic disease in children and consists of a group of diseases of which LCA10 is the most frequent and one of the more severe forms. LCA10 is caused by mutations in the CEP290 gene, of which the p.Cys998X mutation is the most common. LCA10 leads to early loss of vision, causing most people to lose their sight in the first few years of life. To date, there are no treatments approved that treat the underlying cause of the disease. Approximately 2,000 people in the Western world have LCA10 because of this mutation.

About QR-421a

QR-421a is a first-in-class investigational RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of vision loss in Usher syndrome type 2 and non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) due to mutations in exon 13 of the USH2A gene. QR-421a is designed to restore functional Usherin protein by using an exon skipping approach with the aim to stop or reverse vision loss in patients. QR-421a is intended to be administered through intravitreal injections in the eye and has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and the European Union and received fast-track designation from the FDA.

About Usher Syndrome

Usher syndrome is the leading cause of combined deafness and blindness. Patients with this syndrome generally progress to a stage in which they have very limited central vision and moderate to severe deafness. Usher syndrome type 2 is one of the most common forms of Usher syndrome and is caused by mutations in the USH2A gene. To date, there are no approved treatments or products in clinical development that treat the vision loss associated with Usher syndrome type 2.

About ProQR

ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases such as Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10 and Usher syndrome type 2. Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind.
*Since 2012*

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “look forward to”, “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our product candidates, including sepofarsen and QR-421a, and the clinical development and the therapeutic potential thereof, statements regarding our ongoing and planned discovery and development of product candidates and the timing thereof, including our plans for advancing our development programs into the clinic,  statements regarding our strategic spinout of Wings Therapeutics, and statements regarding the appointment of new members to our Supervisory Board. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, risks associated with our clinical development activities, including that positive results observed in our prior and ongoing studies may not be replicated in later trials or guarantee approval of any product candidate by regulatory authorities, manufacturing processes and facilities, regulatory oversight, product commercialization, intellectual property claims, and the risks, uncertainties and other factors in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including certain sections of our annual report filed on Form 20-F. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by law.

ProQR Therapeutics N.V.
Investor Contact:
Hans Vitzthum
LifeSci Advisors
T: +1 617-535-7743
hans@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:
Sara Zelkovic
LifeSci Public Relations
T: +1 646 876 4933
Sara@lifescipublicrelations.com



PROQR THERAPEUTICS N,V,
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

     
     
  March 31,  December 31, 
  2019  2018 
  € 1,000  € 1,000 
Assets    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents 94,080   105,580 
Prepayments and other receivables  2,088  1,544 
Social security and other taxes 1,530   1,243 
     
Total current assets  97,698   108,367 
     
Property, plant and equipment 3,925  1,864 
Intangible assets  —   
     
Total assets 101,623  110,231 
     
Equity and liabilities    
Equity    
Equity attributable to owners of the Company 81,129   92,915 
Non-controlling interests  (317)  (230)
Total equity  80,812   92,685 
     
Current liabilities    
Borrowings  95   — 
Lease liabilities 1,167   
Trade payables  64   135 
Social security and other taxes  14   — 
Pension premiums  3   7 
Deferred income    545 
Other current liabilities  8,352   7,473 
     
Total current liabilities 9,695   8,160 
     
Borrowings  10,208   9,386 
Lease liabilities 908   
     
Total liabilities  20,811   17,546 
     
Total equity and liabilities 101,623   110,231 



PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and OCI
(€ in thousands, except share and per share data)

       
     
  Three-month period  
  ended March 31  
       
  2019  2018   
     € 1,000      € 1,000   
Other income 416  499   
       
Research and development costs  (11,963)  (7,685)  
General and administrative costs  (3,191)  (2,672)  
       
Total operating costs  (15,154)  (10,357)  
       
Operating result  (14,738)  (9,858)  
Finance income and expense  494   (859)  
       
Result before corporate income taxes  (14,244)  (10,717)  
Income taxes  —   —   
       
Result for the period  (14,244)  (10,717)  
Other comprehensive income  12   (26)  
       
Total comprehensive income   (14,232)  (10,743)  
       
Result attributable to      
Owners of the Company  (14,157)  (10,659)  
Non-controlling interests  (87)  (58)  
   (14,244)  (10,717)  
       
Share information      
Weighted average number of shares outstanding1  38,885,428   31,921,865   
       
Earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of the Company (expressed in Euro per share)      
Basic loss per share1  (0.36)  (0.33)  
Diluted loss per share1  (0.36)  (0.33)  
  1. For this period presented in these financial statements, the potential exercise of share options is not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as the Company was loss-making in all periods. Due to the anti-dilutive nature of the outstanding options, basic and diluted earnings per share are equal in this period.



PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

                   
                   
  Attributable to owners of the Company    
                   
        Equity           
        Settled           
        Employee        Non-   
  Number of Share Share Benefit  Translation  Accumulated    controlling  Total 
  shares Capital Premium Reserve  Reserve  Deficit  Total  interests  Equity 
    € 1,000 € 1,000 € 1,000  € 1,000  € 1,000  € 1,000  € 1,000  € 1,000 
Balance at January 1, 2018  36,425,014  1,457  148,763 8,377   136   (119,370)  39,363  (38)  39,325 
Result for the period  —  —  —  —   —   (10,659)  (10,659)  (58)  (10,717)
Other comprehensive income  —  —  —  —   (26)  —   (26)  —   (26)
Recognition of share-based payments  —  —  —  871   —   —   871   —   871 
Issue of ordinary shares  —  —     —   —   —   —   — 
Issue of treasury shares    —  —   —   —   —   —   — 
Share options exercised   —  —  —   —   —   —   —   — 
                   
Balance at March 31, 2018  36,425,014  1,457  148,763  9,248   110   (130,029)  29,549   (96)  29,453 
                   
Balance at January 1, 2019  43,149,987  1,726  235,744  10,780   108   (155,443)  92,915   (230)  92,685 
Result for the period  —  —  —  —   —   (14,157)  (14,157)  (87)  (14,244)
Other comprehensive income  —  —  —  —   12   —   12   —   12 
Recognition of share-based payments  —   — 2,288   —   —   2,288   —   2,288 
Issue of ordinary shares   —  —  —   —   —   —   —   — 
Issue of treasury shares   —  —  —   —   —   —   —   — 
Share options lapsed   —  —  —   —   —   —   —   — 
Share options exercised   71 (49)  —  49   71   —  71 
                   
Balance at March 31, 2019  43,149,987  1,726  235,815  13,019   120   (169,551)  81,129   (317)  80,812 



PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

     
     
  Three-month period
  ended March 31,
     
  2019  2018 
  € 1,000  € 1,000 
Cash flows from operating activities    
Net result  (14,244)  (10,717)
Adjustments for:    
— Depreciation  521   240 
— Share-based compensation  2,288   871 
— Financial income and expenses  (494)  859 
— Net foreign exchange gain / (loss)  12  (26 )
     
Changes in working capital (474) (936)
Cash used in operations  (12,391)  (9,709)
     
Corporate income tax paid  —   — 
Interest received  54   
Interest paid (27) (1)
     
Net cash used in operating activities  (12,364)  (9,710)
     
Cash flow from investing activities    
Purchases of intangible assets  —   — 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment  (223)  (4)
     
Net cash used in investing activities  (223)  (4)
     
Cash flow from financing activities    
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net of transaction costs  —   — 
Proceeds from exercise of share options  71   
Proceeds from borrowings  —   101 
Proceeds from convertible loans  690   200 
Redemption of financial lease (284)  
     
Net cash generated by financing activities  477   301 
     
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (12,110) (9,413)
     
Currency effect cash and cash equivalents  610   (685)
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of the period  105,580   48,099 
     
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period  94,080   38,001 

 

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