Investors & Media

LONDON and NEW YORK, Nov. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MeiraGTx Holdings plc (Nasdaq: MGTX), a vertically integrated, clinical stage gene therapy company, today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and provided an update on recent progress.

“Over the course of the third quarter, we continued to advance our broad pipeline of investigational gene therapies,” said Alexandria Forbes, Ph.D., president and CEO, MeiraGTx. “In recent months, we have shared data from our first completed clinical trial with the medical community at the annual meetings of the Retina Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Additionally, we continue to make strategic investments to develop next-generation, best-in-class gene therapy technologies, including our recent initiative to build a second cGMP manufacturing facility and to bring plasmid production in house.”

Third Quarter 2019 Clinical Development Highlights

Phase 1/2 trial of AAV-RPE65 for RPE65­-Associated Retinal Dystrophy: Data from the trial were presented in September 2019 at the 52^nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Retina Society and in October 2019 at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting. These data demonstrated that AAV-RPE65 improved functional vision, as assessed by vision-guided mobility maze, retinal function, as assessed by static perimetry, and several measures of central vision, including central retinal sensitivity, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. 

Phase 1/2 AQUAx trial of AAV-AQP1 for Grade 2/3 Radiation-Induced Xerostomia: MeiraGTx initiated the open-label, multi-center, dose-finding Phase 1/2 trial in the third quarter of 2019 and is enrolling patients with radiation-induced Grade 2/3 xerostomia following treatment for head and neck cancer.

The Company’s single center Phase 1 dose-finding study of AAV-AQP1 also continues to enroll patients at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Enrollment in the third dose escalation cohort was completed in the third quarter of 2019.

Janssen-partnered investigational gene therapies: MeiraGTx and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Janssen), part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, continue to advance a portfolio of partnered gene therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases, including the Company’s ongoing Phase 1/2 studies of AAV-RPGR for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) and AAV-CNGB3 and AAV-CNGA3 for achromatopsia (ACHM).

For more information related to all of our clinical trials, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Third Quarter 2019 Corporate Highlights

Expanding manufacturing capabilities: In August 2019, MeiraGTx raised approximately $75 million of gross proceeds in a public offering of approximately 3.2 million of its ordinary shares. The Company intends to use a portion of the proceeds of this offering to expand its manufacturing capabilities, including building a second cGMP viral vector manufacturing facility as well as a cGMP plasmid production facility. MeiraGTx is completing feasibility studies for the second facility and expects to begin construction in 2020.

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

As of September 30, 2019, MeiraGTx had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $253.3 million. This capital will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into 2022.

Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

General and administrative expenses were $9.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The increase of $3.3 million was primarily due to increases in payroll, insurance and rent expenses, consulting fees and share-based compensation.

Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2019 were $4.6 million, compared to $8.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease of $3.5 million was primarily due to an increase in research funding provided by our license and collaboration agreements with Janssen, which was partially offset by increases in costs related to our clinical trials and to the manufacture of material for our clinical trials.

Foreign currency gain was $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to a loss of $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The increase of $0.8 million was primarily due to a strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the pound sterling during the three months ended September 30, 2019.

Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was $10.5 million, or $(0.30) basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share, compared to a net loss of $15.4 million, or $(0.59) basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share for the three months ended September 30, 2018.

MeiraGTx ended the third quarter of 2019 with $253.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $88.5 million as of September 30, 2018. 

About MeiraGTx
MeiraGTx (Nasdaq: MGTX) is a vertically integrated, clinical stage gene therapy company with six programs in clinical development and a broad pipeline of preclinical and research programs. MeiraGTx has core capabilities in viral vector design and optimization and gene therapy manufacturing, as well as a potentially transformative gene regulation technology. Led by an experienced management team, MeiraGTx has taken a portfolio approach by licensing, acquiring and developing technologies that give depth across both product candidates and indications. MeiraGTx’s initial focus is on three distinct areas of unmet medical need: inherited retinal diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and severe forms of xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Though initially focusing on the eye, central nervous system and salivary gland, MeiraGTx intends to expand its focus in the future to develop additional gene therapy treatments for patients suffering from a range of serious diseases.

For more information, please visit www.meiragtx.com.

Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our product candidate development and anticipated 2019 milestones regarding our pre-clinical and clinical data and reporting of such data and the timing of results of data in connection with AAV-AQP1 for the treatment of patients with radiation-induced Grade 2/3 xerostomia, as well as statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, our incurrence of significant losses; any inability to achieve or maintain profitability, acquire additional capital, identify additional and develop existing product candidates, successfully execute strategic priorities, bring product candidates to market, expansion of our manufacturing facilities and processes, successfully enroll patients in and complete clinical trials, accurately predict growth assumptions, recognize benefits of any orphan drug designations, retain key personnel or attract qualified employees, or incur expected levels of operating expenses; failure of early data to predict eventual outcomes; failure to obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for product candidates within expected time frames or at all; the novel nature and impact of negative public opinion of gene therapy; failure to comply with ongoing regulatory obligations; contamination or shortage of raw materials; changes in healthcare laws; risks associated with our international operations; significant competition in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; dependence on third parties; risks related to intellectual property; litigation risks; and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, unless required by law, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. Thus, one should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Contacts

Investors:
MeiraGTx
Elizabeth Broder
(646) 860-7983
Investors@meiragtx.com

or

Media:
W2O pure
Christiana Pascale
(212) 257-6722
cpascale@purecommunications.com

MEIRAGTX HOLDINGS PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
		September 30,				December 31,
			2019				2018
		(unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	253,330,623			$	68,080,175
Prepaid expenses			6,248,981				1,937,785
Other current assets			11,509,144				4,634,105
Total Current Assets			271,088,748				74,652,065
Right-of-use assets			28,801,757				-
Property and equipment, net			16,899,147				22,014,237
Security deposits			839,149				105,085
Restricted cash			123,376				123,376
TOTAL ASSETS		$	317,752,177			$	96,894,763
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable		$	3,798,441			$	3,042,861
Accrued expenses			9,346,895				11,991,697
Lease obligations, current			2,028,689				27,199
Deferred revenue - related party, current			24,115,777				—
Other current liabilities			—				437,053
Total Current Liabilities			39,289,802				15,498,810
Deferred revenue - related party			62,837,715				—
Lease obligations			20,600,077				7,097
Deferred rent			-				201,264
Asset retirement obligations			131,213				128,119
TOTAL LIABILITIES			122,858,807				15,835,290
COMMITMENTS
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Ordinary Shares, $0.00003881 par value, 1,288,327,750 authorized   36,571,722 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019   27,386,632 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018			1,420				1,064
Capital in excess of par value			390,053,479				229,054,460
Accumulated other comprehensive income			2,393,372				293,666
Accumulated deficit			(197,554,901	)			(148,289,717	)
Total Shareholders' Equity			194,893,370				81,059,473
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY		$	317,752,177			$	96,894,763

MEIRAGTX HOLDINGS PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (unaudited)

		For the Three-Month Period Ended September 30,								For the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30,
			2019				2018				2019				2018
License revenue - related party		$	3,582,586			$	-			$	6,349,222			$	-
Operating expenses:
General and administrative		$	9,874,810			$	6,629,052			$	31,811,456			$	35,129,120
Research and development			4,614,446				8,109,160				27,362,432				22,827,176
Total operating expenses			14,489,256				14,738,212				59,173,888				57,956,296
Loss from operations			(10,906,670	)			(14,738,212	)			(52,824,666	)			(57,956,296	)
Other non-operating income (expense):
Foreign currency gain (loss)			115,470				(677,488	)			3,117,047				(2,425,488	)
Change in fair value of warrant liability			-				-				-				(1,514,775	)
Other income			-				-				-				83,075
Interest income			959				264				40,686				50,926
Interest expense			(9,283	)			(9,508	)			(28,311	)			(46,571	)
Loss before income taxes			(10,799,524	)			(15,424,944	)			(49,695,244	)			(61,809,129	)
Benefit for income taxes			338,670				-				430,060				-
Net loss			(10,460,854	)			(15,424,944	)			(49,265,184	)			(61,809,129	)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $338,670 and $0 for the three-month periods
ended September 30, 2019 and 2018,  respectively and $430,060 and $0 for the nine-month
periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively			1,653,507				508,758				2,099,706				1,730,000
Total comprehensive loss		$	(8,807,347	)		$	(14,916,186	)		$	(47,165,478	)		$	(60,079,129	)
Net loss		$	(10,460,854	)		$	(15,424,944	)		$	(49,265,184	)		$	(61,809,129	)
Accretion on convertible preferred C shares and warrants			-				-				-				(1,806,512	)
Adjusted net loss		$	(10,460,854	)		$	(15,424,944	)		$	(49,265,184	)		$	(63,615,641	)
Basic and diluted adjusted net loss per ordinary share		$	(0.30	)		$	(0.59	)		$	(1.53	)		$	(3.89	)
Weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding			34,663,623				26,340,450				32,111,733				16,355,849

Source: MeiraGTx