Vaxart Provides Business Update and Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
August 08 2024 - 4:01PM
Vaxart, Inc. (Nasdaq: VXRT) today announced its business
update and financial results for the second quarter of 2024.
“We achieved meaningful progress on our
clinical, regulatory and operational goals during the first half of
2024,” said Steven Lo, Vaxart’s Chief Executive Officer. “Most
significant was one of the largest Biomedical Advanced Research
Development Authority (BARDA) contracts awarded to date for our
COVID-19 program under Project NextGen, providing up to $453
million to support a Phase 2b trial, which will evaluate our oral
pill vaccine candidate against an approved mRNA injectable vaccine.
We also reported positive Phase 1 data from our bivalent norovirus
vaccine candidate in lactating mothers and extended our cash
runway.
“Through our focus on execution and continued
constructive conversations with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), we are well-positioned to initiate our COVID
Phase 2b trial in the near-term and determine next steps in
advancing our norovirus program,” Lo added. “Infectious diseases
remain at the forefront of health challenges facing society, and we
believe that by unlocking the potential of our oral pill vaccine
platform, we will have a solution that can solve some of the
greatest global health problems today.”
Recent Business Highlights
COVID-19 Vaccine
Developments
- In June 2024,
Vaxart received a project award valued at up to $453 million
through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle’s Consortium
Management Firm funded by BARDA, in the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. Funds from the BARDA award will be used to
conduct a 10,000-subject Phase 2b comparative study evaluating
Vaxart’s oral pill COVID-19 vaccine candidate against an
FDA-approved mRNA vaccine comparator.
- Vaxart plans to
initiate enrollment in this trial as early as the second half of
2024, pending regulatory alignment with FDA.
- An interim analysis
for vaccine efficacy compared to an approved mRNA comparator may
occur when 255 symptomatic COVID-19 cases have been observed.
- The primary efficacy analysis will
be performed when all participants have either discontinued or
completed a study visit 12 months post-vaccination.
Norovirus Vaccine
Developments
- Vaxart is in discussions with the
FDA regarding our data for potential correlates of protection.
- After initial feedback, Vaxart is
in the process of submitting additional requested information to
the FDA and will determine next steps, such as potentially
conducting a Phase 2b study and / or a GII.4 challenge study, based
on discussions with the FDA.
Financial Results for the Second Quarter Ended June
30, 2024
- Cash, cash
equivalents and investments totaled $62.6 million as of June 30,
2024. Subsequent to the close of the quarter, Vaxart received a
payment of approximately $64.7 million related to the BARDA
contract awarded in June 2024. Proceeds will be used to continue
study start-up activities for the COVID-19 Phase 2b clinical trial.
Vaxart continues to anticipate cash runway into 2026.
- Vaxart reported
a net loss of $16.5 million for the second quarter of
2024, compared to $22.6 million for the second quarter of
2023. Net loss per share for the second quarter of 2024
was $0.09, compared to a net loss per share
of $0.16 for the second quarter of 2023.
- Revenue for the
second quarter of 2024 was $6.4 million, compared
to $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2023. Revenue in the
second quarter of 2024 was primarily from government contracts
related to the BARDA contract awarded in January 2024. Revenue in
the second quarter of 2023 was primarily from revenue recognized
for work performed under Vaxart’s grant from the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation.
- Research and
development expenses were $17.5 million for the second
quarter of 2024, compared to $18.8 million for the second
quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to decreases in
clinical trial expenses related to Vaxart’s norovirus vaccine
candidate, stock-based compensation expense, and personnel-related
costs, partially offset by increases in clinical trial expenses and
pre-clinical expenses related to Vaxart’s COVID-19 vaccine
candidate.
- General and
administrative expenses were $5.2 million for the second
quarter of 2024, compared to $5.6 million for the second
quarter of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to decreases in
stock-based compensation expense and personnel-related costs and
directors’ and officers’ insurance costs, partially offset by
increases in legal and professional fees.
Conference CallThe Vaxart
senior management team will host a conference call to discuss the
business update and financial results for the second quarter of
2024 today, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.
The conference call can be accessed using the
following information:
Webcast: Click hereDate: Thursday, August 8,
2024 – 4:30 p.m. ETDomestic: 866-682-6100International:
862-298-0702Conference ID: 13747081
Investors may submit written questions in
advance of the conference call to ir@vaxart.com.
A replay of the webcast will be available for 30
days on Vaxart’s website at www.vaxart.com following the conclusion
of the event.
About Vaxart Vaxart is a
clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a range of oral
recombinant vaccines based on its proprietary delivery platform.
Vaxart vaccines are designed to be administered using pills that
can be stored and shipped without refrigeration and eliminate the
risk of needle-stick injury. Vaxart believes that its proprietary
pill vaccine delivery platform is suitable to deliver recombinant
vaccines, positioning the company to develop oral versions of
currently marketed vaccines and to design recombinant vaccines for
new indications. Vaxart’s development programs currently include
pill vaccines designed to protect against coronavirus, norovirus
and influenza, as well as a therapeutic vaccine for human
papillomavirus (HPV), Vaxart’s first immune-oncology indication.
Vaxart has filed broad domestic and international patent
applications covering its proprietary technology and creations for
oral vaccination using adenovirus and TLR3 agonists.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements This press release contains forward-looking
statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in
this press release regarding Vaxart's strategy, prospects, plans
and objectives, receipt of funding from BARDA for the Phase 2b
study, results from preclinical and clinical trials and the timing
of such results and such trials, commercialization agreements and
licenses, and beliefs and expectations of management are
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be
accompanied by such words as “should,” “believe,” “could,”
“potential,” “will,” “expected,” “anticipate,” “plan,” and other
words and terms of similar meaning. Examples of such statements
include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Vaxart’s
receipt of funding from BARDA for the Phase 2b study (or for any
other purpose); Vaxart's ability to develop and commercialize its
product candidates, including its vaccine booster products;
Vaxart's expectations regarding clinical results and trial data,
including their design, and the timing of such trials and of
receiving and reporting such clinical results and trial data;
Vaxart’s expectations regarding timing of enrollment in studies;
and Vaxart's expectations with respect to the effectiveness of its
product candidates and the potential of its vaccine pill platform.
Vaxart may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the
intentions, or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in
the forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or
events could differ materially from the plans, intentions,
expectations, and projections disclosed in the forward-looking
statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements
that Vaxart makes, including uncertainties inherent in research and
development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical
endpoints, commencement, and/or completion dates for clinical
trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates,
and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new
clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the
risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing
interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether
regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and
results from the clinical studies; decisions by regulatory
authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, and safety
that could affect the availability or commercial potential of any
product candidate, including the possibility that Vaxart's product
candidates may not be approved by the FDA or non-U.S. regulatory
authorities; that, even if approved by the FDA or non-U.S.
regulatory authorities, Vaxart's product candidates may not achieve
broad market acceptance; that a Vaxart collaborator may not attain
development and commercial milestones; that Vaxart or its partners
may experience manufacturing issues and delays due to events
within, or outside of, Vaxart's or its partners' control;
difficulties in production, particularly in scaling up initial
production, including difficulties with production costs and
yields, quality control, including stability of the product
candidate and quality assurance testing, shortages of qualified
personnel or key raw materials, and compliance with strictly
enforced federal, state, and foreign regulations; that Vaxart may
not be able to obtain, maintain, and enforce necessary patent and
other intellectual property protection; that Vaxart's capital
resources may be inadequate; Vaxart's ability to resolve pending
legal matters; Vaxart's ability to obtain sufficient capital to
fund its operations on terms acceptable to Vaxart, if at all; the
impact of government healthcare proposals and policies; competitive
factors; and other risks described in the "Risk Factors" sections
of Vaxart's Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. Vaxart does not assume any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as
required by
law. Contacts
Vaxart Media
Relations: |
Investor
Relations: |
Mark Herr |
Andrew Blazier |
Vaxart, Inc. |
Finn Partners |
mherr@vaxart.com |
IR@Vaxart.com |
(203)
517-8957 |
(646) 871-8486 |
Vaxart,
Inc.Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheets |
|
|
June 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
(1) |
|
|
(in thousands) |
Assets |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
43,285 |
|
|
$ |
34,755 |
|
Investments in marketable debt securities |
|
19,308 |
|
|
|
4,958 |
|
Accounts receivable |
|
1,088 |
|
|
|
3,008 |
|
Unbilled receivable from government contracts |
|
3,689 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
5,016 |
|
|
|
3,741 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
10,280 |
|
|
|
11,731 |
|
Right-of-use assets, net |
|
22,652 |
|
|
|
24,840 |
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
3,923 |
|
|
|
4,289 |
|
Goodwill |
|
4,508 |
|
|
|
4,508 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
113,749 |
|
|
$ |
91,830 |
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
$ |
3,587 |
|
|
$ |
1,584 |
|
Accrued and other liabilities |
|
7,016 |
|
|
|
5,927 |
|
Operating lease liability |
|
18,855 |
|
|
|
20,088 |
|
Liability related to sale of future royalties |
|
4,277 |
|
|
|
6,426 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
33,735 |
|
|
|
34,025 |
|
Stockholders’ equity |
|
80,014 |
|
|
|
57,805 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ |
113,749 |
|
|
$ |
91,830 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of
Vaxart, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023, included on
the Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 14, 2024. |
Vaxart,
Inc.Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations(Unaudited) |
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
(in thousands,
except share and per share amounts) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
$ |
6,401 |
|
|
$ |
1,358 |
|
|
$ |
8,582 |
|
|
$ |
2,033 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
17,480 |
|
|
|
18,813 |
|
|
|
36,493 |
|
|
|
38,435 |
|
General and administrative |
|
5,177 |
|
|
|
5,598 |
|
|
|
12,415 |
|
|
|
12,223 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
22,657 |
|
|
|
24,411 |
|
|
|
48,908 |
|
|
|
50,658 |
|
Operating loss |
|
(16,256 |
) |
|
|
(23,053 |
) |
|
|
(40,326 |
) |
|
|
(48,625 |
) |
Other (expense) income, net |
|
(189 |
) |
|
|
522 |
|
|
|
(491 |
) |
|
|
983 |
|
Loss
before income taxes |
|
(16,445 |
) |
|
|
(22,531 |
) |
|
|
(40,817 |
) |
|
|
(47,642 |
) |
Provision for income taxes |
|
21 |
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
Net
loss |
$ |
(16,466 |
) |
|
$ |
(22,550 |
) |
|
$ |
(40,883 |
) |
|
$ |
(47,690 |
) |
Net
loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.16 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.35 |
) |
Shares used
in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted |
|
184,703,003 |
|
|
|
139,594,238 |
|
|
|
176,757,049 |
|
|
|
137,403,416 |
|
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