Category: Biotech

uniQure Announces Results for Fourth Quarter and Financial Year 2014

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, April 6, 2015 -- uniQure N.V. (QURE), a leader in human gene therapy, today announced unaudited results for the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2014, and provided an update on multiple gene therapy programs.

2014 and Other Recent Updates

Strategic Collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and uniQure announced today an agreement that provides Bristol-Myers Squibb with exclusive access to uniQure's gene therapy technology platform for multiple targets in the cardiovascular space. The collaboration includes uniQure's proprietary congestive heart failure program targeting S100A1, a calcium sensor and master regulator of heart function, and the companies will collaborate on up to nine other gene therapy targets addressing a broad range of cardiovascular disease and other target-specific disease areas.

Pipeline Updates

  • Hemophilia B: As of the end of the first quarter 2015, the Company has initiated the first clinical trial site in Germany for its clinical trial in Hemophilia B patients and anticipates providing top-line data and initial results on this trial in the second half of 2015.
  • Sanfilippo B: The Company expects clinical data from its collaborator-sponsored Sanfilippo B program with Institut Pasteur will be available in the second half of 2015 and plans to present those results at a relevant scientific meeting.
  • Glybera(R): In early 2016, the Company expects to commence an additional clinical evaluation of Glybera(R) (alipogen tiparvovec) to be included in a future BLA submission with the FDA. The clinical trial will include next-generation manufacturing process enhancements, which are currently being implemented.

In June 2014, uniQure presented six-year follow-up data with commercialization partner Chiesi from Glybera-treated patients. The analysis demonstrated that after a single administration of Glybera, patients have experienced reductions in both the frequency and severity of pancreatitis, long-term clinical benefits that reduce the burden on healthcare resources.

  • Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP): In October 2014, the Company announced together with the AIPGENE Consortium top-line, one year follow-up analysis of a completed Phase I dose-escalation clinical trial testing an AAV5-PBGD gene therapy candidate (AMT-021) in AIP patients. The preliminary analysis of the data confirmed the safety and successful transduction of patient's liver cells with the porphobilinogen deaminase gene (PBGD) using uniQure's proprietary AAV5 viral vector, as previously indicated in the interim analysis presented in May.
  • Parkinson's Disease: As of mid-year 2014, uniQure's partnership with UCSF and NIH for Parkinson's disease completed dosing of all six patients in the first cohort of the ongoing clinical trial.

Other Business Development and Commercial Updates

  • Glybera Commercialization: uniQure's commercialization partner Chiesi has submitted price and reimbursement dossiers in key European countries in order to make Glybera accessible to patients. Glybera is officially available to doctors in Germany. The price has also been accepted by the Department of Health and published in the United Kingdom. In other key European countries the process is on-going according to national procedures. While Chiesi believes the first patient in Germany may receive treatment by mid-2015, the ultimate timing is subject to several factors including the treating physician's decision and relevant patient consent. Chiesi has sole control over commercialization in Europe, and given our limited visibility into these activities, uniQure will no longer provide guidance in this regard.
  • Acquisition of InoCard: In August 2014, uniQure announced the acquisition of InoCard GmbH, an innovative, early-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of gene therapy approaches for cardiac diseases. InoCard has developed a novel gene therapy for the one-time treatment of congestive heart failure, a rapidly progressing disease affecting 26 million people worldwide. InoCard founders Prof. Patrick Most and Prof. Hugo Katus joined uniQure as Managing Director of uniQure Germany and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, for Cardiovascular Diseases, respectively.
  • Collaboration with Treeway: In January 2015, uniQure entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Treeway B.V., a private company founded by entrepreneurs Bernard Muller and Robbert Jan Stuit, both diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, to develop a gene therapy treatment for ALS.
  • Technology Platform Collaborations: In January 2014, uniQure entered into a collaboration and license agreement with 4D Molecular Therapeutics ("4D") for the discovery and optimization of next-generation AAV vectors. uniQure gained exclusive access to 4D's AAV vector discovery and optimization technology for gene delivery to the central nervous system and liver. The Company expects to make a preliminary selection of new synthetic vectors in the first half of 2015.

In January 2015, uniQure entered into a collaborative license agreement with Synpromics Limited to strengthen its technology platform with respect to therapeutic indications that require high-level therapeutic gene expression or comprise large therapeutic genes. uniQure will exclusively own the results of this collaborative effort.

Other Corporate Highlights

  • Financial: In February 2014, uniQure completed IPO on NASDAQ, placing 5,400,000 shares at $17 per share, raising a total of gross $91.8 million (EURO67.3 million).

In July 2014, uniQure announced the closing of an additional $10 million venture debt loan with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.

  • Human Resources: In January 2015, uniQure announced the appointment of Matt Kapusta to Chief Financial Officer.

In April 2014, uniQure announced the appointment of Eric Goossens as its Chief Operating Officer and Deya Corzo, M.D. as its Vice President, Medical Affairs for the U.S.

In June 2014, uniQure announced Will Lewis will join the Company's supervisory board.

  • Infrastructure: As of early 2015, the Company completed the build out of the Lexington, Massachusetts 53,000 sq. ft. (4,923 m2) manufacturing facility which now houses over 40 employees.

Jorn Aldag, uniQure Chief Executive Officer, commented: "2014 was a highly productive year for uniQure. We secured a public listing on the NASDAQ stock market providing new resources, moved multiple promising programs forward, completed the build-out of our Lexington facility, which we believe is the largest, most versatile gene therapy manufacturing facility in the world, and generated promising data in our quest to bring gene therapies to patients around the world. We also gained access to new technologies for future programs and acquired InoCard to broaden the scope of gene therapy beyond monogenic orphan diseases."

"With the announcement of a landmark collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb in the field of cardiovascular disease and several important clinical data read-outs later in the year, we believe 2015 will be a transformation year for uniQure that will further solidify our leadership in the gene therapy space," Mr. Aldag continued.

Financial Highlights

As of December, 2014, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of EURO53.2 million. Licensing and collaboration revenues for the 12 months ended December 31, 2014 were EURO4.7 million, compared with EURO2.9 million in revenues in 2013. The majority of 2014 revenues are related to development activities that were reimbursable by Chiesi under the Company's co-development agreement for Hemophilia B.

Research and development expenses were EURO33.9 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2014, compared to EURO13.2 million for the comparable period in 2013. The increase reflects the higher level of research and development spend to support further development of the Company's product candidates.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were EURO11.2 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2014, compared to EURO11.6 million in 2013. The net loss for the full year 2014 was EURO37.0 million or EURO2.16 per share, compared to EURO26.8 million or EURO2.48 per share for the full year 2013.

For the three months ended December 31, 2014 the Company recorded licensing and collaboration revenue of EURO1.5 million compared with EURO0.9 million for the same period in 2013.

Research and development expenses were EURO9.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014, compared to EURO3.6 million for the comparable period in 2013. This change is in line with the increase in research and development for the twelve month period. Selling, general and administrative expenses were EURO3.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2014, compared to EURO4.1 million in 2013. This decrease related to the expenses incurred in 2013 in preparation of the initial public offering. The net loss for the three month period ended December 31, 2014 was EURO11.2 million, compared to EURO6.8 million for the comparable period in 2013.

About uniQure

uniQure is delivering on the promise of gene therapy through single treatments with potentially curative results. We have developed a modular platform to rapidly bring new disease-modifying therapies to patients with severe disorders. We are engaged in multiple partnerships and have obtained regulatory approval of our lead product, Glybera, in the European Union for a subset of patients with LPLD. www.uniQure.com

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 the commercial launch of Glybera in the EU, the risk of cessation or delay of any of the ongoing or planned clinical studies and/or development of our product candidates, the risk of delay or failure to successfully commercialize or obtain further regulatory approval of our products, and the risk that our collaborations or our other collaboration partners will not continue or will not be successful. 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, manufacturing processes and facilities regulatory oversight, product commercialization, intellectual property claims, and the risks, uncertainties and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in uniQure's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated April 25, 2014. 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.

uniQure:
Aicha Diba
Investor Relations
Direct : +31 20 240 6100
Main: +31 20 566 7394
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Media inquiries:
Gretchen Schweitzer
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Direct: +49 172 861 8540
Main: +49 89 2424 3494 or +1 781 235 3060
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UNIQURE N.V.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

(EURO in thousands)

    DECEMBER 31,   DECEMBER 31,
  2013 2014
Assets        
Non-current assets        
Goodwill   -   1,342
Intangible assets other than Goodwill   7,775   16,368
Property, plant and equipment   2,614   19,667
Other non-current assets   923   1,022
Total non-current assets   11,312   38,399
Current assets        
Receivables from related parties   1,425   2,426
Trade and other receivables   1,557   1,542
Inventories   865   200
Cash and cash equivalents   23,810   53,219
Total current assets   27,657   57,387
Total assets   38,969   95,786
Equity        
Share capital   610   905
Share premium   142,459   206,111
Other reserves   6,536   17,149
Accumulated deficit   (144,041)   (181,081)
Total equity   5,564   43,084
Liabilities        
Non-current liabilities        
Borrowings   6,292   16,418
Financial lease liabilities   302   134
Deferred rent   680   5,658
Deferred revenue   15,679   15,387
Deferred tax liabilities   -   1,379
Contingent considerations   -   1,454
Total non-current liabilities   22,953   40,430
Current liabilities        
Trade and other payables   7,601   9,617
Debt to related party - derivative   722   645
Borrowings   633   -
Borrowings - derivative   217   207
Deferred rent   -   475
Deferred revenue   1,279   1,328
Total current liabilities   10,452   12,272
Total liabilities   33,405   52,702
Total equity and liabilities   38,969   95,786
         

UNIQURE N.V.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(EURO in thousands, except share and per share data)

  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
           
2012 2013 2014
           
License revenues -   440   883
Collaboration revenues -   2,503   3,802
Total revenues -   2,943   4,685
Cost of goods sold -   (800)   -
Other income 649   585   773
Research and development expenses (10,231)   (13,182)   (33,932)
Selling, general and administrative expenses (4,564)   (11,628)   (11,167)
Other gains / (losses) - net (45)   (453)   5,807
Total operating costs (14,840)   (25,263)   (39,292)
Operating result (14,191)   (22,535)   (33,834)
Finance income 22   102   254
Finance expense (547)   (4,387)   (3,460)
Finance income/(expense)--net (525)   (4,285)   (3,206)
Result before corporate income tax (14,716)   (26,820)   (37,040)
Corporate income taxes -   -   -
Net loss (14,716)   (26,820)   (37,040)
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss -   12   1,149
Other comprehensive income -   12   1,149
Total comprehensive loss (14,716)   (26,808)   (35,891)
Loss per share attributable to the equity holders of the Company during the year:          
Basic and diluted loss per share (1.70)   (2.48)   (2.16)
           

UNIQURE N.V.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity/Deficit

(EURO in thousands)

  ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
  Total                
  Share   Share   Other   Accumulated   Total
  Capital   Premium   Reserves   Deficit   Equity/Deficit
Balance at January 1, 2012 237   99,947   2,728   (105,505)   (2,593)
Result for the period             (14,716)   (14,716)
Capital contributions 246   14,848           15,094
Share-based payments relating to AMT share option scheme.         259       259
Adjustment to reserves on expiration of the AMT option scheme.         (2,987)   2,987   -
Share-based payment expenses relating to the uniQure share option scheme         1,508       1,508
Balance at December 31, 2012 483   114,795   1,508   (117,234)   (448)
Result for the period             (26,820)   (26,820)
Other comprehensive income             12   12
Total comprehensive loss             (26,808)   (26,808)
Capital contributions 127   27,664           27,791
Result on conversion of loan         3,005       3,005
Share based payment/expense         2,023       2,023
Balance at December 31, 2013 610   142,459   6,536   (144,041)   5,564
Result for the period             (37,040)   (37,040)
Other comprehensive income         1,149       1,149
Total comprehensive loss         1,149   (37,040)   (35,891)
Proceeds from shares issued 295   64,320           64,615
Share issuance costs     (668)           (668)
Share based payment/expense         9,464       9,464
Balance at December 31, 2014 905   206,111   17,149   (181,081)   43,084
                   

UNIQURE N.V.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(EURO in thousands)

  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
           
  2012   2013   2014
Cash flow from operating activities          
Net loss (14,716)   (26,820)   (37,040)
Adjustments for:          
Depreciation 548   535   1,539
Lease incentive -   134   5,452
Derivative result (22)   2,113   (87)
Derivative result arising on early conversion of loan 464   1,333   -
Exchange result 45   49   (4,692)
Other non-cash items -   -   153
Share-based expenses 1,767   2,023   9,464
Changes in other non-current assets -   (923)   -
Changes in trade and other receivables 243   (1,439)   (952)
Movement in inventories -   (865)   664
Changes in trade and other payables 180   359   (989)
Changes in deferred revenue and provisions -   16,958   (242)
Movement in other liabilities 161   2,052   1,068
Interest (income) / expense 61   1,244   1,461
Cash used in operations (11,269)   (3,247)   (24,201)
Interest paid (8)   (889)   (1,224)
Net cash used in operating activities (11,277)   (4,136)   (25,425)
Cash flow from investing activities          
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (392)   (1,336)   (15,769)
Purchases of intangible assets (553)   (4,652)   (3,367)
Interest received 113   17   148
Acquisition of businesses -   -   (1,463)
Net cash used in investing activities (832)   (5,971)   (20,451)
Cash flow from financing activities          
Capital contribution from shareholders 9,774   14,294   -
Proceeds from shares issued -   -   63,097
Share issuance cost -   -   (668)
Convertible loans drawn down 1,498   11,999   -
Proceeds from borrowings -   7,492   7,184
Redemption of financial lease -   (143)   (156)
Net cash generated from financing activities 11,272   33,642   69,457
Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and other bank overdrafts (837)   23,535   23,581
Currency effect cash and cash equivalents -   12   5,828
Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at beginning of the period 1,100   263   23,810
Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at end of the period 263   23,810   53,219
           

HUG#1908919

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