Seres Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter Financial Results and Provides Progress Update

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- Four significant microbiome program milestones expected during 2020, including readouts from two late-stage development programs –

- Completed public offering of common stock, raising net proceeds of $61M and extending the operating runway into 2021 –

- Conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET today –

Seres Therapeutics, Inc. MCRB today reported second quarter 2019 financial results and provided business updates.

"We remain focused on the execution of our clinical programs and we look forward to a data-rich 2020 with four significant expected milestones including: SER-287 Phase 2b readout in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis; SER-109 Phase 3 readout in recurrent C. difficile infection; SER-401 Phase 1b readout in metastatic melanoma; and the advancement of our rationally-designed, fermented SER-301 program into clinical development for ulcerative colitis," said Eric D. Shaff, President and Chief Executive Officer at Seres. "We are also pleased to have strengthened Seres' balance sheet through a public equity offering, giving us the resources needed to operate the Company into 2021 and to reach multiple important value inflection points," continued Mr. Shaff.

Program Updates and Corporate Highlights

  • SER-287 Phase 2b ECO-RESET study in ulcerative colitis: SER-287 is an oral, donor-derived microbiome therapeutic candidate designed to normalize the gastrointestinal microbiome of individuals with ulcerative colitis. Seres continues to enroll the SER-287 Phase 2b ECO-RESET induction study in patients with active mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. The SER-287 Phase 2b ECO-RESET study was initiated in December 2018 and is expected to enroll approximately 201 patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. Based on FDA feedback, Seres expects that with positive Phase 2b study results, the study could serve as one of two pivotal trials to enable a SER-287 Biologics License Application (BLA) submission. Seres expects to report Phase 2b ECO-RESET study top line results in the third quarter of 2020.
  • SER-109 Phase 3 ECOSPOR III study in recurrent C. difficile infection: SER-109 is an oral, donor-derived microbiome therapeutic candidate designed to restore the depleted, or dysbiotic, gastrointestinal microbiome of patients with recurrent C. difficile infection. The Company continues to enroll the ECOSPOR III trial. ECOSPOR III is designed to evaluate efficacy and safety in 188 patients with recurrent C. difficile infection. All patients enrolled in ECOSPOR III are required to test positive for C. difficile cytotoxin to ensure enrollment of only patients with an active C. difficile infection. Seres expects to report SER-109 ECOSPOR III top line study results in early 2020.
  • SER-401 Phase 1b in metastatic melanoma: SER-401 is an oral, donor-derived microbiome therapeutic candidate comprising a bacterial signature similar to that observed in checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy responders. The ongoing Phase 1b study, supported by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, will evaluate the potential for SER-401 to augment response to nivolumab, an approved anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy, and will assess a variety of biological measures of response. Seres expects to obtain SER-401 Phase 1b preliminary study results in the second half of 2020.
  • SER-301 preclinical candidate: Seres also continues to advance its rationally-designed, fermented microbiome drug discovery and development capabilities. These efforts are focused on advancing SER-301, a preclinical therapeutic candidate for ulcerative colitis, into clinical development. The Company is entitled to a $10 million milestone payment associated with the initiation of SER-301 clinical development from its ongoing collaboration with Nestlé Health Science. Seres expects to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and initiate clinical development for SER-301 in early 2020.
  • Public equity offering (June 2019): Seres completed a public equity offering of common stock, resulting in net proceeds of $60.6 million. The financing involved both new and existing investors, including from a new fund managed by Flagship Pioneering.
  • Appointment of Stephen Berenson to its Board of Directors (August 2019): Mr. Berenson is a managing partner at Flagship Pioneering and previously spent his career as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan.

Financial Results
Seres reported a net loss of $10.8 million for the second quarter of 2019, as compared to a net loss of $27.8 million for the same period in 2018. The second quarter net loss was driven primarily by clinical and development expenses, personnel expenses and ongoing development of the Company's microbiome therapeutics platform. The second quarter net loss figure was inclusive of $12.5 million in recognized revenue associated primarily with the Company's collaborations with Nestlé Health Science and AstraZeneca.

Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $17.9 million, as compared to $24.1 million for the same period in 2018. The research and development expense was primarily related to Seres' microbiome therapeutics platform, the clinical development of SER-109 and SER-287, as well as the Company's immuno-oncology efforts.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $5.6 million, as compared to $8.7 million for the same period in 2018. General and administrative expenses were primarily due to headcount, professional fees and facility costs.

Seres ended the second quarter with approximately $102.2 million in cash and cash equivalents that included the first of three $6.7 million annual installment payments due under the terms of the collaboration with AstraZeneca. In June 2019 the Company completed a public equity offering of common stock, resulting in net proceeds of $60.6M.

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Cash use in the second quarter declined relative to prior periods as a result of the cost cutting corporate changes implemented earlier this year. Seres expects the lower expense levels incurred this quarter to be a proxy for subsequent quarters leading up to the clinical readouts expected in 2020. Based on the Company's current operating plan, cash resources are expected to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, excluding net cash flows from future business development activities or potential incoming milestone payments, into the first quarter of 2021.

Conference Call Information
Seres' management will host a conference call today, Aug. 6, 2019, at 8:00 a.m. ET. To access the conference call, please dial 844-277-9450 (domestic) or 336-525-7139 (international) and reference the conference ID number 7773387. To join the live webcast, please visit the "Investors and Media" section of the Seres website at www.serestherapeutics.com.

A webcast replay will be available on the Seres website beginning approximately two hours after the event and will be archived for at least 21 days.

About Seres Therapeutics
Seres Therapeutics, Inc. MCRB is a leading microbiome therapeutics platform company developing a novel class of biological drugs that are designed to treat disease by restoring the function of a dysbiotic microbiome, where the state of bacterial diversity and function is imbalanced. Seres' SER-287 program has obtained Fast Track and Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is being evaluated in a Phase 2b study in patients with active mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. Seres' SER-109 program has obtained Breakthrough Therapy and Orphan Drug designations from the FDA and is in Phase 3 development for recurrent C. difficile infection. Seres is also developing SER-401 in a Phase 1b study in patients with metastatic melanoma. For more information, please visit www.serestherapeutics.com.

Forward-looking Statements
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 the timing and results of each of Seres' clinical studies, the potential for any of the Company's studies to serve as a pivotal trial to enable a BLA submission, Seres' plan to file an IND application for SER-301, the receipt of future milestone payments, the potential impact of any of Seres' development candidates, the reduction in patient enrollment in the SER-109 Phase 3 trial leading to expedited results, the sufficiency of the Company's cash resources to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and other statements that are not historical facts.

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 our 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, the following: we have incurred significant losses, are not currently profitable and may never become profitable; our need for additional funding; our limited operating history; our unproven approach to therapeutic intervention; the lengthy, expensive, and uncertain process of clinical drug development; our reliance on third parties and collaborators to conduct our clinical trials, manufacture our product candidates, and develop and commercialize our product candidates, if approved; the success of our leadership transition; our ability to retain key personnel and to manage our growth; and our management and principal stockholders have the ability to control or significantly influence our business. These and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on May 2, 2019 and our other reports filed with the SEC 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, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. 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.

SERES THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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

 

 

 

June 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

102,230

 

 

$

85,820

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

5,160

 

 

 

6,845

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

1,604

 

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

 

108,994

 

 

 

92,665

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

22,945

 

 

 

26,294

 

Operating lease assets

 

 

12,640

 

 

 

 

Restricted investments

 

 

1,400

 

 

 

1,400

 

Restricted cash

 

 

114

 

 

 

113

 

Total assets

 

$

146,093

 

 

$

120,472

 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

4,764

 

 

$

6,415

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

10,589

 

 

 

15,207

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

4,449

 

 

 

 

Deferred revenue - related party

 

 

20,582

 

 

 

20,419

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

2,689

 

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

43,073

 

 

 

42,041

 

Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion

 

 

17,969

 

 

 

 

Lease incentive obligation, net of current portion

 

 

 

 

 

6,776

 

Deferred rent

 

 

 

 

 

2,216

 

Deferred revenue, net of current portion - related party

 

 

99,608

 

 

 

116,840

 

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

 

 

2,752

 

 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

659

 

 

 

644

 

Total liabilities

 

 

164,061

 

 

 

168,517

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; no shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018; 69,913,410 and 40,936,735 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

 

 

70

 

 

 

41

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

406,424

 

 

 

341,284

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(424,462

)

 

 

(389,370

)

Total stockholders' deficit

 

 

(17,968

)

 

 

(48,045

)

Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit

 

$

146,093

 

 

$

120,472

 

SERES THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

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

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration revenue - related party

$

10,454

 

 

$

4,271

 

 

$

17,069

 

 

$

8,037

 

Grant revenue

 

260

 

 

 

341

 

 

 

706

 

 

 

546

 

Revenue

 

1,817

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,077

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

12,531

 

 

 

4,612

 

 

 

19,852

 

 

 

8,583

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development expenses

 

17,905

 

 

 

24,053

 

 

 

40,792

 

 

 

47,513

 

General and administrative expenses

 

5,574

 

 

 

8,695

 

 

 

13,069

 

 

 

17,472

 

Restructuring expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,492

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

23,479

 

 

 

32,748

 

 

 

55,353

 

 

 

64,985

 

Loss from operations

 

(10,948

)

 

 

(28,136

)

 

 

(35,501

)

 

 

(56,402

)

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income (expense), net

 

189

 

 

 

349

 

 

 

409

 

 

 

696

 

Total other income (expense), net

 

189

 

 

 

349

 

 

 

409

 

 

 

696

 

Net loss

$

(10,759

)

 

$

(27,787

)

 

$

(35,092

)

 

$

(55,706

)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

$

(0.24

)

 

$

(0.68

)

 

$

(0.81

)

 

$

(1.37

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted

 

45,140,830

 

 

 

40,661,464

 

 

 

43,095,686

 

 

 

40,645,040

 

Net loss

 

(10,759

)

 

 

(27,787

)

 

 

(35,092

)

 

 

(55,706

)

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $0

$

 

 

$

77

 

 

$

 

 

$

117

 

Total other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

77

 

 

 

 

 

 

117

 

Comprehensive loss

$

(10,759

)

 

$

(27,710

)

 

$

(35,092

)

 

$

(55,589

)

 

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