Barinthus Bio Reports Second Quarter 2024 Update on Corporate Developments and Financial Results

August 8, 2024 |

13 min read

OXFORD, United Kingdom, Aug. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc (NASDAQ: BRNS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel T cell immunotherapeutic candidates, provided an overview of the Company’s progress and announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2024.

“Following the positive VTP-300 Phase 2 data in hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the second quarter, we made the strategic decision to prioritize our HBV and celiac disease programs. These two programs have the greatest probability for success and value creation, and represent significant opportunities in therapeutic areas with substantial unmet patient need,” said Bill Enright, Chief Executive Officer of Barinthus Bio. “We are very excited as we plan to initiate our first in human clinical trial of VTP-1000 in celiac disease in the third quarter, utilizing our novel SNAP-TI platform. Celiac disease is an increasingly common autoimmune disease with no FDA or EMA-approved treatments. Towards the end of the year we look forward to sharing updated data from our HBV program as our two Phase 2 trials utilizing VTP-300, which are evaluating a potential functional cure regimen, mature further.”

Second Quarter 2024 and Recent Corporate Developments

Clinical developments: VTP-300 (HBV)

In June 2024, we announced updated data from two ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials in people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress 2024. The presentations included updated interim data from the Phase 2b clinical trial (HBV003), as well as updated interim data from the Phase 2a clinical trial (IM-PROVE II, AB-729-202) in partnership with Arbutus Biopharma, both in people with CHB receiving ongoing standard of care nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) therapy.

Interim HBV003 data: VTP-300 and Low-dose Nivolumab

Interim data from the HBV003 trial showed;

Nearly 20% of participants across the groups had undetectable HBsAg and this was maintained for ≥16 weeks in the two cases who had reached that time point.

76% of participants were eligible for NUC discontinuation.
71% of those who did discontinue remained off NUCs at time of data cutoff on April 15, 2024.
67% of participants across all groups assessed for NUC discontinuation had HBsAg <10 IU/mL at Week 24 or later.
Robust T cell responses were observed to all VTP-300 encoded antigens.
There were no Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), Grade 3 or 4 Adverse Events (AEs) related to treatment.

Interim IM-PROVE II data: imdusiran and VTP-300

Interim data from the IM-PROVE II clinical trial showed;

20% of participants had undetectable HBsAg at Week 72 in the VTP-300 treatment group, compared to none in the placebo group.
84% of participants in the VTP-300 treatment group were eligible for NUC discontinuation, compared to 52% in the placebo group.
88% of those who did discontinue remained off NUCs, compared to 80% in the placebo group remaining off NUCs at time of data cutoff on April 12, 2024.
Robust reductions of HBsAg were observed during the imdusiran lead-in period with 95% of participants achieving HBsAg <100 IU/mL before undergoing dosing in the VTP-300 treatment or placebo groups at week 24. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in HBsAg levels between the VTP-300 treatment and placebo groups was recorded at Week 72.
Treatment with imdusiran and VTP-300 was generally well-tolerated, with no SAEs or treatment discontinuations reported.

Corporate Updates

On June 3, 2024, Dr. Leon Hooftman joined the Company as Chief Medical Officer. He brings significant drug development expertise across a broad array of therapeutic areas including immunology, autoimmunity, hematology, oncology and infectious diseases.

In June 2024, we announced a strategic pipeline prioritization following the positive interim data from VTP-300 in CHB presented at EASL. This announcement included the prioritization of the development of VTP-300 in CHB and VTP-1000 in celiac disease, and consequently a reduction in workforce.

Upcoming Milestones

In the third quarter of 2024, the Company expects to:
- VTP-1000 (Celiac Disease):
  - Dose the first patient in GLU001, a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial including a controlled gluten challenge to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of VTP-1000 in adults with celiac disease.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company expects to:
- VTP-300 (HBV):
  - Announce updated interim data from HBV003, our Phase 2b trial evaluating additional dosing of VTP-300 and timing of PD-1 inhibition, in people with CHB on NUC therapy.
  - Announce updated interim data from the Phase 2a AB-729-202 clinical trial evaluating the combination of VTP-300 and Arbutus’ imdusiran, in people with CHB on NUC therapy.

Pipeline

These are estimated timelines only and our pipeline may be subject to change.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

Cash position: As of June 30, 2024, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $117.8 million, compared to $130.0 million as of March 31, 2024. The net cash used in operating activities was $12.0 million in the second quarter of 2024, primarily resulting from development of our pipeline and ongoing clinical trials offset by receipt of an R&D tax credit of $1.4 million. Based on current research and development plans, the Company expects its available resources to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second quarter of 2026.
Research and development expenses: Research and development expenses were $11.7 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $11.1 million in the first quarter of 2024, with the increase mainly attributable to the progression of VTP-300 (HBV) through the two ongoing Phase 2 trials, partially offset by a reduction in expense from VTP-200 (HPV) which completed in the first quarter of 2024 and for which data was presented in April 2024. The quarter-on-quarter R&D expense per program is outlined in the following table.

Period ended	Three months ended June 30, 2024		Three months ended March 31, 2024		Change
		$000		$000		$000
Direct research and development expenses by program:
VTP-200 HPV	$	383	$	1,253	$	(870	)
VTP-300 HBV		3,034		1,913		1,121
VTP-500 MERS¹		304		172		132
VTP-600 NSCLC²		24		164		(140	)
VTP-850 Prostate cancer		414		178		236
VTP-1000 Celiac		1,371		1,374		(3	)
Other and earlier stage programs		908		784		124
Total direct research and development expenses	$	6,438	$	5,838	$	600
Indirect research and development expenses:
Personnel-related (including share-based compensation)		4,763		4,335		428
Facility related		342		390		(48	)
Other indirect costs		119		562		(443	)
Total indirect research and development expenses		5,224		5,287		(63	)
Total research and development expense	$	11,662	$	11,125	$	537

¹ The development of VTP-500 is funded pursuant to an agreement with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

² The VTP-600 NSCLC Phase 1/2a trial is sponsored by Cancer Research UK.

General and administrative expenses: General and administrative expenses were $7.2 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $6.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase of $1.2 million relates primarily to a loss of $0.1 million on foreign exchange in the second quarter of 2024, compared to a gain of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Net loss: For the second quarter of 2024, the Company generated a net loss attributable to its shareholders of $16.9 million, or $(0.43) per share on both basic and fully diluted bases, compared to a net loss attributable to its shareholders of $15.5 million, or $(0.40) per share on both basic and fully diluted bases in the first quarter of 2024.

About Barinthus Bio

Barinthus Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel T cell immunotherapeutic candidates designed to guide the immune system to overcome chronic infectious diseases and autoimmunity. Helping people living with serious diseases and their families is the guiding principle at the heart of Barinthus Bio. With a focused pipeline built around our proprietary platform technologies, Barinthus Bio is advancing product candidates in infectious disease and autoimmunity, including: VTP-300, an immunotherapeutic candidate utilizing our ChAdOx/MVA platform designed as a potential component of a functional cure for chronic HBV infection and VTP-1000, an autoimmune candidate designed to utilize the SNAP-Tolerance Immunotherapy (TI) platform to treat patients with celiac disease. Barinthus Bio also has a Phase 1 clinical trial for VTP-850, a second-generation immunotherapeutic candidate designed to treat recurrent prostate cancer. Barinthus Bio’s proven scientific expertise, diverse portfolio and focus on pipeline development uniquely positions the company to navigate towards delivering treatments for people with infectious diseases and autoimmunity that have a significant impact on their everyday lives. For more information, visit www.barinthusbio.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Barinthus Bio within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, which can generally be identified as such by use of the words “may,” “will,” “plan,” “forward,” “encouraging,” “believe,” “potential,” “expect”, and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, express or implied statements regarding our future expectations, plans and prospects, including our product development activities and clinical trials, including timing for readouts of any preliminary, interim or final data for any of our programs, the timing for initiation of any clinical trials, including dosing of the first patient in GLU001 for VTP-1000, our anticipated regulatory filings and approvals, our cash runway, and our ability to develop and advance our current and future product candidates and programs. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on our management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to the success, cost and timing of our pipeline development activities and planned and ongoing clinical trials, including the risk that the timing for preliminary, interim or final data or initiation of our clinical trials may be delayed, the risk that interim or topline data may not reflect final data or results, our ability to execute on our strategy, regulatory developments, the risk that we may not achieve the anticipated benefits of our pipeline prioritization and corporate restructuring, our ability to fund our operations and access capital, our cash runway, including the risk that our estimate of our cash runway may be incorrect, global economic uncertainty, including disruptions in the banking industry, the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, and other risks identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

BARINTHUS BIOTHERAPEUTICS PLC CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT NUMBER OF SHARES AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED)

	June 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	117,774		$	142,090
Research and development incentives receivable		4,523			4,908
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		9,582			9,907
Total current assets		131,879			156,905
Goodwill		12,209			12,209
Property and equipment, net		10,962			11,821
Intangible assets, net		23,527			25,108
Right of use assets, net		7,286			7,581
Other assets		886			882
Total assets	$	186,749		$	214,506
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		2,556			1,601
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		10,278			9,212
Deferred income		839			—
Operating lease liability - current		1,916			1,785
Total current liabilities		15,589			12,598
Non-current liabilities:
Operating lease liability - non-current		10,654			11,191
Contingent consideration		1,888			1,823
Other non-current liabilities		1,338			1,325
Deferred tax liability, net		490			574
Total liabilities	$	29,959		$	27,511
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Stockholders’ equity:
Ordinary shares, £0.000025 nominal value; 39,184,338 shares authorized, issued and outstanding (December 31, 2023: authorized, issued and outstanding:38,643,540)		1			1
Deferred A shares, £1 nominal value; 63,443 shares authorized, issued and outstanding (December 31, 2023: authorized, issued and outstanding:63,443)		86			86
Additional paid-in capital		390,273			386,602
Accumulated deficit		(209,010	)		(176,590	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss – foreign currency translation adjustments		(24,732	)		(23,315	)
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc shareholders		156,618			186,784
Noncontrolling interest		172			211
Total stockholders’ equity	$	156,790		$	186,995
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	186,749		$	214,506

BARINTHUS BIOTHERAPEUTICS PLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT NUMBER OF SHARES AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED)

	Three months ended						Six months ended
	June 30, 2024			June 30, 2023			June 30, 2024			June 30, 2023
License revenue ¹	$	—		$	334		$	—		$	802
Total revenue		—			334			—			802
Operating expenses
Research and development		11,662			13,543			22,787			23,357
General and administrative		7,201			13,128			13,195			25,266
Total operating expenses		18,863			26,671			35,982			48,623
Other operating income		577			—			782			—
Loss from operations		(18,286	)		(26,337	)		(35,200	)		(47,821	)
Other income/(expense):
Interest income		635			522			1,410			2,110
Interest expense		(12	)		(14	)		(24	)		(14	)
Research and development incentives		693			559			1,287			1,716
Other income		20			310			20			310
Total other income, net		1,336			1,377			2,693			4,122
Loss before income tax		(16,950	)		(24,960	)		(32,507	)		(43,699	)
Tax benefit		7			1,136			44			1,652
Net loss		(16,943	)		(23,824	)		(32,463	)		(42,047	)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		12			22			43			65
Net loss attributable to Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc shareholders		(16,931	)		(23,802	)		(32,420	)		(41,982	)

Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, basic		39,041,111			38,407,672			38,907,296			38,211,625
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, diluted		39,041,111			38,407,672			38,907,296			38,211,625
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic	$	(0.43	)	$	(0.62	)	$	(0.83	)	$	(1.10	)
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, diluted	$	(0.43	)	$	(0.62	)	$	(0.83	)	$	(1.10	)

Net loss	$	(16,943	)	$	(23,824	)	$	(32,463	)	$	(42,047	)
Other comprehensive gain/(loss) – foreign currency translation adjustments		164			5,604			(1,413	)		10,184
Comprehensive loss		(16,779	)		(18,220	)		(33,876	)		(31,863	)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		11			15			39			52
Comprehensive loss attributable to Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc shareholders	$	(16,768	)	$	(18,205	)	$	(33,837	)	$	(31,811	)

¹ Includes license revenue from related parties for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 of nil (three and six months ended June 30, 2023: $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively).

IR contacts:
Christopher M. Calabrese 
Managing Director 
LifeSci Advisors
+1 917-680-5608
ccalabrese@lifesciadvisors.com

Kevin Gardner
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors
+1 617-283-2856
kgardner@lifesciadvisors.com

Media contact:
Audra Friis
Sam Brown, Inc.
+1 917-519-9577
audrafriis@sambrown.com

Company contact:
Jonothan Blackbourn
IR & PR Manager
Barinthus Bio
ir@barinthusbio.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0677b65-29bb-4869-b045-22325fa94f17

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