ProQR Announces Results for the First Quarter of 2018


Key updates

  • Eight out of twelve patients have been enrolled in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of QR-110 in adults and children with LCA 10. Interim data are expected in the second half of 2018, with full data expected during 2019.
  • ProQR and Galapagos N.V. entered into a research collaboration to apply the Axiomer® RNA editing technology to fibrosis targets selected by Galapagos.
  • Partnership with Foundation Fighting Blindness where ProQR will receive up to $7.5 million in funding for the development of QR-421a for the vision loss associated with Usher syndrome type 2A.
  • ADAR A-to-I RNA editing expert Dr. Peter A. Beal was appointed to ProQR’s scientific advisory board.

LEIDEN, the Netherlands, May 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq:PRQR), a company dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases, today announced results for the first quarter of 2018.

“We made strong progress across our pipeline and business during the first quarter of 2018. Most recently, we announced that enrollment for our clinical trial of QR-110 for LCA 10 is on track. Interim safety and efficacy results for the trial are expected to be announced in the second half of 2018, with full twelve-month treatment data from all patients expected in 2019. We also plan to announce data from the QR-421a study for Usher syndrome and the QR-313 study for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa within the next twelve months,” said Daniel A. de Boer, Chief Executive Officer of ProQR.

“Recently, we entered our first corporate partnership and strengthened our relationship with the Foundation Fighting Blindness with $7.5 million in funding. This additional capital will support our efforts to advance development of QR-421a for Usher syndrome, which currently doesn’t have any treatment options. Looking out more broadly, our balance sheet funds development of our pipeline and our operations into late 2019, beyond these 3 clinical data announcements,” concluded de Boer.

First Quarter 2018 Corporate Highlights

  • Announced a research collaboration with Galapagos, where the company’s Axiomer® technology will be applied to certain fibrosis targets identified by Galapagos
    -- ProQR plans additional licensing, partnering and other strategic relationships for the Axiomer® platform in select therapeutic areas
  • Entered into a partnership with Foundation Fighting Blindness, FFB, through which ProQR will receive up to $7.5 million in funding from FFB for the pre-clinical and clinical development of QR-421a for Usher syndrome type 2A targeting mutations in exon 13
    -- Preclinical development of QR-421a has begun and is expected to advance towards the clinic in 2018, with data anticipated in 2019
  • Published a paper on QRX-504 targeting Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy in The American Journal of Human Genetics in collaboration with scientists at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London (Zarouchlioti et al., Antisense Therapy for a Common Corneal Dystrophy Ameliorates TCF4 Repeat Expansion-Mediated Toxicity)

Subsequent Events

  • Announced that eight out of twelve patients have been enrolled in PQ-110-001, a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of QR-110 in adults and children with LCA 10 due to the p.Cys996X mutation in the CEP290 gene. Interim safety and efficacy trial results from six patients after six months of treatment are expected later this year, with full twelve-month treatment data from all patients expected in 2019
  • Presented two abstracts on programs for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy and Stargardt’s disease during the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
  • Delivered a presentation during the Foundation Fighting Blindness/Casey Innovation summit
  • Appointed ADAR expert Dr. Peter A. Beal to ProQR’s scientific advisory board, who brings with him tremendous experience in the field of RNA-based therapeutics, particularly in the area of RNA editing. As an expert in the field of ADAR and A-to-I editing, Dr. Beal will be instrumental in advancing the company’s novel and proprietary Axiomer® RNA editing technology

Financial Highlights

At March 31, 2018, ProQR held cash and cash equivalents of €38.0 million, compared to €48.1 million at December 31, 2017. Net cash used in operating activities during the three month period ended March 31, 2018 was €9.7 million, compared to €8.8 million for the same period last year.

Research and development costs decreased to €7.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 from €8.0 million for the same period last year and comprised of allocated employee costs including share-based payments, the costs of materials and laboratory consumables, outsourced activities, license and intellectual property costs and other allocated costs. The slight decrease in expenses was primarily due to finalizing the clinical trial of QR-010. The remainder of the expenses were due to the advancement of the company’s pipeline, which included clinical development of QR-110 and QR-313, preclinical development of QR-421a and other pipeline programs.

General and administrative costs increased to €2.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 from €2.3 million for the same period last year.

Net loss for the three month period ended March 31, 2018 was €10.7 million, or €0.34 per share, compared to a €10.5 million loss, or €0.45 per share, for the same period last year. For further financial information for the period ending March 31, 2018, please refer to the financial statements appearing at the end of this release.

About ProQR

ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases such as Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10, dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and cystic fibrosis. Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind.
*Since 2012*

About Axiomer® Technology Platform

ProQR is pioneering a next-generation RNA technology called Axiomer®, which could potentially yield a new class of medicines for genetic diseases. Axiomer® “Editing Oligonucleotides”, or EONs, mediate single nucleotide changes to RNA in a highly specific and targeted way using molecular machinery that is present in human cells. The Axiomer® EONs are designed to recruit an endogenously expressed RNA editing system called ADAR, which it can direct to the change of an Adenosine (A) to an Inosine (I) in the RNA – an Inosine is translated as a Guanosine (G).

About QR-421a

QR-421a is a first-in-class investigational RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of Usher syndrome 2A due to mutations in exon 13 of the USH2A gene. Mutations in this exon can cause loss of functional usherin protein that causes the disease. QR-421a is designed to exclude the genetic defect from the RNA in the eye, such that it leads to the expression of a shortened but functional protein, thereby modifying the underlying disease. QR-421a has received orphan drug designation in the United States and the European Union.

About QR-110

QR-110 is a first-in-class investigational RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10 due to the p.Cys998X mutation in the CEP290 gene. The p.Cys998X mutation is a substitution of one nucleotide in the pre-mRNA that leads to aberrant splicing of the mRNA and non-functional CEP290 protein. QR-110 is designed to restore wild-type CEP290 mRNA leading to the production of wild-type CEP290 protein by binding to the mutated location in the pre-mRNA causing normal splicing of the pre-mRNA. QR-110 is intended to be administered through intravitreal injections in the eye and has been granted orphan drug designation in the United States and the European Union and fast track status by the FDA.

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 QR-010, QR-110, QR-313, QR-421a, and QRX-504 and the clinical development and the therapeutic potential thereof, including our PQ-110-001 clinical trial of QR-110, statements regarding our ongoing and planned discovery and development of product candidates and the timing thereof, including those in our innovation pipeline, the potential of our Axiomer® technology, statements regarding release of clinical data, including that from our PQ-110-001 trial, and statements regarding our patent estate. 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, including that positive results observed in our prior and ongoing studies may not be replicated in later trials or guarantee approval of any product candidate by regulatory authorities, manufacturing processes and facilities, regulatory oversight, product commercialization, intellectual property claims, and the risks, uncertainties and other factors in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including certain sections of our annual report filed on Form 20-F. 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, except as required by law.

ProQR Therapeutics N.V.:
Smital Shah
Chief Financial Officer
T: +1 415 231 6431
ir@proqr.com

 
PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
 
   
  March 31,
2018
  December 31,
2017
 
  € 1,000  € 1,000 
Assets      
Current assets      
Cash and cash equivalents 38,001  48,099 
Prepayments and other receivables 965  2,064 
Social securities and other taxes 993  396 
       
Total current assets 39,959  50,559 
       
Property, plant and equipment 2,269  2,505 
Intangible assets 39  39 
       
Total assets 42,267  53,103 
       
Equity and liabilities      
Equity      
Equity attributable to owners of the Company 29,549  39,363 
Non-controlling interests (96) (38)
Total equity 29,453  39,325 
       
Current liabilities      
Borrowings 2,000  1,960 
Trade payables 147  546 
Social securities and other taxes 6  1,019 
Pension premiums --  -- 
Deferred income 347  347 
Other current liabilities 4,587  4,622 
       
Total current liabilities 7,087  8,494 
       
Borrowings 5,727  5,284 
       
Total liabilities 12,814  13,778 
       
Total equity and liabilities 42,267  53,103 


 
PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and OCI 
(€ in thousands, except share and per share data)
   
   
  Three month period
ended March 31,

  2018  2017 
  € 1,000  € 1,000 
Other income 499  393 
       
Research and development costs (7,685) (8,030)
General and administrative costs (2,672) (2,304)
       
Total operating costs (10,357) (10,334)
       
Operating result (9,858) (9,941)
Finance income and expense (859) (537)
       
Result before corporate income taxes (10,717) (10,478)
Income taxes --  (2)
       
Result for the period (10,717) (10,480)
Other comprehensive income (26) 2 
       
Total comprehensive income (attributable to owners of the Company) (10,743) (10,478)
       
Result attributable to      
Owners of the Company (10,659) (10,480)
Non-controlling interests (58) -- 
  (10,717) (10,480)
       
Share information      
Weighted average number of shares outstanding1 31,921,865  23,473,221 
       
Earnings per share attributable to the equity holders
of the Company (expressed in Euro per share)
      
Basic loss per share1 (0.34) (0.45)
Diluted loss per share1 (0.34) (0.45)
  1. For this period presented in these financial statements, the potential exercise of share options is not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as the Company was loss-making in all periods. Due to the anti-dilutive nature of the outstanding options, basic and diluted earnings per share are equal in this period.
 
PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
              
              
  Attributable to owners of the Company
   
  Number
of shares
 Share
Capital
 Share
Premium
 Equity
Settled
Employee
Benefit
Reserve
 Translation
Reserve
 Accumulated
Deficit
 Total Non-controlling
interests
 Total
Equity
 
           
    € 1,000 € 1,000 € 1,000 € 1,000 € 1,000 € 1,000 € 1,000 € 1,000 
Balance at January 1, 2017 23,346,856 934 123,597 4,353 (15)(75,733)53,136 -- 53,136 
Result for the period -- -- -- -- -- (10,480)(10,480)-- (10,480)
Other comprehensive income -- -- -- -- 2 -- 2 -- 2 
Recognition of share-based payments -- -- -- 927 -- -- 927 -- 927 
Issue of ordinary shares 518,162 21 2,130 -- -- -- 2,151 -- 2,151 
Share options exercised 127 0 1 -- -- -- 1 -- 1 
                    
Balance at March 31, 2017 23,865,145 955 125,728 5,280 (13)(86,213)45,737 -- 45,737 
                    
Balance at January 1, 2018 36,425,014 1,457 148,763 8,377 136 (119,370)39,363 (38)39,325 
Result for the period -- -- -- -- -- (10,659)(10,659)(58)(10,717)
Other comprehensive income -- -- -- -- (26)-- -- -- -- 
Recognition of share-based payments -- -- -- 871 -- -- -- -- -- 
                    
Balance at March 31, 2018 36,425,014 1,457 148,763 9,248 110 (130,029)29,549 (96)29,453 


 
PROQR THERAPEUTICS N.V.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
   
   
  Three month period
ended March 31,

  2018  2017 
  € 1,000  € 1,000 
Cash flows from operating activities      
Net result (10,717) (10,480)
Adjustments for:      
— Depreciation 240  268 
— Share-based compensation 871  927 
— Financial income and expenses 859  537 
— Net foreign exchange gain / (loss) (26) 2 
       
Changes in working capital (936) (93)
Cash used in operations (9,709) (8,839)
       
Corporate income tax paid --  (2)
Interest received/(paid) (1) 58 
       
Net cash used in operating activities (9,710) (8,783)
       
Cash flow from investing activities      
Purchases of intangible assets --  -- 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (4) (45)
       
Net cash used in investing activities (4) (45)
       
Cash flow from financing activities      
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net of transaction costs --  2,151 
Proceeds from exercise of share options --  1 
Proceeds from borrowings 101  -- 
Proceeds from convertible loans 200  -- 
       
Net cash generated by financing activities 301  2,152 
       
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (9,413) (6,676)
       
Currency effect cash and cash equivalents (685) (413)
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of the period 48,099  59,200 
       
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 38,001  52,111