AeroVanc
| • | | Enrollment continues in AVAIL, a pivotal, global Phase 3 clinical study of AeroVanc, an inhaled vancomycin hydrochloride powder for the treatment of persistent methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lung infection in CF. |
| – | As of today, the study has enrolled 153 patients out of a target of 200. An approximate 50% screen failure rate with younger subjects (between6-21 years of age) has slowed enrollment. The screen failures are largely due to exacerbations between time of screening and randomization. |
| – | Expect to complete patient enrollment in Q3 2019 with top line results in Q2 2020. |
Exploratory Pipeline
| • | | The initial indication for the Phase2-ready aerosolized amikacin/fosfomycin combination antibiotic will focus onnon-CF bronchiectasis patients with chronic lung infection and frequent exacerbations. A Phase 2 study is expected to start enrolling in bronchiectasis patients with recurrent exacerbations later in 2019 or early 2020 and will evaluate amikacin/fosfomycin and Molgradex separately, and in combination, to reduce bacterial infection load. |
First Quarter Financial Results (Unaudited)
Savara’s net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $12.1 million, or $(0.34) per share, compared with a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $26.8 million, or $(0.86) per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
Research and development expenses were $10.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with $8.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to $1.9 million in increased development costs associated with the development of Molgradex, partially offset by a slight decrease in other program costs for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were $2.8 million, compared with $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to increased personnel costs and other legal, accounting, insurance and operating activities.
As noted in the first quarter 201810-Q, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company recognized a $21.7 million impairment charge to the carrying value of acquired IPR&D related to a drug candidate previously assumed by Savara. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2019, there were no costs associated with this activity as the Company was no longer supporting or pursuing the drug candidate.
Other income, net of other expense, increased by $0.1 million to $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and was primarily related to a reduction of net interest expense.
Income tax benefit decreased by $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 from the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily due to the reversal of a deferred tax liability resulting from the impairment of certain acquired IPR&D during the first quarter of 2018.
As of March 31, 2019, Savara had a carrying value of its debt of approximately $24.7 million and had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of approximately $105.2 million.
Conference Call and Webcast
Savara will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) / 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT).
Shareholders and other interested parties may access the conference call by dialing (855)239-3120 from the U.S., (855)669-9657 from Canada, and (412)542-4127 from elsewhere outside the U.S. and request the “Savara Inc.” call. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online in the Investors section of Savara’s website at https://www.savarapharma.com/investors/events-presentations/.