Exhibit 99.1
ARCA Biopharma announces second quarter 2016 financial results
and provides business update
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Outcome of GENETIC-AF Clinical Trial Interim Efficacy Analysis Anticipated
in the Second Quarter of 2017
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GENETIC-AF Evaluating Gencaro as Potentially First Genetically-Targeted
Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation
Westminster, CO, August 9, 2016 – ARCA biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABIO), a biopharmaceutical company developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases, today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, and provided a business update.
“We believe that our precision medicine approach to drug development, tailoring medical treatment to the genetic characteristics of patient subpopulations, can enable more effective therapies, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs,” commented Dr. Michael Bristow, ARCA’s President and CEO. “Our on-going GENETIC-AF Phase 2B/3 clinical trial is evaluating GencaroTM as potentially the first genetically-targeted treatment for atrial fibrillation. We believe enrollment is on track for having a sufficient number of patients by the end of this year for the DSMB Phase 2B interim efficacy analysis, the outcome of which we expect in the second quarter of 2017. With our experienced team, strong balance sheet, supportive collaborations with Medtronic and LabCorp, and high quality investors, we feel ARCA is well positioned as a late stage cardiovascular company dedicated to serving patients with these chronic diseases.”
Second Quarter 2016 Summary Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $31.4 million as of June 30, 2016, compared to $38.8 million as of December 31, 2015. The Company believes that its current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its operations, at its projected cost structure, through at least the end of 2017. ARCA had approximately 9.1 million outstanding shares of common stock as of June 30, 2016.
Research and development (R&D) expense for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $2.9 million compared to $1.7 million for the corresponding period of 2015, an increase of approximately $1.2 million. R&D expense for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $5.5 million compared to $3.5 million for the corresponding period of 2015, an increase of approximately $2.1 million. The increase in R&D expense in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2016 is due, primarily, to the increased clinical expense of the GENETIC-AF clinical trial. The Company expects R&D expense in 2016 to be higher than 2015 as it activates new clinical sites and enrolls additional patients in the GENETIC-AF clinical trial.
General and administrative (G&A) expense for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $1.0 million compared to $1.0 million for the corresponding period in 2015. G&A expense was $2.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to $2.0 million for the corresponding period in 2015, an increase of $93,000. The increase in G&A expense is due, primarily, to increased franchise taxes. The Company expects
G&A expense in 2016 will be higher than in 2015 as the Company increases administrative activities to support the GENETIC-AF clinical trial.
Total operating expense for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $3.9 million compared to $2.7 million for the corresponding period in 2015. Total operating expense for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $7.6 million compared to $5.5 million for the corresponding period in 2015.
Net loss was $3.9 million, or $0.43 per share, for the second quarter of 2016, compared to $2.7 million, or $0.69 per share, for the second quarter of 2015. For the first half of 2016, net loss was $7.5 million, or $0.83 per share, compared to $5.5 million, or $1.57 per share, for the first half of 2015.
GENETIC-AF Clinical Trial
GENETIC-AF is a Phase 2B/Phase 3, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, adaptive design clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of Gencaro to Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in approximately 620 patients. Eligible patients will have heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFREF), a history of paroxysmal AF (episodes lasting 7 days or less) or persistent AF (episodes lasting more than 7 days and less than 1 year) in the past 6 months, and the beta-1 389 arginine homozygous genotype that the Company believes responds most favorably to Gencaro. The primary endpoint of the study is time to first event of symptomatic AF/atrial flutter (AFL) or all-cause mortality. The combined Phase 2B/Phase 3 trial is designed for 90 percent power at a p-value of less than 0.01 significance level to detect a 25 percent reduction in the primary endpoint for patients in the Gencaro arm compared to patients in the Toprol-XL arm. The trial is currently enrolling patients in the United States and Canada.
The GENETIC-AF Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will conduct a pre-specified interim analysis of study endpoints for efficacy, safety and futility to recommend whether or not the trial should proceed to Phase 3. The DSMB will make its recommendation based on a predictive probability analysis of certain trial data after at least 150 patients have evaluable endpoint data. An enrolled patient has evaluable endpoint data either when they experience their first endpoint event, or after they complete the 24-week follow up period. The DSMB interim analysis will focus on analyses of the AF/AFL endpoints in the trial using both clinical-based intermittent monitoring and device-based continuous monitoring techniques. Should the DSMB interim analysis indicate that the data are consistent with pre-trial statistical assumptions and the potential for achieving statistical significance for the Phase 3 endpoint, the DSMB may recommend that the study continue to Phase 3. The DSMB may also recommend that the study be halted. Based on the current enrollment rate, the Company expects to enroll at least 150 patients in the trial by the end of 2016. The Company expects the outcome of the interim analysis in the second quarter of 2017.
About ARCA biopharma
ARCA biopharma is dedicated to developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases through a precision medicine approach to drug development. The Company's lead product candidate, GencaroTM (bucindolol hydrochloride), is an investigational, pharmacologically unique beta-blocker and mild vasodilator being developed for atrial fibrillation. ARCA has identified common genetic variations that it believes predict individual patient response to Gencaro, giving it the potential to be the first genetically-targeted atrial fibrillation prevention treatment. ARCA has a collaboration with Medtronic, Inc. for support of the GENETIC-AF trial. For more information, please visit www.arcabiopharma.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding, potential timing for patient enrollment in the GENETIC-AF trial, potential timeline for GENETIC-AF trial activities and related recommendations of the DSMB, the sufficiency of the Company’s capital to support its operations, the potential for genetic variations to predict individual patient response to Gencaro, Gencaro’s potential to treat atrial fibrillation, future treatment options for patients with atrial fibrillation, and the potential for Gencaro to be the first genetically-targeted atrial fibrillation prevention treatment. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties associated with: the Company's financial resources and whether they will be sufficient to meet the Company's business objectives and operational requirements; results of earlier clinical trials may not be confirmed in future trials, the protection and market exclusivity provided by the Company’s intellectual property; risks related to the drug discovery and the regulatory approval process; and, the impact of competitive products and technological changes. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in ARCA’s filings with the SEC, including without limitation the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and subsequent filings. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Investor & Media Contact:
Derek Cole
720.940.2163
derek.cole@arcabiopharma.com
###
(Tables Follow)
BALANCE SHEET DATA
(in thousands)
| June 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities | $31,366 | $38,802 | |
Working capital | $25,038 | $37,412 | |
Total assets | $32,635 | $39,574 | |
Total stockholders’ equity | $30,891 | $38,070 | |
ARCA BIOPHARMA, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(unaudited)
|
| Three Months Ended |
|
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||||
|
| June 30, |
|
| June 30, |
| ||||||||||
| 2016 |
|
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2015 |
| ||||
|
| (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) |
| |||||||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development | $ | 2,913 |
|
|
| $ | 1,747 |
|
| $ | 5,507 |
|
| $ | 3,454 |
|
General and administrative |
| 1,028 |
|
|
|
| 972 |
|
|
| 2,102 |
|
|
| 2,009 |
|
Total costs and expenses |
| 3,941 |
|
|
|
| 2,719 |
|
|
| 7,609 |
|
|
| 5,463 |
|
Loss from operations |
| (3,941 | ) |
|
|
| (2,719 | ) |
|
| (7,609 | ) |
|
| (5,463 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest and other income |
| 47 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
| 68 |
|
|
| 3 |
|
Interest expense |
| — |
|
|
|
| (2 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| (3 | ) |
Net loss | $ | (3,894 | ) |
|
| $ | (2,719 | ) |
| $ | (7,541 | ) |
| $ | (5,463 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities |
| 7 |
|
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 13 |
|
|
| — |
|
Comprehensive loss | $ | (3,887 | ) |
|
| $ | (2,719 | ) |
| $ | (7,528 | ) |
| $ | (5,463 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Net loss per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.43 | ) |
|
| $ | (0.69 | ) |
| $ | (0.83 | ) |
| $ | (1.57 | ) |
Weighted average shares outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
| 9,065,922 |
|
|
|
| 3,951,895 |
|
|
| 9,059,554 |
|
|
| 3,490,477 |
|