Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:XENE), a neurology-focused
biopharmaceutical company, today reported financial results for the
fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022 and provided a
corporate update.
Mr. Ian Mortimer, Xenon’s President and Chief Executive Officer,
stated, “We continue to make progress in the advancement of our
robust XEN1101 Phase 3 epilepsy program, including ongoing
enrollment in our X-TOLE2 and X-ACKT clinical trials, along with
our X-TOLE3 clinical trial, which is on track to initiate in the
near term. XEN1101 represents the most advanced potassium channel
modulator in clinical development for multiple indications and we
continue to build on our leadership position with momentum in our
Phase 3 program. We recognize that prescribing physicians are
seeking new, differentiated therapeutic options that improve upon
existing anti-seizure medications, and we remain committed to
improving the lives of patients with epilepsy.”
Mr. Mortimer continued, “In addition, we look forward to
important clinical milestones this year including the anticipated
topline read-out in the third quarter from our XEN1101 Phase 2
X-NOVA study in major depressive disorder as well as an anticipated
data read-out from our partners at Neurocrine from their Phase 2
study in adult patients with focal onset seizures in the second
half of the year.”
Highlights and Anticipated
Milestones
XEN1101
XEN1101 is a differentiated Kv7 potassium channel opener being
developed for the treatment of epilepsy and other neurological
disorders, including major depressive disorder, or MDD.
XEN1101 for Epilepsy (Focal
Onset Seizures)
Xenon has initiated its XEN1101 Phase
3 development program, which includes two identical Phase 3
clinical trials to be run in parallel, called X-TOLE2 and X-TOLE3,
that are designed closely after the Phase 2b X-TOLE clinical trial.
These multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
trials will evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and
tolerability of XEN1101 administered as adjunctive treatment in
approximately 360 patients per study with focal onset seizures, or
FOS. The primary efficacy endpoint is the median percent change, or
MPC, in monthly seizure frequency from baseline through the
double-blind period, or DBP, of XEN1101 compared to placebo.
XEN1101 for Epilepsy (Primary
Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizures)
Xenon has initiated a Phase 3
clinical trial, called X-ACKT, to support potential regulatory
submissions in an additional epilepsy indication of primary
generalized tonic clonic seizures, or PGTCS. This multicenter,
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will evaluate
the clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of XEN1101
administered as adjunctive treatment in approximately 160 patients
with PGTCS. The primary efficacy endpoint is the MPC in monthly
PGTCS frequency from baseline through the DBP of XEN1101 compared
to placebo.
Upon completion of the DBP in
X-TOLE2, X-TOLE3, or X-ACKT, eligible patients may enter an
open-label extension, or OLE, study for up to three years. In
addition, the ongoing X-TOLE Phase 2b OLE continues to generate
important long-term data for XEN1101.
XEN1101 for Major Depressive
Disorder
Based on promising pre-clinical data
with XEN1101 and published clinical data generated using ezogabine,
Xenon is evaluating the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability
of XEN1101 administered as monotherapy in approximately 150
patients with MDD in a Phase 2 clinical trial called X-NOVA.
Designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
multicenter clinical study, the primary objective is to assess the
efficacy of XEN1101 compared to placebo on improvement of
depressive symptoms in subjects diagnosed with moderate to severe
MDD, using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, or MADRS,
score change through week six. Topline results from the X-NOVA
study are anticipated in the third quarter of this year.
In addition, Xenon is collaborating
with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to support an
ongoing investigator-sponsored Phase 2 proof-of-concept,
randomized, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled multi-site study of
XEN1101 for the treatment of MDD in approximately 60 subjects. The
primary objective of the study is to investigate the effect of
XEN1101 on the brain reward circuit as measured by the change in
bilateral ventral striatum activity as assessed by functional MRI,
or fMRI. The secondary objectives are to test the effect of XEN1101
compared to placebo on clinical measures of depression and
anhedonia using the MADRS and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, or
SHAPS, respectively.
XEN496
XEN496, a Kv7 potassium channel opener, is a proprietary
pediatric formulation of the active ingredient ezogabine being
developed for the treatment of KCNQ2 developmental and epileptic
encephalopathy, or KCNQ2-DEE. A Phase 3 randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled, parallel group, multicenter clinical trial,
called EPIK, is ongoing to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and
tolerability of XEN496 administered as adjunctive treatment in
approximately 40 pediatric patients aged one month to less than six
years with KCNQ2-DEE. Xenon anticipates that the EPIK study will be
completed in 2024.
NBI-921352
Xenon has an ongoing collaboration with Neurocrine Biosciences
to develop treatments for epilepsy. Neurocrine Biosciences has an
exclusive license to XEN901, now known as NBI-921352, a selective
Nav1.6 sodium channel inhibitor. Neurocrine Biosciences is
conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating NBI-921352 in adult
patients with focal onset seizures, with data expected in the
second half of this year. In addition, a Phase 2 clinical trial is
underway evaluating NBI-921352 in patients aged between 2 and 21
years with SCN8A developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, or
SCN8A-DEE. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Xenon has the
potential to receive certain clinical, regulatory, and commercial
milestone payments, as well as future sales royalties.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022
Financial Results
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities were $720.8
million as of December 31, 2022, compared to $551.8 million as of
December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily the result of the
completion of the Company’s public offering in June 2022. Based on
current operating plans, including the completion of the XEN1101
Phase 3 epilepsy studies, Xenon anticipates having sufficient cash
to fund operations into 2026. As of December 31, 2022, there were
62,587,701 common shares and 3,103,864 pre-funded warrants
outstanding.
No revenue was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2022, and
$9.4 million for the year ended 2022, compared to $3.7 million and
$18.4 million for the same periods in 2021, respectively. For the
year, the decrease of $9.0 million was primarily due to the
Neurocrine Biosciences collaboration; all performance obligations
associated with an upfront payment were completed in March 2022 and
the research component of the collaboration ended in June 2022. In
addition, a $3.0 million of milestone was recognized under an
agreement with Pacira BioSciences in the year ended 2021, whereas
no milestones were recognized under this agreement in the year
ended 2022.
Research and development expenses were $34.8 million for the
fourth quarter of 2022, and $105.8 million for the year ended 2022,
compared to $21.9 million and $75.5 million for the same periods in
2021, respectively. For the year, the increase of $30.3 million was
primarily attributable to increased expenses related to our XEN1101
program to support the initiation of the Phase 3 epilepsy clinical
trials, the ongoing X-TOLE open label extension and the ongoing
X-NOVA clinical trial, as well as increased personnel-related costs
due to an increase in employee headcount and stock-based
compensation expense.
General and administrative expenses were $8.5 million for the
fourth quarter of 2022, and $32.8 million for the year ended 2022,
compared to $6.7 million and $22.0 million for the same periods in
2021, respectively. For the year, the increase of $10.8 million was
primarily attributable to personnel-related costs due to an
increase in employee headcount and stock-based compensation
expense, recruitment fees, insurance premiums, expenses supporting
intellectual property protection and professional fees.
Net loss was $37.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, and
$125.4 million for the year ended 2022, compared to $25.6 million
and $78.9 million for the same periods in 2021, respectively. For
the year, the increase in net loss of $46.5 million was primarily
attributable to higher operating expenses, driven by research and
development expenses related to the Company’s initiation of the
XEN1101 Phase 3 epilepsy clinical trials, increased employee
headcount and higher stock-based compensation expense across the
organization as well as lower revenue from the collaboration with
Neurocrine Biosciences.
Conference Call Information
Xenon will host a conference call and webcast today at 4:30 pm
Eastern Time (1:30 pm Pacific Time) to discuss its fourth quarter
and full year 2022 results. The audio webcast can be accessed on
the Investors section of the Xenon website. Participants can access
the live conference call by dialing (800) 715-9871, or (646)
307-1963 for international callers, and provide conference ID
number 5740430. A replay of the webcast will be available on the
website approximately one hour after the conclusion of the event
and will be archived for approximately one month.
About Xenon Pharmaceuticals
Inc.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) is a
clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing
innovative therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with
neurological disorders. We are advancing a novel product pipeline
of neurology therapies to address areas of high unmet medical need,
with a focus on epilepsy. For more information, please visit
www.xenon-pharma.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking
statements are not based on historical fact, and include statements
regarding the timing of and potential results from clinical trials;
the potential efficacy, safety profile, future development plans,
addressable market, regulatory success and commercial potential of
our and our partners’ product candidates; the efficacy of our
clinical trial designs; our ability to successfully develop and
achieve milestones in our XEN1101 and other development programs;
the timing and results of our interactions with regulators; our
ability to successfully develop and obtain regulatory approval of
XEN1101 and our other product candidates; anticipated enrollment in
our clinical trials and the timing thereof; and our expectation
that we will have sufficient cash to fund operations into 2026.
These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions
that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
the actual results, events, or developments to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond
our control, include, but are not limited to: clinical trials may
not demonstrate safety and efficacy of any of our or our
collaborators’ product candidates; promising results from
pre-clinical development activities or early clinical trial results
may not be replicated in later clinical trials; our assumptions
regarding our planned expenditures and sufficiency of our cash to
fund operations may be incorrect; our ongoing discovery and
pre-clinical efforts may not yield additional product candidates;
any of our or our collaborators’ product candidates, including
XEN1101, may fail in development, may not receive required
regulatory approvals, or may be delayed to a point where they are
not commercially viable; we may not achieve additional milestones
in our proprietary or partnered programs; regulatory agencies may
impose additional requirements or delay the initiation of clinical
trials; the impact of competition; the impact of expanded product
development and clinical activities on operating expenses; the
impact of new or changing laws and regulations; the impact of the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our research and clinical development
plans and timelines and results of operations, including impact on
our clinical trial sites, collaborators, regulatory agencies and
related review times, and contractors who act for or on our behalf,
may be more severe and more prolonged than currently anticipated;
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; the impact of
unstable economic conditions in the general domestic and global
economic markets; adverse conditions from geopolitical events; as
well as the other risks identified in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions
in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date hereof and we assume no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements.
“Xenon” and the Xenon logo are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in various
jurisdictions. All other trademarks belong to their respective
owner.
XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheets(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars)
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities |
|
$ |
592,087 |
|
|
$ |
551,774 |
|
Other current assets |
|
|
8,211 |
|
|
|
7,246 |
|
Marketable securities, long-term |
|
|
128,682 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other long-term assets |
|
|
25,166 |
|
|
|
12,987 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
754,146 |
|
|
$ |
572,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
$ |
22,214 |
|
|
$ |
13,717 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
488 |
|
|
|
605 |
|
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
9,947 |
|
|
|
7,652 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
$ |
32,649 |
|
|
$ |
21,974 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders’ equity |
|
$ |
721,497 |
|
|
$ |
550,033 |
|
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |
|
$ |
754,146 |
|
|
$ |
572,007 |
|
XENON PHARMACEUTICALS INC.Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss(Expressed in
thousands of U.S. dollars except share and per share amounts)
|
|
Three Months Ended December
31, |
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
3,737 |
|
|
$ |
9,434 |
|
|
$ |
18,437 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
34,830 |
|
|
|
21,887 |
|
|
|
105,767 |
|
|
|
75,463 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
8,501 |
|
|
|
6,688 |
|
|
|
32,810 |
|
|
|
21,967 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
43,331 |
|
|
|
28,575 |
|
|
|
138,577 |
|
|
|
97,430 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(43,331 |
) |
|
|
(24,838 |
) |
|
|
(129,143 |
) |
|
|
(78,993 |
) |
Other income (loss) |
|
|
7,075 |
|
|
|
(242 |
) |
|
|
3,888 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
(36,256 |
) |
|
|
(25,080 |
) |
|
|
(125,255 |
) |
|
|
(78,888 |
) |
Income tax (expense) recovery |
|
|
(1,139 |
) |
|
|
(484 |
) |
|
|
(118 |
) |
|
|
6 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
(37,395 |
) |
|
|
(25,564 |
) |
|
|
(125,373 |
) |
|
|
(78,882 |
) |
Net loss attributable to preferred shareholders |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(478 |
) |
|
|
(437 |
) |
|
|
(1,795 |
) |
Net loss attributable to common shareholders |
|
$ |
(37,395 |
) |
|
$ |
(25,086 |
) |
|
$ |
(124,936 |
) |
|
$ |
(77,087 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
comprehensive loss: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities |
|
$ |
(45 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(2,010 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
Comprehensive loss |
|
$ |
(37,440 |
) |
|
$ |
(25,564 |
) |
|
$ |
(127,383 |
) |
|
$ |
(78,882 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
per common share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.57 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.47 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.06 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.77 |
) |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
|
65,657,784 |
|
|
|
53,320,634 |
|
|
|
60,542,142 |
|
|
|
43,627,452 |
|
Investor/Media Contact:Jodi RegtsXenon
Pharmaceuticals Inc.Phone: 604.484.3353Email:
investors@xenon-pharma.com
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