Verona Pharma Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update
Ohtuvayre™ (ensifentrine) launch recorded Q3 net sales of $5.6 million and October net sales exceeded Q3
Through October more than 2,200 unique prescribers and more than 5,000 prescriptions filled across a broad COPD population
Pipeline expansion continues: Phase 2 programs enrolling
Conference call today at 9:00 a.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. GMT
LONDON and RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verona Pharma plc (NASDAQ:VRNA) ("Verona Pharma" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on respiratory diseases, announces its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, and provides a corporate update.
"We are pleased to report an exceptionally strong start to the US launch of Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) with healthcare professionals (HCPs) prescribing treatment across a broad range of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ("COPD") patients including background single, dual and nearly 50% on triple therapy," said David Zaccardelli, Pharm. D., President and Chief Executive Officer. "While it is still very early in the launch, we are extremely encouraged from the initial patient and HCP reports about Ohtuvayre's potential to improve COPD symptoms regardless of COPD severity. This broad utilization across all patient types is consistent with market research and supports our belief that Ohtuvayre's bronchodilator and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activity is a significant advancement for COPD patients and can re-define the treatment paradigm.
"In the third quarter, through the first seven weeks of launch, we recorded $5.6 million of net sales. We are excited by the continued acceleration as net sales for October exceeded the third quarter. More than 5,000 Ohtuvayre prescriptions were filled and more than 2,200 unique HCPs prescribed Ohtuvayre in just 12 weeks.
"Alongside our successful Ohtuvayre launch, in the third quarter we initiated two Phase 2 clinical trials: a dose-ranging trial with glycopyrrolate, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist ("LAMA"), supporting a nebulized fixed-dose combination program with ensifentrine for the maintenance treatment of COPD, and a trial assessing the efficacy and safety of nebulized ensifentrine in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis ("NCFBE")."
Third Quarter and Recent Highlights
In August 2024, the Company launched Ohtuvayre for the maintenance treatment of COPD in the US.
During the third quarter of 2024, the Company began enrollment in two new clinical programs:
Phase 2 dose-ranging trial with glycopyrrolate, a LAMA, supporting a fixed-dose combination program for the maintenance treatment of COPD via a nebulizer.
Phase 2 trial to assess the efficacy and safety of nebulized ensifentrine in patients with NCFBE.
Following the end of the third quarter, the Company received notification from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that its permanent, product-specific J-code for Ohtuvayre, J7601, has been accepted and will be effective January 1, 2025.
The Company recently presented additional analyses of data from the Phase 3 ENHANCE trials with ensifentrine for the maintenance treatment of COPD at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2024 and at CHEST Annual Meeting 2024 ("CHEST"). Approximately 1,500 HCPs visited Verona Pharma's medical and commercial booths for Ohtuvayre at CHEST.
In September 2024, the Company's development partner in Greater China, Nuance Pharma, completed enrollment in its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating ensifentrine for the maintenance treatment of COPD in China. Results from the trial are expected in 2025.
Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Cash position: Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2024 were $336.0 million (December 31, 2023: $271.8 million). The Company believes cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2024, along with product sales and funding expected to become available under the $650 million strategic financings completed in May 2024, will enable Verona Pharma to fund planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least the end of 2026.
Product sales: Net sales were $5.6 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 (Q3 2023: $0 million) related to product sales of Ohtuvayre. The Company received FDA approval on June 26, 2024 and the product was commercially available beginning in August 2024.
Cost of sales: Cost of sales was $0.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 (Q3 2023: $0 million), which included Ohtuvayre manufacturing costs incurred after US approval, inventory overhead costs and sales-based royalties due to Ligand.
R&D Expenses: Research and development ("R&D") expenses were $10.6 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 (Q3 2023: $3.0 million). This increase of $7.6 million was primarily due to an $7.8 million increase in clinical trial and other development costs as we initiated two Phase 2 trials in the quarter.
SG&A Expenses: Selling general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $35.2 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 (Q3 2023: $13.4 million). This increase of $21.8 million was driven primarily by a $9.7 million increase in people-related costs and $2.8 million in share-based compensation primarily related to our field sales team, which was hired in the lead up to the launch of Ohtuvayre. Additionally, marketing and other commercial related activities, including travel, increased by $7.5 million due to the launch. We also had an increase of $1.6 million related to professional and consulting fees, information technology costs and other support costs due to the continued build-out of our commercial organization.
Net loss: Net loss was $43.0 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 (Q3 2023: $14.7 million).
Conference Call and Webcast InformationVerona Pharma will host an investment community webcast and conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. GMT on Monday, November 4, 2024, to discuss the third quarter 2024 financial results and provide a corporate update.
To participate, please dial one of the following numbers and ask to join the Verona Pharma call:
+1-833-816-1396 for callers in the United States
+1-412-317-0489 for international callers
A live webcast will be available on the Events and Presentations link on the Investors page of the Company's website, www.veronapharma.com, and the audio replay will be available for 90 days. An electronic copy of the third quarter 2024 results press release will also be made available today on the Company's website.
For further information please contact:
Verona Pharma plc
Tel: +1-844-341-9901
Victoria Stewart, Senior Director of Investor Relations and Communications
Argot Partners US Investor Enquiries
Tel: +1-212-600-1902
Ten Bridge Communications International / US Media Enquiries
Tel: +1-781-316-4424
Wendy Ryan
About Verona Pharma
Verona Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Ohtuvayre™ (ensifentrine) is the Company's first commercial product and the first inhaled therapy for the maintenance treatment of COPD that combines bronchodilator and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activities in one molecule. Ensifentrine has potential applications in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, asthma and other respiratory diseases. For more information, please visit www.veronapharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. All statements contained in ...
