Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.d819546d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

MENLO PARK, Calif., November 12, 2014 – Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAVL), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel gene therapies to transform the lives of patients with sight-threatening ophthalmic diseases, today reported financial results and operational highlights for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.

“The third quarter of 2014 marked important progress in the history of Avalanche as a leader in the development of gene therapies for diseases of the eye,” said Thomas W. Chalberg, Jr., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Avalanche. “The successful completion of our initial public offering substantially strengthened our balance sheet and provides the financial resources to advance the development of our portfolio of gene therapy candidates including AVA-101, which is in a Phase 2a clinical trial for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration. Further, we continue to innovate across the full range of our pipeline, including partnered work in rare genetic diseases of the eye and fundamental Avalanche technology advances with the development of novel vectors and methods of administration.”

Recent Business Highlights

 

    In August 2014, Avalanche completed its initial public offering raising net proceeds of approximately $106.5 million in its IPO, selling 6,900,000 shares of its common stock, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

 

    Concurrent with the completion of the IPO, Avalanche completed a $10.0 million private placement of common stock to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a collaboration partner of Avalanche.

 

    In September 2014, Avalanche strengthened its management team with the appointment of Roman G. Rubio, M.D. as Senior Vice President and Head of Translational Medicine.

Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

 

    Cash as of September 30, 2014 was $165.3 million, compared to $0.6 million as of December 31, 2013.

 

    Revenues, consisting primarily of revenue from collaborative research, was $0.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared to $30,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

 

    Research and development (R&D) expenses were $5.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared to $0.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

 

    General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $2.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared to $0.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

 

    Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $8.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared to a net loss of $0.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.


About Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc.

Avalanche is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel gene therapies to transform the lives of patients with sight-threatening ophthalmic diseases. Avalanche’s lead product, AVA-101, is currently under development in a Phase 2a clinical trial for wet AMD. Avalanche’s Ocular BioFactory(TM) platform technology is a proprietary adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy discovery and development technology optimized for ophthalmology that utilizes a directed evolution approach to generate novel drug candidates. For more information please visit www.avalanchebiotech.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding Avalanche’s expectations regarding sufficiency of existing cash to fund operations for projected periods of time, timing of release of additional data for its product candidates, timing of initiation of additional studies for its product candidates, plans regarding ongoing studies for existing programs and potential benefits of its products under development are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process, including the regulatory approval process, the timing of our regulatory filings and other matters that could affect sufficiency of existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments to fund operations and the availability or commercial potential of our drug candidates. Avalanche undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the company in general, see Avalanche’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 11, 2014, and its subsequent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

# # #

Contacts:

Investor Contact:

Chris Erdman

MacDougall Biomedical Communications

(781) 235-3060

cerdman@macbiocom.com

Media Contact:

Kathy Vincent

(310) 403-8951

kathy@kathyvincent.com


AVALANCHE BIOETECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     September 30,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash

   $ 165,329       $ 564   

Accounts receivable

     8         8   

Prepaid and other current assets

     996         250   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     166,333         822   

Property and equipment, net

     817         69   

Deposits and other long-term assets

     89         194   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 167,239       $ 1,085   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

     

Current liabilities:

     

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 3,648       $ 1,162   

Current portion of deferred revenue

     813         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     4,461         1,162   

Deferred revenue, less current portion

     6,849         —     

Convertible preferred stock warrant liability

     —           91   

Other liabilities

     194         50   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     11,504         1,303   

Series A convertible preferred stock

     —           7,992   

Stockholders’ equity (deficit)

     155,735         (8,210
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

   $ 167,239       $ 1,085   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


AVALANCHE BIOETECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2014     2013     2014     2013  

Collaboration and license revenue

   $ 204      $ —        $ 369      $ —     

Government grant revenue

     —          30        —          480   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     204        30        369        480   

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

     5,746        550        9,750        1,412   

General and administrative

     2,398        258        4,618        593   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     8,144        808        14,368        2,005   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (7,940     (778     (13,999     (1,525

Other expense, net

     (316     (35     (1,014     (58
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (8,256     (813     (15,013     (1,583

Deemed dividend

     —          —          (3,230     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (8,256   $ (813   $ (18,243   $ (1,583
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (0.50   $ (0.22   $ (2.29   $ (0.43
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding, outstanding, basic and diluted

     16,394        3,673        7,960        3,673