NEWTON, Mass., Aug. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALNA), a late-stage, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing first-in-class, oral enzyme therapeutics to treat patients with rare and severe metabolic and kidney disorders, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 and also provided a business update.

“Our second quarter and recent accomplishments demonstrate significant progress across our pipeline of proprietary oral enzyme product candidates. We continue to execute against our key objectives for 2018,” said Alexey Margolin, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Allena Pharmaceuticals. “We have continued activating sites globally for our URIROX-1 study of reloxiliase in enteric hyperoxaluria and are encouraged by the initial enrollment. Based on constructive engagement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we have also begun start-up activities for URIROX-2, including entering into an agreement with our contract research organization, and continue to expect to initiate this trial in the second half of the year. Additionally, we treated the first patients in our Phase 2 basket trial of reloxiliase in the most severe forms of hyperoxaluria. We have also expanded our pipeline with the selection of ALLN-346 as our lead product candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with gout and CKD. We are committed to building out our product pipeline to address a broad range of severe metabolic and kidney-related disorders and believe we have made important strides towards this goal year-to-date.”

Recent Business Highlights and Upcoming Milestones:

Reloxiliase (ALLN-177): Reloxiliase, also known as ALLN-177, is a first-in-class, non-absorbed, orally-administered enzyme for the treatment of severe hyperoxaluria. Allena is currently evaluating reloxiliase in URIROX-1, the first of two anticipated Phase 3 clinical trials intended to support a potential accelerated approval filing of a Biologic License Application (BLA) for reloxiliase in patients with enteric hyperoxaluria. Allena continues to engage with the FDA to finalize the design of URIROX-2, the second, larger, planned Phase 3 clinical trial of reloxiliase in patients with enteric hyperoxaluria, and to discuss the potential eligibility of ALLN-177 for an accelerated approval pathway. In addition, the Company is evaluating reloxiliase in Study 206, a Phase 2 basket trial in adults and adolescents with primary hyperoxaluria or enteric hyperoxaluria with advanced CKD and elevated plasma oxalate.

• In July 2018, Allena announced the treatment of the first patients in Study 206. The multi-center, open-label, single arm study is enrolling between 15 and 20 patients ages 12 and older in the U.S. and Europe for treatment with reloxiliase for 12 consecutive weeks. Clinical trial sites in the U.S. are enrolling patients, and investigators are preparing to enroll patients at European sites in the third quarter of 2018.

Consistent with prior guidance, Allena expects to achieve the following key milestones:

• Pending ongoing interactions with the FDA, initiate the URIROX-2 Phase 3 clinical trial in the second half of 2018;
• Report interim data from Study 206 in the second half of 2018; and
• Report topline data from the URIROX-1 Phase 3 clinical trial in the second half of 2019.

ALLN-346: ALLN-346 is a first-in-class, orally administered, novel urate degrading enzyme that has been optimized for stability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is in preclinical development for the treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with gout and CKD. These patients have high unmet need due to limitations of existing therapies, such as poor tolerability, reduced efficacy, dose restriction or contraindications.

• In June 2018, Allena announced the completion of an animal proof-of-concept study supporting the selection of ALLN-346 as its lead product candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia in patients with gout and CKD. ALLN-346 demonstrated a robust reduction in both plasma and urine uric acid levels in an established urate oxidase knock-out mouse model, a severe animal model of hyperuricemia with advanced CKD and kidney damage due to urate crystal deposition.

Consistent with prior guidance, Allena expects to achieve the following key milestones:

• Present detailed preclinical data for ALLN-346 at a scientific conference in the second half of 2018; and
• File an IND application with the FDA in the first half of 2019.

Corporate:

• In June 2018, Allena announced the appointment of Andrew A. F. Hack, M.D., Ph.D., to its Board of Directors, where he serves as Chair of the Audit Committee.

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results:

• Cash Position: As of June 30, 2018, cash and cash equivalents were $78.9 million, as compared to $94.5 million as of December 31, 2017. This decrease was primarily due to cash used in operating activities.
• R&D Expenses: R&D expenses were $5.9 million for the second quarter of 2018, as compared to $3.5 million for the second quarter of 2017. This increase was primarily due to costs incurred for URIROX-1 and Study 206, which were both initiated in the first quarter of 2018, in addition to an increase in employee-related costs due to the hiring of additional clinical and technical operations personnel to support the URIROX Phase 3 program.
• G&A Expenses: G&A expenses were $2.3 million for the second quarter of 2018, as compared to $1.0 million for the second quarter of 2017. This increase was primarily due to increases in compensation and benefit costs, including stock-based compensation, and costs attributable to operating as a public company during the second quarter of 2018, as compared to the second quarter of 2017.
• Net Loss: Net loss was $8.6 million for the second quarter of 2018, or a net loss per basic and diluted share of $0.42, as compared to a net loss of $4.6 million for the second quarter of 2017, or a net loss per basic and diluted share of $3.46. The decrease in net loss per share for the second quarter of 2018 as compared to the second quarter of 2017 is primarily due to an increase in weighted average shares outstanding for the second quarter of 2018, following completion of the Company’s IPO and concurrent conversion of its preferred stock into common stock in November 2017.

Financial Guidance:

Based on its current plans, Allena continues to expect that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital requirements into 2020.

About Allena Pharmaceuticals

Allena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing first-in-class, oral enzyme therapeutics to treat patients with rare and severe metabolic and kidney disorders. Allena’s lead product candidate, reloxiliase (ALLN-177), is a first in class, oral enzyme therapeutic for the treatment of hyperoxaluria, a metabolic disorder characterized by markedly elevated urinary oxalate levels and commonly associated with kidney stones, chronic kidney disease and other serious kidney disorders.