CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AlloVir (Nasdaq: ALVR), a late clinical-stage cell therapy company, today provided a corporate update and reported full-year 2020 financial results for the period ended December 31, 2020.
“Since completing our initial public offering in 2020, our team achieved our ambitious milestones, as planned. These milestones included obtaining clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two Investigational New Drug (IND) applications, initiating three clinical trials with our lead therapy, Viralym-M, as well as initiating our proof-of-concept (POC) clinical trial with our SARS-CoV-2 virus-specific T-cell (VST) therapy, ALVR109,” said David Hallal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AlloVir. “We’re pleased that dosing has commenced with our initial two investigational VST therapies, Viralym-M and ALVR109. We look forward to enrolling an increasing number of patients in our clinical trials throughout 2021, while also initiating up to four additional clinical trials with our three clinical-stage cell therapies Viralym-M, ALVR109 and ALVR106.”
Recent Highlights
Viralym-M for Allogeneic HSCT Recipients
- The Phase 3, multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of Viralym-M for the treatment of virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in pediatric and adult patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) was initiated. Sites are actively recruiting patients and the trial is ongoing.
- A first-of-its-kind, multi-virus prevention, Phase 2, POC clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of Viralym-M in pediatric and adult patients following allo-HSCT was initiated. The trial is targeting the prevention of BK virus (BKV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), adenovirus (AdV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and JC virus (JCV). Sites are actively recruiting patients and the trial is ongoing.
- Results from the Phase 2, POC CHARMS clinical trial with Viralym-M, and data that highlight the economic and clinical burden of virus-associated HC in pediatric and adult patients following allo-HSCT, were presented in two oral presentations at the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition (ASH) in December. The CHARMS data demonstrated that patients treated with Viralym-M saw a 93% response rate overall and a 100% response rate for at least one virus in patients with more than one viral infection. Viralym-M was generally well-tolerated in allo-HSCT patients with at least one drug refractory infection. Based on these data and the critical medical need, Viralym-M was granted PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) designation by the European Medicines Agency and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation by the FDA.
Viralym-M for SOT Recipients
- A Phase 2 POC trial of Viralym-M for the preemptive treatment of BK viremia in adult kidney transplant recipients has been initiated. BK viremia is one of the most feared complications for kidney transplant patients leading to decreased graft survival. Sites are actively recruiting patients and the trial is ongoing.
ALVR109 for COVID-19
- The Phase 1 POC clinical trial for ALVR109, an allogeneic, off-the-shelf VST therapy candidate designed to target SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the severe and life-threatening viral disease, COVID-19, has been initiated. The trial is actively recruiting patients and ongoing.
- Preclinical ALVR109 data were presented during an oral presentation at ASH in December, demonstrating specific antiviral activity. In the study, the VST therapy produced effector molecules and selectively killed viral antigen-expressing targets while leaving non-infected targets intact.
ALVR106 for Multi-Respiratory Viruses
- AlloVir announced that the FDA cleared the IND application for ALVR106, an allogeneic, off-the-shelf, multi-respiratory VST therapy designed to target infections and diseases caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, parainfluenza virus (PIV), and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).
2021 Outlook
Viralym-M for HSCT Recipients
- Two additional pivotal clinical trials are expected to be initiated in 2021, including for the treatment of CMV and the treatment of AdV in adult and pediatric allo-HSCT recipients. CMV and AdV-associated diseases are among the leading causes of life-threatening complications following allo-HSCT, often resulting in multi-organ involvement with the viruses invading the brain, the lungs, the liver, and other vital organs.
- Initial data from the open-label phase of the POC multi-virus prevention trial in allo-HSCT recipients is expected in the second half of 2021.
Viralym-M for SOT Recipients
- A Phase 1 POC clinical trial will be initiated in CMV for solid organ transplant recipients.
- Interim data is also anticipated in the second half of 2021 from the POC trial in BK viremia in kidney transplant recipients.
ALVR109 for COVID-19
- Topline data from the ALVR109 POC clinical trial in COVID-19 is expected in the second half of 2021.
ALVR106 for Multi-Respiratory Viruses
- A POC clinical trial for ALVR106, targeting multiple respiratory viruses, including RSV, influenza, PIV, and hMPV, in allogeneic and autologous HSCT recipients, is expected to be initiated in the upcoming 2021 respiratory virus season.
- The company will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of the respiratory viral infections that ALVR106 targets.
Pipeline Program and Corporate Milestones
- The company plans to complete preclinical, IND-enabling studies for both ALVR107 for the treatment of hepatitis B virus and ALVR108 for the treatment of human herpesvirus-8 in the second half of 2021.
- The company remains on track to expand the capacity of its manufacturing network in 2021 with the addition of ElevateBio Basecamp.
2020 Financial Highlights
- Research and development expenses were $49.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $16.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase year-over-year is attributable to costs related to the development of the company’s product candidates, increased activity in outsourcing of manufacturing, and an increase in headcount and external consultants in support of research activities.
- General and administrative expense was $21.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $10.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase year-over-year was primarily attributable to legal, accounting and professional fees related to costs associated with operating activities and preparing for and executing the company’s initial public offering.
- Stock-based compensation expense was $9.4 million and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
- As of December 31, 2020, AlloVir had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $356.3 million, which compares to cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $126.1 million as of December 31, 2019.
- For the year ended December 31, 2020, net loss was $69.8 million or $2.59 per share compared to a net loss of $23.8 million or $18.54 per share for the year ended December 31, 2019. The total number of common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020 was 61,931,255.
About AlloVir
AlloVir is a leading late clinical-stage cell therapy company with a focus on restoring natural immunity against life-threatening viral diseases in pediatric and adult patients with weakened immune systems. The company’s innovative and proprietary technology platforms leverage off-the-shelf, allogeneic, single and multi-virus specific T-cells targeting devastating viruses for patients with T-cell deficiencies who are at risk from the life-threatening consequences of viral diseases. AlloVir’s technology and manufacturing process enables the potential for the treatment and prevention of a spectrum of devastating viruses with each single allogeneic cell therapy. The company is advancing multiple mid- and late-stage clinical trials across its product portfolio. For more information visit www.allovir.com.