BOSTON, Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Albireo Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALBO), a clinical-stage rare pediatric liver disease company developing novel bile acid modulators, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020.

“2020 was a tremendous year as we delivered on several key milestones, including announcement of positive results from our pivotal PEDFIC 1 Phase 3 study in PFIC patients, completion of regulatory filings in the U.S. and EU in record time, and initiation of two additional pivotal Phase 3 studies in Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia,” said Ron Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer of Albireo. “We anticipate 2021 to be a similar year of significant accomplishments with the planned approval and commercialization of odevixibat in the U.S. and EU, issuance of our priority review voucher, enrollment advancing in our Phase 3 trials and fully characterizing our two new bile acid modulators with novel MOAs.”

Recent and Upcoming Highlights

Odevixibat

• The Company filed a New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking approval of odevixibat for the treatment of patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) in the fourth quarter with follow-on announcement January 25, 2021 of the acceptance from both U.S. and EU regulatory agencies.
• The FDA granted Priority Review and set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of July 20, 2021. Odevixibat previously received Fast Track, Rare Pediatric Disease and Orphan Drug Designations in the U.S.
• In Europe, odevixibat is the only ileal bile acid transport inhibitor (IBATi) granted accelerated assessment by the EMA, and has been granted Orphan Designation as well as access to the PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) scheme for the treatment of PFIC. The EMA’s Pediatric Committee has agreed to Albireo’s odevixibat Pediatric Investigation Plans.
• With U.S. and EU regulatory filings for odevixibat in PFIC completed, the Company anticipates potential regulatory approvals and issuance of a rare pediatric disease Priority Review Voucher, and continues to advance launch plans for the second half of 2021 with focus on global market access, distribution and patient support.
• The Company entered into a limited co-promotion agreement in the US with Travere Therapeutics. Travere is a leading rare disease company and marketer of Cholbam® (cholic acid) capsules, which are used by pediatric hepatologists who are the main call point for odevixibat. The co-promotion agreement is set for two years with optionality for extending the relationship. Albireo will book all revenue and will pay Travere certain fees to compensate its sales representatives for their efforts in selling odevixibat.
• Completed first ex-U.S. commercial distributorship with Medison Pharma, Ltd. ("Medison”) for odevixibat in Israel. Medison is a leading international commercial partner for highly innovative therapies. Under the agreement, Medison will be responsible for approval and commercialization in Israel in close alignment and with oversight from Albireo.
• BOLD, the first and only pivotal Phase 3 trial of an IBAT inhibitor in biliary atresia was initiated, with 42 sites activated and global enrollment continuing despite COVID-19 challenges.
• Initiated and enrolling the ASSERT Study, a global Phase 3 pivotal trial of odevixibat in patients with Alagille Syndrome (ALGS).

Early-Stage Pipeline

• The Company is exploring multiple approaches for modulating bile acids to significantly change the bile acid transporter approach in adult liver and viral diseases through new mechanisms of action. The planned primary focus is on primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) as well as viral liver diseases such as hepatitis B and D.
• Unveiled novel bile acid modulator approaches and lead candidate A3907, a systemic oral apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) inhibitor for adult liver diseases, having completed IND-enabling studies with plans for Phase 1 study initiation by end of the first quarter and topline results by the end of the year.
• Selected new development candidate A2342, an oral systemic sodium-taurocholate co-transporting peptide (NTCP) inhibitor for viral disease.

Corporate

• The Company hosted a Commercial Day on February 11, 2021 with presentations on corporate ambition and outlook, the larger market opportunity in rare pediatric and adult liver disease and global commercialization and launch plans for odevixibat following anticipated approval for progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) patients.
• Recently appointed key leadership positions: Kevin Springman as the President of the Americas is in place, and Steve Arnold as the President of International starting in March. These leaders are finalizing specialized U.S. and international teams to have in place starting in the second half of 2021. Springman has had a successful track record in sales, marketing and market access roles at Sobi and before that at AstraZeneca. Arnold has extensive experience building and leading international teams, most recently at Intercept, and prior to that at UCB and Gilead.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Results

• Revenues were $2.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $6.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The decrease in revenue primarily relates to a sales-based milestone achieved in 2019 offset by higher sales-based royalties earned in 2020. The royalty revenue is passed on to HealthCare Royalty Partners.
• R&D expenses were $20.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $14.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The higher expenses were principally due to personnel expenses as we continue to increase our headcount and program activities. The increase in program activities related primarily to odevixibat for regulatory submissions in PFIC, and the initiation of clinical trials for additional indications for biliary atresia and ALGS.
• G&A expenses were $14.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $6.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase is attributable to personnel and related expenses as the Company continues to increase headcount and commercialization readiness activities.
• Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $24.8 million, or $(1.30) per share, compared to $7.5 million, or $(0.57) per share for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2020

• Revenues were $8.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $9.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The year-over-year decrease in revenue primarily relates to a sales-based milestone achieved in 2019 offset by higher sales-based royalties earned in 2020.
• R&D expenses were $76.8 million for 2020, compared to $45.6 million for the same period in 2019. The higher research and development expenses for the 2020 period were principally due to personnel expenses as we continue to increase our headcount and program activities. The increase in program activities related primarily to odevixibat for regulatory submissions in PFIC, the initiation of clinical trials for additional indications for biliary atresia and ALGS, and preclinical programs.
• G&A expenses were $42.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared with $23.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase is attributable to personnel and related expenses as the Company continues to increase headcount and commercialization readiness activities.
• Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $107.6 million, or $(6.73) per share, compared to $62.7 million, or $(5.04) per share for the year ended December 31, 2019.
• The Company had cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2020, of $251.3 million, which compares to $131.8 million at December 31, 2019. The Company has sufficient capital resources to fund the planned launch and development programs. Cash runway into 2023 and plans to monetize a Priority Review Voucher, if received upon approval. The 2021 operating cash burn is anticipated to be in the range of $120-$130 million. 2021 revenue from odevixibat is anticipated to be in the low single digit US $ millions.

About Odevixibat

Odevixibat is an investigational product candidate being developed to treat rare pediatric cholestatic liver diseases, including PFIC, biliary atresia and ALGS. A potent, once-daily, non-systemic ileal bile acid transport inhibitor (IBATi), odevixibat acts locally in the small intestine. Odevixibat does not require refrigeration and can be taken as a capsule for older children, or opened and sprinkled onto food, which are factors of key importance for adherence in a pediatric patient population. The FDA has granted Priority Review and set a PDUFA goal date of July 20, 2021. In Europe, the EMA validated MAA. Odevixibat is the only IBATi granted accelerated assessment by the EMA.

Odevixibat also been granted Orphan Designation, as well as access to the PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) scheme for the treatment of PFIC. The EMA’s Pediatric Committee has agreed to Albireo’s odevixibat Pediatric Investigation Plans for PFIC and biliary atresia. In addition to PFIC, odevixibat has Orphan Drug Designations for the treatment of Alagille syndrome, biliary atresia and primary biliary cholangitis. With FDA and EMA regulatory submissions complete, odevixibat has the potential to become the first approved drug treatment for patients with PFIC in the U.S and Europe. The Company anticipates potential regulatory approvals, issuance of a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher and launch in the second half of 2021.

The MAA and NDA filings are supported by results from PEDFIC 1 and PEDFIC 2 Phase 3 studies. PEDFIC 1 was the first and largest, global, pivotal Phase 3 study conducted in PFIC, which evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of odevixibat in reducing pruritus and serum bile acids in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. In the PEDFIC 1 study, odevixibat met both primary endpoints and was well tolerated with very low incidence of diarrhea/frequent bowel movements (9.5% of odevixibat treated patients vs. 5.0% of placebo patients). ir.albireopharma.com/news-releases/news-release-details/albireo-phase-3-trial-meets-both-primary-endpoints-odevixibat. PEDFIC 2 is a long-term, open-label Phase 3 extension study. The Company also provides an Expanded Access Program (EAP) for eligible patients with PFIC in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia. Odevixibat is also currently being evaluated in the BOLD Phase 3 trial in patients with biliary atresia, and the global Phase 3 ASSERT trial for ALGS.

About Albireo
Albireo Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel bile acid modulators to treat rare pediatric and adult liver diseases. Albireo’s lead product candidate, odevixibat, is being developed to treat rare pediatric cholestatic liver diseases with Phase 3 pivotal trials in PFIC, Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia. The Company completed IND-enabling studies for new preclinical candidate A3907 and plans to advance development in adult liver disease. Albireo was spun out from AstraZeneca in 2008 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with its key operating subsidiary in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Boston Business Journal named Albireo one of the 2020 Best Places to Work in Massachusetts for the second consecutive year. For more information on Albireo, please visit albireopharma.com.