– Conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET –
“In the third quarter, we built on the progress of the first half of the year and have made significant advancements in our clinical development programs for both KORSUVA™ (CR845/difelikefalin) Injection and Oral KORSUVA. With our pivotal Phase 3 program for KORSUVA Injection for chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) in hemodialysis patients complete, we remain on track to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the
Third Quarter and Recent Developments:
KORSUVA Injection: Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP): Hemodialysis
In
The Company remains on track to submit an NDA for KORSUVA Injection to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Oral KORSUVA: CKD-aP: Non-Hemodialysis
Following the announcement of positive top-line results from its Phase 2 dose-ranging trial of Oral KORSUVA for the treatment of pruritus in patients with stage III-V (moderate-to-severe) CKD in
Oral KORSUVA: Atopic Dermatitis (AD)
The Company is currently conducting the ongoing KARE Phase 2 dose-ranging trial of Oral KORSUVA for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pruritus in AD patients. The study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of three tablet strengths (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg, twice daily) of Oral KORSUVA versus placebo for 12 weeks, followed by a 4-week active extension phase.
The Company continues to expect that the trial will be fully enrolled in the fourth quarter of 2020 and anticipates reporting top-line results in the first half of 2021, subject to any delays related to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Oral KORSUVA: Chronic Liver Disease-Associated Pruritus (CLD-aP): Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
The Company is currently conducting a Phase 2 trial of Oral KORSUVA for the treatment of pruritus in patients with hepatic impairment due to PBC. The trial is evaluating the safety and efficacy of Oral KORSUVA (1.0 mg tablet, twice daily) versus placebo for 16 weeks. The Company aims to have top-line data in the first half of 2021, due in part to delays related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Appointments
In
COVID-19 Impacts and Business Operations
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the FDA’s updated guidance for conducting clinical trials, the Company has implemented numerous clinical and operational measures to prioritize the health and safety of patients, employees and study investigators and minimize potential disruptions to its ongoing clinical studies. Cara is working closely with its clinical and commercial manufacturing partners to continue to ensure sufficient supply of KORSUVA is available for its ongoing and planned clinical trials.
Based on guidelines from the
Upcoming Activities
The Company expects to make presentations at the following upcoming conferences:
Stifel Healthcare Conference ,November 16-18, 2020 Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference ,November 17-19, 2020 Piper Sandler Healthcare Conference ,December 1-3, 2020 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference ,January 11-14, 2021
Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results
Net Loss: Net loss was
Revenues: Total revenue was
- The Company recognized
$9.3 million and$5.8 million of license and milestone fees revenue for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to license fees earned in connection with its license agreement withVifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd. (VFMCRP).
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were
Other Income, Net: Other income, net was
Cash and Cash Equivalents and
Financial Guidance
Based on timing expectations and projected costs for current clinical development plans, Cara expects that its existing unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale marketable securities as of
Conference Call
Cara management will host a conference call today at
To participate in the conference call, please dial (855) 445-2816 (domestic) or (484) 756-4300 (international) and refer to conference ID 2192536. A live webcast of the call can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the News & Investors section of the Company's website at www.CaraTherapeutics.com.
An archived webcast recording will be available on the Cara website beginning approximately two hours after the call.
About
The FDA has conditionally accepted KORSUVA as the trade name for difelikefalin injection. CR845/difelikefalin is an investigational drug product and its safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of these forward-looking statements include statements concerning the expected timing of the enrollment and data readouts from the Company’s ongoing clinical trials, the potential results of ongoing clinical trials, timing of future regulatory and development milestones for the Company’s product candidates, including the Company’s projected timeline for the submission of its NDA and potential commercialization of KORSUVA Injection for CKD-aP, the expected timeline for conducting meetings with the FDA concerning the Company’s product candidates, the potential for the Company’s product candidates to be alternatives in the therapeutic areas investigated, the Company’s expected cash reach, and the potential impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s clinical development and regulatory timelines and plans. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks are described more fully in Cara Therapeutics’ filings with the
Financial tables follow
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||||
(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
Revenue: | |||||||||
License and milestone fees | |||||||||
Clinical compound revenue | 9 | - | 616 | 140 | |||||
Total revenue | 9,266 | 5,785 | 22,993 | 15,375 | |||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||
Research and development | 21,067 | 35,992 | 80,711 | 83,956 | |||||
General and administrative | 5,219 | 4,226 | 15,187 | 13,128 | |||||
Total operating expenses | 26,286 | 40,218 | 95,898 | 97,084 | |||||
Operating loss | (17,020) | (34,433) | (72,905) | (81,709) | |||||
Other income, net | 379 | 1,261 | 1,970 | 3,297 | |||||
Loss before benefit from income taxes | (16,641) | (33,172) | (70,935) | (78,412) | |||||
Benefit from income taxes | 132 | 330 | 436 | 650 | |||||
Net loss | |||||||||
Net loss per share: | |||||||||
Basic and Diluted | |||||||||
Weighted average shares: | |||||||||
Basic and Diluted | 46,885,424 | 44,517,134 | 46,803,659 | 41,314,044 | |||||
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||
2020 | 2019 | ||||||||
Assets | |||||||||
Current assets: | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 75,281 | $ | 18,305 | |||||
Marketable securities | 45,588 | 136,701 | |||||||
Income tax receivable | 1,252 | 816 | |||||||
Other receivables | 462 | 971 | |||||||
Prepaid expenses | 10,254 | 8,863 | |||||||
Total current assets | 132,837 | 165,656 | |||||||
Operating lease right-of-use asset | 2,654 | 3,036 | |||||||
Marketable securities, non-current | 10,506 | 63,159 | |||||||
Property and equipment, net | 731 | 700 | |||||||
Restricted cash | 408 | 408 | |||||||
Total assets | $ | 147,136 | $ | 232,959 | |||||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | |||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 15,057 | $ | 19,665 | |||||
Operating lease liability, current | 1,030 | 967 | |||||||
Current portion of deferred revenue | 511 | 22,262 | |||||||
Total current liabilities | 16,598 | 42,894 | |||||||
Operating lease liability, non-current | 2,691 | 3,352 | |||||||
Commitments and contingencies | - | - | |||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||||
Preferred stock | - | - | |||||||
Common stock | 47 | 47 | |||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 598,663 | 587,223 | |||||||
Accumulated deficit | (471,226 | ) | (400,727 | ) | |||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 363 | 170 | |||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 127,847 | 186,713 | |||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 147,136 | $ | 232,959 | |||||
INVESTOR CONTACT:
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200
Janhavi.Mohite@sternir.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
6 Degrees
973-415-8838
astarr@6degreespr.com
Source:
2020 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source