Allakos Announces a Restructuring to Focus on Development of AK006
16 Janeiro 2024 - 9:02AM
Allakos Inc. (the Company) (Nasdaq: ALLK), a biotechnology company
developing antibodies for the treatment of allergic, inflammatory
and proliferative diseases, today announced a restructuring to
reduce costs and to focus on AK006 clinical development and
additional preclinical programs. As a result, the Company’s cash
runway is expected to extend into mid-2026.
Restructuring ActivitiesThe Company will halt
lirentelimab-related activities across clinical, manufacturing,
research and administrative functions. As a result, the Company
will reduce its workforce by approximately 50%.
Cash GuidanceThe Company ended the fourth
quarter of 2023 with approximately $171 million in cash, cash
equivalents and investments (unaudited). The Company’s outlook for
2024 cash, cash equivalents and investments is as follows:
Cash, cash equivalents and investments at year end 2023
(unaudited) |
$171 million |
Estimated 2024 net cash used in operating activities (GAAP) |
($85 to $90 million) |
Estimated cash, cash equivalents and investments at year end
2024 |
$81 to $86 million |
Components of estimated 2024 net cash used in operating
activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 are as follows:
Estimated net cash used in operating activities (GAAP) |
$85 to $90 million |
Less: estimated lirentelimab closeout, severance and other costs
1 |
($30 million) |
Estimated adjusted net cash used in operating activities
(non-GAAP) |
$55 to $60 million |
1 The Company anticipates that the
significant majority of the restructuring expenditures will be paid
in the first half of 2024.
The Company expects that the restructuring activities will
extend the cash runway into mid-2026.
Anticipated Allakos Milestones
- Q1 2024: Complete dosing in the single ascending dose (SAD) and
multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts of the randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial of Intravenous (IV)
AK006 in healthy volunteers.
- Q1 2024: Initiate the randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled subcutaneous (SC) AK006 cohort in healthy
volunteers.
- Q2 2024: Report SAD and MAD safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and
pharmacodynamic (PD) results from the Phase 1 IV AK006 trial in
healthy volunteers, including data to confirm Siglec-6 receptor
occupancy in skin biopsy samples.
- Q2 2024: Initiate the randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial of IV AK006 in patients with
chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).
- Q3 2024: Report subcutaneous (SC) AK006 safety, PK, and PD
results from the Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers, including
data to confirm Siglec-6 receptor occupancy in skin biopsy
samples.
- Year End 2024: Report topline data from the Phase 1 trial of IV
AK006 in patients with CSU.
About Siglec-6 and AK006
Siglec-6 is a member of the family of cell surface receptors
called Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins (Siglecs).
Siglec-6 is found on the surface of mature mast cells, and
therefore offers a way to target mast cells. Siglec-6 exerts
inhibition through its intracellular immunoreceptor tyrosine-based
motif (ITIM).
ITIM bearing receptors antagonize activating receptors and
consequently have important roles in regulating the immune system.
The inhibitory function is derived from the ability of the ITIMs to
recruit SH2 domain-containing phosphatases which work to oppose
activating signals driven by kinase signaling cascades. Disrupting
kinase signaling cascades has been a successful strategy for
treating inflammatory diseases as evidenced by approved drugs which
target JAK, KIT, BTK, SYK, and others. However, often these kinase
signaling pathways are active in multiple cell types, which can
result in unintended side effects when disrupted.
AK006 is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody which activates
the inhibitory receptor Siglec-6. AK006 is directed to an
extracellular epitope of the Siglec-6 receptor that was identified
for its ability to generate strong inhibitory signals to mast
cells. Furthermore, AK006 was engineered to have higher cell
surface residence time which may increase mast cell inhibition. In
addition to inhibition, in preclinical studies AK006 reduces mast
cell numbers via antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) in
the presence of activated macrophages.
Conference Call and Webcast InformationThe
webcast and conference call will take place at 8:00 am ET / 5:00 am
PT on January 16th, 2024. Please click here to
pre-register to participate in the conference call and obtain your
dial in number and PIN.
A webcast of the live call will be available online in the
investor relations section of the Allakos website.
Access to the webcast replay will be available approximately two
hours after completion of the call and will be archived on the
Company’s website for approximately 30 days.
About AllakosAllakos is a clinical
stage biotechnology company developing therapeutics which target
immunomodulatory receptors present on immune effector cells
involved in allergy, inflammatory and proliferative diseases.
Activating these immunomodulatory receptors allows for the direct
targeting of cells involved in disease pathogenesis and, in the
setting of allergy and inflammation, has the potential to result in
broad inhibition of inflammatory cells. The Company’s most advanced
antibody in ongoing clinical development is AK006. AK006 targets
Siglec-6, an inhibitory receptor expressed on mast cells. Mast
cells are widely distributed in the body and play a central role in
the inflammatory response. Inappropriately activated mast cells
have been identified as key drivers in a number of severe diseases
affecting the gastrointestinal tract, eyes, skin, lungs and other
organs. In preclinical studies, AK006 appears to provide deep mast
cell inhibition and, in addition to its inhibitory activity, reduce
mast cell numbers. For more information, please visit the Company's
website at www.allakos.com.
Non-GAAP Financial MeasureIn this press
release, Allakos’ estimated net cash used in operating activities
is provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP) in the United States and also on a non-GAAP
basis. Non-GAAP estimated adjusted net cash used in operating
activities excludes estimated lirentelimab closeout, severance and
other costs. Non-GAAP estimated adjusted net cash used in operating
activities is provided as a complement to estimated net cash used
in operating activities provided in accordance with GAAP because
management believes the non-GAAP financial measure is useful to
investors in assessing the Company’s operating
performance. Management also uses the non-GAAP financial
measure to establish operational goals that are communicated
internally and externally, to manage the Company’s business and to
evaluate its performance.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as contained in
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
Allakos’ progress, business plans and areas of focus; Allakos’
expectations regarding its financial position and guidance,
including estimated lirentelimab closeout, severance and other
costs and the timing of payment of restructuring expenditures,
ending 2023 and 2024 cash, cash equivalents and investments, and
cash runway; the potential of AK006; and Allakos’ anticipated
milestones. Such statements are subject to numerous important
factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or
results to differ materially from current expectations and beliefs,
including but not limited to: Allakos’ stages of clinical drug
development; Allakos’ ability to timely initiate and complete
clinical trials for AK006; Allakos’ ability to obtain required
regulatory approvals for its clinical trials; uncertainties related
to the enrollment of patients in its clinical trials; Allakos’
ability to demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy of its
product candidates in its clinical trials; uncertainties related to
the success of clinical trials, regardless of the outcomes of
preclinical testing or early-stage trials; Allakos’ ability to
advance additional product candidates beyond AK006; uncertainties
related to Allakos’ ability to realize the contemplated benefits of
its restructuring and related reduction in force; Allakos’
ability to accurately forecast financial results; Allakos’ ability
to obtain additional capital to finance its operations; general
economic and market conditions, both domestic and international;
domestic and international regulatory obligations; and other risks.
Information regarding the foregoing and additional risks may be
found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in documents
that Allakos files from time to time to with
the SEC. These documents contain and identify important
factors that could cause the actual results
for Allakos to differ materially from those contained in
Allakos’ forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements
contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof,
and Allakos specifically disclaims any obligation to
update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.
These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as
representing Allakos’ views as of any date subsequent to the date
of this press release.
Source: Allakos Inc.
Investor Contact:Adam Tomasi, PresidentAlex Schwartz, VP
Strategic Finance and Investor Relationsir@allakos.com
Media Contact:Denise Powelldenise@redhousecomms.com
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