CTAD and SITC presentations in fourth quarter highlight progress across immuno-neurology and immuno-oncology portfolio
Over $900 million in pro forma cash, cash equivalents and investments supports execution of clinical, research and operational goals
Steady continued enrollment in progranulin franchise clinical trials for AL001 and AL101 and TREM2-targeting program for Alzheimer's disease, AL002
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alector, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALEC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the discovery and development of immuno-neurology therapeutics, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2021 financial results and summarized recent portfolio and business updates. As of December 31, 2021, Alector’s cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $735.3 million. In addition, the company received a $200 million payment from partner GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in January 2022.
“Over the past year, we made important strides in advancing our clinical and preclinical pipeline of candidates harnessing the innate immune system to address genetically validated targets against neurodegenerative diseases,” said Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Alector. “We shared the largest data set to date in individuals with frontotemporal dementia and established a transformative collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline designed to expand and accelerate the development of our progranulin franchise candidates, AL001 and AL101. We are building on this momentum in 2022; with three new INDs on the horizon, we expect to end the year with seven therapeutic candidates in clinical trials. With our strong balance sheet, expanded leadership team, growing development capabilities, maturing pipeline and productive research platform, we are well-positioned to execute our mission.”
Recent Clinical Updates and 2022 Milestones
Progranulin Programs: AL001 and AL101
Alector is developing monoclonal antibodies AL001 and AL101 to elevate levels of progranulin in the brain in partnership with GSK. Mutations resulting in progranulin deficiencies are known to be a causal factor for frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and a risk factor for amyloid lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. In July 2021, Alector entered into a global collaboration with GSK to co-develop and co-commercialize AL001 and AL101. Alector is actively enrolling the INFRONT-3 Phase 3 pivotal clinical study of AL001 in at-risk and symptomatic carriers of frontotemporal dementia with a progranulin mutation (FTD-GRN).
Alzheimer’s Disease Portfolio
AL002 and AL003 are Alector’s clinical-stage immuno-neurology antibodies being advanced for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. AL002 is intended to optimize microglial activity in the brain to combat Alzheimer’s disease by binding to the TREM2 receptor to stimulate microglia activity. AL003 blocks the Siglec3, or CD33, checkpoint inhibitor to increase microglia activity. Both are being developed in collaboration with AbbVie.
Early-Stage Pipeline in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Oncology
In 2022 Alector plans to advance three novel therapeutic candidates, including the company’s first immuno-oncology agents, into first-in-human clinical studies.
Recent Corporate News
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results
Revenue. Collaboration revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, was $14.0 million, compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2020. Collaboration revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $207.1 million compared to $21.1 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in year-over-year collaborative revenue was primarily driven by the strategic collaboration with GSK.
R&D Expenses. Total research and development expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, were $52.8 million compared to $44.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Total research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, were $189.4 million compared to $156.9 million for the same period in 2020. This change in 2021 R&D expenses was mainly driven by increased spending to support advancement of several clinical and preclinical programs, as well as increased personnel-related expenses.
G&A Expenses. Total general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, were $16.9 million compared to $13.2 million for the same period in 2020. This increase was primarily due to an increase in personnel-related expenses. Total general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021, were $55.0 million compared to $59.4 million for the same period in 2020. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in legal costs associated with Alector’s arbitration proceedings in 2020 partially offset by an increase in personnel-related expenses.
Net Loss. For the quarter ended December 31, 2021, Alector reported a net loss of $55.6 million, or $0.68 per share, compared to a net loss of $52.2 million, or $0.66 per share, for the same period in 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2021, Alector reported a net loss of $36.3 million, or $0.45 net loss per share, compared to a net loss of $190.2 million, or $2.45 net loss per share, for the same period in 2020.
Cash Position. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $735.3 million as of December 31, 2021. In addition, the company received a $200 million payment from partner GSK in January 2022.
Cash Guidance. Alector continues to anticipate that the company’s existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, including the net proceeds received from GSK in January 2022, are sufficient to fund projected operations into mid-2024.
About Alector
Alector is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Immuno-neurology targets immune dysfunction as a root cause of multiple pathologies that are drivers of degenerative brain disorders. Alector has discovered and is developing a broad portfolio of innate immune system programs, designed to functionally repair genetic mutations that cause dysfunction of the brain’s immune system and enable the rejuvenated immune cells to counteract emerging brain pathologies. Alector’s immuno-neurology product candidates are supported by biomarkers and target genetically defined patient populations in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This scientific approach is also the basis for the company’s immuno-oncology programs. Alector is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. For additional information, please visit www.alector.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our business plans, business strategy, product candidates, planned preclinical studies, clinical trials, expected milestones, expectations of our collaborations, and financial and cash guidance. 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 risks and uncertainties related to market conditions, Alector and its business as set forth in Alector’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed on February 24, 2022 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as the other documents Alector files from time to time with the SEC. These documents contain and identify important factors that could cause the actual results for Alector to differ materially from those contained in Alector’s forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Alector specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (in thousands) | ||||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities | $ | 735,251 | $ | 413,308 | ||||
Total assets | 814,658 | 488,251 | ||||||
Total current liabilities (excluding deferred revenue) | 48,218 | 44,202 | ||||||
Deferred revenue (including current portion) | 425,218 | 132,303 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 513,934 | 220,721 | ||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 300,724 | 267,530 | ||||||
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data (in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended December 31, | Twelve Months Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||
Collaboration revenue | $ | 13,994 | $ | 4,853 | $ | 207,085 | $ | 21,098 | |||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
Research and development | 52,790 | 44,383 | 189,407 | 156,869 | |||||||||||||
General and administrative | 16,933 | 13,228 | 55,038 | 59,403 | |||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 69,723 | 57,611 | 244,445 | 216,272 | |||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (55,729 | ) | (52,758 | ) | (37,360 | ) | (195,174 | ) | |||||||||
Other income, net | 121 | 579 | 1,031 | 4,946 | |||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (55,608 | ) | $ | (52,179 | ) | $ | (36,329 | ) | $ | (190,228 | ) | |||||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.68 | ) | $ | (0.66 | ) | $ | (0.45 | ) | $ | (2.45 | ) | |||||
Shares used in computing net loss per share basic and diluted | 81,510,894 | 78,998,656 | 80,416,936 | 77,758,806 | |||||||||||||
Alector Contacts
1AB (media)
Dan Budwick
973-271-6085
[email protected]
Argot Partners (investors)
Eric Kasper/Carrie McKim
Argot Partners
212.600.1902
[email protected]
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