Accelerated enrollment in Phase 2b trials in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia; interim analyses expected in fourth quarter of 2021
Positive IMR-687 data in sickle cell disease presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress
HFpEF Phase 2 proof-of-concept study under development; FDA interaction planned in fourth quarter of 2021
$50 million July follow-on offering extends cash runway through 2022
Company to host conference call and live webcast today at 8:30 AM ET
BOSTON, Aug. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Imara Inc. (Nasdaq: IMRA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat patients suffering from rare inherited genetic disorders of hemoglobin and other serious diseases, today reported financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2021, and reviewed recent business highlights.
“We are pleased with the progress of IMR-687 (tovinontrine), including accelerated study enrollment in our Ardent Phase 2b clinical trial in sickle cell disease (SCD),” said Rahul Ballal, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Imara. “We have completed patient enrollment in the trial and as a result are refining our prior guidance and now expect to report data from the primary analysis in the first quarter of 2022. We continue to expect to report an interim analysis during the fourth quarter of 2021.”
Dr. Ballal continued, “Similarly, we have seen accelerated enrollment in our Forte Phase 2b clinical trial in beta-thalassemia, having reached full enrollment in the transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) cohort, while also seeing increased enrollment in the non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) cohort, where we have enrolled approximately half of the study patients. We expect to report interim data from the TDT cohort in the fourth quarter of 2021 and conduct an additional efficacy analysis of the full TDT cohort at 24 weeks in the first quarter of 2022.”
“We are also selectively expanding our indication footprint to areas where PDE9 over-expression is implicated in serious diseases with high unmet needs,” Dr. Ballal added. “To that end, we are developing a protocol for a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with help from our experienced cardiology clinical advisory board and expect to interact with the FDA in late 2021. We also submitted our recent pre-clinical work in HFpEF to a cardiology focused medical meeting and hope to present this data later this year.”
Recent Corporate Highlights
IMR-687 in SCD: Enrollment Complete in Ardent Phase 2b Clinical Trial; Phase 2a and Open Label Extension Clinical Trial Data Reported
Imara has completed patient enrollment in the Ardent Phase 2b clinical trial of IMR-687 for SCD. Imara expects to report interim data from the Ardent trial in the fourth quarter of 2021, data from the primary efficacy analysis in the first quarter of 2022 and data from the final analysis in the second half of 2022.
Imara also presented data from the Phase 2a clinical trial and its OLE trial of IMR-687 in adults with SCD at the EHA Annual Congress in June 2021. Final data from the 93-patient Phase 2a trial showed a well-tolerated safety profile along with a decrease in annualized vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) rates, fewer VOC-related hospitalizations, increased time to first VOC, and improvements in patient-reported VOC pain severity scores. Changes in SCD-related biomarkers were variable and included directional increases in HbF.
Updated interim data through eight months from the ongoing OLE clinical trial show maintenance of the lower VOC rate on IMR-687 observed in the Phase 2a parent trial. An increased HbF response was also observed in the OLE, with 4 of 11, or 36%, of patients having absolute fetal hemoglobin (HbF) increases of more than 3% at the eight-month timepoint while receiving a 200 mg daily dose of IMR-687.
IMR-687 in Beta-Thalassemia: Patient Enrollment Accelerated in Forte Phase 2b Clinical Trial
In the Forte Phase 2b clinical trial, Imara reached full enrollment in the TDT cohort and saw increased enrollment in the NTDT cohort. Imara expects to report interim data from the TDT cohort in the fourth quarter of 2021 and conduct an additional efficacy analysis of the full TDT cohort at 24 weeks in the first quarter of 2022. Data from the final analysis is expected in the second half of 2022.
Tovinontrine adopted as generic name for IMR-687
On June 30, 2021 the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council adopted “tovinontrine” (pronounced toe” vi non’ treen) as the generic name for IMR-687.
Recipients of the Second Annual Real Impact Grants Program
Imara continued and expanded the Real Impact program by awarding 30 grants totaling $150,000 to fund nonprofit, community-based organizations (CBOs) supporting individuals with sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. The grant funding was increased by $25,000 from 2020, the program’s inaugural year.
Closed $50 Million Public Offering
On July 16, 2021, Imara closed an underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $6.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $50 million, before underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.
Laura A. Williams, M.D., MPH Appointed to Board of Directors
Dr. Williams has served as Senior Vice President of Global Therapeutic Strategies and Patient Advocacy at Ardelyx since November 2020, where she is also a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Dr. Williams brings 25 years of early-to-late-stage drug development experience across multiple therapeutic areas, as well as expertise in patient advocacy to Imara.
Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results
Financial Guidance
The Company currently expects that its full-year 2021 research and development expenses will range between $42.5 million and $47.5 million and that its full-year 2021 general and administrative expenses will range between $12 million and $13 million. The Company expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2021, together with the net proceeds from its July 2021 public offering of shares of common stock, will be sufficient to enable it to fund its planned operations through the end of 2022.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Imara will host a conference call and live webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2021 financial results and other business updates. The live webcast will be available under “Events and Presentations” in the Investors section of the Company’s website at imaratx.com. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1 (833) 519-1307 (U.S. domestic) or +1 (914) 800-3873 (international) and referring to conference ID 6499377. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Imara website following the presentation.
About Imara
Imara Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat patients suffering from rare inherited genetic disorders of hemoglobin and other serious diseases. Imara is currently advancing IMR-687, a highly selective, potent small molecule inhibitor of PDE9 that is an oral, once-a-day, potentially disease-modifying treatment for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. IMR-687 is being designed to have a multimodal mechanism of action that acts on red blood cells, white blood cells, adhesion mediators and other cell types. For more information, please visit www.imaratx.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to (i) the timing for reporting of data from the Company’s ongoing Phase 2b clinical trials in patients with sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia, (ii) the Company’s clinical development plans and expected regulatory interactions for the potential development of IMR-687 in HFpEF (iii) the Company’s beliefs regarding the strength of its clinical data, the therapeutic potential of IMR-687 and advancement of its clinical program, and (iv) financial guidance regarding the Company’s projected operating expenses and sufficiency of the Company’s capital resources to fund its operations through the end of 2022. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the impact of extraordinary external events, such as the risks and uncertainties resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, operations, strategy, goals and anticipated milestones, including its ongoing and planned research activities and ability to enroll, dose and readout data from its open label extension clinical trial of IMR-687 in sickle cell disease and its Phase 2b clinical trials of IMR-687 in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia; the Company’s ability to advance the development of IMR-687 under the timelines it projects in current and future clinical trials, demonstrate in any current and future clinical trials the requisite safety and efficacy of IMR-687; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Media Contact:
Marin Bergman
Ten Bridge Communications
818-516-2746
marin@tenbridgecommunications.com
Investor Contact:
Michael Gray
617-835-4061
mgray@imaratx.com
IMARA INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| June 30, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and investments | $ | 66,768 | $ | 88,222 | ||||
| Working capital(1) | 64,384 | 84,158 | ||||||
| Total assets | 72,468 | 90,842 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 7,501 | 6,407 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (119,531 | ) | (96,113 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 64,967 | 84,435 | ||||||
___________________
(1) Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.
IMARA INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended June 30, |
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 10,074 | $ | 7,869 | $ | 17,189 | $ | 13,662 | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 3,095 | 2,433 | 6,260 | 3,992 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 13,169 | 10,302 | 23,449 | 17,654 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (13,169 | ) | (10,302 | ) | (23,449 | ) | (17,654 | ) | ||||||||
| Total other income, (net): | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 48 | 110 | 131 | 242 | ||||||||||||
| Other expense | (40 | ) | (12 | ) | (100 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||||||
| Total other income, (net) | 8 | 98 | 31 | 235 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (13,161 | ) | $ | (10,204 | ) | $ | (23,418 | ) | $ | (17,419 | ) | ||||
| Accretion of Series B convertible preferred stock | — | — | — | (7,858 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted | $ | (13,161 | ) | $ | (10,204 | ) | $ | (23,418 | ) | $ | (25,277 | ) | ||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted | 17,715,474 | 17,194,795 | 17,647,476 | 10,344,077 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted | $ | (0.74 | ) | $ | (0.59 | ) | $ | (1.33 | ) | $ | (2.44 | ) | ||||
| Comprehensive loss: | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (13,161 | ) | $ | (10,204 | ) | $ | (23,418 | ) | $ | (17,419 | ) | ||||
| Other comprehensive income: | ||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on investments (net) | (1 | ) | 64 | (4 | ) | 16 | ||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | (13,162 | ) | $ | (10,140 | ) | $ | (23,422 | ) | $ | (17,403 | ) | ||||
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