Arbutus Q4 2021 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation reported its Q4 and year end 2021 financial results, highlighting the expansion of development efforts in Hepatitis B and coronavirus infections. The company anticipates reporting data from four clinical trials in chronically infected HBV patients in 2022 and expects to complete IND-enabling studies for two oral compounds to treat HBV in the second half of 2022.
Expanded development efforts in Hepatitis B and coronavirus infections.
Formed strategic and clinical partnerships to explore combination therapies with AB-729.
Expanded preclinical programs in HBV with oral PD-L1 inhibitor AB-101 and oral RNA destabilizer AB-161.
Multiple key clinical trial data read-outs expected later this year for AB-729 and AB-836.
Arbutus
Arbutus
Forward Guidance
Arbutus anticipates reporting data from four clinical trials in chronically infected HBV patients in 2022 and expects to complete IND-enabling studies for two oral compounds to treat HBV in the second half of 2022. The company expects a net cash burn between $90 to $95 million in 2022 and believes its cash runway will be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations into the second quarter of 2024.
Positive Outlook
- Reporting data from four clinical trials in chronically infected HBV patients in 2022
- Completing IND-enabling studies for two oral compounds (PD-L1 inhibitor AB-101 and RNA destabilizer AB-161) to treat HBV in the second half of 2022
- Advancing an oral compound that inhibits the SARS-CoV-2 nsp5 main protease into IND enabling studies in the second half of 2022
- Cash runway sufficient to fund the Company’s operations into the second quarter of 2024
- Strategic partnership to develop and commercialize AB-729 in China
Challenges Ahead
- Net cash burn between $90 to $95 million in 2022
- COVID-19 pandemic could materially impact plans and timelines in the future
- Anticipated pre-clinical studies and clinical trials may be more costly or take longer to complete than anticipated
- Arbutus may not receive the necessary regulatory approvals for the clinical development of Arbutus’ products
- Economic and market conditions may worsen