•
|
delays in receiving approval from local regulatory authorities to initiate our planned clinical trials;
|
•
|
delays or difficulties in enrolling patients in our clinical trials;
|
•
|
delays or difficulties in clinical site initiation, including difficulties in recruiting clinical site investigators and clinical site staff;
|
•
|
disruption to manufacturers that could affect the supply of drug product for our clinical trials or difficulty sourcing key components necessary for the manufacture of ensifentrine drug product;
|
•
|
delays in clinical sites receiving the supplies and materials needed to conduct our clinical trials, including interruption in global shipping that may affect the transport of clinical trial materials;
|
•
|
changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic which may require us to undertake additional testing or change the ways in which our clinical trials are conducted, which may result in unexpected costs, or to discontinue the clinical trials altogether;
|
•
|
diversion of healthcare resources away from the conduct of clinical trials, including the diversion of hospitals serving as our clinical trial sites and hospital staff supporting the conduct of our clinical trials;
|
•
|
interruption of key clinical trial activities, such as clinical trial site monitoring, due to limitations on travel imposed or recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others, or interruption of clinical trial subject visits and study procedures, the occurrence of which could affect the integrity of clinical trial data;
|
•
|
risk that participants enrolled in our clinical trials will acquire COVID-19 while the clinical trial is ongoing, which could impact the results of the clinical trial, including by increasing the number of observed adverse events;
|
•
|
interruptions or delays in preclinical studies due to restricted or limited operations at our third party research and development services;
|
•
|
delays in necessary interactions with local regulators, ethics committees and other important agencies and contractors due to limitations in employee resources or forced furlough of government employees;
|
•
|
diversion of or limitations on employee resources that would otherwise be focused on the operations of our business and the conduct of our clinical trials, including because of sickness of employees or their families or the desire of employees to avoid contact with large groups of people;
|
•
|
higher clinical trial insurance costs and/or delays in operations at insurance agencies, which may impact timelines for the issuance of insurance coverage policies and local coverage determinations delays; and
|
•
|
refusal of the FDA, the EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities to accept data from clinical trials in affected geographies.
|
Exhibit
No.
|
Description
|
|
VERONA PHARMA PLC
|
|||||||
Date: April 30, 2020
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ David Zaccardelli
|
|||
|
|
Name:
|
|
David Zaccardelli, Pharm.D.
|
|||
|
|
Title:
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|||
•
|
Completing an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") in the second quarter of 2020 to receive guidance on the design of the Phase 3 program with nebulized ensifentrine;
|
•
|
Securing sufficient capital to fund the Phase 3 program for nebulized ensifentrine; and
|
•
|
Initiating the Phase 3 program with nebulized ensifentrine in moderate to severe COPD patients.
|
•
|
In January 2020, the Company reported positive top-line data from a Phase 2b clinical study with nebulized ensifentrine added on to tiotropium (Spiriva
®
), a long acting anti-muscarinic (“LAMA”) bronchodilator in symptomatic patients with moderate to severe COPD. The study met the primary endpoint at all doses and also met clinically relevant secondary endpoints. The Company believes these data support dose selection for Phase 3 clinical trials. The study was accepted as a late-breaking abstract at the 2020 American Thoracic Society International Conference.
|
•
|
In March 2020, the Company reported positive efficacy and safety data with a single dose of the pressurized metered-dose inhaler ("pMDI") formulation of ensifentrine in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with moderate to severe COPD. With these results and those observed in previous Phase 2 clinical trials, ensifentrine has demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in lung function in COPD patients when delivered via any of the three widely used inhaled modes: nebulizer, DPI and pMDI.
|
◦
|
Results from the single dose part of the study (Part A) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful increase in lung function as measured by ("FEV
1
")
1
compared to placebo.
|
◦
|
Positive data support initiation of the second, multiple dose, part of the study (Part B), which will evaluate the pMDI formulation in this patient population over 7 days of twice-daily treatment. Verona Pharma has postponed the initiation of Part B due to concerns regarding the safety of trial subjects, caregivers and medical staff during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As a result the Company does not expect to announce results from Part B of this trial in 2020. The Company will continue to monitor this evolving situation and will provide an updated timeline for the initiation of Part B at a later date.
|
•
|
Also during the first quarter of 2020, the Company requested an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has advised that it will provide a written response to the Company on its End-of-Phase 2 package, rather than holding a meeting. The Company is expecting to receive this response during the second quarter of 2020.
|
•
|
Based on the positive Phase 2 data and subject to receiving the FDA's response to the End-of-Phase 2 package, the Company plans to seek the necessary funding and initiate the Phase 3 clinical program.
|
•
|
Additionally, in February 2020, the Company published its Phase 2b clinical results with nebulized ensifentrine as a monotherapy for maintenance treatment of COPD in the peer reviewed journal,
Respiratory Research.
The 403-patient trial, which was reported in March 2018, met its primary endpoint demonstrating that ensifentrine produced clinically and statistically significant improvements in lung function at all doses. In addition, clinically relevant secondary endpoints were met including significant progressive improvements in COPD symptoms.
|
•
|
In February 2020, the Company appointed Dr. David Zaccardelli as President and Chief Executive Officer and as an executive director. Mark Hahn, was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in March.
|
•
|
Net cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at
March 31, 2020
amounted to
£20.8 million
(
December 31, 2019
: £30.8 million). In April 2020 the Company received a fiscal 2019 tax credit of £7.3 million in cash.
|
•
|
For the
three months ended March 31, 2020
, the Company reported operating loss of £
11.2 million
(
three months ended March 31, 2019
: £
7.8 million
) and reported loss after tax of £
9.6 million
(
three months ended March 31, 2019
: £
5.4 million
).
|
•
|
The increase in operating costs was predominantly due to increased general and administrative expenses, which were driven primarily by costs relating to executive changes and costs associated with the closure of our New York office and relocation of our US base of operations to North Carolina. Included in net profit and partly offsetting the rise in operating loss is a fall in the net amount of finance income and expense of £0.7 million.
|
•
|
Reported loss per share was
9.1
pence for the
three months ended March 31, 2020
(
three months ended March 31, 2019
:
5.1
pence).
|
•
|
Net cash used in operating activities for the
three months ended March 31, 2020
was £
10.1 million
(
three months ended March 31, 2019
: £
9.9 million
).
|
•
|
866-940-4574 for callers in the United States
|
•
|
0800 028 8438 for callers in the United Kingdom
|
•
|
0800 181 5287 for callers in Germany
|
Verona Pharma plc
|
Tel: +44 (0)20 3283 4200
|
Victoria Stewart, Director of Communications
|
info@veronapharma.com
|
N+1 Singer
|
Tel: +44 (0)20 3283 4200
|
(Nominated Adviser and UK Broker)
|
|
Aubrey Powell / George Tzimas / Iqra Amin (Corporate Finance)
|
|
Tom Salvesen (Corporate Broking)
|
|
Optimum Strategic Communications
|
Tel: +44 (0)20 950 9144
|
(European Media and Investor Enquiries)
|
verona@optimumcomms.com
|
Mary Clark / Eva Haas / Hollie Vile
|
|
Argot Partners
|
Tel: +1 212-600-1902
|
(US Investor Enquiries)
|
verona@argotpartners.com
|
Stephanie Marks / Kimberly Minarovich / Michael Barron
|
|
•
|
First-in-class dual bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory agent in a single molecule
|
•
|
Potentially the first novel class of bronchodilator in COPD in over 40 years
|
•
|
Potentially the only bronchodilator option as an add-on to existing dual / triple therapy
|
•
|
Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in lung function
|
•
|
Statistically significant improvements in symptoms and Quality of Life measures
|
•
|
Improvements as monotherapy or as an addition to background therapy
|
•
|
Well-tolerated in 15 clinical trials in over 1300 subjects
|
Notes
|
As of
March 31, 2020 |
As of
December 31, 2019 |
||||||
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Non-current assets:
|
||||||||
Goodwill
|
441
|
|
441
|
|
||||
Intangible assets
|
2,772
|
|
2,757
|
|
||||
Property, plant and equipment
|
42
|
|
43
|
|
||||
Right-of-use assets
|
9
|
|
1,210
|
|
971
|
|
||
Total non-current assets
|
4,465
|
|
4,212
|
|
||||
Current assets:
|
||||||||
Prepayments and other receivables
|
1,972
|
|
2,770
|
|
||||
Current tax receivable
|
8,667
|
|
7,396
|
|
||||
Short term investments
|
10
|
|
700
|
|
7,823
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
20,059
|
|
22,934
|
|
||||
Total current assets
|
31,398
|
|
40,923
|
|
||||
Total assets
|
35,863
|
|
45,135
|
|
||||
|
|
|||||||
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
|
||||||||
Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders:
|
||||||||
Share capital
|
|
|
5,311
|
|
5,266
|
|
||
Share premium
|
118,862
|
|
118,862
|
|
||||
Share-based payment reserve
|
11,811
|
|
10,364
|
|
||||
Accumulated loss
|
(110,160
|
)
|
(100,627
|
)
|
||||
Total equity
|
25,824
|
|
33,865
|
|
||||
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
||||||
Derivative financial instrument
|
11
|
|
783
|
|
895
|
|
||
Lease liabilities
|
623
|
|
460
|
|
||||
Trade and other payables
|
6,619
|
|
8,261
|
|
||||
Total current liabilities
|
8,025
|
|
9,616
|
|
||||
Non-current liabilities:
|
||||||||
Assumed contingent obligation
|
12
|
|
1,156
|
|
1,103
|
|
||
Non-current Lease Liability
|
809
|
|
491
|
|
||||
Deferred income
|
49
|
|
60
|
|
||||
Total non-current liabilities
|
2,014
|
|
1,654
|
|
||||
Total equity and liabilities
|
35,863
|
|
45,135
|
|
Notes
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
|
|||||
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
||||||
Research and development costs
|
(5,872
|
)
|
(5,928
|
)
|
|||
General and administrative costs
|
(5,301
|
)
|
(1,831
|
)
|
|||
Operating loss
|
(11,173
|
)
|
(7,759
|
)
|
|||
Finance income
|
6
|
391
|
|
1,860
|
|
||
Finance expense
|
6
|
(52
|
)
|
(820
|
)
|
||
Loss before taxation
|
(10,834
|
)
|
(6,719
|
)
|
|||
Taxation — credit
|
7
|
1,261
|
|
1,313
|
|
||
Loss for the period
|
(9,573
|
)
|
(5,406
|
)
|
|||
Other comprehensive loss:
|
|||||||
Items that might be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
|
|||||||
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
|
40
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|||
Total comprehensive loss attributable to owners of the Company
|
(9,533
|
)
|
(5,419
|
)
|
|||
Loss per ordinary share — basic and diluted (pence)
|
8
|
(9.1
|
)
|
(5.1
|
)
|
Share
Capital |
Share
Premium |
Share-based
Expenses |
Total
Accumulated Losses |
Total
Equity |
||||||||||
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2019
|
5,266
|
|
118,862
|
|
7,923
|
|
(68,633
|
)
|
63,418
|
|
||||
Impact of change in accounting policy
(1)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(20
|
)
|
(20
|
)
|
||||
Adjusted Balance at January 1, 2019
|
5,266
|
|
118,862
|
|
7,923
|
|
(68,653
|
)
|
63,398
|
|
||||
Loss for the period
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(5,406
|
)
|
(5,406
|
)
|
||||
Other comprehensive loss for the period:
|
||||||||||||||
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(13
|
)
|
(13
|
)
|
||||
Total comprehensive loss for the period
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(5,419
|
)
|
(5,419
|
)
|
||||
Share-based payments
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
620
|
|
—
|
|
620
|
|
||||
Balance at March 31, 2019
|
5,266
|
|
118,862
|
|
8,543
|
|
(74,072
|
)
|
58,599
|
|
||||
Balance at January 1, 2020
|
5,266
|
|
118,862
|
|
10,364
|
|
(100,627
|
)
|
33,865
|
|
||||
Loss for the period
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(9,573
|
)
|
(9,573
|
)
|
||||
Other comprehensive loss for the period:
|
||||||||||||||
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
40
|
|
40
|
|
||||
Total comprehensive loss for the period
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
(9,533
|
)
|
(9,533
|
)
|
||||
New share capital issued
|
45
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
45
|
|
||||
Share-based payments
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
1,447
|
|
—
|
|
1,447
|
|
||||
Balance at March 31, 2020
|
5,311
|
|
118,862
|
|
11,811
|
|
(110,160
|
)
|
25,824
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
|
||||
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
||||
Cash used in operating activities:
|
|||||
Loss before taxation
|
(10,834
|
)
|
(6,719
|
)
|
|
Finance income
|
(391
|
)
|
(1,860
|
)
|
|
Finance expense
|
52
|
|
820
|
|
|
Share-based payment charge
|
1,447
|
|
620
|
|
|
Decrease in prepayments and other receivables
|
753
|
|
84
|
|
|
Decrease in trade and other payables
|
(1,553
|
)
|
(2,899
|
)
|
|
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and right of use assets
|
122
|
|
78
|
|
|
Impairment of right of use asset
|
232
|
|
—
|
|
|
Unrealized foreign exchange losses / (gains)
|
1
|
|
(11
|
)
|
|
Amortization of intangible assets
|
30
|
|
24
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
(10,141
|
)
|
(9,863
|
)
|
|
Cash flow from investing activities:
|
|||||
Interest received
|
98
|
|
125
|
|
|
Purchase of plant and equipment
|
(4
|
)
|
(2
|
)
|
|
Payment for patents and computer software
|
(45
|
)
|
(61
|
)
|
|
Maturity of short term investments
|
7,148
|
|
8,972
|
|
|
Net cash generated in investing activities
|
7,197
|
|
9,034
|
|
|
Cash flow from financing activities:
|
|||||
Repayment of finance lease liabilities
|
(132
|
)
|
(84
|
)
|
|
Net cash used in financing activities
|
(132
|
)
|
(84
|
)
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
(3,076
|
)
|
(913
|
)
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
|
22,934
|
|
19,784
|
|
|
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
|
201
|
|
(145
|
)
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
|
20,059
|
|
18,726
|
|
Three months ended March 31, 2020
|
Three months ended March 31, 2019
|
||||
Finance income:
|
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
|||
Interest received on cash balances
|
53
|
|
250
|
|
|
Foreign exchange gain on translating foreign currency denominated bank balances
|
226
|
|
—
|
|
|
Fair value adjustment on derivative financial instruments (note 11)
|
112
|
|
1,610
|
|
|
Total finance income
|
391
|
|
1,860
|
|
Three months ended March 31, 2020
|
Three months ended March 31, 2019
|
||||
Finance expense:
|
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
|||
Interest on discounted lease liability
|
20
|
|
9
|
|
|
Foreign exchange loss on translating foreign currency denominated balances
|
—
|
|
783
|
|
|
Unwinding of discount factor related to the assumed contingent arrangement (note 12)
|
32
|
|
28
|
|
|
Total finance expense
|
52
|
|
820
|
|
At March 31, 2020
|
At December 31, 2019
|
||||||
Shares available to be issued under warrants
|
12,401,262
|
|
12,401,262
|
|
|||
Exercise price
|
£
|
1.7238
|
|
£
|
1.7238
|
|
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
0.10
|
%
|
0.54
|
%
|
|||
Time to expiry
|
2.09 years
|
|
2.34 years
|
|
|||
Annualized volatility
|
76.32
|
%
|
65.56
|
%
|
|||
Dividend rate
|
0.00
|
%
|
0.00
|
%
|
Derivative
financial
instrument
|
Derivative
financial
instrument
|
||||
2020
|
2019
|
||||
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
||||
At January 1,
|
895
|
|
2,492
|
|
|
Fair value adjustments recognized in profit or loss
|
(112
|
)
|
(1,610
|
)
|
|
At March 31,
|
783
|
|
882
|
|
|
Volatility
(up / down
10 % pts)
|
£'000s
|
|
Variable up
|
1,100
|
Base case, reported fair value
|
783
|
Variable down
|
500
|
2020
|
2019
|
||||
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
||||
At January 1,
|
1,103
|
|
996
|
|
|
Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates
|
21
|
|
(6
|
)
|
|
Unwinding of discount factor
|
32
|
|
28
|
|
|
At March 31,
|
1,156
|
|
1,018
|
|
|
Revenue
(up / down
10 % pts)
|
Foreign Exchange (up / down 1% pt)
|
|
£'000s
|
£'000s
|
||
Variable up
|
1,191
|
1,152
|
|
Base case, reported fair value
|
1,156
|
1,156
|
|
Variable down
|
1,121
|
1,159
|
Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
2020
|
Weighted
average
exercise
price
|
2019
|
||||||||
£
|
£
|
||||||||||
Outstanding at January 1
|
1.15
|
|
14,179,196
|
|
1.53
|
|
8,752,114
|
|
|||
Granted during the period
|
0.55
|
|
1,605,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||
Forfeited during the period
|
1.02
|
|
(1,628,799
|
)
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|||
Outstanding options at March 31
|
1.10
|
|
14,155,397
|
|
1.53
|
|
8,752,114
|
|
2020
|
2019
|
||||
Outstanding at January 1
|
1,602,969
|
|
862,473
|
|
|
Granted during the period
|
8,442,049
|
|
—
|
|
|
Expired during the period
|
(44,846
|
)
|
—
|
|
|
Exercised during the period
|
(887,080
|
)
|
—
|
|
|
Outstanding RSUs at March 31
|
9,113,092
|
|
862,473
|
|
As of
March 31, 2020 |
As of
March 31, 2020 |
As of
December 31, 2019 |
||||||
£'000s
|
$'000s
|
£'000s
|
||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Non-current assets:
|
||||||||
Goodwill
|
441
|
|
550
|
|
441
|
|
||
Intangible assets
|
2,772
|
|
3,452
|
|
2,757
|
|
||
Property, plant and equipment
|
42
|
|
52
|
|
43
|
|
||
Right-of-use assets
|
1,210
|
|
1,507
|
|
971
|
|
||
Total non-current assets
|
4,465
|
|
5,561
|
|
4,212
|
|
||
Current assets:
|
||||||||
Prepayments and other receivables
|
1,972
|
|
2,456
|
|
2,770
|
|
||
Current tax receivable
|
8,667
|
|
10,794
|
|
7,396
|
|
||
Short term investments
|
700
|
|
872
|
|
7,823
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
20,059
|
|
24,981
|
|
22,934
|
|
||
Total current assets
|
31,398
|
|
39,103
|
|
40,923
|
|
||
Total assets
|
35,863
|
|
44,664
|
|
45,135
|
|
||
|
|
|||||||
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
|
||||||||
Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders:
|
||||||||
Share capital
|
5,311
|
|
6,614
|
|
5,266
|
|
||
Share premium
|
118,862
|
|
148,031
|
|
118,862
|
|
||
Share-based payment reserve
|
11,811
|
|
14,709
|
|
10,364
|
|
||
Accumulated loss
|
(110,160
|
)
|
(137,193
|
)
|
(100,627
|
)
|
||
Total equity
|
25,824
|
|
32,161
|
|
33,865
|
|
||
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
||||||
Derivative financial instrument
|
783
|
|
975
|
|
895
|
|
||
Lease liabilities
|
623
|
|
776
|
|
460
|
|
||
Trade and other payables
|
6,619
|
|
8,243
|
|
8,261
|
|
||
Total current liabilities
|
8,025
|
|
9,994
|
|
9,616
|
|
||
Non-current liabilities:
|
||||||||
Assumed contingent obligation
|
1,156
|
|
1,440
|
|
1,103
|
|
||
Non-current Lease Liability
|
809
|
|
1,008
|
|
491
|
|
||
Deferred income
|
49
|
|
61
|
|
60
|
|
||
Total non-current liabilities
|
2,014
|
|
2,509
|
|
1,654
|
|
||
Total equity and liabilities
|
35,863
|
|
44,664
|
|
45,135
|
|
Three months ended March 31, 2020
|
Three months ended March 31, 2020
|
Three months ended March 31, 2019
|
||||||
£'000s
|
$'000s
|
£'000s
|
||||||
Research and development costs
|
(5,872
|
)
|
(7,313
|
)
|
(5,928
|
)
|
||
General and administrative costs
|
(5,301
|
)
|
(6,602
|
)
|
(1,831
|
)
|
||
Operating loss
|
(11,173
|
)
|
(13,915
|
)
|
(7,759
|
)
|
||
Finance income
|
391
|
|
487
|
|
1,860
|
|
||
Finance expense
|
(52
|
)
|
(65
|
)
|
(820
|
)
|
||
Loss before taxation
|
(10,834
|
)
|
(13,493
|
)
|
(6,719
|
)
|
||
Taxation — credit
|
1,261
|
|
1,570
|
|
1,313
|
|
||
Loss for the period
|
(9,573
|
)
|
(11,923
|
)
|
(5,406
|
)
|
||
Other comprehensive loss:
|
||||||||
Items that might be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
|
||||||||
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
|
40
|
|
50
|
|
(13
|
)
|
||
Total comprehensive loss attributable to owners of the Company
|
(9,533
|
)
|
(11,873
|
)
|
(5,419
|
)
|
||
Loss per ordinary share — basic and diluted (pence / cents)
|
(9.1
|
)
|
(11.3
|
)
|
(5.1
|
)
|