ProKidney Reports Full Year 2023 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Highlights

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., March 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ProKidney Corp. (Nasdaq: PROK) (“ProKidney” or the “Company”), a leading late clinical-stage cellular therapeutics company focused on chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2023. “We are very excited about the future of ProKidney. Building on the positive interim Phase 2 data that we released last Fall for rilparencel (which we sometimes refer to as REACT®) demonstrating the potential to preserve kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and advanced kidney disease, we look forward to the REGEN-007 Phase 2 interim data readout mid-year,” said Bruce Culleton, Chief Executive Officer at ProKidney. “Our clinical data to date have shown that rilparencel may meet a current unmet medical need by preserving kidney function and delaying the onset of dialysis in high-risk patients with CKD caused by type 2 diabetes. Rilparencel has the potential to be very meaningful to this high-risk patient population where there are limited options for care outside of preparing for transplantation or dialysis.” Corporate Updates Appointment of Dr. Bruce Culleton as ProKidney CEO. In November, the Company announced Dr. Bruce Culleton assumed the role of the CEO and joined the ProKidney board of directors. Dr. Culleton joined ProKidney in July 2023 as Executive Vice President of Clinical Development and Commercialization. Dr. Culleton has dedicated his 25-year professional career to improving the health and quality of life of patients with kidney disease and held executive leadership positions at Baxter Healthcare and CVS Kidney Care, a wholly owned subsidiary of CVS Health. Appointment of Nikhil Pereira-Kamath as Chief Business Officer. As CBO, Mr. Pereira-Kamath has global responsibility for commercial strategy, defining the Company’s growth and partnering activities, and overseeing the Company’s project management, business development and investor relations, bringing with him over a decade of experience as a seasoned entrepreneur in addition to a strong foundation in finance. Mr. Periera-Kamath had previously joined ProKidney in July 2023 as Vice President of Business Development & Innovative Solutions. Prior to joining ProKidney, he was Chief Executive Officer and subsequently Chairman of the Board, a role he continues to hold, of Africa Healthcare Network (AHN), the largest independent provider of dialysis and kidney care in sub-Saharan Africa. Clinical Development Updates Reported positive interim Phase 2 RMCL-002 study data in November, demonstrating the potential of rilparencel to preserve kidney function in moderate and high-risk patients with CKD caused by type 2 diabetes. Updated data include information from 83 patients enrolled in the RMCL-002 study and demonstrated a safety profile in line with previous rilparencel Phase 1 & 2 trials, and similar to that of a kidney biopsy.As disclosed in November 2023, overall, the updated RMCL-002 data showed preservation of kidney function in several patient groups with advanced CKD caused by type 2 diabetes. Patients with Stage 4 CKD with severe albuminuria– broadly viewed to have the highest risk of kidney failure and where there remains a significant unmet clinical need– showed the most potential benefit. Full results from RMCL-002 are expected in 1H 2024.Based on these emerging results, as disclosed in November 2023, the Company is updating its ongoing PROACT 1 Phase 3 clinical study (REGEN-006) protocol to focus on patients with higher risk of kidney failure. In the PROACT 1 Phase 3 clinical study, the eGFR enrollment range will be modified from the current range of ≥20 to ≤ 50 ml/min/1.73m2 to a new range of ≥20 to ≤ 35 ml/min/1.73m2. The Company believes that this focus on the most severe patients will better align with RMCL-002 results and clinical feedback. No changes are planned for the Phase 3 trial, PROACT 2 (REGEN-016), which is currently ≥20 to ≤ 44 ml/min/1.73m2. Maintaining the eGFR enrollment range of PROACT 2, which includes the CKD Stage 3b population, will enable the Company to seek a broader commercial label. Manufacturing has been temporarily paused while ProKidney amends the PROACT 1 protocol and concurrently, in response to Qualified Person Audit, optimizes capabilities to meet EU and Global manufacturing and quality management system standards for Phase 3 studies and prepares for transition to commercial manufacturing. No safety events were responsible for this pause and the Company expects PROACT 1 will resume, and PROACT 2 will commence, enrollment in mid-2024.Interim results from the ongoing REGEN-007 Phase 2 open-label trial of rilparencel in patients with stage 3 and 4 CKD caused by type 2 diabetes is expected in mid-2024, with full Cohort 1 12 month follow up data anticipated in 1H 2025. Full Year 2023 Financial Highlights Liquidity: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2023, totaled $363.0 million, compared to $490.3 million on December 31, 2022. We expect that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities held at December 31, 2023, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2025. R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $106.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $82.1 million for the same period in 2022. The increase of $24.6 million was driven primarily by increases in clinical trial costs related to our Phase 3 program of approximately $16.6 million. Additionally, we have seen increases in cash and equity compensation costs of approximately $17.2 million as we continue to hire additional personnel in the areas of clinical development, quality, manufacturing, and biostatistics to support our ongoing clinical trials. Further, we have seen increases in other research and development costs of approximately $4.7 million primarily related to additional spending on manufacturing improvements, materials and professional fees. These costs have been offset by decreases in equity-based payments for services rendered by a third party in the year ended December 31, 2022. G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $44.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared $70.9 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease of $26.1 million has been primarily driven by decreases of $33.0 million associated with the recognition of equity-based compensation costs in 2022 for shares sold at less than their fair value prior to the business combination Additionally, there have been decreases in costs related to equity-based compensation and costs related to the business combination that occurred in 2022. These decreases have been offset by increases in professional fees and cash compensation costs of approximately $7.3 million and $4.7 million, respectively. Net Loss Before Noncontrolling Interest: Net loss before noncontrolling interest was $135.4 million and $148.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Shares outstanding: Class A and Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023 totaled 228,178,263. About ProKidneyProKidney, a pioneer in the treatment of CKD through innovations in cellular therapy, was founded in 2015 after a decade of research. ProKidney’s lead product candidate, rilparencel (also known as REACT®), is a first-of-its-kind, patented, proprietary autologous cellular therapy being evaluated to potentially preserve kidney function in diabetic patients at high risk of kidney failure. Rilparencel has received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation, as well as FDA and EMA guidance, supporting its ongoing Phase 3 clinical program that launched in January 2022. For more information, please visit www.prokidney.com. Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. ProKidney’s actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations with respect to financial results and expected cash runway, future performance, development and commercialization of products, if approved, the potential benefits and impact of the Company’s products, if approved, potential regulatory approvals, the size and potential growth of current or future markets for the Company’s products, if approved, the advancement of the Company’s development programs into and through the clinic and the expected timing for reporting data, the making of regulatory filings or achieving other milestones related to related to the Company’s product candidates, and the advancement and funding of the Company’s developmental programs generally. Most of these factors are outside of the Company’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the inability to maintain the listing of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares on the Nasdaq; the inability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations or identify and realize additional opportunities, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive biotechnology industry; the inability of the Company to raise financing in the future; the inability of the Company to obtain and maintain regulatory clearance or approval for its products, and any related restrictions and limitations of any cleared or approved product; the inability of the Company to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; the inability of Company to compete with other companies currently marketing or engaged in the biologics market and in the area of treatment of kidney diseases; the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company’s products, if approved, and its ability to serve those markets, either alone or in partnership with others; the Company’s estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; the Company’s financial performance; the Company’s intellectual property rights; uncertainties inherent in cell therapy research and development, including the actual time it takes to initiate and complete clinical studies and the timing and content of decisions made by regulatory authorities; the fact that interim results from our clinical programs may not be indicative of future results; the impact of geo-political conflict on the Company’s business; and other risks and uncertainties included under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Contacts: Investors:LifeSci Advisors, LLCDaniel Ferry [email protected] ProKidney Corp. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands, except for share data) December 31, 2023  December 31, 2022 Assets     Cash and cash equivalents$60,649  $490,252 Marketable securities 302,301   – Interest receivable 1,375   – Prepaid assets 3,399   2,624 Prepaid clinical 6,413   10,459 Other current assets 9   1,384 Total current assets 374,146   504,719       Fixed assets, net 42,143   10,708 Right of use assets, net 4,263   2,356 Intangible assets, net –   213 Total assets$420,552  $517,996       Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit/Members’ Equity     Accounts payable$5,098  $3,044 Lease liabilities 803   493 Accrued expenses and other 17,665   7,336 Income taxes payable 1,472   – Total current liabilities 25,038   10,873       Income tax payable, net of current portion 568   278 Lease liabilities, net of current portion 3,610   1,906 Total liabilities 29,216   13,057 Commitments and contingencies     Redeemable noncontrolling interest 1,494,732   1,601,555       Shareholders’ deficit / members’ equity:     Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 59,880,347 and 61,540,231 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 6   6 Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 168,297,916 and 171,578,320 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 17   18 Additional paid-in capital 36,114   7,476 Accumulated other comprehensive loss 130   – Accumulated deficit (1,139,663)  (1,104,116)Total shareholders’ deficit / members’ equity (1,103,396)  (1,096,616)Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit/members’ equity$420,552  $517,996  ProKidney Corp. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss(in thousands, except for share and per share data)  2023  2022  2021 Operating expenses         Research and development $106,707  $82,070  $46,255 General and administrative  44,815   70,937   8,855 Total operating expenses  151,522   153,007   55,110 Operating loss  (151,522)  (153,007)  (55,110)          Other income (expense):         Interest income  22,083   5,983   2 Interest expense  (12)  (215)  – Net loss before income taxes  (129,451)  (147,239)  (55,108)Income tax expense  5,996   896   38 Net loss before noncontrolling interest  (135,447)  (148,135)  (55,146)Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest  (99,979)  (40,103)  – Net loss available to Class A ordinary shareholders $(35,468) $(108,032) $(55,146)          Weighted average Class A ordinary shares outstanding:(1)         Basic and diluted  61,714,225   61,540,231    Net loss per share attributable to Class A ordinary shares:(1)         Basic and diluted $(0.57) $(0.23)    (1) The Company analyzed the calculation of net loss per share for periods prior to the business combination with Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III (the “Business Combination”), on July 11, 2022 and determined that it resulted in values that would not be meaningful to the users of the consolidated financial statements, as the capital structure completely changed as a result of the Business Combination. Therefore, net loss per share information has not been presented for periods prior to the Business Combination. The basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Class A ordinary shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2022, represents only the period after the Business Combination to December 31, 2022. ProKidney Corp. and SubsidiariesConsolidated Statements of Cash Flows(in thousands)  Years Ended December 31,   2023  2022  2021 Cash flows from operating activities         Net loss before noncontrolling interest $(135,447) $(148,135) $(55,146)Adjustments to reconcile net loss before noncontrolling interest to net cash flows used in operating activities:         Depreciation and amortization  3,853   3,036   1,984 Equity-based compensation  30,846   74,469   699 Gain on marketable securities, net  (6,018)  –   – Loss on disposal of equipment  23   –   – Changes in operating assets and liabilities         Interest receivable  (1,375)  –   – Prepaid and other assets  4,648   (7,231)  (5,704)Accounts payable and accrued expenses  11,639   494   7,868 Income taxes payable  1,762   278   – Net cash flows used in operating activities  (90,069)  (77,089)  (50,299)          Cash flows used in investing activities         Proceeds from sale of equipment  –   –   1 Net cash from SCS  –   108   – Purchases of marketable securities  (471,604)  –   – Sales of marketable securities  175,818   –   – Purchase of equipment and facility expansion  (34,197)  (1,846)  (5,192)Net cash flows used in investing activities  (329,983)  (1,738)  (5,191)          Cash flows from financing activities         Payments on finance leases  (52)  (32)  (30)Proceeds from Business Combination, including PIPE financing, net of associated costs of $37,856  –   542,503   – Borrowings under related party notes payable  –   35,000   – Repurchase of Class A ordinary shares  (9,499)  –   – Repayment of related party notes payable  –   (35,000)  – Net cash contribution  –   6,050   71,500 Net cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities  (9,551)  548,521   71,470           Net change in cash and cash equivalents  (429,603)  469,694   15,980 Cash, beginning of period  490,252   20,558   4,578 Cash, end of period $60,649  $490,252  $20,558           Supplemental cash flow information:         Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net of refunds $2,857  $1,950  $68           Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:         Right of use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations $2,594  $1,491  $– Exchange of Class B ordinary shares $9,500  $–  $– Impact of equity transactions and compensation on redeemable noncontrolling interest $2,577  $5,828  $– Change in redemption value of noncontrolling interest $79  $–    Equipment and facility expansion included in accounts payable and accrued expenses $218  $51  $1,295