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PureTech Health plc – Half-Year Report

August 24, 2021 Off By BusinessWire

Strong capital base and cash runway expected into the first quarter of 2025, with PureTech level cash and cash equivalents of $409.7 million1 and consolidated cash and cash equivalents of $439.8 million2 as of June 30, 2021

Continued advancement of PureTech’s Wholly Owned Programs, with two Phase 2 and four Phase 1 clinical trials underway and key preclinical data published in peer-reviewed journals for two of PureTech’s four lymphatic and inflammation platforms

Significant developments across the Founded Entities, Vor’s Nasdaq listing, Gelesis’ merger agreement with Capstar SPAC to become publicly-traded, Karuna’s progress with its Phase 3 program for KarXT in schizophrenia and Akili’s scaled U.S. commercialization of EndeavorRx®

Company to host a webcast and conference call today at 9:00am EDT / 2:00pm BST

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PureTech Health plc (Nasdaq: PRTC, LSE: PRTC) (“PureTech” or the “Company”) today announces its half-yearly results for the six months ended June 30, 2021. PureTech is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing highly differentiated medicines for devastating diseases, including inflammatory, fibrotic and immunological conditions, intractable cancers, lymphatic and gastrointestinal diseases and neurological and neuropsychological disorders, among others. The Company has created a broad and deep pipeline through the expertise of its experienced research and development team and its extensive network of scientists, clinicians and industry leaders. This pipeline, which is being advanced both internally and through PureTech’s Founded Entities3, is comprised of 25 therapeutics and therapeutic candidates, including 15 that are clinical stage and two that have received both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and European marketing authorization. The following information will be filed on Form 6-K with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and is also available at https://investors.puretechhealth.com/financials-filings/reports.

1.

PureTech Level Cash and Cash equivalents as of June 30, 2021 represent cash and cash equivalents held at PureTech Health plc and its wholly-owned subsidiaries only. Please refer to the Financial Review section of this report for additional detail.

2.

Consolidated Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2021 represent cash and cash equivalents of $439.8 million as shown on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

3.

While PureTech maintains ownership of equity interests in its Founded Entities, the Company does not, in all cases, maintain control over these entities (by virtue of (i) majority voting control and (ii) the right to elect representation to the entities’ boards of directors) or direct the management and development efforts for these entities. Consequently, not all such entities are consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. Where PureTech maintains control, the entity is referred to as a Controlled Founded Entity in this report and is consolidated in the financial statements. Where PureTech does not maintain control, the entity is referred to as a Non-Controlled Founded Entity in this report and is not consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. As of June 30, 2021, PureTech’s Controlled Founded Entities included Follica Incorporated, Vedanta Biosciences, Inc., Sonde Health, Inc. and Entrega, Inc., and PureTech’s Non-Controlled Founded Entities included Gelesis, Inc., Karuna Therapeutics, Inc., Akili Interactive Labs, Inc. and Vor Biopharma Inc. Relevant ownership interests for Founded Entities were calculated on a diluted basis (as opposed to a voting basis) as of June 30, 2021, including outstanding shares, options and warrants, but excluding unallocated shares authorized to be issued pursuant to equity incentive plans. Vedanta ownership was calculated on a diluted basis as of July 16, 2021. For each of Karuna and Vor, ownership was calculated on an outstanding voting share basis as of June 30, 2021.

Webcast and conference call details

Members of the PureTech management team will host a conference call at 9:00am EDT / 2:00pm BST today, August 24, 2021, to discuss these results. A live webcast and presentation slides will be available on the investors section of PureTech’s website under the Events and Presentations tab. To join by phone, please dial:

United Kingdom: 0800 640 6441

United Kingdom (Local): 020 3936 2999

United States: 1 855 9796 654

United States (Local): 1 646 664 1960

All other locations: +44 20 3936 2999

Access code: 499281

For those unable to listen to the call live, a replay will be available on the PureTech website.

Commenting on PureTech’s half-yearly results, Daphne Zohar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PureTech, said:

“This has been another strong period for PureTech. We have made exciting clinical progress across both our Wholly Owned Pipeline and our Founded Entities, and substantial financial momentum leaves us in an excellent position to continue delivering on our promise to patients and to creating value for shareholders.

“Our Wholly Owned Programs have rapidly accelerated and grown, with six therapeutic candidates now in development to potentially address serious patient needs. LYT-100 is being evaluated in two ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials in Long COVID and breast cancer-related lymphedema, and we have also initiated three additional Phase 1 clinical trials to further inform the development of LYT-100 in these indications as well as in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We look forward to sharing our potentially registration-enabling development plans in IPF in the fourth quarter of this year following discussion with the FDA and other regulatory bodies. Additionally, the Phase 1 portion of a Phase 1/2 trial of LYT-200 for the potential treatment of difficult-to-treat solid tumors is expected to read out in the fourth quarter of this year, and – pending the results – a Phase 2 trial is planned to evaluate LYT-200 both alone and in combination with BeiGene’s tislelizumab or chemotherapy.

“Our Founded Entities have also had a productive period. Gelesis’ merger agreement with Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corp., upon completion, will make it the third of PureTech’s Founded Entities to become publicly traded. Along with Vor (Nasdaq:VOR) and Karuna (Nasdaq:KRTX), these three entities will have a combined value of over $5.4 billion as of June 30th, including the expected valuation of Gelesis following the completion of its Capstar merger. In addition to our equity holdings across all of our Founded Entities, we are also due royalties on potential product sales from Gelesis, Karuna and Follica. Royalties due to us from each of those programs could potentially be worth as much as – or more than – our equity in each program, depending on the extent of future product sales.

“Our pioneering hub and spoke model of developing new medicines has yielded 25 therapeutics and therapeutic candidates to date with clinical development success rates that significantly outperformed biopharma industry averages. The common theme underlying all of these programs has been to start with a tremendous patient need and to identify or invent a solution based on signals of human efficacy and clinically validated biology. In many cases, this approach has enabled us to advance a new candidate with a significantly de-risked profile, resulting in what we believe are differentiated treatments for devastating diseases.

“I remain proud of and energized by the progress our team has made this year, and I look forward to the many milestones ahead throughout the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. “

Operational Highlights

Wholly Owned Programs4

PureTech’s team, network and insights and expertise in the biology of the brain, immune and gut, or BIG, systems and the interface between those systems, referred to as the BIG Axis have enabled the rapid advancement and growth of the Company’s Wholly Owned Programs. Focused on the lymphatic system and related immunological and inflammatory disorders, PureTech’s Wholly Owned Pipeline currently consists of six therapeutic candidates including:

  • LYT-100 (deupirfenidone), a clinical therapeutic candidate that the Company is pursuing for inflammatory and fibrotic conditions and disorders of lymphatic flow;
  • LYT-200, a clinical therapeutic candidate targeting a foundational immunosuppressor, galectin-9, that the Company is developing for the potential treatment of a range of cancer indications;
  • LYT-210, a preclinical therapeutic candidate targeting immunomodulatory gamma delta-1 T cells that the Company is developing for a range of cancer indications;
  • LYT-300 (oral allopregnanolone), a preclinical therapeutic candidate derived from PureTech’s GlyphTM platform that the Company is developing for a range of neurological and neuropsychological conditions;
  • LYT-500, a preclinical, orally-administered therapeutic candidate derived from PureTech’s AlivioTM platform that the Company is developing for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); and
  • LYT-503/IMB-150, a preclinical therapeutic candidate derived from PureTech’s Alivio platform that is being advanced in collaboration with Imbrium Therapeutics as a potential non-opioid treatment for interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).

PureTech’s Wholly Owned Programs also include four lymphatic and inflammation platforms: Glyph – a synthetic lymphatic targeting chemistry platform – and OrasomeTM – an oral biotherapeutics platform – both of which leverage the absorption of dietary lipids to traffic therapeutics via the lymphatic system, Alivio – an inflammation-targeting immunomodulation platform for the potential treatment of a range of chronic and acute inflammatory disorders – and a meningeal lymphatics research program to develop potential treatments for neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.

Key developments and progress during the period across PureTech’s Wholly Owned Programs include:

  • In the first half of 2021, PureTech progressed two ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials of LYT-100 including 1) a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of LYT-100-COV in adults with Long COVID5 respiratory complications and related sequelae. Topline results from this trial are expected by the end of 2021, and 2) a Phase 2a proof-of-concept study of LYT-100-LYMPH in patients with breast cancer-related, upper limb secondary lymphedema. Topline results from this trial are expected in 2022.
  • PureTech has also initiated a three-month, open-label extension of the LYT-100-COV Phase 2 trial in adults with Long COVID respiratory complications and related sequelae who completed the first portion of the trial. The primary endpoint of the extension trial is to assess the longer-term safety and tolerability of LYT-100-COV through up to 182 days of treatment.
  • In the first half of 2021, PureTech initiated three additional Phase 1 clinical trials of LYT-100 to explore further the pharmacokinetic (PK), dosing and tolerability in healthy volunteers. One of these trials is an extension of the previously completed multiple ascending dose (MAD) study of LYT-100 and is designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of LYT-100 in healthy volunteers. Results from these trials are anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2021 and are expected to provide additional data to inform future clinical development of LYT-100 across multiple indications.
  • In April 2021, PureTech announced the formation of its Clinical Advisory Board for IPF and other progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF-ILDs). Comprised of physicians and researchers with deep expertise in the clinical development of novel therapies in PF-ILDs, the Clinical Advisory Board will work closely with PureTech as it advances LYT-100-ILD. PureTech is planning the trial design that will potentially enable registration of LYT-100-ILD for the treatment of IPF and potentially other PF-ILDs. PureTech expects to provide additional guidance in the fourth quarter of 2021, following discussion with regulatory agencies and which may also be informed by additional ongoing Phase 1 studies of LYT-100.
  • In the August 2021 post-period, PureTech presented the results of the Phase 1 multiple ascending dose and food effect study of LYT-100 at the virtual European Respiratory Society International Congress.
  • In the July 2021 post-period, PureTech announced a clinical trial and supply agreement with an affiliate of BeiGene, Ltd. to evaluate BeiGene’s tislelizumab, an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, in combination with PureTech’s LYT-200, an investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting galectin-9, for the potential treatment of difficult-to-treat solid tumors that are associated with poor survival rates. Under the terms of the agreement, PureTech will maintain control of the LYT-200 program, including global R&D and commercial rights, and BeiGene has agreed to supply tislelizumab for use in combination with LYT-200 for the planned study. LYT-200 is currently being evaluated as a single agent in the Phase 1 portion of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. The primary objective of the Phase 1 portion of the trial is to assess the safety and tolerability of escalating doses of LYT-200 to identify a dose to carry forward into the Phase 2 portion of the trial. The Phase 1 portion will also assess the PK and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles of LYT-200. Results from the Phase 1 portion of the study are anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2021. Pending these results, PureTech intends to initiate the Phase 2 expansion cohort portion of the trial, which is designed to evaluate LYT-200 both alone and in combination with BeiGene’s tislelizumab or chemotherapy.
  • In the first half of 2021, PureTech continued to advance LYT-300, its most advanced Glyph candidate, towards the clinic. LYT-300 is an oral form of allopregnanolone, an IV version of which is approved by the FDA and administered over 60 hours, and PureTech believes LYT-300 may be applicable to a range of neurological and neuropsychological conditions. PureTech expects to initiate a clinical trial of LYT-300 by the end of 2021. The initial objective of the clinical program is to characterize the safety, tolerability and PK of orally administered LYT-300 in a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers. This study may also explore the impact of LYT-300 on ß-EEG, a marker of GABAA target engagement. Data from this study will be used to define a potential range of future studies and planned indications.
  • In February 2021, a preclinical proof-of-concept study for the Glyph technology was published in the Journal of Controlled Release. The results demonstrate the ability of this platform to directly target gut lymphatics with an orally dosed small molecule immunomodulator.
  • In June 2021, PureTech announced its acquisition of the remaining 22 percent of shares outstanding in its Founded Entity, Alivio Therapeutics (Alivio). Alivio’s therapeutic candidates, in development for inflammatory disorders including IBD, have been integrated into PureTech’s Wholly Owned Pipeline, and the underlying Alivio technology platform, which is designed to enable inflammation-targeted immunomodulation for the potential treatment of a range of chronic and acute inflammatory disorders, and related undisclosed anti-inflammatory candidates, have been added to PureTech’s discovery programs. The lead candidate from within the Alivio technology platform is LYT-500, which is a preclinical, orally-administered therapeutic candidate in development for IBD. PureTech expects preclinical proof-of-concept data for LYT-500 in the first half of 2022.
  • In the August 2021 post-period, PureTech announced that Imbrium exercised a license option under the companies’ research and development collaboration agreement to develop PureTech’s LYT-503/IMB-150 for the potential treatment of IC/BPS. In connection with the option exercise, PureTech received an upfront payment of $6.5 million and is eligible to receive up to $53 million in additional development milestone payments for this program as well as royalties on product sales. An IND application for LYT-503/IMB-150 is planned to be filed in early 2022.
  • In April 2021, PureTech announced the publication of preclinical research in Nature around its meningeal lymphatics research program, suggesting that restoring lymphatic flow in the brain, either alone or in combination with passive immunotherapies such as antibodies directed at amyloid beta, has the potential to address a range of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and the associated neuroinflammation. The work also uncovered a link between dysfunctional meningeal lymphatics and damaging microglia activation in Alzheimer’s disease, which potentially impairs the efficacy of passive immunotherapies such as amyloid beta-targeting antibodies. This suggests another route by which restoring healthy drainage patterns could improve clinical outcomes.
  • In the first half of 2021, PureTech also progressed its Orasome technology platform, which is a novel programmable and scalable approach for the oral administration of nucleic acids and other biologics. Preclinical proof-of-concept data is expected in 2021.
  • In the August 2021 post-period, PureTech announced the appointment of Julie Krop, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Krop will oversee all clinical development, regulatory, CMC, and medical affairs for the Company’s advancing Wholly Owned Pipeline.

4.

References in this report to “Wholly Owned Programs” refer to the Company’s six therapeutic candidates (LYT-100, LYT-200, LYT-210, LYT-300, LYT-500 and LYT-503/IMB-150), four lymphatic and inflammation platforms and potential future therapeutic candidates and platforms that the Company may develop or obtain. References to “Wholly Owned Pipeline” refer to LYT-100, LYT-200, LYT-210, LYT-300, LYT-500 and LYT-503/IMB-150. On July 23, 2021, Imbrium Therapeutics exercised its option to license LYT-503/IMB-150 pursuant to which it is responsible for all future development activities and funding for LYT-503/IMB-150.

5.

Long COVID is a term being used to describe the emerging and persistent complications following the resolution of COVID-19 infection, also known as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS).

Founded Entities

In 2021, PureTech’s Founded Entities have made significant progress advancing 19 therapeutics and therapeutic candidates, of which two have been cleared for marketing by the FDA and granted marketing authorization in the European Economic Area (EEA), and 13 are clinical stage.

PureTech’s Founded Entities have also made significant progress during the period, including:

Founded Entities in which PureTech has a controlling interest or the right to receive royalties, in order of development stage

  • Gelesis, Inc. (PureTech’s ownership as of June 30, 2021 was 19.2%. PureTech’s ownership will be updated following completion of the Capstar merger announced in the July 2021 post-period. PureTech also has a right to royalty payments as a percentage of net sales.)

    − In the July 2021 post-period, Gelesis and Capstar Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: CPSR) (Capstar) a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by affiliates of Capstar Partners, LLC and certain private funds managed by PIMCO announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement. Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company’s securities are expected to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “GLS.” The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions.

    − In the first half of 2021, Gelesis made progress towards the full U.S. commercial launch of Plenity® 6 in the second half of 2021. Gelesis also plans to seek FDA input on the requirements for potentially expanding the Plenity label for treating adolescents.

    − In May 2021, Gelesis presented a scientific poster at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) 2021 Annual Virtual Meeting. The post-hoc analysis showed that treatment for weight management with Plenity decreased a marker for liver fibrosis (the NAFLD fibrosis score) compared to placebo.

    − In April 2021, Gelesis announced the appointment of marketing executive Jane Wildman to its Board of Directors. Ms. Wildman has extensive experience as a board member, President and Chief Marketing Officer across Fortune-25, mid-sized and start-up companies, including having spent over 25 years at Procter & Gamble.
  • Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. (PureTech ownership: 8.1%; PureTech also has a right to royalty payments as a percentage of net sales)

    − In the August 2021 post-period, Karuna announced all Phase 3 trials in the EMERGENT clinical program evaluating KarXT (xanomeline-trospium) for the treatment of psychosis in adults with schizophrenia are enrolling. Karuna anticipates reporting topline data from the Phase 3 EMERGENT-2 trial in mid-2022.

    − In the August 2021 post-period, Karuna also announced it is on track to initiate the Phase 3 ARISE trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of KarXT compared to placebo as an adjunctive treatment in adults with schizophrenia who have an inadequate response to their current antipsychotic therapy in the second half of 2021.

    − In June 2021, Karuna announced data from its completed Phase 1b trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of KarXT in healthy elderly volunteers, which followed a preliminary analysis of data from the first two cohorts in the trial announced earlier this year. The results suggest that KarXT can be administered to elderly volunteers at doses which achieve xanomeline blood levels similar to those reported in the Phase 2 EMERGENT-1 trial in adults with schizophrenia while maintaining a favorable tolerability profile. Data from the trial also suggest that a lower dose ratio of trospium to xanomeline, compared to the ratios used in Phase 1 trials in healthy adult volunteers and in the Phase 2 EMERGENT-1 trial evaluating KarXT in adults with schizophrenia, was better tolerated by healthy elderly volunteers. Karuna plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial evaluating KarXT in dementia-related psychosis in the first half of 2022.

    − In March 2021, Karuna completed a follow-on public offering of its common stock, from which it received gross proceeds of $269.8 million, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses.

    − In February 2021, Karuna announced that results from the EMERGENT-1 Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating KarXT for the treatment of schizophrenia were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

    − In February 2021, PureTech sold one million shares of Karuna common stock for cash consideration of approximately $118 million.
  • Follica, Incorporated (PureTech ownership: 76.0%. PureTech also has a right to royalty payments as a percentage of net sales)

    − In January 2021, Follica announced the appointment of two leaders in aesthetic medicine and dermatology to its Board of Directors. Tom Wiggans, former CEO of Dermira, joined as Executive Chairman with over 30 years of experience leading biopharmaceutical companies from the start-up stage to global commercialization, and Michael Davin, former CEO of Cynosure, joined as an Independent Director with over 30 years of experience in the medical device industry.

Contacts

Investors
Allison Mead Talbot

+1 617 651 3156

[email protected]

EU media
Ben Atwell, Rob Winder

+44 (0) 20 3727 1000

[email protected]

U.S. media
Nichole Sarkis

+1 774 278 8273

[email protected]

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