Tricida Announces First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Webcast Today at 4:30 pm Eastern Time

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tricida, Inc. (Nasdaq: TCDA), a pharmaceutical company focused on the
development and commercialization of its drug candidate, veverimer
(TRC101), a non-absorbed, orally-administered polymer designed to treat
metabolic acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD),
announced today financial results for the three months ended March 31,
2019 and provided an update on key initiatives.

Recent Highlights

• Completed a follow-on equity offering for total gross proceeds of
  approximately $231.8 million in April 2019.
• Reported that initial topline data analyses of the TRCA-301E trial, a
  placebo-controlled, blinded, 40-week extension trial, revealed
  positive results in March 2019. The trial met its primary and all
  secondary endpoints.
• Amended its existing debt facility with Hercules Capital, Inc.,
  increasing the total amount available under the debt facility to up to
  $200 million and extending the maturity of the debt facility, in March
  2019.
• Announced that The Lancet published results from the TRCA-301 Phase 3
  clinical trial in March 2019.

2019 Projected Milestones

• Availability of New Drug Application (NDA)-enabling 12-month
  registration stability data for veverimer in mid-2019.
• Submission of an NDA in the second half of 2019, seeking approval of
  veverimer through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s)
  Accelerated Approval Program.

“With the completion of our successful long-term extension trial, we are
now focused on the NDA submission in the second half of this year under
the Accelerated Approval Program,” said Gerrit Klaerner, Ph.D.,
Tricida’s Chief Executive Officer and President. “We are also keenly
focused on our prelaunch activities, in particular in advancing disease
education and awareness of the central role metabolic acidosis plays in
exacerbating bone, muscle and kidney disease.”

Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2019

Research and development expense was $31.4 million and $16.6 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The
increase in research and development expense in the three-month period
of 2019 compared to the prior period was primarily due to increased
activities in connection with our veverimer clinical development
program, including increased drug substance manufacturing, as well as
increased personnel and related costs.

General and administrative expense was $6.4 million and $3.5 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The
increase in general and administrative expense in the three-month period
of 2019 compared to the prior period was primarily due to increased
administrative costs supporting the increased activities in connection
with our veverimer clinical development program, increased headcount and
higher professional service fees.

Net loss was $37.9 million (non-GAAP net loss of $34.6 million) and
$20.5 million (non-GAAP net loss of $19.9 million) for the three months
ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Net loss per basic and
diluted share was $0.90 and $9.00 for the three months ended March 31,
2019 and 2018, respectively. The effect of the 6,440,000 shares of
common stock issued at the consummation of our follow-on equity offering
at an offering price of $36.00 per share for net proceeds of
approximately $217.9 million, was not considered in the net loss per
basic and diluted share calculation at March 31, 2019 since the
follow-on equity offering consummated on April 8, 2019. On a pro forma
basis, Tricida’s net loss per basic and diluted share would have
been $0.78 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 had the 6,440,000
shares of common stock been issued as of the beginning of the period
presented. This additional information regarding net loss per share is
provided to investors to enable analysis of our net loss per share based
on the additional issuance of common shares from the follow-on equity
offering.

As of March 31, 2019, cash, cash equivalents and investments were $219.0
million, which does not include $217.9 million of proceeds from our
follow-on equity offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions
related to the offering. On a pro forma basis, cash, cash equivalents
and investments would equal $436.9 million if the follow-on equity
offering had occurred on March 31, 2019.

Today’s Conference Call and Webcast

Tricida will host a conference call today at 4:30 pm Eastern Time to
discuss its financial results and business progress. Please access the
Tricida Conference Call as follows:

Tricida First Quarter 2019 Conference Call   4:30 pm Eastern Time Today
Webcast:					IR.Tricida.com
Dial-in:					(877) 377-5478
International:					(629) 228-0740
Conference ID:					5661605

A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Relations page
of Tricida’s website approximately two hours following the completion of
the call and will be available for up to 90 days following the
presentation.

About Tricida

Tricida, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of its drug candidate, veverimer (TRC101), a
non-absorbed, orally-administered polymer designed to treat metabolic
acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Metabolic
acidosis is a condition commonly caused by CKD that is believed to
accelerate the progression of kidney deterioration. It is estimated to
pose a health risk to approximately three million patients with CKD in
the United States. Tricida has successfully completed all of the
clinical trials that it planned to complete prior to submission of an
NDA to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tricida plans to
submit an NDA in the second half of 2019, seeking approval of veverimer
through the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program.

For more information about Tricida, please visit www.Tricida.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including for
example, all of the statements under the heading “2019 Projected
Milestones” and other statements about our ability to submit an NDA for
veverimer under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions
and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, that we
may not be able to achieve upcoming milestones, the cost, timing and
results of clinical trials and other studies; that many drug candidates
that have completed Phase 3 trials do not become approved drugs on a
timely or cost effective basis, or at all; there can be no assurance
that the FDA would approve an NDA under the Accelerated Approval
Program, or at all, and even if approval for a drug is obtained, there
can be no assurance that it will be adopted in the market or accepted as
a benefit to patients and healthcare providers; possible safety and
efficacy concerns; and that we completely rely on third-party suppliers
to manufacture our clinical drug supply. The forward-looking statements
contained in this press release reflect Tricida’s current views with
respect to future events, and Tricida does not undertake and
specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements.

Tricida, Inc.   Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In thousands)
		March 31, 2019				December 31, 2018
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	21,928			$	37,172
Short-term investments		197,040				203,906
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		3,018				3,269
Total current assets		221,986				244,347
Long-term investments		—				2,287
Property and equipment, net		1,209				1,215
Operating lease right-of-use assets		2,052				—
Deferred offering costs		717				—
Total assets		$	225,964			$	247,849
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	5,045			$	8,460
Current operating lease liabilities		1,038				—
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		20,663				6,344
Total current liabilities		26,746				14,804
Term Loan		36,940				38,071
Non-current operating lease liabilities		1,223				—
Other long-term liabilities		446				449
Total liabilities		65,355				53,324
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock		—				—
Common stock		43				42
Additional paid-in capital		390,508				386,830
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		149				(153		)
Accumulated deficit		(230,091		)		(192,194		)
Total stockholders’ equity		160,609				194,525
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	225,964			$	247,849

Tricida, Inc.   Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2019				2018
Operating expenses:
Research and development		$	31,423			$	16,633
General and administrative		6,352				3,465
Total operating expenses		37,775				20,098
Loss from operations		(37,775		)		(20,098		)
Other income (expense), net		1,267				(87		)
Interest expense		(1,389		)		(319		)
Net loss		(37,897		)		(20,504		)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		302				(54		)
Total comprehensive loss		$	(37,595	)		$	(20,558	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		$	(0.90	)		$	(9.00	)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted		42,268,062				2,278,266
Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted *		$	(0.78	)
Pro forma weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted *		48,708,062

* Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted, and pro forma
weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted, are
provided to investors to enable analysis of our net loss per share based
on the additional issuance of common shares from the follow-on equity
offering as of the beginning of the period presented. Pro forma net loss
per share is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP, and
should not be considered an alternative to net loss or any other measure
of performance under GAAP, or to cash flows from operating, investing or
financing activities as an indicator of cash flows or as a measure of
liquidity.

Tricida, Inc.   GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations (Unaudited) (In thousands)
A reconciliation between net loss on a GAAP basis and on a non-GAAP basis is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2019				2018
GAAP net loss, as reported		$	(37,897	)		$	(20,504	)
Adjustments:
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense		2,658				353
Non-cash Term Loan discount and issuance costs		488				128
Changes in fair value of compound derivative liabilities and warrants		174				136
Total adjustments		3,320				617
Non-GAAP net loss		$	(34,577	)		$	(19,887	)

A reconciliation between weighted-average number of shares outstanding,
basic and diluted and pro forma weighted-average number of shares
outstanding, basic and diluted to give effect of the follow-on equity
offering to pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted is as
follows:

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2019
Numerator:
GAAP net loss, as reported		$	(37,897	)
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted		42,268,062
Common shares issued in follow-on equity offering		6,440,000
Pro forma weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted		48,708,062
Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted		$	(0.78	)

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We supplement our financial statements presented on a GAAP basis by
providing additional measures which may be considered “non-GAAP”
financial measures under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission
rules. We believe that the disclosure of these non-GAAP financial
measures provides our investors with additional information that
reflects the amounts and financial basis upon which our management
assesses and operates our business. These non-GAAP financial measures
are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
should not be viewed in isolation or as a substitute for reported, or
GAAP, net loss, and diluted earnings per share, and are not a substitute
for, or superior to, measures of financial performance performed in
conformity with GAAP.

“Non-GAAP net loss” is not based on any standardized methodology
prescribed by GAAP and represent GAAP net loss adjusted to exclude (1)
stock-based compensation expense, (2) non-cash interest expense related
to Tricida’s Term Loan discount and issuance costs and (3) changes in
fair value of compound derivative liabilities and warrants within our
reconciliation of our GAAP to Non-GAAP net loss. Non-GAAP financial
measures used by Tricida may be calculated differently from, and
therefore may not be comparable to, non-GAAP measures used by other
companies.

Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted, and pro forma
weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted, are
provided to investors to enable analysis of our net loss per share based
on the additional issuance of common shares from the follow-on equity
offering as of the beginning of the period presented. Pro forma net loss
per share is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP, and
should not be considered an alternative to net loss or any other measure
of performance under GAAP, or to cash flows from operating, investing or
financing activities as an indicator of cash flows or as a measure of
liquidity.

Contacts

Jackie Cossmon, IRC
Tricida, Inc.
Vice President of Investor
Relations and Communications
[email protected]