UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  August 4, 2014

 

PTC THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact Name of Company as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-35969

 

04-3416587

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

100 Corporate Court

 

 

South Plainfield, NJ

 

07080

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Company’s telephone number, including area code:  (908) 222-7000

 

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o                                    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o                                    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o                                    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o                                    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On August 7, 2014, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (“PTC”) announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information in this Item 2.02 on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On August 4, 2014, Cláudia Hirawat, President of PTC announced that she intends to resign her current position as President of PTC in the third quarter. We expect that Ms. Hirawat will remain an advisor to PTC, either as an employee or as a consultant, upon terms and conditions to be agreed by us and Ms. Hirawat. She has agreed to continue to serve in her current position until a formal agreement reflecting these terms is in place.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

The following exhibit relating to Item 2.02 shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:

 

99.1 Press Release dated August 7, 2014

 

2



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

PTC THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

 

 

Date: August 7, 2014

By:

/s/ Shane Kovacs

 

 

Shane Kovacs

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Press Release dated August 7, 2014

 

4


Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

 

PTC THERAPEUTICS REPORTS SECOND QUARTER

 

FINANCIAL RESULTS AND PROVIDES CORPORATE UPDATE

 

-Conference Call Today at 8:30 am ET-

 

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — August 7, 2014 — PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTCT) today announced a corporate update and reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014.

 

“This has been an exciting quarter for PTC. In May we received a positive opinion from the CHMP for marketing approval for Translarna™ (ataluren) an investigational new drug in the US, for nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy and we recently received the approval from the European Commission granting the conditional marketing authorization. It is an honor to bring the world’s first therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy to patients who have been waiting too long for a treatment. We are actively focused on providing Translarna to patients as quickly as possible and are working aggressively to prepare for launch across the EU,” stated Stuart W. Peltz, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, PTC Therapeutics, Inc. “In addition to our efforts in nmDMD, we recently initiated our confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial in nonsense mutation cystic fibrosis and it is our goal to initiate a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study for Translarna in a new indication, MPS I caused by a nonsense mutation, later this year. We expect the second half of the year will be a transformative time at PTC, as we expand our global commercial organization focused on our mission of bringing new therapies to patients with rare and neglected disorders.”

 

Corporate Highlights:

 

·                  ACT DMD: The confirmatory Phase 3 ACT DMD (Ataluren Confirmatory Trial in DMD) trial of Translarna™ (ataluren) in patients with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular

 



 

dystrophy (nmDMD) is well underway. Enrollment is expected to be completed near term with initial, top-line data available in the second half of 2015.

 

·                  ACT CF: In June, the confirmatory Phase 3 ACT CF clinical trial was initiated. This trial is a 48-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled global study with FEV1 as the primary endpoint and pulmonary exacerbations as a key secondary endpoint. The trial will enroll patients who have a confirmed nonsense mutation, who are six years of age or older and whose FEV1 is greater than 40% and less than 90% predicted. Patients who are using chronic inhaled aminoglycosides will not be eligible for the trial. Aminoglycosides are ribosome-binding drugs and have been shown to interfere with Translarna’s activity. Enrollment is expected to be completed in the second half of 2015, with data expected a year later.

 

·                  Additional indication: Based on an evaluation process and in discussion with outside experts, PTC has selected mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) as the next indication to pursue for Translarna. It is PTC’s goal to initiate a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study for MPS I in the second half of 2014. MPS I is an inherited genetic disorder caused by a deficiency in an essential enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of by-products of chemical reactions in the body’s cells. Globally, MPS I occurs in about 1 in every 100,000 births. It is estimated that 60-80% of MPS I patients have their disease as a result of a nonsense mutation. There is no cure for MPS I and enzyme replacement therapies do not sufficiently address the central nervous system, skeletal or cardiac symptoms associated with the disorder. Prognosis of patients with MPS I is poor and there is an urgent need for the development of new treatments targeting the underlying cause of MPS I.

 

·                  Regulatory update: In May 2014, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion regarding the application for the conditional marketing authorization of Translarna for the treatment of nmDMD in ambulatory patients aged 5 years and older. On August 4th, PTC was notified that the European Commission ratified the CHMP’s positive opinion and Translarna was granted conditional marketing approval in the EU. In addition to our efforts in the EU, PTC is engaging in further dialogue with the FDA to discuss potential pathways to accelerate bringing Translarna to US patients.

 

·                  Commercialization Plans: Commercial launch activities have been initiated to support the anticipated launch of Translarna in selected countries in the first half of 2015, subject to the

 



 

completion of each country’s market access process and timeline. Market access timelines vary from country to country and can take over eighteen months in certain countries.

 

·                  EAP Program: In June 2014, PTC initiated a reimbursed expanded access program for Translarna for nmDMD patients in selected territories. The EAP program is intended to make Translarna available to patients before commercial product becomes available in specific countries in accordance with local regulations. Funded Named Patient Programs have already been authorized in Turkey and Spain, and the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) has recently granted a Temporary Authorization for Use (Autorisation Temporaire d’Utilisation de cohort — ATU) of Translarna in a cohort of nmDMD patients. PTC has recently initiated the supply of Translarna to the first patients authorized under the EAP program.

 

·                  SMA Program: In January 2014, a Phase 1a single ascending dose, placebo-controlled clinical trial in healthy volunteers was initiated.  The primary objectives of this trial were to explore safety and pharmacokinetics of the drug candidate, RG7800.  This trial has now completed and a multiple dose clinical trial in SMA patients is currently in preparation. Preliminary findings in the Phase 1a study indicate that RG7800 was well-tolerated at all dose levels studied.  There were no deaths, serious adverse events (SAEs) or withdrawals due to adverse events (AEs) and no dose-related trends were identified.  Additionally, RG7800 demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on SMN2 splicing, as shown by a change in the ratio of full-length SMN2 mRNA to SMN2 mRNA without exon 7 (SMND7), which may be interpreted as proof of mechanism in terms of the expected pharmacodynamic effect.

 

Second Quarter 2014 Financial Highlights:

 

·                  Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $226.9 million at June 30, 2014 compared to $142.5 million at December 31, 2013.

 

·                  Revenue from grants and collaborations was $1.7 million for the second quarter of 2014, compared to $6.9 million for the same period in 2013. The decrease was due to a decrease in the recognition of non-cash deferred revenue compared to the same period in 2013.

 

·                  Research and development expenses were $18.3 million for the second quarter of 2014, including $2.2 million in non-cash, stock based compensation expense, compared to $14.7 million for the same period in 2013, including $1.1 million in non-cash, stock-based

 



 

compensation expense. The increase primarily results from additional costs associated with clinical trials including the manufacturing of drug product for our clinical trials and regulatory costs associated with the efforts to obtain conditional approval for Translarna in Europe.

 

·                  General and administrative expenses were $8.7 million for the second quarter of 2014, including $2.1 million in non-cash stock based compensation expense, compared to $6.6 million for the same period in 2013, including $0.8 million in non-cash stock based compensation expense. The increase primarily results from additional costs associated with efforts to obtain conditional approval for Translarna in Europe, pre-commercial activities and public company costs.

 

·                  Net loss for the second quarter of 2014 was $25.1 million compared to a net loss of $14.6 million for the same period in 2013.

 

·                  Shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2014 were 30.1 million, which includes 0.7 million shares of unvested restricted stock.

 

·                  In conjunction with the European approval and ongoing commercial launch activities, PTC now expects total 2014 operating expenses to be between $103 million and $113 million, excluding approximately $17 million in non-cash stock-based compensation. PTC expects to end 2014 with approximately $160 million to $170 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

 

Today’s Conference Call and Webcast Reminder

 

The PTC management team will host a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results and recent and upcoming developments today, Thursday, August 7, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The call can be accessed by dialing (877) 303-9216 (domestic) or (973) 935-8152 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call and providing the passcode 75347535.

 

The live, listen-only webcast of the conference call can also be accessed by visiting the “Investors Relations” section of the company’s website at ir.ptcbio.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the PTC website for 30 days following the call.

 



 

ABOUT PTC THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

PTC is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of orally administered, proprietary small molecule drugs that target post-transcriptional control processes. Post-transcriptional control processes regulate the rate and timing of protein production and are essential to proper cellular function. PTC’s internally discovered pipeline addresses multiple therapeutic areas, including rare disorders, oncology and infectious diseases. PTC has developed proprietary technologies that it applies in its drug discovery activities and in collaborations with leading biopharmaceutical companies. For more information on the company, please visit our website www.ptcbio.com

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jane Baj
+1 (908) 912-9167
jbaj@ptcbio.com

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than those of historical fact, contained in this release, including statements regarding the future expectations, plans and prospects for PTC; the timing and scope of our commercial launch; our Phase 3 clinical trials for ataluren in nmDMD and nmCF; our Phase 2 proof of concept trial in MPS I; our collaboration in SMA with Roche and the SMA Foundation; our current and planned regulatory filings; our earlier stage programs including BMI1 and our antibacterial program; our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues or projected costs; the development of and potential market for PTC’s product candidates; and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. Other forward-looking statements may be identified by the words “plan,” “guidance,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions.

 

Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements we make as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties,

 



 

including those related to the initiation and conduct of clinical trials, availability of data from clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, our scientific approach and general development progress, the availability or commercial potential of our product candidates and the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are urged to carefully consider all such factors. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent PTC’s views only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake or plan to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in plans, prospects, assumptions, estimates or projections, or other circumstances occurring after the date of this release except as required by law.

 



 

PTC Therapeutics, Inc.

Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration revenue

 

$

1,418

 

$

5,868

 

$

10,565

 

$

11,940

 

Grant revenue

 

259

 

986

 

329

 

2,056

 

Total revenues

 

1,677

 

6,854

 

10,894

 

13,996

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development (1)

 

18,313

 

14,712

 

34,202

 

25,969

 

General and administrative (1)

 

8,733

 

6,595

 

16,273

 

11,056

 

Total operating expenses

 

27,046

 

21,307

 

50,475

 

37,025

 

Loss from operations

 

(25,369

)

(14,453

)

(39,581

)

(23,029

)

Interest income (expense), net

 

248

 

(114

)

419

 

(6,276

)

Other income (expense), net

 

17

 

(19

)

(40

)

34

 

Net loss

 

(25,104

)

(14,586

)

(39,202

)

(29,271

)

Deemed dividend

 

 

 

 

(18,249

)

Gain on exchange of convertible preferred stock in connection with recapitalization

 

 

 

 

3,391

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

 

$

(25,104

)

$

(14,586

)

$

(39,202

)

$

(44,129

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares outstanding (in shares):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

29,332,227

 

2,648,832

 

27,976,847

 

1,326,679

 

Net loss per share applicable to common stockholders - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)

 

$

(0.86

)

$

(5.51

)

$

(1.40

)

$

(33.26

)

 


(1) Non-cash share-based compensation expense included in operating expenses are as follows:

 

Research and development

 

$

2,209

 

$

1,107

 

$

4,153

 

$

1,364

 

General and administrative

 

2,069

 

774

 

3,830

 

1,138

 

Total share-based compensation expense

 

$

4,278

 

$

1,881

 

$

7,983

 

$

2,502

 

 



 

PTC Therapeutics, Inc.

Summary Balance Sheet

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

 

$

226,859

 

$

142,467

 

Total assets

 

$

237,558

 

$

151,903

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total debt

 

 

49

 

Total deferred revenue

 

242

 

878

 

Total liabilities

 

$

13,802

 

$

15,361

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity (29,340,577 and 23,803,282 common shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)

 

223,756

 

136,542

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

237,558

 

$

151,903