BOSTON, Nov. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verve Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new approach to the care of cardiovascular disease with single-course gene editing medicines, today reported recent company progress and financial results for the third quarter of 2023.
“Verve was founded in 2018 with a vision to develop single-course gene editing medicines for cardiovascular disease and throughout this year, we have made tremendous strides towards realizing that vision,” said Sekar Kathiresan, M.D., co-founder and chief executive officer of Verve. “We continue to progress the heart-1 Phase 1b trial of VERVE-101 in patients in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and we are looking forward to presenting interim data from this trial at the upcoming AHA meeting. We have obtained clearance of our first IND application from the FDA, which now enables us to add U.S. sites to the heart-1 trial and begins the regulatory path in the U.S. for VERVE-101. Beyond VERVE-101, we remain focused on advancing our pipeline and are on-track to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials for VERVE-102 in the first half of 2024 and VERVE-201 in the second half of 2024. Finally, we are thrilled to gain Lilly as a collaborator for our PCSK9 and ANGPTL3 programs. Lilly brings development expertise as well as a track record of successful commercialization of cardiometabolic medicines. We believe all of this progress in 2023 moves us closer to being able to deliver a new class of medicines to patients living with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).”
VERVE-101 heart-1 Phase 1b Interim Data to be Presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2023
- VERVE-101, an in vivo base editing medicine delivered as a one-time intravenous infusion, is designed to inactivate the PCSK9 gene in liver cells, turning off liver production of PCSK9 protein and thereby durably reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). VERVE-101 is being developed initially for the treatment of patients living with HeFH.
- VERVE-101 is being evaluated in the Phase 1b heart-1 clinical trial with trial endpoints of safety and tolerability as well as blood PCSK9 protein and LDL-C levels. In September, the company announced that it will present interim data from the heart-1 trial in a late-breaking science presentation at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2023 on Sunday, November 12 from 3:30 – 3:40 p.m. ET. At AHA, Verve expects to report initial safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamic data, as well as changes in blood PCSK9 protein and LDL-C levels, from patients across four single-ascending dose cohorts.
- Verve is hosting an investor event on Sunday, November 12 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET in Philadelphia. The event will be accessible virtually and in-person. The webcast will be available under the “Events” section of the company’s website at https://ir.vervetx.com/events. Following the live event, an archived replay of the webcast will be made available on the company website.
- In October, Verve announced that the U.S. FDA cleared its Investigational New Drug Application for VERVE-101 in patients living with HeFH. Verve plans to activate U.S. sites to supplement the already active sites in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
VERVE-102 On-Track for Clinical Trial Initiation in First Half of 2024
- VERVE-102 is an in vivo base editing medicine that aims to inactivate the PCSK9 gene in a similar way to VERVE-101. VERVE-101 and VERVE-102 share an identical guide RNA targeting PCSK9 as well as similar messenger RNA expressing an adenine base editor; however, VERVE-102 is delivered using the company’s proprietary GalNAc-LNP delivery technology. Preclinical studies with VERVE-102 in mice and non-human primates demonstrated effective in vivo liver gene editing and significant reduction of blood PCSK9 protein.
- Preclinical development to support a regulatory submission for VERVE-102 began in early 2022, and, following regulatory clearance, Verve expects to initiate a Phase 1b clinical trial with VERVE-102 for patients with HeFH in the first half of 2024.
VERVE-201 On-Track for Clinical Trial Initiation in Second Half of 2024
- VERVE-201, an in vivo base editing medicine delivered as a one-time intravenous infusion, is designed to inactivate the ANGPTL3 gene in liver cells, turning off liver production of blood ANGPTL3 and thereby durably reducing blood LDL-C and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. VERVE-201 is being developed initially for the treatment of patients living with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), a rare and often fatal genetic subtype of premature ASCVD characterized by extremely high blood LDL-C. VERVE-201 aims to reduce the heavy treatment burden associated with available therapies for HoFH including the requirement for multiple oral, injectable, and intravenous infusions, often administered over decades.
- Preclinical studies to support a regulatory submission for clinical development of VERVE-201 are ongoing, and, following regulatory clearance, Verve expects to initiate a Phase 1b clinical trial with VERVE-201 in the second half of 2024.
Corporate Update
- In October 2023, Verve announced the expansion of its relationship with Lilly which has acquired from Beam Therapeutics certain product rights to Verve’s cardiovascular in vivo gene editing programs targeting PCSK9 and ANGPTL3, as well as a third undisclosed cardiovascular disease target. In June 2023, Verve and Lilly entered into an exclusive research collaboration focused on advancing Verve’s preclinical stage in vivo gene editing program targeting lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)).
- In September 2023, Verve announced the appointment of Frederick “Fred” T. Fiedorek, M.D., as chief medical officer.
- In addition, Jason Politi, B.S., M.B.A., who has served as Verve’s senior vice president, technical operations since 2021, has been promoted to the role of chief technical operations officer.
Other Upcoming Investor Events
Verve plans to participate in fireside chats during the following upcoming investor events:
- Stifel Healthcare Conference, November 14, New York City
- Jefferies London Healthcare Conference, November 16, London, UK
Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results
- Cash Position: Verve ended the third quarter of 2023 with $485.2 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Verve expects its existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities to be sufficient to fund its operations into 2026.
- Collaboration Revenue: Collaboration revenue was $3.1 million for the third quarter of 2023, which was related to research services performed under the collaboration agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Vertex) and the Lp(a) collaboration with Lilly. Collaboration revenue in the third quarter of 2022 was $0.9 million which was related to research services performed under the collaboration agreement with Vertex.
- Research & Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $43.8 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $35.2 million for the third quarter of 2022.
- General & Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $11.7 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $9.6 million for the third quarter of 2022.
- Net Loss: Net loss was $45.8 million, or $0.72 basic and diluted net loss per share, for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $45.2 million, or $0.79 basic and diluted net loss per share, for the third quarter of 2022.
About Verve Therapeutics
Verve Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERV) is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company pioneering a new approach to the care of cardiovascular disease, potentially transforming treatment from chronic management to single-course gene editing medicines. The company’s initial three programs – VERVE-101, VERVE-102, and VERVE-201 – target genes that have been extensively validated as targets for lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), a root cause of cardiovascular disease, in order to durably reduce blood LDL-C levels. VERVE-101 and VERVE-102 are designed to permanently turn off the PCSK9 gene in the liver and are being developed initially for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and ultimately to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients not at goal on oral therapy. VERVE-201 is designed to permanently turn off the ANGPTL3 gene in the liver and is initially being developed for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) and ultimately to treat patients with refractory hypercholesterolemia. For more information, please visit www.VerveTx.com.
