Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGLE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new generation of human enzyme therapeutics as innovative solutions for rare metabolic diseases, today reported its first quarter 2021 financial results, and provided recent corporate and program highlights.

"We've had a strong start to 2021 and I am excited to see the significant momentum we have built for our pegzilarginase program from a clinical perspective as well as strengthening our commercial foundation in preparation for a potential FDA approval and launch. In just the last two months, we completed patient randomization for PEACE, secured a commercialization partner for pegzilarginase in Europe and the Middle East and launched THINK ARGININE, an Arginase 1 Deficiency disease education and diagnostic testing initiative in the United States," said Anthony Quinn, M.B Ch.B, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Aeglea. "This substantial progress sets us up well for the rest of 2021. We expect to provide topline data from the PEACE study in the fourth quarter, continue progressing our commercial strategy for pegzilarginase and advance our AGLE-177 clinical program in Homocystinuria. These accomplishments are critical milestones as we move closer to our mission of bringing impactful therapies to patients with rare metabolic disorders who currently have limited treatment options."

Recent Highlights and Updates

Corporate

• In March, Aeglea announced it has entered into a license and supply agreement with Immedica Pharma AB granting Immedica exclusive commercialization rights in Europe and several Middle Eastern countries. Aeglea will receive an upfront payment of $21.5 million and is eligible for commercial and regulatory milestones of up to approximately $130 million and mid-twenties percentage royalties on net sales.

Pegzilarginase in Arginase 1 Deficiency

• In April, the Company completed patient screening and randomization for PEACE, its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. Trial enrollment of 32 patients exceeded the target of 30 patients, underscoring the high levels of interest seen from patients, caregivers and investigators. Topline data are expected in the fourth quarter of 2021.
• In May, we announced the launch of THINK ARGININE, a disease education initiative to improve the awareness and diagnosis of Arginase 1 Deficiency (ARG1-D). The initiative consists of a comprehensive healthcare provider education campaign and a no-charge diagnostic testing program for adults and children with suspected ARG1-D in the United States.
  • The no-charge diagnostic testing program includes amino acid testing working with Mayo Clinic Laboratories and genetic testing partnered with Invitae.

Upcoming Events

Aeglea will participate in the upcoming virtual conferences and events:

• ISPOR 2021, May 17-20
• Virtual Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill 2021, July 14-22

First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2021, Aeglea had available cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash of $128.5 million, which excludes the upfront license receivable from Immedica for $21.5 million. Based on Aeglea's current operating plan, management believes it has sufficient capital resources to fund anticipated operations into 2023.

Research and development expenses totaled $11.9 million for the first quarter of 2021 and $14.6 million for the first quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily associated with completing certain pre-commercial manufacturing activities for Aeglea's lead product candidate, pegzilarginase. 

General and administrative expenses totaled $6.4 million for the first quarter of 2021 and $4.5 million for the first quarter of 2020. This increase was primarily due to ramping-up the Company's commercial capabilities and infrastructure.

Net loss totaled $18.2 million and $18.7 million for the first quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively, with non-cash stock compensation expense of $1.8 million and $1.3 million for the first quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

About Pegzilarginase in Arginase 1 Deficiency

Pegzilarginase is a novel recombinant human enzyme, which has been shown to rapidly and sustainably lower levels of the amino acid arginine in plasma. Aeglea is developing pegzilarginase for the treatment of patients with ARG1-D, a rare debilitating and progressive disease characterized by the accumulation of arginine. ARG1-D presents in early childhood and patients experience spasticity, seizures, developmental delay, intellectual disability and early mortality. Aeglea's Phase 1/2 and Phase 2 open-label extension data for pegzilarginase in patients with ARG1-D demonstrated clinical improvements and sustained lowering of plasma arginine. The Company's ongoing single, global pivotal Phase 3 PEACE trial is designed to assess the effects of treatment with pegzilarginase versus placebo over 24 weeks with a primary endpoint of plasma arginine reduction. Pegzilarginase has received multiple regulatory designations, including Rare Pediatric Disease, Breakthrough, Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designations from the FDA as well as Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency.

About AGLE-177 in Homocystinuria

AGLE-177 is a novel recombinant human enzyme, which degrades the amino acid homocysteine and its related homocystine dimer. Aeglea is developing AGLE-177 for the treatment of patients with cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) deficiency, also known as Classical Homocystinuria, a rare inherited disorder of methionine metabolism that results in elevated levels of homocysteine and homocystine. Homocysteine accumulation plays a key role in multiple progressive and serious disease-related complications, including thromboembolic vascular events, skeletal abnormalities (including severe osteoporosis), developmental delay, intellectual disability, lens dislocation and severe near sightedness. Preclinical data demonstrated that AGLE-177 improved important disease-related abnormalities and survival in a mouse model of Homocystinuria. AGLE-177 has received U.S. Rare Pediatric Disease and Orphan Drug Designations as well as EU Orphan Drug Designation. Aeglea initiated a Phase 1/2 trial in 2020 and continues patient identification and administrative activities.

About Aeglea BioTherapeutics

Aeglea BioTherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company redefining the potential of human enzyme therapeutics to benefit people with rare metabolic diseases with limited treatment options. Aeglea's lead product candidate, pegzilarginase, is in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for the treatment of Arginase 1 Deficiency and has received both Rare Pediatric Disease and Breakthrough Therapy Designation. The Company initiated a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AGLE-177 for the treatment of Homocystinuria in 2020. AGLE-177 has also been granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation. Aeglea has an active discovery platform focused on engineering small changes in human enzymes to have a big impact on the lives of patients and their families. For more information, please visit http://aeglea.com.

Safe Harbor / Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what we expect. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our ability to obtain regulatory approval for, and commercialize, pegzilarginase, recognize milestone and royalty payments from our agreement with Immedica, cash forecasts, the timing and success of our clinical trials and related data, the timing and expectations for regulatory submissions and approvals, timing and results of meetings with regulators, the timing of announcements and updates relating to our clinical trials and related data, our ability to enroll patients into our clinical trials, the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and clinical trials, success in our collaborations, the potential addressable markets of the our product candidates and the potential therapeutic benefits and economic value of our lead product candidate or other product candidates. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect our business and its financial results are detailed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other reports as filed with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.