• Goal to treat 40-60 patients in 2024 in four trials across seven indications in oncology, B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases, and type 1 diabetes
  
• Ongoing ARDENT trial for SC291 continues in B-cell malignancies; expect to report additional data in 2024
• Enrolling patients in the ongoing GLEAM trial for SC291 in B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases; expect to report initial clinical data in 2024
• Enrolling patients in the ongoing VIVID trial for SC262 in relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies; expect to report initial clinical data in 2024
• Expect initial clinical data in 1H2024 for investigator-sponsored trial with hypoimmune-modified primary islet cells
•  Completed financing of $189.8 million in gross proceeds to support activities through multiple data readouts
• Cash position of $311.1 million and expected 2024 operating cash burn below $200 million

SEATTLE, May 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: SANA), a company focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines, today reported financial results and business highlights for the first quarter 2024.

“We have four ongoing clinical trials in seven indications, and we remain on track to share initial data from each of these studies in 2024,” said Steve Harr, Sana’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We strengthened our capital position with the financing in the first quarter, enabling us to share readouts from multiple clinical studies with our current balance sheet. 2024 is a year of execution at Sana with a goal of better understanding our hypoimmune platform, its potential to treat a number of prevalent diseases, and the impacts of clinical data on our longer-term plans.”

Recent Corporate Highlights

Advancing four clinical programs across seven indications, including an allogeneic CAR T program targeting CD19+ cancers, an allogeneic CAR T program for B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases, an allogeneic CAR T program targeting CD22+ cancers, and a primary islet cell therapy in type 1 diabetes:

• SC291 is a hypoimmune (HIP)-modified CD19-directed allogeneic CAR T for patients with B-cell malignancies and B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases.
• The ARDENT trial evaluates SC291 in patients with B-cell malignancies. Early SC291 data from the ongoing ARDENT trial suggest the ability to dose safely, the desired immune evasion profile, and early clinical efficacy. Enrollment in this study continues, and Sana expects to share more data in 2024.
• The GLEAM trial evaluates SC291 in patients with B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases including lupus nephritis, extrarenal lupus, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. The trial has begun enrollment, and Sana expects to share initial data in 2024.
• The VIVID trial evaluates SC262, a HIP-modified CD22-directed allogeneic CAR T, in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. The VIVID trial initially investigates SC262 in patients who have received prior CD19-directed CAR T therapy. The trial has begun enrollment, and Sana expects to share initial data in 2024.
• UP421 is a primary human HIP-modified islet cell therapy for patients with type 1 diabetes. The goal of this investigator-sponsored trial is to understand survival and immune evasion of allogeneic islet cells in patients with autoimmunity and without immunosuppression. The Clinical Trial Application (CTA) cleared in 4Q 2023, and Sana expects to share initial data in the first half of 2024.

Published preclinical data in Cell Stem Cell demonstrating that HIP-modified allogeneic islet cells provided lasting endocrine function in a fully immunocompetent non-human primate with type 1 diabetes, enabling the achievement of exogenous insulin independence without immunosuppression for six-month study duration:

• Sana developed HIP-modified allogeneic islet cells, which cluster into effective endocrine organoids termed “pseudo islet grafts” (p-islets). HIP p-islets engrafted and provided stable endocrine function, enabling insulin independence without immunosuppression.
• The allogeneic HIP p-islet graft survived for the six-month duration of the study with no indication of immune recognition of the HIP p-islet engraftment at any time.
• To demonstrate that there was no regeneration or recovery of an endogenous islet cell population in the diabetic NHP, HIP p-islets were eliminated using an anti-CD47 antibody, demonstrating proof of principle of CD47 overexpression and a potential safety switch.

Completed financing with gross proceeds of approximately $189.8 million to further support activities to enable multiple data readouts:

• Closed on an upsized public offering in February 2024 of 21.8 million shares of Sana’s common stock, which includes the full exercise of the underwriter’s option, and pre-funded warrants to purchase 12.7 million shares of Sana’s common stock. The gross proceeds from this offering were approximately $189.8 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

GAAP Results

• Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of March 31, 2024 were $311.1 million compared to $205.2 million as of December 31, 2023. The increase of $105.9 million was primarily driven by net proceeds from equity financings of $181.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, partially offset by cash used in operations of $65.6 million and cash used for the purchase of property and equipment of $15.8 million.
• Research and Development Expenses: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, research and development expenses, inclusive of non-cash expenses, were $56.4 million compared to $67.2 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease of $10.8 million was primarily due to lower personnel-related costs, including non-cash stock-based compensation, and laboratory costs due to a decrease in headcount related to the strategic repositioning in the fourth quarter of 2023, decreased research costs, and lower costs for third-party manufacturing at contract development and manufacturing organizations. These decreases were partially offset by increased clinical development costs. Research and development expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation of $5.2 million and $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
• Research and Development Related Success Payments and Contingent Consideration: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Sana recognized a non-cash expense of $38.0 million compared to $0.1 million for the same period in 2023, in connection with the change in the estimated fair value of the success payment liabilities and contingent consideration in aggregate. The value of these potential liabilities fluctuate significantly with changes in Sana’s market capitalization and stock price.
• General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024, inclusive of non-cash expenses, were $16.3 million compared to $16.8 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease of $0.5 million was primarily due to lower personnel-related costs due to a decrease in headcount related to the strategic repositioning in the fourth quarter of 2023, and a decrease in costs related to Sana’s previously planned manufacturing facility in Fremont, California. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in patent and other legal fees. General and administrative expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation of $3.2 million and $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
• Net Loss: Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $107.5 million, or $0.49 per share, compared to $82.1 million, or $0.43 per share for the same period in 2023.

Non-GAAP Measures

• Non-GAAP Operating Cash Burn: Non-GAAP operating cash burn for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $58.7 million compared to $74.8 million for the same period in 2023. Non-GAAP operating cash burn is the decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, excluding cash inflows from financing activities, cash outflows from business development, non-recurring items, and the purchase of property and equipment.
• Non-GAAP Net Loss: Non-GAAP net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $69.5 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to $82.0 million, or $0.43 per share, for the same period in 2023. Non-GAAP net loss excludes non-cash expenses and gains related to the change in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration and success payment liabilities.

A discussion of non-GAAP measures, including a reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures, is presented below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

About Sana

Sana Biotechnology, Inc. is focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines for patients. We share a vision of repairing and controlling genes, replacing missing or damaged cells, and making our therapies broadly available to patients. We are a passionate group of people working together to create an enduring company that changes how the world treats disease. Sana has operations in Seattle, Cambridge, South San Francisco, and Rochester.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including those related to the company’s vision, progress, and business plans; expectations for its development programs, product candidates and technology platforms, including its preclinical, clinical and regulatory development plans and timing expectations; expectations regarding the number of patients to be treated in its clinical trials 2024 and the indications to be evaluated; expectations regarding the timing, substance, significance, and impact of data from clinical trials of the Company’s product candidates and an IST utilizing HIP-modified primary islet cells in patients with type 1 diabetes; the potential ability to dose safely, achieve the desired immune evasion profile, and achieve clinical efficacy with SC291 in patients with B-cell malignancies; the potential of SC379 as a potential therapy to deliver health GPCs to patients with certain central nervous system disorders; expectations regarding the Company’s 2024 operating cash burn; and expectations regarding the potential of the gross proceeds from the recent financing along with the Company’s existing cash position to support activities through multiple data readouts. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including, among others, statements regarding the Company’s strategy, expectations, cash runway and future financial condition, future operations, and prospects, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to vary materially, including, among others, the risks inherent in drug development such as those associated with the initiation, cost, timing, progress and results of the Company’s current and future research and development programs, preclinical and clinical trials, as well as economic, market, and social disruptions. For a detailed discussion of the risk factors that could affect the Company’s actual results, please refer to the risk factors identified in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports, including but not limited to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated May 8, 2024. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Investor Relations & Media:
Nicole Keith
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(1)   Cobalt Biomedicine, Inc. (Cobalt) and the Presidents of Harvard College (Harvard) are entitled to success payments pursuant to the terms and conditions of their respective agreements. The success payments are recorded at fair value and remeasured at each reporting period with changes in the estimated fair value recorded in research and development related success payments and contingent consideration on the statement of operations.
(2)   Cobalt is entitled to contingent consideration upon the achievement of certain milestones pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreement. Contingent consideration is recorded at fair value and remeasured at each reporting period with changes in the estimated fair value recorded in research and development related success payments and contingent consideration on the statement of operations.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the financial results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), Sana uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its business. Sana’s management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are helpful in understanding Sana’s financial performance and potential future results, as well as providing comparability to peer companies and period over period. In particular, Sana’s management utilizes non-GAAP operating cash burn, non-GAAP research and development expense and non-GAAP net loss and net loss per share. Sana believes the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides management and investors greater visibility into the company’s actual ongoing costs to operate its business, including actual research and development costs unaffected by non-cash valuation changes and certain one-time expenses for acquiring technology, as well as facilitating a more meaningful comparison of period-to-period activity. Sana excludes these items because they are highly variable from period to period and, in respect of the non-cash expenses, provides investors with insight into the actual cash investment in the development of its therapeutic programs and platform technologies.

These are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures and should be read in conjunction with Sana’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures differ from GAAP measures with the same captions, may be different from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies, and do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting. Sana’s management uses these supplemental non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage, and evaluate Sana’s business and make operating decisions. In addition, Sana’s management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because they enhance the ability of investors to compare Sana’s results from period to period and allows for greater transparency with respect to key financial metrics Sana uses in making operating decisions. The following are reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures;

(1)   For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the expense related to the Cobalt success payment liability was $27.9 million compared to a gain of $4.8 million for the same period in 2023. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the expense related to the Harvard success payment liability was $4.7 million compared to a gain of $0.6 million for the same period in 2023.
(2)   The contingent consideration is in connection with the acquisition of Cobalt.