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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): February 26, 2020

Editas Medicine, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware

001-37687

46-4097528

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

11 Hurley Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts

02141

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617401-9000

(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):

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

EDIT

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

 

 

Item 2.02.             Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On February 26, 2020, Editas Medicine, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing financial results for the fiscal quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 and other business highlights. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information contained in Item 2.02 in this Current Report 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 (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 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01.        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Press release issued by the Company on February 26, 2020*

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

*   This exhibit shall be deemed to be furnished and not filed.

SIGNATURES

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

 

 

 

 

 

EDITAS MEDICINE, INC.

 

 

Date:

February 26, 2020

By:

/s/ Michelle Robertson

 

 

 

Michelle Robertson
Chief Financial Officer

edit_Ex99_1

Exhibit 99.1

 

Picture 3

Editas Medicine Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Results and Update

 

Announcement of first patient dosing with EDIT-101 (AGN-151587) expected in 1Q20

 

Plan to file IND for EDIT-301 for sickle cell disease by end of 2020

 

Research collaboration with Sandhill Therapeutics accelerates IND-enabling studies for allogeneic healthy donor NK program to treat solid tumors in mid-2020

 

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., February 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Editas Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDIT), a leading genome editing company, today reported business highlights and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019.

 

“We are entering 2020 with strong momentum and a strategic focus on driving our pipeline of in vivo CRISPR and engineered cell medicines forward with the ultimate vision of developing differentiated, transformational medicines for people living with serious diseases,” said Cynthia Collins, Chief Executive Officer of Editas Medicine. “Our team is making history with the first ever clinical trial of an in vivo CRISPR medicine, advancing our broader pipeline of in vivo CRISPR medicines, and progressing our engineered cell medicines for hemoglobinopathies and cancers. With our recent achievements, I expect our clinical pipeline to yield a robust and sustainable portfolio of differentiated, transformative medicines and ensure the Company’s long-term growth.”

 

 

Recent Achievements and Outlook

 

In Vivo CRISPR Medicines 

 

·

EDIT-101 (AGN-151587) for LCA10

First in vivo CRISPR gene editing trial initiated

Editas Medicine (Company) and its partner, Allergan, are conducting the Brilliance Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of EDIT-101 as a treatment for Leber congenital amaurosis 10 (LCA10). An announcement of first patient dosing is expected in the first quarter of 2020.

 

·

EDIT-102 for Usher Syndrome 2A

Ready for IND-enabling studies

EDIT-102 is designed to remove exon 13 of the USH2A gene to restore functional Usherin protein using the same proprietary S. aureus Cas9 enzyme,

 

 

 

 

AAV vector, and tissue-specific promoter as EDIT-101. Under the terms of its alliance agreement with Allergan, the Company has delivered a preclinical data package for EDIT-102 to Allergan for potential licensing and initiation of Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies.

 

 

Engineered Cell Medicines 

 

·

EDIT-301 for Sickle Cell Disease and Beta-Thalassemia

IND filing for Sickle Cell Disease targeted by end of 2020

Editas Medicine is developing EDIT-301 using Cas12a (Cpf1) as a potentially best-in-class medicine to treat sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. Preclinical in vivo data were shared at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology and IND-enabling studies are in progress.

 

·

Oncology

Plan to initiate IND-enabling studies for allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell medicine in mid-2020

Editas Medicine has formed a strategic research collaboration with Sandhill Therapeutics, Inc., to develop allogeneic healthy donor derived NK cell medicines for the treatment of solid tumors. As a result, the Company expects to initiate IND-enabling studies for an experimental engineered oncology medicine to treat solid tumors in mid-2020. This approach complements Editas Medicine’s programs developing universal donor NK cell medicines derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.

 

 

Corporate

 

·

Leadership

The Company has strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointments of Michelle Robertson as Chief Financial Officer and Harry Gill as Senior Vice President, Operations. Ms. Robertson joins Editas Medicine with more than 25 years of finance and commercial operations management experience in biotechnology companies. Mr. Gill brings more than 30 years of life sciences experience with leadership roles in quality, plant operations, technical services, and operational excellence.  

 

·

Intellectual Property

On June 24, 2019, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office declared an interference between certain CRISPR/Cas9 patent applications submitted by the University of California, the University of Vienna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier and certain patents issued to the Broad Institute, Inc. (Broad) that have been licensed to Editas Medicine. The Broad patents remain valid and in force. Foundational claims covering the use of CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing in

 

 

 

 

eukaryotic cells have issued and continue to issue to Broad as patents in the United States, Europe, Japan, and other jurisdictions.

 

·

Balance Sheet

The Company expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $457.1 million at December 31, 2019, will enable it to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditures for at least the next 24 months.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Editas Medicine will participate in the following investor events:

 

·

Cowen & Company 40th Annual Health Care Conference, March 4, 10:40 a.m. ET, Boston; and

·

Barclays Global Healthcare Conference, March 10, 10:15 a.m. ET, Miami.

 

Editas Medicine will participate in the following scientific and medical conferences:

 

·

American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2020, April 24-29, San Diego;

·

Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology 2020, May 3-7, Baltimore; and

·

23rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy, May 12-15, Boston.

 

 

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities at December 31, 2019, were $457.1 million, compared to $332.6 million at September 30, 2019, and $369.0 million at December 31, 2018.

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2019, net loss was $37.8 million, or $0.74 per share, compared to $25.1 million, or $0.52 per share, for the same period in 2018.

 

·

Collaboration and other research and development revenues were $12.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to $6.1 million for the same period in 2018. The $6.2 million increase was primarily attributable to $5.0 million in increased revenue recognized pursuant to our amended collaboration agreement with Celgene and $1.1 million in increased revenue recognized pursuant to our strategic alliance with Allergan.

 

·

Research and development expenses increased by $15.6 million, to $34.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, from $19.2 million for the same

 

 

 

 

period in 2018. The $15.6 million increase was primarily attributable to increased process and platform development expenses driven by increased manufacturing and clinical related costs, including costs under our profit-sharing arrangement with Allergan in the United States for EDIT-101 and increased sublicensing payment expenses owed to certain of our licensors in connection with the amended collaboration agreement with Celgene. 

 

·

General and administrative expenses increased by $3.7 million to $16.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, from $13.2 million for the same period in 2018. The $3.7 million increase was primarily attributable to increased professional service expenses.

 

For the full year 2019, net loss was $133.7 million, or $2.68 per share, compared to $110.0 million, or $2.33 per share, for the same period in 2018.

 

·

Collaboration and other research and development revenues were $20.5 million for 2019, compared to $31.9 million for 2018. The $11.4 million decrease was attributable to $15.0 million in revenue recognized during the third quarter of 2018 related to the EDIT-101 option exercise payment pursuant to our strategic alliance with Allergan and $3.9 million in revenue recognized during the second quarter of 2018 related to a one time upfront payment in connection with an out-license arrangement.

·

Research and development expenses were $96.9 million for 2019, compared to $90.7 million for 2018. The $6.2 million increase was attributable to increased process and platform development expenses driven by increased manufacturing and clinical related costs, including costs under our profit-sharing arrangement with Allergan in the United States for EDIT-101, and increased employee-related costs, partially offset by a decrease in success payment expenses.

·

General and administrative expenses were $64.6 million for 2019, compared to $55.0 million for 2018. The $9.6 million increase was primarily attributable to increased professional service expenses.

 

 

Conference Call


The Editas Medicine management team will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. ET to provide and discuss a corporate update and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019.  To access the call, please dial 844-348-3801 (domestic) or 213-358-0955 (international) and provide the passcode 1609775.  A live webcast of the call will be available on the Investors & Media section of the Editas Medicine website at www.editasmedicine.com and a replay will be available approximately two hours after its completion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Editas Medicine

As a leading genome editing company, Editas Medicine is focused on translating the power and potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas12a (also known as Cpf1) genome editing systems into a robust pipeline of treatments for people living with serious diseases around the world. Editas Medicine aims to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, precision genomic medicines for a broad class of diseases. For the latest information and scientific presentations, please visit www.editasmedicine.com.

 

About the Editas Medicine-Allergan Alliance

In March 2017, Editas Medicine and Allergan Pharmaceuticals International Limited (Allergan) entered a strategic alliance and option agreement under which Allergan received exclusive access and the option to license up to five of Editas Medicine’s genome editing programs for ocular diseases, including EDIT-101 (AGN-151587). Under the terms of the agreement, Allergan is responsible for development and commercialization of optioned products, subject to Editas Medicine’s option to co-develop and share equally in the profits and losses of two optioned products in the United States. In August 2018, Allergan exercised its option to develop and commercialize EDIT-101 globally for the treatment of LCA10. Additionally, Editas Medicine exercised its option to co-develop and share equally in the profits and losses from EDIT-101 in the United States. Editas Medicine is also eligible to receive development and commercial milestones, as well as royalty payments on a per-program basis. The agreement covers a range of first-in-class ocular programs targeting serious, vision-threatening diseases based on Editas Medicine’s unparalleled CRISPR genome editing platform, including CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas12a (also known as Cpf1).

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘continue,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘potential,’’ ‘‘predict,’’ ‘‘project,’’ ‘‘target,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘would,’’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the Company’s plans with respect to the Brilliance Phase 1/2 clinical trial for EDIT-101 (AGN-151587), including expecting an announcement of dosing in Q1 2020, filing an IND for EDIT-301 by the end of the year and initiating IND-enabling studies for an experimental medicine to treat solid tumors in mid-2020. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and clinical development of the Company’s product candidates; availability and timing of results from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; expectations for regulatory approvals to

 

 

 

 

conduct trials or to market products and availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.  Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Company’s views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Except as required by law, the Company explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

 

 

 

 

EDITAS MEDICINE, INC.

Consolidated Statement of Operations

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

2019

 

2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration and other research

    

 

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

 

and development revenues

 

$

12,284 

 

$

6,119 

 

$

20,531 

 

$

31,937 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

34,789 

 

 

19,195 

 

 

96,898 

 

 

90,654 

 

General and administrative

 

 

16,917 

 

 

13,177 

 

 

64,555 

 

 

55,010 

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

51,706 

 

 

32,372 

 

 

161,453 

 

 

145,664 

 

Operating loss

 

 

(39,422)

 

 

(26,253)

 

 

(140,922)

 

 

(113,727)

 

Other income, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income(expense), net

 

 

 

 

(3)

 

 

(137)

 

 

328 

 

Interest income, net

 

 

1,645 

 

 

1,202 

 

 

7,313 

 

 

3,445 

 

Total other income, net

 

 

1,653 

 

 

1,199 

 

 

7,176 

 

 

3,773 

 

Net loss

 

$

(37,770)

 

$

(25,054)

 

$

(133,746)

 

$

(109,954)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders,basic and diluted

 

$

(0.74)

 

$

(0.52)

 

$

(2.68)

 

$

(2.33)

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted

 

 

51,169,242 

 

 

48,006,980 

 

 

49,983,329 

 

 

47,097,735 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDITAS MEDICINE, INC.

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Items

(amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

2018

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities

    

$

457,140 

    

$

368,955 

 

Working capital

 

 

403,881 

 

 

338,876 

 

Total assets

 

 

508,885 

 

 

420,386 

 

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

 

 

163,207 

 

 

115,614 

 

Construction financing lease obligation, net of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

current portion

 

 

-----------

 

 

32,417 

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

262,437 

 

 

236,162 

 

 

 

 

Investor Contact

Mark Mullikin

(617) 401-9083

mark.mullikin@editasmed.com 

 

Media Contact

Cristi Barnett

(617) 401-0113

cristi.barnett@editasmed.com