Encinitas, Calif. — Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: VTYX) (“Ventyx”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing novel oral therapies that address a broad range of inflammatory diseases with significant unmet medical need, announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022, and highlighted recent pipeline and business progress.
“I am proud of our team’s exceptional performance in 2022 as we continued to build an amazing team, strengthen our financial position and successfully advance our portfolio of wholly-owned, internally-discovered small molecules targeting large immunology markets with high unmet medical need,” said Raju Mohan, Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to a potentially breakthrough year in 2023, with multiple key clinical milestones, including topline Phase 2 data for VTX002 in ulcerative colitis expected in H2 2023 and topline Phase 2 data for VTX958 in plaque psoriasis expected in Q4 2023. Additionally, we recently initiated a Phase 2 proof-of-mechanism trial of VTX2735 in CAPS patients, and we look forward to initiating a Phase 1 trial of our novel CNS-penetrant NRLP3 inhibitor VTX3232 in the first half of 2023.”
Pipeline Updates
- VTX958 (TYK2 Inhibitor): Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 2 SERENITY trial of VTX958 in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, the Phase 2 HARMONY trial in moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease and the Phase 2 TRANQUILITY trial in active psoriatic arthritis. Topline data from the Phase 2 SERENITY psoriasis trial are anticipated in Q4 2023. Topline readouts from the Phase 2 HARMONY and Phase 2 TRANQUILITY trials are expected in 2024.
Additionally, we are developing an extended release (ER) tablet formulation for VTX958 in collaboration with leading formulation development partners. We expect to provide an update on VTX958 ER tablet development in mid-2023 following completion of initial in-human testing. We have also begun a wide range of other Phase 3 enabling activities.
- VTX002 (S1P1R Modulator): We continue to make significant progress enrolling the Phase 2 trial of VTX002 in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. We expect to complete enrollment by mid-2023 and topline results are anticipated in the second half of 2023. At our investor R&D Day in January, we announced preliminary pharmacodynamic (PD) data from the open-label extension of the ongoing Phase 2 trial. Among patients completing Week 26 (13 weeks of blinded therapy followed by 13 weeks of open-label treatment with VTX002 60mg) as of January 15, 2023, a mean reduction from baseline in absolute lymphocyte count of 74% was observed. We believe these preliminary data suggest VTX002 may achieve a greater pharmacodynamic response compared to other S1P receptor modulators approved or in development for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, which may translate to an improved efficacy profile in UC.
- VTX2735 (Peripheral NLRP3 Inhibitor): We have initiated a Phase 2 proof-of-mechanism trial of VTX2735 in patients with familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS). FCAS is the most common subset of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), a group of rare autoinflammatory conditions caused by gain-of-function mutations in the NLRP3 gene. In addition to CAPS, we believe systemic NLRP3 inhibition with VTX2735 may have therapeutic potential across a broad range of chronic inflammatory conditions that are characterized by NLRP3-induced excess IL-1β, including dermatologic, rheumatologic and cardiovascular diseases.
- VTX3232 (CNS-penetrant NLRP3 Inhibitor): We expect to initiate a Phase 1 trial of VTX3232 during the first half of 2023. The Phase 1 trial is expected to characterize the safety, target engagement and bioavailability of VTX3232 in the central nervous system of healthy volunteers. We believe that the profile of VTX3232 may define it as a class-leading therapeutic for a range of neuroinflammatory conditions with high unmet medical need, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, among others.
- Discovery Programs: We continue our lead optimization efforts on the recently disclosed program focused on small molecule antagonists of IL-4Rα, a target validated by biologics in multiple large autoimmune indications, including atopic dermatitis, asthma and eosinophilic esophagitis. We are advancing multiple internally discovered novel chemical series through lead optimization with the goal of establishing in vivo proof-of-concept and nominating a lead candidate in 2023.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results:
The amounts presented below for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022 reflect the financial results of Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. and its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Oppilan Pharma Limited (Oppilan) and Zomagen Biosciences Ltd. (Zomagen), on a consolidated basis. The amounts presented below in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 2021 reflect the financial results of Ventyx, as well as the financial results of Oppilan and Zomagen from the date of acquisition (February 26, 2021), on a consolidated basis.
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $356.6 million as of December 31, 2022. Subsequent to December 31, 2022, we raised $48.4 million in net proceeds through our “At-the-market” (ATM) program. We believe our current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are sufficient to fund our planned operations into 2025.
- Research and Development (R&D) expenses: R&D expenses were $30.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $13.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2021. R&D expenses were $87.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $58.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
- General and Administrative (G&A) expenses: G&A expenses were $8.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $4.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2021. G&A expenses were $25.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
- Net loss: Net loss was $35.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $17.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2021. Net loss was $108.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $83.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Conference Call Information
Ventyx will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2022 financial results and provide a corporate update. To participate in the conference call, please dial (800) 343-4136 (U.S.) or (203) 518-9783 (international) and reference passcode VTYXQ422. A live audio webcast will be available in the Investors section of the company’s website at www.ventyxbio.com. A recording of the webcast will be available for thirty days following the call.
About Ventyx Biosciences
Ventyx is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative oral medicines for patients living with autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. We believe our ability to efficiently discover and develop differentiated drug candidates will allow us to address important unmet medical need with novel oral therapies that can shift immunology markets from injectable to oral drugs. Our current pipeline includes three internally discovered clinical programs targeting TYK2, S1P1R and NLRP3, positioning us to become a leader in the development of oral immunology therapies. Ventyx is headquartered in Encinitas, California. For more information about Ventyx, please visit www.ventyxbio.com.