PRINCETON - UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: URGN), a biotech company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions that treat urothelial and specialty cancers, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023, and provided an overview of recent developments.
'In 2023, UroGen achieved important operational and clinical milestones, setting us up for further success in the coming years,' said Liz Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer of UroGen. 'The Phase 3 ATLAS and ENVISION trials both produced meaningful and unprecedented results underscoring the potential of UGN-102 to fundamentally change the way patients with low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer are treated. We look forward to reporting the 12-month duration of response data from ENVISION in the second quarter of 2024 and to completing submission of an NDA in September of this year. UGN-102 has the potential to address a more than $3 billion market opportunity and, if approved, has the potential to be transformative for our company. JELMYTO continues to show double digit growth with patient and physician adoption expected to continue to increase.'
2023 and Recent Business Highlights
UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution: In January 2024, UroGen initiated submission of a rolling New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for UGN-102 as a treatment of low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC). The first part of the submission was the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) sections. The FDA indicated that evaluation of duration of complete response at 12-months from the pivotal ENVISION trial will be sufficient to support submission of the NDA. The company plans to complete the submission in September 2024 with a potential FDA decision as early as the first quarter of 2025.
Positive top-line data from ATLAS Phase 3 clinical trial highlighting UGN-102 as non-surgical treatment option for LG-IR-NMIBC published in The Journal of Urology.
JELMYTO (mitomycin) for pyelocalyceal solution in low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer (LG-UTUC): Generated annual net product revenue of $82.7 million in 2023, compared with $64.4 million in 2022 in representing 28% annual growth.
Patient enrollment forms, new patient starts, and total doses each grew approximately 25% year-over-year. First-time writers, activated sites and repeat accounts also continue to grow.
A retrospective study investigated whether patients with higher-volume low-grade disease could achieve disease-free status using partial ablation or biopsy before JELMYTO treatment during initial ureteroscopy. The study found no significant difference in disease-free rates between complete ablation (78.6%), partial ablation (57.6%), or biopsy-only (66.7%) groups during initial ureteroscopy. Tumor size prior to JELMYTO induction also showed no significant impact on disease-free rates. The study aimed to find alternatives to nephroureterectomy for preserving kidney function and to assess JELMYTO's efficacy in managing larger volume disease. Findings from the study were published online in Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations online.
Next-generation novel mitomycin-based formulation for urothelial cancers
In January 2024, UroGen announced a license and supply agreement with medac GmbH to develop a next-generation novel mitomycin-based formulation for urothelial cancers. UGN-103 and UGN-104 combine UroGen's RTGel technology with medac's licensed mitomycin formulation. The agreement and development program potentially allow UroGen to extend the patent protection on its urothelial cancer franchise. medac has intellectual property protection for its mitomycin formulation expected to last until June 2035 and UroGen has pending U.S. patent applications which may provide protection until December 2041.
UroGen plans to initiate Phase 3 studies to explore the safety and efficacy of UGN-103 and UGN-104 in LG-IR-NMIBC and LG-UTUC, respectively, in 2024.
Up to $100 Million Letter of Credit Facility with Funds Managed by Pharmakon
Announced signing of a restructured loan agreement with Pharmakon Advisors providing UroGen additional funding of up to $100 million. Under the terms of the restructured agreement, the interest rate on the previously funded $100 million loan is reduced, and the initiation of the payback period will be delayed following UGN-102 approval. The restructured agreement also includes a credit facility of up to $100 million. As part of the agreement, UroGen is required to draw down on the first tranche of $25 million of the credit facility by September 30, 2024, and will have the option to access as much as an additional $75 million following UGN-102 approval.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results
JELMYTO Revenue: UroGen reported JELMYTO net product revenues of $23.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $18.1 million for the same period in 2022. Net JELMYTO product revenue for the full year 2023 was $82.7 million, compared to $64.4 million in 2022. Despite strong unit growth, full year 2023 net revenues were impacted by higher than forecast 340B chargebacks and first time estimated Medicare refunds for discarded drug, offset by non-patient purchases.
R&D Expense: Research and development expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $11.3 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $0.5 million as compared to $14.5 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $0.6 million, for the same period in 2022. Research and development expenses for the full year 2023 were $45.6 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $1.9 million as compared to $52.9 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $2.6 million, in 2022.
SG&A Expense: Selling, general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $24.6 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $2.1 million. This compares to $21.6 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $1.8 million, for the same period in 2022. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the full year 2023 were $93.3 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $7.4 million. This compares to $82.8 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $8.0 million, in 2022.
Financing on Prepaid Forward Obligation: UroGen reported non-cash financing expense related to the prepaid forward obligation to RTW Investments of $5.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $5.1 million in the same period in 2022. Non-cash financing expense related to the RTW Investments obligation was $21.6 million for the full year 2023, compared to $21.6 million in 2022. The rate applied to cash payments incurred in 2023 is 13% based on global JELMYTO net product sales of $82.7 million in 2023.
Interest Expense on Long-Term Debt: Interest expense related to the $100 million term loan facility with funds managed by Pharmakon Advisors was $3.6 million and $14.7 million, respectively for the fourth quarter and full year 2023, compared to $3.2 million and $8.4 million in the same periods in 2022. The higher amount in 2023 was a result of interest expense for four full quarters in 2023, whereas the first and second tranches of the loan were funded in March 2022 and December 2022, respectively.
Net Loss: UroGen reported a net loss of $26.0 million or ($0.72) per basic and diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with a net loss of $28.9 million or ($1.25) per basic and diluted share in the same period in 2022. Net loss was $102.2 million or ($3.55) per basic and diluted share in the full year 2023 compared with a net loss of $109.8 million or ($4.81) per basic and diluted share in 2022.
Cash & Cash Equivalents: As of December 31, 2023, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $141.5 million.
2024 Revenue, Operating Expense and RTW Expense Guidance: The Company anticipates full year 2024 net product revenues from JELMYTO to be in the range of $95 to $102 million. Increased discounts related to Medicare refunds for discarded drugs and 340B purchases will further impact net revenues in 2024. The Company also expects full year 2024 operating expenses in the range of $175 to $185 million, including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $6 to $11 million, subject to market conditions. The Company also reiterates anticipated full year 2024 non-cash financing expense related to the prepaid obligation to RTW Investments in the range of $21 to $26 million. Of this amount approximately $12.4 to $13.3 million is expected to be in cash.
About Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer (UTUC)
Urothelial cancer is the ninth most common cancer globally and the eighth most lethal neoplasm in men in the U.S. Between five percent and ten percent of primary urothelial cancers originate in the ureter or renal pelvis and are collectively referred to as upper tract urothelial cancers (UTUC). In the U.S., there are approximately 6,000 - 7,000 new or recurrent low-grade UTUC patients annually. Most cases are diagnosed in patients over 70 years old, and these older patients often face comorbidities. There are limited treatment options for UTUC, with the most common being endoscopic surgery or nephroureterectomy (removal of the entire kidney and ureter). These treatments can lead to a high rate of recurrence and relapse.
About UGN-102
UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution is an innovative drug formulation of mitomycin, currently in Phase 3 development for the treatment of low-grade, intermediate-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC). Utilizing UroGen's proprietary RTGel technology, a sustained release, hydrogel-based formulation, UGN-102 is designed to enable longer exposure of bladder tissue to mitomycin, thereby enabling the treatment of tumors by non-surgical means. UGN-102 is delivered to patients using a standard urinary catheter in an outpatient setting. Assuming positive findings from the durability of response endpoint from the ENVISION Phase 3 study, UroGen anticipates completing its NDA submission for UGN-102 in September with a potential FDA decision as early as the first quarter of 2025.
About UroGen Pharma Ltd.
UroGen is a biotech company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions that treat urothelial and specialty cancers because patients deserve better options. UroGen has developed RTGel reverse-thermal hydrogel, a proprietary sustained-release, hydrogel-based platform technology that has the potential to improve the therapeutic profiles of existing drugs. UroGen's sustained release technology is designed to enable longer exposure of the urinary tract tissue to medications, making local therapy a potentially more effective treatment option. Our first product to treat low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer and investigational treatment UGN-102 (mitomycin) for intravesical solution for patients with low-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer are designed to ablate tumors by non-surgical means. UroGen is headquartered in Princeton, NJ with operations in Israel.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements regarding: operational and clinical milestones achieved in 2023 will set the Company up for further success in the coming years; the potential of UGN-102 to fundamentally change the way patients with LG-IR-NMIBC are treated; the expected timing for the release of 12-month duration of response data from ENVISION in the second quarter of 2024 and that such data will be sufficient to support the submission of an NDA for UGN-102; the expected timing for completing a submission of an NDA to the FDA for UGN-102 and the potential FDA decision; the potential of UGN-102 to address more than $3 billion in market opportunity and to be transformative to the Company; expectations that JELMYTO patient and physician adoption is expected to continue to increase; the potential of the license and supply agreement with medac GmbH to allow UroGen to extend patent protection on its urothelial cancer franchise; UroGen's pending U.S. patent applications potentially providing protection for UGN-103 and UGN-104 until December 2041; UroGen's plans to initiate Phase 3 studies to explore the safety and efficacy of UGN-103 and UGN-104 in 2024; UroGen's ability to access an additional $75 million under the amended credit facility with Pharmakon Advisors, in addition to the required $25 million draw; UroGen's 2024 financial guidance; the potential of UroGen's proprietary RTGel technology to improve therapeutic profiles of existing drugs and UroGen's sustained release technology making local delivery potentially more effective as compared to other treatment options. Words and phrases such as 'anticipate,' 'assume,' 'believe,' 'expected,' 'if,' 'indicate,' 'look forward to,' 'potential,' 'will,' or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to: preliminary results may not be indicative of results that may be observed in the future; the timing and success of clinical trials and potential safety and other complications thereof; unforeseen delays that may impact the timing of progressing clinical trials and reporting data; the ability to obtain regulatory approval within the timeframe expected, or at all; the findings from the durability of response endpoint from the ENVISION Phase 3 study may not be positive, and in such event, UroGen's NDA pathway could be negatively impacted; even if the durability of response endpoint data from the ENVISION Phase 3 study are positive there is no guarantee that the current clinical development plan for UGN-102 will ultimately support submission of an NDA, notwithstanding the current agreement with the FDA; even if an NDA for UGN-102 is accepted by the FDA, there is no guarantee that such NDA will be sufficient to support approval of UGN-102 on the timeframe expected, or at all; UroGen's ability to access the additional $75 million under the amended credit facility with Pharmakon Advisers (in addition to the required $25 million draw) is subject to certain drawdown conditions; the ability to maintain regulatory approval; the ability to obtain and maintain adequate intellectual property rights and adequately protect and enforce such rights; complications associated with commercialization activities; the labeling for any approved product; competition in UroGen's industry; the scope, progress and expansion of developing and commercializing UroGen's product candidates; the size and growth of the market(s) for our product and product candidates and the rate and degree of market acceptance thereof vis-a-vis alternative therapies; UroGen's ability to attract or retain key management, members of the board of directors and personnel; UroGen's RTGel technology may not perform as expected; UroGen may not successfully develop and receive regulatory approval of any other product that incorporates RTGel technology and UroGen's financial condition and need for additional capital in the future. In light of these risks and uncertainties, and other risks and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of UroGen's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2023, and in UroGen's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, being filed with the SEC today (available at www.sec.gov), the events and circumstances discussed in such forward-looking statements may not occur, and UroGen's actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied thereby. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to UroGen as of the date of this release.
Contact:
Vincent Perrone
Email: vincent.perrone@UroGen.com
Tel: 609-460-3588
Cindy Romano
Email: cindy.romano@UroGen.com
Tel: 609-460-3583
UROGEN PHARMA LTD. 
