PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: EIGR), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of targeted therapies for serious rare and ultra-rare diseases, today reported its second quarter 2021 financial results and provided a business update.

"Our rapidly advancing HDV platform strategy, which includes Lonafarnib and Peginterferon Lambda, provides multiple opportunities to deliver a win for HDV patients and positions us to be a leader in this space," said David Cory, President and CEO of Eiger.  "We are on track to complete enrollment in our Phase 3 HDV D-LIVR study this year, setting up pivotal topline data release in late-2022.  Additionally, LIMT-2, our Phase 3 study of Peginterferon Lambda for HDV, is on track to enroll its first patient by end of 2021."

Program Updates and Upcoming Milestones

HDV Platform Strategy

     Lonafarnib for HDV

• Only oral therapy in development for HDV
• Phase 3 D-LIVR (N=400) is the largest global study in HDV
  • Provides multiple opportunities for approval of Lonafarnib-based regimens: an all-oral and a combination with peginterferon alfa
  • > 90% enrolled, including patients randomized to date and patients in screening that are expected to be randomized
  • Full enrollment expected before end of 2021
  • Pivotal topline data release expected in late-2022

     Peginterferon Lambda for HDV

• Well-tolerated interferon administered as a weekly subcutaneous injection
• Phase 3 LIMT-2 (N=150) is a pivotal study of Peginterferon Lambda as a single agent for HDV
  • First patient enrolled expected by end of 2021

Avexitide for Rare Metabolic Disorders

• FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted for congenital hyperinsulinism
• Phase 3-enabling manufacturing, device development, and regulatory activities are ongoing in 2021
• Phase 3 studies for post-bariatric hypoglycemia and congenital hyperinsulinism could begin as early as 2022

Zokinvy^® for Progeria and Processing-Deficient Progeroid Laminopathies

• EMA approval expected by end of 2021
• Recipient of 2021 NORD Industry Innovation Award
• Nominee for 2021 Prix Galien USA Best Pharmaceutical Product Award

Peginterferon Lambda for COVID-19

• Phase 3 TOGETHER study enrolling patients across clinical sites in Brazil
• Interim futility data analysis potentially by end of 2021
• Positive data could support submission for emergency use authorization

Corporate

• Cash and investments of $139.8 million at the end of second quarter 2021 is expected to fund planned operations into fourth quarter 2023

Second Quarter Financial Results

Net revenues from Zokinvy product sales were $2.1 million for second quarter 2021.  The company commercially launched Zokinvy in the U.S. in January 2021 and reported $3.6 million in first quarter 2021, which included initial inventory stocking at the specialty pharmacy.

Research and Development expenses were $14.3 million for second quarter 2021, as compared to $9.8 million for the same period in 2020.  The increase was primarily due to clinical trial related expenses, including contract manufacturing, headcount related expenses, including stock-based compensation expense, and regulatory consulting services.

Cost of Sales were $0.3 million for the second quarter of 2021 and is related to certain costs associated with Zokinvy that were incurred after FDA approval.

Selling, General and Administrative expenses were $5.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2020.  The increase was primarily due to outside consulting and advisory services and headcount related expenses, including stock-based compensation expense

Total operating expenses include non-cash expenses of $2.7 million for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to $1.8 million for the same period in 2020.

Eiger reported a second quarter 2021 net loss of $19.2 million, or $0.57 on a per share basis.  This compares to a net loss of $15.3 million, or $0.60 on a per share basis, for the second quarter of 2020. 

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments as of June 30, 2021, totaled $139.8 million compared to $160.5 million on March 31, 2021.

As of June 30, 2021, the company had 33,951,314 common shares outstanding.

Conference Call

At 4:30 PM Eastern Time today, August 5, 2021, Eiger will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and provide a business update.  The live and replayed webcast of the call will be available through the company's website at www.eigerbio.com.  To participate in the live call by phone, dial (844) 743-2495 (U.S.) or (661) 378-9529 (International) and enter conference ID 9482721.  The webcast will be archived and available for replay for at least 90 days after the event.

About Eiger

Eiger is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of targeted therapies for serious rare and ultra-rare diseases.

Eiger's lead clinical programs are focused on the development of foundational therapies for Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) infection, the most serious form of viral hepatitis.  Eiger's HDV platform strategy includes two complementary HDV treatments.  Lonafarnib is a first-in-class, oral prenylation inhibitor in a global Phase 3 trial.  Peginterferon lambda is a first-in-class, type III, well-tolerated interferon entering Phase 3.

Zokinvy^® for the treatment of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS or Progeria) and processing-deficient progeroid laminopathies is the Company's first FDA approved product.  A Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) is under review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

For additional information about Eiger and its clinical programs, please visit www.eigerbio.com.  

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties.  All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future financial condition, timing for and outcomes of clinical results, business strategy and plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include terminology such as "believe," "will," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "contemplate," "intend," "target," "project," "should," "plan," "expect," "predict," "could," "potentially" or the negative of these terms.  Forward-looking statements are our current statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, our anticipated significant milestones in 2021 and 2022; the timing of our ongoing and planned clinical development; the sufficiency of our cash, cash equivalents and investments to fund our operations into the fourth quarter of 2023; our development programs for Zokinvy generally; , and the potential approval of Zokinvy in jurisdictions outside of the U.S., including the EU; our progression and continued enrollment of our Phase 3 D-LIVR study in HDV and expectations regarding the timing and availability of topline data; our ability to maintain supply of our commercial and clinical trial materials; our plans to advance Lambda in HDV in the U.S. and EU; our progression of Lambda for COVID-19 and Avexitide for post-bariatric hypoglycemia and congenital hyperinsulinism; our ability to finance the continued advancement of our development pipeline products; and the potential for success of any of our product candidates.  These statements concern product candidates that have not yet been approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  No representation is made as to their safety or effectiveness for the purposes for which they are being investigated.  Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that Eiger makes, including additional applicable risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" sections in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and Eiger's subsequent filings with the SEC.  The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on information currently available to Eiger and speak only as of the date on which they are made.  Eiger does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

Investors and Media:
Charles Butler
VP, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-650-272-6138

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SOURCE Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc.