MENLO PARK, Calif., May 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADVM), a clinical-stage gene therapy company targeting unmet medical needs in serious rare and ocular diseases, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 and provided a corporate update.

“Our plans and timelines for our three lead gene therapy programs remain on track and we have the resources to execute,” said Leone Patterson, interim president and chief executive officer of Adverum Biotechnologies. “At ASGCT next week, we look forward to presenting long-term preclinical efficacy data on ADVM-022 in wet AMD. For ADVANCE, our Phase 1/2 clinical trial of ADVM-043 in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, we plan to report preliminary data in the second half of 2018. Also in the second half of 2018, we plan to submit two Investigational New Drug Applications to the FDA, for ADVM-022 in wet AMD and ADVM-053 in hereditary angioedema, as we prepare to advance these two additional gene therapies into the clinic.”

Recent Progress

2018 Outlook - Planned Pipeline Milestones
ADVM-043 for A1AT Deficiency

Report preliminary data from the ADVANCE Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the second half of 2018.

ADVM-022 for wAMD

Complete ongoing Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling preclinical studies.
Submit an IND Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the second half of 2018.

ADVM-053 for Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)

Complete ongoing IND-enabling preclinical studies.
Submit an IND Application to the FDA in the second half of 2018.

Upcoming Events

Adverum plans to attend and present data on ADVM-022 at the ASGCT 21^st Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 16-19, 2018
Poster Title: AAV.7m8-aflibercept Provides Long-term Protection in a Non-human Primate Model of Wet Macular Degeneration Over One Year Post Intravitreal Vector Administration (#554)
Time: Thursday, May 17, 2018, 5:15-7:15 pm CT
Location: Hilton Chicago, Stevens Salon C & D

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $247.0 million as of March 31, 2018, compared to $190.5 million as of December 31, 2017. In February 2018, Adverum raised $64.5 million in net proceeds from a public offering of common stock. This quarter-end cash position is expected to fund the three lead gene therapy programs through at least the end of 2019, including preliminary clinical data for at least two of these programs, and through the initial stage of scaling up manufacturing capabilities.
Revenues, consisting of revenue from collaborative research, were $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $0.5 million for the same period in 2017.
Research and development expenses were $12.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $9.1 million for the same period in 2017. This increase was due to an overall increase in research and development activities, including compensation and benefits, and material production costs for ADVM-022 and ADVM-053 as these programs advance toward Phase 1/2 clinical trials.
General and administrative expenses were $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $8.0 million for the same period in 2017. This decrease was primarily due to charges during the three months ended March 31, 2017, including termination costs associated with the company’s master services agreement with Cornell and the litigation settlement expense.
Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $17.2 million, or $0.30 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $16.1 million, or $0.38 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2017.

About Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.
Adverum is a clinical-stage gene therapy company targeting unmet medical needs in serious rare and ocular diseases. Adverum has a robust pipeline that includes product candidates designed to treat rare diseases alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency and hereditary angioedema (HAE) as well as wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). Leveraging a next-generation adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based directed evolution platform, Adverum generates product candidates designed to provide durable efficacy by inducing sustained expression of a therapeutic protein. Adverum has collaboration agreements with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to research, develop, and commercialize gene therapy products for ophthalmic diseases and Editas Medicine to explore the delivery of genome editing medicines for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases. Adverum’s core capabilities include clinical development and in-house manufacturing expertise, specifically in process development and assay development. For more information please visit www.adverum.com.

Forward-looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding events or results that may occur in the future are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Adverum’s plans to report preliminary data from the ADVANCE study in the second half of 2018, plans to submit two INDs to the FDA for ADVM-022 in wAMD and ADVM-053 in HAE in the second half of 2018, plans to use the preliminary data from the ADVANCE study to inform next steps, statements under the caption “2018 Outlook - Planned Pipeline Milestones,” and expectations as to the ability of its quarter-end cash position to fund the three lead gene therapy programs through at least the end of 2019 and through the initial stage of scaling up manufacturing capabilities, all of which are based on certain assumptions made by Adverum on current conditions, expected future developments and other factors Adverum believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Adverum may not consummate any plans or product or clinical development goals in a timely manner, or at all, or otherwise carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, the risk of a delay in the enrollment of patients in Adverum’s clinical studies or in the manufacturing of products to be used in such clinical studies. Risks and uncertainties facing Adverum are described more fully in Adverum’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), especially under the caption “Risk Factors” in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 6, 2018. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Adverum undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	152,716	$	70,519
Short-term investments		94,321		119,966
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,161		3,256

Total current assets		249,198		193,741
Property and equipment, net		2,820		3,024
Deposits and other long-term assets		140		140
Intangible assets		5,000		5,000

Total assets	$	257,158	$	201,905


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	7,890	$	8,695
Current portion of deferred rent		138		129
Current portion of deferred revenue		1,246		1,850

Total current liabilities		9,274		10,674

Deferred rent, less current portion		187		222
Deferred revenue, less current portion		-		5,250
Deferred tax liability		1,250		1,250
Other non-current liabilities		404		481

Total liabilities		11,115		17,877

Stockholders’ equity		246,043		184,028

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	257,158	$	201,905

ADVERUM BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017


Collaboration and license revenue	$	216		$	462

Operating expenses:
Research and development		12,794			9,061
General and administrative		5,368			7,989

Total operating expenses		18,162			17,050

Operating loss		(17,946	)		(16,588	)

Other income (expense), net		746			489
Net loss attributable to
common stockholders	$	(17,200	)	$	(16,099	)

Net loss per share attributable to common
stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(0.30	)	$	(0.38	)


Weighted-average common shares outstanding,
basic and diluted		57,420			42,144

Contact for Adverum: 
Leone Patterson
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
650-665-7222

Adverum Biotechnologies Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

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