Cara Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

– 4Q22 total revenue was $3.3 million including collaborative revenue of $1.1 million from the Company’s share of profit of KORSUVA® (difelikefalin) injection; FY22 revenue was $41.9 million including collaborative revenue of $16.6 million –

– Positive momentum across first four EU launches; Global rollout to accelerate with most EU countries launching in 2023 –

– Phase 2/3 clinical program of oral difelikefalin in NP initiated in 2023; NDD CKD and AD programs tracking to expectations with internal readout from KIND 1 Part A expected in 2H23 –

– Conference call today at 4:30 p.m. EST –

STAMFORD, Conn., March 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CARA), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company leading a new treatment paradigm to improve the lives of patients suffering from pruritus, today announced financial results and operational highlights for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022.

“As the U.S. launch of KORSUVA® (difelikefalin) injection continues to progress, we are encouraged by the positive feedback from providers and patients. During the fourth quarter of 2022, we saw both new clinic and repeat orders driving product uptake, bolstering our confidence in KORSUVA’s long-term potential,” said Christopher Posner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cara Therapeutics. “The rollout of Kapruvia® in Europe has continued to gain momentum and we look forward to the acceleration of global launches throughout 2023. In addition, we continue to expect a regulatory decision from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in Japan in the second half of 2023.”

Mr. Posner continued, “With the recent initiation of our Phase 2/3 clinical program of oral difelikefalin for moderate-to-severe pruritus in patients with notalgia paresthetica (NP), we now have three ongoing late-stage programs. As we focus on maximizing the potential of difelikefalin for the treatment of chronic pruritus associated with multiple indications, we are confident that our pipeline in a product together with our strong financial foundation will drive long-term growth across our nephrology and dermatology franchises and create significant value for our shareholders.”

2022 and Recent Highlights

• KORSUVA injection launched in the U.S. by the Company’s commercial partner CSL Vifor
• Kapruvia approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pruritus associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult hemodialysis patients by the European Commission, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and regulatory agencies in Canada, Australia, Singapore, and Switzerland
• Kapruvia launched in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark
• New Drug Application submitted by the Company’s licensing partner, Maruishi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., to the PMDA for approval of difelikefalin for the treatment of pruritus in hemodialysis patients in Japan
• KIND and KICK Phase 3 programs of oral difelikefalin initiated for the treatment of pruritus in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and advanced non-dialysis dependent CKD, respectively
• KOMFORT Phase 2 trial of oral difelikefalin met primary endpoint in NP and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine
• KOURAGE Phase 2/3 program of oral difelikefalin initiated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pruritus in patients with NP
• Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma and Winhealth Pharma signed long-term exclusive licensing agreement for co-development and commercialization of KORSUVA injection in China

KORSUVA Injection Launch Update: 4Q22 & FY22

In the fourth quarter of 2022, KORSUVA injection generated net sales of $2.3 million and the Company recorded collaborative revenue of $1.1 million, which represented the Company’s share of the profit from sales of KORSUVA injection. The Company also recorded $72,000 in royalty revenue associated with Kapruvia sales in Europe. For the full year 2022, KORSUVA injection generated net sales of $35.3 million and the Company recorded collaborative revenue of $16.6 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, wholesalers shipped 20,844 vials to dialysis centers following initial inventory building in the third quarter of 2022, predominantly at Fresenius clinics. For the full year 2022, wholesalers shipped 207,096 vials to dialysis centers.

The Company expects launches in countries in Europe to continue in 2023, following launches of Kapruvia in Austria, Germany, and Sweden during the fourth quarter of 2022.

With the approval of Kapruvia in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2022, all four Access Consortium countries have approved the product. The Company expects launches to commence in Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and Australia over the next 12-18 months. The product is approved under the brand name KORSUVA in Canada and Singapore.

In Japan, the Company continues to expect its licensing partner Maruishi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to receive a regulatory decision from the PMDA in the second half of 2023.

Upcoming Meeting Activities

The Company expects to present at the following upcoming conferences:

• 2023 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, March 17-23
• 22^nd Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference, April 17-20

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at December 31, 2022 totaled $156.7 million compared to $236.8 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease in the balance primarily resulted from $78.7 million of cash used in operating activities.

For the fourth quarter of 2022, net loss was $30.3 million, or $(0.56) per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss of $33.4 million, or $(0.63) per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2021.

Revenues: Total revenue was $3.3 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Revenue primarily consisted of:

• $1.1 million of collaborative revenue related to our share of the profit from CSL Vifor’s sales of KORSUVA injection to third parties during the three months ended December 31, 2022. There was no collaborative revenue during the three months ended December 31, 2021.
• $2.1 million and $0.7 million of commercial supply revenue related to sales of KORSUVA injection to CSL Vifor during the three months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
• $72,000 of royalty revenue related to our royalties on the net sales of Kapruvia in Europe during the three months ended December 31, 2022. There was no royalty revenue during the three months ended December 31, 2021.
  
  

Cost of Goods Sold: Cost of goods sold of $2.1 million related to commercial supply revenue for KORSUVA injection sales to CSL Vifor during the three months ended December 31, 2022. There was no cost of goods sold during the three months ended December 31, 2021, as commercialization of KORSUVA injection began in April 2022.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $26.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared to $22.8 million in the same period of 2021. The higher R&D expenses in 2022 were principally due to increases in direct clinical trial costs and related consultants’ costs, and increases in payroll and related costs. R&D expenses in the three months ended December 31, 2021 included a $5.0 million milestone paid to Enteris Biopharma, Inc., or Enteris.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $6.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared to $11.5 million in the same period of 2021. The lower G&A expenses in 2022 were principally due to a decrease in stock-based compensation expense as a result of expense relating to the modification of our former CEO’s equity awards during the three months ended December 31, 2021.

Other Income, net: Other income, net was $1.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 compared to $0.1 million in the same period of 2021. The increase in other income, net was primarily due to an increase in interest income resulting from a higher yield on our portfolio of investments during the three months ended December 31, 2022.

For the full year ended December 31, 2022, net loss was $85.5 million, or $(1.59) per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss of $88.4 million, or $(1.74) per basic and diluted share for the full year ended December 31, 2021.

Revenues: Total revenue was $41.9 million and $23.0 million for the full years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Revenue primarily consisted of:

• $16.6 million of collaborative revenue related to our share of the profit from CSL Vifor’s sales of KORSUVA injection to third parties during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $0.7 million of collaborative revenue related to a portion of a milestone payment received from Maruishi during the year ended December 31, 2021.
• $15.0 million of license and milestone fees revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 related to the regulatory milestone payment for the approval of Kapruvia by the European Commission earned in April 2022, compared to $21.2 million of license and milestone fees revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 which was primarily related to a milestone payment we earned upon the regulatory approval of KORSUVA injection in August 2021.
• $10.2 million and $0.7 million of commercial supply revenue related to sales of KORSUVA injection to CSL Vifor for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
• $72,000 of royalty revenue related to our royalties on the net sales of Kapruvia in Europe during the year ended December 31, 2022. There was no royalty revenue during the year ended December 31, 2021.

Cost of Goods Sold: Cost of goods sold of $7.3 million related to commercial supply revenue for KORSUVA injection sales to CSL Vifor during the year ended December 31, 2022. There was no cost of goods sold during the year ended December 31, 2021, as commercialization of KORSUVA injection began in April 2022.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $91.9 million for the full year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $82.7 million for the full year ended December 31, 2021. The higher R&D expenses in 2022 were principally due to increases in direct clinical trial costs and related consultant costs, payroll and related costs, and travel costs. R&D expenses in the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 included milestones of $5.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively, earned by Enteris.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $30.3 million for the full year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $29.4 million for the full year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in 2022 was primarily due to increases in payroll and related costs, accounting and auditing fees, and consultants’ costs, partially offset by decreases in stock-based compensation expense as a result of expense relating to the modification of our former CEO’s equity awards during the year ended December 31, 2021.

Other Income, net: Other income, net was $2.1 million for the full year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $0.6 million for the full year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in other income, net was primarily due to an increase in interest income resulting from a higher yield on our portfolio of investments during the year ended December 31, 2022, and a decrease in net amortization expense of available-for-sale marketable securities during the year ended December 31, 2022.

Financial Guidance

Cara expects that our current unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale marketable securities, including collaborative revenue from our share of the profit from KORSUVA injection, will be sufficient to fund our currently anticipated operating plan into at least the first half of 2024.

About Cara Therapeutics

Cara Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company leading a new treatment paradigm to improve the lives of patients suffering from pruritus. The Company’s KORSUVA® (difelikefalin) injection is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for moderate-to-severe pruritus associated with chronic kidney disease in adults undergoing hemodialysis. The Company is developing an oral formulation of difelikefalin and has Phase 3 programs ongoing for the treatment of pruritus in patients with non-dialysis dependent advanced chronic kidney disease and atopic dermatitis. In addition, the Company has initiated a Phase 2/3 program of oral difelikefalin for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pruritus in patients with notalgia paresthetica. For more information, visit and follow the company on , and .

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of these forward-looking statements include statements concerning the Company’s ongoing commercialization of KORSUVA injection and Kapruvia, planned future regulatory meetings and/or submissions and potential future regulatory approvals, the performance of the Company’s commercial partners, including CSL Vifor, the expected timing of the initiation, enrollment and data readouts from the Company’s planned and ongoing clinical trials, the potential results of ongoing clinical trials, and the timing of future regulatory and development milestones for the Company’s product candidates. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks are described more fully in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Cara Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Financial tables follow

MEDIA CONTACT:

Annie Spinetta

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973-768-2170

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Iris Francesconi, Ph.D.

Cara Therapeutics

203-406-3700