I am somewhat late posting this one, however as talked about within the remark part of my Mid-Yr replace, I did add Aerovate Therapeutics (AVTE) ($55MM market cap) to my damaged biotech basket. Again in June, Aerovate, a one-shot-on-goal biotech, introduced poor topline outcomes from the Part 2b portion of their AV-101 examine for the therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A number of weeks later, the corporate introduced they had been shedding 78% of their workers, costing them $5.6MM, $3MM of which is able to hit in Q3 and This fall. Then one other week later, AVTE formally introduced they had been exploring strategic alternate options:
Aerovate has engaged Wedbush PacGrow as the corporate’s unique strategic monetary advisor to help within the technique of exploring strategic alternate options, which can embody however should not restricted to, an acquisition, merger, reverse merger, enterprise mixture, liquidation or different transaction.
Notably, they listed a liquidation as a doable end result, typically we do not see a liquidation referred to as out within the preliminary strategic alternate options announcement. One cause is perhaps they have no different product candidates, from their newest 10-Q:
Overview
We’re a biopharmaceutical firm. Our preliminary focus was on advancing AV 101, our dry powder inhaled formulation of imatinib for the therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH, a devastating illness impacting roughly 70,000 individuals in the US and Europe. On June 17, 2024, we introduced topline outcomes from the Part 2b portion of our Part 2b/Part 3 Inhaled Imatinib Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Medical Trial of AV-101, or IMPAHCT. Topline information confirmed that, whereas AV-101 was typically properly tolerated throughout all dose teams, the examine didn’t meet its major endpoint for enchancment in pulmonary vascular resistance in comparison with placebo for any of the studied doses or present significant enhancements within the secondary endpoint of change in six minute stroll distance. We additionally reviewed information from a number of extra secondary endpoints of the Part 2b portion of IMPAHCT, which additionally failed to point out significant enhancements. Primarily based upon these outcomes and in settlement with the unbiased examine advisory committee, we halted enrollment and shut down the Part 3 portion of IMPAHCT in addition to the long-term extension examine. AV-101 for the therapy of PAH was our solely product candidate in improvement. Right now, we don’t intend to renew improvement of AV-101 or another product candidates. In July 2024, we introduced the choice to conduct a complete overview of strategic alternate options centered on maximizing shareholder worth. We additionally engaged Wedbush Securities Inc. (Wedbush PacGrow) as our unique strategic monetary advisor to help within the technique of exploring strategic alternate options, which can embody however should not restricted to, an acquisition, merger, reverse merger, enterprise mixture, liquidation or different transaction.
I am nonetheless attempting to get my arms round how the brand new SEC shell firm rule goes to play out after going efficient July 1, 2024, however it seems that these one-shot-on-goal sort biotechnology firms, like AVTE, with out different property may fall into the shell firm bucket and might be pushed in the direction of a liquidation in consequence. Others which are persevering with improvement similtaneously pursuing strategic alternate options may make for higher reverse merger candidates, which have typically labored out properly this yr. However I am not a lawyer, and thus not fully certain if this new rule means a lot to this a part of the market since biotechs typically do not make outlandish SPAC-like income projections regulators try to stamp out. If others have extra clever ideas, as common please share.
My again of envelope liquidation math:
AVTE is fairly clear, there are minimal dilutive securities excellent, minimal working lease remaining and certain the IP worth is nugatory. I nonetheless battle a bit with estimating wind down bills, be at liberty to make use of your individual estimate, however at at the moment’s worth, AVTE appears to be comparatively low-cost in comparison with my estimate of liquidation worth.
In the event that they do go the reverse merger route, there’s some good choice worth, apparently RA Capital owns ~32% of AVTE and engineered a profitable reverse merger at ELYM with Tenet Medicines that is seen the inventory go up virtually 200% since that deal was introduced in April.
Disclosure: I personal shares of AVTE
