Seres Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MCRB), a leading microbiome therapeutics company, reported on November 2nd financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, including VOWST net sales of $7.6 million. Third quarter VOWST commercial results show strong continued progress, driven by a significant increase in new patient starts and exceeding the Company’s forecasted expectations across multiple dimensions. VOWST is indicated to prevent the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in adults following antibacterial treatment for recurrent CDI (rCDI) and is commercialized by Nestlé Health Science in collaboration with Seres.
“With a broad label and compelling clinical profile, the launch of VOWST is off to a great start, exceeding our sales expectations. Performance metrics from this first full quarter of launch support our belief that the product is on track to deeply penetrate the rCDI market and fundamentally transform how this disease is managed,”
said Eric Shaff, President and Chief Executive Officer at Seres.
The Company also announced that it will pursue a strategic restructuring to focus its business operations to prioritize the commercialization of VOWST and the completion of the SER-155 Phase 1b study, while significantly reducing costs and supporting longer-term business sustainability. The Company expects the restructuring, which includes a reduction in the current workforce of 41%, to result in annual cash savings of approximately $75-$85 million in 2024, excluding any one-time charges primarily associated with the workforce reduction.
“Following a thorough review of the Company, we have decided to implement a significant corporate restructuring to substantially reduce expenses and prioritize the commercialization of VOWST. Given the realities of this challenging financial environment for biopharmaceutical companies, we believe that concentrating our resources on VOWST offers an attractive opportunity for targeted revenue growth, while operating in a more capital efficient manner. We will also support our ongoing SER-155 Phase 1b study to an anticipated clinical dataset, expected in the third quarter of 2024. These pending data could extend the highly encouraging early study results that we have already reported. If favorable, these results will provide another potential opportunity to create value for all stakeholders, especially patients.”
Mr. Shaff concluded, “Seres’ talented team has been at the forefront of microbiome therapeutics for over a decade and has been responsible for the construction of an unprecedented microbiome platform and knowledge base. We are deeply appreciative of the dedication and valuable contributions of our colleagues who have tirelessly worked and successfully brought our first important medicine to patients in need.”
VOWST Performance
Broad demand for VOWST has been observed across both recurrent patients and healthcare providers during the first four months of launch (metrics noted below as provided by Nestlé Health Science through September 30, 2023):
- 1,513 completed prescription enrollment forms for VOWST were received, including 1,215 in the third quarter; of those 934 have culminated in new patient starts, including 837 in the third quarter.
- Prescription enrollment forms have been submitted by 698 unique healthcare providers (HCPs) since launch, with approximately 70% from gastroenterology and the remainder from other specialties; 129 HCPs have prescribed VOWST to more than one patient.
- VOWST demand has been observed across the recurrent CDI patient pool, including first recurrence, which is the largest rCDI patient segment.
Key Elements of the Restructuring
Seres is prioritizing the commercial launch of VOWST and continued production capabilities and capacity to support its growth. The Company has implemented operational efficiencies related to the VOWST manufacturing process, providing cost savings, expanding upon actions begun earlier this year. Seres will support the ongoing SER-155 Phase 1b study through its anticipated clinical dataset in the third quarter of 2024.
Seres is significantly scaling back all non-partnered R&D programs and activities other than the completion of the SER-155 Phase 1b study. The Company maintains extensive proprietary microbiome therapeutic drug development capabilities and know-how that may be used to support future R&D efforts. These include proprietary capabilities related to microbiome biomarker discovery, consortia design, pharmacological validation, and advanced manufacturing techniques. In addition, Seres owns a valuable intellectual property estate related to the discovery, development, and manufacture of microbiome therapeutics.
Workforce Reduction: Seres is reducing its workforce by 41% across the organization, which will result in the elimination of approximately 160 positions.
Expected Cost Savings: The workforce reduction and other cost-saving measures, including significantly scaling back all non-partnered research and development activities and reducing general and administrative expenses, are expected to result in annual cash savings of approximately $75-$85 million in 2024, excluding any one-time charges. Seres anticipates incurring a one-time charge of $5.0-$5.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily related to the workforce reduction.
Cash Runway: The restructuring is expected to yield significant savings for the Company and position it for longer-term business sustainability. Seres anticipates that its cash, cash equivalents and investments balance as of September 30, 2023, of $169.9 million, in conjunction with the anticipated savings from the restructuring and the expected receipt of the $45 million Tranche B under its existing senior secured debt facility (the Term Loan Facility) with Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree) will support its operations into the fourth quarter of 2024. The Company is eligible for Tranche B under the Term Loan Facility upon the achievement of trailing 6-month VOWST net sales of at least $35 million, no later than September 30, 2024, and other applicable conditions.
Financial Results
Seres reported a net loss of $47.9 million for the third quarter of 2023, as compared with a net loss of $60.0 million for the same period in 2022. Net sales of VOWST for the third quarter of 2023, the first full quarter following launch, were $7.6 million based on 506 units. Following the first commercial sale of VOWST, Seres shares equally with Nestle, its collaborator, in the VOWST commercial profits and losses. Seres’ share of the VOWST net loss for the third quarter of 2023 was $6.5 million, which was included in the Company’s operating results within Collaboration (profit) loss sharing-related party.
Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2023 were $28.3 million, compared with $43.1 million for the same period in 2022. The research and development expenses were primarily related to Seres’ VOWST clinical development program and manufacturing costs, as well as personnel costs. The year-over-year decrease in R&D expenses is primarily driven by VOWST commercial manufacturing costs no longer being recognized in the Seres P&L following the product approval in April 2023, but instead capitalized and recognized on the Company’s balance sheet.
General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2023 were $20.0 million, compared with $18.4 million for the same period in 2022. General and administrative expenses were primarily related to personnel expenses, professional fees, including VOWST commercial readiness and pre-launch expenses incurred prior to the launch of VOWST in June 2023, and facility costs.
Seres ended the third quarter of 2023 with $169.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments as compared with $181.3 million at the end of 2022.