UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 13, 2012

 

Verastem, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-35403

 

27-3269467

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

215 First Street, Suite 440, Cambridge, MA

 

02142

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 252-9300

 

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On August 13, 2012, Verastem, Inc. announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 and commented on certain corporate accomplishments and plans.  The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information in this Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

See Exhibit Index attached hereto.

 

2



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

VERASTEM, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date: August 15, 2012

By:

/s/ Paul Brannelly

 

 

Paul Brannelly

 

 

Vice President, Finance

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Press Release issued by Verastem, Inc. on August 13, 2012

 

4


Exhibit 99.1

 

Verastem Reports Second Quarter 2012 Financial and Corporate Results

 

CAMBRIDGE, MA — August 13, 2012 — Verastem, Inc., (NASDAQ: VSTM) a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat breast and other cancers by targeting cancer stem cells, today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, and also commented on certain corporate accomplishments and plans.

 

“We made significant advances in our therapeutic programs during the second quarter,” said Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verastem. “The acquisition of the Phase 2-ready focal adhesion kinase inhibitors from Pfizer accelerates this key cancer stem cell-targeting program by approximately 12-18 months, and we are now positioned to initiate a potential registration study in mesothelioma next year.”

 

Recent Accomplishments

 

Our significant recent accomplishments include the following:

 

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Inhibition

 

·                  Accelerated the FAK program by 12-18 months with the in-license of VS-6063 from Pfizer

·                  VS-6063 has completed a Phase 1 study in advanced solid tumors, where it was well tolerated and demonstrated signs of clinical activity

·                  VS-6063 is expected to enter into a Phase 2 mesothelioma study in mid-2013

·                  A positive Phase 2 trial in mesothelioma could present an opportunity for an accelerated approval

·                  Nominated VS-4718 as a development candidate

·                  IND-enabling toxicology studies were initiated in June 2012

·                  Accelerated VS-4718 clinical development with a planned Phase 1 healthy volunteer study anticipated to initiate in Q1 2013

 

Dual PI3K/mTOR Inhibition

 

·                  Outlined clinical development plans for VS-5584 including a Phase 1 study in patients with advanced solid tumors anticipated to commence in mid-2013

 

Corporate

 

·                  Held our first annual Research and Development Day: outlined scientific rationale and clinical plans for each of our therapeutic programs

·                  Established a research collaboration with Eisai to discover next-generation small molecule inhibitors of Wnt signaling

·                  Presented data at the 2012 ASCO meeting from our biomarker diagnostic development program

·                  Added Richard S. Sackler, M.D., Chairman of Purdue Pharma, to our Scientific Advisory Board

 

Second Quarter 2012 Financial Results

 

As of June 30, 2012, Verastem had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $104.3 million compared to $56.8 million on December 31, 2011.

 

Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2012, (the “2012 Quarter”) was $6.8 million, or $0.34 per share applicable to common shareholders, as compared to net loss of $2.5 million, or $2.03 per share, for the three months ending June 30, 2011 (the “2011 Quarter”). Net loss includes stock-based compensation expense of $1.5 million and $36,000 for the 2012 Quarter and 2011 Quarter, respectively.

 

Research and development expense for the 2012 Quarter was $4.7 million compared to $1.7 million for the 2011 Quarter. The $3.0 million increase from the 2011 Quarter to the 2012 Quarter principally resulted from an increase

 



 

of $1.2 million for personnel costs, including stock-based compensation of $751,000, an increase of $1.1 million in contract research organization expense, an increase of $365,000 in license fee expense and an increase of $201,000 for laboratory supplies.

 

General and administrative expense for the 2012 Quarter was $2.2 million compared to $759,000 for the 2011 Quarter. The $1.4 million increase from the 2011 Quarter to the 2012 Quarter principally resulted from an increase of $874,000 for personnel costs, including stock-based compensation of $696,000, an increase of $318,000 in professional fees primarily related to additional legal and accounting fees for being a publicly traded company, an increase of $100,000 in insurance primarily related to being a publicly traded company and an increase of $99,000 in consulting fees.

 

About Verastem, Inc.

 

Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSTM) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat breast and other cancers by targeting cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are an underlying cause of tumor recurrence and metastasis. For more information please visit www.verastem.com.

 

Forward-looking statements:

 

This press release includes forward-looking statements about the Company’s strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements regarding the development of the Company’s compounds, including VS-6063, VS-4718, VS-5584 and the Company’s FAK, PI3K/mTOR, Wnt and diagnostics programs generally, the timeline for clinical development and regulatory approval of the Company’s compounds, the structure of the Company’s planned clinical trials, including potential for a registration trial of VS-6063, the Company’s rights to develop or commercialize its compounds, the Company’s obligations to make milestone payments and royalties and the ability of the Company to finance contemplated development activities. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include the risks that the preclinical testing of the Company’s compounds may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, that the Company will be unable to successfully complete the clinical development of its compounds, including VS-6063, VS-4718, and VS-5584, that the development of the Company’s compounds will take longer or cost more than planned, and that the Company’s compounds will not receive regulatory approval or become commercially successful products. Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in any subsequent SEC filings. The forward-looking statements contained in this presentation reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events, and the Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

Investor contact:

Brian Sullivan, 617-252-9314

bsullivan@verastem.com

 

Media contact:

Kari Watson, 781-235-3060

kwatson@macbiocom.com

 



 

Verastem, Inc.

(A development-stage company)

 

Unaudited Selected Balance Sheet Information

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

15,751

 

$

20,954

 

Short-term investments

 

22,937

 

26,857

 

Working capital

 

35,984

 

44,795

 

Long-term investments

 

65,599

 

8,994

 

Total assets

 

105,664

 

59,037

 

Stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

102,369

 

(12,766

)

 



 

Verastem, Inc.

 

(A development-stage company)

 

Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

$

4,683

 

$

1,726

 

$

9,486

 

$

2,401

 

General and administrative

 

2,213

 

759

 

4,338

 

1,230

 

Total operating expenses

 

6,896

 

2,485

 

13,824

 

3,631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(6,896

)

(2,485

)

(13,824

)

(3,631

)

Interest income

 

71

 

 

128

 

 

Net loss

 

(6,825

)

(2,485

)

(13,696

)

(3,631

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of preferred stock

 

 

(4

)

(6

)

(8

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss applicable to common stockholders

 

$

(6,825

)

$

(2,489

)

$

(13,702

)

$

(3,639

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per share applicable to common stockholders—basic and diluted

 

$

(0.34

)

$

(2.03

)

$

(0.79

)

$

(3.14

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares used in net loss per share applicable to common stockholders-basic and diluted

 

19,863

 

1,225

 

17,278

 

1,158