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Organization and description of business operations
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization and description of business operations Organization and description of business operations
Verona Pharma plc is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. Verona Pharma plc has one wholly-owned subsidiary, Verona Pharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with Verona Pharma plc, the “Company”). The address of the registered office is 1 Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1FS, United Kingdom.
The Company is a biopharmaceutical group focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for the treatment of respiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The Company’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and trade under the symbol “VRNA”.
On June 26, 2024, the FDA approved Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”) in adult patients and the Company launched Ohtuvayre in the U.S. through an exclusive network of accredited specialty pharmacies in August 2024. Ohtuvayre is the Company’s first commercial product and the first inhaled therapy with a novel mechanism of action available for the maintenance treatment of COPD in more than 20 years.
Ohtuvayre is a first-in-class selective dual inhibitor of the enzymes phosphodiesterase 3 and phosphodiesterase 4 that combines bronchodilator and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory effects in one molecule. Ohtuvayre is delivered directly to the lungs through a standard jet nebulizer without the need for high inspiratory flow rates or complex hand-breath coordination.
Pipeline
The Company is developing a fixed-dose combination formulation with ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate, a Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (“LAMA”), for the maintenance treatment of patients with COPD via delivery in a nebulizer. The Company has filed patent applications in multiple jurisdictions including the U.S. In the third quarter of 2024, the Company initiated a Phase 2 dose-ranging trial.
Additionally, based on the clinical results of ensifentrine observed in patients with COPD, including improvements in lung function and symptoms of cough and sputum, the Company believes ensifentrine could potentially be an effective treatment for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (“NCFBE”). In the third quarter of 2024, the Company commenced a Phase 2 clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of nebulized ensifentrine in patients with NCFBE.
Liquidity
The Company has incurred recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception, and has an accumulated deficit of $528.5 million as of September 30, 2024. The Company expects to incur additional losses and negative cash flows from operations until its products reach commercial profitability, if at all.
The Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024 will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months from the date of issuance.
Additionally, the Company may enter into out-licensing transactions from time to time but there can be no assurance that the Company can secure such transactions in the future. Accordingly, the Company may need to obtain substantial additional funds to achieve its business objectives including to further advance clinical and regulatory activities, to fund launch related costs and to create an effective sales and marketing organization to commercialize Ohtuvayre. Any such funding will need to be obtained through public or private financings, debt financing, collaboration or licensing arrangements or other arrangements. However, there is no guarantee the Company will be successful in securing additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all.