On May 10, 2016 MacroGenics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGNX) reported that its collaboration partner, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), has advanced a bispecific antibody therapeutic candidate generated by MacroGenics’ Dual-Affinity Re-Targeting, or DART, platform (Press release, MacroGenics, MAY 10, 2016, View Source [SID:1234512178]). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! Pfizer recently dosed a first patient in the Phase 1 clinical study of PF-06671008, which targets P-cadherin and CD3. Increased levels of the protein P-cadherin have been reported in various tumors, including breast, ovarian, endometrial, colorectal and pancreatic cancers, and is correlated with poor survival of patients. The commencement of the Phase 1 study triggers a $2 million milestone payment to MacroGenics under the companies’ October 2010 agreement.
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PF-06671008 is the first partner-developed DART molecule to enter clinical development and represents the sixth DART molecule in clinical testing. At present, MacroGenics’ clinical pipeline includes multiple DART candidates for the treatment of cancer and one DART candidate for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.
Background on DART Platform
MacroGenics’ DART platform enables the targeting of multiple antigens or cells by using a single molecule with an antibody-like structure. DART molecules can be configured for the potential treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases. These DART molecules can be tailored for either short or prolonged pharmacokinetics and have demonstrated good stability and attractive manufacturability. Six DART molecules, including programs being developed by MacroGenics and its collaborators, are currently being evaluated in clinical studies.
Month: May 2016
10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]
Scynexis has filed a 10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 10-Q, Scynexis, 2017, MAY 9, 2016, View Source [SID1234521705]).
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10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]
Juno has filed a 10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 10-Q, Juno, MAY 9, 2016, View Source [SID1234512165]).
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8-K – Current report
On May 9, 2016 OPKO Health, Inc. (NYSE:OPK), a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company, reported financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 (Filing, Q1, Opko Health, 2016, MAY 9, 2016, View Source [SID:1234512436]).
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Business Highlights
Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma and OPKO Health Enter into Agreement for OPKO’s RAYALDEE: VFMCRP, a common company of Galenica and Fresenius Medical Care, and OPKO Health, have entered into a collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization of RAYALDEE in Europe, Canada, Mexico, Australia, South Korea and certain other markets for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and vitamin D insufficiency. Under the terms of the agreement, VFMCRP will make an upfront payment to OPKO of $50 million, plus up to an additional $52 million in regulatory and launch milestones, and $180 million in sales-based milestones. In addition, VFMCRP will pay OPKO tiered, double-digit royalties on sales of the product. The parties will also collaborate to develop and commercialize a new dosage form of RAYALDEE for the treatment of SHPT in dialysis patients, and OPKO has granted VFMCRP an option to acquire rights to the US market for dialysis patients. If VFMCRP exercises its option for rights to the US dialysis market for the new dosage form, VFMCRP will pay OPKO up to $550 million in additional milestones, as well as double-digit royalties.
RAYALDEE New PDUFA Date Set for October 22, 2016: OPKO resubmitted the New Drug Application (NDA) for RAYALDEE following receipt of a complete response letter (CRL) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on March 29, 2016, in which the FDA indicated the NDA could not be approved due to deficiencies observed during a facility inspection of OPKO’s third party manufacturer. The observations were not specific to RAYALDEE manufacturing, and the CRL did not cite any safety, efficacy or labeling issues with regard to RAYALDEE, nor did it request any additional studies to be conducted prior to FDA approval.
Key Executive Additions — New Leadership at Bio Reference Laboratories and Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical Sales: Gregory Henderson, M.D., Ph.D. was appointed President, Bio Reference Laboratories; James Demarco was appointed Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical Sales; Ronald Trust, Ph.D. was named Vice President of Regulatory Affairs – OPKO expects to make key additional commercial hires in 2Q 2016.
4Kscore Recommended in 2016 European Association of Urology Prostate Cancer Guidelines: The European Association of Urology (EAU) Prostate Cancer Guidelines Panel included the 4Kscore in the 2016 EAU Guidelines for Prostate Cancer. The panel concluded that the 4Kscore, as a blood test with greater specificity over the PSA test, is indicated for use prior to a first prostate biopsy or after a negative biopsy to assist patients and physicians in further defining the probability of high grade cancer.
Topline Phase 3 Results for hGH-CTP in Adults Expected 2H 2016; Pediatric Phase 3 Initiation Anticipated in 2H 2016: OPKO expects to report top line results from its Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of once weekly injections of hGH-CTP with a primary endpoint of superiority compared with placebo in decreasing fat mass in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in the second half of 2016. The trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter, global study in adults with GHD. The study is divided into two treatment periods: a 26 week, double blind, placebo controlled period, followed by a 26 week, open label extension period. A Phase 3 trial in pediatric patients is anticipated to commence in the second half of 2016.
First Patient Dosed in Phase 2a Clinical Trial of Long Acting Factor VIIa for the Treatment of Hemophilia: In February 2016, the first patient was dosed in OPKO’s Phase 2a clinical trial for its long acting Factor VIIa. The study is a dose escalation study to determine safety and explore efficacy endpoints of OPKO’s long-acting version of coagulation Factor VIIa (Factor VIIa-CTP) for the treatment of bleeding episodes in hemophilia A or B patients with inhibitors to Factor VIII or Factor IX. The study is intended to enroll 24 patients in the United States.
First Patient Dosed in Clinical Study for Long Acting Oxyntomodulin for Obesity and Diabetes: In March 2016 the first patient was enrolled in OPKO’s Phase 1 single dose escalation study evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics of a long acting oxyntomodulin (MOD-6031) in healthy, overweight or obese subjects. The study is intended to enroll 40 subjects. Oxyntomodulin is a peptide hormone that acts as a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist, with the potential to promote weight loss while improving glycemic control. Oxyntomodulin has been shown to increase energy expenditure, while reducing food intake and body weight, although its clinical utility is limited by its short circulating half life. OPKO’s MOD-6031 has been designed, using a proprietary bifunctional hydrolysable linker, as a long acting version of oxyntomodulin for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity, and is intended to reduce the required dosing frequency by prolonging the half life, while improving the hormone’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles.
"We started 2016 with strong results from our diagnostics business driven by an increase in patient volume at Bio-Reference Laboratories, including our GeneDx business, and continued growth in the utilization of our innovative 4Kscore Test. On the pharmaceutical side, we are looking forward to the launch of RAYALDEE and our collaboration with a leader in the chronic kidney disease field that will allow us to expand the reach of this product to patients outside the US and expand development of the product for patients undergoing dialysis. We are steadily building our commercial team as we work with the FDA to finalize regulatory approval for RAYALDEE. We also made progress advancing our earlier stage development programs including the next program utilizing our CTP technology, with the first patients being administered our long acting Factor VIIa-CTP, and the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for long acting oxyntomodulin," stated Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPKO.
Financial Highlights
Consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016 increased to $291.0 million from $30.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. The 2016 period include revenue from Bio-Reference Laboratories and EirGen which were acquired in August and May 2015, respectively.
Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $12.0 million compared with net loss of $117.1 for the 2015 period. Net loss during the three month periods include significant non-recurring and/or non-cash activities, including:
• $20.5 million of income tax benefit, primarily reflecting a change in the statutory tax rate in Israel during 2016;
• $17.2 million of severance expense related to the resignation of certain Bio-Reference executives during the first quarter of 2016, which is included in selling, general and administrative expense. Of this expense, $8.9 million is a non-cash expense related to the acceleration of stock options;
• The first three months of 2015 include $25.9 million of non-recurring operating expense related to the repayment of a grant to the Office of the Chief Scientist in Israel related to the Pfizer transaction; and,
• Other income and (expense) was ($2.6) million and ($53.9) million in the 2016 and 2015 periods, respectively, primarily related to the change in fair value of derivative instruments. The change in fair value is principally related to an embedded derivative in OPKO’s January 2013 convertible senior notes due in 2033.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $175.0 million as of March 31, 2016.
8-K – Current report
On May 9, 2016 Flamel Technologies (NASDAQ: FLML) reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2016 (Filing, Q1, Flamel Technologies, 2016, MAY 9, 2016, View Source [SID:1234512418]).
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First Quarter Highlights Include:
· Total revenue for first quarter 2016 was $36.2 million, compared to $32.7 million during the same period last year.
· GAAP net loss for the first quarter was ($6.4) million, or ($0.15) per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $11.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share during the same period last year.
· Adjusted EBITDA was $11.8 million, compared to $12.9 million in the prior year.*
· Adjusted net income for the first quarter was $1.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to an adjusted net income of $4.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, during the same period last year. *
· Cash and marketable securities at March 31, 2016 were $160.0 million, compared to $144.8 million at December 31, 2015 and $113.2 million at March 31, 2015.
· Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the once nightly version of Micropump sodium oxybate.
* Non-GAAP financial measure. Descriptions of Flamel’s non-GAAP financial measures are included under the caption "Non-GAAP Disclosures and Adjustments" included within this document and reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial measures to their most closely applicable GAAP financial measures are found in the "Supplemental Information" section within this document.
Michael Anderson, Flamel’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We were pleased with our strong revenues of $36.2 million during the first quarter. The entrance of a third competitor to the neostigmine market in December 2015 was less impactful to pricing and share for Bloxiverz during the first quarter than initially anticipated; however, we still expect a decline in market share throughout the year to approximately 30% to 35%. As expected on April 29th, we received FDA approval for our third unapproved marketed drug, Akovaz, which is our formulation of ephedrine sulfate injection. Following launch in the third quarter of this year, Akovaz will provide yet another stream of cash flow to help us continue executing against our strategic plan of advancing our pipeline products and growth through acquisitions, the first of which we made early in the first quarter. We continue to focus on integrating the FSC business and revenues are meeting our expectations. We are particularly excited by physicians’ reception of Karbinal ER, which accounted for the majority of revenues from the FSC product portfolio."
Mr. Anderson continued, "At the end of the first quarter, we submitted our SPA to the FDA for our pivotal trial of Micropump sodium oxybate, which will provide the FDA an opportunity to review our trial protocol and provide feedback. We expect to begin patient registration for our pivotal trial in mid-year 2016. We view sodium oxybate as our most valuable pipeline asset, and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the Company returns maximum value to our shareholders."
First Quarter 2016 Results
The Company achieved revenues during the first quarter of 2016 of $36.2 million, compared to $32.7 million during the same period last year. On a GAAP basis, Flamel recorded a net loss of ($6.4) million during the first quarter, or ($0.15) per diluted share, compared to a net income of $11.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Adjusted net income for the first quarter was $1.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to an adjusted net income of $4.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, during the same period last year. The decline in adjusted diluted EPS from the previous year was primarily due to higher SG&A resulting from investments made in infrastructure and people in order to execute the Company’s strategic plan. Included in GAAP net loss in the first quarter of 2016 was a $7.9 million charge to its contingent consideration liability resulting from the Company’s reassessment of its long term Éclat revenue forecast. In addition, the Company incurred a foreign currency exchange loss of ($2.9) million, compared to a foreign currency exchange gain of $11.5 million in the prior year quarter. Please see the Supplemental Information section within this document for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS to the respective GAAP amounts.
Cash flow from operations was $22.5 million, compared to $25.3 million in the same period last year. Cash and marketable securities at March 31, 2016 were $160.0 million, compared to $144.8 million at December 31, 2015, an increase of $15.2 million.
2016 Revenue and R&D Spending Guidance
The Company is maintaining its full year 2016 revenue guidance of $110 – $130 million and expects the recently acquired FSC products, AcipHex Sprinkle, Karbinal ER, Cefaclor for Oral Suspension and Flexichamber, to contribute revenues in the range of $10 – $15 million. As a result of the multiple clinical trials expected to run throughout 2016, the Company expects research & development expenses to be in the range of $35 – $50 million, up from $25.6 million in 2015.