10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Cleveland BioLabs has filed a 10-Q – Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Filing, 10-Q, Cleveland BioLabs, 2017, NOV 14, 2017, View Source [SID1234522025]).

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Purdue Pharma L.P. Announces Strategic Investment in Oncology R&D

On November 14, 2017 Purdue Pharma L.P. reported completion of significant oncology related investments as part of its ongoing efforts to diversify its scientific research into areas of high unmet medical need (Press release, Purdue Pharma, NOV 14, 2017, View Source [SID1234527505]). Through these investments, executed over a multi-year period and capped recently in 2017, Purdue is establishing a portfolio of drug candidates with the potential to deliver new cancer therapies to patients within the next five years.

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"With this formal entry into oncology research and development, Purdue is evolving as a company and renewing its foundational commitment to bring important new medicines to patients and physicians who need them," said Craig Landau, president and CEO, Purdue Pharma. "We are excited by the opportunity and the potential to make meaningful contributions to the field of cancer medicine."

In assembling this portfolio, Purdue now has four drug candidates in development for multiple cancer types:

EDO-S7.1, a novel topoisomerase inhibitor, is designed to work by metabolizing into its active form through enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract that are particularly active in cancer cells. In an interim analysis of a phase 2 trial in patients with therapy refractory advanced biliary tract cancers, the trial met the primary endpoint of rate of disease control (DCR) after first stage. In the trial, commonly observed drug related adverse events were: myelosuppression (including grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia), infection, alopecia, fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain.1
EDO-S101, also known as tinostamustine, is a novel, first-in-class alkylating deacetylase inhibitor (AK-DACi) compound currently advancing through phase 1 human trials. Preclinical studies suggest that tinostamustine delivers both alkylating activity and pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition to simultaneously damage DNA and block damage repair in cancer cells. The development programs for this drug candidate are investigating its potential utility in both solid and hematologic tumors.
EDO-B776 and EDO-B278 are two late pre-clinical stage antibody-drug conjugates. EDO-B776 is being studied for its potential to target the cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) in ovarian cancer. EDO-B278 is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting the human tissue factor and is in development for various solid tumors.
Research on these drug candidates is being directed on behalf of Purdue by Mundipharma EDO GmbH, part of the Mundipharma network of independent associated companies.

"We are pleased to collaborate with Purdue Pharma on the development of these important compounds," said Dr. Thomas Mehrling, chief executive officer, EDO. "Purdue’s strong experience developing novel treatments will translate well to oncology and we are confident that this will be a successful partnership."

Purdue will also continue to selectively seek additional oncology product assets through licensing and acquisition, and the company will maintain a priority interest in candidates with mechanisms complementary to emerging immuno-oncology based treatment paradigms.

Tusk Therapeutics awarded £2.5 million Grant from Innovate UK’s “Biomedical Catalyst Round 2 Late Stage”

On November 14, 2017 Tusk Therapeutics an immuno-oncology company with a focus on harnessing the power of the immune system to fight cancer through the development of novel immune modulating therapeutics, reported that it has been awarded a £2.5 million grant from Innovate UK (Press release, Tusk Therapeutics, NOV 14, 2017, View Source [SID1234522144]). The grant will be used to accelerate the development of its novel and strongly differentiated anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody as a cancer immunotherapy.
Tusk’s anti-CD38 antibody has the potential to significantly broaden the efficacious utility of monoclonal antibodies targeting the CD38 receptor, extending the current application beyond haematological tumours (e.g. Multiple Myeloma) to solid tumours. Tusk’s antibody’s novel mode of action aims to modulate the tumour microenvironment to allow the body’s immune system to generate a potent anti-tumour response.

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The grant will facilitate the completion of preclinical activities for its anti-CD38 antibody program and to conduct a Phase I trial and builds on Tusk’s preclinical research and recent novel insights into CD38 biology.

Luc Dochez, Chief Executive Officer of Tusk Therapeutics, commented: "We thank Innovate UK for supporting us with this grant which we believe is a great endorsement of the work currently being undertaken at Tusk. This grant will allow us to continue to accelerate the development of our novel CD38 programme. Tusk has established a growing, diversified pipeline of antibodies against a selection of both novel and validated targets that we believe have the potential to complement and improve upon current and emerging immune-oncology therapies. The UK is ideally placed as a hub for life science companies. Access to funding and support from industry bodies, such as Innovate UK, is invaluable for companies at our stage of development and is one of the reasons why Tusk, as a European company, has chosen to base itself in the UK."

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories announces the launch of Clofarabine Injection in the U.S. Market

On November 14, 2017 Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd (BSE: 500124, NSE: DRREDDY, NYSE: RDY) reported that it has launched Clofarabine Injection, a therapeutic equivalent generic version of Clolar (clofarabine) Injection in the United States market, approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) (Press release, Dr Reddy’s, NOV 14, 2017, View Source [SID1234522026]).

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The Clolar brand and generic had U.S. sales of approximately $53 million MAT* for the most recent twelve months ended in September 2017, according to IMS Health*.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories’ Clofarabine Injection is available in single-dose, 20 mL flint vials containing 20 mg of clofarabine in 20 mL of solution (1mg/mL).

Clolar is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation.

*IMS National Sales Perspective: Retail and Non-Retail MAT September 2017
RDY-0217-146

Delcath Announces Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

On November 14, 2017 Delcath Systems, Inc. (OTCQB:DCTHD), an interventional oncology Company focused on the treatment of primary and metastatic liver cancers, reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 (Press release, Delcath Systems, NOV 14, 2017, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2317164 [SID1234522086]).

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Highlights from the third quarter of 2017 and recent weeks include:

Revenue for the third quarter of 2017 increased 75% to $0.7 million from $0.4 million in the prior-year quarter;
Revenue for the first nine months of 2017 increased 53% to $2.0 million from $1.3 million in the prior-year period;
Medical University of Hannover achieved its 100th CHEMOSAT treatment milestone; over 450 commercial CHEMOSAT procedures have been performed in Europe;
Positive results from a single institution study of CHEMOSAT filtration efficiency were presented at 2017 CIRSE annual meeting in September; and
Reverse stock split effected at ratio of 1:350 on November 6, 2017.
Management Commentary

"During our third quarter, we focused on resolving the cash constraints and other restrictions related to our authorized shares limit, which necessitated the reverse stock split we effected on November 6, 2017. The authorized share limit prevented the Company from accessing the restricted cash otherwise available under our 2016 convertible notes. With the ability to issues shares now restored, we are able to access the balance of the restricted cash and begin exploring opportunities for new equity financing necessary to execute on our Clinical Development Program (CDP) and European commercialization," said Jennifer K. Simpson, Ph.D., MSN, CRNP President and CEO of Delcath.

"Despite the cash constraints, revenues for the third quarter of 2017 increased 75% over the prior year quarter, continuing the steady growth in our core European markets. This growth was supported by the establishment of ZE diagnostic-related (DRG) reimbursement for CHEMOSAT in Germany last year, which we are leveraging to obtain market access and reimbursement in other regions such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, Dutch Health Authorities have included CHEMOSAT treatment in their published guidelines for ocular melanoma liver metastases, an important step toward eventual reimbursement coverage of CHEMOSAT in the Dutch market. During the quarter, Medical University of Hannover performed their 100th treatment since beginning CHEMOSAT procedures in 2014, the second of our Europe centers to have achieved this milestone. Since launching CHEMOSAT in Europe, over 450 commercial CHEMOSAT procedures have been performed.

"In our Clinical Development Program (CDP), our primary focus continues to be on our FOCUS Phase 3 clinical trial of Melphalan/HDS in hepatic dominant ocular melanoma (the FOCUS trial). Enrollment in this trial has been proceeding more slowly than anticipated, and cash constraints during the quarter limited our ability to take steps to accelerate enrollment. With the reverse split effected we are exploring steps to accelerate enrollment, and will seek to add new trial sites in both the U.S. and Europe once new equity financing is secured. We still expect to conduct an interim safety analysis by the end of this year.

"For our pivotal trial in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), we continue to work with potential trial sites with a view to initiating enrollment when financial resources permit. Our ICC pivotal trial is based on the prior work done in our Phase 2 trial program in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and ICC, which had the objective of identifying an efficacy signal worthy of further clinical investigation. This objective was met by the retrospective data collection performed by European investigators last year, which informed our development path for ICC. With the Phase 2 trial program goals now met, we have closed enrollment in the Phase 2 trials to devote available resources to the FOCUS Trial and the ICC pivotal trial.

"Though the recent months have been financially difficult, we remain committed to advancing the clinical programs for our innovative Melphalan/HDS as well as to our commercialization efforts for CHEMOSAT in Europe. We are continuously working to advance our ability to operate so we can advance these important programs to increase value to our shareholders," concluded Dr. Simpson.

Three Month Financial Results

Revenue for the third quarter of 2017 was $0.7 million, an increase of 75% from $0.4 million for the third quarter of 2016. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased modestly to $2.9 million in the 2017 third quarter from $2.4 million in the prior-year third quarter. Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2017 declined slightly to $2.3 million from $2.7 million in the prior-year quarter. Total operating expenses for the current quarter were $5.1 million compared with $5.0 million in the prior-year quarter.

The Company reported a net loss for the 2017 third quarter of $12.6 million, or $9.36 per share based on 1.4 million weighted average common shares outstanding on a split adjusted basis. This compares with a net loss in the prior-year period of $1.0 million, or $230.99 per share based on 4,349 weighted average common shares outstanding on a split adjusted basis. This increase in net loss is primarily due to an $8.7 million change in the fair value of the warrant liability and a $3.0 million loss related to two transactions to settle convertible note debt, both non-cash items.

Nine Month Financial Results

Revenue for the first nine months of 2017 was $2.0 million, an increase of 53% from $1.3 million for the first nine months of 2016. Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first nine months 2017 were approximately $7.8 million compared with $7.0 million in the prior-year period. Research and development expenses for the first nine months of 2017 increased to $7.1 million from $6.0 million in the first nine months of 2016. Total operating expenses for the first nine months of 2017 were approximately $15.0 million compared with $13.0 million in the prior-year quarter.

The Company recorded a net loss of $25.8 million for the first nine months of 2017, or $34.99 per share based on 754,421 weighted average common shares outstanding on a split adjusted basis. This compares with a net loss for the first nine months of 2016 of $9.5 million, or $2,232.30 per share based on 4,249 weighted average common shares outstanding on a split adjusted basis. The increase in net loss is due to an approximately $13.7 million increase in interest expense primarily related to the amortization of debt discounts and a $3.0 million loss related to two transactions to settle convertible note debt, offset by a $9.6 million gain on the extinguishment of the June 2016 Series C Warrants, both non-cash items. Additionally, there was a $1.9 million increase in operating expenses and a $7.9 million change in the fair value of the warrant liability, a non-cash item, offset by a $0.5 million increase in gross profit.

Balance Sheet Highlights

As of September 30, 2017, Delcath had cash and cash equivalents of $2.5 million, compared with $4.4 million as of December 31, 2016. In addition, the Company had $8.3 million in restricted cash primarily related to the Convertible Notes issued in June 2016. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company used $11.7 million of cash to fund operating activities. Management believes that its capital resources are adequate to fund operating activities through January 2018.