On May 8, 2018 OPKO Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPK) reported financial results and business highlights for the three months ended March 31, 2018 (Press release, Opko Health, MAY 8, 2018, View Source [SID1234526238]).

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Financial Highlights

Consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were $254.9 million compared with $266.4 million for the comparable period of 2017.

Revenue from services were $211.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared with $228.6 million for the comparable 2017 period. While not directly comparable, this represents a marked improvement from the most recently completed quarter ended December 31, 2017.

Revenue from products included $3.7 million of revenue from RAYALDEE during the first quarter of 2018. Revenues from RAYALDEE were deferred during the initial launch period so there is no prior-year comparison.
During the three months ended March 31, 2018, operating expenses included investment in commercial activities supporting the launch of RAYALDEE of $7.3 million and continued investment in our pharmaceutical pipeline, with R&D expense increasing $6.3 million to $32.9 million compared with $26.6 million for the 2017 period.

Net loss of $43.1 million or $0.08 per share during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compares with a net loss of $34.5 million or $0.06 per share for the comparable period of 2017

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $99.9 million as of March 31, 2018.

"We are pleased to report steady sequential-quarter growth for RAYALDEE and 4Kscore, as well as improvement in our lab business from Q4 of last year," said Phillip Frost, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPKO Health. "The improved first quarter results were in line with our expectations, starting 2018 positively coming off challenging fourth quarter 2017 results. These factors, taken together, reflect progress across the breadth of our commercial and laboratory services."

Business Highlights

RAYALDEE total prescriptions reported by IMS for Q1 2018 increased 730% compared with Q1 2017 and 38% compared with Q4 2017: As of May 1, 2018, more than 79% of patients had access to RAYALDEE under their insurance plans.

4Kscore utilization in Q1 2018 increased 13% compared with Q1 2017: Five abstracts of studies further demonstrating the utility of the 4Kscore test in the management of prostate cancer are to be presented at the American Urological Association meeting May 18-21.

Appointed Geoff Monk as General Manager, BioReference Laboratories: Mr. Monk is well prepared to lead BRL with more than 20 years of management experience in the diagnostic laboratory business. Mr. Monk was previously Managing Director of the New York and New Jersey unit of Quest Diagnostics.

Advanced the Phase 2b trial for our SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator) to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): Enrollment is ongoing in this dose-ranging study for our orally administered SARM. This medicine is expected to improve the symptoms of BPH by reducing prostate size and, on the basis of data from a previous trial in 350 men, increase muscle mass and bone strength and decrease body fat. BPH affects approximately 50 million men in the U.S.

Initiated a Phase 2b clinical trial for OPK88003, our once-weekly oxyntomodulin dual GLP1-Glucagon agonist to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity: In a previous Phase 2 trial in 420 overweight patients with type 2 diabetes, the drug was shown to be safe and effective. The current trial is to study a new dosing schedule to achieve even greater weight loss.

Premarket Approval (PMA) application for Claros point-of-care PSA test under review by FDA: OPKO has submitted a PMA for a PSA test utilizing the Claros 1 immunoassay analyzer, a novel diagnostic instrument that can provide rapid, quantitative blood test results in 10 minutes in the physician’s office with only a finger stick drop of whole blood. A second product utilizing the Claros platform to measure testosterone is advancing toward a 510(k) submission to the FDA later this year.

Global and Japanese Phase 3 registration trials for hGH-CTP in pediatric growth hormone deficient children are continuing to enroll patients: The global pediatric study compares a single weekly administration with daily injections of a currently marketed growth hormone product. The global and Japanese pediatric studies utilize the pen device and formulation that will be launched commercially upon approval. The pediatric segment represents more than 80% of the market for treatment of hGH deficiency.

Initiation of three additional Phase 2 clinical trials are anticipated in 2018:

RAYALDEE line extension in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT): Together with our partners, Vifor Fresenius and Japan Tobacco, OPKO is developing RAYALDEE for Stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with SHPT undergoing dialysis and anticipates initiating a global Phase 2 trial during Q3 of this year.

OPKO’s NK-1 antagonist to treat pruritus (itching) in Stage 5 CKD patients undergoing dialysis: An Investigational New Drug application was submitted to the FDA and plans are being finalized to begin a single-dose Phase 2a trial in dialysis patients to treat severe itching. Approximately 50% of renal dialysis patients experience pruritus.

OPKO’s AntagoNAT oligonucleotide OPK88001 to treat Dravet’s syndrome: Three clinical research centers in the United States are expected to participate in this first-in-human trial of OPKO’s AntagoNAT to treat Dravet’s syndrome.
Conference Call & Webcast Information

OPKO’s senior management will provide a business update and discuss results in greater detail in a conference call and live audio webcast at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time today. The conference call dial-in and webcast information is as follows:

WHEN: Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.
DOMESTIC DIAL-IN: 866-634-2258
INTERNATIONAL DIAL-IN : 330-863-3454
PASSCODE: 5976529
WEBCAST: View Source

For those unable to participate in the live conference call or webcast, a replay will be available beginning May 8, 2018 two hours after the close of the conference call. To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406. The replay passcode is: 5976529. The replay can be accessed for a period of time on OPKO’s website at View Source.

On May 8, 2018 Kura Oncology, Inc., (Nasdaq: KURA) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of precision medicines for oncology, reported first quarter 2018 financial results and provided a corporate update (Press release, Kura Oncology, MAY 8, 2018, View Source [SID1234526237]).

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"I am very pleased with the progress we made over the past quarter, highlighted by a successful end of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA," said Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kura Oncology. "We are working diligently to initiate AIM-HN, our registration-directed trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC, as well as SEQ-HN, our concurrent screening and outcomes study. We believe that tipifarnib has the potential to become an important treatment option for patients with HRAS mutant HNSCC, and we are committed to executing the clinical and regulatory strategy that best positions it for success."

"We are also excited about the potential to expand the clinical utility of tipifarnib to other solid tumor and hematologic indications," continued Dr. Wilson. "We are evaluating tipifarnib in multiple biomarker-guided Phase 2 clinical trials, and our goal is to generate proof-of-concept data in one or more of these additional indications by year end. We believe we have the cash runway to advance tipifarnib and our emerging pipeline of drug candidates through a series of upcoming potential data catalysts, and we look forward to providing further updates on our progress in the months ahead."

Corporate Update

Registration-directed trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC – Following a positive Phase 2 trial in HRAS mutant HNSCC and a successful end of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA, Kura is planning to conduct a global, registration-directed trial of its lead drug candidate tipifarnib in at least 59 recurrent or metastatic patients with HRAS mutant HNSCC. The primary endpoint of the trial will be objective response rate. Based on feedback from the FDA, Kura believes that the single-arm trial, if positive, could support an application for accelerated approval. Kura anticipates that the trial, called AIM-HN, will require fewer than 100 clinical sites worldwide and take approximately two years to enroll. Kura expects to initiate the AIM-HN trial in the second half of 2018.

Screening and outcomes study in HRAS mutant HNSCC – Concurrent with the AIM-HN trial, Kura is also planning to conduct a non-interventional, case-control study in HNSCC, called SEQ-HN. The study is expected to facilitate the identification of patients with HRAS mutations for potential enrollment into the AIM-HN trial. In addition, SEQ-HN is designed to characterize the natural history of patients with HRAS mutant HNSCC, which may support any future discussions with regulatory agencies concerning the appropriateness and nature of a potential approval.

Tipifarnib in HRAS mutant lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) – Kura recently presented new preclinical data showing that tipifarnib is highly active in HRAS mutant LSCC tumor models. The data, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in April 2018, illustrate the potential for tipifarnib in the treatment of HRAS mutant LSCC. Kura is collaborating with the Spanish Lung Cancer Group, a cooperative group consisting of more than 150 public and private oncology centers in Spain, on a proof-of-concept trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant LSCC. Kura anticipates this investigator-sponsored trial to initiate later this year.

Patent protection for tipifarnib in hematologic malignancies – Kura recently announced the issuance of U.S. patent 9,956,215, "Methods of Treating Cancer Patients with Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors." The newly issued patent includes multiple claims directed to the use of tipifarnib as a method of treating patients with CXCL12-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and has an expiration date of November 2037, excluding any possible patent term extension. This patent comes less than one year after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a similar patent for tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC, reinforcing the potential of Kura’s broader strategy to generate intellectual property related to its drug candidates and their use in treating genetically defined patient populations.

Potential biomarker for KO-947 in squamous cell carcinomas – At the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in April 2018, Kura presented new preclinical data for its ERK inhibitor, KO-947, including the identification of 11q13 amplification as a potential biomarker of activity in squamous cell carcinomas. Amplification of chromosomal region 11q13 is a common genetic alteration in squamous cell carcinomas, comprising approximately 20% of HNSCC and 50% of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Upcoming Milestones

Initiation of AIM-HN, a registration-directed trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC, and SEQ-HN, a non-interventional, case-control study in HRAS mutant HNSCC, in the second half of 2018

Additional data from RUN-HN, an ongoing Phase 2 trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC, in the second half of 2018

Biomarker-enriched data from ongoing Phase 2 trials of tipifarnib in hematologic malignancies in the second half of 2018

Initiation of a proof-of-concept study of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant LSCC sponsored by the Spanish Lung Cancer Group in 2018

Data from a Phase 1 dose-escalation trial of KO-947 in solid tumors in the second half of 2018

Submission of an investigational new drug application for KO-539, a potent and selective inhibitor of the menin-MLL interaction, in late 2018 or early 2019

Financial Results

Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2018 were $11.6 million, compared to $5.5 million for the first quarter of 2017.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2018 were $3.4 million, compared to $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2017.

Net loss for the first quarter of 2018 was $14.6 million, compared to $7.5 million for the first quarter of 2017.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $138.2 million as of March 31, 2018, which included $57.7 million in net proceeds under an ATM facility in January 2018, compared with $93.1 million as of December 31, 2017.

Management expects that current cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund its current operations into the first half of 2020.

Conference Call and Webcast

Kura’s management will host a webcast and conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT today, May 8, 2018, to discuss the financial results for the first quarter of 2018 and provide a corporate update. The live call may be accessed by dialing (877)

516-3514 for domestic callers and (281) 973-6129 for international callers and using conference ID #7199738. A live webcast of the call will be available from the Investors and Media section of the company website at www.kuraoncology.com, and will be archived there for 30 days.

On May 8, 2018 Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) reported financial results for the first quarter of 2018 and updated financial guidance for 2018 (Press release, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, MAY 8, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2347828 [SID1234526236]).

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"The first quarter was highlighted by strong revenue growth, cash flow generation and execution across the organization that led to significant progress toward our 2018 goals," said Bruce Cozadd, chairman and chief executive officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "The recent submission of our supplemental NDA for Xyrem for pediatric narcolepsy patients and FDA acceptance of our NDA for solriamfetol for excessive sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy or OSA result from our focused investment in advancing our promising R&D pipeline. Over the next 18 months, we look forward to fueling our portfolio with innovative product candidates and delivering on multiple regulatory milestones and product launches."

GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $46.0 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared to $86.5 million, or $1.41 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2017.

Adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2018 was $182.4 million, or $2.98 per diluted share, compared to $141.2 million, or $2.31 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2017. Reconciliations of applicable GAAP reported to non-GAAP adjusted information are included at the end of this press release.

Total revenues increased 18% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to an increase in net product sales of Xyrem and the launch of Vyxeos.

Xyrem net product sales increased 16% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

Erwinaze/Erwinase net product sales in the first quarter were consistent with the same period in 2017. The company is currently experiencing supply disruptions and expects that there may be further supply challenges during 2018.

Defitelio/defibrotide net product sales in the first quarter of 2018 were consistent with the same period in 2017. The company continues to expect inter-quarter variability in Defitelio net sales given that veno-occlusive disease is an ultra-rare disease.

Vyxeos net product sales were $26.2 million in the first quarter of 2018. Vyxeos launched in the U.S. in August 2017.

Operating expenses changed over the prior year period primarily due to the following:

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 on a GAAP and on a non-GAAP adjusted basis due to higher expenses resulting from expansion of the company’s business, including expenses supporting the potential EU launch of Vyxeos and U.S. launch of solriamfetol. SG&A expenses in the first quarter of 2018 on a GAAP basis also included an estimated loss contingency of $57.0 million related to an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation of our support of 501(c)(3) organizations that provide financial assistance to Medicare patients. In April 2018, the company reached an agreement in principle with the DOJ on a proposal for a civil settlement of potential claims relating to the investigation, subject to negotiation of a definitive settlement agreement and other contingencies.
Research and development (R&D) expenses increased in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 on a GAAP and on a non-GAAP adjusted basis due to an increase in expenses related to the company’s ongoing pre-clinical and clinical development programs and regulatory activities. R&D expenses in the first quarter of 2018 on a GAAP basis also included milestone payments of $11.0 million related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) acceptance for filing of the company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for solriamfetol.
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2018, cash, cash equivalents and investments were $708.2 million, and the outstanding principal balance of the company’s long-term debt was $1.8 billion. During the first quarter of 2018, we generated $162.4 million of cash from operations, used $34.5 million to repurchase approximately 238,000 ordinary shares under the company’s share repurchase program at an average cost of $145.34 per ordinary share and made milestone payments totaling $11.0 million.

Recent Developments

In March 2018, the FDA accepted for filing with standard review the company’s NDA seeking marketing approval for solriamfetol, an investigational medicine for the treatment of excessive sleepiness in adult patients with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date for an FDA decision is December 20, 2018.

In April 2018, the company entered into an agreement with Spark Therapeutics, Inc. to purchase a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher (PRV) for $110 million that will allow the company to accelerate the review process by the FDA for one of its future regulatory submissions.

In April 2018, the company submitted a supplemental NDA to the FDA seeking marketing approval for Xyrem in the treatment of pediatric narcolepsy patients with cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Conference Call Details

Jazz Pharmaceuticals will host an investor conference call and live audio webcast today at 4:30 p.m. EDT (9:30 p.m. IST) to provide a business and financial update and discuss its 2018 first quarter results. The live webcast may be accessed from the Investors section of the company’s website at www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com. Please connect to the website prior to the start of the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software downloads that may be necessary. Investors may participate in the conference call by dialing +1 855 353 7924 in the U.S., or +1 503 343 6056 outside the U.S., and entering passcode 9868758.

A replay of the conference call will be available through May 15, 2018 by dialing +1 855 859 2056 in the U.S., or +1 404 537 3406 outside the U.S., and entering passcode 9868758. An archived version of the webcast will be available for at least one week in the Investors section of the company’s website at www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com.

On May 8, 2018 Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:RETA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, provided an update on the Company’s product development programs reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 (Press release, Reata Pharmaceuticals, MAY 8, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2347933 [SID1234526235]).

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Product Development Updates

CATALYST Trial of Bardoxolone Methyl in CTD-PAH

The primary endpoint for the Phase 3 CATALYST trial in CTD-PAH is the placebo-corrected change in six-minute walk distance (6MWD) following six months of treatment. The sample size range for the CATALYST trial was based upon data from the Phase 2 LARIAT trial and set at a range of 130 to 200 patients. The final sample size is determined by a prospectively-defined, pooled, and blinded sample size recalculation occurring after enrollment of at least 100 patients. The purpose of this analysis is to preserve statistical power, and it incorporates baseline characteristics and observed 6MWD variability from enrolled patients. The sample size recalculation was recently performed and indicated that a sample size of 200 patients will be sufficient to support the initial statistical assumptions and preserve statistical power of the study. The sample size recalculation was performed on a blinded basis, and there was no assessment of treatment effect. Accordingly, no statistical penalty was incurred toward the primary endpoint of the CATALYST study. As a result of the sample size recalculation, Reata expects that it will require at least 12 months to complete enrollment of the study, and now expects top-line data from CATALYST during the first half of 2020.

Phase 2 PHOENIX Trial of Bardoxolone Methyl in Rare Forms of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

We are completing enrollment earlier than planned in the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), IgA nephropathy, and type 1 diabetic CKD (T1D CKD) cohorts of PHOENIX. We expect enrollment in all three cohorts to be complete by the end of May and full primary endpoint data from these three rare forms of CKD to be available during the third quarter of 2018. Full primary endpoint data from the focal segmental glomerulosclerosis cohort are expected to be available in the first half of 2019.

Interim data for the ADPKD and IgA nephropathy cohorts will be presented in a late-breaking abstract at the European Renal Association and European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) meeting in Copenhagen on May 25, 2018 in an abstract entitled "Initial Results from a Phase 2 Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of Bardoxolone Methyl in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease and IgA Nephropathy." Reata’s data presentations from other clinical trials with bardoxolone methyl at ERA-EDTA will include:

Effect of Bardoxolone Methyl on Urinary Albumin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease: Post-hoc Analyses from BEAM and BEACON
Bardoxolone Methyl Prevents eGFR Decline in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4 and Type 2 Diabetes ─ Post-hoc Analyses from BEACON
Two-Year Durability of Improvements in eGFR with Bardoxolone Methyl in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: The LARIAT Study
Registrational Phase 3 Portion of the CARDINAL Trial of Bardoxolone Methyl in Alport Syndrome

Enrollment in the pivotal Phase 3 portion of the CARDINAL trial of bardoxolone methyl in Alport syndrome is proceeding as planned. The clinical trial is expected to be fully enrolled in the second half of 2018, with top-line data available in the second half of 2019. One-year eGFR withdrawal data, also known as the "retained benefit" analysis, from the Phase 2 portion of CARDINAL will be available in the third quarter of this year. In addition, Reata’s development partner, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, is planning to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in diabetic CKD in Japan during 2018.

Registrational Portion of MOXIe Trial of Omaveloxolone in Friedreich’s Ataxia

Enrollment in the pivotal Part 2 of the Phase 2 MOXIe trial of omaveloxolone in Friedreich’s ataxia is proceeding as planned. The clinical study is expected to be fully enrolled in the second half of 2018, with top-line data available in the second half of 2019.

Upcoming Milestones

Interim Phase 2 PHOENIX data in ADPKD and IgA nephropathy at ERA-EDTA on May 25th
One-year retained eGFR benefit data for CARDINAL Phase 2 patients in the third quarter of 2018
Full 12-week PHOENIX data in ADPKD, IgA nephropathy, and T1D CKD during the third quarter of 2018
Launch of pivotal trial in diabetic CKD by Kyowa Hakko Kirin in Japan during 2018
Full 12-week PHOENIX data in FSGS in the first half of 2019
Pivotal data from the CARDINAL trial in the second half of 2019
Pivotal data from the MOXIe trial in the second half of 2019
Pivotal data from the CATALYST trial in the first half of 2020
Financial Highlights

The Company incurred operating expenses of $28.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, with research and development accounting for $21.4 million. This compares to operating expenses of $19.9 million for the same period of the year prior, when research and development accounted for $14.6 million. Net income of $4.1 million or $0.16 per share was reported by the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. This compares to net loss of $7.1 million or $0.32 per share in the same period of the year prior. The increase in net income and net income per share is primarily due to revenue of $25.1 million related to a milestone payment that we expect to receive from Kyowa Hakko Kirin in 2018 that was partially recognized in accordance with newly-adopted revenue recognition requirements under Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. The increase in revenue under the new guidance resulted in increases of $25.1 million in net income and $0.96 in basic net income per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $105.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents, in combination with available debt and the expected milestone payment from Kyowa Hakko Kirin, will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through registrational data from both CARDINAL and MOXIe in the second half of 2019.

Reata management will be hosting a conference call to discuss our development programs on May 9, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. ET at the following:

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Date: Wednesday May 9, 2018
Time: 8:00 a.m. ET
Audience Dial-in (toll-free): (844) 348-3946
Audience Dial-in (international): (213) 358-0892
Passcode: 8266998
Webcast Link: View Source

On May 8, 2018 Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Syndax," the "Company" or "we") (Nasdaq: SNDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies, reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 (Press release, Syndax, MAY 8, 2018, View Source [SID1234526234]). In addition, the Company provided a clinical and business update. As of March 31, 2018, Syndax had $113.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

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"Syndax is off to a strong start in 2018 and we believe this momentum will carry us through the balance of what we expect will be a milestone-rich and potentially transformative year. This includes the progression free survival readout from our ongoing pivotal Phase 3 E2112 trial, for which results are expected in the third quarter," said Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Syndax. "We also look forward to sharing additional data from multiple cohorts of the ENCORE 601 program, including biomarker analyses, later this quarter at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. The ENCORE program represents a key pillar of our clinical strategy and is supported by an extensive correlative science program designed to identify biomarkers that could predict which patients will respond to our combination therapies."

Pipeline Updates

The Phase 3 registration trial of entinostat plus exemestane in advanced hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR+, HER2-) breast cancer, E2112, is 92% enrolled as of the end of April. ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, the trial sponsor, has notified the Company that the Data Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) completed the final progression free survival (PFS) analysis and the first interim analysis for overall survival in November 2017. Earlier this quarter, the DSMC also notified Syndax that it conducted a subsequent interim overall survival analysis. The trial is proceeding as planned, and Syndax continues to anticipate that enrollment will be complete in the third quarter of 2018, at which time the result of the PFS analysis will be released to the Company.

Enrollment in the PD-(L)1 refractory melanoma ENCORE 601 cohort is now complete. The Company will present Phase 2 data from all evaluable patients at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Meeting in June. Later this quarter, the Company plans to communicate a registration strategy for entinostat in this indication.

Enrollment in the PD-(L)1 refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ENCORE 601 cohort is now complete. Phase 2 data from all evaluable patients in this cohort will be presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) next month, including updated results from the Company’s biomarker analyses.

Initial enrollment in the first stage of the ENCORE 601 cohort of patients with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC) completed in the third quarter of 2017. The Company expects to share preliminary data from this cohort at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper). The ENCORE 601 trial is being conducted in collaboration with Merck, through a subsidiary. The two companies recently agreed to expand this cohort, and expect to continue enrolling patients to the first stage later this quarter. A decision on whether to continue to the second stage of this cohort is expected in the first half of 2019.

Enrollment of the Phase 2 portion of ENCORE 602, the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating the combination of entinostat plus Genentech’s PD-(L)1 inhibitor atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ) in patients with triple negative breast cancer, remains on track to complete later this quarter. Topline results are now anticipated in the first half of 2019.

Enrollment is now complete in the Phase 2 portion of ENCORE 603, the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating entinostat in combination with Pfizer/Merck KGaA’s BAVENCIO in patients with ovarian cancer. Topline results are expected in the first half of 2019.

Dosing of patients with solid tumors in the Phase 1 multiple ascending dose (MAD) clinical trial of SNDX-6352 is ongoing. The Company anticipates presenting data from this trial and disclosing a Phase 2 strategy in the second half of 2018. In February, the Company entered into a clinical collaboration with AstraZeneca to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SNDX-6352 in combination with durvalumab (IMFINZI), AstraZeneca’s human monoclonal antibody directed against PD-(L)1, in multiple solid tumors. Initial work focusing on establishing the safety of this combination is expected to begin this quarter.

Development of the Company’s portfolio of Menin-Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) inhibitors, in-licensed from Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Allergan plc, is ongoing. Data from this program were recently presented in both oral and poster presentations at the 2018 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. The Company expects to initiate clinical trials for this program in the first half of 2019.

First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2018, Syndax had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $113.2 million and 24,697,944 shares issued and outstanding.

First quarter 2018 research and development expenses increased to $15.3 million from $9.6 million for the comparable period in the prior year. The increases were primarily due to an increase in development activities of $2.8 million, legal and professional fees of $1.7 million and increased employee compensation expense of $1.3 million. The increase in development activities was primarily due to increases in spending related to the increased CMC costs for SNDX-6352, and development of the Menin program, partially offset by completion of the Phase 1 clinical pharmacology trials and decrease in E2112 costs. The increase in employee compensation costs was primarily due to increased headcount.

General and administrative expenses totaled $4.8 million during the first quarter of 2018, compared to $3.9 million for the comparable period in the prior year. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in professional fees of $0.7 million as well as an increase in legal fees of $0.2 million. The increase in professional fees was primarily due to pre-commercialization activities. The increase in legal fees was primarily due to an increase in patent-related legal expenses.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, Syndax reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $19.4 million or $0.79 per share compared to $13.0 million or $0.71 per share for the comparable prior year period.

Financial Guidance

Today the Company provided operating expense guidance for the second quarter and full year 2018. For the second quarter and full year 2018, research and development expenses are expected to be $15 to $18 million and $62 to $70 million, respectively, and total operating expenses are expected to be $20 to $23 million and $82 to $90 million, respectively.

Conference Call and Webcast

In connection with the earnings release, Syndax’s management team will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET today, Tuesday, May 8, 2018.

The live audio webcast and accompanying slides may be accessed through the Events & Presentations page in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.syndax.com. Alternatively, the conference call may be accessed through the following:

Conference ID: 7087078
Domestic Dial-in Number: 1-855-251-6663
International Dial-in Number: 281-542-4259
Live webcast: View Source

For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available for 30 days on the Investors section of the Company’s website, www.syndax.com.