On August 14, 2018 Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNST), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company using its expertise in epigenetics to discover and develop novel therapeutics, reported its second-quarter and six-month 2018 financial results (Press release, Constellation Pharmaceuticals, AUG 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234528873]).

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"We at Constellation are pleased to report our financial results for the first time as a public company," said Jigar Raythatha, president and chief executive officer of Constellation Pharmaceuticals. "We are focusing our efforts and investing the capital that we raised in our recent crossover round and IPO with the goal of building a broad portfolio of important epigenetics-based medicines to serve inadequately treated cancer patients.

"We have many things to be excited about in the months ahead," Mr. Raythatha continued. "Our robust epigenetics platform has delivered multiple programs into the clinic that are testing differentiated approaches to treating cancer. These programs have provided encouraging preliminary clinical data, details of which we disclosed in our IPO prospectus. We look forward to providing further updates on the progress of our two lead programs in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and myelofibrosis, including evaluation of proof of concept in mid-2019. We aim to expand on this clinical pipeline with new drug candidates generated by our epigenetics platform."

In conjunction with the Company’s IPO, Constellation is expanding its leadership team. To that end, in July the Company appointed Karen Valentine as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. "We are thrilled to have someone with Karen’s extensive legal and business experience in the biotech space join Constellation," Mr. Raythatha concluded. "We welcome her and will benefit considerably from her leadership."

News

On July 18, the Company priced its IPO of 4,000,000 shares at a price of $15.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $60 million, before underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. On July 19, the Company’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "CNST." The IPO closed on July 23.

On July 16, the Company appointed Karen Valentine as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. Ms. Valentine joins Constellation after serving as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Agenus Inc.

In June, two scientific publications preclinically validated the role of the EZH2 inhibitor CPI-1205 in cancer immunotherapy. CPI-1205’s potential effect as an immunotherapy was first established through the Company’s collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Padmanee Sharma at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The work is documented in "Modulation of EZH2 Expression in T Cells Improves Efficacy of anti-CTLA-4 Therapy," which was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Constellation also contributed CPI-1205 product to a study by the laboratories of Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone at UCSF and Dr. Michel DuPage at UC Berkeley discussed in the article "Targeting EZH2 Reprograms Intratumoral Regulatory T Cells to Enhance Cancer Immunity," published in Cell Reports. These studies support the rationale for the Company’s ORIOn-E trial.

On April 9, the Company announced completion of a $100 million financing, with funds provided by both existing and new investors. The Company plans to utilize the proceeds of this financing and of its IPO to advance its multiple clinical trials, including the ongoing ProSTAR and ORIOn-E trials for CPI-1205 and the ongoing MANIFEST trial for CPI-0610, to continue development of CPI-0209, and to advance its preclinical pipeline.

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2018 grew 24% to $88.5 million compared to March 31, 2018, primarily due to capital raised in a preferred stock offering in April, partially offset by operating expenses. This cash balance did not reflect proceeds from the IPO, which occurred in July.

Research and development (R&D) expenses increased 19% year over year to $9.5 million in the second quarter of 2018 mainly due to increased CPI-1205 clinical trial expenses.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses grew 67% year over year to $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2018, primarily due to increased personnel costs related to building out the organization as the Company evolves from a preclinical-stage company to a multi-candidate clinical-stage company, as well as costs associated with the IPO.

The net loss attributable to common stockholders decreased 3% year over year to $11.9 million and decreased 22% to $9.96 per share for the second quarter of 2018.

Financial Guidance

The Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2018, together with the proceeds of the IPO, will fund planned operations into the first quarter of 2020.

Overview of Key Programs

ProSTAR: CPI-1205 is a small molecule designed to promote anti-tumor activity by specifically inhibiting EZH2, an enzyme that suppresses target gene expression. The ProSTAR trial is an open-label Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of CPI-1205 in combination with either abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide, which are androgen receptor signaling (ARS) inhibitors, in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who previously progressed on treatment with one of these ARS inhibitors. In the Phase 1b portion of this trial, the Company is aiming to establish safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, maximum tolerated dose and a recommended Phase 2 dose of CPI-1205 in combination with these agents. The Company has observed preliminary evidence of clinical activity in the Phase 1b portion of this trial. In the randomized Phase 2 portion, the Company will aim to assess the response rate of a selected combination of CPI-1205 and one of these ARS inhibitors compared to that of the ARS inhibitor alone.

ORIOn-E: In accordance with the Company’s franchise approach to targeting EZH2, the Company has initiated the ORIOn-E trial, a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of CPI-1205 in combination with ipilimumab or pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with solid tumors who have previously progressed on treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor that inhibits PD-L1 or PD-1. In the Phase 1b portion of the trial, the Company seeks to establish the safety, pharmacokinetics, maximum tolerated dose, and recommended Phase 2 dose of the combination.

MANIFEST: CPI-0610 is a potent and selective small molecule designed to promote anti-tumor activity by selectively inhibiting the function of BET proteins to decrease the expression of abnormally expressed genes in cancer. In MANIFEST, an open-label Phase 2 clinical trial, the Company is evaluating CPI-0610 as a second-line treatment for patients with myelofibrosis (MF), a progressive hematological cancer. The Company is studying CPI-0610 in combination with ongoing ruxolitinib treatment in MF patients who have experienced disease progression, and as a monotherapy in MF patients not eligible for, or no longer on, ruxolitinib. The Company aims to evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics, reduction in spleen volume, patient-reported symptom improvement and improvements in red-blood-cell transfusion independence rate in patients who were transfusion dependent at baseline.

CPI-0209: Also in accordance with our franchise approach to targeting EZH2, the Company has developed a second-generation EZH2 inhibitor, CPI-0209, and is currently conducting IND-enabling studies. The Company expects to provide additional updates on the development of CPI-0209 in the context of its EZH2 franchise approach in 2019.

In all of the above referenced clinical trials, the Company plans to collect and analyze biomarkers to assess the biology of the EZH2 or BET proteins, which may allow the Company to enrich for patients who are most likely to respond to treatment.

On August 14, 2018 CohBar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWBR), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing mitochondria based therapeutics (MBTs) to treat age-related diseases, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, CohBar, AUG 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234528872]).

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"CohBar had a stellar second quarter as we joined the Russell 2000 Index, raised approximately $22 million and identified a novel mechanism of action of CB4211, our lead MBT candidate," said Simon Allen, CohBar CEO. "In early July, we accomplished a major milestone in CohBar’s transition to a clinical stage company by launching the first human study of a drug candidate based on a mitochondrial-derived peptide. We believe we are well positioned with additional funding to progress our lead program through the clinic, while ramping up our efforts to expand and extend our preclinical pipeline into new therapeutic areas."

Second Quarter and Recent Highlights:

●Initiated Clinical Study for CB4211. In early July, the company initated a Phase 1a/1b safety and biomarker study of CB4211, its lead MBT candidate under development as a potential treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity. CB4211 is the first mitochondria based therapeutic to enter clinical testing. The double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study will initially assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of CB4211 following single and multiple-ascending doses in healthy subjects. The final Phase 1b stage of the study will be an assessment of safety, tolerability, and activity in obese subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). Assessments will include changes in liver fat assessed by MRI-PDFF, body weight, and biomarkers relevant to NASH and obesity. Data from the study are expected to be available in early 2019.

●CB4211 Mechanism of Action Findings Presented at ADA Conference. The company presented preclinical data on the molecular mechanisms underlying CB4211’s efficacy in animal models of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at the ADA (American Diabetes Association) 78th Scientific Sessions in June. The poster presentation entitled: "CB4211 is a Potential Treatment for Metabolic Diseases with a Novel Mechansim of Action: Sensitization of the Insulin Receptor," provided in vitro support that CB4211 inhibits adipocyte lypolisis through an insulin-dependent mechanism, a process that is fundamental in the development of liver steatosis. (ADA poster may be viewed at: View Source)

●Completed $20 Million Equity Offering. In June, the company sold 2,186,855 shares of common stock at an average price of $9.14 per share under a Controlled Equity Offering program with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. acting as sales agent. The company received aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $20 million, before commissions and other estimated offering expenses totaling approximately $0.7 million.

●Completed Private Placement. With the final closing in April, the company issued and sold a total of $3.9 million of non-convertible unsecured promissory notes, together with warrants to purchase 780,500 shares of the company’s common stock. Insider participation accounted for more than $500,000 of the financing.

●CohBar added to the Russell Indexes. On June 22, the company was added to the Russell 2000Ò and 3000Ò Indexes. The Russell 2000 Index serves as a leading benchmark for small-cap stocks in the United States.

●Philippe P. Calais PhD. Appointed to the CohBar Board. With an extensive background in pharmacology and over 30 years as a business executive in biotech and the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Calais adds important strategic and drug development experience to the CohBar board.

During the second quarter, CohBar’s founders, Dr. Pinchas Cohen and Dr. Nir Barzilai, continued to be recognized as international leaders in the study of aging, age-related diseases and mitochondrial science.

●Dr. Cohen delivered a number of lectures during the quarter including the Schüeler Distinguished Lecture in Pharmacology, entitled "Mitochondrial Peptides" at Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, "Mitochondrial Systems Biology in Aging" at the Oklahoma GeroScience Symposium, "Mitohormesis and Mitochondrial Peptides" at the Yonsei University Mitochondrial Symposium, Seoul, South Korea, and "A kinesio-genomic SNP in MOTS-c is a diabetes risk factor in Japanese Men" addressed to the Japanese Endocrine Society. He also authored an article for Forbes entitled "How Universities Drive Innovation in Aging" and co-authored "Mitochondrial peptides modulate mitochondrial function during cellular senescence" published in Aging.

●Dr. Barzilai was a keynote speaker at multiple events including the "11th Diabetologists Conference and Drug Market Summit", New York, "The Oklahoma Geroscience Symposium" Oklahoma City, OK, "Aging Research Day" at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY and "Target: Aging – Innovation in Research", Westchester BioTech Project, Westchester, NY. He also was symposium organizer and speaker at "SEBM: Can we Target Aging", in San Diego, CA.

Second Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights

●Cash and Investments. CohBar had cash and investments of $28,023,015 on June 30, 2018, compared to $8,452,459 on December 31, 2017.

●R&D Expenses. Research and development expenses were $1,832,459 in the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $1,274,634 in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to costs of our clinical activities and an increase in stock-based compensation related to equity granted to consultants, offset by a decrease in costs related to the timing of IND-enabling activities.

●G&A Expenses. General and administrative expenses were $1,315,316 for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to $635,007 in the prior year quarter. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation related to option grants made in the current year quarter, an increase in accrued bonuses, and an increase in directors fees paid in the current quarter.

●Net Loss. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, net loss was $3,316,113, or $0.08 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1,906,539, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

Second Quarter Investor Call Information

Date: August 14, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Dial-in U.S. and Canada: (800) 239-9838

Dial-in International: (323) 794-2551

Conference ID# 9205786

For individuals participating in the Investor Call, we kindly request that you call into the conference audio approximately 10 minutes before the start time so that we can begin promptly.

An audio replay of the call will be available beginning at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on August 14, 2018, through 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time on September 4, 2018. To access the recording please dial (844) 512-2921 in the U.S. and Canada, or (412) 317-6671 internationally, and reference Conference ID# 9205786. The audio replay will also be available at www.cohbar.com from August 14, through September 4, 2018.

About CB4211

CohBar’s lead program is based on CB4211, a first-in-class mitochondria based therapeutic (MBT) that has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in preclinical models of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity. CB4211 is a novel and improved analog of MOTS-c, a naturally occurring mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) which was discovered in 2012 by CohBar founder Dr. Pinchas Cohen and his academic collaborators and has been shown to play a significant role in the regulation of metabolism. CB4211 entered a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial in mid-2018, which includes a potential activity readout relevant to NASH and obesity expected in early 2019. NASH has been estimated to affect as many as 12% of adults in the U.S., and there is currently no approved treatment for the disease.

On August 14, 2018 Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSN), an oncology drug development company, reported financial results for the quarter and six-month period ended June 30, 2018 and provided an update on its development programs for ThermoDox, its proprietary heat-activated liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin, and GEN-1, an IL-12 DNA plasmid vector encased in a nanoparticle delivery system, designed to enable cell transfection followed by persistent, local secretion of the IL-12 protein (Press release, Celsion, AUG 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234528871]). The Company’s lead program is ThermoDox, which is currently in Phase III development for the treatment of primary liver cancer, and its immunotherapy candidate, GEN-1, is currently in Phase I/II development for the localized treatment of ovarian cancer.

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"Celsion continues to make significant progress with our two ongoing clinical development programs for ThermoDox and GEN-1. We expect to complete enrollment in our 550-patient global, pivotal Phase III OPTIMA Study in primary liver cancer and initiate patient enrollment in our 130-patient Phase I/II randomized OVATION II Study in newly diagnosed patients with ovarian cancer during the third quarter," said Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We have a strong balance sheet and are well positioned financially to continue to advance these key programs, with several important announcements for both of our clinical programs expected over the next six to 12 months, including the final progression-free survival data from our OVATION I Phase IB clinical trial of GEN-1 and the first pre-planned interim analysis of the ThermoDox Phase III OPTIMA Study."

Recent Developments

ThermoDox Phase I Clinical Study Results Published in The Lancet Oncology. On July 10, 2018, the Company announced that results from a Phase I trial of ThermoDox were published in the peer-reviewed journal, The Lancet Oncology. Conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of biomedical engineers, oncologists, radiologists and anesthetists at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, the trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of ThermoDox with focused ultrasound for the treatment of liver cancer.

Referred to as the TARDOX Study, the trial demonstrated that the ThermoDox plus focused ultrasound technique increased doxorubicin delivery to tumors between two- and ten-fold in the majority of patients in this 10-patient trial. A lysolipid thermally sensitive liposome encapsulating the chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin, ThermoDox is designed to release targeted levels of doxorubicin into and around liver tumors with heat activation. In this Phase I study, and consistent with the ThermoDox heat-activated design, the amount of drug passively reaching the tumor was low and estimated to be below therapeutic levels before ultrasound exposure. Following focused ultrasound application with ThermoDox, chemotherapy concentrations within the liver tumor were between two and ten times higher in seven out of 10 patients, with an average increase of 3.7 times across all patients.

The Phase I trial evaluated patients with inoperable primary or secondary liver tumors and who had previously received chemotherapy. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia, and patients received a single intravenous dose of 50 mg/m2 of ThermoDox. The target tumor was selectively heated to over 39.5o C using an approved ultrasound-guided focused ultrasound device at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. In six patients, the temperature at the target tumor was monitored using a temporarily implanted probe, while in the remaining four patients, ultrasonic heating was carried out non-invasively. Side effects were monitored for 30 days after the procedure, and apart from the existing side effects caused by general anesthetic and chemotherapy, no additional side effects were observed.

The TARDOX Study, supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, was carried out as a multi-disciplinary collaboration between Celsion, the Oxford University Institute of Biomedical Engineering, the Oncology Clinical Trials Office (OCTO) and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Data Monitoring Committee Unanimously Recommended Continuation of the OPTIMA Study in Primary Liver Cancer Following its Planned Safety and Data Review from 411 Patients. On April 9, 2018, the Company announced that the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) for the Company’s 550-patient, pivotal Phase III clinical study of ThermoDox in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for primary liver cancer (the OPTIMA Study), unanimously recommended that the study continue according to protocol to its data readout. The DMC’s recommendation was based on the Committee’s assessment of safety and data integrity of the first 75% of patients randomized in the trial as of February 5, 2018 and concluded that the integrity of the study was intact and that ThermoDox was safe for continued enrollment of newly diagnosed, intermediate-stage patients. An analysis of blinded data from the intent-to-treat population, consolidated for both arms, indicated that median progression free survival (PFS) was 20.8 months. This compared favorably to the HEAT Study subgroup (285 patients treated with RFA greater than 45 minutes) median PFS of 19.7 months and was consistent with the hypothesis-generating estimates from the HEAT Study manuscript published in the October 2017 issue of the peer-reviewed medical journal, ‘Clinical Cancer Research.’ The OPTIMA Study’s design and statistical plan incorporates two pre-planned interim efficacy analyses by the DMC with the intent of evaluating safety, efficacy and futility to determine if there is overwhelming evidence of clinical benefit or a low probability of treatment success to continue, modify or terminate the study.

The DMC analysis in April 2018 was the last planned interim analysis prior to enrollment completion, which is currently expected in the third quarter of 2018, with results from the first interim efficacy analysis expected in the first half of 2019.

Corporate Development

Raised $10 Million From A Strategic Loan Facility with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation. On June 28, 2018, the Company announced it entered into a $10 million loan agreement with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation which it drew down upon closing. The Company will use the funding provided under the agreement for working capital and advancement of its product pipeline, including ThermoDox and GEN-1, as well as other strategic initiatives designed to broaden its product pipeline. The funding is in the form of secured indebtedness bearing interest at a calculated LIBOR-based variable rate. Payments under the loan agreement are interest only for the first twenty-four (24) months after loan closing, followed by a 24-month amortization period of principal and interest through the scheduled maturity date.

Celsion Added to the Russell Microcap Index. On June 25, 2018, the Company was added to the Russell Microcap Index as part of the Russell indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the U.S. market opens today. Membership in the Russell Microcap Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell U.S. Indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

Financial Results

For the quarter ended June 30, 2018, Celsion reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $8.2 million, or a loss of $0.46 per share, compared to $4.9 million, or a loss of $0.79 per share, in the same period of 2017. Operating expenses were $8.1 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared to $4.7 million in the same period of 2017. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company incurred $3.2 million in non-cash stock option expense compared to $0.7 million in the same comparable period of 2017.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, the Company reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $12.7 million, or a loss of $0.73 per share, compared to $10.4 million, or a loss of $1.75 per share, in the same six-month period of 2017. Operating expenses were $12.5 million during the first six months of 2018 compared to $9.6 million in the same period of 2017. During the first half of 2018, the Company incurred $3.4 million in non-cash stock option expense compared to $0.8 million in the same comparable six-month period of 2017.

Net cash used for operating activities was $8.8 million in the first six months of 2018, compared to $7.3 million in the same period in 2017. This was in line with our projected cash utilization for 2018 of approximately $16 million, averaging approximately $4 million per quarter. The Company ended the second quarter of 2018 with $26.3 million of total cash, cash equivalents, investment securities and interest receivable, which included the $10 million in gross proceeds from the Company’s new venture debt facility completed on June 27, 2018 with Horizon Technology Finance Corporation. The Company believes it has sufficient capital resources to fund its operations into the first half of 2020.

Research and development costs increased $1.6 million, from $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2017 to $4.6 million in the second quarter of 2018. Clinical development costs for the Phase III OPTIMA Study increased to $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2018, compared to $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2017. This $0.5 million increase was attributable to higher patient enrollment in this pivotal Phase III trial during the first half of 2018. Costs associated with the startup of the OVATION II Study were $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2018. Other costs related to clinical supplies and regulatory support for the ThermoDox and GEN-1 clinical development programs increased by $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2018 when compared to the same prior-year period. In the second quarter of 2018, the Company also incurred an increase of $0.7 million in non-cash stock compensation expense compared to the same period of 2017.

Research and development costs increased $0.8 million, from $6.5 million in the first six months of 2017 to $7.3 million in the first half of 2018. Clinical development costs for the Phase III OPTIMA Study increased to $3.3 million in the first half of 2018, compared to $3.0 million in the first half of 2017. This $0.3 million increase was attributable to higher patient enrollment in the pivotal Phase III trial during 2018. Costs associated with the startup of the OVATION II Study were $0.2 million in the first half of 2018. Other costs related to for clinical supplies and regulatory support for the ThermoDox and GEN-1 clinical development programs increased by $0.2 million in the first half of 2018 when compared to the same prior-year period. In the first half of 2018, the Company also incurred an increase of $0.8 million in non-cash stock compensation expense, compared to the same period of 2017. Partially offsetting these increased costs was a Company initiated plan in the first half of 2017 designed to reduce costs associated with the support of ThermoDox clinical studies and other initiatives in Europe. The majority of the $0.5 million in cost savings for personnel and support services in Europe were realized in the first half of 2017.

General and administrative expenses were $3.5 million in the second quarter of 2018, compared to $1.6 million in the same period of 2017. General and administrative expenses were $5.2 million in the first six months of 2018, compared to $3.1 million in the same period of 2017. These increases were primarily attributable to (i) an increase in non-cash stock compensation expense totaling $1.8 million in the second quarter and first half of 2018 when compared to the same periods in 2017 and (ii) an increase in professional fees of approximately $0.2 million primarily related to recruiting fees for several new positions to support the anticipated regulatory and commercialization efforts for ThermoDox.

During the three-months and six-months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recognized deemed dividends totaling $0.4 million related to multiple agreements with certain warrant holders, pursuant to which these warrant holders agreed to exercise, and the Company agreed to reprice, certain warrants. Warrants to purchase 790,410 shares of common stock were repriced at $2.70 and warrants to purchase 506,627 shares of common stock were repriced at $1.65. The Company received $3.0 million in gross proceeds from the sale of these repriced warrants.

Quarterly Conference Call

The Company is hosting a conference call to provide a business update and discuss its second quarter 2018 financial results at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday August 14, 2018. To participate in the call, interested parties may dial 1-877-260-1479 (Toll-Free/North America) or +1-334-323-0522 (International/Toll) and ask for the Celsion Corporation Second Quarter 2018 Earnings Call (Conference Code: 1373876). Listeners are encouraged to register ten minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. The call will also be broadcast live on the internet at www.celsion.com.

The call will be archived for replay on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 and will remain available until Tuesday August 28, 2018. The replay can be accessed at 1-888-203-1112 (Toll-Free/USA) or +1-719-457-0820 (International/Toll) using Conference ID: 1373876. An audio replay of the call will also be available on the Company’s website, www.celsion.com, for 90 days after 2:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

On August 14, 2018 OncoCyte Corporation (NYSE American: OCX), a developer of novel, non-invasive tests for the early detection of cancer, reported financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, Oncocyte, AUG 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234528870]). The Company ended the second quarter with $10.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities valued at $0.7 million. On July 31, the Company closed a $3.59 million at-market registered direct offering of common stock and warrants, before financing expenses, led by the Company’s senior management team and Board of Directors, further bolstering its balance sheet. The Company projects that its cash position, coupled with prudent expense management, will be sufficient to execute its near-term strategy and the continued development of DetermaVu, the Company’s liquid biopsy lung cancer diagnostic test.

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"We achieved our primary goal during the first half of 2018 – putting our DetermaVu development program back on track," said William Annett, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are now beginning to take the next steps in the development plan and remain encouraged that DetermaVu could address an estimated $4.7 billion annual U.S. market for a confirmatory lung cancer liquid biopsy test. The recent financing, which included investments by senior management and certain members of our Board of Directors, provided us with additional resources to advance the development of DetermaVu and demonstrates our management’s confidence in our ability to execute our plans."

Highlights

Appointed Albert P. Parker to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Parker has had a distinguished career in the Life Sciences industry, including senior roles at companies such as Wyeth and Sunovian. He also has an extensive background in business development and creating partnerships with key industry players.

Generated encouraging study results for DetermaVu, OncoCyte’s lung cancer blood test, and selected a new, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) clinical diagnostic testing platform. The platform has demonstrated consistent data and increased test performance.
Discovered, filed patent applications on, and tested a new set of 190 biomarkers which could help to distinguish malignant from benign lung nodules. OncoCyte’s most recent development work incorporated these newly discovered biomarkers into a new, next-generation version of DetermaVu. These biomarkers appear to be more robust than those used in the earlier biomarker panel and may enhance the utility and accuracy of DetermaVu. The use of the new biomarkers in combination with the existing biomarkers achieved encouraging results even without the inclusion of clinical data such as nodule size, while the original DetermaVu algorithm included nodule size as a contributing factor.
OncoCyte is planning to initiate a series of studies which if successful will lead to a prospective, blinded R&D Validation Study on approximately 250 patient samples to assess the performance of the second-generation algorithm on the new diagnostic testing platform. All the samples required for the R&D Validation Study are in-house and available for testing.
Completion of the R&D Validation Study is targeted for late 2018, and if the study is successful the Company will follow with an Analytical Validation Study and a CLIA Validation study in the Company’s CLIA laboratory. Then, OncoCyte plans to initiate a blinded prospective Clinical Validation Study of DetermaVu, which is the final step prior to commercialization. Completion of the Clinical Validation Study is targeted for the first half of 2019.
Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

For the second quarter ended June 30, 2018, OncoCyte incurred a net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.8 million, or $0.13 per share, in the second quarter of 2017.

Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $4.2 million, as reported, and were $3.0 million, on an as adjusted basis. The reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses is provided in the financial tables included with this earnings release.

Research and development expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 were $2.3 million compared to $2.0 million for the same period in 2017, an increase of $0.3 million. The current quarter research and development expense includes a $0.6 million noncash impairment charge for noncore, therapeutic intangible assets mainly comprised of patents and patent rights that OncoCyte had acquired for therapeutic uses that it no longer plans to develop or commercialize. The impact of that impairment charge was partially offset by a decrease in laboratory expenses of $0.1 million and a decrease in stock-based compensation expense of $0.1 million.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $1.3 million compared to $1.1 million for the same period in 2017, an increase of $0.2 million. This increase is primarily attributable to $0.1 million in stock-based compensation expense and $0.1 million in personnel and related expenses.

Cash used in operations was $3.96 million for the second quarter of 2018, which included approximately $0.8 million in aggregate cash payments for legal fees, financing related costs and bonuses paid for retention and performance.

At June 30, 2018, OncoCyte had $10.3 million of cash and cash equivalents in addition to marketable equity securities valued at $0.7 million. Subsequent to the end of the second quarter, OncoCyte received proceeds of $3.3 million, net of financing expenses, from an at-market registered direct offering of common stock and warrants.

Conference Call

OncoCyte will host a conference call today, August 14, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT to discuss financial results.

The dial-in number in the U.S./Canada is 800-458-4148; for international participants, the number is +1-323-794-2598. For all callers, please refer to Conference ID 5162879. To access the live webcast, go to the investor relations section on the Company’s website, View Source

A replay of the conference call will be available for seven business days beginning about two hours after the conclusion of the live call, by calling 888-203-1112 toll-free (from U.S./Canada); international callers dial +1-719-457-0820. Use the Conference ID 5162879. Additionally, the archived webcast will be available at View Source

About DetermaVu

DetermaVu is OncoCyte’s confirmatory, non-invasive, liquid biopsy test intended to facilitate clinical decision making in lung cancer diagnosis. DetermaVu is being developed as an intermediate step to confirm the absence of cancer between imaging modalities (LDCTs) detecting suspicious lung nodules and downstream invasive procedures that determine if the nodules are malignant. OncoCyte estimates that a $4.7 billion annual market could develop in the U.S. for its confirmatory lung cancer liquid biopsy test, depending on market penetration and reimbursable pricing.

On August 14, 2018 Array BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRY) reported results for its fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2018 and provided an update on the progress of its key commercial products and clinical development programs (Press release, Array BioPharma, AUG 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234528867]).

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"We were thrilled to launch BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI for patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma in the U.S. after receiving FDA approval for the combination in June. Since then, we have seen a very positive reception from melanoma healthcare providers. With the announcement of a median overall survival of 33.6 months from the Phase 3 COLUMBUS trial at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), and an attractive tolerability profile, our commercial team is well-positioned for success," said Ron Squarer, Chief Executive Officer. "We were also very pleased to announce an observed overall survival of 62% at one year in patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer in updated safety lead-in results from the Phase 3 BEACON CRC trial. At the time of analysis, the overall survival data were fully mature through 12.6 months and the median overall survival had not yet been reached. FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation was based on the BEACON CRC safety lead-in data, which further demonstrates the opportunity for encorafenib and binimetinib to benefit patients with limited treatment options."

COMMERCIAL
BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI Approval and Launch
On June 27, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved BRAFTOVI capsules in combination with MEKTOVI tablets for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAFV600E or BRAFV600K mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test. BRAFTOVI is not indicated for the treatment of patients with wild-type BRAF melanoma.

BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI were available for sale beginning on July 2, 2018, and patients began receiving the combination therapy that same week.

In addition, on July 16, 2018, Array submitted supplementary New Drug Applications to seek inclusion of overall survival (OS) data from the Phase 3 COLUMBUS trial in the BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI labels.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Recommendation
On July 13, 2018, the NCCN updated the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Melanoma to include BRAFTOVI in combination with MEKTOVI as a Category 1 first-line and second-line treatment option for patients with BRAFV600E or BRAFV600K-mutant metastatic or unresectable melanoma. A Category 1 recommendation indicates that, based upon high-level evidence, there is uniform NCCN consensus that the intervention is appropriate.

Positive CHMP Opinion for Advanced BRAF-mutant Melanoma
On July 27, 2018, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI for unresectable or metastatic BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. This opinion is based on data from the COLUMBUS trial and the recommendation will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU). The final EC decision, expected by the end of September, will be applicable to all 28 EU member states, as well as Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway.

COLUMBUS PHASE 3 TRIAL
Updated COLUMBUS Trial Results including Overall Survival Announced at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)
Array announced updated results from the COLUMBUS trial in BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma as part of an oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting on June 4, 2018, and that these results have been selected for the "Best of ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)" program.

The median OS was 33.6 months for patients treated with the combination of encorafenib and binimetinib compared to 16.9 months for patients treated with vemurafenib as a monotherapy. The combination reduced the risk of death compared to treatment with vemurafenib alone hazard ratio (HR) of 0.61, [95% CI 0.47, 0.79, p <0.0001].
The data showed limited use of post-trial immunotherapy, which is consistent with other published pivotal trials of BRAF and MEK-inhibitors in BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma. [1-2]
As previously reported, the combination of encorafenib and binimetinib was generally well-tolerated. Grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) that occurred in more than 5% of patients receiving the combination were increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (9%), increased blood creatine phosphokinase (CK) (7%) and hypertension (6%). The incidence of selected any grade AEs of special interest, defined based on toxicities commonly associated with commercially available BRAF+MEK-inhibitor treatments for patients receiving the combination of encorafenib and binimetinib included: rash (22%), serous retinopathy (20%), pyrexia (18%) and photosensitivity (5%). Full safety results of COLUMBUS Part 1 were published in The Lancet Oncology.
BEACON CRC PHASE 3 TRIAL
Breakthrough Therapy Designation
On August 7, 2018, Array announced that the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to BRAFTOVI, in combination with MEKTOVI and cetuximab for the treatment of patients with BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) as detected by an FDA-approved test, after failure of one to two prior lines of therapy for metastatic disease. BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC patients have a mortality risk more than double that of mCRC patients without the mutation, and currently there are no therapies specifically approved for this high unmet need population. [3-8] Breakthrough Therapy Designation is an FDA process designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious condition where preliminary clinical evidence indicates that they may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints.

Regulatory Update
Based on consultation with the FDA and EMA, Array plans to amend the BEACON CRC protocol to allow for an interim analysis of trial endpoints. Should a planned analysis based primarily on confirmed overall response rate (ORR) and durability of response be supportive, the Company plans to use it to seek accelerated approval in the U.S. The interim analysis may also support regulatory submissions in other regions. The Company anticipates topline results from this analysis in the first half of 2019. This timing allows for the subset of patients required for the interim analysis of ORR to achieve a response and for the durability of responses to be appropriately evaluated.

The BEACON CRC trial continues to enroll well. Based on the updated data presented at the 20thWorld Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (ESMO World GI), excitement among global investigators continues to increase. As a result of the recent FDA approval for BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI in BRAF-mutant melanoma, Array has made the decision to conclude U.S.-specific patient enrollment in the BEACON CRC trial. This action was based on the recommendation of the trial Steering Committee and Array expects this will help to avoid introducing unwanted informative censoring into the trial, as U.S. patients and investigators now have the potential to access encorafenib and binimetinib via commercial supply. As the number of active global sites has continued to increase since the beginning of the year, Array does not believe this decision will have a material impact on its plan to complete enrollment of the trial around the end of 2018.

Updated BEACON CRC Safety Lead-In Data including Overall Survival Results Announced at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) World GI
Array announced updated safety and efficacy results, including OS, from the safety lead-in of the BEACON CRC trial evaluating the triplet combination of encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab, in 29 patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC during an oral presentation at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) World GI on June 23, 2018.

At the time of analysis, the OS data were fully mature through 12.6 months and the median OS had not yet been reached. The observed one-year OS rate for this cohort was 62%.
The median Progression Free Survival (mPFS) for patients treated with the triplet was 8 months [95% CI 5.6-9.3] and is similar between patients receiving one prior line of therapy and patients receiving two prior lines of therapy.
The triple combination was generally well-tolerated with no unexpected toxicities. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events seen in at least 10% of patients were fatigue (13%), anemia (10%), increased blood CK (10%) and increased aspartate aminotransferase (10%).
IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY COLLABORATIONS: TRIALS ADVANCING WITH BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB AND MERCK; TRIAL WITH PFIZER EXPECTED TO START THIRD QUARTER OF 2018
Array is developing binimetinib in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors and previously announced separate, strategic collaborations with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck and Pfizer. Each collaboration is pursuing a different rationally designed clinical approach.

Bristol-Myers Squibb

The clinical trial continues to advance and is designed to investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of binimetinib in combination with nivolumab (anti-PD-1 therapy), with and without ipilimumab (CTLA-4 antibody), in patients with advanced metastatic microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC and the presence of a RAS mutation who have received one or two prior regimens.
The trial is jointly supported by Array and Bristol-Myers Squibb and sponsored by Array.
Merck

The clinical trial continues to advance and is designed to investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of binimetinib in combination with pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1 therapy), with and without FOLFOX or FOLFIRI (chemotherapy), in first or second-line patients with CRC whose tumors are not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H).
The trial is sponsored and funded by Merck, with Array providing binimetinib supply.
Pfizer

The clinical trial is designed to investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of several novel anti-cancer combinations, including binimetinib, avelumab (anti-PD-L1 therapy) and talazoparib (PARP inhibitor) across various tumor types and is expected to begin during the third quarter of 2018.
Initially, the focus will be in non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, with additional indications being explored at a later stage.
The trial will be sponsored and funded by Pfizer, with Array providing binimetinib supply.
CORPORATE UPDATE
On August 10, 2018, Array announced that Carrie S. Cox joined the Company’s Board of Directors as Chairman, effective immediately. Ms. Cox served as Executive Vice President and President of both Schering-Plough and Pharmacia’s Global Pharmaceutical Businesses and has been named to FORTUNE Magazine’s list of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" six times. As an experienced corporate director with a wealth of commercial expertise and a distinguished career in the biopharmaceutical industry, Ms. Cox’s leadership will help drive the success of the Company’s recent launch of BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI and advance Array’s innovative treatments for patients in critical need. Kyle Lefkoff, General Partner of Boulder Ventures Ltd., and former Array Chairman, will continue to serve as a director.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2018 Compared to Third Quarter of Fiscal 2018 (Sequential Quarters Comparison)

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was $35.4 million, compared to $66.4 million for the prior quarter. The decrease was primarily due to a one-time upfront license fee from ASLAN Pharmaceuticals received during the prior quarter as well as lower Novartis reimburseable activities.
Cost of partnered programs for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was $16.2 million, compared to $17.7 million for the prior quarter. The decrease was primarily due to timing of clinical trial expense.
Research and development expense for proprietary programs was $48.1 million, compared to $53.6 million in the prior quarter. The decrease was driven by activity on the Novartis transitioned trials.
Selling, General and Administrative for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was $19.3 million, compared to $15.6 million for the prior quarter, primarily driven by increased commercial expenses.
Loss from operations for the quarter was $48.1 million, compared to a loss from operations of $20.6 million in the previous quarter. The increase in net loss was primarily due to lower partner revenue during the current quarter.
Net loss for the fourth quarter was $52.4 million, or ($0.25) per share, compared to $22.9 million, or ($0.11) per share, in the prior quarter.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2018 were $413 million.
Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2018 Compared to Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2017 (Prior Year Comparison)

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 increased by $1.7 million compared to the same quarter of fiscal 2017. The increase was primarily due to increased reimbursement of BEACON CRC trial expenses as well as new and expanded collaborations and milestones earned.
Cost of partnered programs increased $6.1 million compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. The increase was primarily due to higher costs incurred for the BEACON CRC trial, and more resources engaged on collaborations.
Research and development expense for proprietary programs increased $9.0 million, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. The increase was driven by research and clinical activity on our proprietary programs.
Selling, General and Administrative increased $8.3 million compared to fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, primarily driven by increased commercial expenses.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 was $52.4 million, or ($0.25) per share, compared to $29.6 million, or ($0.17) per share, for the same quarter in fiscal 2017. The increase in net loss was primarily due to increased research and development expense and costs to establish our commercial infrastructure in preparation for the BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI launch.
Full Year of Fiscal 2018 Compared to Full Year of Fiscal 2017 (Prior Year Comparison)

Revenue was $173.8 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, compared to $150.9 million in fiscal 2017. This increase was primarily driven by higher license and milestone revenue earned in 2018 from Asahi Kasei Pharmaceutical, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, Loxo Oncology, Mirati and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Net loss for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, was $147.3 million, or ($0.74) per share, compared to a net loss of $116.8 million, or ($0.72) per share, in fiscal 2017. The increase in net loss was primarily due to increased research and development expense to advance our proprietary programs and costs to establish our commercial infrastructure in preparation of the BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI launch.
Net cash used in operating activities for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, was $119.8 million, compared to $39.4 million in fiscal 2017. The increase in cash used in 2018 was driven by increased research and development expense and costs to establish our commercial infrastructure in preparation for the BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI launch.
CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
Array will hold a conference call on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results and provide an update on the progress of its key commercial products and clinical development programs. Ron Squarer, Chief Executive Officer, will lead the call.

Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Toll-Free: (844) 464-3927
Toll: (765) 507-2598
Pass Code: 1766079

Webcast, including Replay and Conference Call Slides:
View Source

About BRAF-mutant Metastatic Melanoma
Melanoma develops when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells triggers mutations that may lead them to multiply and form malignant tumors. Metastatic melanoma is the most serious and life-threatening type of skin cancer and is associated with low survival rates. [10,11] There are a variety of gene mutations that can lead to metastatic melanoma. The most common genetic mutation in metastatic melanoma is BRAF. There are about 200,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed worldwide each year, approximately half of which have BRAF mutations, a key target in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. [10,12-14]

About BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI
BRAFTOVI is an oral small molecule BRAF kinase inhibitor and MEKTOVI is an oral small molecule MEK inhibitor which target key enzymes in the MAPK signaling pathway (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK). Inappropriate activation of proteins in this pathway has been shown to occur in many cancers including melanoma, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, thyroid and others. In the U.S., BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI are approved for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAFV600E or BRAFV600K mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test. BRAFTOVI is not indicated for treatment of patients with wild-type BRAF melanoma.

Array has exclusive rights to BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI in the U.S. and Canada. Array has granted Ono Pharmaceutical exclusive rights to commercialize both products in Japan and South Korea, Medison exclusive rights to commercialize both products in Israel and Pierre Fabre exclusive rights to commercialize both products in all other countries, including Europe, Asia and Latin America.

BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI are not approved outside of the U.S. The European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the Swiss Medicines Agency (Swissmedic) and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), are currently reviewing the Marketing Authorization Applications submitted by Pierre Fabre, and Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency has accepted the Manufacturing and Marketing Approval applications submitted by Ono Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd.

Indications and Usage
BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) and MEKTOVI (binimetinib) are kinase inhibitors indicated for use in combination for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAFV600E or BRAFV600K mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Limitations of Use: BRAFTOVI is not indicated for the treatment of patients with wild-type BRAF melanoma.

BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI Important Safety Information
The information below applies to the safety of the combination of BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI unless otherwise noted.

Warnings and Precautions New Primary Malignancies: New primary malignancies, cutaneous and non-cutaneous malignancies can occur. In the COLUMBUS trial, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, including keratoacanthoma, occurred in 2.6% and basal cell carcinoma occurred in 1.6% of patients. Perform dermatologic evaluations prior to initiating treatment, every 2 months during treatment, and for up to 6 months following discontinuation of treatment. Discontinue BRAFTOVI for RAS mutation-positive non-cutaneous malignancies.

Tumor Promotion in BRAF Wild-Type Tumors: Confirm evidence of BRAFV600E or BRAFV600Kmutation prior to initiating BRAFTOVI.

Cardiomyopathy: In the COLUMBUS trial, cardiomyopathy occurred in 7% and Grade 3 left ventricular dysfunction occurred in 1.6% of patients. Cardiomyopathy resolved in 87% of patients. Assess left ventricular ejection fraction by echocardiogram or MUGA scan prior to initiating treatment, 1 month after initiating treatment, and then every 2 to 3 months during treatment. The safety has not been established in patients with a baseline ejection fraction that is either below 50% or below the institutional lower limit of normal.

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): In the COLUMBUS trial, VTE occurred in 6% of patients, including 3.1% of patients who developed pulmonary embolism.

Hemorrhage: In the COLUMBUS trial, hemorrhage occurred in 19% of patients and ≥Grade 3 hemorrhage occurred in 3.2% of patients. Fatal intracranial hemorrhage in the setting of new or progressive brain metastases occurred in 1.6% of patients.

Ocular Toxicities: In the COLUMBUS trial, serous retinopathy occurred in 20% of patients; 8% were retinal detachment and 6% were macular edema. Symptomatic serous retinopathy occurred in 8% of patients with no cases of blindness. In patients with BRAF mutation-positive melanoma across multiple clinical trials, 0.1% of patients experienced retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Permanently discontinue MEKTOVI in patients with documented RVO. In COLUMBUS, uveitis, including iritis and iridocyclitis, was reported in 4% of patients. Assess for visual symptoms at each visit. Perform ophthalmic evaluation at regular intervals and for any visual disturbances.

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): ILD, including pneumonitis, occurred in 0.3% of patients with BRAFmutation-positive melanoma across multiple clinical trials. Assess new or progressive unexplained pulmonary symptoms or findings for possible ILD.

Hepatotoxicity: In the COLUMBUS trial, the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 increases in liver function laboratory tests was 6% for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 2.6% for aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Monitor liver laboratory tests before and during treatment and as clinically indicated.

Rhabdomyolysis: In the COLUMBUS trial, elevation of laboratory values of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) occurred in 58% of patients. Rhabdomyolysis was reported in 0.1% of patients with BRAF mutation-positive melanoma across multiple clinical trials. Monitor CPK periodically and as clinically indicated.

QTc Prolongation: In the COLUMBUS trial, an increase in QTcF to >500 ms was measured in 0.5% (1/192) of patients. Monitor patients who already have or who are at significant risk of developing QTc prolongation. Correct hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia prior to and during BRAFTOVI administration. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue for QTc >500 ms.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: BRAFTOVI or MEKTOVI can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Nonhormonal contraceptives should be used during treatment and for at least 30 days after the final dose for patients taking BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI.

Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions (≥20%, all Grades, in the COLUMBUS trial) were: fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, arthralgia, myopathy, hyperkeratosis, rash, headache, constipation, visual impairment, serous retinopathy.

In the COLUMBUS trial, the most common laboratory abnormalities (≥20%, all Grades) included: increased creatinine, increased CPK, increased gamma glutamyl transferase, anemia, increased ALT, hyperglycemia, increased AST, and increased alkaline phosphatase.

Drug interactions
Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers and sensitive CYP3A4 substrates with BRAFTOVI. Modify BRAFTOVI dose if concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors cannot be avoided.

Please see full Prescribing Information for BRAFTOVI and full Prescribing Information for MEKTOVI for additional information. You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Array at 1-844-Rx-Array (1-844-792-7729).

About COLUMBUS
The COLUMBUS trial (NCT01909453) is a two-part, international, randomized, open label Phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) in combination with MEKTOVI (binimetinib) compared to vemurafenib and encorafenib monotherapy in 921 patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAFV600 mutation. All secondary efficacy analyses, including overall survival, are descriptive in nature. Over 200 sites across North America, Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia participated in the trial.

About Colorectal Cancer
Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and the second most common in women, with approximately 1.4 million new diagnoses in 2012. Globally in 2012, approximately 694,000 deaths were attributed to colorectal cancer. [15] In the U.S. alone, an estimated 140,250 patients will be diagnosed with cancer of the colon or rectum in 2018, and approximately 50,000 are estimated to die of their disease. [16] In the U.S., BRAF mutations are estimated to occur in 10% to 15% of patients with colorectal cancer and represent a poor prognosis for these patients. [7,8,17,18] The risk of mortality in CRC patients with the BRAFV600E mutation is more than two times higher than for those with wild-type BRAF. [19] Several irinotecan and cetuximab-containing regimens, similar to the BEACON CRC control arm, have established clinical activity benchmarks in BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC patients, whose disease has progressed after one or two prior lines of therapy. These benchmarks include ORR of 4% to 8% ,mPFS of 1.8 to 2.5 months and median OS of 4 to 6 months. [3-9]

About BEACON CRC
BEACON CRC is a randomized, open-label, global trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of BRAFTOVI, MEKTOVI and cetuximab in patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC whose disease has progressed after one or two prior regimens. BEACON CRC is the first and only Phase 3 trial designed to test a BRAF/MEK combo targeted therapy in BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC. Thirty patients were treated in the safety lead-in and received the triplet combination (BRAFTOVI 300 mg daily, MEKTOVI 45 mg twice daily and cetuximab per label). Of the 30 patients, 29 had a BRAFV600E mutation. MSI-H, resulting from defective DNA mismatch repair, was detected in only 1 patient. As previously announced, the triplet combination demonstrated good tolerability, supporting initiation of the randomized portion of the trial.

The randomized portion of the BEACON CRC trial is designed to assess the efficacy of BRAFTOVI in combination with cetuximab with or without MEKTOVI compared to cetuximab and irinotecan-based therapy. Approximately 615 patients are expected to be randomized 1:1:1 to receive triplet combination, doublet combination (BRAFTOVI and cetuximab) or the control arm (irinotecan-based therapy and cetuximab). The primary endpoint of the trial is overall survival of the triplet combination compared to the control arm. Secondary endpoints address efficacy of the doublet combination compared to the control arm, and the triplet combination compared to the doublet therapy. Other secondary endpoints include PFS, ORR, duration of response, safety and tolerability. Health related quality of life data will also be assessed. The trial is being conducted at over 200 investigational sites in North America, South America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The BEACON CRC trial is being conducted with support from Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Pierre Fabre and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (support is for sites outside of North America).