On November 12, 2020 Celyad Oncology SA (Euronext & Nasdaq: CYAD), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapies for cancer, reported an update on its operational developments for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020 (Press release, Celyad, NOV 12, 2020, View Source [SID1234570780]).
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"We are pleased with the continued momentum seen across our allogeneic clinical programs over the past few months," commented Filippo Petti, Chief Executive Officer of Celyad Oncology. "Major milestones during third quarter 2020 include expanding the CYAD-101 clinical program for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer through our recent clinical trial agreement with MSD to conduct the KEYNOTE-B79 study which will evaluate the potential synergy of pairing CYAD-101 with KEYTRUDA. We are also steadily progressing towards the initiation of the Phase 1 IMMUNICY-1 study by end of year for our anti-BCMA shRNA-based candidate CYAD-211 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. In addition, upcoming data from our autologous NKG2D receptor-based CAR T candidates, which we plan to announce at the annual ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) congress, will help guide next steps for our AML franchise."
Third Quarter 2020 and Recent Business Highlights
Announced plans to conduct a Phase 1b KEYNOTE-B79 clinical study of non-gene edited allogeneic CAR T therapy CYAD-101 following FOLFIRI (combination of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan) preconditioning chemotherapy, with MSD’s, a tradename of Merck, antiPD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) / mismatch-repair proficient (pMMR) disease.
Hosted a Research & Development webinar for investors and analysts on September 29th, with a replay currently available on the Events page of the Company’s website. Topics covered during the event included:
Presentation by Dr. Richard Kim, M.D., Professor of Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, on the immuno-oncology and treatment landscapes for mCRC and,
Overview of Celyad Oncology’s candidate CYAD-101 for mCRC and CYAD-211 for relapsed / refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM), and the company’s short hairpin RNA (shRNA) platform and All-in-One vector approach.
Announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application and approval of the Clinical Trial Application (CTA) by the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) of Belgium for the Company’s lead shRNA-based allogeneic candidate CYAD-211, clearing the way to initiate the Phase 1 IMMUNICY-1 clinical trial by the end of 2020.
Established an Open Market Sale AgreementSM with Jefferies LLC, pursuant to which the Company may from time to time sell through "an at the market offering" up to $25,000,000 of new American Depositary Shares.
Third Quarter 2020 Financial Review
As of September 30, 2020, the Company ended the quarter with a treasury position of €20.0 million ($23.4 million). Net cash burn during the third quarter of 2020 amounted to €6.7 million ($7.8 million), in line with expectations. The Company confirms its previous guidance that its existing treasury position should be sufficient, based on the current scope of activities, to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2021.
Update on Clinical and Preclinical Programs
CYAD-101 – Allogeneic TIM-based, NKG2D receptor-based CAR T for mCRC
Celyad Oncology’s first-in-class, non-gene edited clinical candidate CYAD-101 continues to advance in the alloSHRINK Phase 1 trial for the treatment of mCRC. CYAD-101 co-expresses the NKG2D receptor and the novel inhibitory peptide TIM (TCR Inhibitory Molecule), whose expression reduces signaling of the TCR complex by interfering with the CD3ζ component of the TCR complex. The Company plans to initiate the expansion cohort of the alloSHRINK trial which will evaluate CYAD-101 following FOLFIRI preconditioning chemotherapy in refractory mCRC patients, at the recommended dose of one billion cells per infusion. Enrollment in this expansion cohort is expected to start by year-end 2020.
Planning is also ongoing to initiate the Phase 1b KEYNOTE-B79 study of CYAD-101, following FOLFIRI preconditioning chemotherapy, with MSD’s KEYTRUDA in refractory mCRC patients with MSS / pMMR disease during the first half of 2021. The Company believes the mechanism of actions between CYAD-101 and KEYTRUDA are highly complementary and could help to drive meaningful clinical benefit in patients with advanced mCRC.
CYAD-211 – Allogeneic shRNA-based, anti-BCMA CAR T for r/r MM
CYAD-211 is an investigational, short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-based allogeneic CAR T candidate for the treatment of r/r MM. CYAD-211 is engineered to co-express a BCMA-targeting chimeric antigen receptor and a single shRNA, which interferes with the expression of the CD3ζ component of the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex. In July 2020, Celyad Oncology announced FDA clearance of its IND application for CYAD-211 and subsequently received CTA approval for CYAD-211 by the FAMHP. The Company plans to initiate the Phase 1 IMMUNICY-1 trial evaluating CYAD-211 following preconditioning chemotherapy in r/r MM by year-end 2020.
CYAD-01 – Autologous NKG2D receptor-based CAR T for r/r AML and MDS
The Company’s first-in-class NKG2D receptor-based CAR T clinical candidate CYAD-01 continues to advance in the ongoing Phase 1 THINK trial for the treatment of patients with r/r acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The Company is scheduled to announce preliminary data from CYAD-01 produced with the OptimAb manufacturing process from the expansion cohort of the Phase 1 THINK trial at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) conference in December 2020.
CYAD-02 – Next-Generation Autologous NKG2D receptor-based CAR T for r/r AML and MDS
CYAD-02 is an investigational CAR T therapy that engineers an All-in-One vector approach in patient’s T cells to express the NKG2D receptor CAR and shRNA to knockdown the expression of NKG2D ligands MICA and MICB on the CAR T cells. The Company is currently conducting the Phase 1 dose-escalation CYCLE-1 trial evaluating CYAD-02 for the treatment of r/r AML and MDS. During the third quarter, the Company initiated the third dose cohort of the trial. The CYCLE-1 trial is assessing the safety and clinical activity of a single infusion of CYAD-02 produced with the OptimAb manufacturing process following preconditioning chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. Preliminary data from CYCLE-1 trial are expected at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) conference in December 2020.
Upcoming Milestones
Plan to begin enrollment in the expansion cohort of the Phase 1 alloSHRINK trial evaluating CYAD-101 following FOLFIRI preconditioning chemotherapy in refractory mCRC patients by year-end 2020.
Expect to initiate the dose-escalation Phase 1 IMMUNICY-1 trial evaluating CYAD-211 in r/r MM by year-end 2020.
Expect to initiate the Phase 1b KEYNOTE-B79 clinical study of CYAD-101 following FOLFIRI preconditioning chemotherapy, with KEYTRUDA in refractory mCRC patients in first half of 2021.
Three abstracts accepted for presentation at the annual ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Meeting & Exposition, being held December 5–8, including:
Poster presentation of the Company’s anti-BCMA allogeneic CAR T candidate, CYAD-211
Poster presentations of the Company’s autologous NKG2D receptor-based CAR T candidates, CYAD-01 and CYAD-02
Upcoming Conferences
Celyad Oncology’s management team is scheduled to participate in the following conferences during the remainder of 2020:
Bryan, Garnier & Co. Virtual European Healthcare Conference, November 16, 2020
Jefferies Virtual London Healthcare Conference, November 17, 2020
SVB Leerink Oncology 1×1 Day, November 19, 2020
62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting & Exposition, December 5 – 8, 2020