On November 6, 2020 SCYNEXIS, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCYX), a biotechnology company pioneering innovative medicines to potentially overcome and prevent difficult-to-treat and drug-resistant infections, reported financial results for the third quarter ended on September 30, 2020 and provided an update on recent clinical and corporate developments.
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"We submitted our NDA for ibrexafungerp for the treatment of vaginal yeast infections ahead of schedule and, with approval anticipated in mid-2021, we continue to progress towards our transition into a fully integrated commercial-stage antifungal company with an initial focus on women’s health," said Marco Taglietti, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of SCYNEXIS. "In parallel, we are also advancing clinical trials evaluating ibrexafungerp’s potential to treat invasive fungal infections in the hospital setting, with additional data read-outs expected in 2021."
Ibrexafungerp Update
SCYNEXIS recently announced the submission of its NDA to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral ibrexafungerp for the treatment of VVC, also known as vaginal yeast infection. The submission occurred in October and SCYNEXIS expects to receive FDA feedback on the acceptability of this submission in December. As a qualified infectious disease product (QIDP), ibrexafungerp is expected to receive a six-month priority review following NDA acceptance with a PDUFA date anticipated in mid-2021.
Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 3 CANDLE study, investigating the efficacy and safety of oral ibrexafungerp for the prevention of recurrent VVC, for which there is no approved therapy in the U.S. Pending successful completion of this trial, SCYNEXIS anticipates top-line results and the submission of a supplemental NDA for this indication in the second half of 2021.
Enrollment is ongoing in our refractory invasive fungal infections (rIFI) program, which comprises two open-label Phase 3 studies (FURI and CARES). Similar to the two interim analyses of previously reported data, SCYNEXIS intends to analyze the outcomes from the next cohort of patients that have completed their treatment course in both FURI and CARES studies and announce these findings when available.
Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 2 SCYNERGIA study for patients with invasive aspergillosis evaluating oral ibrexafungerp in combination with voriconazole. Top-line data from this study are expected in the second half of 2021.
Pre-clinical activities are also ongoing towards the development of a liposomal intravenous formulation of ibrexafungerp.
Data presentations. In October 2020, SCYNEXIS presented ibrexafungerp data at two scientific conferences. The first was the Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) held virtually on October 15-17, where SCYNEXIS showcased in vitro activity of ibrexafungerp against fluconazole-susceptible and -resistant Candida species, as well as data from the Phase 3 VANISH-303 trial in VVC. The second October conference was IDWeek 2020 held virtually on October 21-25. At this conference SCYNEXIS presented an interim analysis from its ongoing Phase 3 FURI trial in refractory infections and pre-clinical data highlighting the potential for ibrexafungerp use in invasive fungal infections. In August 2020, SCYNEXIS presented its full data set from the Phase 3 VANISH-303 VVC trial at the Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology (IDSOG). Some of the posters presented are available here.
Corporate Developments
On July 17, 2020, SCYNEXIS executed a 1-for-10 reverse split of its issued and outstanding common stock.
Third Quarter Financial Results
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $29.5 million as of September 30, 2020, compared to $48.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at December 31, 2019.
Research and development expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 decreased to $8.0 million from $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease of $1.2 million, or 13%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020, was primarily driven by a decrease of $2.0 million in clinical development expense, and a decrease of $0.5 million in preclinical expense, offset in part by an increase in regulatory expense of $0.6 million, an increase of $0.3 million in chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) expense, and a net increase in other research and development expense of $0.4 million.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 increased to $3.5 million from $2.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. The increase of $1.0 million, or 40%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily driven by a $0.8 million increase in professional fees and commercial related expenses recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2020.
Total other income was $12.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, compared to total other income of $3.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. During the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, SCYNEXIS recognized non-cash gains of $7.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively, on the fair value adjustment of the warrant liabilities and during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, recognized non-cash gains of $5.3 million and $2.3 million on the fair value adjustment of the derivative liabilities, respectively.
Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was $0.9 million, or $0.09 per basic and ($0.28) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $7.9 million, or ($1.43) per basic and ($1.45) per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.
About Ibrexafungerp
Ibrexafungerp [pronounced eye-BREX-ah-FUN-jerp] is an investigational antifungal agent and the first representative of a novel class of structurally-distinct glucan synthase inhibitors, triterpenoids. This agent combines the well-established activity of glucan synthase inhibitors with the potential flexibility of having oral and intravenous (IV) formulations. Ibrexafungerp is currently in development for the treatment of fungal infections caused primarily by Candida (including C. auris) and Aspergillus species. It has demonstrated broad-spectrum antifungal activity, in vitro and in vivo, against multidrug-resistant pathogens, including azole- and echinocandin-resistant strains. The FDA has granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast Track designations for the formulations of ibrexafungerp for the indications of invasive candidiasis (IC) (including candidemia), invasive aspergillosis (IA) and VVC, and has granted Orphan Drug Designation for the IC and IA indications. Ibrexafungerp is formerly known as SCY-078. (Press release, Scynexis, NOV 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234570270])