CANbridge Pharmaceuticals and Puma Biotechnology Agree to Terminate NERLYNX® License Agreement and Settle Arbitration

On February 25, 2021 CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing drug candidates in China and North Asia, and Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, reported that they have agreed to terminate their 2018 license agreement, in which Puma granted CANbridge exclusive rights to develop and commercialize NERLYNX (neratinib) in Greater China, and to settle their arbitration related to the license agreement (Press release, CANbridge Life Sciences, FEB 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234575693]).

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Simultaneous to the termination of the 2018 license agreement between CANbridge and Puma, Puma has agreed with Pierre Fabre, a global pharmaceutical and healthcare products company, to amend the terms of their 2019 license agreement, which grants Pierre Fabre exclusive rights to develop and commercialize NERLYNX within Europe, Turkey, Middle East and Africa, to also include Greater China, which includes mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. CANbridge and Pierre Fabre have also simultaneously entered into agreements pursuant to which CANbridge will provide Pierre Fabre certain transition services in Greater China and distribute and market NERLYNX for Pierre Fabre in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan until year end 2022, with an option to renew.

Under the terms of the various agreements implementing this transaction among the three companies, Puma will receive an upfront payment of $50 million from Pierre Fabre in consideration for the amendment to their 2019 license agreement, and CANbridge will receive a one-time $20 million termination fee from Puma to return all rights to neratinib in Greater China back to Puma. Finally, Puma has agreed to dismiss the arbitration demand it filed on July 28, 2020 against CANbridge related to the parties’ 2018 license agreement, and as part of the settlement, CANbridge has agreed to dismiss its counterclaims against Puma.

James Xue, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and CEO of CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Inc., said, "We are pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial agreement that also serves patients, as CANbridge shifts its focus to rare disease and rare oncology. We look forward to working closely with Pierre Fabre to continue to bring this important medicine to patients in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau."

Neratinib is approved in the United States for both the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer following adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy and HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer and is marketed in the United States as NERLYNX (neratinib) tablets.

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Up to 20% of patients with breast cancer tumors over-express the HER2 protein (HER2-positive disease) and in the ExteNET study, 57% of patients were found to have tumors that were hormone-receptor positive. HER2-positive breast cancer is often more aggressive than other types of breast cancer, increasing the risk of disease progression and death. Although research has shown that trastuzumab can reduce the risk of early stage HER2-positive breast cancer recurring, up to 25% of patients treated with trastuzumab experience recurrence within 10 years, the majority of which are metastatic recurrences.

Quanterix’ Kevin Hrusovsky to Present at the Cowen 41st Annual Health Care Conference on March 3 and Appear on the Feb. 26 Episode of the Health Care Rounds Podcast

On February 25, 2021 Quanterix Corporation (NASDAQ:QTRX), a company digitizing biomarker analysis to advance the science of precision health, reported that Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Kevin Hrusovsky, will be delivering a virtual presentation at the Cowen 41st Annual Health Care Conference on Wednesday, March 3, at 11:00 a.m. EST (Press release, Quanterix, FEB 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234575692]).

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Attendees can access the public webcast at https://wsw.com/webcast/cowen81/qtrx/2002443 or by visiting the News & Events page within the Investors section of the Quanterix website at View Source Replays of the webcast will be available on the Quanterix website for 90 days following the conference.

Additionally, Hrusovsky will appear on the Feb. 26 episode of the Health Care Rounds Podcast, a weekly podcast for health care leaders at the forefront of delivery and reform. The episode, "Rebuilding Public Trust in Health Care with Kevin Hrusovsky," will discuss precision health and its role in helping to rebuild public trust amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The episode will air at 12 noon EST and be available on demand at View Source or through podcast providers, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podcast Addict, Google Play and YouTube.

Puma Biotechnology and Pierre Fabre Amend NERLYNX® License Agreement to Include Greater China

On February 25, 2021 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, and Pierre Fabre, a leading French pharmaceutical company, reported that they have agreed to extend the terms of the 2019 license agreement which grants Pierre Fabre exclusive rights to develop and commercialize NERLYNX (neratinib) within Europe, Turkey, Middle East and Africa (Press release, Puma Biotechnology, FEB 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234575691]). The amended agreement extends Pierre Fabre’s commercial rights for NERLYNX to Greater China, which includes mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

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Under the terms of the amendment, Puma will receive an upfront payment of $50 million, as well as additional regulatory and sales-based milestone payments that could add up to an additional $240 million. These milestones will be based solely on regulatory and sales achievements in Greater China. In addition, Puma will receive significant double-digit tiered royalties on the sales of NERLYNX in Greater China.

Concomitantly, Puma and CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing drug candidates in China and North Asia, have mutually agreed to terminate the license agreement to commercialize NERLYNX (neratinib) in Greater China. Puma has agreed to pay CANbridge a one-time termination fee of $20 million to return all rights to neratinib in Greater China back to Puma. Additionally, Puma has agreed to dismiss the arbitration demand it filed on July 28, 2020 against CANbridge related to the parties’ 2018 license agreement, and as part of the settlement, CANbridge has agreed to dismiss its counterclaims against Puma. Such settlement is limited to claims that arose in arbitration, or could have been raised in arbitration, as well as claims arising under the to be terminated license agreement.

Alan H. Auerbach, Chief Executive Officer and President of Puma, said, "We are pleased to extend our collaboration with Pierre Fabre into the Greater China region. Pierre Fabre is well equipped with existing infrastructure to make NERLYNX a success in mainland China and Pierre Fabre plans to make NERLYNX available to breast cancer patients in mainland China in the second quarter of this year."

"We are excited about the opportunity to provide NERLYNX to Chinese patients with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer," said Jean-Luc Lowinsky, Chief Executive Officer, Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals. "Our oncology team based in Shanghai is fully committed to start the commercialization of NERLYNX, which perfectly complements our existing NAVELBINE chemotherapy in breast and lung cancers."

Neratinib is approved in the United States for both the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer following adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy and for adult patients with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer in combination with capecitabine in patients who have received two or more prior anti-HER2 based regimens and is marketed in the United States as NERLYNX (neratinib) tablets.

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Up to 20% of patients with breast cancer tumors over-express the HER2 protein (HER2-positive disease) and in the ExteNET study, 57% of patients were found to have tumors that were hormone-receptor positive. HER2-positive breast cancer is often more aggressive than other types of breast cancer, increasing the risk of disease progression and death. Although research has shown that trastuzumab can reduce the risk of early stage HER2-positive breast cancer recurring, up to 25% of patients treated with trastuzumab experience recurrence within 10 years, the majority of which are metastatic recurrences.

Puma Biotechnology Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results

On February 25, 2021 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, Puma Biotechnology, FEB 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234575690]). Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are for the fourth quarter and full year 2020, compared to the fourth quarter and full year 2019 .

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Product revenue, net consists entirely of sales revenue from NERLYNX, Puma’s first commercial product. Net NERLYNX revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $50.0 million, compared to $58.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Net NERLYNX revenue for the full year 2020 was $196.7 million, compared to $211.6 million for the full year 2019.

Based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), Puma reported a net loss of $15.0 million, or $0.38 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to a net loss of $11.2 million, or $0.29 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2019. Net loss for the full year 2020 was $60.0 million, or $1.52 per share, compared to $75.6 million, or $1.95 per share, for the full year 2019.

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss was $5.5 million, or $0.14 per basic and diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net income of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss for the full year 2020 was $23.4 million, or $0.59 per share, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $18.3 million, or $0.47 per share, for the full year 2019. Non-GAAP adjusted net (loss) income excludes stock-based compensation expense. For a reconciliation of GAAP net loss to non-GAAP adjusted net (loss) income and GAAP net loss per share to non-GAAP adjusted net (loss) income per share, please see the financial tables at the end of this news release.

Net cash used in operating activities for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $5.6 million, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $1.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Net cash provided by operating activities for the full year 2020 was $0.8 million, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $22.4 million for the full year 2019. At December 31, 2020, Puma had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $93.4 million, compared to $111.6 million at December 31, 2019.

"During the fourth quarter of 2020 Puma continued to be negatively impacted by the challenges of COVID-19; however, we were pleased to be able to achieve NERLYNX revenues that were within the previously stated guidance," said Alan H. Auerbach, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Puma. "Our year concluded with a number of positive clinical milestones for the Company, including the publication of ExteNET data in Clinical Breast Cancer, a research collaboration with NCCN Oncology, the announcement of interim SUMMIT data in exon 18 mutated non-small cell lung cancer, and the presentation of neratinib data at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium across multiple spotlight and traditional poster presentations. Although we anticipate that COVID-19 may continue to impact our operations in 2021, we remain focused on and committed to providing support to patients battling breast cancer."

Mr. Auerbach added, "We anticipate the following key milestones over the next 12 months: (i) completing enrollment in the randomized cohort in the Phase II SUMMIT trial of neratinib in hormone receptor positive breast cancer that has a HER2 mutation in the second quarter of 2021; (ii) reporting top line data from the randomized cohort in the Phase II SUMMIT trial of neratinib in hormone receptor positive breast cancer that has a HER2 mutation in 2021; (iii) conducting a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA to discuss accelerated approval of neratinib in HER2-mutated hormone receptor positive breast cancer and HER2-mutated cervical cancer in 2021; (iv) reporting Phase II data from the SUMMIT trial of neratinib in non-small cell lung cancer patients with EGFR exon 18 mutations in the second half of 2021; (v) reporting data from the Phase II TBCRC-022 trial of the combination of Kadcyla plus neratinib in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer with brain metastases who have previously been treated with Kadcyla in the second half of 2021; (vi) conducting a meeting with the FDA to discuss the potential for an accelerated approval pathway for neratinib in non-small cell lung cancer patients with EGFR exon 18 mutations who have been previously treated with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor in 2021; and (vii) receiving regulatory decisions for the extended adjuvant HER2-positive early stage breast cancer indication in additional countries in 2021."

Revenue

Total revenue consists of product revenue, net from sales of NERLYNX, license revenue and royalty revenue. For the fourth quarter of 2020, total revenue was $52.6 million, of which $50.0 million was net product revenue and $2.6 million was royalty revenue from Puma’s sub-licensees. This compares to total revenue of $62.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, of which $58.7 million was net product revenue, $4.0 million was license revenue, and $0.2 million was royalty revenue from Puma’s sub-licensees. For the year ended December 31, 2020, total revenue was $225.1 million, of which $196.7 million was net product revenue, $22.7 million was license revenue, and $5.7 million was royalty revenue from Puma’s sub-licensees. This compares to total revenue of $272.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, of which $211.6 million was net product revenue, $60.3 million was license revenue, and $0.4 million was royalty revenue from Puma’s sub-licensees.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Total operating costs and expenses were $63.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $71.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Total operating costs and expenses were $255.5 million for the full year 2020, compared to $311.3 million for the full year 2019.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales was $10.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $39.4 million for the full year 2020, compared to $10.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 and $36.8 million for the full year 2019. The increase in cost of sales was primarily attributable to increased royalty expense due to the increase in royalty revenue and an increase in the amortization of the intangible asset related to the milestone payments made to Pfizer.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $28.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $31.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the full year 2020 were $118.4 million, compared to $141.6 million for the full year 2019. The $23.2 million year-over-year decrease resulted primarily from decreases in stock-based compensation expense of approximately $10.1 million, professional fees of approximately $6.1 million, travel and meeting costs of approximately $6.3 million, and impairment loss of approximately $1.2 million, offset by an increase in credit loss expense of $1.0 million.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses were $24.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $30.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Research and development expenses for the full year 2020 were $97.7 million, compared to $132.9 million for the full year 2019. The $35.2 million year-over-year decrease resulted primarily from decreases in stock-based compensation expense of approximately $10.6 million, internal R&D expenses of approximately $0.9 million, clinical trial expenses of approximately $20.1 million, and consultant and contractor expenses of approximately $3.6 million.

Total Other Income (Expenses)

Total other expenses were $3.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to total other expenses of $2.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Total other expenses were $29.4 million for the full year 2020, compared to total other expenses of $36.5 million for the full year 2019. The $7.1 million year-over-year decrease resulted primarily from decreases in interest expense of approximately $0.9 million and debt extinguishment loss of approximately $8.1 million, offset by a decrease in interest income of approximately $2.3 million.

Conference Call

Puma Biotechnology will host a conference call to report its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results and provide an update on the Company’s business and outlook at 1:30 p.m. PST/4:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 25, 2021. The call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-709-8150 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8354 (international). Please dial in at least 10 minutes in advance and inform the operator that you would like to join the "Puma Biotechnology Conference Call." A live webcast of the conference call and presentation slides may be accessed on the Investors section of the Puma Biotechnology website at View Source A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after completion of the call and will be archived on Puma’s website for 90 days.

Kezar Life Sciences to Participate at Cowen 41st Annual Virtual Health Care Conference

On February 25, 2021 Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:KZR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for immune-mediated and oncologic disorders, reported its Chief Executive Officer, John Fowler, will participate in the "Autoimmune/Complement" panel discussion at the Cowen 41st Annual Virtual Health Care Conference on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 11:40am EST (Press release, Kezar Life Sciences, FEB 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234575689]). The panel discussion will be available to live conference attendees.

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