Palatin Technologies, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights

On February 17, 2021 Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: PTN), a specialized biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the activity of the melanocortin and natriuretic peptide receptor systems, reported results for its second quarter ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, Palatin Technologies, FEB 17, 2021, View Source [SID1234575181]).

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Second Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 Financial Highlights

Net loss for the quarter was $(10.0) million, or $(0.04) per share, compared to a net loss of $(5.2) million, or $(0.02) per share for the comparable quarter of 2019;
The increase in net loss was primarily attributable to commercial expenses related to Vyleesi and to PL9643’s Phase 2 study for the treatment of dry eye disease.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $72.2 million in cash and cash equivalents and $4.7 million in accounts receivable, compared to $82.9 million in cash and cash equivalents and no accounts receivable as of June 30, 2020, with no outstanding debt.
Business Highlights and Updates

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) / Vyleesi (bremelanotide injection)
Vyleesi gross sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 amounted to $943,950. Vyleesi product revenue was $(163,971), net of allowances and accruals. Vyleesi gross sales for the period July 25 to September 30 amounted to $809,100. Vyleesi product revenue was $(288,560), net of allowances and accruals;
Restructured the distribution network and procedures improving the patient experience; expanded contact with prescribers and healthcare providers through virtual meetings; increased insurance reimbursement coverage; and initiated a highly selective digital marketing and telemedicine campaign to rebuild awareness and demand among pre-menopausal women with a geo-targeting approach.
Anti-Inflammatory / Autoimmune Programs
Announced positive results in its Phase 2 study of PL9643 for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED);
Announced statistically significant improvements in multiple signs and symptoms in the moderate to severe patient population after 2 weeks of dosing and at the 12-week visit.
There were no safety signals identified and PL9643 had excellent ocular tolerability.
Statistical significance for the primary endpoints was not reached in the overall enrolled population that included mild, moderate, and severe patients, as measured at the 12-week primary evaluation visit.
A Phase 2/3 Clinical trial with PL9643 for the treatment of DED is currently planned for mid-calendar year 2021;
Filed an international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) directed to the composition of PL9643 and a related family of melanocortin agonist peptides; and
A Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical study with an oral formulation of PL8177 in ulcerative colitis patients is targeted to start mid-calendar year 2021, with data readout potentially in mid-calendar year 2022.
"Working through the melanocortin system, PL9643 is a novel approach to treating dry eye disease. The emerging profile of PL9643, with its rapid therapeutic onset and excellent tolerability profile, is a potentially distinct advance in dry eye therapy," stated Carl Spana, Ph.D., President and CEO of Palatin. "The positive PL9643 Phase 2 study results identify the most appropriate patient population, endpoints, and timepoints for the next study, which is a Phase 2/3 study targeted for mid-calendar year 2021, with data readout in the first half of calendar year 2022. Regarding Vyleesi, our measured plan and investment is showing positive trends and returns with a significant rise in payer reimbursement and double-digit increases to month over month prescription numbers continuing through January 2021."

Conference Call / Webcast

Palatin will host a conference call and audio webcast on February 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the quarter ended December 31, 2020 results of operations in greater detail and provide an update on corporate developments. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call live can dial 1-866-248-8441 (US/Canada) or 1-856-344-9206 (international), conference ID 2203098. The audio webcast and replay can be accessed by logging on to the "Investor/Webcasts" section of Palatin’s website at View Source A telephone and audio webcast replay will be available approximately one hour after the completion of the call. To access the telephone replay, dial 1-888-203-1112 (US/Canada) or 1-719-457-0820 (international), passcode 2203098. The webcast and telephone replay will be available through February 24, 2021.

Mersana Therapeutics to Participate in the SVB Leerink 10th Annual Global Healthcare Conference

On February 17, 2021 Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRSN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing a pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting cancers in areas of high unmet medical need, reported that the Company’s management team will participate in a fireside chat on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. ET at the SVB Leerink 10th Annual Global Healthcare Conference (Press release, Mersana Therapeutics, FEB 17, 2021, View Source [SID1234575179]).

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A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the Investors & Media section of Mersana’s website at www.mersana.com. An archived replay will be available for approximately 90-days following the presentation.

Blueprint Medicines Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

On February 17, 2021 Blueprint Medicines Corporation (NASDAQ:BPMC) reported financial results and provided a business update for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, Blueprint Medicines, FEB 17, 2021, View Source,year%20ended%20December%2031%2C%202020 [SID1234575178]).

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"Last year was transformational for Blueprint Medicines, with four regulatory approvals in the United States and Europe, as we executed on our foundational mission of delivering innovative precision medicines to patients globally," said Jeff Albers, Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Medicines. "In 2021, as we accelerate ongoing efforts to drive the global adoption of AYVAKIT and GAVRETO, we look forward to a potential U.S. approval for AYVAKIT for the most advanced and deadly form of systemic mastocytosis for which no other precision medicines are currently available. We also continue to focus on our next wave of therapeutic candidates, including our two EGFR inhibitors, which we anticipate will enter the clinic this year with the goal of achieving rapid clinical proof-of-concept. In addition, we continue to expand our research pipeline with new assets that leverage our kinase inhibition expertise, and today, we are excited to announce our newest research program that selectively targets CDK2, a kinase involved in driving multiple cancers."

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights and Recent Progress

AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT (avapritinib): systemic mastocytosis (SM)

Today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted our supplemental new drug application for AYVAKIT for advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM). The FDA granted priority review and set an action date of June 16, 2021 under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act.
Today announced the submission of a Type II variation marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency for AYVAKYT for the treatment of adult patients with advanced SM.
Received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe indolent SM, which encompasses the majority of patients with SM. Avapritinib has also previously received breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of patients with advanced SM.
Presented new data at the virtual 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting highlighting new proposed response criteria for advanced SM, the potential of highly sensitive droplet digital PCR-based KIT D816V testing to accelerate diagnosis across the spectrum of SM, and data from patients and healthcare providers characterizing the significant disease burden across the full spectrum of SM. Read the press release here.
AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT (avapritinib): gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)

Recorded $6.0 million in net product revenue during the fourth quarter of 2020 for AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT, which was approved by the FDA in January 2020 for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic GIST harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation, including PDGFRA D842V mutations, and by the European Commission in September 2020 for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic GIST harboring the PDGFRA D842V mutation.
GAVRETO (pralsetinib): RET-altered cancers

Recorded $0.7 million in net product revenue during the fourth quarter of 2020 for GAVRETO, which was approved by the FDA in September 2020 for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as detected by an FDA approved test and in December 2020 for the treatment of patients 12 years of age and older with advanced or metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) and RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer. Blueprint Medicines is commercializing GAVRETO in the U.S. together with Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group. Read the press release announcing the expansion of the FDA label for GAVRETO into RET-mutant MTC and RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer here.
BLU-263: systemic mastocytosis

Reported positive top-line results from a Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers, showing that BLU-263 was well-tolerated across a range of single- and multiple-ascending doses predicted to potently inhibit D816V mutant KIT, the underlying SM disease driver.
Research Portfolio:

Today announced a highly selective and potent research program with best-in-class potential targeting CDK2. CDK2, a cyclin-dependent kinase involved in cell cycle biology, is activated by its regulatory partner Cyclin E, and can drive cancer cell proliferation when Cyclin E is aberrantly expressed. Dysregulated Cyclin E is associated with multiple malignancies and has been shown to be a mechanism of resistance to targeted therapies, including CDK4/6 inhibitors.
Nominated BLU-701, a potential first-in-class, selective, brain-penetrant development candidate for treatment-resistant double-mutant EGFR-driven NSCLC.
Nominated a potential best-in-class development candidate targeting MAP4K1, a kinase believed to play a role in T-cell regulation, under the company’s cancer immunotherapy collaboration with Roche.
Corporate:

Announced leadership transitions for the company’s research and development organization, including the promotion of Becker Hewes, M.D. to Chief Medical Officer, effective January 11, 2021.
Key Upcoming Milestones

The company plans to achieve the following milestones by mid-2021:

Provide portfolio updates across clinical and research programs at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2021 Annual Meeting.
Obtain regulatory approval from the European Commission and launch GAVRETO in RET fusion-positive NSCLC in Europe in the first half of 2021, under the ongoing global collaboration with Roche.
Initiate a Phase 1 trial of BLU-945, a triple-mutant EGFR inhibitor, in patients with treatment-resistant EGFR-driven NSCLC in the first half of 2021.
Obtain FDA approval and launch AYVAKIT in advanced SM in the U.S. in the first half of 2021.
Complete enrollment of the registration-enabling Part 2 of the PIONEER trial of AYVAKIT in non-advanced SM in mid-2021.
Initiate the Phase 2 HARBOR trial of BLU-263, a next-generation KIT inhibitor, in patients with non-advanced SM in mid-2021.
Fourth Quarter and Year End 2020 Financial Results

Revenues: Revenues were $34.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, including $6.0 million of net product revenues from sales of AYVAKIT, $0.7 million of net product revenues from sales of GAVRETO and $27.4 million in collaboration revenues. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $793.7 million, including $21.2 million of net product revenues from sales of AYVAKIT, $0.9 million of net product revenues from sales of GAVRETO and $771.6 million in collaboration revenues. Blueprint Medicines recorded $51.5 million and $66.5 million in collaboration revenues in the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, respectively.
Cost of Sales: Cost of sales was $0.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Blueprint Medicines did not incur cost of sales in the fourth quarter or year ended December 31, 2019, as no product sales were generated during that period.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $77.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $326.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to $88.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 and $331.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This decrease was primarily due to reimbursement from the global development cost sharing arrangement under the collaboration with Roche for pralsetinib. Research and development expenses included $8.5 million in stock-based compensation expenses for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $33.6 million in stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2020.
SG&A Expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $42.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $157.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to $32.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 and $96.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase was primarily due to increased costs and personnel expenses associated with building Blueprint Medicines’ commercial infrastructure for AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT and GAVRETO, partially offset by reimbursement under the collaboration with Roche for pralsetinib in connection with the commercialization of GAVRETO in the U.S.. Selling, general and administrative expenses included $11.0 million in stock-based compensation expenses for the fourth quarter of 2020 and $41.9 million in stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Net Income (Loss): Net loss was $85.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 and net income was $313.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, or a diluted net loss per share of $1.53 and diluted net income per share of $5.59, respectively, as compared to a net loss of $66.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 and a net loss of $347.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, or a diluted net loss per share of $1.35 and $7.27, respectively.
Cash Position: As of December 31, 2020, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $1,549.7 million, as compared to $548.0 million as of December 31, 2019. This increase was primarily related to upfront payments of $775.0 million received in the third quarter of 2020 under Blueprint Medicines’ collaboration with Roche for pralsetinib, $308.4 million in net proceeds received from Blueprint Medicines’ January 2020 follow-on underwritten public offering and $194.7 million in net proceeds received in the fourth quarter of 2020 from Blueprint Medicines’ "at the market" stock offering program, partially offset by cash used in operating activities.
Conference Call Information

Blueprint Medicines will host a live conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET today to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results and recent business activities. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (855) 728-4793 (domestic) or (503) 343-6666 (international), and referring to conference ID 4844138. A webcast of the call will be available under "Events and Presentations" in the Investors & Media section of the Blueprint Medicines website at View Source The archived webcast will be available on Blueprint Medicines’ website approximately two hours after the conference call and will be available for 30 days following the call.

Upcoming Investor Conferences

Blueprint Medicines will participate in three upcoming investor conferences:

10th Annual SVB Leerink Global Healthcare Conference on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 11:20 a.m. ET.
Cowen 41st Annual Health Care Conference on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 3:20 p.m. ET.
Barclays Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 9:10 a.m. ET.
A live webcast of each presentation will be available by visiting the Investors & Media section of Blueprint Medicines’ website at View Source A replay of the webcasts will be archived on Blueprint Medicines’ website for 30 days following each presentation.

Vincerx Pharma to Participate in the 10th Annual SVB Leerink Global Healthcare Conference

On February 17, 2021 Vincerx Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: VINC), a biopharmaceutical company aspiring to address the unmet medical needs of patients with cancer through paradigm-shifting therapeutics, reported that Vincerx’s Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Hamdy, M.D., and Chief Financial Officer, Alex Seelenberger, will present a corporate overview at the virtual SVB Leerink 10th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on Friday, February 26, 2021 (Press release, Vincerx Pharma, FEB 17, 2021, View Source [SID1234575177]).

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Vincerx Presentation Details

Date: Friday, February 26, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time

Webcast: Webcast: View Source
The presentation will be webcast live and archived for 90 days in the Investors section of the Company’s website.

CytomX Therapeutics to Announce Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results on February 24, 2021

On February 17, 2021 CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTMX), a clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company pioneering a novel class of investigational conditionally-active antibody therapeutics based on its Probody technology platform, reported that it will report fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, after the close of U.S. markets (Press release, CytomX Therapeutics, FEB 17, 2021, View Source [SID1234575176]). Following the announcement, the Company will host a conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT to discuss the results and provide a corporate update.

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Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

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Participants may access the live webcast of the conference call from the Events and Presentations page of CytomX’s website at www.cytomx.com. An archived replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website until March 3, 2021.