On November 18, 2021 BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX) (TASE: BLRX), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, reported its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and provides a corporate update (Press release, BioLineRx, NOV 18, 2021, View Source [SID1234595792]).
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Significant events and achievements during the third quarter 2021 and subsequent period:
Announced statistically significant positive results from a pharmacoeconomic cost effectiveness study supporting Motixafortide’s use as the new standard-of-care and primary mobilization agent (in combination with G-CSF) in stem cell mobilization (SCM). The study demonstrated substantial clinical benefits and cost savings in favor of Motixafortide from a significantly higher number of mobilized cells, reduced numbers of apheresis sessions and reduced doses of G-CSF;
Announced acceptance of an oral presentation, as well as three poster presentations, at the 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting & Exposition, which is taking place December 11-14. The presentations, which include an oral presentation describing the highly significant and clinically meaningful results from the Company’s GENESIS Phase 3 clinical trial in stem cell mobilization (SCM), reflect the versatility of Motixafortide as the backbone of promising new treatments for both hematological and solid tumor cancers;
Finalized preparations for a pre-NDA meeting with FDA, which is set for mid-December;
Proceeded with activities in support of a New Drug Application (NDA) submission in stem cell mobilization planned for the first half of 2022;
Ended the third quarter on a solid financial footing, with cash and cash equivalents of $62.2 million.
"The key highlight since our last quarterly update was the statistically significant positive results from a pharmacoeconomic study of Motixafortide in stem cell mobilization for multiple myeloma patients," stated Philip Serlin, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. "The study demonstrated that use of Motixafortide on top of G-CSF resulted in a net cost savings of $17,000 per patient, not including the cost of Motixafortide, driven by fewer doses of G-CSF and a reduction in the number of apheresis sessions and related costs, versus G-CSF alone. These cost savings should leave substantial room in the future to optimize our pricing strategy for Motixafortide at product launch and thereafter, if approved.
"These results, together with the overwhelmingly positive results from our GENESIS Phase 3 study, which showed that almost 90% of patients collected an optimal number of cells for transplantation following a single administration of Motixafortide and in only one apheresis session, strongly support our view that Motixafortide, in combination with G-CSF, can become the new standard of care in SCM as an upfront, or primary, therapy for all multiple myeloma patients. If approved, this represents a significant advancement in SCM to the benefit of patients and payers alike and, to that end, we plan to submit an NDA to the FDA in the first half of next year.
"Our significant progress in SCM, together with the encouraging results we have seen in trials to date in metastatic pancreatic cancer, reflect the versatility of Motixafortide in both hematological and solid tumor cancers, which we have an opportunity to highlight at this year’s ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) meeting next month. Our notable presence at such an important medical conference reflects the excellent progress that we have made to date across these core programs and underscores the momentum that we have entering 2022.
"With over $62 million in cash, we believe we are well financed to achieve our upcoming important and potentially value creating milestones," Mr. Serlin concluded.
Upcoming Expected Milestones:
Complete pre-NDA meeting with the FDA for SCM, scheduled for mid-December 2021;
Complete recruitment of part 2 of ongoing Phase 1/2a trial of AGI-134 in solid tumors by end of 2021;
Announce initial results for Part 2 of Phase 1/2a trial of AGI-134 in solid tumors in first half of 2022;
Submit NDA for Motixafortide in SCM in first half of 2022.
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2021
Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were $4.9 million, an increase of $1.4 million, or 41.3%, compared to $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in expenses associated with the AGI-134 study and a timing difference related to a tax credit received in respect of AGI-134, as well as an increase in payroll and related-expenses due to a company-wide salary reduction related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the comparable 2020 period. Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $14.3 million, an increase of $0.8 million, or 5.9%, compared to $13.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in expenses associated with the AGI-134 study, as well as an increase in payroll and related-expenses due to a company-wide salary reduction related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the comparable 2020 period, offset by lower expenses associated with the completed Motixafortide GENESIS and COMBAT clinical trials.
Sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were $0.2 million, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 20.1%, compared to $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease resulted primarily from lower consultancy services related to Motixafortide. Sales and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $0.7 million, similar to the comparable period in 2020.
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were $1.1 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 22.3%, compared to $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in directors’ and officers’ insurance. General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $3.1 million, an increase of $0.3 million, or 9.3%, compared to $2.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The reason for the increase is similar to the aforementioned increase in the three-month period.
The Company’s operating loss for the three months ended September 30, 2021 amounted to $6.2 million, compared to an operating loss of $4.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The Company’s operating loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $18.2 million, compared to $17.1 million for the comparable period in 2020.
Non-operating income (expenses) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 primarily relate to fair-value adjustments of warrant liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet and issuance expenses of the ATM. Non-operating income (expenses) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 primarily relate to fair-value adjustments of warrant liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet, offset by warrant offering expenses and issuance expenses of the ATM.
Net financial expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 amounted to $0.2 million compared to net financial expenses of $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Net financial expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 amounted to $0.5 million compared to net financial expenses of $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Net financial expenses for all periods primarily relate to interest paid on loans, offset by investment income earned on bank deposits.
The Company’s net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2021 amounted to $5.7 million, compared with a net loss of $4.6 million for the comparable period in 2020. The Company’s net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 amounted to $22.8 million, compared with a net loss of $18.0 million for the comparable period in 2020.
The Company held $62.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits as of September 30, 2021.
Net cash used in operating activities was $18.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared with net cash used in operating activities of $17.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The $0.3 million increase in net cash used in operating activities in 2021 was primarily the result of an increase in research and development expenses.
Net cash used in investing activities was $42.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $8.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The changes in cash flows from investing activities relate primarily to investments in, and maturities of, short-term bank deposits.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $57.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $10.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The cash flows in 2021 primarily reflect the underwritten public offering of our ADSs in January 2021, warrant exercises, and net proceeds from the ATM facility, offset by repayments of the loan from Kreos Capital. The cash flows in 2020 primarily reflect two registered direct offerings to institutional investors, net proceeds from the ATM facility, offset by repayments of the loan from Kreos Capital.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
BioLineRx will hold a conference call today, Thursday, November 18, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. EST. To access the conference call, please dial +1-866-744-5399 from the US or +972-3-918-0644 internationally. The call will also be available via webcast and can be accessed through the Investor Relations page of BioLineRx’s website. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download any necessary software to listen to the live broadcast.
A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after completion of the live conference call on the Investor Relations page of BioLineRx’s website. A dial-in replay of the call will be available until November 21, 2021; please dial +1-888-295-2634 from the US or +972-3-925-5904 internationally.