On February 11, 2021 Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNCA), a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation neoantigen immunotherapies, reported a business update for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020 and other recent significant developments (Press release, Genocea Biosciences, FEB 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234574905]).
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"We are extremely pleased to make progress across multiple fronts by using ATLAS’ unique ability to find the most relevant targets of T cell responses," said Chip Clark, Genocea President and Chief Executive Officer. "As we advance GEN-009 and GEN-011, our scientific team continues to refine and explore the implications of our pioneering antigen discovery work in multiple disease settings. Included in this is the work we have underway to identify antigens of T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), which may prove pivotal to stemming the course of this deadly virus. We are looking forward to continuing this momentum in 2021."
Clinical updates
GEN-011 Phase 1/2a clinical trial (TITAN trial)
GEN-011 is a neoantigen-targeted peripheral T cell therapy (NPT therapy) in development to treat checkpoint inhibitor-refractory patients. Our phase 1/2a study, the TITAN trial, is designed to explore safety, biomarkers of activity and anti-tumor efficacy. Genocea has initiated the first two of multiple planned clinical sites and is accruing patients. The company expects to have initial efficacy data from a patient subset late in the fourth quarter of 2021 or the first quarter of 2022.
GEN-009 Phase 1/2a clinical trial
At the 2020 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) annual meeting in November, the Company shared expanded clinical and immunogenicity findings for GEN-009, its adjuvanted peptide neoantigen vaccine. Of the nine CPI-sensitive patients, three patients experienced a novel reduction in tumor volume and achieved independent RECIST responses post-GEN-009 dosing, including 2 PRs and 1 CR. Five additional CPI-sensitive patients have shown disease control post-vaccination for up to 11 months. Within the CPI-resistant population, five of seven patients appear to have stabilized disease lasting up to seven months. GEN-009 elicited strong anti-tumor CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. Genocea expects to provide additional clinical and immunogenicity data from these patients in Q2.
Research updates
Publication in Cancer Discovery
In January, Genocea’s paper, "An empirical antigen selection method identifies neoantigens that either elicit broad anti-tumor T cell responses or drive tumor growth," was published in Cancer Discovery. The paper confirms that ATLAS zeroes in on tumor mutations that are either neoantigens that activate anti-tumor responses or inhibitory antigens (Inhibigens) that are targets of pro-tumor responses, in both CD8+ (killer) and CD4+ (helper) T cells. This breakthrough potentially improves neoantigen immunotherapies by ensuring they both target the right neoantigens and exclude Inhibigens.
SARS-CoV-2 T cell antigen discovery program
Genocea has a research program to identify conserved antigens of protective T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2. This builds on earlier Genocea work in infectious disease, in which it demonstrated – across multiple pathogens – that novel antigens of protective T cell responses are often not immunodominant antigens of antibody responses. If true with SARS-CoV-2, this would suggest that vaccines focusing on the Spike protein may have limited long-term utility against emergent hyper-virulent strains. As part of this program, Genocea has entered into a collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Dr. Robert Finberg, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and leading infectious diseases expert. Pairing ATLAS with Dr. Finberg’s expertise in infectious diseases may enable a better understanding of the role of T cells, including responses to Inhibigens, in the severity and duration of symptoms.
Collaboration with the University of Minnesota
Genocea and the University of Minnesota’s Dr. Ingunn Stromnes, an expert on immuno-oncology and T cell engineering, entered into a collaboration to explore Inhibigen biology and develop TCRs targeting Genocea’s proprietary shared neoantigens.
Other business updates
Strengthened executive leadership team
Genocea appointed Raymond D. Stapleton, Jr., Ph.D. as Executive Vice President of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Manufacturing. Ray brings 20+ years of industry experience having led technical, quality and manufacturing operations at commercial and clinical stage biopharmaceutical companies.
Financial and other updates
Fourth quarter 2020 financial results
Cash position: As of December 31, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $79.8 million compared to $40.1 million as of December 31, 2019.
Research and Development (R&D) expenses: R&D expenses were $7.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to $6.8 million for the same period in 2019.
General and Administrative (G&A) expenses: G&A expenses were $3.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to $3.0 million for the same period in 2019.
Net loss: Net loss was $15.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to $9.4 million for the same period in 2019.
Guidance
Genocea’s operating plan extends its cash runway to the end of 2022.
February investor conferences
Genocea will participate in the LifeSci Advisors Precision Oncology Day on Wednesday, February 17 at 11:30 a.m. ET. Genocea will also participate in the SVB Leerink Global Healthcare conference on Thursday, February 25 at 10 a.m. ET. Details of the presentations can be found at View Source
Conference Call
Genocea will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. E.T. Interested participants may access the conference call by dialing (844) 826-0619 (domestic) or (315) 625-6883 (international) and referring to conference ID number 5767897. To join the live webcast, please visit the presentation page of the investor relations section of the Genocea website at View Source A webcast replay of the conference call will be available on the Genocea website beginning approximately two hours after the event and will be archived for 90 days.