On November 8, 2021 Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX), a clinical-stage targeted oncology company, reported financial results for the third quarter of 2021 and recent corporate updates (Press release, Mirati, NOV 8, 2021, View Source [SID1234594794]).
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"Mirati is aggressively focused on executing its strategy to deliver targeted cancer medicines to patients, and is well positioned for sustained growth from our differentiated research and development capabilities," said David Meek, chief executive officer, Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. "Our recent positive clinical updates for adagrasib reinforce a best-in-class profile, including topline results from the registration-enabling Phase 2 cohort of the KRYSTAL-1 study in patients with KRASG12C-mutated lung cancer, where we expect to launch in the U.S. next year, as well as encouraging results in KRASG12C-mutated colorectal and pancreatic cancers, which were presented at recent medical congresses. We are also pleased to advance the development of adagrasib in earlier lines of therapy, including in first-line non-small cell lung cancer. The rest of our novel pipeline continues to progress rapidly, which includes sitravatinib, MRTX1719, our MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor, as well as our mutant KRAS programs beyond KRASG12C, including MRTX1133, our KRASG12D inhibitor, and our SOS1 program."
Pipeline Updates
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will review the Company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for adagrasib for the treatment of patients with previously treated KRASG12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have received prior systemic therapy under the Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) pilot program. The RTOR status follows the previously announced U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for adagrasib in the same indication. The Company expects to complete the adagrasib NDA submission to the FDA by the end of 2021.
Preliminary results from the Phase 1b cohort of the KRYSTAL-1 study evaluating adagrasib plus pembrolizumab1 in 8 patients with KRASG12C-mutated first-line NSCLC support moving forward with a 400 mg BID dose of adagrasib with full dose pembrolizumab, which will be evaluated in the ongoing Phase 2 KRYSTAL-7 study. The Phase 1b data showed adagrasib 400mg BID plus pembrolizumab had a manageable tolerability profile, with no observed Grade 4 or Grade 5 adverse events or treatment-related discontinuations. Of the 7 patients evaluable for a response as of October 21, 2021, 4 had a confirmed RECIST-defined partial response and 1 additional patient, who is still on study, experienced 49% tumor regression in the first scan, which allowed for tumor resection prior to achieving a RECIST-defined confirmed response. The disease control rate was 100%, with all 7 patients exhibiting tumor regression ranging from 37% to 92%. With a median follow up of 9.9 months, 5 of the 7 patients remained on treatment, as of the data cutoff date, and had been on treatment for 8 to 11 months.
Announced positive topline results from the potentially registration-enabling cohort of the Phase 2 KRYSTAL-1 study evaluating adagrasib in patients with advanced NSCLC harboring the KRASG12C mutation following prior systemic therapy, as well as updated findings from the Phase 1/1b KRYSTAL-1 study evaluating adagrasib in all enrolled patients with KRASG12C-mutated advanced NSCLC. The topline results were presented at a virtual Investor Event held during the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) congress. The Company plans to submit detailed results for presentation at a medical congress prior to the potential U.S. launch of adagrasib in 2022. (View Release)
Announced a non-exclusive clinical trial collaboration agreement with Sanofi to evaluate adagrasib with Sanofi’s investigational SHP2 inhibitor SAR442720, also known as RMC-4630, in patients with previously-treated NSCLC and KRASG12C mutations. (View Release)
Presented clinical research on adagrasib and sitravatinib at the 2021 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress, including:
Data from a cohort of the Phase 1/2 KRYSTAL-1 study evaluating adagrasib as a monotherapy or in combination with cetuximab (ERBITUX)2 in patients with KRASG12C -mutated colorectal cancer (CRC). (View Release) The Company has an actively enrolling global registrational Phase 3 clinical trial, KRYSTAL-10, comparing adagrasib plus cetuximab to standard of care chemotherapy in second-line KRASG12C-mutated CRC.
Exploratory results from the Phase 2 MRTX-500 study evaluating sitravatinib plus nivolumab (OPDIVO)3 in patients with advanced NSCLC who had disease progression following treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. The Company has an actively enrolling global registrational Phase 3 study, SAPPHIRE, evaluating sitravatinib plus nivolumab in second or third line non-squamous NSCLC and plans to provide an update based on an interim analysis of overall survival in the second half of 2022. (View Release)
Presented preclinical and clinical data at the 2021 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)-NCI-EORTC Virtual AACR-NCI-EORTC (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (EORTC-NCI-AACR) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper), including:
A summary of the discovery and preclinical characterization of MRTX1133, a mutant-selective KRASG12D inhibitor. This presentation also included preliminary new clinical data from a cohort of the KRYSTAL-1 study evaluating adagrasib in previously-treated patients with KRASG12C-mutated pancreatic cancer, as well as proof-of-concept data in non-clinical models for inhibitors of additional KRAS mutations beyond KRASG12C and KRASG12D.
Preclinical results on MRTX1719, the selected development candidate from the Company’s MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor program, in MTAP-deleted cancer models. The Company expects to file an Investigational New Drug application for MRTX1719 by the end of 2021.
Corporate Updates
Announced the appointment of David Meek as chief executive officer and board member of the Company, Charles M. Baum, M.D., Ph.D. transitioning to the Company’s president, founder and head of research and development, and continuing in his role as a board member; and other previously announced leadership updates.
Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results
Ended the third quarter with approximately $1.2 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, which includes net proceeds of $63.4 million for the upfront fee from Zai Lab pursuant to the collaboration and license agreement executed during the second quarter.
Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2021 were $116.1 million, compared to $79.9 million for the same period in 2020. Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $354.8 million, compared to $216.6 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in research and development expenses is primarily due to an increase in expense associated with the development of adagrasib, an increase in preclinical and early discovery activities, as well as an increase in salaries and other employee-related expense, which includes an increase in share-based compensation expense. The Company recognized research and development-related share-based compensation expenses of $15.7 million during the third quarter of 2021, compared to $12.6 million for the same period in 2020, and $46.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $35.9 million for the same period in 2020.
General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2021 were $35.2 million, compared to $20.2 million for the same period in 2020. General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $93.1 million, compared to $58.1 million for the same period in 2020. The increase is due to an increase in professional services expense primarily associated with commercial scale up, an increase in salaries and other employee-related expenses, an increase in insurance, rent and other facilities-related costs, and an increase in sponsorship agreements expense. The Company recognized general and administrative-related share-based compensation expenses of $11.2 million in the third quarter of 2021, compared to $9.2 million for the same period in 2020, and $32.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $28.2 million for the same period in 2020.
Net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was $80.1 million, or $1.55 per share basic and diluted, compared to a net loss of $87.3 million, or $1.96 per share basic and diluted for the same period in 2020. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $382.2 million, or $7.45 per share basic and diluted, compared to a net loss of $256.9 million, or $5.87 per share basic and diluted for the same period in 2020.
Conference Call Information
Investors and the general public are invited listen to a live webcast of the call at the "Investors and Media" section on Mirati.com or by dialing the U.S. toll free 313-209-7315 or international +1 877-614-0009, confirmation code: 3962567. Materials related to the call will be available at the same website at the time of the conference call. A replay of the call will be available approximately 2 hours after the event has ended at the same website or by dialing in the U.S. toll free 719-457-0820 or international +1 888-203-1112, confirmation code: 3962567.