Ocuphire Pharma Enters into a Global License Agreement for Development and Commercialization of Nyxol Eye Drops for Reversal of Mydriasis, Presbyopia and Night Vision Disturbances

On November 7, 2022 Ocuphire Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCUP) reported it has concluded an exclusive license agreement with FamyGen Life Sciences, Inc. (Famy) for the development and commercialization of Nyxol across three indications in US, Europe, Japan, India, China and other global markets (Press release, Ocuphire Pharma, NOV 7, 2022, View Source [SID1234623364]). In connection with its separately announced transaction with Famy, Viatris Inc. (Nasdaq: VTRS), a leading global healthcare company, has agreed to commercialize Nyxol following each regulatory approval.

"Famy and Ocuphire have been engaging for several months, in a collaborative spirit, to conclude this agreement. This partnership provides a clear pathway to completing development and regulatory activities and executing a successful US and global commercial launch of Nyxol through Viatris," said Mina Sooch, MBA, founder and CEO of Ocuphire. With its strategic commitment to ophthalmics and its global commercial infrastructure, we believe Viatris provides a great opportunity for all of the Nyxol indications to realize their full commercial potential in their respective markets. In addition, the upfront payment and development funding provided by this transaction markedly improve our cash position into 2025, allowing us to expedite the registration trials for presbyopia and night vision disturbances and to execute our late-stage development strategy for the APX3330 retina program."

Under the terms of the license agreement, Ocuphire will receive an upfront cash payment of $35 million. Famy will fund Nyxol development through FDA approvals, that will be managed by Ocuphire, including clinical, manufacturing, and regulatory activities required for FDA approval of all three Nyxol indications, including Nyxol+Low-Dose Pilocarpine. With the upcoming NDA submission for the reversal of mydriasis indication this quarter, Ocuphire has the potential to receive a $10 million milestone payment upon FDA approval later in 2023 and thereafter to receive additional regulatory milestones for presbyopia and night vision disturbances indications. In addition to funding Ocuphire’s development of Nxyol in the US, Famy will undertake development in the non-US markets.

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Upon commercialization, Ocuphire will receive tiered double-digit royalties on worldwide net sales through 2040 and is eligible to receive sales milestone payments upon achievement of certain annual sales thresholds.

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Roivant Sciences Announces Proposed Public Equity Offering

On November 7, 2022 Roivant Sciences Ltd. (Nasdaq: ROIV), a next-generation biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the delivery of healthcare to patients, reported the commencement of a proposed underwritten public offering of $150,000,000 of common shares (Press release, Roivant Sciences, NOV 7, 2022, View Source [SID1234623340]). Roivant expects to grant the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to $22.5 million of additional common shares. The offering is subject to market conditions and other factors, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

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Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is acting as sole bookrunner for the offering.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and was declared effective on October 3, 2022. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectuses. A preliminary prospectus supplement related to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectuses relating to the offering may be obtained free of charge from Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Attention: Capital Markets, 499 Park Ave., 4th Floor, New York, New York 10022, or by e-mail at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Geron to Participate in Stifel 2022 Healthcare Conference

On November 7, 2022 Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for hematologic malignancies, reported that John A. Scarlett, M.D., Geron’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to participate in a fireside chat in person at the Stifel 2022 Healthcare Conference in New York City on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 10:55 a.m. ET (Press release, Geron, NOV 7, 2022, View Source [SID1234623339]).

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A webcast of the presentation will be available through the Investor Relations section of Geron’s website under Events. Following the presentation, the webcast will be archived and available for replay for a period of 30 days.

ORIC Pharmaceuticals Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Operational Update

On November 7, 2022 ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ORIC), a clinical stage oncology company focused on developing treatments that address mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, reported financial results and operational updates for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 (Press release, ORIC Pharmaceuticals, NOV 7, 2022, View Source [SID1234623338]).

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"We are pleased with the steady enrollment progress across our three ongoing Phase 1b studies and are looking forward to sharing initial clinical data for ORIC-533, ORIC-114 and ORIC-944 in the first half of 2023. Building on the strong enrollment in South Korea for ORIC-114, our brain penetrant EGFR/HER2 exon 20 program, we accelerated plans for the US IND filing and received clearance from the FDA during the third quarter," said Jacob M. Chacko, MD, chief executive officer. "We continue to be encouraged by data demonstrating ORIC-533, our oral small molecule inhibitor of CD73, has therapeutic potential in multiple myeloma and look forward to the presentation of ORIC-533 preclinical data at the 2022 ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting next month."

Third Quarter 2022 and Other Recent Highlights

ORIC-114 US IND Filing and FDA Clearance: ORIC continued to expand the clinical development of ORIC-114 by submitting and receiving clearance from the FDA of its US IND application in the third quarter of 2022. A Phase 1b trial with ORIC-114 as a single agent is already underway in South Korea and has been enrolling patients with advanced solid tumors with EGFR or HER2 exon 20 alterations or HER2 amplification and allows patients with CNS metastases that are either treated or untreated but asymptomatic.

ORIC-533 Preclinical Data to be Presented at the 2022 ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting: ORIC announced a preclinical poster presentation on its CD73 inhibitor in multiple myeloma will be presented at the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting to be held December 10-13, 2022, in New Orleans, LA.

Anticipated Program Milestones

ORIC anticipates the following upcoming milestones:

ORIC-533 (oral CD73 inhibitor): Initial Phase 1b data in 1H 2023

ORIC-114 (brain penetrant EGFR/HER2 exon 20 inhibitor): Initial Phase 1b data in 1H2023

ORIC-944 (allosteric PRC2 inhibitor): Initial Phase 1b data in 1H 2023

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments: Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $218.0 million as of September 30, 2022, which the company expects will fund its current operating plan into the second half of 2024.

R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $14.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $12.9 million for the same period in 2021. The increase was primarily driven by a net increase in external expenses related to the advancement of product candidates as well as higher personnel costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, R&D expenses were $45.4 million, compared to $40.1 million for the same period of 2021. The increase was primarily driven by a net increase in external expenses related to the advancement of ORIC-533, ORIC-114, ORIC-944 and other product candidates as well as higher personnel costs, including non-cash stock-based compensation of $0.8 million.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $6.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $5.6 million for the same period in 2021. The increase was primarily due to higher personnel costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, G&A expenses were $19.3 million compared to $16.0 million for the same period of 2021. The increase was primarily due to higher personnel costs, including additional non-cash stock-based compensation of $1.1 million.

IPR&D Expenses: In-process research and development (IPR&D) expense of $5.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, was due to a development milestone payment made to Voronoi related to ORIC-114. There were no similar costs in 2021.

Biomea Fusion Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Business Highlights

On November 7, 2022 Biomea Fusion, Inc. (Nasdaq: BMEA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing novel covalent small molecules to treat and improve the lives of patients with genetically defined cancers and metabolic diseases, reported third quarter 2022 financial results and business highlights (Press release, Biomea Fusion, NOV 7, 2022, View Source [SID1234623337]).

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"We continue to solidify Biomea’s position as the leader in next-generation covalent medicines, and build near- and long-term value, through our rapid progress and strong execution. With BMF-219, we have now brought the first covalent menin inhibitor to the clinic for KRAS-mutated solid tumors, adding to our already robust development strategy of BMF-219 in distinct patient subsets of multiple liquid tumors. In addition, we are very excited to announce the first type 2 diabetes patient dosed with BMF-219, which marks the first non-oncology indication for which an investigational menin inhibitor is being evaluated in the clinic," said Thomas Butler, Biomea Fusion’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. "Over the coming quarters, we expect to gain valuable feedback and believe we will achieve clinical proof of concept for BMF-219 in multiple indications. We also continue to advance our second IND candidate, BMF-500, an investigational covalent FLT3 inhibitor with best-in-class potential, toward the clinic. BMF-500 further demonstrates the versatility enabled by our proprietary FUSION System to discover and validate novel covalent product candidates."

Third Quarter 2022 and Recent Pipeline Highlights

Oncology

COVALENT-101
Continued site activation and patient enrollment across four liquid tumor cohorts including patients with AML/ALL (including those with MLL rearrangement and NPM1 mutation), DLBCL, MM and CLL
Cohort I (AML/ALL with MLL-r or NPM1) is enrolling patients in the escalation phase currently at Dosing Level #3. No DLTs observed, enrollment is proceeding on track for near term expansion and initial data in the first half of 2023
Cohort IV (CLL) achieved its first patient enrolled in October 2022
COVALENT-102
Received FDA clearance in October 2022 and initiated a Phase I/Ib clinical trial of BMF-219 as a monotherapy in patients who have unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic NSCLC, CRC or PDAC with any (pan) KRAS mutation
Preclinical
Presented abstract "Anti-tumor activity of covalent menin inhibitor, BMF-219, in High-Grade B-Cell Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma Preclinical Models" at the 2022 International Myeloma Society (IMS) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA
Announced abstract "BMF-500: An Orally Bioavailable Covalent Inhibitor of FLT3 with High Selectivity and Potent Antileukemic Activity in FLT3-Mutated AML" to be presented at the 2022 American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA
Diabetes

COVALENT-111
Initiated COVALENT-111 a multi-site, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase I/II study of BMF-219 following clearance of CTA by Health Canada; alignment has been reached with the FDA on the contents of the IND filing
Completed the healthy volunteer portion in Phase I/II (COVALENT-111) study of BMF-219 currently ongoing in Canada. No safety signals were detected
Dosed first type 2 diabetes patient in Phase I/II (COVALENT-111) study of BMF-219 currently ongoing in Canada
Preclinical
Presented two oral abstracts, "Oral Menin Inhibitor, BMF-219, displays a significant and durable reduction in HbA1c in a Type 2 Diabetes Rat Model" and "Oral Long-Acting Menin Inhibitor, BMF-219, Normalizes Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Two Rat Models" at the 2022 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden
New preclinical data from two in-vivo models at EASD demonstrated BMF-219’s ability to improve pancreatic beta cell mass and function, and BMF-219’s robust and prolonged glycemic control, insulin sensitization, and reduction of weight and lipid levels
Outlook

Submit IND for BMF-219 in type 2 diabetes patients before the end of 2022
Present clinical update of AML/ALL patients (including those with MLL rearrangement and NPM1 mutation), dosed in COVALENT-101 study in the first half of 2023
Present clinical update on type 2 diabetes patients in the first half of 2023
Submit IND for BMF-500 in patients with FLT3 mutations in the first half of 2023
Present clinical update of the healthy volunteer section of our Phase I/II type 2 diabetes COVALENT-111 study of BMF-219 at a scientific meeting in 2023
Expect to provide an update leveraging the proprietary FUSIONTM System, a discovery and design platform to expand pipeline of covalent medicines for cancer to a third development candidate in the first half of 2023
Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Investments: As of September 30, 2022, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments of $133.8 million, compared to $175.7 million as of December 31, 2021.
Net Income/Loss: Biomea reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $22.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to a net loss of $12.6 million for the same period in 2021. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $56.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to a net loss of $26.9 million for the same period in 2021.
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $18.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $7.9 million for the same period in 2021. The increase of $10.4 million was primarily due to an increase in preclinical and clinical development costs as well as an increase in personnel-related expenses. R&D expenses were $42.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $16.9 million for the same period in 2021. The increase of $25.3 million was primarily due to an increase in personnel-related expenses, as well as an increase in preclinical and clinical development costs, including manufacturing and external consulting, related to the Company’s product candidates, BMF-219 and BMF-500.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $5.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $4.8 million for the same period in 2021. The increase of $0.5 million was primarily due to higher personnel-related expenses and other corporate costs to support the Company’s expanding operations as well as additional costs incurred as a public company. G&A expenses were $15.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $10.0 million for the same period in 2021. The increase of $5.2 million was primarily due to higher personnel-related expenses and other corporate costs to support the Company’s expanding operations as well as additional costs incurred as a public company.