On May 11, 2023 Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (Monopar or the Company) (Nasdaq: MNPR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary therapeutics designed to extend life or improve the quality of life for cancer patients, reported first quarter 2023 financial results and summarized recent developments (Press release, Monopar Therapeutics, MAY 11, 2023, View Source [SID1234631523]).
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Recent Developments
Camsirubicin – Phase 1b Dose-Escalation Trial, Currently Enrolling Fifth Dose-Level Cohort Phase 1b data to date show an improvement in median progression free survival in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (ASTS) from what was observed in the prior camsirubicin Phase 2 trial (265 mg/m2). This is supportive of our dose-response hypothesis with camsirubicin. Additionally, one of the three patients in the 520 mg/m2 dose-level cohort recently went from having what was initially determined to be an unresectable cancer to, after several cycles of camsirubicin treatment and a corresponding 21% reduction in tumor dimensions, being determined to be resectable. This changed the course of treatment for this patient, who recently did undergo surgical resection of the cancer.
Monopar is currently enrolling patients into the fifth dose-level cohort (650 mg/m2), which is nearly 2.5x the highest dose evaluated in any prior camsirubicin clinical trial (265mg/m2).
To date, no drug-related cardiotoxicity has been observed with camsirubicin treatment as evaluated by the industry standard left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This compares favorably to the well-documented dose-restricting cardiotoxicity experienced with doxorubicin, the current first-line treatment for ASTS.
75% of camsirubicin patients in this trial have experienced no hair loss. Of the 25% with any hair loss, only 8% experienced >50% hair loss and only 17% experienced low grade hair loss. This compares favorably to the approximately 50% of doxorubicin treated patients in recent ASTS clinical trials reporting some amount of hair loss, with the majority of these patients experiencing >50% hair loss.
Only 8% of camsirubicin patients in the trial have experienced low grade, mild oral mucositis. This compares favorably to the roughly 35-40% of doxorubicin treated patients in recent ASTS clinical trials that experienced mild-to-severe oral mucositis.
MNPR-101 for Radiopharmaceutical Use – Promising Preclinical Studies Support FIH Study
Based on promising preclinical imaging results with MNPR-101-Zr showing high uptake across multiple tumor types, and with preclinical therapeutic efficacy and biodistribution studies utilizing the radioisotopes Ac-225 and Lu-177, Monopar and its collaborator, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, committed to additional funding with the aim of initiating a first-in-human (FIH) imaging study with MNPR-101-Zr as early as end of this year.
MNPR-101-Zr is a zirconium-89 labeled version of MNPR-101 (a highly selective antibody against the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, also known as uPAR). Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of preclinical mouse models for triple-negative breast, colorectal, and pancreatic tumors displayed high and selective uptake of MNPR-101-Zr in these uPAR-expressing tumors.
Preclinical triple negative breast cancer mouse model studies with Ac-225 and Lu-177 radiolabeled MNPR-101 showed a promising dose-dependent-anti-cancer-effect and favorable biodistribution profile. The imaging and therapeutic preclinical results to date demonstrate the potential utility of MNPR-101 as a precision targeting agent for both imaging and treatment in multiple cancer indications.
MNPR-202 – Promising Preclinical Data Ignites Further Research
MNPR-202 is designed to retain the same potentially non-cardiotoxic backbone as camsirubicin but is modified at other positions which may enable it to work in certain cancers that are resistant to camsirubicin and doxorubicin.
Monopar’s collaborator at the National University of Singapore, Cancer Science Institute, has reported data from blood cancer preclinical studies showing that MNPR-202:
has a similar cytotoxic potency to doxorubicin generates increased DNA damage in the cancer cells compared to doxorubicin has a unique immune activation profile versus doxorubicin demonstrates increased apoptosis (programmed cell death) compared to doxorubicin causes a distinct set of genes to be upregulated and downregulated versus doxorubicin and may also be superior to doxorubicin in certain combination treatment regimens.
A combination drug screen with 183 compounds was performed, revealing distinct differences in the synergy profile between doxorubicin versus MNPR-202 when used along with other compounds. For example, MNPR-202 demonstrated a more favorable synergy profile with the experimental anti-cancer agent volasertib compared to doxorubicin.
Validive Clinical Update
On March 27, 2023, the Company discontinued its Validive Phase 2b/3 VOICE trial based upon its independent Data Safety Monitoring Board’s determination that the trial did not meet the pre-defined threshold for efficacy of a 15% absolute difference in severe oral mucositis prevention between Validive and placebo. Other than clinical site close-out related expenses to be incurred in Q2 2023, the Company will not incur any license or royalty obligations and is not anticipating any significant expenses beyond Q2 2023 related to Validive.
Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2023, Compared to the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2022
Cash and Net Loss
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2023, were $11.7 million. Monopar expects that its current funds will be sufficient for Monopar to obtain topline results from its ongoing open-label Phase 1b camsirubicin clinical trial as planned by the end of 2023 (but this may not be the case if camsirubicin reaches even higher dose levels than anticipated and topline results are deferred as dosing continues beyond 2023), advance the Company’s MNPR-101 radiopharmaceutical program into its first in human clinical trial and close out Monopar’s terminated Validive Phase 2b/3 (VOICE) clinical program. The Company estimates its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will fund the Company’s planned operations at least through June 2024. Monopar will require additional funding to advance its clinical and preclinical programs beyond that and anticipates seeking to raise additional capital within the next 12 months to fund its future operations.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2023 was $2.4 million or $0.19 per share compared to net loss of $2.5 million or $0.19 per share for the first quarter of 2022.
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses
R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were $1,653,000 compared to $1,678,000 for the first quarter of 2022. This decrease of $25,000 was primarily due to a decrease of $120,000 in R&D personnel costs, partially offset by an increase of $79,000 in Validive and camsirubicin clinical trial-related and clinical material manufacturing-related expenses.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses
G&A expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were $872,000 compared to $779,000 for the first quarter of 2022. This increase of $93,000 was primarily due to (1) an increase in G&A salaries and benefits and (2) an increase in accounting and audit fees.