On March 11, 2024 CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTMX), a leader in the field of conditionally activated, localized biologics, reported full year 2023 financial results and provided a business update (Press release, CytomX Therapeutics, MAR 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234641012]).

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"2023 was a year of sustained execution across our pipeline, highlighted by the continued progress of CX-904 in Phase 1 dose escalation and the parallel advancement of CX-2051 and CX-801 through successful IND enabling activities towards clinical initiation in the first half of 2024," said Sean McCarthy, D.Phil., chief executive officer and chairman of CytomX. "We entered 2024 with a robust therapeutic pipeline based upon more than a decade of innovation with the PROBODY platform. Our lead programs leverage validated oncology targets, potent effector mechanisms and tailored masking approaches. Our strategy is to address large oncology markets and major unmet needs to make a meaningful difference for patients, building on the strong company foundation we have laid with our comprehensive progress to date."

McCarthy added, "Importantly, while advancing key programs throughout 2023, we maintained a consistently strong financial position through disciplined capital allocation and financing that included a strategic equity investment from our largest shareholder, BVF Partners, and ongoing funding from major collaborations."

Fourth Quarter Business Highlights and Recent Developments

Pipeline

CX-904, PROBODY T-cell-engager (TCE) targeted to EGFRxCD3 progressing in Phase 1, with dose escalation data anticipated in second half of 2024.

CX-904 is a conditionally activated PROBODY T-cell engager designed to target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on cancer cells and the CD3 receptor on T cells within the tumor microenvironment. CX-904 is partnered with Amgen in a global co-development alliance and is being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1 study in unselected patients with advanced solid tumors that are considered to have EGFR expression. Backfilling of certain dose escalation cohorts has been initiated and dose ranging continues.

Initial Phase 1a dose escalation data is anticipated in the second half of 2024. The Phase 1a data is expected to focus primarily on identification of safe and tolerable doses and schedules and will include an evaluation of indicators of clinical activity, including pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) data and assessment of anti-tumor activity.
The CX-904 Phase 1a data will inform a potential decision during 2024 to initiate Phase 1b expansion cohorts in specific EGFR positive tumor types. The decision to potentially initiate Phase 1b expansion cohorts will be taken in conjunction with Amgen.
CX-2051, an EpCAM-directed PROBODY antibody drug conjugate advancing to Phase 1 in the 1st half of 2024.

EpCAM is a high potential oncology target that is highly expressed across many indications including colorectal, gastric, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. EpCAM has been clinically validated by locally administered, previously approved cancer therapies. However, efforts to generate systemically administered anti-EpCAM therapeutics have, to date, been unsuccessful due to toxicities in certain epithelial tissues, notably in the gastrointestinal tract. As a conditionally activated ADC, CX-2051 is tailored to optimize the therapeutic index for EpCAM-expressing epithelial cancers. The cytotoxic payload utilized in CX-2051 is a derivative of camptothecin, a topoisomerase-1 inhibitor, a class of drug that has shown potent clinical anti-cancer activity in the ADC context for multiple targets and cancer types. CX-2051 has demonstrated a wide predicted therapeutic index in multiple preclinical models, constituting an opportunity for broad clinical use in large patient populations.

In January 2024, CytomX announced that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for CX-2051 was allowed to proceed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Phase 1 dose escalation of CX-2051 in patients with solid tumors generally known to express EpCAM, including CRC, will be initiated in the first half of 2024. The Phase 1 dose escalation study will follow a Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN) design and is intended to demonstrate initial clinical proof of concept to inform a potential decision to move into dose expansion in 2025.
CX-801, a dually-masked PROBODY interferon-alpha 2b advancing to Phase 1 in the 1st half of 2024.

Interferon-alpha 2b is an immunotherapeutic cytokine that has demonstrated clinical activity and gained regulatory approval previously in multiple cancer types, including locally advanced or metastatic melanoma, renal cancer and bladder cancer. IFNα2b provides a potentially superior approach to activating anti-tumor immune responses compared to other cytokines but its clinical benefit has been hindered by severe dose-limiting toxicity. CX-801 is an optimized, dually masked, conditionally activated version of IFNα2b, with an expanded therapeutic index that has the potential to become a cornerstone of combination therapy for a wide range of tumor types.

In January 2024, CytomX announced the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for CX-801 was allowed to proceed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
CX-801 is anticipated to initiate Phase 1 dose escalation in patients with solid tumors including melanoma, renal, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the first half of 2024. The Phase 1 dose escalation will utilize a BOIN design to evaluate safety and signs of clinical activity for CX-801 monotherapy and for CX-801 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition.
Focus of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) research collaboration evolves to ongoing research programs, including multiple T-cell engagers. The anti-CTLA-4 PROBODY BMS-986288 will not be further advanced following a recent BMS internal portfolio review.

CytomX’s research collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb originated in 2014 and includes multiple PROBODY therapeutic programs.

Following a corporate portfolio prioritization process, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) notified CytomX on March 6th, 2024 that it does not intend to continue the development of BMS-986288 beyond the current Phase 2 study.
CytomX’s ongoing research collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb includes multiple preclinical programs, including T-cell engagers.
CytomX continues to make progress in R&D partnerships.

CytomX has multiple active research and development partnerships and more than 10 ongoing research programs with major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies (Amgen, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Moderna and Regeneron). Throughout 2023, CytomX made substantial progress across all research partnerships including the commencement of programs under its new alliances with Regeneron and Moderna. CytomX has a consistent track record of forming new strategic research and development alliances and achieving preclinical research and clinical milestones. Partnering is expected to remain an important part of the Company’s strategy.

2024 Priorities and Key Milestones:

CX-904 (EGFRxCD3): Continued enrollment into Phase 1a dose escalation with initial data expected in the second half of 2024. These data are expected to inform a potential 2024 decision, to be taken with Amgen, to initiate Phase 1b expansion cohorts in specific EGFR positive tumor types.
CX-2051 (EpCAM): Initiation of Phase 1 dose escalation in solid tumors with known EpCAM expression, including locally advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer as a priority indication, is expected in the first half of 2024.
CX-801 (IFNα2b): Initiation of Phase 1 dose escalation in solid tumors including melanoma, renal, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is expected in the first half of 2024.
Collaborations: Continuation of drug discovery and development activities with Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Astellas, Regeneron, and Moderna with potential pre-clinical and clinical milestones possible in 2024 and beyond.
Full Year and Q4 2023 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $174.5 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $193.7 million as of December 31, 2022. The cash balance as of December 31, 2023, included cash inflows during 2023 of a $35.0 million upfront payment received in January 2023 as a result of the collaboration with Moderna, a $5.0 million clinical candidate milestone from Astellas in February of 2023 and approximately $30.0 million of proceeds from the financing transaction with BVF Partners L.P. in July of 2023.

Total revenue was $101.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $53.2 million in 2022. The increase in revenue was driven primarily by a higher percentage of completion for research programs in the Bristol Myers Squibb collaboration and the recent collaborations with Regeneron and Moderna. Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023 was $26.6 million compared to $20.1 million in the corresponding period in 2022.

In 2023, CytomX remained focused on controlling costs and efficiently allocating capital towards its lead pipeline programs. Total operating expense in 2023 was $107.7 million compared to $154.5 million in 2022, a reduction of $46.8 million. The operating expense reduction was driven by the Company’s workforce reduction in 2022, strategic pipeline prioritization, and primarily allocating early phase research efforts towards partnered programs. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $27.2 million compared to $29.6 million in the corresponding period in 2022.

Research and development expenses decreased by $34.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, to $77.7 million compared to $111.6 million in 2022. The reduction in research and development expenses was primarily due to a decrease in personnel related expenses, as well as winding down of laboratory contract services and clinical study activities related to the CX-2009 and CX-2029 programs, partially offset by an increase in laboratory contract services related to IND-enabling activities for CX-2051 and CX-801 programs. Research and development expenses in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $19.4 million compared to $19.6 million in the corresponding period in 2022.

General and administrative expenses decreased by $12.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, to $30.0 million, compared to $42.8 million for the corresponding period in 2022. The reduction in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a decrease in personnel related expenses as a result of the workforce reduction in 2022, reduced external vendor services, and lower occupancy costs as a result of a partial sublease of the Company’s headquarters. General and administrative expenses in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $7.8 million compared to $10.1 million in the corresponding period in 2022.

Conference Call & Webcast
CytomX management will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast today at 5 p.m. EDT (2 p.m. PDT) to discuss the financial results and provide a business update. Participants may access the live webcast of the conference call from the Events and Presentations page of CytomX’s website at View Source Participants may register for the conference call here and are advised to do so at least 10 minutes prior to joining the call. An archived replay of the webcast will be available on the company’s website.

On March 11, 2024 Caribou Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRBU), a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome-editing biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 and reviewed recent pipeline progress (Press release, Caribou Biosciences, MAR 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234641011]).

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"Following our execution in 2023, we enter 2024 with momentum advancing three clinical-stage off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy programs for patients with hematologic malignancies while we plan for two clinical data releases this year," said Rachel Haurwitz, PhD, Caribou’s president and chief executive officer. "For our lead program, CB-010, we plan to present initial dose expansion data and the RP2D in the second quarter of 2024. For our second program, CB-011, we continue to enroll patients in the CaMMouflage trial and plan to report initial dose escalation data by year-end 2024. For our third program, CB-012, we are thrilled to have recently dosed the first patient in the AMpLify trial. Our team is focused on clinical execution to inform two clinical datasets this year as part of our mission of bringing transformative therapies to patients with devastating diseases."

Clinical highlights

CB-010, a clinical-stage allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy for B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
•Caribou has dosed the 30th patient in the dose expansion portion of the ongoing ANTLER Phase 1 clinical trial (View Source) in second-line relapsed or refractory large B cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL) patients. Previously, 16 patients were dosed in the dose escalation portion of ANTLER. The company will continue enrolling additional second-line r/r LBCL patients in ANTLER to collect additional clinical data.
•In December 2023, Caribou shared regulatory feedback (View Source) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following a Type B clinical meeting. The company received the FDA’s input on a Phase 3 randomized pivotal trial for CB-010 in second-line r/r LBCL, stating that Caribou’s proposed comparator arm of platinum-based immunochemotherapy followed by high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is acceptable.
•As previously reported, CB-010 demonstrated encouraging data (View Source) from the dose escalation portion of the ANTLER Phase 1 clinical trial (View Source) in 16 patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r B-NHL). Dose escalation data showed CB-010 has the potential to rival the efficacy and safety profile of approved autologous CAR-T cell therapies.

•To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-010 is the first anti-CD19 allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy to be evaluated in the second-line LBCL setting, and it was granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT), Fast Track, and Orphan Drug designations by the FDA for specific indications in 2022.
CB-011, a clinical-stage allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma
•Caribou is enrolling patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM) in the dose escalation portion of the ongoing CaMMouflage Phase 1 clinical trial (View Source). Patients are currently being enrolled at dose level 3 (450×106 CAR-T cells).
•Preclinical data for CB-011 were published in Cancer Immunology Research (View Source) in February 2024. The manuscript is available on Caribou’s website under Scientific Publications (View Source).
CB-012, a clinical-stage allogeneic anti-CLL-1 CAR-T cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia
•The first patient has been dosed in the AMpLify Phase 1 clinical trial (View Source?term=cb-012&" target="_blank" title="View Source?term=cb-012&" rel="nofollow">View Source;rank=1&tab=table), which is evaluating CB-012 in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML). Additional site activation is underway.
•Preclinical data for CB-012 highlighting the investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies will be presented as a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2024, held April 5-10, 2024 in San Diego.
CB-020, a preclinical allogeneic anti-ROR1 CAR-NK cell therapy
•As part of a regular portfolio prioritization process, Caribou has paused the development of CB-020, a preclinical allogeneic anti-ROR1 CAR-NK cell therapy. Caribou continues to develop its CAR-NK cell therapy platform as these therapies may have potential for the treatment of multiple diseases.

2024 anticipated milestones
•CB-010: In Q2 2024, Caribou plans to present initial dose expansion data, the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), and emerging translational data from the ANTLER Phase 1 clinical trial, as well as an updated timeline for the pivotal Phase 3 trial initiation.
•CB-011: Caribou plans to present initial dose escalation data from the CaMMouflage Phase 1 clinical trial by year-end 2024.
•CB-012: Caribou plans to provide updates on dose escalation as the AMpLify Phase 1 clinical trial in r/r AML advances.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities: Caribou had $372.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2023, compared to $317.0 million as of December 31, 2022. The 2023 amount includes the approximately $134.4 million in net proceeds from the Company’s underwritten public offering in July and August 2023 and the $25.0 million equity investment (View Source) in June 2023 from Pfizer. Caribou expectsthese cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan into Q1 2026.

Licensing and collaboration revenue: Revenue from Caribou’s licensing and collaboration agreements was $3.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and $34.5 million for the full year 2023, compared to $3.7 million and $13.9 million, respectively, for the same periods 2022. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to $24.8 million in revenue recognized under the now-terminated AbbVie Collaboration and License Agreement, including $20.8 million of deferred revenue recognized upon termination of this agreement as previously disclosed, which was the remaining deferred revenue balance from AbbVie’s $30 million upfront payment in February 2021.
R&D expenses: Research and development expenses were $31.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and $112.1 million for full year 2023, compared to $25.7 million and $82.2 million respectively, for the same periods in 2022. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to costs to advance pipeline programs, including the CB-010 ANTLER, CB-011 CaMMouflage, and CB-012 AMpLify Phase 1 clinical trials; personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, due to headcount increases; and facilities and other allocated expenses.

G&A expenses: General and administrative expenses were $9.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and $38.5 million for the full year 2023, compared to $8.5 million and $38.0 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2022. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, due to headcount increases, and other facilities and allocated expenses. These increases were partially offset by decreases in insurance and other service-related expenses, and patent prosecution and maintenance costs.
Net loss: Caribou reported a net loss of $34.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and $102.1 million for the full year 2023, compared to a net loss of 27.0 million and $99.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2022.

About CB-010
CB-010 is the lead product candidate from Caribou’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform and is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r B-NHL). In the ongoing ANTLER Phase 1 trial, Caribou is enrolling second-line patients with large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) comprised of different subtypes of aggressive r/r B-NHL (DLBCL NOS, PMBCL, HGBL, tFL, and tMZL). CB-010 is an allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy engineered using Cas9 CRISPR hybrid RNA-DNA (chRDNA) genome-editing technology. To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-010 is the first allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy in the clinic with a PD-1 knockout, a genome-editing strategy designed to improve antitumor activity by limiting premature CAR-T cell exhaustion. To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-010 is the first anti-CD19 allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy to be evaluated in the second-line LBCL setting and it has been granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT), Fast Track, and Orphan Drug designations by the FDA for specific indications. Additional information on the ANTLER trial (NCT04637763) can be found at clinicaltrials.gov (View Source).

About CB-011
CB-011 is a product candidate from Caribou’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform and is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM) in the CaMMouflage Phase 1 trial. CB-011 is an allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy engineered using Cas12a chRDNA genome-editing technology. To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-011 is the first allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy in the clinic that is engineered to improve antitumor activity through an immune cloaking strategy with a B2M knockout and insertion of a B2M–HLA-E fusion protein to blunt immune-mediated rejection. CB-011 has been granted Fast Track and orphan drug designations by the FDA. Additional information on the CaMMouflage trial (NCT05722418) can be found at clinicaltrials.gov (View Source).

About CB-012
CB-012 is a product candidate from Caribou’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform and is being evaluated in the AMpLify Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML). CB-012 is an anti-CLL-1 CAR-T cell therapy engineered with five genome edits, enabled by Caribou’s patented next-generation CRISPR technology platform, which uses Cas12a chRDNA genome editing to significantly improve the specificity of genome edits. To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-012 is the first allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy with both checkpoint disruption, through a PD-1 knockout, and immune cloaking, through a B2M knockout and B2M–HLA-E fusion protein insertion; both armoring strategies are designed to improve antitumor activity. Caribou has exclusively in-licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in the field of allogeneic CLL-1-targeted cell therapy a panel of fully human scFvs targeting CLL-1, from which the company has selected an appropriate scFv for the generation of the company’s CAR. Additional information on the AMpLify trial (NCT06128044) can be found at clinicaltrials.gov (View Source).

On March 11, 2024 Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address oncology and inflammatory diseases, reported its VP of Business Development, Dr. Sari Fishman, will present data from the pancreatic and liver cancer programs during numerous partnering meetings at the BIO-Europe Spring 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, on Mar 18-27, 2024 (https://informaconnect.com/bioeurope-spring/) (Press release, Can-Fite BioPharma, MAR 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234641010]).

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Can-Fite’s pipeline of indications includes Namodenoson for the treatment of advanced liver cancer and pancreatic cancer; both indications have been licensed to the Swiss company Ewopharma for Eastern Europe. The liver cancer indication has been licensed as well to CMS in China and CKD in South Korea. Piclidenoson has been out-licensed to Cipher in Canada; Gebro Pharma for Swiss, Spain, Austria; CMS for China; and Kyongboo for South Korea. Each of the deals include upfront and milestone payments. The Company’s growing slate of indications and advanced pipeline are attracting increased interest from additional potential partners. Focusing on its core expertise in clinical development, Can-Fite pursues a strategy of partnering with companies in specific geographic markets that specialize in pharmaceutical distribution and regional regulatory approval.

"Advanced liver cancer and pancreatic cancer are Can-Fite’s clinical-stage indications for Namodenoson and am delighted with the interest that Namodenoson is raising with companies that will participate in the Bio Europe Conference and are experts in drug development and distribution in the oncology arena. The conference provides us with the opportunity to present our other developments to lead pharmaceutical companies," stated Dr. Sari Fishman, VP Business Development at Can-Fite.

On March 11, 2024 BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, "BioNTech" or "the Company") reported that it will present clinical trial data for selected candidates from its oncology pipeline at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) ("AACR") Annual Meeting 2024 in San Diego, California, from April 5-10, 2024 (Press release, BioNTech, MAR 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234641008]). The oral and poster presentations will feature BioNTech’s investigational mRNA-based cancer vaccine and novel investigational antibody-drug conjugate ("ADC") approaches.

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"This year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) presentations feature candidates from our individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA cancer vaccine platforms, including a late-breaking presentation of longer-term follow-up data with our individualized mRNA-based candidate autogene cevumeran in patients with pancreatic cancer," said Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer at BioNTech. "Our investigational mRNA cancer vaccine approaches are an important pillar in our oncology portfolio, aimed at eliminating residual tumor foci and reducing the tumor burden by targeting multiple antigens at once. The data we will be sharing at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) show how we’re delivering on our commitment to patients through investigating novel treatment approaches."

Highlights of BioNTech’s clinical stage programs to be presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2024:

Longer-term follow-up data of activity and immune responses of the investigator-initiated first-in-human Phase 1 trial (NCT04161755) with the mRNA-based individualized neoantigen-specific immunotherapy ("iNeST") candidate autogene cevumeran (BNT122, RO7198457) in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma ("PDAC") will be presented. The results of the Phase 1 trial were published in Nature. The candidate is currently being evaluated in an ongoing randomized Phase 2 trial (NCT05968326) in PDAC and is jointly being developed by BioNTech and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.
BioNTech will present preliminary results on the LuCa-MERIT-1 Phase 1 trial (NCT05142189) with its off-the-shelf, shared tumor-associated-antigen-based mRNA therapeutic cancer vaccine candidate BNT116 in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC"). The data show antitumor activity, consistent induction of immune responses in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced NSCLC, and a manageable safety profile.
A trial in progress poster will inform on the global Phase 1/2a trial (NCT05914116) of the topoisomerase-1 inhibitor-based ADC candidate BNT324/DB-1311 targeting the immune checkpoint protein B7H3 in patients with pretreated advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The candidate is being jointly developed by BioNTech and Duality Biologics.
BioNTech has established a diversified clinical oncology pipeline of more than 20 clinical programs along mRNA-based therapeutic cancer vaccines, targeted therapies comprising cell therapies and ADCs, and novel immunomodulators in unmet medical need solid tumor indications. These candidates are currently being evaluated in more than 30 clinical studies, including nine programs in advanced Phase 2 trials and two candidates in pivotal Phase 3 trials. BioNTech is advancing the Company’s key programs into late-stage development with the aim to have ten or more potentially registrational trials in its oncology pipeline by the end of 2024.

The full abstracts are available on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting website. Click here for further information on BioNTech’s pipeline candidates.

Full presentation details:

Late-breaking presentation
Candidate: Autogene cevumeran (BNT122, RO7198457)
Session Title: "Cancer Vaccines: Ready for Prime Time?"
Abstract Title: "Personalized RNA neoantigen vaccines induce long-lived CD8+ T effector cells in pancreatic cancer"
Abstract Number: CT025
Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST

Posters
Candidate: BNT116
Session Title: Phase I Clinical Trials
Abstract Title: "Preliminary results from LuCa-MERIT-1, a first-in-human Phase I trial evaluating the hexavalent TAA-encoding mRNA vaccine BNT116 + docetaxel in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer"
Location: Poster Section 48
Poster Number: CT051
Date: Monday, April 8, 2024

Candidate: BNT324/DB-1311
Session Title: Phase I Clinical Trials in Progress 2
Abstract Title: "A phase 1/2a, multicenter, open-label, first-in-human study to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity of DB-1311 (a B7-H3-targeting ADC) in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors"
Location: Poster Section 50
Poster Number: CT165
Date: Monday, April 8, 2024

On March 11, 2024 Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRE) ("Aprea", or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on precision oncology through synthetic lethality, reported that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with new and existing healthcare focused institutional investors and certain Company insiders to raise up to $34.0 million in gross proceeds, including initial upfront funding of $16.0 million and up to an additional $18.0 million upon cash exercise of accompanying warrants at the election of the investors (Press release, Aprea, MAR 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234641007]).

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The financing is being led by Sphera Healthcare and includes participation from new and existing healthcare-focused investors, including Nantahala Capital, DAFNA Capital Management, Exome Asset Management and Stonepine Capital Management, among others, as well as certain Company insiders.

"This meaningful financing led by high quality healthcare institutions will support Aprea in our goal to be a leader in the field of Synthetic Lethality (SL) and DNA Damage and Response (DDR)," said Dr. Oren Gilad, President and CEO of Aprea. "It will provide the capital to fund our Phase 1 ACESOT-1051 clinical trial evaluating a highly potent, oral WEE1 inhibitor for Cyclin E over-expressing cancers including breast and ovarian cancers as well as continuation of patient enrollment in the dose expansion portion of the Phase 1/2a clinical trial (AR-276-01) evaluating ATR inhibitor, ATRN-119, in patients with advanced solid tumors having mutations in defined DDR-related genes."

Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole placement agent for the private placement.

Pursuant to terms of the securities purchase agreement, Aprea will issue an aggregate of 2,194,788 shares of its common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) and accompanying warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,194,788 shares of its common stock at a combined purchase price of $7.29 per share and accompanying warrants, in accordance with the "Minimum Price" requirement as defined in the Nasdaq rules. The accompanying warrants will consist of two tranches:

Tranche A warrants to purchase up to 1,097,394 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.29 per share for an aggregate of up to $8.0 million and will expire at the earlier of (i) 30 days following the announcement of the recommended Phase 2 dose for the Company’s ATR inhibitor program for ATRN-119 and the daily VWAP of the Company’s common stock equaling or exceeding $14.58 per share for 30 consecutive trading days following the announcement and (ii) three years from the date of issuance.
Tranche B warrants to purchase up to 1,097,394 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $9.1125 per share for an aggregate of up to $10.0 million and will expire at the earlier of (i) 30 days following the announcement of the recommended Phase 2 dose for the Company’s WEE1 inhibitor program for APR-1051 and the daily VWAP of the Company’s common stock equaling or exceeding $18.225 per share for 30 consecutive trading days following the announcement and (ii) five years from the date of issuance.
In lieu of shares of common stock, certain investors are purchasing pre-funded warrants at a combined purchase price of $7.289 per pre-funded warrant and accompanying warrants, which equals the purchase price per share of common stock and accompanying warrant, less the $0.001 per share exercise price of each pre-funded warrant. The private placement is expected to close on or about March 13, 2024 subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Aprea intends to use the upfront net proceeds from the private placement for general corporate purposes and to fund clinical development of APR-1051, the Company’s WEE1 inhibitor product candidate which recently received IND clearance. The aggregate net proceeds (assuming the cash exercise of all accompanying warrants) are expected to be sufficient to fund the Company into 2026.

The offer and sale of the foregoing securities are being made in a transaction not involving a public offering, and the securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities may not be reoffered or resold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws. The Company has agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission registering the resale of the shares of common stock purchased in the private placement and shares of common stock underlying the warrants.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state. Any offering of the securities under the resale registration statement will only be made by means of a prospectus.