On August 4, 2016 Endocyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECYT), a leader in developing targeted small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) and companion imaging agents for personalized therapy, reported financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2016, and provided a clinical update (Press release, Endocyte, AUG 4, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514253]).
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
"Excitement is building around our lead assets, EC1456 and EC1169, as data to date has demonstrated attractive safety profiles and signs of anti-tumor activity for both agents. Later this month, we will advance EC1456 into targeted patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) expressing the folate receptor, who are most likely to respond," said Mike Sherman, Endocyte’s president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to our first visibility into efficacy data for both compounds during the second half of the year."
EC1456 (Folate-tubulysin)
The EC1456 phase 1 dose escalation data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting in June highlighted a 45 percent rate of stable disease as best study response across a patient population that included more than a dozen cancer types. Patients are enrolled regardless of their folate receptor (FR) status during this first part of the study.
Endocyte announced today that the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) has been determined in the twice weekly (BIW) dosing schedule for EC1456 at 6.0 mg/m2. Enrollment of FR-positive NSCLC patients in the BIW expansion cohort will begin in August. In this expansion cohort the company plans to evaluate efficacy endpoints, including tumor response, in addition to ongoing assessment of safety. Endocyte’s companion imaging agent, EC20 (etarfolatide), will be utilized to select these patients. The company is continuing to evaluate the MTD in the once weekly dosing regimen.
EC1169 (PSMA-tubulysin)
The EC1169 phase 1 dose escalation study, as presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), highlighted that all patients in the study have some level of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positivity, and the drug has been well tolerated.
"EC1169 has the potential to be a truly differentiated therapy, and it has shown signs of anti-tumor activity, even at low doses, including reductions of prostate-specific antigen levels greater than 50 percent in some patients," commented Alison Armour, M.D., Endocyte’s chief medical officer. "We have worked with key opinion leaders in prostate cancer to define the expansion phase of this trial, and once we determine the MTD, we plan to begin enrolling second-line chemotherapy metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, with a primary study endpoint of radiological progression free survival. We also plan to include an exploratory assessment of taxane-naïve patients, which could allow the possibility of an earlier line therapy."
Upcoming Expected Milestones
Phase 1 updates on EC1456 and EC1169 at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) conference in October 2016
Complete enrollment of first 15 patient cohort in EC1456 expansion trial; single agent efficacy data (tumor response) in NSCLC at a medical meeting in late 2016 or early 2017
EC1169 single agent efficacy data in prostate cancer in late 2016 or early 2017
Updates on plans for earlier stage programs
Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results
Endocyte reported a net loss of $14.0 million, or $0.33 per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of 2016, compared to a net loss of $10.6 million, or $0.25 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2015.
Research and development expenses were $6.8 million for the second quarter of 2016, compared to $6.7 million for the same period in 2015. The slight increase was primarily attributable to an increase in expenses related to the EC1456 and EC1169 dose escalation trials, which was partially offset by a decrease in expenses related to the TARGET trial, which is now complete, and a decrease in compensation expenses, primarily related to noncash stock compensation.
General and administrative expenses were $7.4 million for the second quarter of 2016, compared to $4.1 million for the same period in 2015. The increase in expenses was primarily attributable to an increase in compensation expense related to the resignation of the company’s former Chief Executive Officer, P. Ron Ellis. The company executed a separation agreement with Mr. Ellis during the three months ended June 30, 2016, and under this agreement, the company incurred additional compensation expense of $2.8 million for noncash stock compensation and $0.8 million of expense for a cash payment. The increase in general and administrative expenses was partially offset by a decrease in legal fees.
Cash, cash equivalents and investments were $154.6 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $188.6 million at June 30, 2015, and $173.6 million at December 31, 2015.
Financial Expectations
The company revised guidance for its expected cash balance at the end of 2016 to be above $130 million. Previous guidance was between $125 and $130 million cash balance at the end of 2016.
About the EC1456 Phase 1 Trial
This open-label, multicenter, non-randomized, dose-escalation study is divided into two parts. The first part of the study was designed to evaluate safety and tolerability and identify the MTD of EC1456 in patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors.
The second part of the study will determine the efficacy of EC1456 in patients with FR-positive NSCLC treated with the MTD. The BIW dosing schedule at 6.0 mg/m2 will be evaluated first. Upon the completion of this dosing schedule, additional patients will be enrolled in a once per week dosing schedule cohort. Single agent tumor response will be evaluated, which will inform and may trigger additional work in combination therapies and indications such as triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Patient FR-status will be determined using the investigational companion imaging agent, EC20 (etarfolatide). EC1456 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 study in patients with advanced solid tumors (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01999738).
About the EC1169 Phase 1 Trial
This open-label, multicenter, non-randomized, dose-escalation study is divided into two parts. The first part of the study was designed to evaluate safety and tolerability and identify the MTD of EC1169 in patients with prostate cancer.
The second part of the study will determine the efficacy of the MTD of EC1169 in mCRPC patients who have been previously treated with a taxane-based chemotherapy. The primary study endpoint will be radiological progression free survival in patients selected as PSMA-positive. A second cohort will include an exploratory assessment of taxane-naïve patients. Patient PSMA status will be determined using the investigational companion imaging agent, EC0652. EC1169 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 study in mCRPC patients (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02202447).