On November 1, 2018 OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMED), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics, reported third quarter 2018 financial results and provided a corporate update (Press release, OncoMed, NOV 1, 2018, View Source [SID1234530524]). As of September 30, 2018, cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $70.9 million.

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"As anticipated, our development efforts have culminated in a stream of data this year and set the stage for additional data flow in 2019," said John Lewicki, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of OncoMed. "The efficacy of navicixizumab, both as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy, has been impressive in patients with heavily pretreated, late stage recurrent ovarian cancer. We continue to enroll additional patients in our ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial as we consider the possible next steps for this program. Concurrently, clinical investigation and proof of concept continues for our other clinical candidates: etigilimab (anti-TIGIT) and GITRL-Fc in metastatic solid tumor settings."

Pipeline Highlights

Navicixizumab (anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific; OMP-305B83)

In the third quarter, OncoMed reported publication of results from its Phase 1a study of single-agent navicixizumab in patients with refractory solid tumors in Investigational New Drugs. The results showed that 19 of the 66 patients with various types of refractory solid tumors had tumor shrinkage following treatment with navicixizumab. Notably, 3 of the 12 (25%) heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients treated in the trial achieved a partial response with single-agent navicixizumab therapy.

In addition, the company announced interim results from its Phase 1b clinical trial of navicixizumab in combination with weekly paclitaxel in ovarian cancer patients who had received a median of four prior therapies. In addition, all patients had previously received paclitaxel and 69% had received bevacizumab. The results, which were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) meeting, showed that 22 of the 26 patients (85%) treated with the novel regimen experienced clinical benefit. Notably 11 of the 26 patients (42%) achieved a partial response, the GCIG CA-125 response rate was 61% and the median progression-free survival was 5.4 months (95% CI: 3.5-8.0 months). Historical response rates for patients with heavily pretreated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer treated with chemotherapy are typically 15% or less.
Etigilimab (Anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody; OMP-313M32)

Enrollment continues in the company’s Phase 1a/1b clinical trial of etigilimab. Specifically, the company is continuing to enroll patients with select tumor types in the single-agent expansion phase of the study and is also enrolling patients who have progressed on prior immunotherapy in the Phase 1b portion of the trial with these patients being treated with etigilimab plus anti-PD1 (nivolumab). Phase 1a data from the dose-escalation portion of the trial, designed to assess safety and tolerability of escalating doses of etigilimab monotherapy, will be reported at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) meeting in a poster presentation on Friday and Saturday, November 9 and 10, 2018 and in a rapid oral presentation on Saturday, November 10, 2018 from 12:35-1:35 pm Eastern Time.
GITRL-Fc (OMP-336B11)

Enrollment continues in the Phase 1a single-agent study of its wholly-owned GITRL-Fc in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The company is pleased that enrollment in this trial has been robust to date. GITRL-Fc is a fusion protein with an Fc-linked fully human trimer ligand and is designed to activate the co-stimulatory receptor GITR (glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein) to enhance T-cell modulated immune responses. Data from the Phase 1a trial are expected to be presented in 2019.
Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $70.9 million as of September 30, 2018, compared to $103.1 million as of December 31, 2017.

Revenues were $19.5 million for the third quarter of 2018, an increase of $14.4 million, compared to $5.1 million for the same period in 2017. The increase in revenue was due to the Company’s adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers effective January 1, 2018.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $10.0 million for the third quarter of 2018, a decrease of $2.2 million, compared to $12.2 million for the same period in 2017. The decrease in R&D expenses was due to decreases in clinical development costs and a decrease in personnel cost, including stock-based compensation.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $3.7 million for the third quarter of 2018, a decrease of $0.2 million, compared to $3.9 million for the same period in 2017. The decrease in G&A expenses was primarily due to a decrease in personnel cost, including stock-based compensation.

Net income was $6.1 million ($0.16 net income per share, basic and diluted) for the third quarter of 2018, compared to a net loss of $10.7 million ($0.28 net loss per share, basic and diluted) for the same period of 2017. The net income in the third quarter of 2018 was primarily due to higher collaboration revenue as a result of the new revenue recognition accounting standard adopted on January 1, 2018 and lower operating expenses.

2018 Financial Guidance

With resource reprioritization and additional cash management measures, OncoMed’s current cash runway has been extended by one quarter and is now estimated to fund operations through at least the fourth quarter of 2019, without taking into account future potential milestone or opt-in payments from its partners. OncoMed estimates 2018 operating cash burn to be less than $55 million, before considering potential milestone or opt-in payments.