On August 8, 2019 AnaptysBio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANAB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody product candidates focused on unmet medical needs in inflammation, reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 and provided pipeline updates (Press release, AnaptysBio, AUG 8, 2019, View Source [SID1234538411]).
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"In the first half of 2019, we’ve made significant progress across our entire clinical and preclinical pipeline toward achieving our mission of bringing novel treatments to patients with severe inflammatory diseases," said Hamza Suria, president and chief executive officer of AnapytsBio. "With multiple data readouts from our etokimab and ANB019 clinical trials, and an IND planned for ANB030, the remainder of 2019 is set to be an important period for AnaptysBio."
Etokimab (ANB020 Anti-IL-33) Program
In June 2019, AnaptysBio presented full data from its Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial of etokimab in adult patients with severe eosinophilic asthma at the 2019 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress. Data showed that a single dose of etokimab resulted in rapid and sustained lung function improvement as measured using Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second, or FEV1, patient reported outcomes associated with asthma symptoms, as measured using the Asthma Control Questionnaire 5, and biomarker levels as measured using blood eosinophils. The Company believes these data support continued development of etokimab in eosinophilic asthma and plans to initiate a multi-dose Phase 2b randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 300-400 eosinophilic asthma patients in the fourth quarter of 2019.
The Company is also conducting its ATLAS trial, a Phase 2b randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-dose study in approximately 300 adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The study is designed to assess different dose levels and dosing frequencies of subcutaneously-administered etokimab, with top-line data expected in the fourth quarter of 2019.
AnaptysBio is conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in approximately 100 adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, also referred to as the ECLIPSE trial. Patients are being treated with two multi-dosing frequencies of subcutaneously-administered etokimab or placebo, each in combination with mometasone furoate nasal spray as background therapy. The Company anticipates interim top-line data from the ECLIPSE trial in the fourth quarter of 2019.
ANB019 (Anti-IL-36 Receptor) Program
The Company is conducting a single arm, open-label Phase 2 trial of ANB019 in up to 10 patients with generalized pustular psoriasis, or GPP, also known as the GALLOP trial, with interim top-line data expected in mid-2019.
The Company is conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-dose Phase 2 trial in 50 patients with palmoplantar pustulosis, or PPP, also known as the POPLAR trial, with top-line data anticipated in the first half of 2020.
ANB030 (Anti-PD-1 Agonist) Program
ANB030 is a wholly-owned antibody that binds PD-1 in an agonistic manner, leading to reduced T cell activity and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. Genetic mutations in the PD-1 pathway are associated with increased susceptibility to various inflammatory conditions and we believe ANB030 has the potential to suppress inflammatory diseases by restoring insufficient PD-1-mediated negative signaling on activated T cells. The Company plans to focus future clinical development of ANB030 on certain autoimmune diseases where PD-1 checkpoint receptor function may be under-represented and anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) in the fourth quarter of 2019. Preclinical data from the ANB030 was presented in June at the 2019 FOCIS Annual Meeting.
Second Quarter Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $467.9 million as of June 30, 2019 compared to $500.2 million as of December 31, 2018, for a decrease of $32.3 million. The decrease relates primarily to cash used for operating activities.
Collaboration revenue was $5.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, which related to a milestone for initiation of a Phase 3 trial in a second indication for dostarlimab, the anti-PD-1 antagonist antibody partnered with TESARO, a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) company, compared to no revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018.
Research and development expenses were $27.4 million and $48.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to $10.6 million and $22.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. The increase was due primarily to continued advancement of the Company’s etokimab and ANB019 clinical programs and additional personnel-related expenses, including share-based compensation.
General and administrative expenses were $4.3 million and $8.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to $3.8 million and $7.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. The increase was due primarily to additional personnel-related expenses, including share-based compensation.
Net loss was $24.0 million and $46.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, or a net loss per share of $0.89 and $1.70, compared to a net loss of $13.6 million and $28.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, or a net loss per share of $0.57 and $1.20.
Financial Guidance
AnaptysBio expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments will fund its current operating plan at least through the end of 2020.
About Etokimab
Etokimab, previously referred to as ANB020, is an antibody that potently binds and inhibits the activity of interleukin-33, or IL-33, a pro-inflammatory cytokine that multiple studies have indicated is a central mediator of atopic diseases, which AnaptysBio believes is broadly applicable to the treatment of atopic inflammatory disorders, such as atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, or CRSwNP, and potentially other allergic conditions. Following completion of a healthy volunteer Phase 1 trial of etokimab, AnaptysBio continued clinical development of etokimab into a Phase 2a trial for moderate-to-severe adult atopic dermatitis and a placebo-controlled Phase 2a trial in severe adult eosinophilic asthma patients. AnaptysBio is conducting its ATLAS trial, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multi-dose Phase 2b clinical trial of etokimab in approximately 300 moderate-to-severe adult atopic dermatitis patients where top-line data is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2019. The Company is conducting its ECLIPSE trial, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of etokimab in approximately 100 adult patients with CRSwNP with interim top-line data anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2019. AnaptysBio also plans to initiate a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-dose Phase 2b trial of etokimab in patients with eosinophilic asthma in the fourth quarter of 2019.
About ANB019
ANB019 is an antibody that inhibits the function of the interleukin-36-receptor, or IL-36R, which AnaptysBio plans to initially develop as a potential first-in-class therapy for patients suffering from generalized pustular psoriasis, or GPP, and palmoplantar pustulosis, or PPP. AnaptysBio has previously presented data from a Phase 1 clinical trial, which demonstrated favorable safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic properties that supported advancement of ANB019 into Phase 2 studies. AnaptysBio is conducting its GALLOP trial, a Phase 2 study of ANB019 in GPP where interim top-line data is anticipated in mid-2019, and its POPLAR trial, a Phase 2 study in PPP where top-line data is anticipated in the first half of 2020.
About AnaptysBio
AnaptysBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody product candidates focused on unmet medical needs in inflammation. The Company’s proprietary anti-inflammatory pipeline includes its anti-IL-33 antibody etokimab, previously referred to as ANB020, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic asthma, and adult chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, or CRSwNP; its anti-IL-36R antibody ANB019 for the treatment of rare inflammatory diseases, including generalized pustular psoriasis, or GPP, and palmoplantar pustulosis, or PPP; and its PD-1 agonist program, ANB030, and other novel anti-inflammatory checkpoint receptor modulator antibodies for treatment of certain autoimmune diseases where immune checkpoint receptors are insufficiently activated. AnaptysBio’s antibody pipeline has been developed using its proprietary somatic hypermutation, or SHM platform, which uses in vitro SHM for antibody discovery and is designed to replicate key features of the human immune system to overcome the limitations of competing antibody discovery technologies. AnaptysBio has also developed multiple therapeutic antibodies in an immuno-oncology partnership with TESARO, a GSK company, including an anti-PD-1 antagonist antibody (dostarlimab (TSR-042)), an anti-TIM-3 antagonist antibody (TSR-022) and