On August 10, 2020 AnaptysBio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANAB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody product candidates focused on emerging immune control mechanisms applicable to inflammation and immuno-oncology indications, reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 and provided pipeline updates (Press release, AnaptysBio, AUG 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234563315]).
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"While we are disappointed with the recent interim analysis results from our ongoing ECLIPSE trial, we look forward to additional Phase 2 clinical trial readouts anticipated over the upcoming quarters," said Hamza Suria, president and chief executive officer of AnaptysBio. "We remain focused on the continued discovery and development of novel antibodies using our capital-efficient business model which has already advanced 7 internally-generated antibodies to the clinic to date. We also anticipate significant milestone and royalty revenues from the FDA approval of dostarlimab under our GSK partnership."
Etokimab (ANB020 Anti-IL-33) Program
•In an interim analysis at week 8 of the ongoing ECLIPSE Phase 2 trial of etokimab in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, patients dosed with etokimab every four (q4w) or eight weeks (q8w) failed to achieve statistically significant improvement in their bilateral nasal polyps score (NPS), an endoscopic measure of nasal occlusion, and their sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22), a patient reported quality-of-life assessment, versus placebo at the week 8 timepoint. Both endpoints demonstrated statistically significant improvement over baseline levels of NPS and SNOT-22. Blood eosinophil levels, which are a biomarker of etokimab’s mechanism, demonstrated statistically significant reduction relative to baseline in both etokimab treatment arms. The Company intends to decide on a path forward for the etokimab program after reviewing week 16 primary endpoint data by year-end 2020.
Imsidolimab (Anti-IL-36 Receptor) Program
•In July we announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for imsidolimab, the company’s proprietary anti-interleukin-36 receptor (IL-36R) antibody, for the treatment of patients with GPP. Treatment of GPP by imsidolimab is being evaluated in the GALLOP Phase 2 trial, where additional clinical data and a regulatory update is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2020.
•The Company is also 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 topline data anticipated in the first quarter of 2021, following COVID-19-related site closures that impacted enrollment in POPLAR during the second quarter.
•We anticipate expanding the imsidolimab program in two new indications based upon human translational data that suggests each of these conditions are mediated by dysregulated signaling through the IL-36 pathway:
◦Treatment of solid tumors with inhibitors of epidermal growth factor (EGFRi) and MAPK/ERK kinase (MEKi) is frequently limited by the occurrence of skin toxicities. These toxicities, which can lead to dose reduction and discontinuation of treatment, have been reported to occur as a result of excess IL-36 signaling, leading to IL-8-mediated cutaneous neutrophilia and acneiform rash. Based on existing claims data, approximately 60,000 patients are prescribed EGFRi and/or MEKi treatments annually, and the vast majority of these patients experience dermatological toxicity. Current standard-of-care treatments are generally ineffective in patients with the most severe grades of EGFRi and/or MEKi mediated acneiform rash. During the fourth quarter of 2020, we anticipate initiating a Phase 2 trial of imsidolimab, in combination with EGFRi/MEKi inhibitors, to assess its efficacy in the treatment of this indication.
◦Ichthyosis is a family of rare, inherited, dermatological disorders characterized by dry, scaling and thickened skin. Approximately 6,000 patients in the United States are affected with moderate-to-severe levels of ichthyosis and no approved therapies are available for this disease. Recent translational data supports the role of IL-36 signaling in ichthyosis, and we anticipate initiating a Phase 2 trial of imsidolimab in this indication during the fourth quarter 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. Preclinical translational data using ANB030 was presented in March 2020 at the Festival of Biologics Meeting. We initiated a Phase 1 healthy volunteer clinical trial, designed to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ANB030 in single and multiple ascending dose cohorts, during the first half of 2020, and top-line data from this trial is anticipated in mid-2021.
ANB032 (Anti-BTLA Modulator) Program
•Our fourth wholly-owned program is an anti-BTLA modulator antibody, known as ANB032, which is broadly applicable to human inflammatory diseases associated with lymphoid and myeloid immune cell dysregulation. Mutations in the BTLA signaling pathway are associated
with human inflammatory disease, and we believe ANB032 silences pro-inflammatory signaling by modulating BTLA binding to HVEM. We anticipate filing an IND for ANB032 in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Dostarlimab (Anti-PD-1 Antagonist) Program Partnered with GSK
•In the first quarter of 2020, the FDA accepted the first Biologics License Application (BLA) filing for dostarlimab, an AnaptysBio-generated PD-1 antagonist antibody under partnership with GSK, for the treatment of advanced or recurrent deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) endometrial cancer. AnaptysBio received a $10.0 million cash milestone payment upon this acceptance, and anticipates an additional $20.0 million cash milestone payment upon first FDA approval of dostarlimab during the second half of 2020. Also in the first quarter of 2020, the EMA accepted GSK’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for approval of dostarlimab in the EU for endometrial cancer, for which AnaptysBio has received a $5.0 million milestone payment and anticipates an additional $10.0 million cash milestone payment upon EMA approval.
•AnaptysBio also expects to receive milestone payments from GSK during 2021 for acceptance and approval by the FDA of dostarlimab in dMMR pan-tumor cancer. All milestone payment amounts for this second indication for dostarlimab will be the same as the corresponding milestone payment amounts for the first indication.
•Including additional cash milestones due upon future development and commercialization of dostarlimab, GSK4069889A, an AnaptysBio-generated TIM-3 antibody, and GSK4074386, an AnaptysBio-generated LAG-3 antibody, AnaptysBio can potentially receive a total of $1.1 billion in aggregate milestone payments under this GSK partnership. In addition, AnaptysBio is due a 4% to 8% royalty from GSK, tiered upon global sales, for each of the aforementioned programs.
Second Quarter Financial Results
•Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $392.2 million as of June 30, 2020 compared to $428.5 million as of December 31, 2019, for a decrease of $36.3 million. The decrease relates primarily to cash used for operating activities.
•Collaboration revenue was zero and $15.0 million for the three and six months ended June,30 2020, which related to milestone payments for successful BLA and MAA filings for dostarlimab by GSK, compared to $5 million for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2019.
•Research and development expenses were $17.9 million and $38.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $27.4 million and $48.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019. The decrease was due primarily to reduced outside services for manufacturing expenses based on the timing of projects.
•General and administrative expenses were $4.7 million and $9.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $4.3 million and $8.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019. The increase was due primarily to increased legal and insurance expenses.
•Net loss was $21.5 million and $29.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, or a net loss per share of $0.79 and $1.09, compared to a net loss of $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.
Financial Guidance
AnaptysBio expects its net cash burn in 2020 will be approximately $60.0 million, and that its cash, cash equivalents and investments will fund its current operating plan at least into 2023.