On August 9, 2021 Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRO), a clinical-stage drug discovery, development and manufacturing company focused on the application of precise protein engineering and rational design to create next-generation cancer and autoimmune therapeutics, reported its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, its recent business highlights, and provided a preview of anticipated selected milestones in the second half of 2021 (Press release, Sutro Biopharma, AUG 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234586160]).
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"Additional follow-up data from our STRO-002 dose-escalation data were presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and these data continue to demonstrate meaningful clinical benefit for women with advanced ovarian cancer. Enrollment in the dose-expansion cohort is ongoing and we look forward to providing an update later this year," said Bill Newell, Sutro’s Chief Executive Officer. "Our ADC collaborations with Bristol Myers Squibb and EMD Serono continue to make progress in the clinic. We are also encouraged by the strength of the Merck cytokine collaboration, with the first product candidate in IND-enabling studies and additional potential product candidates under development. These high-value partnerships add to the breadth of Sutro’s accomplishments in developing novel therapeutics to expand much-needed treatment options for cancer patients."
Recent Business Highlights and Anticipated Second Half 2021 Milestones
STRO-002, FolRα-Targeting ADC: Enrollment continues in the Phase 1 dose-expansion cohort for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.
The dose-escalation cohort of the Phase 1 trial completed enrollment as of August 31, 2020, and updated data were reported in May 2021 and presented as a poster at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting in June 2021.
The enrollment for the dose-expansion cohort of the Phase 1 trial is ongoing, with additional sites activated in the US and a CTA approved to initiate the study in Spain.
Sutro is expected to report initial data for the dose-expansion cohort in the second half of 2021; the data are expected to inform regulatory interactions and registration strategy as well as enable the identification of the broadest patient population that may benefit from STRO–002.
STRO-001, CD74-Targeting ADC: Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 1 dose-escalation for patients with B-cell malignancies, including patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
STRO-003: Preclinical development is underway and a product candidate is expected to be unveiled in the second half of 2021.
Merck Collaboration: First product candidate is in IND-enabling studies.
In April 2021, Merck initiated IND-enabling toxicology studies for the first program under the July 2018 cytokine derivatives collaboration, for which Sutro earned a $15 million milestone payment.
Additionally, research on the second cytokine derivative program is continuing.
BMS Collaboration: Phase 1 trial for CC-99712, BCMA-targeting ADC for patients with multiple myeloma, is ongoing.
EMD Serono Collaboration: Phase 1 trial for M1231, a first-in-class bispecific ADC targeting MUC1–EGFR for development in solid tumors, is ongoing.
Merck KGaA, EMD Serono (EMD Serono) began enrolling patients in the first quarter of 2021 in the dose-escalation portion of a Phase 1 trial of M1231 for treatment of metastatic solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Sutro earned a milestone payment based on a patient enrollment achievement in the M1231 in the second quarter of 2021.
Vaxcyte Relationship: Partnership with Vaxcyte is exploring the potential of conjugated vaccines utilizing the power of Sutro’s cell-free technology.
Leadership Updates: Sutro continues to strengthen leadership through the addition of a Chief Commercial Officer, promotion of a Chief Portfolio Strategy & Alliance Officer, and additions to the Scientific Advisory Board.
Jane Chung joins the company as the Chief Commercial Officer and will provide patient, provider, thought leader and reimbursement insights as Sutro’s clinical programs advance. Ms. Chung has more than 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience, having most recently served as President of AstraZeneca Canada, as well as previous roles at Onyx Pharmaceuticals and Genentech, and is a registered pharmacist.
Nicki Vasquez, Ph.D., has been promoted to Chief Portfolio Strategy & Alliance Officer and will provide continued support of portfolio strategy development, execution, and alliance leadership. Dr. Vasquez has led Alliance and Portfolio Management since 2015. Prior to Sutro, she was VP of Program & Portfolio Management at StemCells, Inc. and was previously at Elan Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Vasquez obtained her doctoral degree in immunology from the University of California, San Diego, and received her post-doctoral training at Genentech.
Robert Abraham, Ph.D., joined the Sutro Scientific Advisory Board in July 2021. Dr. Abraham is currently Chief Scientific Officer at Vividion Therapeutics and also an Adjunct Professor in Pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego, and is at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. Previously, he was Senior Vice President and Group Leader of the Oncology R&D Group at Pfizer.
Stanley R. Frankel, M.D., joined the Sutro Scientific Advisory Board in June 2021. Dr. Frankel is currently Chief Medical Officer at Cytovia Therapeutics and is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, New York.
Second Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
As of June 30, 2021, Sutro had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $283.4 million, as compared to $326.5 million as of December 31, 2020, with projected runway into the second half of 2023, based on current business plans and assumptions. This does not include the value associated with Sutro’s holdings of approximately 1.6 million shares of Vaxcyte common stock. As of June 30, 2021, the fair value of the Vaxcyte common stock held by Sutro was $35.3 million.
Unrealized Gain (Loss) from Decrease in Value of Vaxcyte Common Stock
The non-operating, unrealized gain of $4.3 million and unrealized loss of $6.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 were due to the increase since March 31, 2021 and the decrease since December 31, 2020, respectively, in the estimated fair value of Sutro’s holdings of Vaxcyte common stock. Vaxcyte common stock held by Sutro will be remeasured at fair value based on the closing price of Vaxcyte’s common stock on the last trading day of each reporting period, with any non-operating, unrealized gains and losses recorded in Sutro’s statements of operations.
Revenue
Revenue was $28.0 million and $42.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively, compared to $9.5 million and $16.6 million for the same periods in 2020, related principally to the Merck, BMS, and EMD Serono collaborations. Future collaboration revenue from Merck, BMS, and EMD Serono, and from any future collaboration partners, will fluctuate as a result of the amount and timing of revenue recognition of upfront, milestones, and other collaboration agreement payments.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 were $37.9 million and $71.5 million, respectively, compared to $25.9 million and $52.2 million for the same periods in 2020, including non-cash stock-based compensation of $5.9 million and $3.0 million, and depreciation and amortization expense of $1.1 million and $1.1 million, in the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were comprised of research and development expenses of $25.3 million and general and administrative expenses of $12.5 million, which are expected to increase in 2021 as Sutro’s internal product candidates advance in clinical development and additional general and administrative expenses are incurred as a public company.