On May 8, 2023 FibroGen, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGEN) reported financial results for the first quarter 2023 and provided an update on the company’s recent developments (Press release, FibroGen, MAY 8, 2023, View Source [SID1234631142]).
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"We look forward to reporting topline data from four pivotal phase 3 trials through the third quarter of this year," said Enrique Conterno, Chief Executive Officer, FibroGen. "We are excited about expanding our clinical pipeline with FOR46 and strengthening our balance sheet with the recent corporate financing activities."
Recent Developments and Key Events of First Quarter 2023:
Completed enrollment of the ZEPHYRUS-2 Phase 3 clinical trial of pamrevlumab in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Completed enrollment of the China Phase 3 study of roxadustat in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.
Completed non-dilutive term loan facility with Morgan Stanley Tactical Value of up to $150 million.
Entered into exclusive license for FOR46 with Fortis Therapeutics.
Partner Eluminex Biosciences implanted the first patient with a biosynthetic cornea in their pivotal clinical trial in China.
Reported topline results from the MATTERHORN Phase 3 study of roxadustat in anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes.
Upcoming Milestones:
Pamrevlumab
Topline data from the LELANTOS-1 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in non-ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients expected 2Q 2023.
Topline data from the ZEPHYRUS-1 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) expected mid-2023.
Topline data from the LELANTOS-2 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in ambulatory DMD patients expected 3Q 2023.
Topline data from the LAPIS Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC) expected 1H 2024.
Topline data from the ZEPHYRUS-2 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in IPF expected mid-2024.
Roxadustat
Topline data from the China Phase 3 study of roxadustat for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia expected 2Q 2023.
Preclinical Pipeline
Expect to file up to two INDs: FG-3165 (anti-Gal9 antibody) and FG-3163 (anti-CCR8 antibody) near year-end 2023.
China Performance:
First quarter FibroGen’s net product revenue under U.S. GAAP from the sale of roxadustat in China was $24.2 million compared to $18.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 28%.
First quarter total roxadustat net sales in China1 by FibroGen and the distribution entity (JDE) jointly owned by FibroGen and AstraZeneca was $64.1 million, compared to $43.5 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 47%.
Roxadustat continues to be the number one brand based on value share in the anemia of CKD market in China.
Financial:
Total revenue for the first quarter of 2023 was $36.2 million, as compared to $60.8 million for the first quarter of 2022, which included a $25 million milestone payment.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2023 was $76.7 million, or $0.81 net loss per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $63.2 million, or $0.68 net loss per basic and diluted share one year ago.
At March 31, 2023, cash – defined as cash, cash equivalents, investments, and accounts receivable – was $373.6 million, including proceeds received during the quarter from recent use of the Company’s at-the-market equity facility.
We expect our cash, cash equivalents, investments, and accounts receivable to be sufficient to fund our operating plans through 2024.
1 Total roxadustat net sales in China includes sales made by the distribution entity as well as FibroGen China’s direct sales, each to its own distributors. The distribution entity jointly owned by AstraZeneca and FibroGen is not consolidated into FibroGen’s financial statements.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
FibroGen will host a conference call and webcast today, Monday, May 8, 2023, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss financial results and provide a business update. Interested parties may access a live audio webcast of the conference call via the "Investor Relations" page of the Company’s website at www.fibrogen.com. To access the call by phone, please go to this link (registration link), and you will be provided with dial-in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial in to the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay of the webcast will also be available for a limited time at the following link (webcast replay).
About Pamrevlumab
Pamrevlumab is a potential first-in-class antibody being developed by FibroGen to inhibit the activity of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a common factor in fibrotic and proliferative disorders characterized by persistent and excessive scarring that can lead to organ dysfunction and failure. Pamrevlumab is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and in Phase 2/3 for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), and Fast Track designation to pamrevlumab for the treatment of patients with IPF, DMD, and LAPC. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to pamrevlumab for the treatment of patients with DMD. Pamrevlumab has demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile that has supported ongoing clinical investigation in IPF, DMD, and LAPC. Pamrevlumab is an investigational drug and not approved for marketing by any regulatory authority. For information about pamrevlumab studies currently recruiting patients, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Roxadustat
Roxadustat, an oral medication, is the first in a new class of medicines comprising HIF-PH inhibitors that promote erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production, through increased endogenous production of erythropoietin, improved iron absorption and mobilization, and downregulation of hepcidin. Roxadustat is in clinical development for anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA).
Roxadustat is approved in China, Europe, Japan, and numerous other countries for the treatment of anemia of CKD in adult patients on dialysis (DD) and not on dialysis (NDD). Several other licensing applications for roxadustat have been submitted by partners, Astellas and AstraZeneca to regulatory authorities across the globe, and are currently under review.
Astellas and FibroGen are collaborating on the development and commercialization of roxadustat for the potential treatment of anemia in territories including Japan, Europe, Turkey, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, and South Africa. FibroGen and AstraZeneca are collaborating on the development and commercialization of roxadustat for the potential treatment of anemia in the U.S., China, and other markets not licensed to Astellas.