On August 3, 2023 NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NGM Bio) (Nasdaq: NGM), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing transformative therapeutics for patients, reported financial results for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2023 and provided business highlights (Press release, NGM Biopharmaceuticals, AUG 3, 2023, View Source [SID1234633788]).

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"We continue to make steady progress in clinical trials of our lead solid tumor oncology programs NGM707, NGM438 and NGM831," said David J. Woodhouse, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at NGM Bio. "We also announced positive data in the second quarter from a Phase 2 investigator-sponsored trial of aldafermin for the treatment of patients with IBS-D and BAM, and from a Phase 2b trial of aldafermin in compensated cirrhosis (F4) patients, furthering our belief in the therapeutic potential of aldafermin. These latest data deepen the strong body of clinical evidence we have amassed demonstrating the activity and safety of aldafermin, which we will leverage as we engage in potential partnering discussions for continued development of this product candidate."

Key Second Quarter and Recent Highlights

Aldafermin
•Announced positive data from Phase 2 investigator-sponsored trial of aldafermin for the treatment of patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS-D and BAM in May 2023 at Digestive Disease Week 2023. Aldafermin demonstrated statistically significant reductions in serum 7αC4 (a marker of bile acid synthesis) and fecal bile acids versus placebo in patients with idiopathic BAM with IBS-D.

•Announced positive topline data from the Phase 2b ALPINE 4 trial of aldafermin in 160 patients with compensated cirrhosis due to NASH (liver fibrosis stage 4, or, F4) in May 2023. The study met its primary endpoint with a statistically significant reduction in Enhanced Liver Fibrosis, or ELF, score from baseline to week 48 in patients treated with 3 mg of aldafermin versus patients receiving placebo. Aldafermin was generally well tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events and a safety and tolerability profile generally consistent with prior trials of aldafermin.

Solid Tumor Oncology

•Following the initiation of the first two Phase 2b expansion cohorts, continued enrollment in the Phase 1/2 trial evaluating NGM707, an ILT2/ILT4 antagonist antibody product candidate, in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab).
•Continued enrollment in the Phase 1/1b trial evaluating NGM438, a LAIR1 antagonist antibody product candidate, as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

•Continued enrollment in the Phase 1/1b trial evaluating NGM831, an ILT3 antagonist antibody product candidate, as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.
Corporate Updates
•Announced Siobhan Nolan Mangini will step down as President and Chief Financial Officer at NGM Bio. To support a smooth transition, she will stay on until December 1, 2023. NGM Bio has initiated a search to identify the company’s next Chief Financial Officer.

•Substantially completed activities related to the restructuring of NGM Bio’s workforce announced in April 2023. NGM Bio incurred restructuring charges of approximately $5.0 million, the majority of which were paid in the second quarter.
Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
•NGM Bio reported a net loss of $38.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to a net loss of $46.5 million for the same period in 2022.
•Related party revenue from our collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, or Merck, was $1.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2022. Our related party revenue from Merck will continue to decrease in 2023 and we expect approximately $0.6 million of funding from Merck from July 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024.
•R&D expenses were $32.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $45.4 million for the same period in 2022. R&D expenses included restructuring charges of $3.9 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.
•General and administrative expenses were $9.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $9.9 million for the same period in 2022. G&A expenses included restructuring charges of $1.1 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.
•Cash, cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities were $193.5 million as of June 30, 2023, compared to $271.5 million as of December 31, 2022. NGM Bio expects its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its planned operations into the second quarter of 2025. NGM Bio has based this estimate on plans and assumptions that may prove to be insufficient or inaccurate (for example, with respect to anticipated costs, timing or success of certain activities), and the company could utilize its available financial resources sooner than it currently expects.