On November 10, 2022 Aravive, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARAV, "the Company"), a late clinical-stage oncology company developing targeted therapeutics to treat metastatic disease, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 and provided corporate updates (Press release, Aravive, NOV 10, 2022, View Source [SID1234623740]).
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"Aravive continues to make tremendous progress on all fronts," said Gail McIntyre, Ph.D., DABT, Chief Executive Officer of Aravive. "All development activities around our PROC Phase 3 trial, including patient enrollment and CMC, remain on track to deliver topline data in mid-2023. Our trials in clear cell renal cancer and pancreatic cancer continue to provide encouraging data. Importantly, we have been able to secure the proper funding to advance all programs beyond the PROC readout, allowing us to focus on the critical clinical activities around our trials, particularly the PROC registrational study. In addition to the funding itself, we have added new support from a strong and respected syndicate of leading biotech investors. We are grateful for their confidence in both our science and our ability to move it ahead."
Recent Corporate Highlights
The Company Completes PIPE Offering Adding Funding to Support Operations Beyond PROC Readout
In October, the Company raised approximately $41.5 million in gross proceeds from a private placement offering with new biotechnology investors, existing investors and certain of the Company’s management and directors. This funding, along with the receipt of the Company’s milestone payment (see below), takes our cash runway into late 2023, beyond the readout on our Phase 3 ovarian cancer trial. Pro forma cash at September 30, 2022, giving effect to the capital raise (after transaction expenses), milestone payment and cash balances on that date is approximately $73 million. Current common shares outstanding after the offering are 59,826,881 in addition to 15,870,199 prefunded warrants, for a total of 75,697,080 basic shares outstanding.
Continued Progress with the Company’s Partner in China Results in Milestone Payment
Our partner in China, 3D Medicines enrolled patients into its Phase 3 PROC trial, which begins their Phase 3 clinical activity towards ultimate approval in China. The Company received the $6 million payment related to achievement of this milestone in October.
The Phase 3 Platinum Resistant Ovarian Cancer (PROC) Trial Remains On Track
The registration-directed Phase 3 program of batiraxcept in combination with paclitaxel in PROC remains on track to complete enrollment around year-end 2022. The Company continues to expect to report topline data from the trial by mid-2023. CMC work remains on track with the goal of filing a Biologics License Application (BLA) by year-end 2023. The global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial is evaluating efficacy and tolerability of 15 mg/kg batiraxcept in combination with paclitaxel versus placebo in combination with paclitaxel. The trial aims to enroll 350 patients with platinum resistant, high-grade serous ovarian cancer who have received 1-4 prior lines of therapy.
Updated Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer (ccRCC) Data Continues to Be Encouraging
As of August 8, 2022, 26 previously treated (2L+) patients with ccRCC have been treated with batiraxcept in the Phase 1b portion of a Phase 1b/2 trial at doses of 15 mg/kg (n=16) and 20 mg/kg (n=10), plus cabozantinib 60 mg daily. There were no dose limiting toxicities observed at either dose. The best overall response rate (ORR, confirmed) in the ITT population was 42%. One of the objectives of the ongoing Phase 1b/2 ccRCC trial is to evaluate the correlation of baseline serum soluble AXL (sAXL)/GAS6 (biomarker) with radiographic response in patients with ccRCC treated with batiraxcept plus cabozantinib. The best ORR in the biomarker high population was 55%. The 9-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 65% in the ITT population and 72% in the biomarker high population. The Company has discussed a registrational path with the US FDA that includes use of the sAXL/Gas6 ratio as a basis for an accelerated approval.
The open-label Phase 2 portion of the clinical trial initiated January 31, 2022 and is expected to enroll 55 patients across three parts. Part A is expected to enroll approximately 25 patients and investigate 15 mg/kg batiraxcept in combination with cabozantinib in 2L+ ccRCC patients. Part B is expected to enroll approximately 20 patients and evaluate 15 mg/kg batiraxcept in combination with nivolumab and cabozantinib as a potential front-line treatment for ccRCC. Part C is expected to evaluate 15 mg/kg batiraxcept monotherapy in approximately 10 patients with ccRCC who are not eligible for curative intent therapies.
The Company expects to report additional data from the P1b portion and preliminary data from the P2 portion of the ccRCC trial mid-2023.
Expansion of Phase 1b Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Study
The Company provided an update on the Phase 1b pancreatic study on September 27, 2022 for 18 patients who had been treated with 15 mg/kg batiraxcept (Days 1 & 15) plus nab-paclitaxel (125 mg/m2 on Days 1, 8, & 15) and gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 on Days 1, 8, & 15) and have pharmacokinetic data. Consistent with other Phase 1b cancer studies with batiraxcept, there is a relationship between batiraxcept exposures and clinical activity such that 5 of 9 patients in the PDAC study whose batiraxcept levels exceeded the minimum efficacious concentration (MEC) of batiraxcept had a response versus 1 of 9 patients in the low MEC group. Similarly, the mPFS in the high MEC group was 5.6 months (95% CI 2.1, not evaluable) versus 2.7 months (95% CI 1.1, 5.4) in the low MEC group. In May 2022, the Company had reported that batiraxcept was generally well-tolerated in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel with no unexpected safety signals. Based on these data, the Company intends to dose an additional 6-18 patients at higher doses (20 mg/kg and potentially 25 mg/kg) to see if a higher dose will increase the proportion of patients who will achieve high MEC of batiraxcept and increase the clinical activity of batiraxcept in combination with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel. Preliminary data from the 20 mg/kg cohort is expected in the second half of 2023.
Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2022, were approximately $4.9 million, compared to approximately $1.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Revenues were derived solely from the Company’s collaboration and license agreement with 3D Medicines, executed in November 2020 to develop and commercialize batiraxcept in oncology indications in China. Revenues represent 1) a portion of initial signing and milestone recorded from 3D Medicines that is recognized at the time it is probable the milestone will be met and 2) a portion of the milestone that is deferred and recognized over the PROC trial period. The increase in revenue was driven primarily by the achievement during the third quarter of 2022 of a development milestone from the Company’s licensee, 3D Medicines, based on the initiation of the global Phase 3 PROC clinical trial in China as part of the collaboration and license agreement.
Total operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2022, were $21.5 million, compared to $21.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Research and development expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022, was $18.7 million, compared to $17.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The increase in research and development expense is primarily attributable to increases in CMC-related costs. General and administrative expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $2.8 million, compared to $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The decrease in general and administrative expense is primarily attributable to decreased stock-based compensation, consulting expense, and severance expense.
Aravive reported a net loss of $15.7 million, or $0.51 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to a net loss of $18.5 million, or $0.61 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2022.
Cash Position
As of September 30, 2022, cash and cash equivalents were $27.9 million, compared to $46.8 million as of June 30, 2022 and $59.4 million as of December 31, 2021. During October 2022, the Company received a $6 million milestone payment from the Company’s licensee, 3D Medicines, Inc. (recorded as an account receivable on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2022) and raised approximately $41.5 million in gross proceeds from a private placement offering. The Company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to sustain operations into the fourth quarter of 2023.