Biodesix Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

On March 16, 2021 Biodesix, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDSX) a leading data-driven diagnostic solutions company with a focus in lung disease, reported financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Biodesix, MAR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234576725]).

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"We had a very productive fiscal year and fourth quarter highlighted by strong revenue growth resulting from our ability to shift gears and offer COVID-19 testing services to assist the nation in the midst of a global pandemic," stated Scott Hutton, Chief Executive Officer of Biodesix. "During this time, we also maintained our focus on the core strategic business of lung diagnostic testing and biopharma services and expect strong growth in 2021. Overall, 2020 was a transformative year for Biodesix and we are excited about the growth of our commercial organization, expansion of our clinical pipeline, and new clinical data, to quickly and positively impact the lives of patients in 2021."

Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Successful initial public offering (IPO) raising net proceeds of $63.8 million;
Record annual revenue of $45.6 million, an increase of 86% over 2019 annual revenue;
Fourth quarter revenue of $27.0 million, an increase of 194% and 227%, respectively, over the third quarter 2020 and fourth quarter 2019;
Fourth quarter COVID-19 testing revenue of $21.4 million, a 287% improvement over third quarter 2020;
Fourth quarter lung diagnostic revenue of $3.7 million, a 22% improvement and 20% decline, respectively, over third quarter 2020 and fourth quarter 2019;
Fourth quarter 2020 services revenue of $1.9 million, a 198% improvement and 48% decline, respectively, over third quarter 2020 and fourth quarter 2019;
Fourth quarter gross profit of $12.4 million, a 133% and 92% increase, respectively, over third quarter 2020 and fourth quarter 2019;
Annual non-cash stock compensation expense of $3.7 million as compared to $0.2 million in 2019;
Strengthen balance sheet with $62.1 million of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020, an increase of $56.8 million over the comparable prior year period.
Business Highlights

As part of the Biodesix data-driven approach, the company continues to build strong clinical evidence to establish the value and utility of the Biodesix lung diagnostics portfolio.

Published an extended analysis of data from the company’s Nodify XL2 lung nodule test in the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST 2020) Journal demonstrating that all nodules in the study group that were established as benign after one year remained benign after two years.
Presented data from three studies at the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST 2020) Annual Meeting highlighting the clinical value of the company’s Nodify XL2 and Nodify CDT lung nodule risk assessment suite and the utility of Nodify Lung Risk Assessment tests in helping physicians to reduce unnecessary procedures on benign nodules and delays in diagnosis of malignant nodules.
Initiated recruitment in the Nodify XL2 Classifier Prospective Study in Low to Moderate Risk Lung Nodules (ALTITUDE) with the intent to assess how clinical decision making can be impacted by the introduction of Nodify Lung test results into risk assessment.
Showcased data from multiple studies at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) demonstrating individual patient’s immune profile capabilities in providing information to support treatment decisions for patients diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Announced collaboration with HiberCell to further the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a companion diagnostic in future registration trials in breast cancer for Imprime PGG programs.
Announced publication of a peer-reviewed study supporting its patented blood collection device (BCD). The device is designed to streamline whole blood specimen collection and transportation to the laboratory while delivering diagnostic test results that are equivalent to traditional methods.
In addition to the significant accomplishments associated with our lung diagnostic advances, the Company continued to advance their partnerships and services related to COVID-19.

Announced strategic partnerships with both Purdue University and the Chicago Public School System for COVID-19 testing to safely reopen schools.
Published a paper demonstrating a new AI-based algorithm that can rapidly and accurately help physicians predict risk of severe outcomes for patients with COVID-19 infection utilizing readily available patient data collected upon hospital admission.
"During the fourth quarter, we continued to add to the growing body of published evidence demonstrating the value of the clinical information delivered by our suite of commercially available lung disease diagnostic tests," said Hutton. "Looking ahead, we are cautiously optimistic that a more normalized business environment will reemerge later this year, setting the stage for more robust growth in our core lung diagnostic business. We expect modest gross margin percentage expansion for 2021 as compared to 2020 as we continue to experience near-term strength in our COVID-19 diagnostic testing, which on average has lower overall gross margin percentages than our lung diagnostic testing services. We were particularly pleased to show revenue growth in the fourth quarter over the third quarter in our lung diagnostic testing services and biopharma services even while COVID-19 cases surged, and healthcare practitioners and facilities remained focused on fighting the pandemic."

"At the same time, our COVID-19 testing services delivered strong revenue growth, as evidenced by our strategic partnerships that benefited our fourth quarter 2020. In addition, we continue to expand the reach of our COVID-19 testing services with our recently announced partnership with Purdue University and the Chicago Public School System, one of the largest in the country, in an effort to safely reopen schools for in-person learning."

Conference call and webcast information

Management will host an investor conference call and webcast today, March 16, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

An archived replay of the webcast will be available on the company’s website for a period of 90 days.

Synlogic Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Conference Call & Webcast

On March 16, 2021 Synlogic, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBX), a clinical stage company bringing the transformative potential of synthetic biology to medicine, reported the Company will release its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, March 25, 2021 (Press release, Synlogic, MAR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234576724]). The press release will be followed by a conference call at 8:30 am ET, which will be open to the public via telephone and webcast. During the conference call, the Company will review its financial results and provide a corporate update.

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The conference call dial-in numbers are (844) 815-2882 for domestic callers and (213) 660-0926 for international callers. The conference ID number for the call is 4897219. Participants may access the live webcast via a link on the Synlogic website in the Events Calendar of the Investors and Media section. For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available for 30 days on the Company’s website.

The abstract for AACR 2021 has been published

On March 16, 2021 Isofol Medical reported The approved abstract for the congress American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2021 has been published on their website (Press release, Isofol Medical, MAR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234576723]). The congress will take place during April 10-15, 2021 and the poster will be available on April 10.

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Selvita named the Stock Exchange Company of the Year

On March 16, 2021 Selvita S.A. [ticker: WSE: SLV] – one of the largest preclinical contract research organizations in Europe, reported that was named the Stock Company of the Year as a result of a competition organized by "Puls Biznesu" – one of the largest business daily in Poland. Selvita also won in two other categories: "The Board Competencies" and "Development Perspectives (Press release, Selvita, MAR 16, 2021, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=selvita-named-the-stock-exchange-company-of-the-year [SID1234576714])."

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It was the 22nd edition of the competition, which is the oldest and the most prestigious ranking in the Polish capital market. Every year 100 professionals choose the best company. The jury consists of market analysts, investment advisers and managers, institutional investors, and securities house representatives. These experts measure companies in five categories: the management board competencies, success, products and services innovation, investor relations, and development perspectives.

Selvita’s success is spectacular, considering the fact that 2020 was the first full year when the company was listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange as an independent entity.

Merck Receives Priority Review From FDA for New Drug Application for HIF-2? Inhibitor Belzutifan (MK-6482)

On March 16, 2021 Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and granted priority review for a New Drug Application (NDA) for the hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor belzutifan (pronounced bell-ZOO-ti-fan), a novel investigational candidate in Merck’s oncology pipeline, for the potential treatment of patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC), not requiring immediate surgery (Press release, Merck & Co, MAR 16, 2021, View Source [SID1234576713]). This NDA is based on data from the Phase 2 Study-004 trial, in which belzutifan showed a confirmed overall response rate of 36.1% (n=22/61) (95% CI: 24.2-49.4) in patients with VHL disease-associated RCC. The FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of September 15, 2021.

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"Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare genetic condition for which there is no systemic treatment option available and is associated with a high risk of cancer development in multiple organs. In fact, up to 70% of patients with VHL develop renal cell carcinoma during their lifetime," said Dr. Scot Ebbinghaus, vice president, clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories. "This priority review validates the important progress we have made to expand and diversify Merck’s oncology pipeline with innovative, new therapeutic approaches. We look forward to working closely with the FDA to bring belzutifan to patients in need."

Merck is also studying belzutifan in advanced RCC and other tumor types through a broad clinical program. In addition to the ongoing Phase 2 Study-004 trial, belzutifan is being evaluated in Phase 3 trials as monotherapy and as part of a combination regimen in previously treated patients and as part of a combination regimen as a first-line treatment for advanced clear cell RCC.

About the Phase 2 Study-004 Trial

This application is based on data from Study-004 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03401788), which is a Phase 2, open-label trial evaluating belzutifan for the potential treatment of patients with VHL disease who had at least one measurable solid tumor localized to the kidney and who did not require immediate surgery. The study enrolled 61 patients who received belzutifan 120 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response rate in VHL disease-associated RCC. Secondary endpoints in RCC tumors include disease control rate, duration of response, time to response, progression-free survival, time to surgery and safety.

Additionally, this study evaluated response rates in other common VHL disease-associated tumors, including pancreatic cysts, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas, and retinal hemangioblastomas.

About Belzutifan

Belzutifan (MK-6482) is a novel, potent and selective inhibitor of HIF-2α. Proteins known as hypoxia-inducible factors, including HIF-2α, can accumulate in patients when VHL, a tumor-suppressor protein, is inactivated. If not properly regulated, the accumulation of HIF-2α can stimulate several oncogenes associated with cellular proliferation, angiogenesis and tumor growth, leading to the growth of both benign and malignant tumors. This inactivation of VHL has been observed in more than 90% of clear cell RCC tumors. Research into VHL biology that led to the discovery of HIF-2α was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2019.

About Von Hippel-Lindau Disease and Renal Cell Carcinoma

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare genetic disease that affects one in 36,000 people (200,000 cases worldwide and 10,000 cases in the U.S. alone). Patients with VHL disease are at risk for benign blood vessel tumors as well as several cancers, including RCC. As many as 70% of people with VHL disease develop RCC.

Renal cell carcinoma is by far the most common type of kidney cancer; about nine of 10 kidney cancers are RCCs, and about seven of 10 RCCs are clear cell. Worldwide, it is estimated there were nearly 431,300 cases of kidney cancer diagnosed and almost 179,400 deaths from the disease in 2020. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated there will be almost 76,100 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed and nearly 13,800 deaths from the disease in 2021.

Merck’s Focus on Cancer

Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck, the potential to bring new hope to people with cancer drives our purpose and supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. As part of our focus on cancer, Merck is committed to exploring the potential of immuno-oncology with one of the largest development programs in the industry across more than 30 tumor types. We also continue to strengthen our portfolio through strategic acquisitions and are prioritizing the development of several promising oncology candidates with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced cancers. For more information about our oncology clinical trials, visit www.merck.com/clinicaltrials.