On November 7, 2019 Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CORT), a commercial-stage company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs to treat severe metabolic, oncologic and psychiatric disorders by modulating the effects of the stress hormone cortisol, reported its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 (Press release, Corcept Therapeutics, NOV 7, 2019, https://ir.corcept.com/news-releases/news-release-details/corcept-therapeutics-announces-third-quarter-2019-financial [SID1234550631]).
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Financial Highlights
Revenue of $81.5 million, a 26 percent increase from third quarter 2018
GAAP diluted net income of $0.22 per share, compared to $0.14 per share in third quarter 2018
Non-GAAP diluted net income of $0.31 per share, compared to $0.22 per share in third quarter 2018
Cash and investments of $266.9 million, compared to $225.7 million in second quarter 2019
2019 revenue guidance narrowed to $300 – $315 million
Corcept reported quarterly revenue of $81.5 million in the third quarter, compared to $64.4 million in the third quarter of 2018. Third quarter GAAP net income was $26.3 million, compared to $17.7 million in the same period last year. Excluding non-cash expenses related to stock-based compensation and the utilization of deferred tax assets, together with related income tax effects, non-GAAP net income in the third quarter was $37.8 million, compared to $27.9 million in the third quarter of 2018. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP net income is included below.
The company narrowed 2019 revenue guidance to $300 – $315 million. Guidance had previously been
$285 – $315 million.
Third quarter operating expenses were $48.5 million, compared to $41.5 million in the third quarter of 2018, primarily due to increased spending to recruit and compensate additional personnel and discover and develop new selective cortisol modulators, as well as increased legal expense. Cash and investments were $266.9 million at September 30, 2019, an increase of $41.2 million from June 30, 2019.
"Our Cushing’s syndrome business had an excellent quarter," said Joseph K. Belanoff, MD, Corcept’s Chief Executive Officer. "We expect the number of patients receiving Korlym and physicians prescribing the medication to continue to increase. To reach more doctors, we are expanding our sales force. We expect the clinical specialists we are hiring now to begin contributing to our results next year.
"I am also pleased to announce an important advance in our program to treat serious metabolic disorders. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy subjects, our selective cortisol modulator miricorilant significantly reduced the weight gain caused by the commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication olanzapine (Eli Lily’s drug, Zyprexa). We have already initiated one of two planned Phase 2 trials to further test miricorilant’s activity in this indication."
Cushing’s Syndrome
European sites begin dosing patients in Phase 3 trial ("GRACE") of relacorilant to treat patients with Cushing’s syndrome
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trial of relacorilant in patients whose Cushing’s syndrome is caused by adrenal adenomas to start in the first quarter of next year
"As of today, 42 of 62 planned sites are recruiting patients for GRACE," said Andreas Grauer, MD, Corcept’s Chief Medical Officer. "We expect to open an additional 13 sites by the end of the year. The activation pace of ex-US sites, which we expect will provide the majority of enrollments, has refined our estimate of the trial’s completion date. Our plan is to submit our NDA in the fourth quarter of 2021.
We spent substantial time in Europe in the past quarter helping clinical site activation and speaking to investigators. Most important, our investigators are highly enthusiastic about GRACE1, because of relacorilant’s positive Phase 2 efficacy and side effect profile."
Patients in relacorilant’s Phase 2 trial exhibited meaningful improvements in glucose control and hypertension – two of Cushing’s syndrome’s most common and pernicious symptoms. The trial also met a wide range of secondary endpoints, including weight loss, liver function, coagulopathy, insulin resistance, cognitive function, mood and quality of life. These results were achieved without relacorilant causing Korlym’s significant off-target effects – vaginal bleeding, endometrial thickening and low potassium.2
In addition to GRACE, Corcept plans to start a Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of relacorilant in patients whose Cushing’s syndrome is caused by an adrenal adenoma – a population that has not been rigorously studied. Patients with adrenal Cushing’s syndrome typically experience a slower onset of symptoms, but their ultimate health outcomes are poor. Corcept expects to enroll 130 patients at sites in the United States and Europe in the study. Most of the planned investigators and sites are also participating in GRACE.
Metabolic Disease
Positive top-line results from double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 1b trial of miricorilant to reduce antipsychotic-induced weight gain
Recruiting underway in double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 trial of miricorilant to reverse recent antipsychotic-induced weight gain
"Our program to develop miricorilant as a treatment for metabolic disorders is off to an excellent start," said Dr. Grauer. "Antipsychotic medications such as olanzapine are essential to the health of millions of patients, but the weight gain and other metabolic side effects they cause are life-threatening and often lead patients to discontinue treatment. At the first dose level tested in our Phase 1b trial, healthy subjects given olanzapine plus miricorilant gained less weight than subjects receiving olanzapine plus placebo (see Figure 1). In addition, markers of liver damage that often rise temporarily at the start of olanzapine therapy increased less sharply in subjects receiving miricorilant, suggesting that miricorilant may have protective effects in the liver (see Figure 2). Five subjects in the olanzapine alone group were unable to complete the study due to elevated liver enzymes, while one patient in the miricorilant group experienced this problem."
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at View Source
The Phase 1b trial’s first part enrolled 66 healthy subjects, each of whom received olanzapine (10 mg) and either miricorilant (600 mg) or placebo daily. The trial’s duration was two weeks. The second part of the trial, which is planned to start in December, will test a higher dose of miricorilant (900 mg) in 30 healthy subjects. The study’s full results will be presented at a scientific meeting in 2020.
"These preliminary results are especially encouraging given the short duration of treatment and the low dose of miricorilant. They are consistent with the effects we had previously seen in animal studies. Our plan is to confirm these findings and explore the full breadth of miricorilant’s activity," said Dr. Grauer.
In addition to the second part of its Phase 1b trial, Corcept plans to conduct two double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trials of miricorilant for the treatment of patients with antipsychotic-induced weight gain. The first trial, which is underway, will test miricorilant’s activity in reversing recent weight gain. It is expected to enroll 100 patients with schizophrenia at 20 sites in the United States. Patients will continue to receive their established antipsychotic medication and will have either miricorilant or placebo added to their regimen for 12 weeks. A second Phase 2 trial is planned to start next year. It will enroll patients with long-standing weight gain. A third Phase 2 trial, testing miricorilant’s activity in preventing antipsychotic-induced weight gain, is under consideration.
Next year, Corcept also plans to start a double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 trial of miricorilant as a treatment for patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a serious liver disorder that afflicts millions of people.
Solid Tumors
European Commission designates relacorilant orphan drug for treatment of pancreatic cancer
Phase 3 trial of relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer to start upon completion of consultations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
"We are pleased the European Commission (EC) has joined the FDA in designating relacorilant an orphan drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer," said Dr. Grauer. "The EC based its decision on the European Medicines Agency’s finding that relacorilant has the potential to significantly benefit patients.
"We presented the clinical data reviewed by the EMA at last year’s ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) meeting and it was indeed promising," said Dr. Grauer. "Seven of 25 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel (Celgene’s drug, Abraxane) achieved durable disease control, meaning their tumors either shrank or ceased growing for 16 weeks or longer. Tumor response in two patients lasted more than 50 weeks.3 All of these patients’ tumors had progressed during multiple lines of prior therapy, including treatments with nab-paclitaxel or another taxane. That any of them responded is remarkable. We have sought FDA guidance as to the optimum development path in pancreatic cancer and plan to start a Phase 3 trial promptly upon the conclusion of our discussions."
Corcept’s 180-patient, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel in ovarian cancer continues to enroll patients at sites in the United States and the European Union. Dosing also continues in the company’s Phase 1/2 study of exicorilant plus enzalutamide in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Conference Call
We will hold a conference call on November 7, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). To participate, dial 1-877-260-1479 from the United States or 1-334-323-0522 internationally approximately ten minutes before the start of the call (passcode 8532239). A replay will be available through November 21, 2019 at 1-888-203-1112 in the United States and 1-719-457-0820 internationally (passcode 8532239).
Hypercortisolism
Hypercortisolism, often referred to as Cushing’s syndrome, is caused by excessive activity of the hormone cortisol. Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is an orphan disease that most often affects adults aged 20-50. In the United States, an estimated 20,000 patients have Cushing’s syndrome, with about 3,000 new patients diagnosed each year. Symptoms vary, but most patients experience one or more of the following manifestations: high blood sugar, diabetes, high blood pressure, upper-body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, thinning arms and legs, severe fatigue and weak muscles. Irritability, anxiety, cognitive disturbances and depression are also common. Hypercortisolism can affect every organ system in the body and can be lethal if not treated effectively.