On February 28, 2019 AnaptysBio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANAB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody product candidates focused on unmet medical needs in inflammation, reported operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018 and provided pipeline updates (Press release, AnaptysBio, FEB 28, 2019, View Source [SID1234533777]).
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"We continued to advance the clinical development of our wholly-owned etokimab and ANB019 programs for severe inflammatory disease indications during 2018," said Hamza Suria, president and chief executive officer of AnaptysBio. "Top-line data from our etokimab Phase 2a trial in severe adult eosinophilic asthma patients demonstrated rapid and sustained improvement in Forced Exhaled Volume In One Second versus placebo, with corresponding reduction in blood eosinophil levels. We look forward to announcing four Phase 2 top-line data readouts from ongoing clinical trials of etokimab and ANB019 during 2019 and expanding our pipeline with an IND filing for a new wholly-owned anti-inflammatory antibody program."
Etokimab (ANB020 Anti-IL-33 Program)
In September 2018, the Company announced positive top-line proof-of-concept data for etokimab, its investigational anti-IL-33 therapeutic antibody, in a single dose Phase 2a clinical trial in adult patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. Patients administered with etokimab rapidly improved their Forced Exhaled Volume In One Second, or FEV1, which is a measure of lung function, with an eight percent FEV1 improvement over placebo at Day 2. FEV1 improvement was sustained through Day 64, with an 11 percent increase over placebo. Blood eosinophil reduction was sustained through the interim analysis period, with a 31 percent reduction at Day 2 and a 46 percent reduction at Day 64 over placebo, which was consistent with FEV1 improvement observed in this trial. Etokimab was generally well tolerated in all patients and no serious adverse events were reported as of this interim analysis. The Company plans to report full data from this trial at a medical conference in 2019. The Company also plans to continue development of etokimab in eosinophilic asthma with a multi-dose Phase 2b randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, which is expected to be initiated in 2019.
The Company is conducting a Phase 2b randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-dose study in 300 adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, also referred to as the ATLAS trial, to assess different dose levels and dosing frequencies of subcutaneously-administered etokimab, with top-line data expected in the second half of 2019.
The Company is conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in approximately 100 adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, also referred to as the ECLIPSE trial. Patients are being treated with two multi-dosing frequencies of subcutaneously-administered etokimab or placebo, each in combination with mometasone furoate nasal spray as background therapy. The Company anticipates top-line data from the ECLIPSE trial will be available in the second half of 2019.
ANB019 (Anti-IL-36 Receptor Program)
The Company is conducting a 10-patient, single arm, open-label Phase 2 trial of ANB019 in generalized pustular psoriasis, or GPP, also known as the GALLOP trial, with top-line data anticipated in mid-2019.
The Company is conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled 50-patient multi-dose Phase 2 trial in palmoplantar pustulosis, or PPP, also known as the POPLAR trial, with top line data anticipated in the second half of 2019.
Corporate Highlights
On September 28, 2018, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 2,530,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $94.46, which included the exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase an additional 330,000 shares of common stock. AnaptysBio, received net proceeds from the offering of $227.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $500.2 million as of December 31, 2018 compared to $324.3 million as of December 31, 2017, for an increase of $175.9 million. The increase primarily relates to net proceeds received by the Company of $227.5 million from the public offering, partially offset by cash used for operating activities.
Collaboration revenue was $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, related to a milestone for the first Phase 3 trial of TSR-042 by TESARO. Collaboration revenue was $3.0 million and $10.0 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively, for two TESARO related milestones.
Research and development expenses were $15.9 million and $56.2 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to $7.6 million and $29.4 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was primarily due to continued advancement of the Company’s etokimab and ANB019 clinical programs and additional personnel-related expenses including share-based compensation during the three months and year ended December 31, 2018.
General and administrative expenses were $3.7 million and $15.5 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to $2.5 million and $9.3 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to additional personnel-related expenses, including share-based compensation.
Net loss was $17.0 million and $61.7 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, or a net loss per share of $0.64 and $2.50, respectively, as compared to a net loss of $6.9 million and $30.1 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017, or a net loss per share of $0.30 and $1.52, respectively.
Financial Guidance
AnaptysBio expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments will fund its current operating plan at least through the end of 2020.
About Etokimab
Etokimab, previously referred to as ANB020, is an antibody that potently binds and inhibits the activity of interleukin-33, or IL-33, a pro-inflammatory cytokine that multiple studies have indicated is a central mediator of atopic diseases, which AnaptysBio believes is broadly applicable to the treatment of atopic inflammatory disorders, such as atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, or CRSwNP, and potentially other allergic conditions. Following completion of a healthy volunteer Phase 1 trial of etokimab, AnaptysBio continued clinical development of etokimab into a Phase 2a trial for moderate-to-severe adult atopic dermatitis and a placebo-controlled Phase 2a trial in severe adult eosinophilic asthma patients. AnaptysBio is conducting its ATLAS trial, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multi-dose Phase 2b clinical trial of etokimab in 300 moderate-to-severe adult atopic dermatitis patients where top-line data is anticipated in the second half of 2019. The Company is conducting its ECLIPSE trial, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of etokimab in approximately 100 adult patients with CRSwNP with top-line data anticipated in the second half of 2019. AnaptysBio also plans to initiate a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-dose Phase 2b trial of etokimab in patients with eosinophilic asthma in 2019.
About ANB019
ANB019 is an antibody that inhibits the function of the interleukin-36-receptor, or IL-36R, which AnaptysBio plans to initially develop as a potential first-in-class therapy for patients suffering from generalized pustular psoriasis, or GPP, and palmoplantar pustulosis, or PPP. AnaptysBio has previously presented data from this Phase 1 clinical trial, which demonstrated favorable safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic properties that supported advancement of ANB019 into Phase 2 studies. AnaptysBio is conducting its GALLOP trial, a Phase 2 study of ANB019 in GPP where top-line data is anticipated in mid-2019, and its POPLAR trial, a Phase 2 study in PPP where top-line data is anticipated in the second half of 2019.