On August 14, 2024 Precigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGEN), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative gene and cell therapies to improve the lives of patients, reported second quarter and first half 2024 financial results and business updates (Press release, Precigen, AUG 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234645926]).
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"We are all in on PRGN-2012 given the immense unmet need for RRP patients and our groundbreaking pivotal data supporting the potential of what we hope to be the first-ever FDA approved therapy to treat RRP," said Helen Sabzevari, PhD, President and CEO of Precigen. "By strategically focusing our portfolio, streamlining resources and recent public offering, we have optimized the company to rapidly prepare for submission of a rolling biologics license application under an accelerated approval pathway. We are excited to have initiated enrollment in the confirmatory clinical trial and will continue to accelerate our commercial readiness campaign for a potential launch in 2025 under the leadership of our newly hired Chief Commercial Officer. Additionally, we plan to maximize portfolio value by focusing on strategic partnerships to further advance our highly promising UltraCAR-T programs."
"Our recent reprioritization and public offering is expected to fund our operations into early 2025 allowing us to focus on advancement of PRGN-2012 while continuing to explore potential non-dilutive financing opportunities for future liquidity," said Harry Thomasian Jr., CFO of Precigen.
Key Program Highlights
· PRGN-2012 AdenoVerse Gene Therapy in RRP: PRGN-2012 is an investigational off-the-shelf AdenoVerse gene therapy designed to elicit immune responses directed against cells infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 or HPV 11 for the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). PRGN-2012 received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PRGN-2012 also received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA and Orphan Drug Designation from the European Commission.
o Results from the pivotal clinical study of PRGN-2012 for the treatment of RRP were presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting in a late-breaking oral presentation titled, "PRGN-2012, a novel gorilla adenovirus-based immunotherapy, provides the first treatment that leads to complete and durable responses in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis patients."
§ Pivotal study met primary safety and efficacy endpoints.
§ 51% (18 out of 35) of patients achieved Complete Response, requiring no surgeries after treatment with PRGN-2012; Complete Responses have been durable beyond 12 months with median duration of follow up of 20 months as of the May 20, 2024 data cutoff.
§ 86% of patients (30 out of 35) had a decrease in surgical interventions in the year after PRGN-2012 treatment compared to the year prior to treatment; RRP surgeries reduced from a median of 4 (range: 3-10) pre-treatment to 0 (range: 0-7) post-treatment.
§ PRGN-2012 was well-tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities and no treatment-related adverse events greater than Grade 2.
§ PRGN-2012 treatment induced HPV 6/11-specific T cell responses in RRP patients with a significantly greater expansion of peripheral HPV-specific T cells in responders compared with non-responders.
§ PRGN-2012 significantly (p < 0.0001) improved Derkay and quality of life scores in complete responders.
o A rolling Biologics License Application (BLA) submission under an accelerated approval pathway is anticipated in the second half of 2024.
o The Company has initiated enrollment in the confirmatory clinical trial, in accordance with the guidance from the FDA, prior to submission of the BLA.
o The Company and the Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Foundation held the inaugural RRP Awareness Day on June 11, 2024. The multi-stakeholder event raised awareness by bringing together individuals living with RRP, caregivers, clinicians, and government officials.
· Strategic Prioritization: In August 2024, the Company announced a strategic prioritization of its clinical portfolio and associated streamlining of resources, including a reduction of over 20% of its workforce, to focus on potential commercialization of PRGN-2012.
o PRGN-2009 AdenoVerse Gene Therapy Clinical Trials
§ The Company plans to continue PRGN-2009 Phase 2 clinical trials under a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer and in newly diagnosed HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer.
§ PRGN-2009 cervical cancer clinical trial enrollment at non-NCI clinical sites will be paused.
o UltraCAR-T Clinical Programs
§ The Company has completed enrollment of the Phase 1b trial for PRGN-3006 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which received Fast Track designation from the FDA, and is preparing for an end of Phase 1b meeting with the FDA to discuss next steps.
§ The Company will pause the PRGN-3005 and PRGN-3007 clinical trials.
§ The Company will minimize UltraCAR-T spend and focus on strategic partnerships to further advance UltraCAR-T programs.
o Preclinical Programs
§ The Company will pause all preclinical programs.
o ActoBio
§ The Company has initiated shutdown of its Belgium-based ActoBio subsidiary operations, including planned elimination of all ActoBio personnel.
§ In conjunction with this shutdown, ActoBio’s portfolio of intellectual property will be made available for prospective transactions.
Financial Highlights
· Strategic prioritization resulted in non-cash impairment charges of $32.9 million, net of tax, in the second quarter and severance charges of $3.0 million, of which $2.1 million was recorded in the second quarter and $0.9 million is expected to be recorded in the third quarter.
· The Company closed a public offering of its common stock in August 2024, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $31.4 million.
Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results Compared to Prior Year Period
Research and development expenses increased $3.8 million, or 32%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. Salaries, benefits, and other personnel costs increased $2.1 million primarily due to severance charges related to the shutdown of the Company’s ActoBio subsidiary. Additionally, fees paid to contract research organizations related to the start of the PRGN-2012 confirmatory clinical trial and close out of the PRGN-2012 pivotal clinical trial activities and professional fees incurred related to our manufacturing facility readiness for anticipated BLA submission increased compared to the same period in 2023.
SG&A expenses increased by $1.0 million, or 11%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. This increase was primarily driven by severance costs incurred related to the suspension of ActoBio operations of $0.4 million, increased costs associated with PRGN-2012 commercial readiness as well as increased professional fees incurred related to general corporate matters compared to the same period in 2023.
In conjunction with the suspension of ActoBio’s operations, the Company recorded $34.5 million of impairment charges related to goodwill and other noncurrent assets in the second quarter of 2024, as well as a related tax benefit of $1.7 million.
Total revenues decreased $1.1 million, or 59%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was related to reductions in product and service revenues at Exemplar.
Net loss was $58.8 million, or $(0.23) per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss of $20.3 million, or $(0.08) per basic and diluted share, in period ended June 30, 2023.
First Half 2024 Financial Results Compared to Prior Year Period
Research and development expenses increased $5.9 million, or 25%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. Salaries, benefits, and other personnel costs increased by $3.3 million primarily due to $2.1 million of severance charges related to the shutdown of the Company’s ActoBio subsidiary and an increase in the hiring of employees related to the advancement of PRGN-2012 in 2023 at Precigen. Additionally, fees paid to contract research organizations related to the start of the PRGN-2012 confirmatory clinical trial and close out of the PRGN-2012 pivotal clinical trial activities and professional fees incurred related to our manufacturing facility readiness for anticipated BLA submission increased compared to the prior year period. These increases were offset by lower costs incurred at contract research organizations for other programs compared to the same period in 2023.
SG&A expenses decreased by $0.5 million, or 2%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to lower stock compensation and insurance expenses in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. These decreases were offset by severance costs incurred in the second quarter of 2024 related to the suspension of ActoBio’s operations, and increased costs related to PRGN-2012 commercial readiness compared to the same period in 2023.
In conjunction with the suspension of ActoBio’s operations, the Company recorded $34.5 million of impairment charges related to goodwill and other noncurrent assets in the second quarter of 2024, as well as a related tax benefit of $1.7 million.
Total revenues decreased $1.9 million, or 51%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. This decrease was related to reductions in product and service revenues at Exemplar.
Net loss was $82.5 million, or $(0.33) per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss of $43.1 million, or $(0.18) per basic and diluted share, in period ended June 30, 2023.