On August 10, 2022 BiomX Inc. (NYSE American: PHGE) ("BiomX" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage microbiome company advancing novel natural and engineered phage therapies that target specific pathogenic bacteria, reported financial results, and provided a business update for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 (Press release, BiomX, AUG 10, 2022, View Source [SID1234618064]).
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"It has been an eventful quarter for the Company. We enrolled our first patients in our BX004 cystic fibrosis program, expanded our partnering activities, published important research, and successfully restructured our operations to further extend our cash runway," said Jonathan Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of BiomX. "With the ongoing enrollment of patients in our CF study, we are one step closer towards reaching an important milestone in the BX004 program. Sites have been opening according to plan and, provided that the pace of enrollment for the study will continue as expected, we continue to anticipate a data readout from the first part of the study by the end of the third quarter of 2022. Our recent KOL event also highlighted the unmet medical need that exists today for so many CF patients who require innovative new therapeutic approaches to help combat these persistent and difficult-to-treat lung infections.
"As we enter the second half of 2022, BiomX also remains well positioned financially, with our cash runway now expected to take us through at least mid-2024. Over this period, we expect to reach potential milestones intended to help drive significant shareholder value, and I look forward to sharing additional updates later this year."
RECENT CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS
In June, BiomX announced the dosing of the first two patients in the Company’s Phase 1b/2a study evaluating BX004 for the treatment of chronic respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Also in June, BiomX announced a second partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim to discover inflammatory bowel disease ("IBD") microbiome markers. BiomX will utilize its XMarker microbiome-based biomarker discovery platform with the goal of identifying biomarkers for a pathogenic bacterium thought to be associated with IBD. Such biomarkers could help identify IBD patients that would benefit from potential therapies targeted at the microbiome. In September 2020, Boehringer Ingelheim and BiomX entered into their first collaboration, which focused on identifying biomarkers associated with patient phenotypes in IBD.
In August, the Company announced the publication of a scientific paper titled "Targeted suppression of human IBD-associated gut microbiota commensals by phage consortia for treatment of intestinal inflammation" in the journal, Cell. The research was conducted across several organizations, including BiomX and the Weizmann Institute of Science (Rehovot, Israel), and presents positive results from a proof-of-concept assessment in a preclinical model of inflammatory bowel disease. The paper is available online at View Source(22)00850-9.
On May 12th, the Company hosted a Key Opinion Leader Event on BX004 for Treatment of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ("PsA") Infections in CF patients. The live webinar featured presentations from Key Opinion Leaders, Dave Nichols, M.D. and Saima Aslam, M.D., who discussed phage therapy, the current treatment landscape, and the unmet medical need in CF patients with chronic PsA pulmonary infections. The webinar is now available on the Company’s website at View Source
Also in May, BiomX announced a corporate restructuring plan intended to extend the Company’s capital resources at least until the middle of 2024. With this plan, the Company reduced its operating costs, which included a reduction in personnel, while prioritizing the ongoing CF program.
Also in May, BiomX announced the publication of a scientific paper titled "Exodus: Sequencing-based Pipeline for Quantification of Pooled Variants" in the journal, Bioinformatics. The research was conducted by scientists at BiomX and is available online at View Source
Clinical Program Updates
Cystic Fibrosis (BX004)
In June, BiomX announced the dosing of the first two patients in the Company’s Phase 1b/2a study evaluating BX004 for the treatment of chronic respiratory infections in patients with CF.
BX004 is being developed for the treatment of chronic respiratory infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a main contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with CF.
The Phase 1b/2a trial is composed of two parts. Part 1 of the study will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and microbiologic/clinical activity of BX004 in eight CF patients in a single ascending dose and multiple dose design, with results expected by the end of the third quarter of 2022. Part 2 of the study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of BX004 in 24 CF patients randomized to a treatment or placebo cohort in a 2:1 ratio. Results from Part 2 are expected in the first quarter of 2023.
BiomX has received a Therapeutics Development Award of up to $5 million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ("CF Foundation"). The award is structured as an equity investment in which the CF Foundation has agreed to purchase up to $5M million of BiomX common stock across two separate tranches. The first tranche was received on December 21, 2021, with the CF Foundation making an initial equity investment of $3 million. Upon completion of all patient dosing in Part 1 of the Company’s Phase 1b/2a study of BX004, BiomX would have the right to receive the second tranche of $2 million, also as an equity investment.
Atopic Dermatitis (BX005)
In April, the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approved the Company’s IND application for BX005, which is being developed for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis ("AD").
While the recently announced restructuring is expected to result in a delay to the AD program, the Company plans to support a range of activities that will continue to move this program forward and will provide a more detailed update later in the year.
The Company and Maruho Co. Ltd., a leading dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company in Japan, entered into an agreement in the second half of 2021 granting Maruho a right of first offer to license BX005 in Japan.
The Company is collaborating with Maruho and working on evaluating timelines for a clinical trial.
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Cash balance, short-term deposits and restricted cash as of June 30, 2022, were $46.7 million, compared to $63.1 million as of December 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to net cash used in operating activities. Based upon the Company’s strategic focus on the CF program, the existing cash and cash equivalents are expected to be sufficient to fund the current operating plan through middle of 2024.
Research and development ("R&D") expenses, net were $4.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2021. R&D expenses, net were $9.5 million for six months ended June 30, 2022, as well as for the six months ended June 30, 2021. A decrease in Israel Innovation Authority grants resulted in higher R&D expenses, net, offset by a decrease in salaries and related expenses and stock-based compensation expenses due to a reduction in workforce. An additional offset is due to pauses in the development of BX003, the product candidate for the treatment of IBD and primary sclerosing cholangitis, and the colorectal cancer product candidate, as well as due to the discontinuation of the product candidate, BX001, for the treatment of acne.
General and administrative expenses were $2.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2021. General and administrative expenses were $4.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $5.6 million for the prior year. The decrease for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was primarily due to a decrease in salaries and related expenses and stock-based compensation expenses due to a reduction in workforce. In addition, the decrease is due to additional expenses incurred in 2021 that resulted from moving into new premises.
Net loss for the second quarter of 2022 was $7.5 million, compared to $7.3 million for the same period in 2021.
Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $16.4 million, compared to $12.8 million for the same period in 2021.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
BiomX management will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:00 am ET to report financial results and business updates for the second quarter 2022. To participate in the conference, please dial 1-877-407-0724 (U.S.), 1-809-406-247 (Israel), or 1-201-389-0898 (International). A live and archived webcast of the call will be available on the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.biomx.com.