On May 8, 2018 OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMED), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics, reported first quarter 2018 financial results and provided a corporate update (Press release, OncoMed, MAY 8, 2018, View Source [SID1234526243]). As of March 31, 2018, cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $88.4 million.
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"The Company is encouraged by ongoing clinical progress on its two most advanced immuno-oncology programs, anti-TIGIT and GITRL-Fc, and preclinical data on these programs were recently highlighted in multiple poster presentations at the 2018 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. We also continue to dose patients in two Phase 1b studies of navicixizumab, our anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific antibody. We look forward to delivering on numerous near-term catalysts, including the initiation of the Phase 1b portion of the anti-TIGIT study in combination with anti-PD1 in the second quarter of this year, the publication of the navicixizumab Phase 1a manuscript and the presentation of the navicixizumab Phase 1b ovarian cancer data in the second half of 2018, and the planned presentation of the anti-TIGIT Phase 1a data in the fourth quarter of 2018," stated John Lewicki, Ph.D., President and CEO of OncoMed.
Pipeline Highlights
Anti-TIGIT (OMP-313M32)
OncoMed plans to initiate dosing of the Phase 1b portion of its Phase 1a/b anti-TIGIT (OMP-313M32) trial, in combination with anti-PD1, in the second quarter of 2018. The Phase 1b portion of the open-label clinical trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, preliminary efficacy, and pharmacodynamic biomarkers of escalating doses of OMP-313M32 in combination with anti-PD1 for the treatment of patients with solid tumors who have progressed after prior treatment with anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1.
OncoMed continues enrollment in the Phase 1a single-agent study of anti-TIGIT in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The Phase 1a study is designed to assess safety and tolerability of escalating doses of anti-TIGIT. Biomarkers will be assessed in this study which includes a single-agent dose expansion cohort.
The company currently expects to present data from the Phase 1a portion of the Phase 1a/b study in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Navicixizumab (anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific; OMP-305B83)
Enrollment continues in two Phase 1b multi-center, open-label, dose escalation and expansion studies of OncoMed’s anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific antibody in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapies: one in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who have failed more than two prior therapies or prior bevacizumab and a second in patients with 2nd line metastatic colorectal cancer.
To date, OncoMed has enrolled approximately 100 patients across the Phase 1a and Phase 1b trials of navicixizumab.
The Phase 1a data are expected to be published in the second half of 2018, and interim data from the ongoing Phase 1b ovarian cancer study are also expected to be reported in the second half of 2018.
GITRL-Fc (OMP-336B11)
Robust enrollment continues in the Phase 1a single-agent study of its wholly-owned GITRL-Fc in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. GITRL-Fc is a fusion protein with an Fc-linked fully human trimer ligand and is designed to activate the co-stimulatory receptor GITR (glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein) to enhance T-cell modulated immune responses. The Phase 1a study is designed to assess safety and tolerability of escalating doses.
The Phase 1a data are expected to be presented in 2019.
New product discovery
OncoMed continues to make strong progress in its pursuit of novel immune-oncology agents, including emerging opportunities from the TNF superfamily of ligands, using the company’s proprietary linkerless fully human trimer technology.
First Quarter 2018 Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $88.4 million as of March 31, 2018, compared to $103.1 million as of December 31, 2017.
Revenues were $7.8 million for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $1.6 million, compared to $6.2 million for the same period in 2017. The change in revenue was due to the effect of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard in the first quarter of 2018. For further discussion regarding our adoption of the new revenue recognition standard and its effects, see page 12 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2018.
Research and development (R&D) expenses were $8.4 million for the first quarter of 2018, a decrease of $15.6 million, compared to $24.0 million for the same period in 2017. The decrease in R&D expenses was due to decreases in clinical development costs and reduced headcount following the restructuring actions in April 2017.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $5.4 million for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of $0.4 million, compared to $5.0 million for the same period in 2017. The increase in G&A expenses was primarily due to an increase in personnel cost, including retention bonus and severance expenses in the first quarter of 2018, offset by a decrease in headcount as a result of restructuring actions in April 2017.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2018 was $5.6 million ($0.15 per share), compared to $22.6 million ($0.61 per share) for the same period of 2017. The change in year-over-year net loss was primarily due to lower operating expenses in the first quarter of 2018.
2018 Financial Guidance
OncoMed’s current cash is estimated to be sufficient to fund operations through at least the third quarter of 2019, without taking into account future potential milestone or opt-in payments from its partners. OncoMed estimates 2018 operating cash burn to be approximately $55 million, before considering potential milestone or opt-in payments.