On November 9, 2017 ArQule, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQL) reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2017 (Press release, ArQule, NOV 9, 2017, View Source [SID1234521832]).
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For the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company reported a net loss of $6,666,000 or $0.09 per share, compared with a net loss of $5,817,000 or $0.08 per share, for the third quarter of 2016. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, the Company reported a net loss of $21,443,000 or $0.30 per share, compared with a net loss of $15,898,000 or $0.23 per share, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016.
At September 30, 2017, the Company had a total of approximately $27,603,000 in cash, equivalents and marketable securities. In October and November 2017, the Company raised approximately $25 million in net proceeds from two equity offerings.
Key Highlights
Miransertib (ARQ 092), lead AKT inhibitor, has met its primary endpoint of determining a biologically active dose in a phase 1 trial for Proteus syndrome lead by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH presented preliminary data from the ongoing phase 1 clinical trial for Proteus syndrome at the Proteus Syndrome Foundation Family Conference in September 2017. In five of the six patients, a reduction of a least 50% of phospho-AKT levels was reported. This met the primary objective of the study. Most significantly the NIH observed disease modification in the cerebriform connective tissue nevus (CCTN) lesions which are considered one of the hallmarks of the disease.
Miransertib was granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Rare Pediatric Disease Designation. Under the FDA’s rare pediatric disease priority review voucher program, the sponsor may be eligible for a voucher that can be used to obtain a priority review for a subsequent human drug application.
Miransertib continues to dose in the phase 1/2 trial for Overgrowth Diseases driven by PI3K and AKT mutations and opened its first U.S. clinical trial site. This trial is part of the company’s continued progress towards expanding its rare disease strategy in Overgrowth Diseases.
ARQ 531, an orally bioavailable, potent and reversible BTK inhibitor, continues dosing as planned in a phase 1a/b trial. The trial is enrolling patients with B-cell malignancies, including B-cell lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, who are refractory to other therapeutic options, including ibrutinib. Up to 120 patients can be enrolled in the trial.
Derazantinib (ARQ 087), a pan-FGFR inhibitor, in a registrational trial in FGFR2 fusion positive second-line intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is recruiting with six active sites in the U.S. The trial is planned to enroll up to 100 iCCA patients and provides an opportunity for a conditional approval as part of a fast-to-market strategy and includes an interim analysis that will be performed after the first 40 patients have been enrolled and evaluated for response.
Company raised approximately $29 million in capital through a private placement of $15.7 million of common stock, a private placement of $9.5 million of convertible preferred stock and an additional $4 million through unrelated business development activities and other sources. Net proceeds will be used to advance ArQule’s proprietary pipeline and for general business purposes, including working capital.
"The ArQule clinical pipeline is the strongest it has ever been, and the most recent positive developments are the compelling clinical data in Proteus syndrome and the granting of Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for miransertib in this indication," said Paolo Pucci, Chief Executive Officer of ArQule. "We are now well capitalized to see our pipeline assets through major inflection points."
"Based on the preliminary results from the phase 1 NIH-sponsored Proteus syndrome trial, miransertib is the first drug to demonstrate activity and achieve clinical proof of concept in this indication," said Dr. Brian Schwartz, M.D., Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer at ArQule. "We are thankful to the NIH for their work in identifying the mutation driving the disease, conducting the first clinical trial and ultimately identifying potential clinical endpoints. We plan to engage regulatory authorities to define a clinical path to registration in this indication. In parallel and consistent with the regulatory interactions we will continue to enroll in our ongoing phase 1/2 trial in Overgrowth Diseases driven by mutations in the PI3K or AKT pathway, including Proteus syndrome, and provide the drug under compassionate policy."
Revenues and Expenses
Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, were zero compared with revenues of $1,223,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Revenues in the nine-months ended September 30, 2017 were zero compared with revenues of $3,522,000 in the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. Revenue in the three and nine-month periods of 2016 is comprised of revenue from the Daiichi Sankyo tivantinib development agreement and the Kyowa Hakko Kirin exclusive license agreement. No further revenue is anticipated from these agreements.
Research and development expense in the third quarter of 2017 was $4,570,000, compared with $5,265,000 for the third quarter of 2016. Research and development expense decreased $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2017 primarily due to lower outsourced preclinical, clinical and product development costs.
Research and development expense in the nine-months ended September 30, 2017 was $14,747,000 compared with $13,800,000 in the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. The $0.9 million increase in research and development expense in the nine-months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily due to higher outsourced clinical and product development costs.
General and administrative expense was $1,762,000 in the third quarter of 2017 compared with $1,824,000 in the third quarter 2016.
General and administrative expense was $5,702,000 in the nine-months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $5,755,000 in the nine-months ended September 30, 2016.
2017 Financial Guidance
As a result of ArQule’s recent stock offerings and business development activities the company is updating 2017 guidance. For 2017, ArQule expects net use of cash to range between $25 and $27 million. Net loss is expected to range between $28 and $30 million, net loss per share is expected to range between $(0.38) and $(0.40) for the year. ArQule expects to end 2017 with between $47 and $49 million in cash and marketable securities.
Conference Call and Webcast
ArQule will hold its third quarter 2017 financial results call today, November 9, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The live webcast can be accessed in the "Investors & Media" section of our website, www.arqule.com, under "Events & Presentations." You may also listen to the call by dialing (877) 868-1831 within the U.S. or (914) 495-8595 outside the U.S. A replay will be available two hours after the completion of the call and can be accessed in the "Investor and Media" section of our website, www.arqule.com, under "Events & Presentations."