IDRx Announces Updated Phase 1 Data from Ongoing Phase 1/1b StrateGIST 1 Trial of IDRX-42 in Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) at CTOS 2024

On November 14, 2024 IDRx, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing precision therapeutics for the treatment of cancers with well-characterized biology and significant unmet medical need, reported updated clinical data from StrateGIST 1, the company’s ongoing Phase 1/1b trial of IDRX-42 in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) (Press release, IDRx, NOV 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234648425]). These data continue to demonstrate promising anti-tumor activity of IDRX-42 in patients with advanced GIST and will be highlighted today in an oral presentation at the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) 2024 Annual Meeting, being held November 13-16, in San Diego, CA.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

IDRX-42 is an investigational oral, small molecule, tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to selectively target the most prevalent KIT mutations that either drive the growth, proliferation, and survival of tumor cells (activating mutations in exons 9 and 11), or confer resistance to currently available therapies (resistance mutations in exons 13 and 17).

"In patients living with GIST, the therapeutic potential of KIT targeted TKIs has been limited by drug resistance caused by an inability to target the spectrum of the most prevalent KIT mutations, and poor tolerability," said Suzanne George, M.D., Chief, Division of Sarcoma at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "These updated data from StrateGIST 1 are highly encouraging with respect to the clinical activity observed in later-line patients with a variety of KIT activating and resistance mutations. I am excited by the potential of IDRX-42, with its differentiated clinical profile demonstrated to date, to help meet this critical need for GIST patients."

"We are particularly excited about the emerging durability data from StrateGIST 1. These data, together with the continued strengthening of response rate and tolerability data, underscore the potential for IDRX-42 to improve outcomes for GIST patients and support our plans to move IDRX-42 into late-phase development," said Tim Clackson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of IDRx. "With FDA alignment now in place, we plan to conduct StrateGIST 3, a randomized, Phase 3 registrational trial which will evaluate the efficacy and safety of IDRX-42 as compared to sunitinib in second-line GIST patients. We remain steadfast in our commitment to transform the lives of patients with GIST, including in early-line settings, where the standards of care have remained unchanged for almost 20 years and a significant unmet need remains."

Presentation Highlights

As of the data cut-off date of September 30, 2024, 89 patients have been treated with IDRX-42 in the Phase 1 portion of the ongoing StrateGIST 1 trial across dose cohorts ranging from 120 mg once daily (QD) to 1200 mg total daily dose (600 mg twice daily (BID)). All 89 patients had KIT-mutant GIST. 87 patients were evaluable for efficacy as of the data cut-off date. The two non-evaluable patients were recently enrolled and remain on treatment, awaiting their first post-baseline tumor assessment.
While a maximum tolerated dose was not reached, dose escalation in the Phase 1 portion of the trial has been completed, and the Phase 1b dose confirmation portion of the trial has been initiated utilizing a dose of 300 mg in tablet formulation, which has comparable steady-state plasma exposure to a dose of 400 mg in capsule formulation.
Patients were heavily pretreated overall, with a median of four prior lines of therapy.
17% (15/89) patients had received one prior line of therapy (IDRX-42 evaluated as second-line).
11% (10/89) patients had received two prior lines of therapy (IDRX-42 evaluated as third-line).
72% (64/89) patients had received three or more prior lines of therapy (IDRX-42 evaluated as ≥ fourth-line).
28% (25/89) received three or more prior lines of therapy that did not include ripretinib.
As of the data cut-off date, 63% (56/89) of patients remained on study treatment, and the median duration of treatment was 6.6 months.
The ORR by modified RECIST v1.1 in the total efficacy evaluable population was 29% (25/87) treated across all lines of therapy, including one complete response (CR) and 24 partial responses (PRs). Two of the PRs were awaiting confirmation at the time of the data cut.
At the 400 mg capsule/300 mg tablet QD recommended Phase 1b dose (RP1bD), the ORR was 26% (10/38) in the total efficacy evaluable population.
The ORR in second-line patients was 53% (8/15) including one CR and 7 PRs.
At the RP1bD or below, the ORR was 50% (7/14) across second-line patients.
In second-line patients (n=15), the 6-month PFS was 85%, and the median was not yet reached.
The median PFS in third- or later-line patients both at the RP1bD (n=25) and across all doses (n=72) was 9.2 months.
The median PFS in third-line patients overall (n=10) was 12.9 months.
The median PFS in fourth- or later-line patients who had not previously received ripretinib (n=25) was 9.2 months, and at the RP1bD (n=10) was 11 months.
IDRX-42 was generally well-tolerated and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were mainly low grade at the RP1bD.
The most frequently reported TRAEs (≥20%) were gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, decreased appetite, vomiting, dysgeusia) and fatigue.
An 8% dose reduction rate due to TRAEs was observed at RP1bD, with no TRAEs leading to dose discontinuation.
The Phase 1b portion of StrateGIST 1 commenced enrollment in May 2024 and includes a first-, second-, and two later-line cohorts. The second- and two later-line cohorts are nearly fully enrolled. IDRx has aligned with the FDA on fundamental elements of the trial design, dose, and statistical analysis for StrateGIST 3, a global, randomized, Phase 3 registrational trial which will evaluate IDRX-42 as a second-line therapy in patients diagnosed with metastatic and/or unresectable GIST with disease progression on, or intolerance to, imatinib, the current first-line standard of care for GIST patients.

Presentation Details
Title: The Novel KIT inhibitor IDRX-42 Shows Promising Activity in Second- and Later-Line Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST): Results from a Phase 1 Trial (StrateGIST 1)
Presenter: Suzanne George, M.D.
Abstract Number: P 10
Presentation Type: Oral Abstract Session
Time: Thursday, November 14, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PST
Location: Harbor Ballroom, Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA

About GIST
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common subtype of soft tissue sarcoma occurring in the gastrointestinal tract. Between 4,000 to 6,000 people are diagnosed with GIST in the United States each year. Approximately 80% of all GIST cases are driven by mutations in the KIT gene. An estimated 90% of patients who receive imatinib, the current standard of care for GIST, will experience disease progression related to the emergence of KIT resistance mutations. In unresectable or metastatic GIST, clinical benefits from existing treatments can vary by mutation type. Despite the widespread availability of tyrosine kinase inhibitors approved for GIST, first-line and second-line standards of care have remained unchanged for almost 20 years and significant unmet need remains.

About the StrateGIST 1 Study
StrateGIST 1 is an ongoing, open-label, first-in-human Phase 1/1b study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of IDRX-42 in patients with metastatic and/or surgically unresectable GIST after progression on imatinib and other approved drugs. The study is currently enrolling patients with documented pathogenic mutation in KIT or any platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) mutation (other than PDGFRA exon 18) at sites in the U.S., United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea, and China. The Phase 1b portion commenced enrollment in May 2024 and includes four exploratory cohorts based on defined lines of prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, including first-, second-, third- and later-line therapies.

About IDRX-42
IDRX-42 is an investigational oral, small molecule KIT tyrosine kinase inhibitor in clinical development as a monotherapy for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). IDRX-42 is designed to selectively target the most prevalent forms of KIT mutations that either drive the initial growth, proliferation, and survival of tumor cells, or confer resistance to currently available therapies. In pre-clinical studies, IDRX-42 demonstrated superior anti-tumor activity as compared to imatinib, the current first-line of therapy, in tumors associated with both exon 9 and 11 KIT mutations. IDRX-42 was also shown in pre-clinical studies to have strong inhibition activity against the most prevalent KIT resistance mutations in exons 13 and 17, suggesting that IDRX-42 could prevent or substantially delay the emergence of such mutations. In xenograft models expressing secondary resistance mutations in KIT exon 13 or 17, IDRX-42 treatment resulted in potent and dose-dependent antitumor activity superior to the second-line standard of care agent, sunitinib. IDRX-42 is currently being evaluated in StrateGIST 1, a first-in-human Phase 1/1b trial. IDRX-42 has been granted Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of GIST after disease progression on imatinib.

HOOKIPA Pharma Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Recent Business Updates

On November 14, 2024 HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK, "HOOKIPA", the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next generation immunotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer and serious infectious disease, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 and provided recent business highlights, including an update on the progress of the lead clinical program, eseba-vec (Press release, Hookipa Pharma, NOV 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234648545]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"HOOKIPA made excellent progress across each program in our pipeline in the third quarter," said Malte Peters, MD, Chief Executive Officer of HOOKIPA. "We advanced the development of eseba-vec for HPV16+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), through the start of an investigator-initiated study in the new clinical setting of adjuvant care, and presented continued positive, updated data from our Phase 2 study in first-line recurrent/metastatic disease as a late breaking abstract at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2024. In parallel, we have made significant progress with our review of the business strategy and operations, having implemented a number of initiatives to optimize spending and ensure prioritization of resources."

Recent Developments

Oncology
Eseba-vec: Pivotal-trial ready immunotherapy for human papilloma virus type 16 positive (HPV16+) cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). HOOKIPA owns all rights to this program.

Enrollment completed in the Phase 2 H200-001 study for eseba-vec in combination with pembrolizumab in HPV+ HNSCC with 68 patients enrolled as of October 2024.
First Patients Dosed in Phase 2 Adjuvant Therapy IIT with MSKCC: On October 30, 2024, HOOKIPA announced that researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) dosed the first patients in an investigator-initiated trial (IIT) evaluating eseba-vec in patients with minimal residual disease positive (MRD+) HPV-16+ driven, locally advanced HNSCC, following treatment for curative intent. The study could pave the way to broaden the eseba-vec HNSCC opportunity into adjuvant care.
Updated Phase 2 Data Presented as SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2024 Late-Breaker: On November 9, 2024, HOOKIPA’s clinical collaborator, Alan Ho, MD, PhD, Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service at MSKCC, presented a late-breaking poster at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) (SITC 2024). The presentation provided updated results, including data from additional patients enrolled in the Phase 2 trial evaluating eseba-vec plus pembrolizumab as 1L treatment of recurring/metastatic HPV16+ HNSCC in patients with PD-L1 CPS levels of greater than or equal to 20. Eseba-vec treatment resulted in continued, durable clinical responses and antigen-specific T cell responses.
HB-700: The HB-700 program is a novel Phase 1-ready immunotherapy for KRAS-mutated cancers, including pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancer. The investigational therapy was designed to target the most prevalent KRAS mutations of these cancers in a single therapy. HOOKIPA owns all rights to this program and the Investigational New Drug Application (IND) received FDA clearance in April 2024.

Presentation of Strong Preclinical Dataset: On September 25, 2024, HOOKIPA presented the preclinical proof-of-concept dataset for HB-700 at the 6th Annual RAS-Targeted Drug Development Summit. The dataset demonstrated that HB-700 induced target-specific CD8+ T cells and target cell killing in several different animal and translational models.
Infectious Diseases
HOOKIPA is advancing two independent anti-viral programs (HB-400 for HBV and HB-500 for HIV-1) through a collaboration and license agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead).

HB-400: An investigational therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Enrollment Completed in Phase 1a/1b Clinical Trial: The vaccine is being evaluated in a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial (NCT05770895) in 83 subjects to assess the safety and immune response induced by HB400 in healthy participants and in participants with CHB on oral antiviral therapy.
HB-500: An investigational therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1).

Ongoing Phase 1b Clinical Trial: The vaccine is being evaluated in a Phase 1b clinical trial (NCT06430905) to assess the safety and magnitude of cellular immune response against HIV-1 induced by HB-500 in people living with HIV who are taking anti-retroviral treatment. Under the collaboration agreement with Gilead, HOOKIPA received a $5 million milestone payment associated with dosing of the first subject in this trial in July 2024.
Corporate and Financial Updates

Corporate Highlights

Board of Director Changes: On August 30, 2024, Director Julie O’Neill was appointed to be Non-Executive Chair of the Company’s Board of Directors, succeeding Jan van de Winkel, who decided to step down from the Board due to increased time commitments from other executive responsibilities. Tim Reilly also stepped down from the Board to dedicate more time to his other professional responsibilities. HOOKIPA is grateful for the years of service each Director dedicated to the Company.

Leadership Changes: On July 22, 2024, the Board of Directors appointed Malte Peters, MD, as Chief Executive Officer and Terry Coelho as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer to lead the Company through its next phase of development and to realize the significant opportunity of HOOKIPA’s pipeline.

Board Appointment: On July 22, 2024, Sean Cassidy was appointed to the Board of Directors. Mr. Cassidy serves as the chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Compensation and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.

Reverse Split: On July 9, 2024, the Company effected a reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of its common stock on a one-for-ten (1:10) basis. The reverse stock split is part of the Company’s plan to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Financial Highlights: Milestone Payments

Gilead: In July, HOOKIPA received a $5.0 million milestone payment under its collaboration and license agreement with Gilead. The success-based milestone payment was achieved in connection with the dosing of the first subject in the Phase 1b clinical trial of HB-500 for the treatment of HIV-1, initiated on July 1, 2024.
Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Cash Position: HOOKIPA’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of September 30, 2024 was $60.0 million, compared to $117.5 million as of December 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to cash used in operating activities, partially offset by cash received relating to milestone achievements under our collaboration agreements with Roche and Gilead.

Revenue: Revenue was $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $6.9 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower partnering revenues as a result of the termination of the Roche collaboration agreement.

Research and Development Expenses: HOOKIPA’s research and development expenses were $15.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $24.6 million for the same period in 2023. The primary changes in research and development expenses were lower personnel-related and laboratory-related expenses as well as lower manufacturing and research expenses resulting from the pause in development activities related to HB-300 announced in January 2024, partially offset by higher clinical study expenses for the eseba-vec program.

General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses amounted to $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2023. The primary drivers of the increase in general and administrative expenses were an increase in personnel-related expenses and an increase in professional and consulting fees incurred in connection with management transitions during the third quarter of 2024.

Restructuring Expenses: Restructuring expenses amounted to $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, and resulted from severance and other personnel costs as well as professional fees related to a reduction in workforce and related activities conducted in the third quarter of 2024.

Impairment Expenses: Impairment expenses amounted to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, and resulted from write-downs related to laboratory equipment.

Net Loss: HOOKIPA’s net loss was $13.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $19.1 million for the same period in 2023.

Celcuity Inc. Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On November 14, 2024 Celcuity Inc. (Nasdaq: CELC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pursuing development of targeted therapies for oncology, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 and other recent business developments (Press release, Celcuity, NOV 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234648393]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Enrollment in our VIKTORIA-1 study remains robust and on-track. The PIK3CA wild-type cohort is 100% enrolled, and enrollment in the PIK3CA mutant cohort is on plan," said Brian Sullivan, CEO and co-founder of Celcuity. "Based on our current forecast of reaching the event thresholds that will trigger primary analysis in both the PIK3CA wild-type and mutant cohorts, we expect to report topline data for the PIK3CA wild-type cohort sometime in late Q1 2025 or during Q2 2025 and to report topline data for the PIK3CA mutant cohort in the second half of 2025."

Third Quarter 2024 Business Highlights and Other Recent Developments

● The VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 clinical trial expects to provide topline data for the PIK3CA wild-type cohort in late Q1 2025 or during Q2 2025 and for the PIK3CA mutant cohort in the second half of 2025.

○ VIKTORIA-1 is evaluating gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant with and without palbociclib in adults with HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer who have received prior treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor.
○ The PIK3CA wild-type cohort is 100% enrolled and enrollment of the PIK3CA mutant cohort is on-track relative to plan.

● The VIKTORIA-2 Phase 3 clinical trial remains on track to enroll its first patient in Q2 2025.

○ The VIKTORIA-2 study is a global Phase 3 open-label randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor, either ribociclib or palbociclib, in comparison to fulvestrant plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor as a first-line treatment for patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer who are endocrine therapy resistant.
○ Prior to the initiation of the Phase 3 portion of the trial, a safety run-in study will be conducted in 12-36 participants to assess the safety profile of gedatolisib in combination with ribociclib and fulvestrant.
○ Site qualification activities to support activation of up to 200 sites across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia are on track.

● The Phase 1b/2 clinical trial, evaluating gedatolisib in combination with darolutamide for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), is ongoing and expected to report preliminary data in Q2 2025.

● Overall survival data from the B2151009 Phase 1b clinical trial will be presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), taking place December 10-13, 2024. Details of the poster presentation are as follows:

○ Abstract Title: Overall survival in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer treated in a phase 1b trial evaluating gedatolisib in combination with palbociclib and endocrine therapy (SESS-1510)
○ Presentation Number: P4-08-25
○ Date/Time: Thursday, December 12, 5:30 PM CST

● Additional nonclinical data further characterizing the mechanism of action of gedatolisib and its effect on breast cancer cell metabolic functions will also be presented at the SABCS.

○ Abstract Title: Mechanism of action of gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant and/or palbociclib in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer models (SESS-989)
○ Abstract Title: Different effects of gedatolisib versus single-node PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors on breast cancer cell metabolic functions (SESS-997)
● In October, Cancers published results of nonclinical studies in gynecological cancer cell line models highlighting the differences between single-node inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and gedatolisib. The published manuscript is available online and on the publications section of Celcuity’s website.

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Total operating expenses were $30.1 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $18.9 million for the third quarter of 2023.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $27.6 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $17.5 million for the prior-year period. Of the approximately $10.1 million increase in R&D expenses, $6.3 million primarily related to activities supporting the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial, the Phase 1b/2 trial and the initiation of the VIKTORIA-2 Phase 3 trial, and $3.8 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $2.5 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $1.4 million for the prior-year period. Employee and consulting related expenses accounted for $0.9 million of the increase. Professional fees and other administrative expenses accounted for the remaining increase of approximately $0.2 million.

Net loss for the third quarter of 2024 was $29.8 million, or $0.70 loss per share, compared to a net loss of $18.4 million, or $0.83 loss per share, for the third quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss for the third quarter of 2024 was $27.6 million, or $0.65 loss per share, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $17.3 million, or $0.78 loss per share, for the third quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss excludes stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense, and non-cash interest income. Because these items have no impact on Celcuity’s cash position, management believes non-GAAP adjusted net loss better enables Celcuity to focus on cash used in operations. For a reconciliation of financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) to non-GAAP financial measures, please see the financial tables at the end of this press release.

Net cash used in operating activities for the third quarter of 2024 was $20.6 million, compared to $12.7 million for the third quarter of 2023.

At September 30, 2024, Celcuity reported cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $264.1 million.

PDS Biotech Provides Clinical Programs Update and Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

On November 14, 2024 PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB) ("PDS Biotech" or the "Company"), a late-stage immunotherapy company focused on transforming how the immune system targets and kills cancers and the development of infectious disease vaccines, reported a business update and announced financial results for the third quarter of 2024 (Press release, PDS Biotechnology, NOV 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234648409]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Since our last update in August, we have been actively engaged with investors and clinicians to discuss our strategy and funding requirements for our VERSATILE-003 Phase 3 trial of Versamune HPV + pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab as a potential treatment for first-line recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC)," said Frank Bedu-Addo, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of PDS Biotech. Dr. Bedu-Addo further noted that "based on investor feedback, discussions with key opinion leaders involved with the study and other experts, we have made minor modifications to the VERSATILE-003 trial design to reduce the overall cost and time required to achieve an interim data readout and trial completion."

With submission of the updated Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, the Company expects the FDA clearance decision by mid-December, allowing the Company to initiate site activation in the first quarter of 2025.

"Elsewhere in our pipeline, we were pleased with the data from the IMMUNOCERV Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating Versamune HPV with chemoradiation to treat locally advanced cervical cancer presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting. The presented data demonstrated promising clinical activity and a compelling safety profile. Based on continued research in various HPV-positive cancers conducted by PDS Biotech and independent researchers who recognize its potential, Versamune HPV appears to work in combination with a variety of therapeutic agents to generate clinical responses and promote improved survival in patients with favorable toxicity. We are exploring the next steps in the development of Versamune HPV for cervical cancer," concluded Dr. Bedu-Addo.

Recent Developments


Update to Phase 3 VERSATILE-003 Trial Design in HPV16-positive first-line recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC


Updated trial design to include approximately 350 patients


VERSATILE-002 results have shown broadly improving clinical responses across multiple parameters with increases in patient size and duration of patient follow up over the last year, demonstrating durability of the anti-tumor responses


The design, which is informed by the observed durability of the clinical responses, retains statistical power and remains within the confines of our agreement with the FDA on registrational design


Design maintains 2:1 randomization and median overall survival as primary endpoint


Design imparts potential for earlier interim readouts and study completion


Design presents potential for reduced execution costs


Amended IND (updated design) submitted November 2024


In September 2024, we provided updated results from our VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 clinical trial in recurrent and/or metastatic HPV16-positive HNSCC patients treated with the combination of Versamune HPV and pembrolizumab presented at European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2024 by Jared Weiss, M.D., Section Chief of Thoracic and Head/Neck Oncology, Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina, and principal investigator of the VERSATILE-002 clinical trial. Press release here.


In October 2024, we provided updated results from our IMMUNOCERV Phase 2 clinical trial in locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with Versamune HPV and chemoradiotherapy presented at the ASTRO Annual Meeting by Adam Grippin, M.D., Ph.D., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Press release here.


Ravi A. Madan, M.D., Head, Prostate Cancer Clinical Research Section, Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health presented the rationale and design of recurrent prostate cancer trial combining Xtandi + PDS01ADC vs Xtandi alone during an oral presentation at the 12th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine and Interferon Society, October 2024. Press release here .

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Reported net loss was approximately $10.7 million, or $0.29 per basic share and diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to a net loss of $10.8 million, or $0.35 per basic share and diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower operating expenses.

Research and development expenses increased to approximately $6.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, from $6.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase of $0.4 million was primarily attributable to higher manufacturing expenses, partially offset by lower clinical costs and personnel expenses.

General and administrative expenses decreased to approximately $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, from approximately $4.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease of $0.7 million was primarily attributable to lower personnel costs and professional fees.

Total operating expenses decreased to approximately $10.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, from $10.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Net interest expenses increased to approximately $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, from $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024 totaled approximately $49.8 million.

TriSalus Reports Q3 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On November 14, 2024 TriSalus Life Sciences Inc., (Nasdaq: TLSI), an oncology company integrating novel delivery technology with immunotherapy to transform treatment for patients with liver and pancreatic tumors, reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, and provided a business update (Press release, TriSalus Life Sciences, NOV 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234648426]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We enter the final quarter of 2024 with great momentum, both commercially and clinically, and we are positioned well for an even greater 2025," stated Mary Szela, President and Chief Executive Officer of TriSalus Life Sciences. "Commercially, we enjoyed a strong third quarter highlighted by 42% revenue growth. We recently launched the TriNav LV system to address patients with larger vessels, an opportunity we believe will meaningfully expand our addressable market and provide full access to the $375 million liver embolization market."

"With the successful completion of our Phase 1 dose escalation study enrollment in UM-LM, we are actively pursuing a strategic partnership for nelitolimod," continued Ms. Szela. "This follows the successful presentation of positive Phase 1 results from our PERIO-01 dose escalation study in UM-LM at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper). Additionally, by mid-2025, we anticipate data from our Phase 1 study in locally advanced pancreatic cancer, which will guide our next steps."

"Our clinical development efforts for the TriNav system have expanded with the launch of the DELIVER program, starting with the PROTECT registry trial for patients with multinodular goiter. There is significant potential to broaden our addressable market by $400 million, and we are committed to providing further updates on PROTECT and additional programs within the DELIVER initiative."

"Finally, we are initiating 2025 guidance that calls for greater than 50% revenue growth, a greater than 20% reduction in operating expenses, positive full-year EBITDA, and positive cash flow in the second half of the year," concluded Ms. Szela.

Third Quarter Business Update

TriNav System Large Vessel Launch

TriSalus recently expanded its portfolio of Pressure-Enabled Drug Delivery (PEDD) devices with the launch of the TriNav LV Infusion System and TriGuide Guiding Catheter to optimize therapeutic delivery for patients with larger vessels. The TriNav LV system is suitable for patients with vessels sized between 3.5 and 5.0 mm and is expected to allow the Company to meaningfully expand its addressable liver embolization market. The TriGuide Guiding Catheter has a larger inner diameter, lubricious inner lining, and reverse curve design to support femoral access for the TriNav LV system, which the Company believes will enhance procedural efficiency. These new products are eligible for the same HCPCS reimbursement codes as existing TriNav products, enabling seamless integration into current billing structures.

DELIVER and PROTECT Updates

During the quarter, TriSalus advanced the DELIVER clinical program, a series of clinical trials designed to demonstrate enhanced safety and efficacy across a broad spectrum of complex, difficult-to-treat patients through investigator-initiated studies, further underscoring the impact of PEDD technology. A key focus of the DELIVER program is to investigate the potential of combining use of the TriNav system with these therapies to enhance effectiveness and address resistance mechanisms in challenging cancers.

The first of these is a registry study called PROTECT (Pressure Enabled Retrograde Occlusive Therapy with Embolization for Control of Thyroid Disease), which has been initiated, and TriSalus intends to enroll 100 patients across five leading academic sites. It is estimated that approximately 5% of adults have multinodular goiters, and the prevalence in adults over 50 is estimated to be up to 50%. The Company estimates that this could expand the addressable market by approximately 50,000 procedures, representing an incremental $400 million market opportunity and putting the Company’s total addressable market at more than $1 billion in the U.S. This new procedure utilizing the TriNav system is also eligible for the same Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) reimbursement code allowing for seamless integration into current billing approaches.

The Company anticipates opening additional DELIVER studies in the first half of 2025 and will provide more details as those studies commence.

PERIO Trial Update

TriSalus presented Phase 1 results from the PERIO-01 clinical trial at the recent SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) meeting. This dose escalation trial investigated the use of the PEDD method of nelitolimod in patients with UM-LM. The results suggested that PEDD-administered nelitolimod, combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, provides promising clinical benefits and durable survival in heavily pretreated patients with UM-LM and a favorable safety profile. The Company is actively exploring strategic partnerships to advance this indication further.

The Company also completed enrollment of 13 patients in its PERIO-03 Phase 1 dose escalation study of nelitolimod in locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Evidence gathered thus far supports a strong safety profile and further exploration of nelitolimod combined with the TriNav pancreatic infusion technology. The Company will outline the next steps once the final data are available in mid-2025.

Financial Results for Q3 2024

Revenue, all from the sale of the TriNav system, was $7.3 million and $21.2 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. These were up 42% and 66%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023. Revenue growth was driven primarily by increased selling resources and increased market share.

Gross margins were 86% and 86% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to 89% and 84%, respectively, for the same periods in 2023. The year-to-date improvement is due to increased factory volumes and improved operational efficiency.

Operating losses were $8.7 million and $28.6 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to losses of $18.6 million and $40.2 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2023. These amounts include non-cash stock compensation and depreciation expenses of $1.6 million and $4.3 million for the three- and nine-month periods in 2024 and $0.4 million and $0.9 million for the same periods in 2023. Current year reductions in operating losses are due to increased sales, reduced general and administrative expenses due to non-recurrence of prior year costs related to becoming a public company, and reduced research and development spending associated with the ramp-down of clinical trial spending.

Net losses available to common stockholders were $2.4 million and $19.9 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to losses of $1.4 million and $23.7 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2023. Net losses in 2024 include non-cash related gains on change in fair value of various derivatives of $7.3 million and $10.5 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to gains of $17.1 million and $16.4 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2023. The basic and diluted loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, were $0.12 and $0.91, respectively, compared to $0.14 and $5.72 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.

On September 30, 2024, cash and cash equivalents totaled $11.3 million. The Company expects existing liquidity sources and $25 million of available capacity on the OrbiMed debt facility to provide sufficient cash runway throughout 2025. In addition, the company expects to be EBITDA positive for 2025 and achieve positive cash flow by the second half of 2025, extending total cash runway beyond 2025.

2025 Guidance

The Company is providing guidance for 2025 for the first time, including:

Sales are expected to grow by more than 50% in 2025, driven by further market share increases in the TriNav system, the commercial launch of the TriNav LV system, and the TriNav target market expansion driven by the DELIVER program.
Operating expenses are expected to decline greater than 20% in 2025 due to reductions in R&D associated with completing the PERIO Phase 1 trials and reductions in G&A expenses due to the non-recurrence of certain costs related to becoming a public Company.
The Company expects to achieve positive full-year EBITDA and positive cash flow in the second half of the year.
Conference Call

TriSalus will host a webcast to discuss its third quarter 2024 financial results and business highlights on November 14, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. EST. The webcast can be accessed on the investor relations section of TriSalus’ website at View Source Following the conclusion of the event, a webcast replay will be available on the website. Interested parties participating by phone will need to register using this online form. After registering for the webcast, dial-in details will be provided in an auto-generated e-mail containing a link to the conference phone number and a personal pin.