On August 3, 2016 ArQule, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQL) reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2016 (Press release, ArQule, AUG 3, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514200]).
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For the quarter ended June 30, 2016, the Company reported a net loss of $5,100,000 or $0.07 per share, compared with a net loss of $4,017,000 or $0.06 per share, for the second quarter of 2015. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2016, the Company reported a net loss of $10,081,000 or $0.15 per share, compared with a net loss of $8,568,000 or $0.14 per share, for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015.
At June 30, 2016, the Company had a total of approximately $43,115,000 in cash, equivalents and marketable securities.
Key Highlights
ARQ 087, our proprietary FGFR inhibitor, demonstrated strong anticancer activity in an ongoing phase 1/2 trial in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), a rare form of liver cancer. A 75% disease control rate, including a 25% objective response rate, was observed from the preliminary data presented at the 2016 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) GI Congress. Since the Congress presentation, a fourth partial response has been observed.
ARQ 531, our proprietary and novel BTK inhibitor, demonstrated in preclinical studies that it is a potent and reversible inhibitor of both wild type and ibrutinib resistant C481S-mutant BTK. In preclinical testing, ARQ 531 demonstrated biochemical inhibition of both wild type and C481S-mutant BTK at sub-nanomolar levels and potent cellular inhibition in C481S-mutant BTK cells that are resistant to ibrutinib. These data were presented at the 2016 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference in July marking the first public showing of data on this potential best-in-class molecule.
ARQ 092, our lead AKT inhibitor, continues in the phase 1 trial for Proteus syndrome. The three patients enrolled in the first cohort are approaching nine months of therapy.
Tivantinib – METIV-HCC phase 3 trial in hepatocellular carcinoma is scheduled to conclude by year-end 2016 or early 2017. Top-line data is expected according to that timeline.
"We are starting to realize the benefits of our precision medicine strategy through the advancement of our proprietary pipeline as evidenced by the strong clinical data recently presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) GI for ARQ 087 in iCCA, the initiation of a biomarker driven phase 1 trial for our next generation AKT inhibitor, ARQ 751, and the emerging preclinical profile of our novel BTK inhibitor, ARQ 531, recently presented at the Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference," said Paolo Pucci, Chief Executive Officer of ArQule. "While AKT and FGFR are emerging targets, with ARQ 531 we have the opportunity to work in a well-established target such as BTK and to address a growing therapeutic need of patients who develop resistance to ibrutinib. We look forward to sharing additional data on ARQ 087, ARQ 092 and ARQ 531 later this year."
"With the four partial responses recorded thus far in the iCCA trial, we are nearing a decision for the next stage of clinical development for ARQ 087 and expect to meet with regulatory authorities in the near future," said Dr. Brian Schwartz, M.D., Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer at ArQule. "The initiation of a pivotal biomarker driven trial in iCCA with FGFR2 genetic alterations would create an opportunity for a fast-to-market strategy in this orphan disease. With clear signs of clinical utility and a manageable safety profile, ARQ 087 has the potential to become a best-in-class compound."
Revenues and Expenses
Revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, were $1,072,000 compared with revenues of $3,004,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2015. Revenues in the six-months ended June 30, 2016 were $2,299,000 compared with revenues of $5,789,000 in the six-months ended June 30, 2015. Revenue in the three and six-month periods of 2016 and 2015 is comprised of revenue from the Daiichi Sankyo tivantinib development agreement and the Kyowa Hakko Kirin exclusive license agreement.
The revenue decreases in the quarter ended June 30, 2016 of $1.0 million from our Daiichi Sankyo METIV-HCC trial and $0.9 million from our Kyowa Hakko Kirin JET-HCC trial were principally due to the March 2016 extension of the development period through December 31, 2016 for both programs. The revenue decreases in the six months ended June 30, 2016 of $1.6 million from our Daiichi Sankyo METIV-HCC trial and $1.9 million from our Kyowa Hakko Kirin JET-HCC trial were also principally due to the extension of the development period through December 31, 2016.
Research and development expense in the second quarter of 2016 was $4,337,000, compared with $4,327,000 for the second quarter of 2015. The increase in outsourced clinical and product development costs of $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2016 was offset by lower labor and related costs of $0.3 million and facility costs reductions of $0.1 million.
Research and development expense in the six-months ended June 30, 2016 was $8,535,000 compared with $8,740,000 in the six-months ended June 30, 2015. The $0.2 million decrease in research and development expense in the six-months ended June 30, 2016 was primarily due to lower labor and related costs of $0.5 million, facility costs of $0.5 million, partially offset by increased outsourced clinical and product development costs of $0.8 million.
General and administrative expense was $1,887,000 in the second quarter of 2016 compared with $2,776,000 in the second quarter 2015. General and administrative expense decreased by $0.9 million in the second quarter of 2016 primarily due to lower facility costs of $0.7 million and professional fees of $0.2 million.
General and administrative expense was $3,931,000 in the six-months ended June 30, 2016 compared with $5,963,000 in the six-months ended June 30, 2015. General and administrative expense decreased by $2.0 million in the six-months ended June 30, 2016 primarily due to lower facility costs of $1.6 million, labor related costs of $0.2 million and professional fees of $0.2 million.