On August 10, 2015 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NYSE: PBYI), a development stage biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 (Filing, 8-K, Puma Biotechnology, AUG 10, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507176]).

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!

Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are for the second quarter and first half of the year 2015 compared to the second quarter and first half of the year 2014.

Based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), Puma reported a net loss applicable to common stock of $64.7 million, or $2.01 per share, for the second quarter of 2015, compared to a net loss of $38.8 million, or $1.29 per share, for the second quarter of 2014. Net loss applicable to common stock for the first half of 2015 was $117.1 million, or $3.68 per share, compared to $58.6 million, or $1.96 per share, for the first half of 2014.

Adjusted net loss applicable to common stock was $36.5 million, or $1.13 per share, for the second quarter of 2015, compared to adjusted net loss applicable to common stock of $31.6 million, or $1.05 per share, for the second quarter of 2014. Adjusted net loss applicable to common stock for the first half of 2015 was $68.8 million, or $2.16 per share, compared to $46.3 million, or $1.55 per share, for the first half of 2014. Adjusted net loss applicable to common stock excludes stock-based compensation expense, which represents a significant portion of overall expense and has no impact on the cash position of the Company. For a reconciliation of adjusted net loss applicable to common stock to reported net loss applicable to common stock, please see the financial tables at the end of this news release.

Net cash used in operating activities for the second quarter of 2015 was $34.6 million. Net cash used in operating activities for the first half of 2015 was $84.6 million. At June 30, 2015, Puma had cash and cash equivalents of $59.8 million and marketable securities of $222.5 million, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $38.5 million and marketable securities of $102.8 million at December 31, 2014. Puma’s current level of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities includes net proceeds of approximately $205.0 million from a public offering of the Company’s common stock, which was completed in January 2015.

"During the second quarter of 2015 we presented data from the Phase III ExteNET trial at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting," said Alan H. Auerbach, chairman and chief executive officer of Puma. "The positive study demonstrated that treatment with neratinib as extended adjuvant treatment following adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab in women with early-stage HER2 positive breast cancer reduced the risk of disease recurrence by 33%. The two-year disease-free survival rate was 93.9% in the neratinib arm versus 91.6% in the placebo arm. We anticipate our NDA filing for neratinib for the extended adjuvant setting during the first quarter of 2016. Also in the second quarter of 2015, we expanded the second cohort in the Phase II basket trial, which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of neratinib in patients with solid tumors who have an activating HER2 mutation. The second cohort includes patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and whose tumors have a HER2 mutation.

"We expect to continue to execute on our ongoing Phase II and Phase III trials of PB272 in the second half of 2015 and beyond.
In addition, during the second half of 2015, we expect to (i) publish Phase III
ExteNET trial results in the extended adjuvant treatment of early stage HER2-positive breast cancer (anticipated in the third quarter of 2015); (ii) perform additional presentations of the ExteNET Phase III trial (anticipated in the third and fourth quarters of 2015); (iii) complete our ongoing Phase II FB-7 trial of PB272 as a neoadjuvant treatment for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer (anticipated in the third quarter of 2015); (iv) report data from our Phase II trial of PB272 in HER2 non-amplified breast cancer that has a HER2 mutation (anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2015); (v) report initial data from the Phase II trial of neratinib in extended adjuvant HER2 positive early stage breast cancer using loperamide prophylaxis (anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2015); (vi) complete the ongoing Phase II trial of PB272 in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain (anticipated in the second half of 2015); and (vii) expand additional cohorts in our Phase II basket trial of PB272 in patients with solid tumors with activating HER2 mutations (anticipated in the second half of 2015)."

Operating Expenses
Based on GAAP, operating expenses were $64.9 million for the second quarter of 2015, compared to $38.9 million for the second quarter of 2014. Operating expenses for the first half of 2015 were $117.5 million compared to $58.7 million for the first half of 2014.

General and Administrative Expenses:
Based on GAAP, general and administrative expenses were $5.5 million in the second quarter of 2015, compared to $3.9 million in the second quarter of 2014. General and administrative expenses for the first half of 2015 were $13.4 million compared to $7.4 million for the first half of 2014.

Research and Development Expenses:
Based on GAAP, research and development expenses were $59.4 million in the second quarter of 2015, compared to $35.0 million in the second quarter of 2014. Research and development expenses for the first half of 2015 were $104.1 million, compared to $51.3 million for the first half of 2014.

(Filing, 10-Q, Kite Pharma, AUG 10, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507156])

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!

On August 10, 2015 Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ: CLSN), an oncology drug development company, reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 and provided an update on its development programs, including ThermoDox, its proprietary heat-activated liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin, and GEN-1, an IL-12 DNA-based immunotherapy encased in a synthetic nanoparticle delivery system, which is currently under development for the localized treatment of ovarian and brain cancers (Press release, Celsion, AUG 10, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507134]).

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!

"Over the past few months, we reported positive data highlighting the multiple development opportunities for our portfolio, launched our European Early Access Program for ThermoDox in recurrent chest wall breast cancer and strengthened our balance sheet, providing a strong foundation as we advance our pipeline," said Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion’s chairman, president and CEO. "We remain on track to initiate key clinical studies this year, including the Euro-DIGNITY study evaluating ThermoDox in breast cancer, a Phase 1b trial for GEN-1 in first-line ovarian cancer, and a trial evaluating GEN-1 with Avastin in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients. In parallel, we continue enroll patients from North America, Europe and Asia Pacific in our global Phase III OPTIMA Study evaluating ThermoDox in primary liver cancer. Finally, we continue to evaluate ways to leverage our TheraSilence technology platform to advance the development of RNAi therapeutics that can be delivered directly to the lung."

Recent Developments

ThermoDox

Reported Positive Interim Data from the Phase II US DIGNITY Study in RCW Breast Cancer.

In July 2015, Celsion announced continuing positive interim data from its Phase II DIGNITY trial of ThermoDox in recurrent chest wall (RCW) breast cancer. Of the 17 patients enrolled and treated in the DIGNITY Study, 13 were eligible for evaluation of efficacy. Based on available data, every patient experienced a clinical benefit of their highly refractory disease with a local response rate of 69% observed in the 13 evaluable patients, notably 5 complete responses, 4 partial responses and 4 patients with stable disease.

Announced Updated Overall Survival Data from Phase III HEAT Study, Providing Strong Support for the Clinical Protocol for the Phase III OPTIMA Study.

As of July 15, 2015, the latest Overall Survival (OS) analysis demonstrated that in a large, well bounded, subgroup of patients (n=285, 41% of the study patients), the combination of ThermoDox and optimized RFA provided a 58% improvement in OS compared to optimized RFA alone. The Hazard Ratio at this analysis is 0.63 (95% CI 0.43 – 0.93) with a p-value of 0.0198. Median overall survival for the ThermoDox group has been reached which translates into a 25.4 month (2.1 year) survival benefit over the optimized RFA only group (79 months for the ThermoDox plus optimized RFA group versus 53.6 months for the optimized RFA only group). These data continue to support the protocol for the Phase III OPTIMA Study, which is evaluating ThermoDox in combination with optimized RFA, which will be standardized to a minimum of 45 minutes across all investigators and clinical sites for treating lesions 3 to 7 centimeters, versus standardized RFA alone. The study is expected to enroll up to 550 patients globally in up to 75 clinical sites in the United States, Europe, China and Asia Pacific.

Launched the ThermoDox Early Access Program (EAP) in Europe.

The Company and myTomorrows launched the ThermoDox Early Access Program in the second quarter, making ThermoDox available for sales to physicians who are treating patients with limited therapeutic options. The EAP provides physicians with access to products in later stage development demonstrating evidence of clinical benefit, with an acceptable safety profile and a quality manufacturing process in place. Celsion will be allowed to price ThermoDox at commercial rates.

GEN-1 IL-12 DNA-Based Immunotherapy

Presented Phase Ib Data for GEN-1 in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper).

In May 2015, Celsion presented clinical results from the Phase Ib trial for GEN-1in combination with pegylated doxorubicin in 16 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in a poster session at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Meeting in Chicago. The clinical findings demonstrated an overall clinical benefit of 57% for all treatment arms, with a partial response (PR) rate of 21% and a stable disease (SD) rate of 36%. The overall clinical benefit observed at the highest dose cohort in this difficult-to-treat patient population was 100% (PR=33% and SD=67%) in all six evaluable patients. GEN-1 was well tolerated, with no dose limiting toxicities and no overlapping toxicities between GEN-1 and pegylated doxorubicin.

TheraSilence

Demonstrated Potent, Durable Preclinical Lung Expression Data for Its TheraSilence.

In May 2015, Celsion reported data from a preclinical study confirming that its TheraSilence technology platform can safely and effectively deliver RNA to the lungs in non-human primates, enabling the development of RNA therapeutics for lung diseases. In the study, TheraSilence-formulated signaling RNA resulted in preferential expression in the lungs, with expression in the liver at less than 15% of expression levels observed in the lungs, and expression levels in tissues other than the lung, spleen and liver at very low or background levels. A liver-directed delivery system, used as a positive control for the study, yielded preferential expression in liver and spleen, with only background expression levels observed in the lung.

Published Preclinical Data Demonstrating Lung Specific Delivery of microRNA-145 Inhibitor Using the TheraSilence Platform.

In May 2015, an abstract published in the Journal of Controlled Release summarized findings from a preclinical study confirming effective delivery of RNA to lung cells. In the study, the Company’s TheraSilence technology platform safely and effectively delivered an inhibitor of microRNA-145 (miR-145) in a well-established model of severe occlusive pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Treatment was associated with significant delivery of miR-145 inhibitor in the lung, inhibition of miR-145 levels and reversal of the pulmonary hypertension associated with the advanced stages of the disease leading to a normalization of cardiovascular function.

Corporate Developments

Raised $8 Million Through Registered Direct Equity Offering priced "at the market".

During the second quarter of 2015, the Company completed an $8 million at-the-market registered direct equity offering and a concurrent private placement of warrants to purchase common stock with two institutional healthcare investors.

Financial Results

For the quarter ended June 30, 2015, Celsion reported a net loss of $5.7 million, or $(0.27) per share, compared to a net loss of $6.7 million, or $(0.38) per share, in the same period of 2014. Operating expenses were $5.4 million in the second quarter of 2015 compared to $6.5 million in the same period of 2014. For the six month period ended June 30, 2015, the Company reported a net loss of $12.7 million, or $(0.62) per share, compared to $12.1 million, or $(0.71) per share, in the same period of 2014. Operating expenses were $11.9 million in the first half of 2015 compared to $11.9 million in the same period of 2014. Net loss and operating expenses for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 included $1.1 million of one-time costs associated with the acquisition of EGEN, Inc. Net cash used in operations was $11.6 million in the first half of 2015 compared to $9.0 million in the same period last year. The Company ended the second quarter of 2015 with $30.8 million of total cash, investments and accrued interest on these investments, which included the proceeds of an $8 million registered direct offering that was completed during the quarter.

Research and development costs were $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2015 compared to $3.2 million the same period last year. Research and development costs were $8.1 million in the first half of 2015 compared to $6.1 million the same period last year. The increases in 2015 is primarily due to costs associated with the operations of EGEN, Inc., which the Company acquired in June 2014, and the costs associated with the initiation of the Phase III OPTIMA Study in 2014 and the production of clinical supplies in the first half of 2015 for the three GEN-1 Phase I studies. General and administrative expenses were $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2015 compared to $2.3 million the same period of 2014. General and administrative expenses were $3.8 million in the first half of 2015 compared to $4.7 million the same period of 2014. These decreases were primarily the result of lower insurance premiums and lower personnel costs.

On August 10, 2015 GenSpera, Inc. (OTCQB: GNSZ) on August 6, 2015, the company reported its financial results for the three and six months ended June 31, 2015, and has provided the following corporate update to its shareholders in order to highlight the Company’s extensive organizational advances and clinical progress during the second quarter of 2015 (Filing, 8-K, GenSpera, AUG 10, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507140]). GenSpera continues to unlock conventional thinking to conceive, design, and develop novel cancer therapies. GenSpera’s unique technology platform combines a powerful, plant-derived cytotoxin (thapsigargin) with a patented prodrug delivery system that provides targeted release of drug candidates within tumors.

"The second quarter of 2015 has been incredibly busy and very significant for GenSpera’s future," said Craig Dionne, Ph.D., chief executive officer at GenSpera. "With impressive final Phase II clinical data for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), plus meeting and exceeding clinical milestones for our ongoing Phase II glioblastoma trials which resulted in expanded patient enrollment, I believe the value of mipsagargin is being telegraphed strong. It is an exciting time for GenSpera and management looks forward to ongoing communications with all our primary audiences."

Second Quarter Clinical and Business Highlights

· On July 16, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit entered judgment in GenSpera, Inc. v. Annastasiah Mudiwa Mhaka in favor of GenSpera. In a per curiam order without an opinion, the Federal Circuit affirmed the decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granting summary judgment in GenSpera’s favor in two consolidated cases relating to the inventorship of two patents owned by GenSpera. The district court had issued a declaratory judgment that Dr. Annastasiah Mhaka should not be added as an inventor to the two patents at issue, and had also granted summary judgment with respect to state law tort claims brought by Dr. Mhaka against the company and two of its founders, Dr. John Isaacs and Dr. Sam Denmeade. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit previously dismissed another appeal brought by Dr. Mhaka from the same district court judgments.

· GenSpera’s strategic partner, Phyton Biotech, has had its international patent application WO 2015/0892978 A1 "PRODUCTION OF THAPSIGARGINS BY THAPSIA CELL SUSPENSION CULTURE," published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The invention described in the patent application provides, for the first time, a suspension cell culture suitable for mass production of thapsigargin and offers a potentially alternative route to commercial scale production of this starting material for synthesis of mipsagargin.

· We issued final data from our Phase II liver cancer trial in which a total of twenty-five patients were treated with mipsagargin. Study participants experienced a median time to progression of 4.5 months, more than double the time demonstrated in prior studies with placebo or ineffective agents. Sixty-three percent of patients experienced stable disease at two months. Additionally, mipsagargin was shown to dramatically decrease blood flow in liver tumors. 

· Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator of GenSpera’s glioblastoma clinical trial, received a $1.6 million RO-1 grant from the Food and Drug Administration for preclinical work and biomarker development in support of the ongoing mipsagargin clinical trial studies in humans. The clinical trial is being conducted at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla, CA. Sufficiently encouraging data were observed in the first stage of the ongoing Phase II study of mipsagargin in glioblastoma (brain cancer) patients to warrant continuation of enrollment for an expansion phase of the trial. We have now treated fifteen patients in our Phase II glioblastoma clinical trial.

· GenSpera continued partnering, licensing, and research collaboration discussions with multinational and regional pharmaceutical companies.

· GenSpera harvests and plants next generation crop of thapsigargin in Spain.

· In July 2015, we completed a private placement of approximately $2.5 million of the Company’s securities. 

Second Quarter Corporate Communications Highlights

· GenSpera was featured upon Los Angeles KTLA "Health Smart" television news program. The show effectively conveyed the potential of the Company’s broad technology platform.

· Craig Dionne begins writing monthly Chairman’s blog designed to inform, educate, and provide perspective to shareholders about GenSpera’s drug development and business progress.

· PCG Advisory Group (PCG), GenSpera’s Investor Relations agency of record, orchestrated a series of non-deal roadshows and investor outreach programs. Since engagement, GenSpera has been introduced to a new level of institutional funds and individuals that could be strategic long term investors for the Company both nationally and internationally.

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!

On August 10, 2015 Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:STML), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel oncology drugs that primarily target cancer stem cells (CSCs) and tumor bulk, reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 (Press release, Stemline Therapeutics, AUG 10, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507184]).

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!

Ivan Bergstein, M.D., Stemline’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, "This quarter, we began enrollment in the expansion stage of our SL-401 pivotal trial in BPDCN, a highly aggressive malignancy of unmet medical need. This follows completion of the lead-in stage of this trial, wherein we evaluated multiple cycle SL-401 administration at escalating doses in first-line and relapsed/refractory BPDCN as well as relapsed/refractory AML. In the lead-in, we established a dose and schedule for the expansion stage, and observed major objective responses, including complete responses, some with gross clearance of bulky disease in multiple organ systems in BPDCN. We are encouraged by both the lack of cumulative side effects and cases of ongoing efficacy seen thus far with multiple cycles. The expansion stage focuses on relapsed/refractory BPDCN patients, which we believe could support registration. We look forward to updating and reporting detailed data at upcoming medical conferences."

Dr. Bergstein continued, "With the expansion stage of our BPDCN pivotal trial underway, we continue to pursue additional opportunities to expand SL-401’s potential in other malignancies, and have opened trials in early and late stage AML and high-risk myeloproliferative neoplasms. We also continue to advance and position our other pipeline candidates, SL-701 and SL-801. With a strong cash position and multiple programs advancing in a variety of indications, we remain well positioned to achieve our objective of building a leading commercial stage biopharmaceutical company."

Second Quarter 2015 Financial Results Review

Stemline ended the second quarter of 2015 with $109.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments, as compared to $58.6 million as of December 31, 2014. In the first quarter of 2015, the Company completed an equity offering raising $68.6 million in gross cash proceeds on the sale of 4.4 million common shares.

For the second quarter of 2015, Stemline had a net loss of $10.2 million, or $0.58 per share, compared with a net loss of $6.0 million, or $0.47 per share, for the same period in 2014.

Research and development expenses were $8.2 million for the second quarter of 2015, which reflects an increase of $4.1 million compared with $4.1 million for the second quarter of 2014. The higher expenses during the second quarter were primarily attributable to the SL-401 clinical program due largely to the ramp up of patient accrual.

General and administrative expenses were $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2015, which reflects an increase of $0.2 million compared with $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2014. The higher costs were primarily attributable to an increase in stock based compensation expense relating to administrative employees.