On July 30, 2015 Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: THLD) reported financial results for the second quarter 2015 (Press release, Threshold Pharmaceuticals, JUL 30, 2015, View Source [SID:1234506763]). Revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 was $3.7 million. The operating loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 was $8.9 million. The net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 was $8.3 million, which included the operating loss of $8.9 million and non-cash income of $0.6 million related to the changes in fair value of the Company’s outstanding warrants and was classified as other income (expense). As of June 30, 2015, Threshold had $67.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, with no debt outstanding.
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"We are pleased with progress being made in the development programs for both of our product candidates, evofosfamide and tarloxotinib," said Barry Selick, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Threshold. "We expect to announce top-line results from the two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of evofosfamide in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma and in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (MAESTRO) around the end of this year. We are initiating two proof-of-concept Phase 2 clinical trials of tarloxotinib this year in patients whom we believe may benefit from treatment with our proprietary and novel hypoxia-activated EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor."
Second Quarter 2015 Financial and Operational Results
Revenue of $3.7 million was recognized for both the second quarter of 2015 and 2014. Revenue is related to the amortization of the aggregate of $110 million in upfront and milestone payments earned in 2013 and 2012 from Threshold’s collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The revenue from the upfront and milestone payments earned under the agreement is being amortized over the relevant performance period, rather than being immediately recognized when the upfront and milestone payments are earned or received.
The net loss for the second quarter of 2015 was $8.3 million compared to a net loss of $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2014. Included in the net loss for the second quarter of 2015 was an operating loss of $8.9 million and non-cash income of $0.6 million compared to an operating loss of $7.5 million and non-cash income of $6.7 million included in the net loss for the second quarter of 2014. The non-cash income is related to the change in fair value of the Company’s outstanding warrants and was classified as other income (expense).
Research and development expenses were $10.1 million for the second quarter of 2015 compared to $8.7 million for the second quarter of 2014. The increase in research and development expenses was due primarily to a $1.2 million increase in clinical development expenses, net of reimbursement from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany related to their 70% share of total development expenses for evofosfamide (previously known as TH-302).
General and administrative expenses were $2.5 million for both the second quarter of 2015 and 2014.
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense included in total operating expenses was $1.9 million for the second quarter of 2015 versus $1.5 million for the second quarter of 2014. The increase in stock-based compensation expense was due to the amortization of a greater number of options with higher fair values.
As of June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015, Threshold had $67.0 million and $83.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, respectively. The net decrease of $16.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities during the second quarter of 2015 was primarily due to the Company’s operating cash requirements for the second quarter of 2015.
Second Quarter and Recent Key Achievements
Evofosfamide
In May, Threshold announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation to the Company’s partner Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for the development of evofosfamide (TH-302), administered in combination with gemcitabine, for the treatment of previously untreated patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This is the second Fast Track designation for evofosfamide, the first having been granted to Threshold in November 2014 for the development of evofosfamide in combination with doxorubicin for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.
Also in May, Threshold presented data from the Phase 2 component of an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of evofosfamide in combination with the proteasome inhibitor Velcade (bortezomib) and low-dose dexamethasone ("EBorD") in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) (Abstract 8579). A clinical benefit rate of 29% (one complete response, two partial responses, and one minimal response) was observed in 4 of 14 patients treated at the recommended Phase 2 dose of evofosfamide (340 mg/m2) in EBorD. These patients had already received multiple types of treatment prior to enrollment including a median of 3 prior bortezomib-containing regimens. The most common adverse events were thrombocytopenia and anemia and no patients discontinued treatment due to an adverse event.
In April, preclinical data evaluating the potential use of evofosfamide in a variety of tumor types were presented by Threshold and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) (Abstract Nos. 2424, 2603, 3867, 5271, and 5333).
Tarloxotinib bromide* ("tarloxotinib")
In April, data on tarloxotinib (TH-4000; previously referred to as PR610 or Hypoxin), Threshold’s proprietary, hypoxia-activated irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, were presented in collaboration with the molecule’s co-inventors from The University of Auckland at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting (Abstract 5358). The Company believes the data presented support its planned Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trials of tarloxotinib in patients with EGFR-positive, T790M-negative NSCLC after conventional EGFR-TKI therapy has failed as well as in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or skin.
Clinical Development Outlook for Threshold- and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany-Sponsored Trials of Evofosfamide
The development plan for evofosfamide is designed to investigate its safety and efficacy across a broad range of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Evofosfamide is being developed in therapeutic areas supported by preclinical and clinical data and where there is high unmet need for new anti-cancer agents. To date, evofosfamide has been evaluated in more than 1,500 patients with cancer. Threshold anticipates the following development activities related to Threshold- and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany-sponsored clinical trials for evofosfamide in 2015:
Continue to efficiently execute the two Phase 3 clinical trials of evofosfamide to allow for timely data analyses and to prepare for the potential submission of marketing applications, assuming the data from the trials are supportive;
Continue enrollment in the Phase 2 clinical trial of evofosfamide designed to support registration for the treatment of patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer;
Complete enrollment in the Phase 2 clinical trial of evofosfamide in combination with bortezomib (Velcade) and low-dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; and
Threshold is in the process of closing the Phase 2 clinical trial of evofosfamide in patients with melanoma due to a slower than anticipated enrollment rate in light of the evolving treatment landscape and new therapeutic options for patients with melanoma since the trial began.
About Evofosfamide
Evofosfamide is an investigational hypoxia-activated prodrug that is designed to be preferentially activated under severe tumor hypoxic conditions, a feature of many solid tumors. Areas of low oxygen levels (hypoxia) in solid tumors are due to insufficient blood vessel supply. Similarly, the bone marrow of patients with hematological malignancies has also been shown, in some cases, to be severely hypoxic.
Evofosfamide is currently in two Phase 3 trials, both of which are fully recruited: one in combination with doxorubicin versus doxorubicin alone in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) (the TH-CR-406 trial), and the other in combination with gemcitabine versus gemcitabine and placebo in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer (the MAESTRO trial). Both Phase 3 trials are being conducted under Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreements with the FDA. The FDA and the European Commission have granted evofosfamide Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of STS and pancreatic cancer. The FDA has also granted Fast Track designation for evofosfamide for both STS and pancreatic cancer. Evofosfamide is also being investigated in a Phase 2 trial designed to support registration for the treatment of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, and in earlier-stage clinical trials of other solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
Threshold has a global license and co-development agreement for evofosfamide with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which includes an option for Threshold to co-commercialize in the U.S.
About Tarloxotinib Bromide
Tarloxotinib bromide, or "tarloxotinib", (TH-4000) is a hypoxia-activated, covalent (irreversible) epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) that targets the activating mutations of EGFR (L858R and Del19) and wild-type, or "normal", EGFR. Tarloxotinib is designed as a prodrug to selectively release its EGFR-TKI upon encountering severe tumor hypoxic conditions, a feature of many solid tumors. Accordingly, it has the potential to effectively shut down aberrant wild-type and mutant EGFR signaling in a tumor-selective manner, thus potentially avoiding or reducing the toxic side effects associated with currently available EGFR-TKIs and systemic wild-type EGFR inhibition. Threshold expects to initiate two Phase 2 proof-of-concept trials with tarloxotinib in 2015: one in patients with mutant EGFR-positive, T790M-negative advanced non-small cell lung cancer progressing on an EGFR-TKI, and the other in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or skin. Threshold licensed exclusive worldwide rights to tarloxotinib from the University of Auckland in September 2014.