On August 6, 2024 Servier reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VORANIGO, an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) and isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (IDH2) inhibitor, indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with Grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with a susceptible IDH1 or IDH2 mutation following surgery including biopsy, sub-total resection, or gross total resection (Press release, Servier, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234645443]). VORANIGO is available and offers glioma patients the ability to actively manage their disease with the convenience of a once-daily pill.

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Gliomas are types of brain cancer that can hinder normal brain function and cause a variety of symptoms. Diffuse gliomas with IDH mutations represent the most common malignant primary brain tumors diagnosed in adults younger than 50 years of age. They are not curable with current therapies and without treatment they continue to grow and infiltrate normal brain tissue.

"Today’s approval of VORANIGO is an enormous leap forward in cancer care, and a defining moment for people living with Grade 2 IDH-mutant glioma," said Arjun H. Prasad, Chief Commercial Officer, Servier Pharmaceuticals. "VORANIGO, which is the first breakthrough in this specific disease area in nearly 25 years, offers patients unprecedented improvement in progression free survival. We are proud to deliver this first-of-its-kind therapy to patients in need, and we remain committed to bringing innovative targeted therapies to people with cancer."

In healthy human cells, a family of genes called isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDH) help break down nutrients and generate energy for cells. Mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 are associated with a variety of cancers, where they prevent cells from differentiating, or specializing, into the kind of cells they are ultimately supposed to become. When cells cannot differentiate properly, they may begin to grow out of control.4 In IDH-mutant gliomas, VORANIGO works by reducing the activity of the mutant IDH1 and IDH2 enzymes, to help control the disease.

"Patients living with Grade 2 IDH-mutant gliomas have long faced the harsh reality of an incurable disease with very limited post-surgery treatment options," said Ralph DeVitto, President & CEO, of the American Brain Tumor Association. "The FDA approval of VORANIGO marks a monumental breakthrough in glioma treatment, offering renewed hope for patients and their families living with this relentless disease."

The approval of VORANIGO is supported by results from the pivotal Phase 3 INDIGO clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented during the Plenary Session at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper), which showed that VORANIGO significantly extended progression free survival and time to next intervention, when compared to placebo. The INDIGO study showed that VORANIGO was well tolerated, and its safety profile was consistent with results from the Phase 1 studies. The most common (≥15%) adverse reactions were fatigue, COVID-19, musculoskeletal pain, diarrhea and seizure.5

"Glioma is a unique cancer. Many of the patients I’ve met are in their 30’s and 40’s and in the prime of their lives. They have small children and are at the height of their careers. A glioma diagnosis is devastating. VORANIGO can offer patients and their families hope for the future," said David K. Lee, CEO, Servier Pharmaceuticals. "As we advance more targeted therapies, identifying mutations and understanding how these mutations impact cancer and its progression are key to helping the right patients find the right treatment, at the right time. We are humbled to lead the field of IDH-mutant inhibition, and we are committed to researching its applicability in glioma and other cancers."

About the INDIGO Phase 3 Trial (NCT04164901)5
INDIGO, the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial, met its major efficacy outcome of progression free survival (PFS) per a blinded independent review committee (BIRC) and key secondary endpoint of time to next intervention (TTNI) at the prespecified second interim analysis. The major efficacy outcome, PFS was statistically significant and clinically meaningful in favor of the vorasidenib arm. Median PFS was 27.7 months in the vorasidenib group, compared with 11.1 months in the placebo group (Hazard Ratio [HR], 0.39; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.27 to 0.56; 1-sided P<0.001). TTNI was also statistically significant (HR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.43; 1-sided P<0.001). Median TTNI was not reached for vorasidenib and was 17.8 months for placebo. Vorasidenib was also shown to reduce the tumor volume by a mean of 2.5% (TGR of –2.5%; 95% CI: -4.7% to -0.2%) every 6 months, while tumor volume increased by a mean of 13.9% (TGR of 13.9%; 95% CI: 11.1% to 16.8%) every 6 months for patients randomized to the placebo arm, as measured by a BIRC.

The INDIGO study showed that vorasidenib was well tolerated, and its safety profile was consistent with results from the Phase 1 studies.

INDIGO was a registration-enabling Phase 3 global, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study of vorasidenib in patients with residual or recurrent Grade 2 glioma with an isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2) mutation who have undergone surgery as their only treatment.

About Glioma6
Gliomas are tumors that arise from glial or precursor cells within the central nervous system (CNS). The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) classification recognizes four general groups of gliomas, one of which is adult-type diffuse gliomas. These diffuse gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults. The pathogenesis and prognosis of these tumors are tightly linked to mutations (or lack thereof) in the metabolic enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and molecular testing is required for proper diagnosis. As of 2021, adult-type diffuse gliomas are sub-divided into only three categories:

Astrocytoma, IDH-mutant (CNS WHO grades 2-4)
Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and1p19q-codeleted (CNS WHO grades 2-3)
Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype (CNS WHO grade 4)

On August 6, 2024 Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDTX), a clinical-stage oncology company developing MasterKey therapies that target families of oncogenic mutations in patients with cancer, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, and provided a corporate update (Press release, Black Diamond Therapeutics, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234645411]).

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"We continue to execute on enrollment of patients with EGFR mutant NSCLC into second/third-line and first-line Phase 2 cohorts, and remain on track to announce initial results later in the third quarter of this year and in the first quarter of 2025, respectively", said Mark Velleca, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Black Diamond Therapeutics. "We also look forward to sharing analyses of real world data at the 2024 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress in September 2024 on treatment practices and therapeutic outcomes for newly diagnosed NSCLC patients with non-classical EGFR mutations that demonstrate a significant unmet medical need."

Recent Developments & Upcoming Milestones:

BDTX-1535:

In April 2024, Black Diamond described real world evidence of the evolving EGFR mutation landscape in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the potential of BDTX-1535 to address a broader range of mutations compared to existing therapies at the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) annual meeting. The analyses revealed a spectrum of previously underappreciated non-classical mutations, as well as an increased prevalence of the acquired resistance mutation C797S. These non-classical EGFR mutations were present in 20-30% of newly diagnosed epidermal growth factor receptor mutation positive (EGFRm) NSCLC patients.
In June 2024, Black Diamond presented additional data from the Phase 1 dose escalation trial of BDTX-1535 in patients with relapsed/recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), and initial intratumoral pharmacokinetic data from a "window of opportunity" (also known as a Phase 0/1 "Trigger") trial sponsored by the Ivy Brain Tumor Center, in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG), at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. Safety and tolerability data in the Phase 1 trial were consistent with BDTX-1535 clinical data in patients with NSCLC previously presented in October 2023 at the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-National Cancer Institute-American Association for Cancer Research (AACR-NCI-EORTC) (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) AACR-NCI-EORTC (Free AACR-NCI-EORTC Whitepaper) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (EORTC-NCI-AACR) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper). Among 19 efficacy evaluable patients, several experienced stable disease with promising durability. Results from the investigator-sponsored trial demonstrated that BDTX-1535 penetrates the blood brain barrier with clinically meaningful unbound drug concentration in gadolinium non-enhancing regions of the brain and inhibition of corresponding pharmacodynamic markers. Eight out of nine patients exceeded the pre-specified threshold for drug concentration in the brain tumor tissue and continued on study.
Black Diamond anticipates the following upcoming key milestones for BDTX-1535:
Disclosure of initial Phase 2 data in 2L/3L EGFRm NSCLC patients with non-classical mutations or the acquired resistance C797S mutation remains on track for later in Q3 2024.
Disclosure of initial Phase 2 data in 1L EGFRm NSCLC patients with non-classical mutations remains on track for Q1 2025 (NCT05256290).
An abstract has been accepted for presentation at the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress titled "Real World Evidence of Treatment Practices and Therapeutic Outcomes for Newly Diagnosed NSCLC Patients with Non-classical EGFR Mutations Demonstrates High Unmet Medical Need", which will detail an analysis of Guardant Inform data on treatment outcomes for newly diagnosed NSCLC patients with tumors expressing non-classical mutations.
BDTX-4933:

BDTX-4933 is a brain-penetrant oral inhibitor of oncogenic alterations in KRAS, NRAS and BRAF.
Enrollment of patients with BRAF and select RAS/MAPK mutation-positive cancers, with an emphasis on patients with KRAS mutant NSCLC, is progressing through escalating doses in a Phase 1 trial (NCT05786924). An update from this trial is on track for Q4 2024.
Corporate

Chief Business Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Fang Ni, Pharm.D, will participate in a panel discussion at the Wedbush PacGrow Healthcare Conference taking place August 13-14, 2024, in New York, NY.
Financial Highlights

Cash Position: Black Diamond ended the second quarter of 2024 with approximately $123.0 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments compared to $131.4 million as of December 31, 2023. Net cash used in operations was $14.7 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $14.4 million for the second quarter of 2023.
Research and Development Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $12.6 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $13.2 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in R&D expenses was primarily due to workforce efficiencies and reduced spending on early discovery projects.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $9.6 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $6.9 million for the same period in 2023. The increase in G&A expenses was primarily due to an increase in consulting and other professional fees.
Net Loss: Net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was $19.9 million, as compared to $19.2 million for the same period in 2023.
Financial Guidance

Black Diamond ended the second quarter of 2024 with approximately $123.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments which the Company believes is sufficient to fund its anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2025.

On August 6, 2024 Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN), a leader in genetic testing and precision medicine, reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2024 and raised its previously issued financial guidance on business performance for the full-year 2024 (Press release, Myriad Genetics, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234645427]).

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"We are very proud to have delivered another quarter of strong double digit year-over-year revenue growth in the second quarter of 2024. Our year-to-date 2024 revenue growth of 13% year-over-year, following our 11% year-over-year revenue growth in calendar year 2023, and our 15% year-over-year revenue growth in the second quarter 2024, demonstrate the sustainability of our organic growth and gives us the confidence to raise our long-term revenue growth target to 12%," said Paul J. Diaz, President and CEO of Myriad Genetics. "In the second quarter, we saw strong performance across our portfolio, highlighted by increasing evidence of market share gains in prenatal testing. We anticipate these trends to continue as we move through the year and into 2025. In addition, second quarter average revenue per test improved across our product portfolio, benefiting from expanded coverage and our ongoing efforts in revenue cycle management. We remain optimistic about the evolution of our product portfolio as we continue to publish additional clinical validation studies and launch new products.

At the same time, we continue to improve access and ease of use for our customers, as we accelerate electronic medical record (EMR) integrations for new customers and make meaningful progress in our Labs of the Future initiative. Myriad Genetics is growing profitably and delivering improved financial results, including a 17% year-over-year increase in gross profit of $147.1 million, cash flow from operations of $2.6 million, and $16.4 million of adjusted operating cash flow. All while continuing to invest in the innovation required to achieve our mission and vision to reach more patients with life-saving precision medicine."
Financial and Operational Highlights
•Test volumes of 389,000 in the second quarter of 2024 increased 9% year-over-year.
•The following table summarizes year-over-year testing volume changes in the company’s core product categories:
Three months ended Six months ended
(in thousands)
June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023
% Change
June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023
% Change
Product volumes:
Hereditary cancer
73 71 3 % 144 136 6 %
Tumor profiling
14 16 (13) % 28 32 (13) %
Prenatal 173 154 12 % 345 312 11 %
Pharmacogenomics
129 117 10 % 253 227 11 %
Total 389 358 9 % 770 707 9 %

•The following table summarizes year-over-year revenue changes in the company’s core product categories:
Three months ended Six months ended
(in millions)
June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023
% Change
June 30, 2024 June 30, 2023
% Change
Product revenues:
Hereditary cancer
$ 91.5 $ 76.7 19 % $ 179.6 $ 152.4 18 %
Tumor profiling
32.6 36.0 (9) % 63.5 73.3 (13) %
Prenatal 44.4 35.6 25 % 88.7 71.8 24 %
Pharmacogenomics
43.0 35.2 22 % 81.9 67.2 22 %
Total $ 211.5 $ 183.5 15 % $ 413.7 $ 364.7 13 %

•Gross margin of 69.6% in the second quarter of 2024 increased 110 basis points year-over-year, reflecting operating leverage and improved average revenue per test. Adjusted gross margin in the second quarter of 2024 was 70.1%, an increase of 110 basis points year-over-year as the company’s revenue cycle, Labs of the Future and supply chain initiatives begin to take hold.
•Second quarter of 2024 operating expenses were $183.6 million. Adjusted operating expenses were $140.8 million, increasing 6% over the year ago period. This increase was driven by investments in technology, product development and R&D. Adjusted operating expenses accounted for 67% of total revenue in the second quarter of 2024, down from 73% of total revenue in the second quarter of 2023.
2

•Operating loss in the second quarter of 2024 was $36.5 million, improving $77.2 million year-over-year; adjusted operating income in the second quarter of 2024 was $7.4 million, improving $14.2 million year-over-year.

Business Performance and Highlights

Oncology
The Oncology business delivered revenue of $82.2 million in the second quarter of 2024.
•Second quarter 2024 hereditary cancer testing revenue in Oncology grew 11% year-over-year, reflecting ongoing initiatives to improve average revenue per test through payer coverage expansion and revenue cycle process improvements that are reducing the company’s no pay rate.
•Second quarter 2024 tumor profiling revenue of $32.6 million grew 5% compared to first quarter 2024 but decreased 10% year-over-year, reflecting the ongoing challenging biopharma environment, slow ramp of biopharma contracts executed in 2023, and challenges in the international business.
•In July 2024, Myriad Genetics received a patent relating to detecting circulating tumor DNA in patient fluid samples, which is complementary to a patent granted earlier in the year for the company’s methods of preparing cell-free DNA. Both of these patents support advancing commercialization of the company’s high sensitivity tumor informed Molecular Residual Disease (MRD) assay.
•In July 2024, Myriad Genetics entered into an agreement with Personalis, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSNL) to cross-license patent estates covering tumor-informed approaches to detect MRD. The agreement helps solidify each company’s freedom to operate in the MRD market and broadens patient access to the benefits of MRD testing.
•Announced a collaboration with GSK (NYSE: GSK) aimed at improving access to homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) diagnostic testing for high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients, leveraging Myriad Genetics’ MyChoice HRD Plus and MyChoice CDx Plus tests in nine countries outside the United States.
•Myriad Genetics and QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN) agreed to develop a globally distributable kit-based test for analyzing HRD status to support research into personalized medicine in multiple solid tumor types, including ovarian cancer.
3

•In August 2024, Myriad Genetics announced that it further advanced its international reorganization efforts, including the closing of the sale of its EndoPredict business to Eurobio Scientific. The reorganization of its international operations better aligns company resources to its domestic opportunities while continuing to serve key biopharma partners and patients globally and builds on Myriad Genetics’ efforts this year to accelerate profitable business growth across its portfolio.

Women’s Health
The Women’s Health business delivered revenue of $86.3 million in the second quarter of 2024.
•Second quarter 2024 hereditary cancer testing revenue in Women’s Health grew 31% year-over-year as more practitioners see the benefit of incorporating MyRisk with RiskScore as part of a comprehensive breast cancer risk assessment program.
•Prenatal testing revenue in the second quarter of 2024 grew 25% year-over-year, reflecting market share gains, expanded coverage by payers, and ongoing initiatives to improve average revenue per test.
•Myriad Genetics launched the Universal Plus Panel for Foresight Carrier Screen, which includes 39 new conditions and screens up to 272 genes associated with serious inherited conditions.
•Ten abstracts, including four on FirstGene, have been accepted to be showcased at the National Society of Genetic Counselors’ 43rd annual meeting, which begins on September 17, 2024, in New Orleans, LA.

Pharmacogenomics
In the pharmacogenomics category, GeneSight test revenue was $43.0 million in the second quarter of 2024.
•Second quarter 2024 GeneSight testing revenue grew 22% year-over-year, reflecting ongoing initiatives to improve average revenue per test.
•Currently, biomarker legislation for state-regulated plans has passed in 15 states. In many of these states, commercial and managed Medicaid payers have modified their coverage policies to include GeneSight and Prolaris. Additionally, there are a number of states that have legislation in process. Myriad Genetics continues to see an increasing number of payors incorporating, or planning to incorporate, GeneSight into their coverage. Notably, this includes Blue Shield of California, a major commercial and managed Medicaid plan, effective July 1, 2024.

Financial Guidance
Myriad Genetics does not provide forward-looking guidance on a GAAP basis for the measures on which it provides forward-looking non-GAAP guidance as the company is unable to provide a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure, without unreasonable effort, because of the inherent difficulty in accurately forecasting the occurrence and financial impact of the various adjusting items necessary for such reconciliations that have not yet occurred, are dependent on various factors, are out of the company’s control, or cannot be reasonably predicted. Such adjustments include, but are not limited to, real estate optimization and transformation initiatives, certain litigation charges and loss contingencies, costs related to acquisitions/divestitures and the related amortization, impairment and related charges, and other adjustments. For example, stock-based compensation may fluctuate based on the timing of employee stock transactions and unpredictable fluctuations in the company’s stock price. Any associated estimate of these items and its impact on GAAP performance could vary materially.

Below is a table summarizing Myriad Genetics’ fiscal year 2024 financial guidance*:
(in millions, except per share amounts) PRIOR
FY 2024 CURRENT
FY 2024 Expected Year-Over-Year Change
Revenue $820 – $840 $835 – $845 11% – 12%
Gross margin % 69.5% – 70.5% 70.0% – 70.5%
100 – 150 bps
Adjusted OPEX $572 – $582
$575 – $585
6% – 8%
Adjusted EBITDA** $20 – $30
$25 – $35
$36 – $46
Adjusted EPS*** $0.00 – $0.05
$0.08 – $0.12
$0.35 – $0.39
*
Assumes currency rates as of August 6, 2024.
** Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Net Income (loss) plus income tax expense (benefit), total other income (expense), non-cash operating expenses, such as amortization of intangible assets, depreciation, impairment of long-lived assets, and share-based compensation expense, and one-time expenses such as expenses from real estate optimization initiatives, transformation initiatives, legal settlements, and divestitures and acquisitions.
***
Full-year 2024 adjusted EPS is based on a 91 million share count.

These projections are forward-looking statements and are subject to the risks summarized in the safe harbor statement at the end of this press release.

Conference Call and Webcast
A conference call will be held today, Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. EDT to discuss Myriad Genetics’ financial results and business developments for the second quarter 2024. A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed on Myriad Genetics’ Investor Relations website at investor.myriad.com. To participate in the live conference call via telephone, please register at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI620080625d0e42be9b313c17391abf61. Upon registering, a dial-in number and unique PIN will be provided to join the conference call. Following the conference call, an archived webcast of the call will be available at investor.myriad.com.

On August 6, 2024 Compugen Ltd. (Nasdaq: CGEN) (TASE: CGEN) a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company and a pioneer in computational target discovery, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, and provided a corporate update (Press release, Compugen, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234645444]).

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"Continuing our track record in delivering on our plans, we have executed well in the second quarter of 2024," said Anat Cohen-Dayag, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Compugen. "We achieved FDA IND clearance for COM503, a differentiated antibody approach to harness cytokine biology for cancer therapeutics, triggering a right to receive a $30 million milestone payment from our partner Gilead. We are on track to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for COM503, as monotherapy and in combination with the anti-PD1 zimberelimab in advanced solid tumors, in the fourth quarter of 2024."

Dr. Cohen-Dayag continued, "We are also on track to present data from our COM701 + COM902 + pembrolizumab study in platinum resistant ovarian cancer in the fourth quarter of 2024. There is a significant unmet medical need for women with ovarian cancer who could benefit from potentially safe, efficacious and durable alternative treatment options. We previously demonstrated encouraging data in this patient population, including monotherapy activity, overall response rate of 20% and durable responses with some patients benefiting from treatment for over 16 months comparing favorably to standard of care. We believe showing data consistent with what we have previously reported in this indication, will once again confirm that COM701 combinations are active. We plan to share next steps for COM701 combinations at the time of data presentation in the fourth quarter of 2024."

Dr. Cohen-Dayag added, "Our partner, AstraZeneca, is advancing development of rilvegostomig, their PD-1/TIGIT bispecific, and provided a non-risk-adjusted peak year revenue target of more than $5 billion for this asset, reflecting the potential of rilvegostomig. Compugen is eligible for future milestones and mid-single-digit tiered royalty payments, presenting a significant potential revenue source for the Company."

Upcoming Expected Milestones

COM701 +COM902 + pembrolizumab proof-of-concept study

Platinum resistant ovarian cancer – data presentation in the fourth quarter of 2024
COM503 (licensed to Gilead; Compugen leads through Phase 1 development)

Initiation of COM503 Phase 1 trial in the fourth quarter of 2024
Rilvegostomig (AstraZeneca’s PD-1/TIGIT bispecific, TIGIT component derived from COM902)

AstraZeneca anticipates data from Phase 1/2 ARTEMIDE-01 trial in the second half of 2024; poster presentation from Phase 2 GEMINI-Gastric trial accepted at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2024
Second Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

Cash: As of June 30, 2024, Compugen had approximately $92.3 million cash, cash equivalents, short-term bank deposits, restricted cash and short-term bank deposit, and cash investments, compared with approximately $51.1 million as of December 31, 2023. Compugen expects that its cash and cash-related balances together with the additional expected $30 million milestone payment on COM503 IND clearance achieved in July, which is subject to a 15% withholding tax, will be sufficient to fund its operating plans into 2027. The Company has no debt.

Revenues: Compugen reported approximately $6.7 million in revenues for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to no revenues for the comparable period in 2023. The revenues reported reflect recognition of a portion of the upfront payment from the license agreement with Gilead and the clinical milestone from the license agreement with AstraZeneca in the amount of $5 million.

R&D expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were approximately $6.2 million compared with approximately $7.8 million for the comparable period in 2023.

G&A expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were approximately $2.2 million, compared with approximately $2.4 million for the comparable period in 2023.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was approximately $2.1 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of approximately $9.3 million, or $0.11 per basic and diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023.

Full financial tables are included below.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Compugen will hold a conference call today, August 6, 2024, at 8:30 AM ET to review its second quarter 2024 results. To access the live conference call by telephone, please dial 1-866-744-5399 from the U.S., or +972-3-918-0644 internationally. The call will be available via live webcast through Compugen’s website, located at the following link. Following the live webcast, a replay will be available on Compugen’s website.

On August 6, 2024 Caribou Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRBU), a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome-editing biopharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the second quarter 2024 and reviewed recent pipeline progress (Press release, Caribou Biosciences, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234645412]).

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"We are advancing our lead off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy, CB-010, in the ANTLER phase 1 trial with a partial HLA matching strategy with the objective of developing an allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy that can meaningfully rival the autologous CAR-T cell therapies," said Rachel Haurwitz, PhD, Caribou’s president and chief executive officer. "We are enrolling approximately 20 second-line and 10 prior CD19 relapsed LBCL patients, and we plan to present initial data for both patient cohorts in the first half of 2025. For CB-011, we expect to report initial dose escalation data in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma by the end of this year. For CB-012, dose level 1 was cleared, and we are enrolling patients at dose level 2 in the AMpLify Phase 1 trial. We continue to focus our efforts and resources on rapidly advancing our four oncology and autoimmune disease clinical-stage programs through multiple clinical data milestones expected in 2024 and 2025."
Clinical highlights
CB-010, a clinical-stage allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy for B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
•In June 2024, Caribou presented clinical data from the ongoing ANTLER Phase 1 clinical trial that indicate a single dose of CB-010 has the potential to rival the safety and efficacy of approved autologous CAR-T cell therapies. The clinical results were presented during a poster presentation (View Source) at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting.
•At ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), Caribou presented data on the first 46 patients enrolled in ANTLER. Three dose levels of CB-010 were evaluated (40×106, 80×106, and 120×106 CAR-T cells) and 80×106 CAR-T cells was selected as the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). In dose escalation, 16 patients with multiple subtypes of aggressive relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r B-NHL) were enrolled, and, in dose expansion, 30 patients with second-line large B cell lymphoma (2L LBCL) were enrolled. As of the April 1, 2024 data cutoff date, results demonstrated:
◦CB-010 was generally well tolerated. No Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and no graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) was observed.
◦A retrospective analysis of all patient data demonstrated that patients who received a dose of CB-010 manufactured from a healthy donor who shared four or more matching human leukocyte antigen ("HLA") alleles with the patient (referred to as partial HLA matching) showed the potential for improved efficacy.
◦Pharmacokinetic (PK) data showed that partial HLA matching correlated with increased CAR-T cell expansion and persistence. Pharmacodynamic (PD) data showed extended B cell aplasia and rapid recovery of patients’ endogenous T and NK cells.
•Based on these data, Caribou has begun dosing a cohort of approximately 20 2L LBCL patients to prospectively confirm that partial HLA matching may improve patient outcomes.
•Caribou also is enrolling a cohort of up to 10 patients who have relapsed following any prior CD19-targeted therapy in a proof-of-concept cohort in this population of unmet need. This cohort will also incorporate partial HLA matching between donors and patients.
•Caribou plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 trial in the second half of 2025, should data confirm improved outcomes for patients receiving a partially HLA matched dose of CB-010 and following agreement with the FDA on a pivotal trial design.

CB-010, a clinical-stage allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy for lupus
•Caribou plans to initiate the GALLOP Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate a single infusion of CB-010 in adult patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and extrarenal lupus (ERL). The trial will incorporate partial HLA matching between donors and patients.
•Caribou plans to initiate the GALLOP Phase 1 clinical trial in adult patients with LN and ERL by year-end 2024.

CB-011, a clinical-stage allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma
•Caribou is enrolling patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM) in the dose escalation portion of the ongoing CaMMouflage Phase 1 clinical trial (View Source).
•Caribou plans to present initial dose escalation data from the ongoing CaMMouflage Phase 1 clinical trial by year-end 2024.

CB-012, a clinical-stage allogeneic anti-CLL-1 CAR-T cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia
•In June 2024, a poster (View Source) was presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) on the AMpLify Phase 1 trial design for CB-012 in adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML).
•Caribou is enrolling patients with r/r AML in the dose escalation portion of the ongoing AMpLify Phase 1 clinical trial (View Source?term=cb-012&" target="_blank" title="View Source?term=cb-012&" rel="nofollow">View Source;rank=1&tab=table). Enrollment has concluded for dose level 1 (25×106 CAR-T cells, N=3) and patients are being enrolled at dose level 2 (75×106 CAR-T cells).
Corporate updates
Appointed autoimmune expert to Caribou’s scientific advisory board (View Source)
•In July 2024, Terri Laufer, MD, was appointed to Caribou’s scientific advisory board. Dr. Laufer is a leading rheumatologist known for her extensive research into immune cell regulation and dysfunction that leads to autoimmune diseases. She is an emeritus associate professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and an attending rheumatologist at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Philadelphia VA Medical Center.

Extended cash runway into H2 2026
•In July 2024, Caribou discontinued the preclinical research activities associated with its allogeneic CAR-NK platform and reduced its workforce by approximately 12%. The workforce reduction, together with other cost containment measures, are expected to extend the cash runway by at least 6 months, into H2 2026. The Company will incur approximately $0.5 million to $1.0 million in one-time costs consisting primarily of cash severance costs, benefits, and transition support services for impacted employees.
Anticipated milestones
•CB-010 ANTLER: Caribou plans to present initial data from both the additional HLA-matched 2L and prior CD19 relapsed LBCL patient cohorts in H1 2025. Caribou plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in H2 2025 should data confirm improved outcomes for patients receiving a partially HLA matched dose of CB-010.
•CB-010 GALLOP: Caribou plans to initiate the GALLOP Phase 1 clinical trial in adult patients with LN and ERL by year-end 2024.
•CB-011 CaMMouflage: Caribou plans to present initial dose escalation data from the ongoing CaMMouflage Phase 1 clinical trial by year-end 2024.
•CB-012 AMpLify: Caribou plans to provide updates on dose escalation as the AMpLify Phase 1 clinical trial in r/r AML advances.
Second quarter 2024 financial results
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities: Caribou had $311.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of June 30, 2024, compared to $372.4 million as of December 31, 2023. Caribou expects these cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan into H2 2026.

Licensing and collaboration revenue: Revenue from Caribou’s licensing and collaboration agreements was $3.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to the now-terminated AbbVie Collaboration and License Agreement, partially offset by an increase in revenue recognized under the Information Rights Agreement Caribou entered into with Pfizer on June 29, 2023. Licensing and collaboration revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2024, includes $1.6 million in a one-time receipt of non-cash equity consideration from one of Caribou’s licensees.
R&D expenses: Research and development expenses were $35.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $26.5 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to costs to advance pipeline programs, including the CB-010 ANTLER, CB-011 CaMMouflage, and CB-012 AMpLify Phase 1 clinical trials; personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, due to headcount increases; and facilities and other allocated expenses.

G&A expenses: General and administrative expenses were $11.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $10.1 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, due to headcount increases, and legal expenses and other service-related expenses. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in patent prosecution and maintenance fees.

Net loss: Caribou reported a net loss of $37.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $29.5 million for the same period in 2023.
About CB-010
CB-010 is the lead clinical-stage product candidate from Caribou’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform, and it is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r B-NHL) in the ongoing ANTLER Phase 1 clinical trial and will be evaluated in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and extrarenal lupus (ERL) in the GALLOP Phase 1 clinical trial. In the ANTLER clinical trial, Caribou is enrolling second-line (2L) patients with large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) comprised of different subtypes of aggressive r/r B-NHL (DLBCL NOS, PMBCL, HGBL, tFL, and tMZL) who have never received prior CD19-targeted therapy as well as LBCL patients who have relapsed on a prior CD19-targeted therapy. To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-010 is the first allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy in the clinic with a PD-1 knockout, a genome-editing strategy designed to improve activity against diseases by limiting premature CAR-T cell exhaustion. CB-010 is also, to Caribou’s knowledge, the first anti-CD19 allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy to be evaluated in the 2L LBCL setting and, for r/r B-NHL, CB-010 has been granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT), Fast Track, and Orphan Drug designations by the FDA. Additional information on the ANTLER trial (NCT04637763) can be found at clinicaltrials.gov (View Source).
About CB-011
CB-011 is a product candidate from Caribou’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform and is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM) in the CaMMouflage Phase 1 trial. CB-011 is an allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy engineered using Cas12a chRDNA genome-editing technology. To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-011 is the first allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy in the clinic that is engineered to improve antitumor activity through an immune cloaking strategy with a B2M knockout and insertion of a B2M–HLA-E fusion protein to blunt immune-mediated rejection. CB-011 has been granted Fast Track and orphan drug designations by the FDA. Additional information on the CaMMouflage trial (NCT05722418) can be found at clinicaltrials.gov (View Source).

About CB-012
CB-012 is a product candidate from Caribou’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform and is being evaluated in the AMpLify Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML). CB-012 is an anti-CLL-1 CAR-T cell therapy engineered with five genome edits, enabled by Caribou’s patented next-generation CRISPR technology platform, which uses Cas12a chRDNA genome editing to significantly improve the specificity of genome edits. To Caribou’s knowledge, CB-012 is the first allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy with both checkpoint disruption, through a PD-1 knockout, and immune cloaking, through a B2M knockout and B2M–HLA-E fusion protein insertion; both armoring strategies are designed to improve antitumor activity.
Caribou has exclusively in-licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in the field of allogeneic CLL-1-targeted cell therapy a panel of fully human scFvs targeting CLL-1, from which the company has selected a scFv for the generation of the company’s CAR.
Additional information on the AMpLify trial (NCT06128044) can be found at clinicaltrials.gov (View Source).