On August 7, 2024 Alector, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALEC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, reported second quarter 2024 financial results and recent portfolio and business updates (Press release, Alector, AUG 7, 2024, View Source [SID1234645485]). As of June 30, 2024, Alector’s cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $503.3 million.
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"Alector’s significant progress in recent months has set the stage for a transformative period ahead, as we approach key clinical catalysts for our maturing, potential first-in-class immuno-neurology programs," said Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alector. "We remain on track to report data from INVOKE-2, our Phase 2 clinical trial in early Alzheimer’s disease for AL002, in the fourth quarter, and we are encouraged that the recently reported patient baseline characteristics reflect a study population appropriate for the clinical evaluation of a TREM2 agonist in this indication."
Dr. Rosenthal continued, "In addition, the recent Breakthrough Therapy Designation for latozinemab in frontotemporal dementia with a progranulin gene mutation has provided the opportunity for increased interactions with the FDA about this program, and we now have additional clarity on how key biomarkers may support our path to a potential regulatory submission. In parallel, we are continuing to enroll patients in the PROGRESS-AD Phase 2 trial of AL101/GSK4527226. With a cash runway that extends through 2026, we are in a strong financial position as we approach these key milestones."
Sara Kenkare-Mitra, Ph.D., President and Head of Research and Development at Alector added, "In June, Alector hosted a virtual research and development event focused on the Alector Brain Carrier (ABC), our proprietary, versatile blood-brain barrier technology. We believe our ABC technology platform has the potential to deliver novel drugs safely into the CNS, enabling potential best-in-class therapeutics for patients suffering from neurological disorders. We look forward to providing updates on our progress in the future."
Recent Clinical Updates
Immuno-Neurology Portfolio
Progranulin Programs (latozinemab (AL001) and AL101/GSK4527226) Being Developed in Collaboration with GSK
In a recent Type B interaction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Alector and GSK received feedback on the potential future Biologics License Application (BLA) for latozinemab targeting frontotemporal dementia with a progranulin gene mutation (FTD-GRN). The FDA has indicated that it would consider the effects of latozinemab on plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of progranulin (PGRN) as confirmatory evidence, supplementing the potential clinical effects of latozinemab in FTD-GRN, pending BLA review. The companies also aligned with the agency on disease-relevant fluid and imaging biomarkers that may be considered as supportive evidence of clinical efficacy, subject to BLA review. These include biomarkers of astrocyte function, neurodegeneration, and brain atrophy. Based on the FDA feedback, Alector and GSK remain confident that the totality of evidence, including the primary clinical endpoint and biomarkers, could provide a path to potential approval for latozinemab. The Type B interaction occurred after the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to latozinemab for the potential treatment of FTD-GRN earlier this year.
The pivotal, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled INFRONT-3 Phase 3 clinical trial of latozinemab in FTD-GRN is ongoing. Enrollment was completed in October 2023, and the treatment duration is 96 weeks. INFRONT-3 is evaluating the safety and efficacy of latozinemab in slowing disease progression in individuals with FTD-GRN. The primary endpoint in INFRONT-3 is disease progression as measured by the Clinical Dementia Rating scale plus National Alzheimer’s Disease Coordinating Center Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Sum of Boxes (CDR plus NACC FTLD-SB). The trial also employs other clinical and functional outcome assessments.
Alector plans to present the poster "Baseline characteristics for INFRONT-3: A Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled 96-week study evaluating latozinemab in FTD-GRN" at the International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias (ISFTD) in Amsterdam from September 19-22, 2024.
Enrollment is ongoing in the PROGRESS-AD global Phase 2 clinical trial of AL101/GSK4527226 in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alector and GSK are co-developing AL101 for the potential treatment of more prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, including AD and Parkinson’s disease.
In July 2024, Alector and GSK presented posters highlighting PGRN and AL101 at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2024 (AAIC). The presentations included data supporting the therapeutic hypothesis of increasing PGRN levels for the potential treatment of AD and the design of the ongoing PROGRESS-AD Phase 2 clinical trial.
TREM2 Program (AL002) Being Developed in Collaboration with AbbVie
The INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial of AL002 is fully enrolled, and data from the trial are anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2024. INVOKE-2, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study, is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AL002 in slowing disease progression in individuals with early AD. AL002 is a novel investigational humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to TREM2 to increase TREM2 signaling and, thereby, is hypothesized to improve the functionality of microglia. It is the most advanced TREM2-activating product candidate in clinical development worldwide.
At AAIC in July 2024, Alector presented data highlighting the patient baseline characteristics for the INVOKE-2 study. The data confirm the intended study population for testing the effects of AL002, a novel TREM2 agonist, in early AD. Of note, for those participants with amyloid PET assessed at baseline, the mean (standard deviation) in centiloids was 100.1 (38.9), consistent with expectations for an early AD population in INVOKE-2. In a separate poster, Alector also presented data supporting the use of a blood-based amyloid test for screening AD patients eligible for participation in the INVOKE-2 trial.
AbbVie has an exclusive option to globally develop and commercialize AL002, upon receipt and evaluation of the INVOKE-2 data. AbbVie’s exercise of that option would prompt a $250 million payment to Alector.
Early Research Pipeline
Alector is actively progressing its Alector Brain Carrier (ABC), a proprietary, versatile blood-brain barrier (BBB) technology platform, which is being applied selectively to the company’s next-generation product candidates and research pipeline. Initial work has focused on transferrin receptor (TfR) and CD98hc targets, which have distinct expression profiles and cellular trafficking pathways but have both been shown to be highly expressed at the BBB and able to drive brain uptake when utilized as transcytosis receptors.
In June 2024, Alector hosted a virtual research and development event discussing the company’s ABC technology platform in detail. The event included a presentation from Dr. Zhiqiang An, Ph.D., Professor & Robert A. Welch Distinguished University Chair in Chemistry and Director of the Texas Therapeutics Institute at UTHealth Houston, who provided insights into emerging technologies for BBB modulation and discussed future directions and opportunities in the field.
Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Revenue. Collaboration revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, was $15.1 million, compared to $56.2 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease was mainly due to a $35.7 million decrease in revenue recognized for the AL101 programs, including a cumulative non-cash revenue adjustment due to a contract modification in the second quarter of 2023 to have GSK operationalize the AL101 Phase 2 study. The decrease is partially due to a $15.2 million decrease in revenue recognized for the AL002 program due to the addition of AL002 LTE and patient replacement revenue in 2023. This was offset by a $9.8 million increase in revenue recognized for the latozinemab programs.
R&D Expenses. Total research and development expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, were $46.3 million, compared to $46.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The increase was mainly driven by the Company’s prioritization on selected late-stage programs.
G&A Expenses. Total general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, were $14.4 million, compared to $13.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Net Income (Loss). For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, Alector reported a net loss of $38.7 million, or $0.40 per share, compared to a net income of $1.4 million, or $0.02 net income per share, for the same period in 2023.
Cash Position. Cash, cash equivalents, and investments were $503.3 million as of June 30, 2024. Management expects that this will be sufficient to fund current operations through 2026.
2024 Guidance. The Company continues to anticipate collaboration revenue to be between $60 million and $70 million. Management has updated its total research and development expenses to be between $210 million and $220 million and reiterated total general and administrative expenses to be between $60 million and $70 million.
Second Quarter 2024 Conference Call
Alector’s management team will host a conference call discussing Alector’s results for the second quarter of 2024 and provide a business update. The conference call will be webcast and accessible via the investor relations section of Alector’s website at www.alector.com.
To access the call, please use the following information:
Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. PT
The event will be webcast live under the investor relations section of Alector’s website at View Source, and following the event, a replay will be archived there for 30 days. Interested parties participating by phone will need to register using this online form. After registering for dial-in details, all phone participants will receive an auto-generated e-mail containing a link to the dial-in number along with a personal PIN number to use to access the event by phone.