On August 4, 2022 Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 and provided business highlights (Press release, Akebia, AUG 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234617556]).

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"In May we outlined the pillars of our refined strategic focus in the wake of the unexpected Complete Response Letter (CRL) for vadadustat from the FDA to focus on driving Auryxia revenue while managing our overall spending, supporting the regulatory path for vadadustat, and thoughtfully investing in our pipeline," said John P. Butler, Chief Executive Officer of Akebia. "Today we are reporting 32.4% revenue growth for Auryxia versus the second quarter of 2021 and are increasing our revenue guidance for 2022. Since the beginning of the second quarter, we have regained the rights to vadadustat from Otsuka in the U.S., Europe, and other territories, completed our end of review conference with the FDA, and today we shared data for vadadustat in ARDS that we believe supports further development of the drug for this indication. The progress we’ve made in alignment with our refined focus is a testament to the resilience and tenacity of the Akebia team. We look forward to continuing our progress."

The company had several important business updates since the beginning of the second quarter 2022:

In April, Akebia completed a reduction in force, reducing the employee base by 42% of full-time employees, and further reducing open headcount for a 47% overall reduction.
In June, Akebia and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd (Otsuka) agreed to terminate their U.S. and international collaboration agreements. As a result, Akebia has regained the rights for vadadustat from Otsuka in the U.S., Europe, China, Russia, Canada, Australia, the Middle East, and certain other territories. Vadadustat is under review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults.
In July, Akebia completed an end of review conference with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the first step in the process to determine the path for a potential U.S. approval for vadadustat as a treatment of anemia due to CKD in patients on dialysis. The company received a CRL from the FDA for vadadustat in March 2022.
In July, Akebia repaid $25 million on its $100 million debt facility with Pharmakon. In exchange for the early payment, Pharmakon agreed to amend and waive certain provisions, as described in the Form 8-K filed by the company at the time. The repayment results in savings of approximately 34% of the company’s cash interest on the loan for the remainder of the term.
Today, in a separate press release, Akebia announced initial findings from an investigator-sponsored clinical study with the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston) evaluating vadadustat, Akebia’s investigational oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI), for the prevention and treatment of ARDS in clinical trial subjects with COVID-19 and hypoxemia (O2 saturation ≤94%).
"We clearly outlined our objective to manage the company with existing cash resources and ongoing cash from operations and we are pleased to have made significant progress both in terms of net product revenue growth and cost reduction measures," said David A. Spellman, Chief Financial Officer of Akebia. "Auryxia is delivering on a growth trajectory driven by an increase in net price per pill due to an improved payor mix and improved commercial contract terms. Further, our expenses have already begun to decrease significantly as a result of our refined strategy."

Financial Results

Revenues: Total revenue was $126.8 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared to $52.9 million for the second quarter of 2021.
Net product revenue was $43.7 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared with $33.0 million for the second quarter of 2021, a 32.4% increase; and, compared with $41.4 million for the first quarter of 2022, a 5.4% increase.
Akebia is increasing its net product revenue guidance for Auryxia to $170 – $175 million for fiscal year 2022, raising both the top and bottom end of the guidance range by $5 million. The guidance assumes, among other things, continued stabilization of the phosphate binder market and continued improvement of net realized price per tablet. The company’s gross margin continues to expand due to a reduction in supply chain costs and cost management activities.
License, collaboration and other revenue was $83.1 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared to $20.0 million for the second quarter of 2021. This increase reflects a nonrefundable and non-creditable payment of $55.0 million that Otsuka paid to Akebia in July 2022 under the terms of a termination and settlement agreement between the companies. In addition, the company recognized $15.5 million related to previously deferred revenue as of the date of termination and $9.6 million of non-cash consideration related to Otsuka’s obligations to complete certain agreed upon clinical activities.
COGS: Cost of goods sold was $18.6 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared to $52.5 million in the second quarter of 2021.The decrease compared to the prior year period was primarily due to a $30.3 million non-cash charge in 2021 related to an increase to the liability for excess purchase commitments during the second quarter of 2021.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $26.0 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared to $37.2 million for the second quarter of 2021. The decrease compared to the prior year period was primarily due to decreased headcount related costs related to the reduction in force and decreased consulting costs.
SG&A Expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $32.8 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared to $41.7 million for the second quarter of 2021. The decrease compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to decreased headcount related costs as a result of the reduction in force and lower marketing expenses.
Restructuring: In connection with its previously announced workforce reductions, Akebia incurred $14.5 million in restructuring charges in the second quarter of 2022, primarily related to one-time termination benefits and contractual termination benefits including severance, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, healthcare and related benefits.
Net Income: Net income was $29.3 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared to a $83.0 million net loss for the second quarter of 2021.
Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2022, were $143.9 million, which does not include the $55.0 million cash payment Akebia received from Otsuka in July 2022 and does not reflect Akebia’s approximately $25.0 million prepayment made to Pharmakon in July 2022. Akebia believes that its cash resources will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan for at least the next twelve months. Akebia’s operating plan includes assumptions pertaining to cost avoidance measures and the reduction of overhead costs resulting from the planned amendment of certain contractual arrangements, including with certain supply partners, and the reduction of certain infrastructure costs. The outcome of these assumptions, such as the potential amendment of certain contractual arrangements with supply partners, are outside of Akebia’s control. In addition, future decisions by the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies related to the potential regulatory approval of vadadustat or our ability to generate additional value from vadadustat through partnerships or other transactions may potentially further extend our cash runway, but such future decisions or transactions are not contemplated in our operating plan.
"A focus on our three strategic pillars have guided us to the point where we believe our existing cash resources and revenues from Auryxia will be sufficient to fund our company’s current operating plan for the next several years," said David A. Spellman, Chief Financial Officer of Akebia. "With key inflection points such as a potential European approval and partnering for vadadustat, we look forward to rebuilding in a measured way."

Conference Call

Akebia will host a conference call on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its second quarter financial results and provide business updates. To listen to the conference call on August 4th, please dial (833) 630-1955 (domestic) or (412) 317-1836 (international) and ask to join into the Akebia Therapeutics call. The call will also be webcast LIVE and can be accessed via the Investors section of Akebia’s website at View Source

A replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the completion of the call through August 10, 2022. To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international) and reference replay access code 3608580. An online archive of the conference call can be accessed via the Investors section of Akebia’s website at View Source

On August 4, 2022 Arvinas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARVN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company creating a new class of drugs based on targeted protein degradation, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Arvinas, AUG 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234617572]).

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"This is an exciting time at Arvinas as we remain on track to initiate two pivotal programs with ARV-471 in metastatic breast cancer in the second half of this year, have a clear development pathway for bavdegalutamide in molecularly defined metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and are preparing to initiate our Phase 2 trial with ARV-766 by end of year," said John Houston, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer at Arvinas. "In June, we had a collaborative meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to gain alignment on the registrational trial design for bavdegalutamide. Based on our goal of advancing this important potential treatment for prostate cancer as quickly as possible, the promising clinical data we’ve seen to date, and a productive meeting with the Agency, we have decided to move directly into a pivotal Phase 3 trial. If successful, we think this approach may lead to the fastest potential path to availability for patients in need, both inside and outside the United States, and who are most likely to benefit from this innovative therapy."

Business Highlights and Recent Developments

Arvinas met with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss the potential for an accelerated approach for bavdegalutamide based on a single arm Phase 2 trial and a confirmatory Phase 3 trial for full approval. FDA provided advice on the proposed registrational trial design, including patient eligibility, study design, and follow-up expectations.
After considering multiple factors, including input provided by the FDA, Arvinas believes a randomized, pivotal Phase 3 trial provides the best opportunity to enable simultaneous global regulatory submissions.
The planned Phase 3 trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of bavdegalutamide in patients with AR T878X/875Y tumor mutations and is expected to initiate in 2H 2023.
Final dose selection for the planned Phase 3 trial will be based on data from additional patients enrolled in the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial, which the company expects will confirm 400 mg as the Phase 3 dose. This further dose exploration will run concurrently with the company seeking regulatory guidance on final Phase 3 design.
Arvinas finalized an agreement with Foundation Medicine to develop the FoundationOneLiquid CDx as a companion diagnostic for use with bavdegalutamide.
Arvinas launched the Global Early Career Researcher Award, which seeks to recognize the efforts of up-and-coming researchers bringing innovation, new approaches, and creative thinking to advance the field of targeted protein degradation.
Arvinas appointed John Northcott to newly created position of Chief Commercial Officer, effective August 1, 2022.
Anticipated Upcoming Milestones and Expectations

ARV-471

Present data from the VERITAC Phase 2 expansion trial (200 mg and 500 mg) (4Q 2022)
Initiate two Phase 3 trials in patients with metastatic breast cancer (as monotherapy and in combination) (2H 2022)
Initiate a Phase 1b combination trial with cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors or other targeted therapies (2H 2022)
Initiate a Phase 1b combination trial with everolimus (2H 2022)
Initiate a Phase 2 neoadjuvant trial in patients with early breast cancer (2H 2022)
Present safety data from the Phase 1b combination trial with palbociclib at a medical conference (1H 2023)
Bavdegalutamide (ARV-110)

Initiate a Phase 3 trial in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, or mCRPC, for patients with AR T878/H875 tumor mutations (2H 2023)
ARV-766

Share Phase 1 dose escalation trial data in mCRPC (2H 2022)
Initiate Phase 2 expansion trial in mCRPC (2H 2022)
Financial Guidance
Based on its current operating plane, Arvinas believes its cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities as of June 30, 2022 is sufficient to fund planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements multiple years beyond 2024.

Second Quarter Financial Results

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Marketable Securities Position: As of June 30, 2022, cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities were $1,347.7 million as compared with $1,507.1 million as of December 31, 2021. The decrease in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities of $159.4 million for the first six months of 2022 was primarily related to cash used in operating activities of $141.5 million (net of $6.5 million received from two collaborators), unrealized loss on marketable securities of $17.4 million, and the purchase of lab equipment and leasehold improvements of $3.5 million, partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $3.0 million.

Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses were $75.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as compared with $43.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The increase in research and development expenses of $32.3 million for the quarter was primarily due to an increase in our continued investment in our platform and exploratory programs of $19.6 million, as well as an increase in expenses related to our ER program of $14.1 million, which is net of the cost sharing of ARV-471 under the global Pfizer collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize ARV-471 that was initiated in July 2021 (ARV-471 Collaboration Agreement), offset by a decrease in our AR program (which includes bavdegalutamide and ARV-766) of $1.4 million.

General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $24.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as compared with $14.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The increase of $9.9 million was primarily due to an increase in personnel and facility related costs of $6.9 million and insurance, taxes and professional fees of $2.9 million.

Revenues: Revenues were $31.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 as compared with $5.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. Revenue is related to the ARV-471 Collaboration Agreement, the license and rights to technology fees and research and development activities related to the collaboration and license agreement with Bayer that was initiated in July 2019, the collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer that was initiated in January 2018, and the amended and restated option, license and collaboration agreement with Genentech that was initiated in November 2017. The increase in revenues of $25.8 million was primarily due to revenue from the ARV-471 Collaboration Agreement.

Income Tax Expense: Income tax expense was $3.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as compared with zero for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 due to taxable income projected for fiscal year 2022 primarily related to revenue recognized in 2022 for tax purposes from the ARV-471 Collaboration Agreement.

Net Loss: Net loss was $70.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as compared with $50.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The increase in net loss for the quarter was primarily due to increased research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, and income tax expense, partially offset by increased revenue.

About bavdegalutamide (ARV-110)
Bavdegalutamide (ARV-110) is an investigational orally bioavailable PROTAC protein degrader designed to selectively target and degrade the androgen receptor (AR). Bavdegalutamide is being developed as a potential treatment for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Bavdegalutamide has demonstrated activity in preclinical models of AR mutation or overexpression, both common mechanisms of resistance to currently available AR-targeted therapies.

About ARV-471
ARV-471 is an investigational orally bioavailable PROTAC protein degrader designed to specifically target and degrade the estrogen receptor (ER) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer.

In preclinical studies, ARV-471 demonstrated near-complete ER degradation in tumor cells, induced robust tumor shrinkage when dosed as a single agent in multiple ER-driven xenograft models, and showed superior anti-tumor activity when compared to a standard of care agent, fulvestrant, both as a single agent and in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor. In July 2021, Arvinas announced a global collaboration with Pfizer for the co-development and co-commercialization of ARV-471; Arvinas and Pfizer will equally share worldwide development costs, commercialization expenses, and profits.

About ARV-766
ARV-766 is an investigational orally bioavailable PROTAC protein degrader designed to selectively target and degrade AR. In preclinical studies, ARV-766 degraded all resistance-driving point mutations of AR, including L702H, a mutation associated with treatment with abiraterone and other AR-pathway therapies.

ARV-766 is being developed as a potential treatment for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and ARV-766 may also have applicability in other AR-driven diseases both in and outside oncology. ARV-766 has demonstrated activity in preclinical models of resistance to currently available AR-targeted therapies.

On August 4, 2022 Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD) ("Affimed", or the "Company"), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, reported that it will release second quarter 2022 results and corporate update on Thursday, August 11, 2022 (Press release, Affimed, AUG 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234617588]). The Company will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

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The conference call will be available via phone and webcast. To access the call, please dial +1 (866) 374-5140 for U.S. callers, or +1 (404) 400-0571 for international callers, and use PIN : 54780189# approximately 15 minutes prior to the call. To access the live audio webcast of the conference call please visit the "Investors" section of the Company’s website at View Source A replay of the call will be archived on Affimed’s website for 30 days after the call.

On August 4, 2022 Castle Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTL), a company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care, reported that the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recently published a best practice advice article stating that the TissueCypher Barrett’s Esophagus test may be beneficial for risk-stratification of patients with non-dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus (BE) (Press release, Castle Biosciences, AUG 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234617604]). TissueCypher is Castle’s test for patients with BE that is designed to predict progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and/or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a form of esophageal cancer. The best practice advice article from the AGA, titled "AGA Clinical Practice Update on New Technology and Innovation for Surveillance and Screening in Barrett’s Esophagus: Expert Review," was recently published online in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology and can be viewed here.

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"TissueCypher uses artificial intelligence to provide clinicians with critical information about a patient’s risk of developing HGD or EAC beyond what is possible through traditional pathology review," said Derek Maetzold, president and chief executive officer of Castle Biosciences. "TissueCypher is designed to identify patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus who may progress to HGD or EAC at a rate five to ten times higher than the current standard of care.1 This type of personalized risk-stratification information can potentially save lives when patients at high-risk of progression are identified early and provided with risk-appropriate treatments."

"Current approaches for risk stratification of patients with BE, both in community practice and academic clinical settings, are limited to subjective systems that have failed to stem the rapid rise in the incidence of EAC over the last few decades," said Robert Cook, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and development at Castle Biosciences. "TissueCypher can be a game-changing innovation in this clinical area through its ability to identify patients at risk of progression to HGD and EAC, who are often missed due to reliance on traditional histopathology and clinical variables, and also predict future progression to esophageal cancer, two, three or even five years post endoscopy. Based on the published clinical data, the AGA agreed that TissueCypher may be beneficial as part of an improved care pathway for managing patients with BE."

AGA Clinical Practice Update

AGA’s clinical practice updates present the current state-of-the-art guidance and include a combination of evidence-based information, and when not available, best consensus opinion concerning the management of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.2 AGA’s latest update on BE was an expert review commissioned jointly by the AGA Institute Clinical Practice Updates Committee, the AGA Center for GI Innovation and Technology and the AGA Governing Board. It includes a number of Best Practice Advice statements (BPAs) intended to provide practical advice on the management of BE based on expert opinion and a review of existing literature.

The potential risk-stratification benefit of TissueCypher in the management of patients with BE is included in BPA 9 in the recent update: "Tissue systems pathology-based prediction assay may be utilized for risk-stratification of patients with non-dysplastic BE."

Several clinical studies were cited as evidence in the BPA.3-6 These studies provide further support for the overall accuracy and strong, independent predictive ability of TissueCypher in risk-stratifying patients for progression to esophageal cancer, by identifying both high-risk patients who may be missed by the current standard of care as well as low risk patients who may be able to avoid unnecessary treatments.

About TissueCypher Barrett’s Esophagus Test

The TissueCypher Barrett’s Esophagus test is Castle’s precision medicine test designed to predict future development of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and/or esophageal cancer in patients with Barrett’s esophagus (BE). The TissueCypher Barrett’s Esophagus test is indicated for use in patients with endoscopic biopsy confirmed BE that is graded non-dysplastic (NDBE), indefinite for dysplasia (IND) or low-grade dysplasia (LGD); its clinical performance has been supported by nine peer-reviewed publications of BE progressor patients with leading clinical centers around the world. The test received Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Test (ADLT) status from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in March 2022.

On August 4, 2022 Moberg Pharma AB (OMX: MOB) reported that has signed a distribution agreement with Padagis Israel Agencies Ltd. for MOB-015 in Israel and the Palestinian territories (Press release, Moberg Pharma, AUG 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234617620]). Under the agreement Padagis is granted exclusive rights to market and sell MOB-015 in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Moberg Pharma assumes production and supply responsibility.

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Padagis will conduct registration activities in Israel, and will be marketing, distributing and selling MOB-015 in Israel and the Palestinian territories upon completion of registration.

"This is the sixth commercial agreement for MOB-015, this time with a leading provider of extended topical and other specialty pharmaceuticals in Israel. We look forward to work with Padagis and making MOB-015 available in Israel, contributing to our vision of making MOB-015 the leading nail fungus treatment worldwide", says Anna Ljung, CEO of Moberg Pharma.

"As a leading pharmaceutical company in Israel, Padagis Israel welcomes the signing of this agreement with Moberg Pharma and look forward to a fruitful cooperation and collaboration between the two companies", says Shlomi Leibovich, SVP & CEO of Padagis Israel.

According to Moberg Pharma’s market intelligence, the Israelian market for topical drugs for onychomycosis amounts to approximately €6.5 million.

About this information
This information is information that Moberg Pharma AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on August 4th, 2022, at 8.00 am CEST.