On May 11, 2022 Oncocyte Corporation (Nasdaq: OCX), a precision diagnostics company with the mission to improve patient outcomes by providing personalized insights that inform critical decisions throughout the patient care journey, reported that financial results for the first quarter 2022, ended March 31, 2022 (Press release, Oncocyte, MAY 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234614217]).

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First Quarter and Recent Highlights:

Reported total revenue of $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared with $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2021.
Launched our CLIA validated lab test for TheraSure Liver Transplant Monitoring, a donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) test which has shown to successfully achieve an early indication of rejection episodes in organ transplant patients using a digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) technique.
Closed a platform partnership with Thermo Fisher to gain access to Ex-US channel for the Determa product line
Completed Irvine facility build out and installed Genexus instruments to begin DetermaIO IVD Kit process.
Completed an equity financing by raising $32.8 million in common stock to strengthen the balance sheet and further support our product portfolio.
"We continued to make solid progress in the first quarter, delivering 73% year over year growth in DetermaRx sample volumes and successfully onboarding new physicians and accounts. We also successfully completed an underwritten financing to strengthen our balance sheet and fuel our upcoming product launch efforts," said Ron Andrews, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oncocyte. "Looking ahead, we remain enthusiastic about our upcoming DetermaIO data releases at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) in early June and the continued rapid progress we have made to launch our transplant business as we announced last week. We also remain on track to submit three additional oncology tests, DetermaIO, DetermaTx and DetermaCNI, for reimbursement over the next 12-18 months. I appreciate the continued support of our shareholders and look forward to updating you as we execute on our strategic plans."

First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Total revenue was $1.4 million for the first quarter of 2022, compared to $1.1 million for the prior quarter. First quarter revenues associated with DetermaRx were $1.0 million, up $0.2 million sequentially, and up $0.4 million year over year. Operating expenses for the first quarter 2022 were $9.4 million, compared to $11.4 million, a decrease of $2.0 million from the same period in the prior year. Research and Development expense for the first quarter 2022 was $5.1 million, an increase of $1.8 million from the same period a year ago. The increase in R&D expense was related to increased headcount in support of clinical trials in oncology and transplant. General and Administrative expense for the first quarter of 2022 was $5.7 million, an increase of $0.9 million for the same period in 2021, due primarily due to an increase in personnel and related expenses. Sales and Marketing expense in the quarter was $3.2 million, an increase of $1.0 million year over year, primarily attributable to an increase in headcount and continued ramp in sales and marketing activities related to the transplant business, as well as support the commercialization efforts within oncology.

Net loss was $10.3 million for the first quarter of 2022 and net loss per share was $0.11 on a weighted-average basic and diluted share count of 92.2 million, compared to a net loss of $3.9 million and a net loss per share of $0.05 on a weighted-average basic and diluted share count of 82.1 million in the same period of the prior year.

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities were $22.7 million as of March 31, 2022.

Webcast and Conference Call Information
Oncocyte will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter 2022 financial results after market close on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone (877) 407-9716 for U.S. callers or (201) 493-6779 for international callers, using conference ID: 13729461. The live webinar can be accessed at View Source

On May 11, 2022 Cue Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: CUE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of injectable biologics to selectively engage and modulate targeted T cells directly within the patient’s body, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the evaluation of CUE-102, its second interleukin 2 (IL-2)-based CUE-100 series biologic, in a dose escalation and expansion monotherapy Phase 1 trial, which will have a starting dose of 1 mg/kg for the treatment of Wilms’ Tumor 1 (WT1)-positive recurrent/metastatic cancers, with initial focus on gastric, pancreatic, ovarian and colon cancers (Press release, Cue Biopharma, MAY 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234614235]).

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CUE-102 supports the modularity of the IL-2 based CUE-100 series as the core biologic framework is largely conserved with the primary difference being the incorporation of the WT1 T cell epitope. The IND acceptance allowing the dose escalation trial to begin dosing at 1 mg/kg was supported by the safety and tolerability data from the CUE-101 trial. CUE-101, the first biologic from the CUE-100 series, had a starting dose of 0.06 mg/kg and required approximately 9 months to dose escalate from 0.06 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg. As such, the starting dose of CUE-102 (targeting WT1 expressing cancers) may provide substantive time and cost savings for potentially demonstrating tolerability at therapeutically effective doses.

"The ability to start our dose escalation trial at 1 mg/kg, is significant as it allows us to initiate the trial at a dose level that demonstrated signs of clinical activity in our CUE-101 trial. At this dose level, we can potentially determine tolerability and therapeutically effective doses much more efficiently by truncating the dose escalation process," stated Ken Pienta, M.D., acting chief medical officer of Cue Biopharma. "We believe CUE-102 provides a significant opportunity to address a high unmet medical need in a wide variety of WT1-positive malignancies including colorectal, pancreatic and lung, and potentially offers a tolerable and more effective treatment option to patients in need. We believe CUE-102 has the potential to change the treatment landscape for WT1-positive patients and are very pleased to now begin evaluating its potential benefit in the clinic."

Anish Suri, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer of Cue Biopharma said, "The IND acceptance of CUE-102 is a step forward in support of our strategic vision for pipeline expansion of assets emerging from our IL-2-based CUE-100 series of Immuno-STATs. Since the core framework and the IL-2 components are conserved, the clinical de-risking achieved with CUE-101 should in principle allow us to develop subsequent therapeutic molecules in a significantly expedited and cost-effective manner. To that end, we believe that FDA clearance to initiate the CUE-102 clinical trial at 1 mg/kg dose is an important step forward to the platform de-risking achieved with our current clinical candidate, CUE-101."

FDA acceptance of the IND application for CUE-102 is another important milestone for Cue Biopharma in their multi-target strategic collaboration with LG Chem Life Sciences, the life sciences division of LG Chem Ltd., to develop multiple Immuno-STAT biologics focused in the field of oncology.

About CUE-102
Leveraging the Immuno-STAT (Selective Targeting and Alteration of T cells) platform of targeted interleukin 2 (IL-2) therapies and the ongoing development of CUE-101, CUE-102 is being developed as a novel therapeutic fusion protein to selectively activate tumor antigen-specific T cells to treat Wilms’ Tumor 1 (WT1)-expressing cancers. CUE-102 consists of two human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules presenting a WT1 peptide, four affinity-attenuated IL-2 molecules, and an effector attenuated human immunoglobulin G (IgG1) Fc domain. WT1 is a well-recognized onco-fetal protein known to be over-expressed in a number of cancers, including solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

Cue Biopharma’s presentation at the 2021 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, demonstrating CUE-102’s ability to selectively activate and expand WT1-specific T cells for the treatment of WT1-expressing cancers, can be accessed in the investor section of the Cue Biopharma website here.

About the CUE-100 Series
The CUE-100 series consists of Fc-fusion biologics that incorporate peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) molecules along with rationally engineered interleukin 2 (IL-2) molecules. These singular biologics are anticipated to selectively target, activate and expand a robust repertoire of tumor-specific T cells directly in the patient’s body. The binding affinity of IL-2 for its receptor has been deliberately attenuated to achieve preferential selective activation of tumor-specific effector T cells while reducing potential for effects on regulatory T cells (Tregs) or broad systemic activation, potentially mitigating the dose-limiting toxicities associated with current IL-2-based therapies.

About Immuno-STAT
The company’s Immuno-STAT (Selective Targeting and Alteration of T cells) platform biologics are designed for targeted modulation of disease-associated T cells in the areas of immuno-oncology and autoimmune disease. Each of our biologic drugs is designed using our proprietary scaffold comprising: 1) a peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) to provide selectivity through interaction with the T cell receptor (TCR), and 2) a unique co-stimulatory signaling molecule to modulate the activity of the target T cells.

The simultaneous engagement of co-regulatory molecules and pMHC binding mimics the signals delivered by antigen presenting cells (APCs) to T cells during a natural immune response. This design enables Immuno-STAT biologics to engage with the T cell population of interest, resulting in selective T cell modulation. Because our drug candidates are delivered directly in the patient’s body (in vivo), they are fundamentally different from other T cell therapeutic approaches that require the patients’ T cells to be extracted, modified outside the body (ex vivo) and reinfused.

On May 11, 2022 IceCure Medical Ltd. (NASDAQ: ICCM) (TASE: ICCM) ("IceCure" or the "Company"), developer of minimally-invasive cryoablation technology, the ProSense System, that destroys tumors by freezing as an alternative to surgical tumor removal ("ProSense"), reported it will report its business and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 with a press release issued at 7:00 am ET (Press release, IceCure Medical, MAY 11, 2022, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icecure-medical-to-report-q1-2022-results-and-conduct-conference-call-may-18-2022-301545359.html [SID1234614249]). IceCure’s management team, joined by Dr. Richard Fine, will host a conference call that morning at 8:30 am ET.

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Dr. Richard E. Fine, MD, past President of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, an ICE3 trial investigator, Program Director of the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, and Director of Research and Education at the West Comprehensive Breast Center in Germantown, Tennessee, will be on the call to discuss ProSense as a potential treatment for early stage breast cancer and will be available for Q&A with investors.

On May 11, 2022 Epigenomics AG (FSE: ECX, OTCQX: EPGNY, the "Company") reported financial results (IFRS, unaudited) for the first three months of 2022 (Press release, Epigenomics, MAY 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234614174]).

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Financial key figures

Revenues in the first quarter 2022 increased slightly from EUR 106 thousand to EUR 115 thousand compared to the prior-year period.
R&D costs increased from EUR 737 thousand in the first quarter 2021 to EUR 1,401 thousand in Q1 2022 to support the advancement of Epi proColon "Next-Gen". Additionally, short-time work at the Berlin site was terminated in mid-September 2021 and additional personnel were recruited in the U.S.A. for the "Next-Gen" development and study.
Selling and administrative expenses increased from EUR 1,601 thousand to EUR 2,015 thousand, mainly due to U.S. market studies.
EBITDA (before share-based payment expenses) amounted to EUR -2,574 thousand in the reporting period, compared with EUR -985 thousand in the same period of the previous year.
The net loss for the period was EUR -2,657 thousand (Q1 2021: EUR -1,201 thousand); the loss per share decreased from EUR 0.20 to EUR 0.17 compared to the same period of the previous year.
Cash consumption increased to EUR 3,408 thousand in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1 2021: EUR 2,386 thousand).
As of March 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of EUR 20,039 thousand (December 31, 2021: EUR 23,049 thousand).
Operational developments

During the 2022 conversion windows for the mandatory convertible bonds issued in January 2021 and September 2021, bonds were converted into 817,564 new shares (ISIN DE000A3H2184). Accordingly, the number of shares outstanding increased from 15,539,737 to 16,357,301 no-par value registered shares of the Company. The Company’s share capital increased accordingly to EUR 16,357,301.00.
The Company continues to make progress on the "Next-Gen" development and clinical trial. The Company is on-track to initiate the trial this summer and publish preliminary assay performance data this year.
"We are very pleased with our progress on Epi proColon "Next-Gen" and remain on-track to achieve our development and trial goals for this year", said Greg Hamilton, CEO of Epigenomics. "We are optimistic that the performance of "Next-Gen" will result in a significant market opportunity in the years to come."

Outlook 2022

Revenue

The Company confirms its outlook for fiscal year 2022 and continues to expect revenue within the range of EUR 0.3 million to EUR 0.8 million. If Medicare reimbursement is indeed achieved via legislation in 2022, the Company is likely to amend the revenue forecast.
EBITDA / cash consumption

For EBITDA (before share-based payment expenses), Epigenomics forecasts a range of EUR -15.0 million to EUR -17.0 million. This assumes that the Company initiates the Epi proColon "Next-Gen" trial in the summer of 2022. If this trial is delayed or enrollment is slower than anticipated then the forecast for the adjusted EBITDA is likely to improve. The anticipated spend for the clinical trial in 2022 will be aligned with the Company’s ability to raise funds for the remainder of the trial in 2023 and 2024.
Further information

The interim statement for the first three months 2022 (unaudited) can be found on Epigenomics’ website at: View Source." target="_blank" title="View Source." rel="nofollow">View Source

Conference call for analysts and investors

Epigenomics AG will host a conference call for analysts and investors today at 4.00 pm (CET) / 10.00 am (EDT). The webcast can be accessed on the Company’s website View Source

Participants are asked to dial in 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call and to register using the link above.

An audio replay of the conference call will be provided on the Epigenomics’ website subsequently.

On May 11, 2022 Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYCC, NASDAQ: CYCCP; "Cyclacel" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines based on cancer cell biology, reported first quarter 2022 financial results and provided a business update (Press release, Cyclacel, MAY 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234614218]).

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"We are pleased to report another productive quarter for Cyclacel, which included continued expansion of our three, registration-directed, clinical trials and publication of research findings supporting our drug development strategy," said Spiro Rombotis, Chief Executive Officer of Cyclacel. "Oral fadraciclib, our CDK2/9 drug candidate, is proving to be well tolerated in 065-101, our Phase 1/2 solid tumor and lymphoma study, having reached dose level 5 in the dose escalation stage which provides for daily dosing over 4 out of 4 weeks. In our PLK1 program, we have dosed the first patients in the streamlined Phase 1/2 trial of CYC140 for the treatment of solid tumors and lymphomas. We have optimized the properties of CYC140 to fit its apoptosis-driven mechanism, including short half-life and differentiated structural and biological properties, compared to other PLK1 inhibitors in development. We therefore believe CYC140 has the potential to demonstrate activity across a wide range of solid tumors, as a single agent and in combinations."

"A growing body of preclinical research supports the clinical development plan of fadraciclib. In April, we announced publication of research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center highlighting fadraciclib’s antileukemic activity in CLL. Fadraciclib treatment resulted in suppression of MCL1, a key target protein. In addition, synergy of fadraciclib in combination with venetoclax was observed against primary CLL cell lines, including those with 17p deletion. With funding estimated through mid-2023, we are continuing to execute on our clinical development plan. We look forward to presenting initial fadraciclib clinical data in solid tumors and lymphomas, in the coming weeks, determining the recommended Phase 2 dose and entering proof of concept stage in the second half of 2022."

Key Highlights

·Fadraciclib 065-101 Phase 1/2 study in advanced solid tumors: Phase 1 dose escalation has reached dose level 5 (100mg given twice a day for 5 days for 4 weeks in a 4-week cycle) with a favorable patient safety profile and appropriate pharmacokinetic data observed thus far. The study is enrolling at four sites with several additional sites planning to join the proof-of-concept stage of this registration-directed study in 2H 2022. The Phase 2 part includes seven histologically defined cohorts thought to be sensitive to the drug’s mechanism: breast, colorectal (including KRAS mutant), endometrial/uterine, hepatobiliary, ovarian cancers and lymphomas. The study also includes an eighth basket cohort which will enroll patients regardless of histology with biomarkers relevant to the drug’s mechanism, including MCL1, MYC and/or cyclin E amplified.

·Fadraciclib 065-102 Phase 1/2 study in patients with leukemias or myelodysplastic syndromes. This study is now enrolling at City of Hope and MD Anderson Cancer Center and is treating patients at dose level one. Once the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) for single-agent, oral fadraciclib is determined, the study will enter into proof-of-concept, cohort stage, where fadraciclib will be administered, both as a single agent and in combinations, to patients in up to seven cohorts relevant to the drug’s mechanism of action and informed by the clinical activity of fadraciclib in previous studies. Single-agent cohorts will include patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who have an inadequate response or have progressed on venetoclax combinations with hypomethylating agent (HMA) or low dose Ara C and relapsed/refractory AML or MDS patients with FLT3, KIT or MAPK pathways (including N and K RAS, BRAF, PTPN11, NF1). The trial will also include patients with CLL who have progressed after at least two lines of therapy including a BTK inhibitor and/or venetoclax.

Announced publication confirming fadraciclib suppresses MCL1 and synergizes with venetoclax in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Results from the study confirmed that fadraciclib inhibited CDK9 mediated transcription, reduced levels of the short-lived, anti-apoptotic protein MCL1, and induced apoptosis in primary CLL cells. The data highlighted the importance of continuous treatment to prevent recovery of MCL1 protein levels. Furthermore, fadraciclib was shown to combine synergistically with the BCL2 antagonist, venetoclax, and demonstrated even greater synergy when targeted against 17p deleted CLL cells which were not sensitive to either agent alone.

·CYC140 140-101 Phase 1/2 study in solid tumors and lymphomas. This registration-directed study opened in April at City of Hope and MD Anderson Cancer Center and is enrolling patients in the Phase 1 dose escalation stage. The study uses a streamlined design and will initially determine RP2D for single-agent oral CYC140. Following RP2D, the trial will immediately enter into proof-of-concept, cohort stage, using a Simon 2-stage design. In this stage CYC140 will be administered to patients in up to seven mechanistically relevant cohorts including patients with bladder, breast, colorectal (including KRAS mutant), hepatocellular and biliary tract, and lung cancers (both small cell and non-small cell), as well as lymphomas plus an eighth basket cohort which will enroll patients with biomarkers relevant to the drug’s mechanism.

More information on our clinical trials can be found here.

Financial Highlights

As of March 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents totaled $29.6 million, compared to $36.6 million as of December 31, 2021. Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, the Company received $3.6 million of United Kingdom research & development tax credits and $1.3 million in royalty receipts providing pro forma March 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents of $34.5 million. The Company estimates that its available cash will fund currently planned programs through June 2023.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $2.6 million for the same period in 2021. R&D expenses relating to fadraciclib were $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2021 due to increase in clinical trial costs associated with ongoing clinical trials evaluating fadraciclib in Phase 1/2 studies along with an increase in non-clinical expenditures. R&D expenses related to CYC140 were $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $0.7 million for the same period in 2021 due to clinical trial costs associated with the opening of clinical sites for CYC140 Phase 1/2 studies.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022, were $1.6 million, compared to $1.7 million for the same period of the previous year due to a decrease in professional and recruitment costs.

Total other income, net, for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was $1.3 million, compared to $0.1 million for the same period of the previous year. The increase of $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, is primarily related to royalty income received from Thermo Fisher Scientific Corporation.

United Kingdom research & development tax credits were $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $0.7 million for the same period in 2021 as a direct consequence of increased qualifying research and development expenditure. Tax credit receipts of $3.6 million in respect of the financial year ended December 31, 2021, were received in May 2022.

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was $4.1 million, compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2021.

For the live and archived webcast, please visit the Corporate Presentations page on the Cyclacel website at www.cyclacel.com. The webcast will be archived for 90 days and the audio replay for 7 days.