On November 10, 2021 Viracta Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIRX), a precision oncology company targeting virus-associated malignancies, reported financial results for the third quarter of 2021 and provided an update on recent corporate activities (Press release, Viracta Therapeutics, NOV 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234595058]).
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"Over the past months we achieved key milestones that have furthered the development of Nana-val and positioned us to broaden our addressable patient population," said Ivor Royston, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Viracta. "We expanded our clinical trial pipeline with the initiation of our EBV-positive solid tumor trial and reacquired all rights to Nana-val in China, a strategically important territory given the high prevalence of EBV-associated cancers in Asia. Looking ahead, we expect continued progress in our solid tumor trial, as well as continued global expansion of our pivotal NAVAL-1 trial in EBV-positive lymphoma. In addition, we are excited about our multiple ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) presentations that will feature final results from our Phase 1b/2 EBV-positive lymphoma trial and preclinical findings on vecabrutinib, our reversible inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and interleukin-2-inducible kinase (ITK), which we are exploring for potential use in combination with CAR T-cell therapy."
Dan Chevallard, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Viracta, added, "Viracta remains in a strong financial position as we move toward the end of year. We ended the third quarter with approximately $111.0 million in cash and have reiterated our plan to end the year with over $100.0 million in cash. Importantly, we have now secured access to significant additional and undrawn non-dilutive and available capital through our recently expanded credit facility. We believe our financial strength positions us well to deliver on our development and strategic objectives into 2024."
Third Quarter 2021 and Recent Highlights
Clinical
Continued the global expansion of pivotal NAVAL-1 trial; multiple U.S. and international sites now open for enrollment. NAVAL-1 (Nanatinostat in Combination with Valganciclovir) is a global, multicenter, open-label Phase 2 basket trial. The trial, which will include patients with multiple subtypes of R/R EBV+ lymphoma, is designed to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of Nana-val and is designed to enroll approximately 140 patients. The primary endpoint of the trial is objective tumor response rate as assessed by an independent review committee. If successful, the Company believes this trial could potentially support multiple new drug application (NDA) filings across various EBV+ lymphoma subtypes. The study employs a Simon two-stage design where a limited number of patients are enrolled into each cohort in Stage 1 and, if a pre-specified activity threshold is reached, additional patients will be enrolled in Stage 2. During Stage 2, the Company anticipates discussing the preliminary results with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may amend the protocol to include additional patients as necessary to enable registration. The Company anticipates providing an update on the initial cohort(s) that have expanded into Stage 2 in the second half of 2022.
Initiated a Phase 1b/2 trial of Nana-val in patients with EBV+ recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC) and other EBV+ solid tumors. This Phase 1b/2 open-label multicenter trial is evaluating Nana-val alone and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced EBV+ solid tumors. The Phase 1b dose escalation part will evaluate safety and determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of Nana-val in patients with EBV+ RM-NPC. In Phase 2, up to 60 patients with EBV+ RM-NPC will be randomized to receive Nana-val at the RP2D with or without pembrolizumab to evaluate safety and preliminary efficacy. Additionally, patients with other EBV+ solid tumors will be enrolled to receive Nana-val at the RP2D in a Phase 1b dose expansion cohort. The Company anticipates providing preliminary clinical data from the trial in 2022.
Announced an upcoming oral presentation at the 2021 ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting featuring final results from VT3996-201, the Phase 1b/2 trial of Nana-val in R/R EBV+ lymphoma. Data indicate that Nana-val was well tolerated and shows promising efficacy in patients with R/R EBV+ lymphoma. The presentation’s corresponding abstract is currently available on the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) website.
Preclinical
Announced upcoming oral and poster presentations at the 2021 ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting featuring preclinical data on vecabrutinib, a reversible inhibitor of BTK and ITK. Data to be featured in the oral presentation demonstrate that using vecabrutinib is a novel strategy to modulate CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell functions by increasing their efficacy, and decreasing their toxicity, while maintaining their proliferative potential. The poster presentation will feature data showing that vecabrutinib treatment demonstrated efficacy and beneficially regulated B cell and T cell immune subsets in a preclinical murine model of sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease. The presentations’ corresponding abstracts are currently available on the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) website.
Corporate
Reacquired the exclusive development and commercialization rights for Nana-val in China. Following the reacquisition of the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Nana-val in the People’s Republic of China from Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Viracta now controls global rights to its all-oral combination therapy.
Secured expanded $50 million credit facility from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Oxford Finance. The credit facility replaces Viracta’s prior $15 million loan and security agreement with SVB and provides the Company with the option to obtain additional non-dilutive funding at a single-digit cost of capital. Through this expanded credit facility, the Company’s existing $5 million debt balance was refinanced. The remaining $45.0 million is available and the Company is under no obligation to draw funds in the future.
Appointed Flavia Borellini, Ph.D., and Jane F. Barlow, M.D., MPH, MBA, as independent members to its Board of Directors. Dr. Borellini has more than 25 years of executive management experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, with a particular focus on the development of targeted oncology drugs. As the former Chief Executive Officer of Acerta Pharma, she oversaw the development and approval of the BTK inhibitor Calquence (acalabrutinib). Dr. Barlow is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Jane Barlow & Associates, LLC and has over 25 years of leadership experience in driving cost-effective medical, diagnostic and pharmaceutical strategies.
Expanded Scientific Advisory Board with the addition of Dr. Shannon Kenney. Dr. Kenney is the Wattawa Bascom Professor in Cancer Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, in the Departments of Oncology and Medicine. She obtained her B.A. and MD degrees from Yale University and was a postdoctoral research fellow at the NIAID and the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Kenney’s research is focused on understanding the molecular regulation and pathogenesis of EBV in both epithelial cells and B cells, including viral gene regulation, host-pathogen interactions, and virally-induced transformation.
Anticipated 2021 Milestones and Key Upcoming Events
Final results from the Phase 1b/2 trial of Nana-val in R/R EBV+ lymphoma (VT3996-201) will be presented in an oral presentation at the 2021 ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2021
Results from preclinical studies of vecabrutinib will be presented in both an oral and poster presentations at the 2021 ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2021
Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results
Cash position – Cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $111.0 million as of September 30, 2021. Viracta expects to end 2021 with greater than $100.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, which it anticipates will be sufficient to fund its operations into 2024, excluding any additional borrowings under the $50.0 million credit facility.
Research and development expenses – Research and development expenses were $7.1 million and $16.6 million for the three and nine-months ending September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to $3.1 million and $9.9 million for the same periods in 2020. The increase was primarily due to costs associated with the initiation of the NAVAL-1 and solid tumor trials as well as an increase in headcount and non-cash share-based compensation.
Purchased and acquired in-process research and development – Purchased and acquired in-process research and development expenses of $4.0 million and $88.5 million were recorded for the three and nine-months ending September 30, 2021. The expenses were related to the $4.0 million payment associated with the termination of the collaboration and license agreement with Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and non-cash and non-recurring costs of $84.5 million related to the write-off of in-process research and development acquired in the merger with Sunesis Pharmaceuticals.
General and administrative expenses – General and administrative expenses were $3.7 million and $11.4 million for the three and nine-months ending September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to $0.9 million and $2.8 million for the same periods in 2020. The increase was largely due to incremental costs associated with being a publicly traded company, including legal fees, audit fees, consulting expenses, filing fees and increased directors and officer’s insurance costs, in addition to an increase in non-cash share-based compensation.
Gain on Royalty Purchase Agreement – Gain on Royalty Purchase Agreement for the nine-months ending September 30, 2021, was associated with upfront proceeds of $13.5 million received in connection with the multi-license milestone and royalty monetization transaction with XOMA Corporation in March 2021.
Adjusted loss from operations – Adjusted loss from operations for the nine-months ended September 30, 2021, excluding the non-recurring operating expenses associated with the write-off of in-process research and development acquired in the merger and the termination agreement with Salubris Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (a non-GAAP measure) was $14.5 million, compared to a loss from operations of $103.0 million. There is not a comparative adjustment to loss from operations for the same period in 2020.
Net loss – Net loss was $14.9 million, or $0.40 per share (basic and diluted) for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to a net loss of $4.1 million, or $14.22 per share for the same period in 2020. Net loss was $103.3 million, or $3.44 per share (basic and diluted) for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to a net loss of $12.7 million, or $46.27 per share (basic and diluted) for the same period in 2020.
About Nanatinostat
Nanatinostat (VRx-3996) is an orally available histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor being developed by Viracta. Nanatinostat is selective for specific isoforms of Class I HDACs, which is key to inducing viral genes that are epigenetically silenced in EBV-associated malignancies. Nana-val (nanatinostat and valganciclovir) is being investigated in multiple subtypes of relapsed/refractory EBV+ lymphoma and in advanced EBV+ solid tumors in three clinical trials, one of which is a registration-enabling global, multicenter, open-label Phase 2 basket trial in relapsed/refractory EBV+ lymphoma (NAVAL-1).
About Vecabrutinib
Vecabrutinib is a selective, reversible, non-covalent inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and interleukin-2-inducible kinase (ITK). Vecabrutinib is being studied as a potential enhancer of efficacy and safety of CAR T-cell therapy.