On May 26, 2021 BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX) (TASE: BLRX), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and provides a corporate update (Press release, BioLineRx, MAY 26, 2021, View Source [SID1234580609]).
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Significant events and achievements during the first quarter 2021 and subsequent period:
Announced positive topline results from GENESIS Phase 3 trial of Motixafortide in stem-cell mobilization (SCM). The data demonstrate that the study successfully met all primary and secondary endpoints with an exceptionally high level of statistical significance (p<0.0001).
88.3% of patients receiving Motixafortide + G-CSF underwent transplantation after only ONE administration of Motixafortide and in only ONE apheresis session, compared to 10.8% for G-CSF alone; potentially supports Motixafortide on top of G-CSF as new standard-of-care mobilization agent in autologous bone-marrow transplantation.
The Company is proceeding with activities in support of an NDA submission in this indication anticipated in the first half of 2022, including a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA planned for the second half of this year.
Presented data at the 2021 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting analyzing results by liver metastasis status from the Company’s Phase 2a COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 triple combination study testing Motixafortide in metastatic pancreatic cancer. The analysis further strengthened the results reported from the study in December 2020, since not only were substantially all patients initially diagnosed with stage 4 disease, but the vast majority (~80%) of the patients had liver metastases, emphasizing the extremely difficult patient population in this study.
Strengthened balance sheet with underwritten public offering resulting in gross proceeds of $34.5 million.
"Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, we were extremely excited to announce positive topline results from our GENESIS Phase 3 trial of Motixafortide in stem-cell mobilization for autologous bone marrow transplantation in multiple myeloma patients," stated Philip Serlin, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. "The results demonstrated, with a high degree of statistical significance, a meaningful clinical benefit from adding Motixafortide to the current standard of care, G-CSF, for the mobilization of the targeted number of stem cells required for transplantation. While this was not a head-to-head study, our results compare very favorably to the registrational study of plerixafor.
"Importantly, almost 90% of patients in the treatment cohort underwent transplantation after only one administration of Motixafortide and in only one apheresis session, compared to 10.8% for G-CSF alone. We believe this positions Motixafortide to become the new standard of care in this indication, with a clear clinical benefit of ‘one dose, one apheresis, 90% mobilization success rate.’ We are working diligently to submit a New Drug Application to the FDA in the first half of next year. If approved, this would be transformative for BioLineRx, and a huge milestone in the Company’s history.
"Regarding our PDAC program, the compelling liver metastases data that we recently presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) further strengthen an already robust case for continued development in this very challenging indication. We continue to engage in discussions with potential partners regarding future development.
"To support these and other initiatives, including continued advancement of our second clinical candidate, the anti-cancer vaccine AGI-134, we raised $34.5 million in January that we believe will finance the Company through multiple potentially value-creating milestones," concluded Mr. Serlin.
Upcoming Significant Expected Milestones:
Initial results from Part 2 of the Phase 1/2a trial of AGI-134 in solid tumors in the second half of 2021;
Pre-NDA meeting with the FDA for SCM in the second half of 2021;
NDA submission for SCM in the first half of 2022.
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2021
Research and development expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 were $4.3 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 21.1%, compared to $5.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The decrease resulted primarily from lower expenses associated with the Motixafortide COMBAT clinical trial, as well as lower expenses associated with the AGI-134 study.
Sales and marketing expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 were $0.2 million, similar to sales and marketing expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 were $1.0 million, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 18.2% compared to $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in share-based compensation.
The Company’s operating loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 amounted to $5.5 million, compared to an operating loss of $6.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
Non-operating expenses amounted to $4.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to non-operating income of $0.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Non-operating income (expenses) for both periods primarily relate to fair-value adjustments of warrant liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet.
Net financial expenses amounted to $0.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to net financial expenses of $0.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Net financial expenses for both periods primarily relate to interest paid on loans, offset by investment income earned on bank deposits.
The Company’s net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 amounted to $10.2 million, compared with a net loss of $6.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
The Company held $58.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits as of March 31, 2021.
Net cash used in operating activities was $6.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared with net cash used in operating activities of $6.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The $0.5 million decrease in net cash used in operating activities between the two periods was primarily the result of a decrease in research and development expenses.
Net cash used in investing activities was $36.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $6.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The changes in cash flows from investing activities relate primarily to investments in, and maturities of, short-term bank deposits.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $41.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $0.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The cash flows in 2021 primarily reflect the underwritten public offering of the Company’s ADSs in January 2021, warrant exercises and net proceeds from an ATM facility, offset by repayments of a loan from Kreos Capital. The cash flows in 2020 primarily reflect the net proceeds from an ATM facility, offset by repayments of a loan from Kreos Capital.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
BioLineRx will hold a conference call today, Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. EDT. To access the conference call, please dial +1-866-744-5399 from the US or +972-3-918-0610 internationally. The call will also be available via webcast and can be accessed through the Investor Relations page of BioLineRx’s website. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download any necessary software to listen to the live broadcast.
A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after completion of the live conference call on the Investor Relations page of BioLineRx’s website. A dial-in replay of the call will be available until May 28, 2021; please dial +1-888-295-2634 from the US or +972-3-925-5904 internationally.