On August 11, 2021 Histogen Inc. (NASDAQ: HSTO), a clinical-stage company focused on developing potential first-in-class restorative therapeutics that ignite the body’s natural process to repair and maintain healthy biological function, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 and provided an update on its clinical pipeline and other corporate developments (Press release, Conatus Pharmaceuticals, AUG 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234586331]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"In the second quarter, we charted a more strategic course for our restorative therapeutics pipeline with a focus on orthopedic indications that we believe sit at the crossroads of pre-clinical and clinical proof-of-concept, significant commercial opportunity and unmet medical needs," said Richard W. Pascoe, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Moreover, we believe that there is a significant value-creating opportunity for emricasan as a COVID-19 therapeutic given the positive safety and efficacy signals we reported in the recently completed Phase 1 study in mild symptomatic patients. Looking forward, we will concentrate our efforts on achieving meaningful regulatory, pre-clinical and clinical milestones for our pipeline assets in an effort to create long-term value for the benefit of patients, the healthcare community and our shareholders."

Highlights from the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2021 and Business Updates

Technology and Pipeline Focus – In June 2021, we completed a strategic evaluation of our regenerative medicine platform technology and announced that our pipeline focus will be on what we believe to be high-value orthopedic indications, creating pipeline synergies and maximizing resources in an effort to further drive long-term shareholder value. Our current orthopedic development programs include HST 003 for cartilage regeneration in the knee and HST 004 for spinal disk repair. Histogen is also evaluating the potential for additional pipeline opportunities targeting other soft tissues such as the tendon and ligament.

HST 003 – In June 2021, we initiated our Phase 1/2 clinical study of HST 003 to evaluate the safety and efficacy of human extracellular matrix (hECM) implanted within microfracture interstices and the cartilage defect in the knee to regenerate hyaline cartilage in combination with a microfracture procedure. We anticipate having top-line results from this study in the second quarter of 2022.
HST 004 – We recently initiated investigational new drug application (IND) enabling activities for HST 004, a CCM solution intended to be administered through an intradiscal injection for spinal disc repair. Our initial preclinical research has shown that HST 004 stimulates stem cells from the spinal disc to proliferate and secrete aggrecan and collagen II, regenerate normal matrix and cell tissue structure and restore disc height. HST 004 was also shown to both reduce inflammation and protease activity and upregulate aggrecan production in an ex vivo spinal disc model. We anticipate filing an IND for HST 004 in the second quarter of 2022.
Emricasan – In June 2021, we, along with our partner Amerimmune, announced positive results from the Phase 1 study of emricasan in mild symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Emricasan was shown to be safe and well-tolerated during the 14 days of dosing and at the day 45 follow up, as compared to placebo with no reports of serious adverse events. Patients who completed treatment with emricasan had a complete resolution of the symptoms most commonly associated in mild COVID-19, such as a cough, headache, and fatigue at day 7 and continued through Day 45. Patients in the placebo arm who completed the study did not experience COVID-19 symptom resolution at any time point out to day 45. We, along with our partner Amerimmune, are currently evaluating our clinical development plans for the emricasan program and expect to complete our evaluation in the third quarter of 2021.
Second Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights

Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

License and Service Revenues in the second quarter of 2021 decreased nearly 100% to $5 thousand from $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2020. The decrease is primarily related to the completion of technology transfer obligations of Histogen under the Allergan Agreements. During both periods, $5 thousand of deferred revenue was recognized in relation to the Potential Future Improvements remaining performance obligation currently being amortized over the remaining 9-year patent life.

Cost of Professional Services Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were zero and $0.1 million, respectively.

Acquired In-Process Research and Development for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were zero and $7.1 million, respectively. Histogen incurred $7.1 million for in-process research and development acquired during the three months ended June 30, 2020 in connection with the merger.

Research and Development Expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were $2.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The net increase of $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020 was primarily due to increases in expanded development costs of our product candidates partially offset by $0.2 million in qualifying expenses in connection with the Department of Defense grant and increases in personnel-related expenses.

General and Administrative Expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were $1.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The $0.2 million increase for the three months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020 was primarily due to increases in personnel-related expenses and insurance fees offset by other expenses, such as legal and accounting fees.

Cash and Cash Equivalents as of June 30, 2021 were $23.1 million. We believe that Histogen’s existing cash and cash equivalents and cash inflow from operations will be sufficient to meet its anticipated cash needs into the fourth quarter of 2022.

On August 11, 2021 Lantern Pharma (NASDAQ: LTRN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using its proprietary RADR artificial intelligence ("A.I.") platform to transform the cost, pace, and timeline of oncology drug discovery and development, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted LP-184 Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer (Press release, Lantern Pharma, AUG 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234586348]). LP-184 is a small molecule drug candidate and next generation alkylating agent that preferentially damages DNA in cancer cells that over-express certain biomarkers or that harbor mutations in DNA repair pathways. LP-184 is being developed for several targeted indications in cancer, including pancreatic cancer.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States with a five-year survival rate of 7.9% and a 10-year survival rate of just 1%. GLOBOCAN estimates that for pancreatic cancer there are approximately 490,000 thousand new cases of pancreatic cancer globally, with over 62,000 occurring in North America annually. Due to the late onset of symptoms, patients are often diagnosed after the cancer has progressed to locally advanced or metastatic stages of the disease. LP-184 is designed to target a specific subset of pancreatic cancer patients that are genetically defined, which has the potential to increase beneficial therapeutic options for patients and may ultimately improve survival for those with this cancer.

"Receipt of Orphan Drug Designation is an important accomplishment for the LP-184 program and for our company. This designation further validates our data-driven approach to oncology drug development as well as the groundbreaking collaborative R&D approach we are advancing with leading institutions such as Fox Chase Cancer Center," stated Panna Sharma, President & CEO of Lantern Pharma. "Orphan Drug Designation is designed to provide a number of benefits, including seven years of market exclusivity, which complements our growing portfolio of patents that provide us additional commercial and market protections."

"This orphan designation is one of many upcoming milestones that we expect to achieve for our LP-184 program in pancreatic cancer. We recently reported that LP-184 demonstrated significant and rapid pancreatic tumor shrinkage, by over 90%, within in-vivo mouse models over 8 weeks. In comparison, the tumors in the untreated mice grew by over eleven-fold in volume during the same 8-week period. We are excited to advance this groundbreaking research to help patients suffering from this devastating disease where the benefits of current treatment options are very limited."

Lantern has begun discussions on the design of first-in-human clinical studies for LP-184 in collaboration with Dr. Igor Astsaturov, an established, NCI -funded, physician scientist and co-leader of the Marvin & Conchetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute at Fox Chase Cancer Center, as well as other key opinion leaders in the pancreatic cancer treatment landscape.

The FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development grants orphan status to drugs intended for the safe and effective treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases or conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Orphan Drug Designation is designed to provide drug developers with various benefits to support the development of novel drugs, including market exclusivity for seven years upon FDA approval, eligibility for tax credits for qualified clinical trials, waiver of marketing registration application fees, reduced annual product fees, clinical protocol assistance and qualification for expedited development programs.

On August 11, 2021 TRACON Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TCON), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel targeted cancer therapeutics and utilizing a cost efficient, CRO-independent product development platform to partner with ex-U.S. companies to develop and commercialize innovative products in the U.S., reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 (Press release, Tracon Pharmaceuticals, AUG 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234586371]). The Company will host a conference call and webcast today at 4:30 PM Eastern Time / 1:30 PM Pacific Time.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We remain on track to announce interim efficacy data from the pivotal ENVASARC trial by the end of this year and final data in 2022," said Charles Theuer, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of TRACON. "Last week the IDMC recommended the study proceed as planned following review of interim safety data and we will continue to focus our efforts on enrolling this pivotal trial. Following our recent public offering, our balance sheet provides us with cash runway into 2023."

Recent Corporate Highlights

Envafolimab

In June, we received orphan drug designation for envafolimab in soft tissue sarcoma based on clinical data demonstrating confirmed objective partial responses by RECIST with duration of response in excess of six months, in two of five patients with refractory metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) who received single agent envafolimab in Phase 1 clinical trials conducted by our partners, 3D Medicines and Alphamab Oncology.

On August 6, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) recommended the ENVASARC trial proceed as planned following the review of more than three months of safety data from more than 20 patients enrolled in the trial as of May.

In June, we presented the study design of the pivotal Phase 2 ENVASARC trial of single agent envafolimab and envafolimab given with Yervoy (ipilimumab) at the 2021 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) virtual annual meeting.
Corporate

In July, we announced an underwritten public offering for gross proceeds of approximately $15.0 million. We estimate that the proceeds will extend our cash runway into 2023, past expected final top-line data for ENVASARC.

In the second quarter we enhanced our senior management team with multiple new hires, including a Head of Regulatory and Head of Biometrics, both of whom have BLA filing experience.

In July, the book Unnecessary Expense: An Antidote to the Billion Dollar Drug Problem, authored by TRACON senior management to be published by ForbesBooks became available for preorder on Amazon. Publication is expected in September.
Other

In June, we presented preliminary Phase 1 data for the CD73 antibody uliledlimab (TJ4309) at the 2021 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) virtual annual meeting.
Expected Key Upcoming Milestones

Interim ENVASARC efficacy data by end of 2021.

Request FDA breakthrough therapy designation or fast track designation for envafolimab by end of 2021, assuming positive interim efficacy data.

Decision on the envafolimab New Drug Application in MSI-H/dMMR cancer that is under priority review by the Chinese National Medical Products Administration.
Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $25.6 million at June 30, 2021, compared to $36.1 million at December 31, 2020. The cash balance at June 30, 2021, does not include the proceeds from the $15 million underwritten public offering in July, which extends the Company’s cash runway into 2023.

Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2021 were $3.1 million, compared to $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2020.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2021 were $6.1 million, compared to $2.1 million for the second quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to legal expenses incurred with the now stayed lawsuit filed by I-Mab in the Delaware Court of Chancery and ongoing arbitration on the TJ4309 and bispecific agreements. We expect the second quarter of 2021 to be the high point for general and administrative expenses this year.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was $8.9 million, compared to $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2020.
Conference Call Details

Wednesday, August 11, at 4:30 PM Eastern Time / 1:30 PM Pacific Time
Domestic: 855-779-9066
International: 631-485-4859
Conference ID: 3067769
A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the Investor/Events and Presentations page of the Company’s website at www.traconpharma.com.

After the live webcast, a replay will remain available on TRACON’s website for 60 days.

About Envafolimab

Envafolimab (KN035), a novel, single-domain antibody against PD-L1, is the first subcutaneously injected PD-(L)1 inhibitor to be studied in pivotal trials. Envafolimab is currently being studied in the ENVASARC Phase 2 pivotal trial in the U.S. sponsored by TRACON, has been studied in a completed Phase 2 pivotal trial as a single agent in MSI-H/dMMR advanced solid tumor patients in China and is being studied in an ongoing Phase 3 pivotal trial in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in advanced biliary tract cancer patients in China, with both Chinese trials sponsored by 3D Medicines. TRACON’s partners Alphamab Oncology and 3D Medicines submitted an NDA to the NMPA in China for envafolimab in MSI-H/dMMR cancer that was accepted for review in December 2020 and granted priority review in January 2021. In the Phase 2 MSI-H/dMMR advanced solid tumor trial, the confirmed objective response rate (ORR) by blinded independent central review in MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated with envafolimab who failed a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan was 32%, which was similar to the 28% confirmed ORR reported in the Opdivo package insert in MSI-H/dMMR CRC patients who failed a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan and the 33% confirmed ORR reported for Keytruda in MSI-H/dMMR CRC patients who failed a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan in cohort A of the KEYNOTE-164 clinical trial.

About ENVASARC (NCT04480502)

The ENVASARC pivotal trial is a multicenter, open label, randomized, non-comparative, parallel cohort study at approximately 25 top cancer centers in the United States that began dosing in December 2020. TRACON expects the trial to enroll 160 patients with UPS or MFS who have progressed following one or two lines of prior treatment and have not received an immune checkpoint inhibitor, with 80 patients enrolled into cohort A of treatment with single agent envafolimab and 80 patients enrolled into cohort B of treatment with envafolimab and Yervoy. The primary endpoint is ORR by blinded independent central review with duration of response a key secondary endpoint.

About TRC102

TRC102 (methoxyamine) is a novel, small molecule inhibitor of the DNA base excision repair pathway, which is a pathway that causes resistance to alkylating and antimetabolite chemotherapeutics. TRC102 is currently being studied in multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) and has orphan drug designation from the U.S. FDA in malignant glioma, including glioblastoma.

About TJ004309

TJ004309 is a novel, humanized antibody against CD73, an ecto-enzyme expressed on stromal cells and tumors that converts extracellular adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to adenosine, which is highly immunosuppressive. TJ004309 is currently being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 trial to assess safety and preliminary efficacy as a single agent and when combined with the PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq in patients with advanced solid tumors.

On August 11, 2021 Advaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADXS) ("Advaxis" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary Lm-based antigen delivery products, reported that it has received a letter indicating that following the Company’s hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the "Panel"), the Panel determined to grant the Company an extension through November 22, 2021, to comply with Nasdaq’s $1.00 Minimum Bid Price Rule and complete its previously announced merger transaction with Biosight, Ltd. ("Biosight") (Press release, Advaxis, AUG 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234586286]). On July 6, 2021, Advaxis announced that it had entered into a merger agreement with Biosight, a privately held, Israel-based pharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for hematological malignancies and disorders.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the combined company will be required to meet all applicable initial listing requirements upon the closing of the merger, including the $4 per share price requirement. While there can be no assurance, the Company believes that it will be able to close the merger and demonstrate compliance with all applicable requirements for initial listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market on or before November 22, 2021.

On August 11, 2021 Biomea Fusion, Inc. ("Biomea") (Nasdaq: BMEA), a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of irreversible small molecules to treat patients with genetically defined cancers, reported financial results for the second quarter of 2021 (Press release, Biomea Fusion, AUG 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234586332]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We continue to make notable progress as we rapidly advance BMF-219 toward a planned entry into the clinic and continue to grow our company and pipeline," said Thomas Butler, Biomea’s CEO and Chairman of the Board. "In the second quarter, we successfully completed IND-enabling studies for BMF-219 and are now in the final stages of completing our IND submission to the FDA to advance BMF-219 to a Phase I study for the treatment of patients with menin-dependent AML and ALL. We also continued to make important progress pursuing our broad, ambitious, preclinical strategy focused on exploring the potential of this novel irreversible small molecule across a number of menin-dependent liquid and solid tumors, including DLBCL."

Mr. Butler continued, "While our primary focus is oncology drug development, there are multiple diseases where the menin pathway is implicated and where an irreversibly binding small molecule approach may have an important impact, including for patients with type 2 diabetes. At our core, we feel a profound responsibility to help patients with our novel chemistry. To that end, we look forward to seeing the results of our exploratory pathway validation in type 2 diabetes next year."

Business Highlights

Completed IND-enabling studies with irreversibly binding menin inhibitor BMF-219. Biomea successfully conducted IND-enabling studies with BMF-219, an irreversible menin inhibitor for the treatment of patients with menin-dependent AML and ALL. Biomea anticipates submitting the IND during the second half of 2021.

Continued preclinical studies of BMF-219 in DLBCL. Biomea continues to explore the potential of BMF-219 for a number of menin-dependent liquid and solid tumor cancers, including a subset of DLBCL, with a number of preclinical studies currently underway. The Company plans to report its findings in DLBCL in the first quarter of 2022. Despite the high dependency of several cancers on menin, Biomea Fusion is not aware of any menin inhibitors currently in clinical development for these cancer types.

Initiated pathway validation studies in diabetes. Based on a growing body of internal and external scientific evidence, Biomea has initiated key preclinical studies to explore the potential of its irreversible menin inhibitors as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. The Company plans to report its findings in the first quarter of 2022. Biomea Fusion is not aware of any menin inhibitors currently in clinical development for diabetes.
Expanded team and in-house research capabilities to support long-term growth and clinical and preclinical development plans. Biomea strengthened its executive team with the appointments of Franco Valle as Chief Financial Officer, Alex Cacovean, M.D. as Executive Medical Director and Sasha Blaug Ph.D. as Senior VP of Corporate Development. Biomea has successfully grown its headcount this year to date by 29 for a total of 41 current team members. The Company has also completed the buildout of its own laboratory facilities to further support the research and preclinical pipeline development of its irreversible platform.
Strengthened the Company’s Board of Directors. In the second quarter Biomea appointed Sumita Ray J.D., Chief Legal and Administrative Officer at Calithera Biosciences, Inc., to its Board. Ms. Ray is an industry veteran with over 20 years of expertise in FDA regulatory law, global health care law and compliance, brand support, product launches, collaborations and alliances.
Financial Highlights

Second Quarter 2021 Year to Date Financial Results

Biomea reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $14.3 million for the first six months of 2021, compared to a net loss of $0.7 million for the same period in 2020.

Research and development expenses were $9.0 million for the first six months of 2021, compared to $0.6 million for the same period in 2020. The increase of $8.4 million was primarily due to an increase in personnel-related expenses, as well as an increase in pre-clinical development costs, including manufacturing and external consulting, related to the IND-enabling studies for BMF-219.

General and administrative expenses were $5.3 million for the first six months of 2021, compared to $0.1 million for the same period in 2020. The increase of $5.2 million was primarily due to higher personnel-related expenses and other corporate costs to support the Company’s expanding operations, including legal and accounting.

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments of $203.0 million.