Evelo Biosciences Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results and Business Highlights

On March 9, 2021 Evelo Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: EVLO), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a new modality of orally delivered medicines, reported financial results and business highlights for the fourth quarter and full year 2020 (Press release, Evelo Biosciences, MAR 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234576309]).

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"Building on a series of positive clinical data announcements and strong progress in 2020, we are pleased to begin 2021 by announcing a further positive clinical data readout with EDP1815. We have now shown positive clinical data with EDP1815 in five separate cohorts across psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and a human experimental model of inflammation. EDP1815’s observed profile of broad inflammation resolving effects and tolerability is highly differentiated and supports the potential of EDP1815 as a foundational treatment for all stages of inflammatory disease," said Simba Gill, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Evelo. "The new EDP1815 data we are reporting today is from a healthy volunteer experimental model of inflammation. This study showed that an increase in the concentration of drug in a capsule resulted in enhanced effect for the same overall dose. We are also pleased with the accelerated recruitment of the Phase 2b trial of EDP1815 in psoriasis, and we will now report top-line data for the full cohort of patients in the third quarter of this year."

Dr. Gill continued, "The results we have observed with EDP1815 provide evidence for the entire SINTAX platform and support the potential of our investigational medicines to control systemic inflammation and immunity. EDP1815 and dermatological diseases are only the beginning. In February, we initiated the first clinical trial of our next anti-inflammatory candidate, EDP1867. We are progressing our two extracellular vesicle candidates, EDP2939 for inflammatory diseases and EDP1908 for oncology. In addition, we have strengthened our balance sheet with $88 million in net proceeds from recent sales of our common stock and have expanded our team with the appointments of Jonathan Zung, Ph.D., as Chief Development Officer, and John Hohneker, M.D., to our Board of Directors. We now have the resources and team in place to advance our broad portfolio to later-stage development."

Fourth Quarter/Full Year 2020 Highlights and Recent Progress

EDP1815 in Human Experimental Model of Inflammation

Evelo reported positive data from a healthy volunteer experimental model of inflammation with EDP1815.
○ A total of 32 healthy volunteers were dosed daily for 28 days with either of two concentrations of EDP1815, or placebo.

○ The study was designed to investigate the relative effectiveness of two different concentrations of EDP1815 in capsules.

○ The increased concentration of drug results from improvements made in the commercial-scale manufacturing process (referred to as A2). This is the same active drug at four times the concentration compared to a prior manufacturing process (referred to as A’).

○ Healthy volunteers were immunized with the same antigen used in preclinical inflammation experiments. After 28 days of daily oral treatment with EDP1815 or placebo, subjects were given a skin challenge with the antigen which causes measurable skin inflammation a day later. 12 subjects were given A’ EDP1815. Another 12 subjects were given the higher concentration A2. The 8 subjects who received a placebo were divided between the two treatment groups.

○ As shown in the figure below, the higher concentration A2, given in fewer capsules, resulted in numerically superior reductions across the full range of skin evaluation scores compared to A’ and to placebo. A2 and A’ were given at the same total daily dose of drug.

○ These results are consistent with preclinical data showing that increased drug concentration resulted in increased effects.

○ This is a key advancement in Evelo’s understanding of how to get even more benefit from SINTAX medicine candidates.

A figure accompanying this announcement is available at: View Source

Based on these data, Evelo is expanding its ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial to include additional cohorts evaluating the higher concentration A2 in both tablet and capsule formulations. Results from the Phase 1b trial and ongoing Phase 2b trial together will position the Company to go forward into Phase 3 trials with an optimized dose and formulation of EDP1815 which may further improve on the positive results already seen.
EDP1815 in Psoriasis

Evelo has completed enrollment in its ongoing Phase 2b dose-ranging trial using A’ EDP1815. Given accelerated recruitment, the Company now plans to report top-line data for all patients in the study in the third quarter of this year in place of an interim data readout on the first 113 patients.
EDP1815 in Atopic Dermatitis

In December and January, Evelo announced positive clinical data from a cohort of patients with mild and moderate atopic dermatitis in its Phase 1b clinical trial.
In addition to being well tolerated with no treatment-related adverse events of moderate or severe intensity and no serious adverse events, the data showed consistent improvements in percentage change from baseline compared to placebo for Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Investigator’s Global Assessment and Body Surface Area (IGA*BSA) and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). Treatment with EDP1815 also resulted in clinically meaningful improvement in the patient-reported outcomes of Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM).
EDP1867 in Atopic Dermatitis

In February, Evelo initiated a Phase 1b trial of EDP1867 in healthy volunteers and patients with moderate atopic dermatitis.
EDP1908 in Oncology

In November, Evelo presented preclinical data for EDP1908 at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper)’s (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 35th Anniversary Annual Meeting. The data showed that orally administered EDP1908, an extracellular vesicle, resulted in superior tumor growth control versus either the parental microbial strain or anti-PD-1 therapy, with an observed dose-dependent reduction of tumor growth. The observed effects were comparable to those reported in the literature for intratumorally administered immune stimulators. Evelo subsequently announced the decision to prioritize EDP1908 as its lead clinical candidate in oncology.
Business Highlights

In December 2020, Evelo announced the appointment of Jonathan Zung, Ph.D., as Chief Development Officer and a member of the Evelo Executive Team. Dr. Zung brings more than 25 years of global pharmaceutical development and commercialization experience to Evelo.
In February 2021, Evelo closed an underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share, and a private placement of shares of its common stock at an offering price of $15.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $85.1 million, before underwriting discounts and commissions.
In February 2021, Evelo announced the appointment of John A. Hohneker, M.D., to its Board of Directors.
Upcoming Key Milestones

EDP1815 – Psoriasis; all data anticipated to be reported in 3Q 2021

Data from Phase 1b cohorts with A2 tablets and A2 capsules
Full data from Phase 2b dose-ranging trial
EDP1815 – Atopic Dermatitis

Subject to regulatory approval, initiation of Phase 2 trial in 3Q 2021
EDP1815 – COVID-19

Data from Phase 2 trial with Rutgers University in 2Q 2021
Interim safety and futility analysis from Phase 2/3 TACTIC-E trial in 2Q 2021
EDP1867 – Atopic Dermatitis

Interim data from Phase 1b trial expected in 4Q 2021
EDP2939 – Inflammation

Initiation of clinical development in 2022
EDP1908 – Oncology

Initiation of clinical development in 2022
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Cash Position: As of December 31, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $68.9 million, as compared to cash and cash equivalents of $77.8 million as of December 31, 2019. This decrease was primarily due to cash used in operating activities, partially offset by $48.4 million in net proceeds from the Company’s June 2020 follow-on offering of common stock and draw down of an additional $10 million under its existing debt facility in July 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company raised net proceeds of $82.2 million from the issuance of common stock exclusive of certain other fees payable by the Company.
Research and Development Expenses: R&D expenses were $22.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and $69.6 million for the full year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $16.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, and $63.1 million for the full year ended December 31, 2019. The increase of $6.5 million year over year was primarily due to increased costs related to Evelo’s inflammation clinical development programs, clinical development and technical operations headcount growth and platform investment, partially offset by lower oncology spend.
General and Administrative Expenses: G&A expenses were $6.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and $22.3 million for the full year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $6.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and $23.2 million for the full year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease of $1.0 million year over year was primarily due to lower cost associated with legal, consulting and other professional fees, partially offset by higher IT and other office expense costs.
Net Loss: Net loss was $29.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and $93.7 million for the full year ended December 31, 2020, or $(0.62) and $(2.37) per basic and diluted share, respectively, as compared to a net loss of $22.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and $85.5 million for the full year ended December 31, 2019, or $(0.70) and $(2.67) per basic and diluted share, respectively.
Conference Call

Evelo will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET today to review fourth quarter and full year 2020 highlights. To access the call, please dial (866) 795-3242 (domestic) or (409) 937-8909 (international) and refer to conference ID 3094547. A live webcast of the event will also be available under "News and Events" in the Investors section of Evelo’s website at View Source The archived webcast will be available on Evelo’s website approximately two hours after the completion of the event and will be available for 30 days following the call.

Scholar Rock Reports Full Year 2020 Financial Results and Highlights Business Progress

On March 9, 2021 Scholar Rock (NASDAQ: SRRK), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of serious diseases in which protein growth factors play a fundamental role, reported financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2020 and highlighted recent progress and upcoming milestones for its pipeline programs (Press release, Scholar Rock, MAR 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234576325]).

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"2021 is poised to further validate the therapeutic potential of our scientific platform, and we are starting the year with strong momentum as we continue to execute and advance our clinical trials in both SMA and immuno-oncology," said Tony Kingsley, President and CEO of Scholar Rock. "All patients in the TOPAZ trial in SMA have now completed the 12-month treatment period and we are on-track to report top-line results next quarter. We also look forward to clinical read-outs from our SRK-181 DRAGON trial in cancer immunotherapy, along with continued progress with our earlier-stage programs."

Company Updates and Upcoming Milestones

Apitegromab is a highly selective inhibitor of latent myostatin activation being developed as the potential first muscle-directed therapy for the treatment of SMA.

Top-Line Efficacy and Safety Data from the TOPAZ Phase 2 Trial Expected in 2Q21. A total of 58 patients were enrolled across the three cohorts of the TOPAZ clinical trial (NCT03921528). With the exception of one patient who discontinued early from the trial for reasons unrelated to the study drug, all patients completed the 12-month treatment period and have elected to opt into the extension period. Top-line data from the 12-month treatment period will provide additional insights on apitegromab’s potential in improving motor function in patients with Type 2 and Type 3 SMA, including the potential for durability of effect and for further motor function increases observed from the 6-month interim analysis.
U.S. Patent Issued Providing Broad Therapeutic Use of Apitegromab. The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent 10,882,904 with an expiry of September 2036. The issued claims are broadly directed to the use of apitegromab to achieve two or more of the following therapeutic effects: increase muscle mass or function, decrease adipose-to-muscle ratios, decrease intramuscular fat infiltration, and prevent muscle loss or atrophy, without limiting to specific indications.
Identification of Second Indication for Apitegromab Planned for 2021. Scholar Rock is evaluating multiple other diseases for which the selective inhibition of the activation of myostatin may offer therapeutic benefit.
SRK-181 is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of latent TGFβ1 activation being developed with the aim of overcoming resistance to and increasing the number of patients who may benefit from checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Presented Preclinical Data at the TGFβ for Immuno-Oncology Drug Development Summit. In January 2021, Scholar Rock participated in a panel discussion titled "Debating the Best Approach to Target TGF-β" and presented "Inhibition of TGFβ1 Activation with SRK-181 Overcomes Primary Resistance to Checkpoint Inhibition Therapy" at the TGFβ for Immuno-Oncology Drug Development Summit. The presentation provided an overview of the preclinical data demonstrating that combination treatment with a murine version of SRK-181 and an anti-PD-1 therapy led to tumor regression and an improved preclinical toxicity profile compared to less selective TGFβ inhibition.
DRAGON Phase 1 Trial Anticipated to Advance to Part B Dose Expansion in 2Q21. SRK-181 is being evaluated in the two-part DRAGON trial (NCT04291079) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors exhibiting primary resistance to anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. The main goals of Part A of the trial are to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of SRK-181 and to determine the dosing regimen to be evaluated in Part B of the trial. As of March 8, 2021, dose escalation in Part A1 (SRK-181 as a single-agent) has progressed beyond the previously announced highest planned dose of 2400 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W) to 3000 mg Q3W to further characterize the upper bounds of the dose range, as permitted by the protocol. Dose escalation in Part A2 of the trial (SRK-181 in combination with an approved anti-PD-(L)1 therapy) has progressed to 1600 mg Q3W.
The Part B dose expansion portion of the trial will consist of multiple cohorts, including urothelial carcinoma, cutaneous melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and other solid tumors. Each cohort will enroll up to 40 patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors for which they have been treated with an approved anti-PD-(L)1 therapy and have demonstrated primary resistance. Patients in Part B will be treated with SRK-181 in combination with an approved anti-PD-(L)1 therapy.

Initial clinical response and safety data from the DRAGON trial are expected in the second half of 2021. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may impact the enrollment and dosing of patients in the trial.

Full Year 2020 Financial Results

For the full year ended December 31, 2020, net loss was $86.5 million or $2.81 per share compared to a net loss of $51.0 million or $1.85 per share for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Revenue was $15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $20.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Revenue was related to the Gilead fibrosis-focused collaboration that was executed in December 2018.
Research and development expense was $74.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $54.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase year-over-year was primarily attributable to costs associated with the apitegromab TOPAZ Phase 2 clinical trial, including clinical drug supply manufacturing, the SRK-181 DRAGON Phase 1 clinical trial, and higher personnel-related costs.
General and administrative expense was $28.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $20.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase year-over-year was primarily attributable to higher personnel-related costs and professional services.
As of December 31, 2020, Scholar Rock had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of approximately $341.0 million.

Gamida Cell Reports Full Year 2020 Financial Results and Provides Company Update

On March 9, 2021 Gamida Cell Ltd. (Nasdaq: GMDA), an advanced cell therapy company committed to finding cures for blood cancers and serious blood diseases, reported financial results for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, Gamida Cell, MAR 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234576343]). The company also highlighted progress with omidubicel, an advanced cell therapy in Phase 3 clinical development as a potentially life-saving treatment option for patients in need of bone marrow transplant, and GDA-201, a natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy in Phase 1 development in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

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"Gamida Cell Announces Positive Topline Data from Phase 3 Clinical Study of Omidubicel in Patients with High-Risk Hematologic Malignancies"

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"It has been a significant year for Gamida Cell, marked by a number of important achievements that have brought us closer to developing cures for blood cancers and serious hematologic diseases. Omidubicel, an advanced cell therapy that has met all primary, secondary and exploratory endpoints in our Phase 3 study in patients with hematological malignancies, represents a potentially transformative treatment option. The data we presented in 2020, demonstrating the clinical benefit of omidubicel, position us to submit our first BLA for omidubicel in the fourth quarter of 2021," said Julian Adams, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Gamida Cell. "We remain focused on both the BLA submission and preparing for potential commercial readiness, with the announcement of Gamida Cell Assist, a program designed to focus on patient access and a positive omidubicel experience for the patient and the transplant team. We are diligently working to bring omidubicel to patients as soon as possible."

"We believe our NAM-based cell expansion technology has potential for NK cell expansion and we are developing GDA-201, an NK-cell immunotherapy for the treatment of hematologic and solid tumors in combination with antibody therapies. This year, we made meaningful progress with GDA-201, which has demonstrated impressive early results in patients with heavily pre-treated NHL in a Phase 1 investigator-sponsored study. Following these results, we plan to submit an IND to the FDA in the second half of 2021 and initiate a Phase 1/2 study," Dr. Adams continued.

Omidubicel, an investigational advanced cell therapy for allogeneic bone marrow transplant

During the year, Gamida Cell made significant progress to advance its Phase 3 product candidate omidubicel, which is the first cell therapy for bone marrow transplant to receive Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and which has the potential to be the first FDA-approved engineered cell therapy which can be used as a bone marrow transplant graft. The company presented primary, secondary and exploratory endpoints from the company’s international, multi-center, randomized Phase 3 study of omidubicel demonstrating its clinical benefit as a treatment option for patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.

In May, Gamida Cell reported that the phase 3 study of omidubicel achieved its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in time to neutrophil engraftment, a key milestone in recovery from a bone marrow transplant. It was shown that the median time to neutrophil engraftment was 12 days for patients randomized to omidubicel compared to 22 days for the comparator group (p<0.001). The Phase 3 study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of omidubicel in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing a bone marrow transplant compared to a comparator group of patients who received a standard umbilical cord blood transplant.

The Phase 3 study additionally met key secondary endpoints related to platelet engraftment, infections and hospitalization, all significant clinical measures in bone marrow transplant, as reported in October 2020. The prespecified secondary endpoints, analyzed in all randomized patients (intent-to-treat), were the proportion of patients who achieved platelet engraftment by day 42, the proportion of patients with Grade 2 or Grade 3 bacterial or invasive fungal infections in the first 100 days following transplant, and the number of days alive and out of the hospital in the first 100 days following transplant. All three secondary endpoints demonstrated a statistically significant improvement among patients who were randomized to omidubicel compared to the comparator group.

Recently, the results of the company’s Phase 3 study of omidubicel were presented at the Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research. The data from the study relating to exploratory endpoints also supported the clinical benefit demonstrated by the study’s primary and secondary endpoints. Safety results were also presented, showing no significant difference between the two patient groups related to grade III/IV acute GvHD (14 percent for omidubicel, 21 percent for the comparator) or all grades chronic GvHD at one year (35 percent for omidubicel, 29 percent for the comparator). Transplants with umbilical cord blood, the comparator, have been historically shown to result in low incidence of GvHD in relation to other graft sources, and in this study, omidubicel demonstrated a similar GvHD profile. The rate of infection was significantly reduced for patients randomized to omidubicel, with the cumulative incidence of first grade 2 or grade 3 bacterial or invasive fungal infection for patients randomized to omidubicel of 37 percent, compared to 57 percent for the comparator (p = 0.027). Additionally, the study demonstrated a reduction in the incidence of viral infections. Non-relapse mortality was 11 percent for patients randomized to omidubicel and 24 percent for patients randomized to the comparator (p=0.09). Overall survival at one year following transplant was 73 percent for patients randomized to omidubicel and 62 percent for patients randomized to control (p=0.16).When considering the patient experience following transplant, faster hematopoietic recovery, fewer bacterial and viral infections and fewer days in hospital are all meaningful results and represent potentially important advancements in care.

Additional omidubicel highlights:

Presented new Phase 1 data from study of omidubicel in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper): In a poster presentation at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper), Gamida Cell presented data demonstrating that patients with severe aplastic anemia treated with omidubicel achieved sustained early engraftment and robust immune reconstitution following reduced intensity conditioning. The data suggest that omidubicel can result in rapid engraftment and can achieve sustained hematopoiesis in patients who are at high risk for graft failure with conventional umbilical cord blood transplant. The study remains open for accrual of patients with SAA.
Advanced commercial launch readiness: Gamida Cell recently announced plans for the Gamida Cell Assist program. The transplant process can be challenging and complex for the patient, caregivers and the entire transplant care team. Gamida Cell Assist has been designed to focus on patient access and support of every individual and their caregivers at each step of the process. Once the program is launched, the Gamida Cell Assist case management team will provide a consistent, single point of contact for patients and health care professionals, and work with the transplant center to track production of omidubicel for each individual patient and provide real-time updates on the status of the therapy. The services provided will include coverage and reimbursement support, which may include financial, travel, and lodging assistance. Gamida Cell is committed to supporting a positive journey for patients and their transplant teams so they can focus on what matters most – the patient experience and successful clinical outcomes.
Expanded collaboration with Be The Match BioTherapies: In October, Gamida Cell and Be The Match Therapies expanded their existing strategic collaboration for omidubicel. In building upon the existing collaboration, Gamida Cell will work through Be The Match BioTherapies for the supply of cord blood units, which serve as the starting material for omidubicel. The expanded agreement is designed to provide a smooth process throughout the omidubicel therapy supply chain.
GDA-201, an innate NK cell immunotherapy

Presented updated Phase 1 data at the 62nd ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting: In December, Gamida Cell announced updated data from the ongoing Phase 1 study of GDA-201 in combination with monoclonal antibodies in patients with NHL and multiple myeloma at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. GDA-201 in combination with rituximab demonstrated significant clinical activity in relapsed and refractory NHL patients, with 13 complete responses and one partial response observed in the first 19 NHL patients, for an overall response rate of 74 percent. Overall survival and progression-free survival at one year in the NHL cohort suggest durable disease control, with a median follow-up of ten months (range 1–28 months), in heavily pretreated patients. Additionally, there were no dose-limiting toxicities, neurotoxic events, confirmed cytokine release syndrome, GvHD or marrow aplasia.
Continued advancing Phase 1 study of GDA-201: Gamida Cell continues to advance activities to enable the submission of an investigational new drug (IND) application for cryopreserved, off-the-shelf GDA-201 to enable a multi-center, Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with NHL in the second half of 2021. Gamida Cell is pioneering a novel approach that harnesses the power of its cell expansion technology, which uniquely improves antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and tumor targeting of NK cells.
Corporate Highlights

Strengthened financial position: In December 2020, the company executed an underwritten public offering raising approximately $75 million before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. Also, in February 2021, the company announced a $75 million financing with Highbridge Capital Management, LLC before deducting offering expenses. These capital infusions will be used to support manufacturing, regulatory and potential commercial development activities for omidubicel and to further the preclinical and clinical development of GDA-201.
Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Research and development (R&D) expenses in 2020 were $41.4 million, compared to $31.5 million in 2019. The increase was mainly due to advancing the GDA-201 clinical program and clinical activities relating to concluding our Phase 3 clinical trial, as well as additional headcount within the R&D organization.
Commercial expenses in 2020 were $8.7 million, compared to $4.7 million in 2019. The increase was attributed to an increase in omidubicel commercial readiness activities as well as additional headcount within the Commercial organization.
General and administrative expenses were $12.2 million in 2020, compared to $12.1 million in 2019. The increase was mainly due to a $1.3 million increase in professional services expenses, including Legal and Insurance, offset by decrease of $1.2 million in Travel and non-cash compensation expenses.
Finance expenses, net, was $10.4 million for 2020, compared to finance income, net, of $13.8 million for 2019. The decrease was primarily due to non-cash expenses resulting from revaluation of warrants owned by certain of the company’s shareholders and the revaluation of the Israeli Innovation Authority royalty-bearing grant liability.
Net loss for 2020 was $72.7 million, compared to a net loss of $34.4 million in 2019.
As of December 31, 2020, Gamida Cell had total cash and cash equivalents of $127.2 million, compared to $55.4 million as of December 31, 2019. In addition, on February 16, 2020, Gamida Cell announced the sale of $75 million exchangeable senior notes due in 2026 to Highbridge Capital Management, LLC.
2020 Financial Guidance

Gamida Cell expects cash used for ongoing operating activities in 2021 to range from $100 million to $120 million.

Gamida Cell expects that its current cash and cash equivalents will support the company’s ongoing operating activities into the second half of 2022. This cash runway guidance is based on the company’s current operational plans and excludes any additional funding and any business development activities that may be undertaken.

Expected 2021 Milestones

Gamida Cell plans to achieve the following milestones during 2021:

Omidubicel

BLA submission to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2021
Commercial readiness activities underway for potential launch at approval
GDA-201

Submit company-sponsored IND application to the FDA and initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical study in NHL in the second half of 2021
Conference Call Information

Gamida Cell will host a conference call today, March 9, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss these financial results and company updates. A live webcast of the conference call can be accessed in the "Investors & Media" section of Gamida Cell’s website at www.gamida-cell.com. To participate in the live call, please dial 866-930-5560 (domestic) or 409-216-0605 (international) and refer to conference ID number 1996281. A recording of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the event, for approximately 30 days.

About Omidubicel

Omidubicel is an advanced cell therapy under development as a potential life-saving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (bone marrow) transplant solution for patients with hematologic malignancies (blood cancers). In both Phase 1/2 and Phase 3 clinical studies (NCT01816230, NCT02730299), omidubicel demonstrated rapid and durable time to engraftment and was generally well tolerated.1,2 Omidubicel is also being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with severe aplastic anemia (NCT03173937). The aplastic anemia investigational new drug application is currently filed with the FDA under the brand name CordIn, which is the same investigational development candidate as omidubicel. For more information on clinical trials of omidubicel, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Omidubicel is an investigational therapy, and its safety and efficacy have not been established by the FDA or any other health authority.

About GDA-201

Gamida Cell applied the capabilities of its NAM-based cell expansion technology to develop GDA-201, an innate NK cell immunotherapy for the treatment of hematologic and solid tumors in combination with standard of care antibody therapies. GDA-201 addresses key limitations of NK cells by increasing the cytotoxicity and in vivo retention and proliferation in the bone marrow and lymphoid organs of NK cells expanded in culture. GDA-201 is in Phase 1 development through an investigator-sponsored study in patients with refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.3 For more information on the clinical study of GDA-201, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

GDA-201 is an investigational therapy, and its safety and efficacy have not been established by the FDA or any other health authority.

Five Prime Cancels Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Financial Results Conference Call

On March 9, 2021 Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FPRX) reported that it has canceled its fourth quarter and full year 2020 earnings conference call, which was previously scheduled for Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET (Press release, Five Prime Therapeutics, MAR 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234576310]).

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The cancellation is the result of the company’s announcement on March 4, 2021 that it has entered into an agreement under which Amgen Inc. will acquire Five Prime Therapeutics. Five Prime will issue its fourth quarter and full-year 2020 financial results in its Form 10-K that it will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sensei Biotherapeutics to Present at Oppenheimer 31st Annual Virtual Healthcare Conference

On March 9, 2021 Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on the discovery and development of next generation therapeutics for cancer, reported that John Celebi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sensei Biotherapeutics, will present at the Oppenheimer 31st Annual Virtual Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 16th, 2021 at 9:20 a.m. ET (Press release, Sensei Biotherapeutics, MAR 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234576326]).

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A live webcast of the presentation may be accessed by visiting the Events & Presentations section of Sensei’s website at View Source An archived replay of the webcast will be available on the website for 90 days following the presentation.