On May 4, 2023 Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDX) reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Celldex Therapeutics, MAY 4, 2023, View Source [SID1234631021]).

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!

"This quarter, we were excited to report additional positive data from our barzolvolimab Phase 1b multi-dose study in chronic spontaneous urticaria. We believe the rapid, durable and profound responses and the favorable safety profile observed in this study continue to position barzolvolimab as a potential best-in-class addition to a historically limited treatment landscape for patients and their physicians," said Anthony Marucci, Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Celldex Therapeutics. "We look forward to presenting additional data from this study and also from the cholinergic cohort in the Phase 1b CIndU study at EAACI next month, where both data sets have been accepted for oral presentations."

"Importantly, our Phase 2 studies in chronic urticaria continue to progress as planned and we are on track to complete enrollment of the Phase 2 CSU study by the end of the third quarter, with topline data expected late this year or in the first quarter of 2024. We continue to expand the barzolvolimab program into indications where we believe its unique mechanism could potentially provide new therapeutic options to patients suffering from these difficult diseases and look forward to providing updates on our eosinophilic esophagitis and prurigo nodularis studies throughout the year."

Recent Program Highlights

Barzolvolimab – KIT Inhibitor Program

Barzolvolimab is a humanized monoclonal antibody developed by Celldex that binds the KIT receptor with high specificity and potently inhibits its activity. The KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is expressed in a variety of cells, including mast cells, which mediate inflammatory responses such as hypersensitivity and allergic reactions. KIT signaling controls the differentiation, tissue recruitment, survival and activity of mast cells.

In June and July 2022, Celldex announced that the first patients had been dosed in the Phase 2 clinical studies of barzolvolimab for the treatment of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) and the two most common forms of chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) – cold urticaria (ColdU) and symptomatic dermographism (SD). These randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group Phase 2 studies are evaluating the efficacy and safety profile of multiple dose regimens of barzolvolimab in patients who remain symptomatic despite antihistamine therapy, to determine the optimal dosing strategies. Based on current enrollment projections, Celldex anticipates that enrollment to the CSU study will be completed by the end of Q3 2023 and plans to report topline data either late this year or in the first quarter of 2024.

Data from the Phase 1b multiple dose study in patients with antihistamine refractory CSU were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 26, 2023 by Dr. Marcus Maurer, Professor of Dermatology and Allergy at Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin and a lead investigator on the study. Updated data from this study have been accepted for oral presentation at the EAACI Hybrid Congress 2023, to be held in Hamburg, Germany, June 9 – 11 and on the EAACI Digital Events Platform.

AAAAI 2023 Data Summary:

As of the data cut-off date on November 29, 2022, enrollment was complete with 45 patients with moderate to severe CSU refractory to antihistamines enrolled and treated [35 barzolvolimab (n=9 in 0.5 mg/kg; n=8 in 1.5 mg/kg; n=9 in 3.0 mg/kg; n=9 in 4.5 mg/kg) and 10 placebo]. The 0.5 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg and 3.0 mg/kg cohorts had completed study participation through 24 weeks; 6 of 9 patients in the 4.5 mg/kg cohort had completed through the week 20 visit. Complete data were included for all patients in dose levels through 3.0 mg/kg through 24 weeks. All available data for the 4.5 mg/kg and placebo dose levels were presented for adverse events. Activity data for the 4.5 mg/kg dose level were reported through week 20. Activity data for the 0.5 mg/kg and placebo group were only included through week 12 because, as expected, most patients from these groups had significant symptoms ahead of week 24 and discontinued follow up. Two patients did not receive all doses of study treatment [4.5 mg/kg (1), placebo (1)].

Barzolvolimab resulted in rapid, marked and durable responses in patients with moderate to severe CSU refractory to antihistamines, including patients with prior omalizumab treatment. The 1.5 mg/kg, 3.0 mg/kg and 4.5 mg/kg dose groups showed similar markedly improved urticaria symptoms and disease control with sustained durability up to 24 weeks.

Mean reduction from baseline in urticaria activity (UAS7) at week 12 of 67% in the 1.5 mg/kg dose group (n=8), 67% in the 3.0 mg/kg dose group (n=9) and 82% in the 4.5 mg/kg dose group (n=9). Complete response (UAS7=0) at week 12 of 57% in the 1.5 mg/kg dose group, 44% in the 3.0 mg/kg dose group and 67% in the 4.5 mg/kg dose group.

Well-controlled disease (UCT≥ 12) at week 12 of 75% in the 1.5 mg/kg dose group, 63% in the 3.0 mg/kg dose group and 89% in the 4.5 mg/kg dose group.

Patients with prior omalizumab therapy had similar symptom improvement as all patients.

Barzolvolimab was well tolerated with a favorable safety profile; effects of multiple dose administration were consistent with observations in single dose studies. Most AEs were mild or moderate in severity and resolved while on study.

Celldex has completed enrollment in the barzolvolimab Phase 1b open label study in chronic inducible urticaria. Data from the cholinergic cohort in this study have been accepted for oral presentation at the EAACI Hybrid Congress 2023, to be held in Hamburg, Germany, June 9 – 11 and on the EAACI Digital Events Platform.

Celldex has closed enrollment at 24 patients in the barzolvolimab Phase 1b multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients with prurigo nodularis (PN), a chronic skin disease characterized by the development of hard, intensely itchy (pruritic) nodules on the skin. The study remains blinded. Celldex plans to present data from the ongoing study, including 24 weeks of follow-up, in the fourth quarter at a medical meeting and is planning for the initiation of a Phase 2 subcutaneous study in PN in late 2023 or early 2024.

Celldex plans to initiate a Phase 2 international trial of barzolvolimab in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), the most common type of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease, in June of 2023.
Bispecific Antibody Platform

CDX-585 – Bispecific ILT4 & PD-1

CDX-585 combines highly active PD-1 blockade with anti-ILT4 blockade to overcome immunosuppressive signals in T cells and myeloid cells. ILT4 is emerging as an important immune checkpoint on myeloid cells.

CDX-585 has successfully completed GMP manufacturing and IND-enabling studies to support clinical development. CDX-585 will initially be developed for the treatment of solid tumors either as monotherapy or in combination with other oncologic treatments and is expected to enter the clinic in mid-2023 in patients with advanced malignancies.
First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights and 2023 Guidance

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of March 31, 2023 were $278.4 compared to $305.0 million as of December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily driven by cash used in operating activities of $28.6 million, partially offset by proceeds from stock issuances under employee benefit plans and unrealized gains due to higher interest rates. At March 31, 2023, Celldex had 47.2 million shares outstanding.

Revenues: Total revenue was $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $0.2 million for the comparable period in 2022. The increase in revenue was primarily due to an increase in services performed under our manufacturing and research and development agreement with Rockefeller University.

R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $26.8 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $17.1 million for the comparable period in 2022. The increase in R&D expenses was primarily due to an increase in barzolvolimab clinical trial, barzolvolimab contract manufacturing, and personnel expenses.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $6.6 million in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $6.9 million for the comparable period in 2022. The decrease in G&A expenses was primarily due to a decrease in legal expenses, partially offset by an increase in stock-based compensation expense.

Changes in Fair Value Remeasurement of Contingent Consideration: The Company recorded a $0.5 million gain on fair value remeasurement of contingent consideration for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to changes in discount rates.

Net Loss: Net loss was $29.4 million, or ($0.62) per share, for the first quarter of 2023, compared to a net loss of $23.1 million, or ($0.49) per share, for the comparable period in 2022.

Financial Guidance: Celldex believes that the cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at March 31, 2023 are sufficient to meet estimated working capital requirements and fund planned operations through 2025, which include our ongoing Phase 1b studies in urticaria and prurigo nodularis and our ongoing and planned Phase 2 studies in CSU, CIndU and EoE.