On November 7, 2022 FibroGen, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGEN) reported financial results for the third quarter 2022 and provided an update on the company’s recent developments (Press release, FibroGen, NOV 7, 2022, View Source [SID1234623240]).
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"I am very pleased with our progress across our clinical development programs with 3 pivotal trials expected to read out for pamrevlumab in 2023 and two more in 2024. Notably, our Phase 3 trials of roxadustat in the U.S. and Europe for anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes, and chemotherapy-induced anemia in China add two more pivotal readouts next year," said Enrique Conterno, Chief Executive Officer, FibroGen. "The strategic financing transaction with NovaQuest provides additional non-dilutive capital which strengthens our balance sheet to support the development and commercialization of pamrevlumab while continuing to advance and expand our pipeline."
Recent Developments:
Announced non-dilutive royalty monetization transaction with NovaQuest Capital Management secured by 22.5% of roxadustat royalty revenue in the territories licensed to Astellas Pharma Inc., providing $50 million to support our strategic priorities.
Completed enrollment of the MATTERHORN Phase 3 study of roxadustat in patients with anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
Roxadustat continues to gain approvals in additional countries around the world. It is now approved in China, Europe, Japan, and numerous other territories for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis and not on dialysis.
China Performance:
FibroGen’s net product revenue under U.S. GAAP from the sale of roxadustat in China was $17.4 million compared to $13.4 million in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 29%.
Third quarter total roxadustat net sales in China1 by FibroGen and the distribution entity (JDE) jointly owned by FibroGen, and AstraZeneca was $59.0 million, compared to $57.8 million in the third quarter of 2021.
Roxadustat continues to be the number one brand based on value share in the anemia of CKD market in China.
Upcoming Milestones:
Pamrevlumab
Topline data from the LELANTOS-1 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in non-ambulatory DMD patients expected 1H 2023.
Topline data from the ZEPHYRUS-1 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in IPF expected mid-2023.
Topline data from the LELANTOS-2 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in ambulatory DMD patients expected 2H 2023.
Topline data from the LAPIS Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in LAPC expected 1H 2024.
Topline data from the ZEPHYRUS-2 Phase 3 study of pamrevlumab in IPF expected mid-2024.
Roxadustat
Topline data from the MATTERHORN Phase 3 study of roxadustat in anemia of MDS expected 1H 2023.
Topline data from the China Phase 3 study of roxadustat for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) expected mid-2023.
Financial:
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2022 was $15.7 million, as compared to $156.0 million for the third quarter of 2021, which included $120 million of milestone payments from Astellas related to the EU approval of roxadustat.
Net loss for the third quarter of 2022 was $91.7 million, or $0.98 net loss per basic and diluted share, compared to a net income of $49.8 million, or $0.54 net income per basic and diluted share one year ago.
At September 30, 2022, FibroGen had $441.6 million in cash – defined as cash, cash equivalents, investments, and accounts receivable.
Today we announced a non-dilutive royalty monetization transaction with NovaQuest Capital Management, providing $50 million to support our strategic priorities.
After this transaction and based on our latest forecast, we anticipate our 2022 ending cash balance to be $380-$410 million.
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1 Total roxadustat net sales in China includes sales made by the distribution entity as well as FibroGen China’s direct sales, each to its own distributors. The distribution entity jointly owned by AstraZeneca and FibroGen is not consolidated into FibroGen’s financial statements.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
FibroGen will host a conference call and webcast today, Monday, November 7, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) to discuss financial results and provide a business update. A live audio webcast of the call may be accessed in the investor section of the Company’s website, www.fibrogen.com. To access the call by phone, please go to this link (registration link), and you will be provided with dial-in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay of the webcast will also be available for a limited time at the following link (webcast replay).
About Pamrevlumab
Pamrevlumab is a potential first-in-class antibody being developed by FibroGen to inhibit the activity of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a common factor in fibrotic and proliferative disorders characterized by persistent and excessive scarring that can lead to organ dysfunction and failure. Pamrevlumab is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and in Phase 2/3 for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), and Fast Track designation to pamrevlumab for the treatment of patients with IPF, DMD, and LAPC. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to pamrevlumab for the treatment of patients with DMD. Pamrevlumab has demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile that has supported ongoing clinical investigation in IPF, DMD, and LAPC. Pamrevlumab is an investigational drug and not approved for marketing by any regulatory authority. For information about pamrevlumab studies currently recruiting patients, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Roxadustat
Roxadustat, an oral medication, is the first in a new class of medicines comprising HIF-PH inhibitors that promote erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production, through increased endogenous production of erythropoietin, improved iron absorption and mobilization, and downregulation of hepcidin. Roxadustat is in clinical development for anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA).
Roxadustat is approved in China, Europe, Japan, and numerous other countries for the treatment of anemia of CKD in adult patients on dialysis (DD) and not on dialysis (NDD). Several other licensing applications for roxadustat have been submitted by partners, Astellas and AstraZeneca to regulatory authorities across the globe, and are currently under review.
Astellas and FibroGen are collaborating on the development and commercialization of roxadustat for the potential treatment of anemia in territories including Japan, Europe, Turkey, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, and South Africa. FibroGen and AstraZeneca are collaborating on the development and commercialization of roxadustat for the potential treatment of anemia in the U.S., China, and other markets not licensed to Astellas.