On August 7, 2019 G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTHX), a clinical-stage oncology company, reported a corporate and financial update for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 (Press release, G1 Therapeutics, AUG 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234538364]).

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"Our most advanced investigational therapy, trilaciclib, has demonstrated significant benefits for people being treated with chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. We are pleased that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation based on myelopreservation data in small cell lung cancer, an important step toward making trilaciclib available to these patients. We look forward to working with the FDA during our pre-NDA meeting next month. We have also initiated parallel discussions with the FDA regarding promising data in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, which showed improved overall survival," said Mark Velleca, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, we continue to make rapid progress across our pipeline, with emerging data suggesting that all three investigational therapies – trilaciclib, lerociclib and G1T48 – have the potential to improve outcomes for women with breast cancer and be used in early stages of their disease."

Raj Malik, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, R&D, added, "We will present new data on trilaciclib, lerociclib and G1T48 at the upcoming ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) congress. Of note, we will report the first clinical data from approximately 25 patients in a Phase 1 trial of G1T48, our oral selective estrogen receptor degrader. Based on data from this trial, we are planning to initiate a pivotal trial in 2020 with G1T48 for the treatment of ER+, HER2- breast cancer in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor."

Clinical, Regulatory and Corporate Updates

Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) granted for trilaciclib based on myelopreservation data in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients; U.S. and European regulatory filings on track for 2020: The company has received BTD from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on positive myelopreservation data in small cell lung cancer patients from three randomized Phase 2 clinical trials. The BTD program is designed to expedite development and review of drugs intended for serious or life-threatening conditions. The company expects to submit marketing applications in the U.S. and Europe in 2020.

Preliminary overall survival (OS) results from randomized Phase 2 trial demonstrated women with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) lived significantly longer when receiving trilaciclib and chemotherapy compared with women receiving chemotherapy alone: Myelopreservation results, objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and safety data from this trial were presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) (press release here). In June 2019, the company reported updated anti-tumor efficacy results that showed women receiving trilaciclib and a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine/carboplatin had a statistically significant improvement in OS compared with those receiving gemcitabine/carboplatin alone (press release here). Detailed data from this trial will be presented at a medical meeting later this year.

Data on all three clinical-stage programs accepted for presentation at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2019 Congress: New clinical data on trilaciclib, lerociclib and G1T48 have been accepted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2019 Congress, being held Sept. 27-Oct. 1. Presentations include the first clinical data on G1T48, an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), myelopreservation and efficacy data from the Phase 2 trilaciclib + chemotherapy + Tecentriq (atezolizumab) small cell lung cancer trial, and safety and tolerability data from the Phase 1b/2a lerociclib + Tagrisso (osimertinib) non-small cell lung cancer trial. The company will host a webcast on Sunday, Sept. 29 to review the data and provide an overview of development and commercial plans across the pipeline.

Additional data on trilaciclib reported at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and MASCC/ISOO annual meetings: The company reported additional data from trilaciclib SCLC clinical trials at both the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)/International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO) 2019 annual meetings. Pooled myelopreservation and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) data from all three trilaciclib SCLC trials presented at MASCC 2019 showed significant multilineage benefits across neutrophils, red blood cells and platelets, and significantly improved symptoms and function across multiple parameters over time compared to placebo.

Executive team update: In July, the company announced the appointment of Mark Avagliano as Chief Business Officer. Prior to joining G1, Mr. Avagliano was Vice President, Corporate Development at Pfizer Inc., where he was responsible for the evaluation, planning and execution of significant corporate level transactions and oversaw the Mergers and Acquisitions, Transactions and Valuations, and Out-licensing groups (press release here).

Board of Directors update: In June, current board member Garry Nicholson was named board chair, succeeding former chair Seth Rudnick, M.D. Additionally, Dr. Rudnick, Sir Andrew Witty and Fredric Eshelman, Pharm.D. were re-elected to the company’s Board of Directors.

Second Quarter 2019 Financial Highlights

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $324.9 million as of June 30, 2019, compared to $369.3 million as of December 31, 2018.

Operating Expenses: Operating expenses were $32.6 million for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $21.7 million for the second quarter of 2018. GAAP operating expenses include stock-based compensation expense of $3.7 million for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $2.1 million for the second quarter of 2018.

Research and Development Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $23.5 million, compared to $18.4 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase in R&D expense was primarily due to an increase in clinical program costs and personnel costs due to additional headcount.

General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $9.1 million, compared to $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase in G&A expense was largely due to an increase in compensation due to additional headcount, increase in pre-commercialization activities, and an increase in professional fees and other administrative costs necessary to support our operations as a public company.

Net Loss: G1 reported a net loss of $30.7 million for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $20.9 million for the second quarter of 2018.

2019 Guidance: the company expects to end the year with $260-$270 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Anticipated Milestones for 2H 2019

Present new clinical results for trilaciclib, lerociclib and G1T48 at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2019 Congress, being held Sept. 27-Oct. 1. The company will host an onsite event/webcast on Sunday, Sept. 29 to review the data.

Complete meetings with the FDA and provide regulatory update for trilaciclib, including NDA filing timeline.

Present preliminary OS findings from trilaciclib mTNBC trial at a medical meeting in 2H19

Present additional data from the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of lerociclib + Faslodex (fulvestrant) in ER+, HER2- breast cancer in 4Q19.

In 4Q19, identify dose and schedule of lerociclib and G1T48 for pivotal trials in breast cancer in 2020.

Webcast and Conference Call

The management team will host a webcast and conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today to provide a corporate and financial update for the second quarter 2019 ended June 30, 2019. The live call may be accessed by dialing 866-763-6020 (domestic) or 210-874-7713 (international) and entering the conference code: 7989125. A live and archived webcast will be available on the Events & Presentations page of the company’s website: www.g1therapeutics.com. The webcast will be archived on the same page for 90 days following the event.