On November 5, 2020 Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: KZR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for immune-mediated and oncologic disorders, reported its third-quarter 2020 financial results and corporate highlights (Press release, Kezar Life Sciences, NOV 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234570063]).

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"The third quarter of 2020 saw continued momentum for Kezar, punctuated by the U.S. FDA granting Orphan Drug Designations for our lead candidate KZR-616 for the treatment of polymyositis and dermatomyositis," said John Fowler, Kezar’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, our presentations at a number of medical and scientific meetings this fall highlight the compelling therapeutic potential of our two highly novel programs in immunoproteasome inhibition and the protein secretion pathway. With each step forward, our conviction deepens that Kezar’s novel small molecule approaches in autoimmunity and oncology could have profound impacts on a wide array of diseases with high unmet need."

Clinical Highlights & Updates

KZR-616: Selective Immunoproteasome Inhibitor

KZR-616 is currently being evaluated for the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases.

In October 2020, Orphan Drug Designations (ODD) were granted for KZR-616 in both dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Both orphan diseases are autoimmune inflammatory myopathies that are chronic and debilitating diseases characterized by marked morbidity and mortality. The estimated prevalence of DM and PM in the United States is up to 71,000 and 51,000, respectively. Orphan Drug Designation can provide certain benefits for the development of KZR-616, including a period of marketing exclusivity for the first marketing application, if approved for the designated indication, certain tax credits and waiver of certain administrative fees.
The MISSION Phase 2 trial in patients with active, proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) opened for enrollment under a new protocol in August 2020. The primary efficacy endpoint for the trial is the number of patients achieving a renal response measured by a 50% or greater reduction in urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) at six months.
Interim data are expected in late 2021, and topline data are expected in the first half of 2022. To allow for responding patients to continue treatment with KZR-616, a 12-month extension study will also be made available.
Updated results from the MISSION Phase 1b portion were presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting (ACR Convergence 2020) in November 2020. These results indicate that KZR-616 60mg administrated subcutaneously weekly is well-positioned for development as a long-term treatment option in autoimmune disease.
The PRESIDIO Phase 2 trial of KZR-616 in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) continues to enroll. A 12-month open-label extension study has been initiated for patients completing the placebo-controlled trial.
Topline data are expected in the first half of 2022.
Pre-clinical results of KZR-616 in a murine model of polymyositis were presented during ACR Convergence 2020. The results provide a rationale for targeting selective immunoproteasome inhibition for the treatment of polymyositis.
KZR-261: Protein Secretion Program

KZR-261, a first-in-class protein secretion inhibitor, targets the Sec61 translocon and has demonstrated broad anti-tumor activity in preclinical models of both solid and hematologic malignancies. Additional preclinical data further detailing the ability of novel small molecule Sec61 inhibitors to target multiple checkpoint proteins on various cell populations, thereby offering the potential of combination therapy in a single compound, are being presented during the 8th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society (Cytokines 2020) and the Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) in November 2020.
An Investigational New Drug (IND) application for KZR-261 is on-track for a planned submission in the first quarter of 2021. The Phase 1 clinical trial will evaluate dose escalation and safety and tolerability in patients with solid tumors to begin shortly after IND acceptance.
Third-Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $150.0 million as of September 30, 2020, compared to $78.2 million as of December 31, 2019. The increase in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities was primarily attributable to the net proceeds from Kezar’s underwritten public offerings in February and June 2020, net of cash used by the Company in operations to advance its clinical stage programs and preclinical research and development.
Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2020 increased by $1.2 million to $8.3 million, compared to $7.1 million in the third quarter of 2019. This increase was primarily related to advancing both the KZR-616 clinical program in multiple indications and the protein secretion preclinical program.
General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2020 increased by $0.7 million to $3.3 million, compared to $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in personnel expenses, including non-cash stock-based compensation, legal and professional fees.
Net loss for the third quarter of 2020 was $11.3 million, or $0.23 per basic and diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $9.1 million, or $0.48 per basic and diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2019.
Total shares of common stock outstanding were 46.3 million as of September 30, 2020. Additionally, there were outstanding pre-funded warrants to purchase 3.8 million shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share and outstanding options to purchase 4.5 million shares of common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $6.12 per share as of September 30, 2020.
About KZR-616

KZR-616 is a novel, first-in-class, selective immunoproteasome inhibitor with broad therapeutic potential across multiple autoimmune diseases. Preclinical research demonstrates that selective immunoproteasome inhibition results in a broad anti-inflammatory response in animal models of several autoimmune diseases, while avoiding immunosuppression. Data generated from Phase 1a and 1b clinical trials provide evidence that KZR-616 exhibits a favorable safety and tolerability profile for development in severe, chronic autoimmune diseases. Phase 2 trials are underway in severe autoimmune diseases.

About KZR-261

KZR-261, a novel, first-in-class protein secretion inhibitor, is the first clinical candidate to be nominated from Kezar’s research and discovery efforts targeting protein secretion pathways. KZR-261 is a broad-spectrum anti-tumor agent that acts through direct interaction and inhibition of Sec61 activity. The compound was discovered by Kezar through a robust medicinal chemistry campaign in which several scaffolds were progressed through the company’s proprietary platform evaluating Sec61 modulation. As a result, Kezar has established a broad library of protein secretion inhibitors. KZR-261 has demonstrated several encouraging properties that lead to its potential to be an anti-cancer agent for the treatment of solid and hematologic malignancies. IND-enabling activities are currently underway, and an IND submission in solid tumors is expected to be filed in the first quarter of 2021.