On November 11, 2021 Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONTX), ("Onconova"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer, reported financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2021, and provided a business update (Press release, Onconova, NOV 11, 2021, View Source [SID1234595435]).
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Highlights for the third quarter of 2021 and subsequent weeks include:
The Phase 1 solid tumor studies of narazaciclib (formerly ON 123300) in the United States and China are ongoing with no dose-limiting toxicities observed to-date. The trials are currently enrolling in their second and fourth dose cohorts, respectively.
The investigator-initiated Phase 1/2a trial evaluating rigosertib in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in KRAS mutated (KRAS+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to enroll patients in its dose-expansion cohort. Preliminary data showed that the doublet was well-tolerated and an encouraging signal of efficacy in an extensively pre-treated patient population with 2 partial responses out of 7 evaluable patients, with another patient showing stable disease, which gives objective response and disease control rates of 29% and 43%, respectively.
The investigator-initiated Phase 2 trial evaluating rigosertib monotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma associated with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB-associated SCC) continues to progress. Promising evidence of rigosertib’s clinical activity targeting the complication of squamous cell carcinoma in this indication has been observed and the Company plans to provide additional data from the trial at an upcoming medical meeting.
The Company strengthened its balance sheet with gross proceeds of $21 million through an underwritten public offering.
Management Commentary
"Our progress during the third quarter has us on track to achieve milestones across our pipeline," said Steven M. Fruchtman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Onconova. "In our lead narazaciclib program, the advancement of our complementary Phase 1 studies has us on track to identify a recommended Phase 2 dose in the first half of 2022 and then initiate a Phase 2 safety and efficacy study in the second half. This Phase 2 study will focus on multiple oncology indications with high unmet need, including CDK 4/6 inhibitor refractory HR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Preclinical studies have shown that narazaciclib may be able overcome resistance to approved CDK 4/6 inhibitors, and therefore may have an improved on-target toxicity profile. We believe this positions narazaciclib as a potentially important therapeutic in a multi-billion-dollar drug class. We look forward to evaluating this hypothesis through narazaciclib’s continued clinical development."
Dr. Fruchtman continued, "Outside our narazaciclib program, we recently reported very encouraging data from the Phase 1/2a investigator-initiated study (IIS) of oral rigosertib plus the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in advanced KRAS+ NSCLC. These data showed partial responses across multiple KRAS variants in patients who previously failed the standard of care including PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors. This suggests rigosertib may augment the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and could differentiate it from competing RAS pathway modulators that target a particular KRAS mutation. Looking ahead, we expect to provide an additional data update from this study in 2022 and begin an additional IIS evaluating rigosertib in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy in malignant melanoma in the first half of next year. Through the progression of these and our other IIS in RDEB-associated SCC, we aim to generate value and address the needs of patients through rigosertib’s development, while maintaining our primary focus on our lead narazaciclib program."
Third Quarter Financial Results
Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2021, were $59.4 million, compared with $19.0 million as of December 31, 2020. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund ongoing clinical trials and business operations for more than two years.
Research and development expenses were $1.8 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with $4.2 million for the third quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily related to higher costs related to the INSPIRE study in the 2020 period.
General and administrative expenses were $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with $2.1 million for the third quarter of 2020.
Net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was $3.5 million, or $0.22 per share on 16.0 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with a net loss for the third quarter of 2020 of $6.2 million, or $0.52 per share on 12.1 million weighted average shares outstanding.
Conference Call and Webcast
Onconova will host an investment community conference call today beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, during which management will discuss financial results for the third quarter of 2021, provide a business update, and answer questions. Interested parties can participate by dialing (855) 428-5741 (domestic callers) or (210) 229-8823 (international callers) and using conference ID 5367655.
A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investors & Media section of the Company’s website at www.onconova.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Onconova website for 90 days following the call.