On February 27, 2019 Tocagen Inc. (Nasdaq: TOCA), a clinical-stage, cancer-selective gene therapy company, reported financial results and business highlights for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018 (Press release, Tocagen, FEB 27, 2019, View Source [SID1234533808]).
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"We had a very strong close to the year, accomplishing all of our 2018 business goals. In particular, NRG Oncology’s selection of Toca 511 & Toca FC for a Phase 2/3 trial in newly diagnosed glioblastoma was a major accomplishment for our team and we look forward to initiating this trial in late 2019. Expansion of our late-stage cancer-selective gene therapy program regimen into the front-line indication could pave the way to having a greater impact on more patients in the years ahead," said Marty Duvall, chief executive officer of Tocagen. "Furthermore, having ended the year with approximately $96 million in cash, we have a favorable financial position as we look towards the results in 2019 from our Phase 3 Toca 5 trial in recurrent high grade glioma and build for success going into 2020."
Fourth Quarter 2018 Highlights
NRG Oncology, a member of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trial Network, announced in November 2018 plans to conduct and sponsor a clinical trial to evaluate Toca 511 & Toca FC for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM). The proposed NRG-BN006 Phase 2/3 trial will be the first clinical trial of the Toca 511 & Toca FC regimen in the newly diagnosed GBM setting, and is expected to commence in late 2019. NRG Oncology conducts practice-defining, multi-institutional trials funded primarily by the NCI.
Under Tocagen’s PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) designation for Toca 511 & Toca FC, the European Medicines Agency indicated that the statistical analyses, seamless design and use of overall survival as the primary endpoint in the ongoing Phase 3 Toca 5 clinical trial are appropriate for a potential marketing authorization applications for Toca 511 & Toca FC in Europe.
Tocagen presented clinical and preclinical data at congresses hosted by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) and Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO). We identified immunologic biomarkers in our clinical trials that may help predict patient outcomes following treatment with Toca 511 & Toca FC, and preclinical studies demonstrated the additive benefits of combining Toca 511 & Toca FC with chemotherapy.
In December 2018, Tocagen raised $30.0 million of gross proceeds in an underwritten public offering of its common stock.
2019 Milestones
Toca 5 second interim analysis expected in the second quarter of 2019
Toca 5 final analysis planned for the fourth quarter of 2019
Prepare to initiate a rolling biologics license application (BLA) for Toca 511 & Toca FC in recurrent high grade glioma
Build U.S. commercial team for potential launch of Toca 511 & Toca FC
NRG Oncology to initiate NRG-BN006 clinical trial evaluating Toca 511 & Toca FC in newly diagnosed GBM in late 2019
Report updated Toca 6 safety and immune activity data in advanced solid tumors
Fourth Quarter 2018 Financial Results
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $15.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to $8.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The R&D expenses in both periods were primarily driven by costs to support the Toca 5 trial and to support the manufacturing of drug product. The increase in 2018 reflects primarily higher manufacturing spend as compared to the same period in 2017.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $3.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to $2.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The increase in G&A expenses was primarily due to higher costs to support increased operations activity.
Net Loss: Net loss was $19.6 million, or $0.96 per common share (basic and diluted), for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, compared to a net loss of $10.8 million, or $0.55 per common share (basic and diluted), for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The 2018 calculation is based on 20.5 million average common shares outstanding for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to 19.8 million average common shares outstanding for the fourth quarter of 2017.
2018 Twelve-Month Results
License Revenue: License revenue was $18.0 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018, compared to less than $0.1 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2017. The 2018 revenue was associated with a $16.0 million upfront payment and a $2.0 million development milestone earned upon completion of enrollment in the Toca 5 clinical study, both recognized under Tocagen’s license agreement with ApolloBio.
R&D Expenses: R&D expenses were $51.1 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018, compared to $29.1 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2017. The increase in R&D expenses primarily reflects increased costs in manufacturing and our Toca 5 clinical trial.
G&A Expenses: G&A expenses were $12.8 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018, compared to $8.6 million for the 12 months ended December 31, 2017, with the increase primarily driven by higher personnel costs and costs to support increased operations activity.
Net Loss: Net loss was $49.0 million, or $2.44 per common share (basic and diluted), for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018, compared to a net loss of $38.9 million, or $2.66 per common share (basic and diluted), for the 12 months ended December 31, 2017. The 2018 calculation is based on 20.1 million average common shares outstanding for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018, compared to 14.6 million average common shares outstanding for the prior year.
Cash Position and Guidance
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $96.1 million at December 31, 2018 compared to $88.7 million at December 31, 2017. Total gross cash burn to support operations was $51.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Based on current operating plans, Tocagen estimates the total cash used in 2019 to fund operations and capital expenditures will be approximately $65 million.
About Toca 511 & Toca FC
Tocagen’s lead product candidate is a two-part cancer-selective immunotherapy comprising an investigational biologic, Toca 511 (vocimagene amiretrorepvec), and an investigational small molecule, Toca FC (flucytosine, extended-release). Toca 511 is a retroviral replicating vector (RRV) that selectively infects cancer cells and delivers a gene for the enzyme, cytosine deaminase (CD). Through this targeted delivery, infected cancer cells carry the CD gene and produce CD. Toca FC is an orally administered prodrug, 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), which is converted into an anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), when it encounters CD. 5-FU kills cancer cells and immune-suppressive myeloid cells resulting in anti-cancer immune activation and subsequent tumor killing.