Iovance Biotherapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On August 1, 2019 Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA), a late-stage biotechnology company developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) technology, reported financial results from second quarter and first six months of 2019 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Iovance Biotherapeutics, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538014]).

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"We have had a highly productive second quarter at Iovance," commented Maria Fardis, Ph.D., MBA, president and chief executive officer of Iovance Biotherapeutics. "We presented data for both melanoma and cervical programs at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), met with the FDA to define our registration path for LN-145, received Breakthrough Therapy Designation for LN-145, and broke ground for our commercial manufacturing facility. Based on FDA feedback, we expect to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) for LN-145 for advanced cervical cancer in late 2020. This time frame potentially overlaps with the expected timing of a submission in the advanced melanoma indication. In addition, we continue to expand the Iovance team and build our corporate infrastructure in anticipation of making TIL therapy broadly accessible to all patients that may benefit from this treatment approach."

Recent Achievements and Upcoming Milestones

Clinical

.Data from the C-144-01 melanoma study and from the C-145-04 cervical cancer study were presented in June 2019 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting. Data from the C-145-04 study in 27 patients demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 44 percent. At 7.4-month median follow-up, the median duration of response (DOR) had not been reached. Interim results from the C-144-01 study in 66 patients demonstrated an ORR of 38 percent. At 8.8-month median follow-up, median DOR had not been reached.
·Enrollment for Cohort 4, the pivotal cohort of the C-144-01, is on target for completion of enrollment in the first quarter of 2020.
·Study C-145-04 has been expanded to dose 75 patients to address the expected sample size in anticipation of a BLA submission in late 2020.
·The first patient has been dosed in the IOV-COM-202 study evaluating TIL monotherapy or TIL plus pembrolizumab in patients with melanoma, head and neck cancer, or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The company has amended the protocol for IOV-COM-202 to add an additional cohort to treat PD-1 naive NSCLC patients with TIL and pembrolizumab. The total number of patients expected to enroll in the study was increased to 48. This study has received regulatory approval for conduct in EU and Canada.
·To date, over 200 patients have been treated with TIL therapy at Iovance.

Regulatory

·In May 2019, LN-145 was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced cervical cancer patients who have progressed during or after chemotherapy.
·At an End of Phase 2 meeting, the FDA acknowledged that the ongoing C-145-04 study of TIL therapy LN-145 may be sufficient to support registration in the treatment of patients with advanced cervical cancer. We plan to include in the BLA, patients who have progressed following initial systemic therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease, which constitutes almost all of the more advanced patients enrolled to date. The protocol may further be amended to enroll additional patients in order to support a BLA submission.

Research

·A poster entitled "Iovance Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes (PBL): A Potential Cell Therapy Strategy for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia" was presented at the 24th Congress of European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) in June 2019. The poster described the company’s nine-day manufacturing process and preclinical results for IOV-2001, PBL for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, created from 50 mL of blood.
·In July 2019, the company entered into a clinical trial agreement with the University of Montreal Health Centre (CHUM), under which CHUM will conduct a clinical study that it has designed using PD-1 positive selected TIL. The PD-1 positive TIL to be used in the study will be manufactured by a GMP cell processing facility within the University of Montreal network using a process developed by CHUM. Iovance also has an option to negotiate an exclusive license to the technology from CHUM. Iovance is expanding its footprint in Canada with this collaboration.

Corporate

·In May 2019, the company entered into a long-term lease agreement to build an approximately 136,000 square foot commercial-scale production facility in Philadelphia for commercial and clinical production of autologous TIL products. The company and its partners began construction of the facility in June 2019.
·Friedrich Graf Finckenstein, M.D., joined the company as chief medical officer.
·Athena Countouriotis, M.D., was appointed to the company’s board of directors.
·The company currently owns seven recently granted or allowed U.S. patents for compositions and methods of treatment in a broad range of cancers relating to its Gen 2 manufacturing process, including U.S. Patent Nos. 10,166,257, 10,130,659, and 10,272,113. The company’s owned and licensed intellectual property portfolio also includes patent applications relating to TIL, marrow infiltrating lymphocyte, and PBL therapies; methods of manufacturing; the use of costimulatory molecules in TIL therapy and manufacturing; stable and transient genetically-modified TIL therapies; and methods of treating patient subpopulations.

Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019, was $47.6 million, or $0.38 per share, compared to net loss of $30.7 million, or $0.34 per share for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018.

Research and development expenses were $39.3 million for the second quarter of 2019, an increase of $14.7 million compared to $24.6 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to costs associated with the transfer of the manufacturing process to additional facilities to increase our manufacturing capacity, an increase in total patients in our clinical studies which in turn resulted in higher study costs, and an increase in research and development employees.

General and administrative expenses were $10.9 million for the second quarter of 2019, an increase of $4.1 million compared to $6.8 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily attributable to new general and administrative employees and higher stock-based compensation, legal expenses related to the intellectual property portfolio and real estate and external market research costs as we prepare for commercialization.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 Financial Results

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2019, was $84.5 million, or $0.68 per share, compared to net loss of $57.2 million, or $0.65 per share for the same period ended June 30, 2018.

Research and development expenses were $70.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, an increase of $25.7 million compared to $44.5 million for the same period ended June 30, 2018. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to costs associated with the transfer of the manufacturing process to additional facilities to increase our manufacturing capacity, higher costs for drugs used in the clinical studies, an increase in total patients in our clinical studies which in turn resulted in higher study costs, and an increase in the number of research and development employees.

General and administrative expenses were $19.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, an increase of $6.1 million compared to $13.8 million for the same period ended June 30, 2018. The increase was primarily attributable to the addition of general and administrative employees and higher stock-based compensation, legal expenses related to intellectual property, and external market research expenses.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Short-Term Investments and Restricted Cash

At June 30, 2019, the company held $409.6 million in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash as compared to $440.0 million at March 31, 2019. During the second quarter the company used $33.8 million for operating activities. The company anticipates that the year-end balance of cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash may be between $310 and $320 million.

Webcast and Conference Call

Iovance will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss financial results and provide a corporate update today at 4:30 p.m. EDT.

To participate in the conference call, please dial 1-844-646-4465 (domestic) or 1-615-247-0257 (international) and reference the access code 7574927. A live and archived webcast can be accessed in the Investors section of the company’s website at www.iovance.com.

Intellia Therapeutics Announces Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Company Update

On August 1, 2019 Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA), reported operational highlights and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 (Press release, Intellia Therapeutics, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538013]).

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"We continue to build our in vivo and engineered cell therapy pipeline in support of our mission to develop curative genome editing therapies for patients," said Intellia President and Chief Executive Officer John Leonard, M.D. "With IND-enabling toxicology studies underway for NTLA-2001, we are well-positioned to submit an IND in mid-2020 for the first systemically delivered CRISPR/Cas9-based therapy for transthyretin amyloidosis. Additionally, by the end of this year, we plan to select our first engineered cell therapy development candidate to treat acute myeloid leukemia."

Second Quarter 2019 and More Recent Operational Highlights

ATTR Program: Intellia’s first in vivo development candidate, NTLA-2001, is for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). As part of an ongoing durability study of the Company’s lead lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation in support of NTLA-2001, we have demonstrated six months of durable liver editing with sustained reduction of circulating transthyretin (TTR) protein (average reduction >95%) following a single dose in non-human primates (NHPs). The Company announced today it has conducted its pre-investigational new drug (IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has initiated IND-enabling toxicology studies and expects to submit an IND application for NTLA-2001 in mid-2020. Additionally, the Company’s supply chain operations are in place to support manufacturing of Phase 1 materials. NTLA-2001 is being co-developed with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron), with Intellia as the lead development and commercialization party.
AML Program: Intellia’s lead T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapy uses engineered T cells to target Wilms’ Tumor 1 (WT1) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). During the second quarter of 2019, the Company and its research collaborators at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele initiated functional testing of multiple lead TCRs in patient-derived xenograft models and remain on track to nominate a development candidate by the end of 2019. In parallel, Intellia has begun establishing manufacturing capabilities to support clinical evaluation.

In Vivo Insertion in NHPs: As previously disclosed, Intellia demonstrated the first CRISPR/Cas9-mediated, targeted transgene insertion in the liver of NHPs, using Factor 9 (F9) as a model gene. F9 is a gene that encodes for the Factor IX (FIX) protein, a blood-clotting protein that is missing or defective in hemophilia B patients. The study is a collaborative effort between Intellia and Regeneron, using Intellia’s LNP delivery system of CRISPR/Cas9 with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) containing a proprietary bi-directional insertion template. Following a single dose of the hybrid LNP-AAV delivery system containing an F9 DNA template, the Company demonstrated that the circulating human FIX protein levels achieved at day 14 were durable through the two months of completed observation and were within the normal human range (source: Amiral et al, Clin. Chem., 1984). Additionally, the NHP data expands on the durability of clinically relevant human FIX protein levels achieved in mice for over 12 months. Intellia is currently working closely with Regeneron on moving the program forward and is also independently evaluating the hybrid LNP-AAV delivery system for targeted insertion across several other transgenes of interest in an in vivo setting.

Expanded Management Team: In May, Intellia announced the appointment of Laura Sepp-Lorenzino, Ph.D., as executive vice president and chief scientific officer. Dr. Sepp-Lorenzino brings decades of leadership and research and development experience and leads Intellia’s drug research organization.

Upcoming Milestones

The Company has set forth the following for pipeline progression:

ATTR:
° Commence manufacturing of NTLA-2001 Phase 1 materials by the end of 2019
° Submit IND application for NTLA-2001 in mid-2020
AML:
° Nominate first engineered cell therapy development candidate by the end of 2019
Platform:
° Present additional in vivo and engineered cell therapy data at upcoming scientific conferences by the end of 2019

Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $275.8 million as of June 30, 2019, compared to $314.1 million as of December 31, 2018. The decrease was driven by cash used to fund operations of $59.8 million, which was offset in part by $7.9 million of net equity proceeds raised from the Company’s At The Market ("ATM") offerings, $7.0 million of funding received under the Novartis collaboration, $4.1 million of ATTR cost reimbursements made by Regeneron, and $2.6 million in proceeds from employee-based stock plans.
ATM Proceeds Due: The Company has $27.1 million in current assets on the balance sheet as of June 30, 2019 related to proceeds due from the ATM offerings that were received in the first week of July 2019.
Collaboration Revenue: Collaboration revenue increased by $3.4 million to $11.1 million during the second quarter of 2019, compared to $7.7 million during the second quarter of 2018. The increase in collaboration revenue in 2019 was primarily driven by amounts recognized from the expansion of the existing collaboration with Novartis, as well as by amounts recognized under the Company’s ATTR Co/Co agreement with Regeneron. As previously disclosed, Regeneron is obligated to fund approximately 50% of the development costs for the ATTR program.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses increased by $2.0 million to $25.5 million during the second quarter of 2019, compared to $23.5 million during the second quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily driven by the advancement of Intellia’s pipeline and the expansion of the research and development organization.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses increased by $5.3 million to $13.1 million during the second quarter of 2019, compared to $7.8 million during the second quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily driven by personnel-related costs to support Intellia’s larger research and development organization, and an increase in legal and intellectual property (IP) costs.
Net Loss: The Company’s net loss was $25.7 million for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $22.2 million during the second quarter of 2018.
Financial Guidance

Intellia expects that its cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and proceeds due from the ATM offerings as of June 30, 2019, as well as technology access and funding from Novartis and Regeneron, will enable Intellia to fund its anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2021. This expectation excludes any potential milestone payments or extension fees that could be earned and distributed under the collaboration agreements with Novartis and Regeneron or any strategic use of capital not currently in the Company’s base-case planning assumptions.

Conference Call to Discuss Second Quarter 2019 Earnings

The Company will discuss these results on a conference call today, August 1, 2019, at 8 a.m. ET.

To join the call:

U.S. callers should dial 866-575-6539 and use conference ID# 6223506, approximately five minutes before the call.
International callers should dial +1 856-344-9299 and use conference ID# 6223506, approximately five minutes before the call.
A replay of the call will be available through the Events and Presentations page of the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.intelliatx.com, beginning on August 1, 2019 at 12 p.m. ET.

Insmed Reports Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On August 1, 2019 Insmed Incorporated (Nasdaq:INSM), a global biopharmaceutical company on a mission to transform the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 and provided a business update (Press release, Insmed, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538012]).

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"We are very excited about the continued strength of the U.S. launch of ARIKAYCE (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension), the first and only FDA-approved treatment for patients with refractory MAC lung disease, including the breadth and depth of prescribing, addition of new patients, and positive reception from the payer community throughout the first three quarters of launch," commented Will Lewis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Insmed. "While the U.S. launch remains our greatest area of focus, we are pleased to have made significant progress on our other strategic priorities this quarter, including filing for regulatory approval of ARIKAYCE in the EU, advancing our planned regulatory filings in Japan, and completing enrollment in the Phase 2 WILLOW study of INS1007. As we move into the second half of the year as a fully operational commercial-stage company, we plan to execute against these priorities with a disciplined approach to investment."

Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results

· Total revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 was $30.0 million, comprising U.S. net sales of $29.0 million and ex-U.S. net sales of $1.0 million. The ex-U.S. net product sales include $0.9 million from the Temporary Authorization for Use (Autorisation Temporaire d’Utilisation or ATU) program in France and $0.1 million from the named patient program in Germany, both compassionate use programs.

· Cost of product revenues (excluding amortization of intangible assets) was $4.9 million for the second quarter of 2019.

·Research and development expenses were $33.5 million for the second quarter of 2019, compared with $35.7 million for the second quarter of 2018.

·Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $52.4 million, compared with $37.2 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to higher expenses related to commercial activities for ARIKAYCE, including disease awareness, patient support activities, and field operations and, to a lesser extent, an increase in headcount, including non-cash stock-based compensation.

·For the second quarter of 2019, Insmed reported a GAAP net loss of $66.5 million, or $0.81 per share, compared with a GAAP net loss of $76.4 million, or $1.00 per share, for the second quarter of 2018.

· During the second quarter of 2019, Insmed completed a public offering of 10.7 million new shares of common stock that resulted in net cash proceeds of $261.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering-related expenses.

Recent Corporate Developments & Program Highlights

Global Expansion Efforts Advance with Submission of MAA for ARIKAYCE to EMA

In July, Insmed submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for ARIKAYCE for the treatment of persistent MAC lung infection as part of a combination antibacterial drug regimen in adults. The MAA was subsequently validated by the EMA. The proposed indication reflects the same population of refractory MAC lung disease patients for which ARIKAYCE is approved in the U.S.

ARIKAYCE previously received Orphan Drug Designation in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. MAC is the predominant pathogenic species in NTM lung disease in the United States, Europe, and Japan. The Company anticipates a 12-month review cycle with a potential launch of ARIKAYCE in certain European countries as early as the second half of 2020 if the MAA is approved.

In addition, the Company remains on track to submit a new drug application for ARIKAYCE in Japan in the first half of 2020.

Additional EU Patent Granted for ARIKAYCE

In July, the European Patent Office issued an additional patent to Insmed for ARIKAYCE in MAC lung disease. The claims of the patent relate in part to pharmaceutical compositions of amikacin encapsulated in liposomes, including ARIKAYCE, for treating or providing prophylaxis against MAC lung disease, where the composition is administered via aerosolization to the lungs of a patient once daily in a single dosing session for at least three months. The patent extends exclusivity of ARIKAYCE in Europe to May 15, 2035.

ARIKAYCE Launch and Lifecycle Management

Insmed continues to advance the U.S. launch of ARIKAYCE, which was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2018 for the treatment of refractory MAC lung disease as part of a combination antibacterial drug regimen for adult patients who have limited or no alternative treatment options.

As a next step toward advancing a post-approval confirmatory clinical trial for ARIKAYCE, the Company has initiated efforts to develop an appropriate patient reported outcome (PRO) tool that will enable the assessment of therapies for the treatment of NTM lung disease. If the PRO tool is verified, Insmed plans to conduct the confirmatory study of ARIKAYCE in a frontline setting of patients with MAC lung disease as well as a separate study in patients with NTM lung disease caused by Mycobacterium abscessus.

Data from Phase 3 CONVERT Study Presented as Late-Breaker at ATS

In May, longer-term data on the sustainability and durability of culture conversion from the Phase 3 CONVERT Study of ARIKAYCE were presented in a late-breaking oral session at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. The data showed that among patients who achieved culture conversion by Month 6, 80.0% (52/65) of those receiving ARIKAYCE plus guideline-based therapy (GBT) sustained culture conversion for up to 12 months of treatment after the first dose that defined culture conversion compared to 30.0% (3/10) of patients receiving GBT alone (p=0.0014). Three months after the completion of treatment, 63.1% (41/65) of patients receiving ARIKAYCE plus GBT maintained durable culture conversion, compared to 0.0% (0/10) of patients receiving GBT alone (p=0.0002).

Enrollment Completed in WILLOW Study

Insmed has completed enrollment in the six-month Phase 2 WILLOW study of INS1007 for patients with non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis. Top-line data are expected in early 2020.

Financial Guidance and Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2019, Insmed had cash and cash equivalents of $601.3 million. The Company’s total costs and expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $92.1 million, compared with total costs and expenses for the second quarter of 2018 of $72.9 million. Cash-based operating expenses for the second quarter of 2019 were $77.4 million, compared with cash-based operating expenses for the second quarter of 2018 of $65.3 million.

The Company now expects full-year 2019 revenues for ARIKAYCE to be in the range of $110 million to $120 million.

The Company plans to continue to invest in the following key activities in 2019:

(i) support of the U.S. launch and commercialization of ARIKAYCE;

(ii) clinical trials including (a) the development and verification of a PRO for NTM lung disease as a pivotal step toward initiating a confirmatory clinical study of ARIKAYCE, (b) the six-month Phase 2 WILLOW study of INS1007 in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis, and (c) the advancement of other pipeline programs including INS1009 and our earlier-stage research pipeline;

(iii) global expansion in Europe and Japan to support pre-commercial activities in those regions and potential regulatory filings in Japan; and

(iv) buildout of an additional third-party manufacturing facility to increase long-term production capacity for ARIKAYCE and a new corporate headquarters facility.

Insmed expects cash-based operating expenses to be in the range of $140 million to $155 million for the second half of 2019. In addition, the Company expects capital expenditures, including those related to the buildout of a new corporate headquarters facility as well as payments classified within other assets for the future right-of-use asset related to the buildout of an additional third-party manufacturing facility, to be in the range of $20 million to $30 million for the second half of 2019.

Conference Call

Insmed will host a conference call beginning today at 8:30 AM Eastern Time. Shareholders and other interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 1-888-317-6003 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6061 (international) and referencing conference ID number 5579948. The call will also be webcast live on the Company’s website at www.insmed.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately one hour after its completion through August 8, 2019 by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (domestic) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) and referencing replay access code 10133256. A webcast of the call will also be archived for 90 days under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.insmed.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) results, this earnings release includes cash-based operating expenses, a non-GAAP financial measure, which Insmed defines as total costs and expenses excluding cost of product revenues, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization of intangibles. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is presented in the table attached to this press release.

Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to both management and investors in analyzing our ongoing business and operating performance. Management believes that providing this non-GAAP information to investors, in addition to the GAAP results, allows investors to view our financial results in the way that management views financial results. Management does not intend the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, this non-GAAP financial measure may differ from similarly named measures used by other companies.

About MAC Lung Disease

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease is a rare and serious disorder that can significantly increase morbidity and mortality. Patients with MAC lung disease can experience a range of symptoms that often worsen over time, including chronic cough, dyspnea, fatigue, fever, weight loss, and chest pain. In some cases, MAC lung disease can cause severe, even permanent damage to the lungs, and can be fatal.

MAC lung disease is an emerging public health concern worldwide with significant unmet needs. Current guideline-based treatment involves the use of multi-drug regimens that are not specifically approved for MAC lung disease. The course of treatment is often two years or more and is inadequate in treating the disease in many patients.

About ARIKAYCE (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension)

ARIKAYCE is the first and only FDA-approved therapy indicated for the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease as part of a combination antibacterial drug regimen for adult patients with limited or no alternative treatment options. ARIKAYCE is a novel, inhaled, once-daily formulation of amikacin, an established antibiotic that was historically administered intravenously and associated with severe toxicity to hearing, balance, and kidney function. Insmed’s proprietary PULMOVANCE liposomal technology enables the delivery of amikacin directly to the lungs, where liposomal amikacin is taken up by lung macrophages where the infection resides. This approach prolongs the release of amikacin in the lungs while limiting systemic exposure. ARIKAYCE is administered once daily using the Lamira Nebulizer System manufactured by PARI Pharma GmbH (PARI).

About PARI Pharma and the Lamira Nebulizer System

ARIKAYCE (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension) is delivered by a novel inhalation device, the Lamira Nebulizer System, developed by PARI. Lamira is a quiet, portable nebulizer that enables efficient aerosolization of liquid medications, including liposomal formulations such as ARIKAYCE, via a vibrating, perforated membrane. Based on PARI’s 100-year history working with aerosols, PARI is dedicated to advancing inhalation therapies by developing innovative delivery platforms and new pharmaceutical formulations that work together to improve patient care.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR ARIKAYCE IN THE U.S.

WARNING: RISK OF INCREASED RESPIRATORY ADVERSE REACTIONS

ARIKAYCE has been associated with an increased risk of respiratory adverse reactions, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, hemoptysis, bronchospasm, and exacerbation of underlying pulmonary disease that have led to hospitalizations in some cases.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis has been reported with the use of ARIKAYCE in the clinical trials. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (reported as allergic alveolitis, pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, allergic reaction to ARIKAYCE) was reported at a higher frequency in patients treated with ARIKAYCE plus background regimen (3.1%) compared to patients treated with a background regimen alone (0%). Most patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis discontinued treatment with ARIKAYCE and received treatment with corticosteroids. If hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs, discontinue ARIKAYCE and manage patients as medically appropriate.

Hemoptysis has been reported with the use of ARIKAYCE in the clinical trials. Hemoptysis was reported at a higher frequency in patients treated with ARIKAYCE plus background regimen (17.9%) compared to patients treated with a background regimen alone (12.5%). If hemoptysis occurs, manage patients as medically appropriate.

Bronchospasm has been reported with the use of ARIKAYCE in the clinical trials. Bronchospasm (reported as asthma, bronchial hyperreactivity, bronchospasm, dyspnea, dyspnea exertional, prolonged expiration, throat tightness, wheezing) was reported at a higher frequency in patients treated with ARIKAYCE plus background regimen (28.7%) compared to patients treated with a background regimen alone (10.7 %). If bronchospasm occurs during the use of ARIKAYCE, treat patients as medically appropriate.

Exacerbations of underlying pulmonary disease has been reported with the use of ARIKAYCE in the clinical trials. Exacerbations of underlying pulmonary disease (reported as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), infective exacerbation of COPD, infective exacerbation of bronchiectasis) have been reported at a higher frequency in patients treated with ARIKAYCE plus background regimen (14.8%) compared to patients treated with background regimen alone (9.8%). If exacerbations of underlying pulmonary disease occur during the use of ARIKAYCE, treat patients as medically appropriate.

Ototoxicity has been reported with the use of ARIKAYCE in the clinical trials. Ototoxicity (including deafness, dizziness, presyncope, tinnitus, and vertigo) were reported with a higher frequency in patients treated with ARIKAYCE plus background regimen (17%) compared to patients treated with background regimen alone (9.8%). This was primarily driven by tinnitus (7.6% in ARIKAYCE plus background regimen vs 0.9% in the background regimen alone arm) and dizziness (6.3% in ARIKAYCE plus background regimen vs 2.7% in the background regimen alone arm). Closely monitor patients with known or suspected auditory or vestibular dysfunction during treatment with ARIKAYCE. If ototoxicity occurs, manage patients as medically appropriate, including potentially discontinuing ARIKAYCE.

Nephrotoxicity was observed during the clinical trials of ARIKAYCE in patients with MAC lung disease but not at a higher frequency than background regimen alone. Nephrotoxicity has been associated with the aminoglycosides. Close monitoring of patients with known or suspected renal dysfunction may be needed when prescribing ARIKAYCE.

Neuromuscular Blockade: Patients with neuromuscular disorders were not enrolled in ARIKAYCE clinical trials. Patients with known or suspected neuromuscular disorders, such as myasthenia gravis, should be closely monitored since aminoglycosides may aggravate muscle weakness by blocking the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Aminoglycosides can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Aminoglycosides, including ARIKAYCE, may be associated with total,

irreversible, bilateral congenital deafness in pediatric patients exposed in utero. Patients who use ARIKAYCE during pregnancy, or become pregnant while taking ARIKAYCE should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

Contraindications: ARIKAYCE is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any aminoglycoside.

Most Common Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions in Trial 1 at an incidence >5% for patients using ARIKAYCE plus background regimen compared to patients treated with background regimen alone were dysphonia (47% vs 1%), cough (39% vs 17%), bronchospasm (29% vs 11%), hemoptysis (18% vs 13%), ototoxicity (17% vs 10%), upper airway irritation (17% vs 2%), musculoskeletal pain (17% vs 8%), fatigue and asthenia (16% vs 10%), exacerbation of underlying pulmonary disease (15% vs 10%), diarrhea (13% vs 5%), nausea (12% vs 4%), pneumonia (10% vs 8%), headache (10% vs 5%), pyrexia (7% vs 5%), vomiting (7% vs 4%), rash (6% vs 2%), decreased weight (6% vs 1%), change in sputum (5% vs 1%), and chest discomfort (5% vs 3%).

Drug Interactions: Avoid concomitant use of ARIKAYCE with medications associated with neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and ototoxicity. Some diuretics can enhance aminoglycoside toxicity by altering aminoglycoside concentrations in serum and tissue. Avoid concomitant use of ARIKAYCE with ethacrynic acid, furosemide, urea, or intravenous mannitol.

Overdosage: Adverse reactions specifically associated with overdose of ARIKAYCE have not been identified. Acute toxicity should be treated with immediate withdrawal of ARIKAYCE, and baseline tests of renal function should be undertaken. Hemodialysis may be helpful in removing amikacin from the body. In all cases of suspected overdosage, physicians should contact the Regional Poison Control Center for information about effective treatment.

U.S. INDICATION

LIMITED POPULATION: ARIKAYCE is indicated in adults, who have limited or no alternative treatment options, for the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease as part of a combination antibacterial drug regimen in patients who do not achieve negative sputum cultures after a minimum of 6 consecutive months of a multidrug background regimen therapy. As only limited clinical safety and effectiveness data for ARIKAYCE are currently available, reserve ARIKAYCE for use in adults who have limited or no alternative treatment options. This drug is indicated for use in a limited and specific population of patients.

This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on achieving sputum culture conversion (defined as 3 consecutive negative monthly sputum cultures) by Month 6. Clinical benefit has not yet been established. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

Limitation of Use: ARIKAYCE has only been studied in patients with refractory MAC lung disease defined as patients who did not achieve negative sputum cultures after a minimum of 6

consecutive months of a multidrug background regimen therapy. The use of ARIKAYCE is not recommended for patients with non-refractory MAC lung disease.

Patients are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You can also call the Company at 1-844-4-INSMED.

Please see Full Prescribing Information.

GlycoMimetics Reports Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Recent Operational Highlights

On August 1, 2019 GlycoMimetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLYC) reported its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 and highlighted recent business achievements news. Quarter-end cash and cash equivalents were $184.2 million.

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"In the second quarter of 2019, Pfizer completed enrollment in the pivotal Phase 3 trial of rivipansel and has recently given public guidance that it expects to report topline results in the third quarter of the year. We eagerly await those results, which will mark an important milestone for GlycoMimetics. In parallel, we continued to progress the late-stage clinical development of our uproleselan product candidate. Our Phase 3 trial in relapsed or refractory AML patients and the NCI-sponsored Phase 3 trial for newly diagnosed patients with AML both advanced during the quarter, with initiation of new sites and patient enrollment underway. During the same period, with our clinical collaborators at Duke Cancer Institute, we progressed our plans for a single center, proof-of-concept Phase 1b trial for GMI-1359, our dual antagonist of E-selectin and CXCR-4, in breast cancer patients with bone metastases," said Rachel King, GlycoMimetics’ Chief Executive Officer.

Key Second-Quarter 2019 and Recent Operational Highlights:

Pfizer completed enrollment in the Phase 3 trial of rivipansel in individuals with SCD experiencing vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC).
GlycoMimetics’ pivotal Phase 3 trial of uproleselan in relapsed/refractory AML continued to initiate and activate clinical sites and to enroll patients in the US, Australia and now in Europe.
Investigators initiated enrollment in the NCI-sponsored Phase 3 clinical trial designed to evaluate uproleselan in newly diagnosed older adults with AML who are fit for chemotherapy.
Start-up activities continued for the collaborative Haemato Oncology Foundation for Adults in the Netherlands (HOVON) European Phase 2 trial of uproleselan in newly diagnosed patients unfit for chemotherapy.
The Company announced plans to initiate a Phase 1b proof-of-concept clinical trial of GMI-1359 in individuals with breast cancer whose tumors have spread to bone. The trial will evaluate safety and biomarkers of cancer cell mobilization in individuals with hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer. The trial will be conducted at Duke University.
Data were published in Nature Cell Biology that strongly suggest E-selectin is key to tumor growth and metastasis to bone and provide further support for the planned clinical trial of GMI-1359 in individuals with metastatic breast cancer.
Eric Feldman, M.D., joined the GlycoMimetics executive team as Vice President, Clinical Development, and Christian Dinneen-Long, J.D., joined as Vice President, Corporate Counsel.
Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results:

Cash position: As of June 30, 2019, GlycoMimetics had cash and cash equivalents of $184.2 million as compared to $209.9 million as of December 31, 2018.
R&D Expenses: The Company’s research and development expenses increased to $13.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 as compared to $9.3 million for the second quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily the result of expenses relating to the Company’s Phase 3 clinical trial of uproleselan in relapsed or refractory AML patients and supporting the clinical trials of uproleselan conducted by or in collaboration with third parties.
G&A Expenses: The Company’s general and administrative expenses increased to $3.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 as compared to $2.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. The increase was due to higher patent, legal and non-cash stock-based compensation expenses.
Shares Outstanding: Shares outstanding as of June 30, 2019 were 43,193,190.
The Company will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ET. The dial-in number for the conference call is (844) 413-7154 (U.S. and Canada) or (216) 562-0466 (international) with passcode 8268638. To access the live audio webcast, or the subsequent archived recording, visit the "Investors – Events & Presentations" section of the GlycoMimetics website at www.glycomimetics.com. The webcast will be recorded and available for replay on the GlycoMimetics website for 30 days following the call.

About Rivipansel

Rivipansel, the most advanced drug candidate in the GlycoMimetics pipeline, is a glycomimetic drug candidate that acts as a pan-selectin antagonist, meaning it binds to all three members of the selectin family: E-, P- and L-selectin. The first potential indication for rivipansel is VOC, one of the most severe complications of SCD that can result in acute ischemic organ injury at one or more sites. By reducing cell adhesion, activation and inflammation that are believed to contribute to reduced blood flow through the microvasculature during VOC, GlycoMimetics believes that rivipansel could be the first drug to interrupt the underlying cause of VOC, thereby potentially enabling patients to leave the hospital more quickly. In June 2019, Pfizer Inc., the exclusive licensee of rivipansel for clinical development and worldwide commercialization, completed its Phase 3 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rivipansel in the treatment of VOC in hospitalized patients with SCD. Topline results from this clinical trial are expected in the third quarter of 2019.

About Uproleselan (GMI-1271)

Uproleselan (yoo’ pro le’ sel an), currently in a comprehensive Phase 3 development program in AML, has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult AML patients with relapsed or refractory disease. Uproleselan is designed to block E-selectin (an adhesion molecule on cells in the bone marrow) from binding with blood cancer cells as a targeted approach to disrupting well-established mechanisms of leukemic cell resistance within the bone marrow microenvironment. In a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, uproleselan was evaluated in both newly diagnosed elderly and relapsed or refractory patients with AML. In both populations, patients treated with uproleselan together with standard chemotherapy achieved better-than-expected remission rates and overall survival compared to historical controls, which have been derived from results from third-party clinical trials evaluating standard chemotherapy, as well as lower-than-expected induction-related mortality rates. Treatment in these patient populations was generally well tolerated, with fewer than expected adverse effects.

About GMI-1359

GMI-1359 is designed to simultaneously inhibit both E-selectin and CXCR4. E-selectin and CXCR4 are both adhesion molecules involved in tumor trafficking and metastatic spread. Preclinical studies indicate that targeting both E-selectin and CXCR4 with a single compound could improve efficacy in the treatment of cancers that involve the bone marrow such as AML and multiple myeloma or in solid tumors that metastasize to the bone, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer. GMI-1359 has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers. In the second half of 2019, the Company plans to initiate an exploratory clinical trial in individuals with breast cancer whose tumors have spread to bone.

Geron Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Recent Events

On August 1, 2019 Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN) reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019, and recent events (Press release, Geron, AUG 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234538010]). The Company ended the second quarter with $162.3 million in cash and marketable securities.

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During the second quarter, data from the Phase 2 portion of IMerge was reported at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) Annual Congress that further support Geron’s late-stage development plans for the imetelstat program. Geron continues to plan to open the Phase 3 portion of IMerge in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) for screening and enrollment in August 2019.

"This past quarter, data presented at EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) for the Phase 2 portion of IMerge reported higher efficacy responses from prior reported data for both 8-week and 24-week RBC-TI rates, highlighting the meaningful and durable transfusion independence potentially achievable with imetelstat treatment in heavily transfusion dependent lower risk MDS patients. Accordingly, we’re very much looking forward to the Phase 3 portion of IMerge opening for screening and enrollment later this month," said John A. Scarlett, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, a second EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) presentation reported results of statistical analyses in which the months of median overall survival were more than double for imetelstat-treated relapsed/refractory MF patients in IMbark, compared to real-world data from closely matched patients treated with best available therapy. This provides additional support for our ongoing strategic evaluation of potential late-stage development approaches and regulatory scenarios in relapsed/refractory MF as we prepare for an End of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA, which we’re planning to conduct by the end of the first quarter of 2020."

Phase 3 Portion of IMerge Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial – Initial Site Initiations Complete and Trial to Open for Patient Screening and Enrollment in August 2019

In May, Geron completed the transfer of the imetelstat investigational new drug (IND) sponsorship from Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen), and assumed complete development responsibility for imetelstat. Site initiations for the Phase 3 portion of IMerge were completed for several clinical sites in July 2019. Geron is planning for the trial to open for patient screening and enrollment later this month.

IMerge is a two-part Phase 2/3 clinical trial of imetelstat in transfusion dependent patients with lower risk MDS who are relapsed/refractory to erythroid stimulating agents (ESAs). The primary efficacy endpoint is the rate of red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) lasting at least eight weeks, or 8-week RBC-TI rate, which is defined as the proportion of patients achieving RBC-TI during any consecutive eight weeks since entry into the trial. Key secondary endpoints include the rate of RBC-TI lasting at least 24 weeks, or 24-week RBC-TI rate, durability of transfusion independence and the amount and relative change in RBC transfusions.

The Phase 3 portion of IMerge is designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to test the hypothesis that imetelstat improves the rate of RBC-TI compared to placebo.

Approximately 170 patients are planned to be enrolled and randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either imetelstat or placebo. Many key aspects from the Phase 2 portion of IMerge remain the same for the Phase 3 portion. A target patient population of non-del(5q) lower risk MDS patients who were naïve to treatment with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) and lenalidomide was identified from the Phase 2 portion and will be enrolled in the Phase 3. In addition, the primary and secondary endpoints, the dose and schedule of imetelstat administration and many of the clinical sites remain the same as in the Phase 2. The Company is planning for the trial to be conducted at multiple medical centers globally, including North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Second Quarter and Year-to-Date 2019 Results

For the second quarter of 2019, the Company reported a net loss of $14.2 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to $6.9 million, or $0.04 per share, for the comparable 2018 period. Net loss for the first six months of 2019 was $24.3 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to $14.1 million, or $0.08 per share, for the comparable 2018 period.

Revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 were $101,000 and $158,000, respectively, compared to $208,000 and $526,000 for the comparable 2018 periods. Revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 included royalty and license fee revenues under various non-imetelstat license agreements. The decline in revenues reflects a reduction in the number of active research license agreements in 2019 related to the Company’s human telomerase reverse transcriptase, or hTERT, technology as a result of patent expirations on the underlying technology.

Total operating expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 were $15.3 million and $26.7 million, respectively, compared to $7.5 million and $15.2 million for the comparable 2018 periods. Research and development expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 were $10.1 million and $16.0 million, respectively, compared to $3.2 million and $5.6 million for the comparable 2018 periods. The increase in research and development expenses, compared to the same periods in 2018, primarily reflects costs for the transition of the imetelstat program, including resuming sponsorship of the ongoing imetelstat clinical trials; expenses for start-up activities for the Phase 3 portion of IMerge; and higher personnel-related costs for the expanding development team. General and administrative expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 were $5.2 million and $10.6 million, respectively, compared to $4.2 million and $9.6 million for the comparable 2018 periods. The increase in general and administrative expenses, compared to the same periods in 2018, primarily reflects higher corporate and patent legal costs and increased personnel-related expenses for additional headcount to support the development organization.

Interest and other income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 was $1.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively, compared to $717,000 and $1.1 million for the comparable 2018 periods. The increase in interest and other income, compared to the same periods in 2018, primarily reflects higher yields on the Company’s increased marketable securities portfolio.

The Company ended the second quarter of 2019 with $162.3 million in cash and marketable securities. Since May 2019, the Company has raised cumulative net cash proceeds of approximately $2.6 million from the sales of an aggregate of 1,893,091 shares of common stock under an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, after deducting sales commissions and other offering expenses payable by Geron. The Company expects these net cash proceeds to provide additional financial flexibility as it advances the imetelstat development program. The funds will support future development costs, including conducting the Phase 3 portion of IMerge.

2019 Financial Guidance Reaffirmed

For fiscal year 2019, the Company expects total operating expenses to range from $80 to $85 million, of which approximately $20 to $25 million represents one-time costs that include imetelstat program transition activities from Janssen to Geron and purchase of drug product, drug substance and raw materials from Janssen to supply the Phase 3 portion of IMerge and prepare for new drug manufacturing. The Company continues to expect transition of the imetelstat program from Janssen to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2019.

As of July 31, 2019, the Company had 38 employees, and plans to grow to a total of approximately 45 to 50 employees by year-end 2019, of whom half will be research and development personnel.

Conference Call

Geron will host a conference call to discuss second quarter and year-to-date financial results and recent events at 4:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 1, 2019.

Participants may access the conference call live via telephone by dialing domestically +1 (877) 303-9139 or internationally +1 (760) 536-5195. The conference ID is 2379646. A live, listen-only webcast will also be available on the Company’s website at www.geron.com/investors/events. If you are unable to listen to the live call, an archived webcast will be available on the Company’s website for 30 days.

About Imetelstat

Imetelstat is a novel, first-in-class telomerase inhibitor exclusively owned by Geron and being developed in hematologic myeloid malignancies. Early clinical data suggest imetelstat may have disease-modifying activity through the suppression of malignant progenitor cell clone proliferation, which allows potential recovery of normal hematopoiesis. Ongoing clinical studies of imetelstat consist of IMerge, a Phase 2/3 trial in lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and IMbark, a Phase 2 trial in Intermediate-2 or High-risk myelofibrosis. Imetelstat has been granted Fast Track designation by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with transfusion dependent anemia due to non-del(5q) lower risk MDS who are refractory or resistant to an erythroid stimulating agent.