On May 6, 2019 Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies, reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 (Press release, Syndax, MAY 6, 2019, Syndax Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Provides Clinical and Business Update [SID1234535780]). In addition, the Company provided a clinical and business update. As of March 31, 2019, Syndax had $92.7 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
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"We are pleased to report that E2112, our Phase 3 registration trial of entinostat plus exemestane in HR+, HER2- breast cancer, has passed its fourth interim overall survival analysis," said Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Syndax. "E2112 was designed to replicate the compelling overall survival results obtained in the Phase 2b ENCORE 301 trial which led to Breakthrough Therapy designation. The next overall survival assessment is expected in the fourth quarter of this year. We remain confident in the potential that the addition of entinostat to exemestane will result in a positive survival benefit, which would allow us to file for full regulatory approval in this indication."
Dr. Morrison added, "We also look forward to filing an IND for SNDX-5613, our targeted menin inhibitor, later this quarter. Supported by a robust preclinical dataset, we believe this therapeutic class has the potential to make a meaningful impact for patients with genetically-defined acute leukemias for whom limited effective therapies exist."
Pipeline Updates
Entinostat
ECOG-ACRIN has informed the Company that following its fourth preplanned interim overall survival (OS) analysis, the E2112 trial will continue as planned until either an OS benefit is observed, or the final target number of events occur. E2112 is Syndax’s NCI-sponsored, ECOG-ACRIN led Phase 3 registration trial of entinostat, a Class I selective HDAC inhibitor, plus exemestane in advanced hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR+, HER2-) breast cancer. The next interim analysis for the OS endpoint is scheduled for 4Q19, with a final OS assessment, if necessary, to be conducted in 2Q20. Any positive OS assessment would enable the Company to file for full regulatory approval. The E2112 trial design was informed by the Phase 2b ENCORE 301 trial, the results of which led to entinostat’s Breakthrough Therapy designation in HR+, HER2- breast cancer, in which patients receiving the entinostat/exemestane combination demonstrated a statistically significant OS benefit.
At the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting held March 29 – April 3, 2019, Syndax presented data from the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma cohorts of the ENCORE 601 trial of entinostat in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) therapy. These data provided further evidence that the addition of entinostat to pembrolizumab may overcome resistance to immunotherapy in melanoma and NSCLC patients whose disease progressed on or after anti-PD-1 therapy. As the Company has previously indicated, following availability of positive E2112 OS results, it will determine whether to advance its entinostat-PD-1 combination programs into one or more registration trials.
SNDX-5613
Syndax continues to expect to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its targeted menin inhibitor, SNDX-5613, later this quarter, with the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial in a defined subset of acute leukemia patients expected to follow shortly thereafter.
SNDX-6352
The Company continues to anticipate initial results from the Phase 1 dose escalation trial of SNDX-6352, Syndax’s anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody, in patients with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) in the second half of the year. The objectives of this trial are to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of SNDX-6352 in cGVHD and to identify a recommended Phase 2 dose and schedule.
First Quarter 2019 Financial Results
As of March 31, 2019, Syndax had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $92.7 million and 31.6 million shares and share equivalents issued and outstanding.
In March 2019, Syndax issued 4.5 million shares of its common stock and prefunded warrants at an offering price of $6.00, as well as warrants to purchase up to 4.5 million shares of its common stock, with half at an exercise price of $12.00 per share and the remaining half at an exercise price of $18.00 per share. As a result of the offering, Syndax received aggregate net proceeds of approximately $27.4 million.
First quarter 2019 research and development expenses decreased to $11.3 million from $15.3 million. The first quarter decrease was primarily due to reduced CMC activities and decreased clinical activities.
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter 2019 decreased to $3.9 million from $4.8 million. The decrease was primarily due to decreased pre-commercialization expenses and decreased professional fees.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, Syndax reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $14.3 million or $0.53 per share compared to $19.4 million or $0.79 per share for the prior year period.
Financial Guidance
Today the Company provided operating expense guidance for the second quarter and full year 2019. For the second quarter and full year 2019, research and development expenses are expected to be $9 to $10 million and $46 to $50 million, respectively, and total operating expenses are expected to be $13 to $14 million and $60 to $64 million, respectively.
Conference Call and Webcast
In connection with the earnings release, Syndax’s management team will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET today, Monday, May 6, 2019.
The live audio webcast and accompanying slides may be accessed through the Events & Presentations page in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.syndax.com. Alternatively, the conference call may be accessed through the following:
Conference ID: 4292817
Domestic Dial-in Number: 855-251-6663
International Dial-in Number: 281-542-4259
Live Webcast: View Source
For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available for 30 days on the Investors section of the Company’s website, www.syndax.com.