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Juno Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

On November 1, 2017 Juno Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: JUNO), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, reported financial results and business highlights for the third quarter 2017 (Press release, Juno, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521435]).

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“We are pleased with the potential best-in-class profile for JCAR017, and we look forward to presenting an updated dataset at the upcoming ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) conference,” said Hans Bishop, Juno’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The clinical data continue to support our belief that a defined cell product can improve patient outcomes. Our broad clinical development programs and ongoing infrastructure and manufacturing investments remain a key part of our strategy to deliver on the potential of CAR T cell therapies for cancer patients across a broad array of diseases.”

Third Quarter 2017 and Recent Corporate Highlights

Clinical Update:

Juno and its collaborators will present 15 abstracts at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) and seven abstracts at the upcoming Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) meetings.
Presentations at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) will include data from the ongoing Phase I TRANSCEND study in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) aggressive B-cell NHL who were treated with fludarabine/cyclophosphamide lymphodepletion and JCAR017. New data will be available at multiple presentations, including an oral presentation on Monday, December 11 that will include information on safety and responses. JCAR017 is a defined composition CD19-directed CAR T cell product candidate using a 4-1BB costimulatory domain. Juno believes JCAR017’s clinical profile could enable outpatient administration. The primary TRANSCEND abstract included the following data:

The core group (N=49) includes patients that represent the population that Juno is studying in the ongoing pivotal cohort. The core group includes patients with DLBCL (NOS and transformed from follicular lymphoma) that are ECOG Performance Status 0-1. Topline data from the abstract for both dose levels for the core group as of a data cutoff date of July 7, 2017 included:

Dose level 2 (DL2 = 100 million cells), the dose in our pivotal cohort, showed a 3 month overall response rate (ORR) of 80% (12/15) and a 3 month complete response (CR) rate of 73% (11/15) in the core group. Data support a dose response relationship. Dose level 1 (DL1 = 50 million cells) showed a 3 month ORR of 52% (11/21) and a 3 month CR rate of 33% (7/21).

Across both doses in the core group, the best overall response was 84% (41/49) and the best overall CR rate was 61% (30/49).

There was no increase in cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity (NT) rates associated with the higher dose or between the full and core groups. Across doses in the full group, 1% (1/69) experienced severe CRS and 14% (10/69) experienced severe NT. 30% (21/69) had any grade CRS and 20% (14/69) had any grade NT. 64% (44/69) had no CRS or NT.

The most common treatment-emergent adverse events other than CRS and NT that occurred at ≥25% in the full group included neutropenia (41%), fatigue (30%), thrombocytopenia (30%), and anemia (26%).
Ongoing enrollment for the pivotal cohort of the TRANSCEND trial at DL2 with BLA filing expected to be completed in the second half of 2018 and with approval as early as 2018.

Announced the Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation for investigational drug JCAR017 for the treatment of r/r aggressive large B cell NHL, including DLBCL, not otherwise specified (de novo or transformed from indolent lymphoma), primary mediastinal B Cell lymphoma or Grade 3B follicular lymphoma. Similar to breakthrough designation, the pathway enables companies developing cell and tissue based therapies to have earlier and more frequent interactions with the FDA and includes opportunities for accelerated approval, priority review, rolling submissions, and alternative provisions to fulfill post-approval requirements under accelerated approval.

Initiated the PLATFORM trial, a Phase Ib study initially evaluating JCAR017 in combination with durvalumab in adult r/r aggressive NHL patients, in collaboration with Juno’s partner Celgene Corporation.

Initiated a clinical trial conducted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to evaluate a CAR T, FCARH143, with a fully-human BCMA binder that preferentially binds membrane-bound BCMA. Juno intends to begin a Phase I trial early next year using this binder in combination with Juno’s cell manufacturing process. This product candidate, JCARH125, recently received orphan drug designation from the FDA for multiple myeloma.

Corporate News:

Closed a follow-on public offering and concurrent private placement in September of 7,773,327 shares of Juno’s common stock at a price of $41.00 per share. This includes the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional 915,000 shares of common stock and a private placement of 758,327 shares of common stock to a subsidiary of Celgene Corporation. Gross proceeds were approximately $318.7 million.
Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of September 30, 2017 were $1.06 billion compared to $801.8 million as of June 30, 2017, and $922.3 million as of December 31, 2016.
Cash Used in Operating Activities and Capital Expenditures: For the third quarter of 2017 cash used in operating activities was $40.3 million and cash used for capital expenditures was $13.9 million, compared to cash used in operating activities of $68.1 million and $6.4 million used for capital expenditures for the same period in 2016.
Cash Burn: Cash burn, which is cash used in operating activities and capital expenditures, excluding cash inflows and outflows from upfront payments related to business development activities, was $54.2 million in the third quarter of 2017, of which $59.1 million was operating cash burn and $4.9 million was net cash provided by a tenant improvement allowance offset by capital expenditures. For purposes of comparing the operating cash burn and cash burn for capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2017 to the Company’s financial guidance, a cash inflow of $18.8 million for a tenant improvement allowance was reclassified from operating activities to capital expenditures.

Cash burn in the third quarter of 2016 was $59.5 million, of which $53.1 million was operating cash burn and $6.4 million was cash burn for capital expenditures.
Revenue: Revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $44.8 million and $85.4 million, compared to $20.8 million and $58.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Revenue increased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the prior year periods due to milestone revenue recognized in the third quarter of 2017 in connection with the Novartis sublicense agreement. Additionally, revenue recognized under our Celgene Collaboration Agreement and Celgene CD19 License increased in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the prior year period.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, inclusive of non-cash expenses and computed in accordance with GAAP, were $140.3 million and $324.3 million, compared to $60.9 million and $206.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The increases in 2017 compared to 2016 were primarily due to increased costs to manufacture Juno’s product candidates, execute on Juno’s clinical development strategy, expand its overall research and development capabilities, an increase in expense related to its success payment and contingent consideration obligations, expense incurred for the amortization of the intangible asset associated with the AbVitro, Inc. (AbVitro) acquisition, and an increase in non-cash stock-based compensation expense. These increases were offset by a decrease in milestone expense.
Non-GAAP R&D Expenses: Non-GAAP research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $98.4 million and $250.6 million, and include $10.6 million and $30.3 million of stock-based compensation expense, respectively. Non-GAAP research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $62.2 million and $214.5 million, and include $7.9 million and $25.8 million of stock-based compensation expense, respectively. Non-GAAP research and development expenses for 2017 exclude the following:
An expense of $37.2 million and $61.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, associated with the change in the estimated fair value and elapsed service period for Juno’s potential success payment liabilities to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1.4 million and $3.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, related to a 2013 restricted stock award to a co-founding director that became a consultant upon his departure from Juno’s board of directors in 2014.
An expense of $2.4 million and $4.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, associated with amortization of the intangible asset recorded in connection with the AbVitro acquisition.
An expense of $0.8 million and $4.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, associated with the change in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities recorded in connection with the Stage and X-Body acquisitions.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses on a GAAP basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $26.3 million and $70.7 million, respectively, compared to $18.4 million and $51.2 million for the same periods in 2016. The increases in 2017 compared to 2016 were primarily due to an increase in consulting and other expenses to support the growing organization including costs related to commercial readiness, increased personnel expenses primarily related to increased headcount to support the business, an increase in litigation and patent legal costs, and an increase in stock-based non-cash compensation expense. The increases in the nine month period were partially offset by decreased business development expenses. General and administrative expenses include $6.9 million and $19.9 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $5.4 million and $15.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
GAAP Net Loss: Net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $118.1 million, or $1.12 per share, and $301.1 million, or $2.88 per share, compared to $56.9 million, or $0.56 per share and $192.8 million, or $1.91 per share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
Non-GAAP Net Loss: Non-GAAP net loss, which incorporates the non-GAAP R&D expense, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $76.3 million, or $0.73 per share, and $227.4 million, or $2.17 per share, compared to $58.3 million, or $0.57 per share, and $200.4 million, or $1.99 per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
Reconciliations of cash burn to GAAP cash used in operating activities and capital expenditures, non-GAAP net loss to GAAP net loss, and non-GAAP R&D expense to GAAP R&D expense are presented below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

2017 Financial Guidance

Juno expects to be in the lower half of 2017 cash burn guidance, which is cash used in operating activities and capital expenditures, excluding cash inflows or outflows from upfront payments related to business development activities, of between $270 million and $300 million.

Conference Call Information

Juno will host a conference call today to review Juno’s financial results for the third quarter 2017 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Analysts and investors can participate in the conference call by dialing (855) 780-7198 for domestic callers and (631) 485-4870 for international callers, using the conference ID# 2899809.

The webcast can be accessed live on the Investor Relations page of Juno’s website, www.JunoTherapeutics.com, and will be available for replay for 30 days following the call.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals to Present at Credit Suisse 26th Annual Healthcare Conference

On November 1, 2017 Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRWD) reported that it will present a corporate update at the Credit Suisse 26th Annual Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, November 8th, 2017 at 10:25 a.m. Mountain Time/ 12:25 p.m. Eastern Time at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona (Press release, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521434]).

A live webcast of Ironwood’s presentation will be accessible through the Investors section of the company’s website at www.ironwoodpharma.com. To access the webcast, please log on to the Ironwood website approximately 15 minutes prior to the start time to ensure adequate time for any software downloads that may be required. A replay of the webcast will be available on Ironwood’s website for 14 days following the conference.

Immune Design Reports Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On November 1, 2017 Immune Design (Nasdaq:IMDZ), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on oncology, reported financial results and a corporate update for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 (Press release, Immune Design, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521433]).

“During the third quarter, we made significant progress on our strategy to bring a novel cancer vaccine to market. Our discussions with the FDA resulted in positive feedback on a Phase 3 trial design and approval criteria for CMB305 as a monotherapy for synovial sarcoma patients in the maintenance setting — a significant milestone for the company,” said Carlos Paya, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Immune Design. “In addition, at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) we presented interim analysis data from our ongoing randomized Phase 2 study of CMB305 and atezolizumab showing that patients receiving the combination therapy experienced greater clinical benefit and immune response than those receiving atezolizumab alone.”

Recent Highlights

CMB305 Monotherapy: progressing to pivotal Phase 3 in synovial sarcoma patients
Based on productive discussions with the FDA, Immune Design announced plans to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 randomized trial to support a Biologics License Application for CMB305 in patients with synovial sarcoma.
The trial will compare CMB305 vs. placebo in NY-ESO-1+ locally advanced unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma patients without evidence of progression after first-line chemotherapy (“maintenance setting”).
Immune Design intends to start the study in mid-2018 and enroll 248 patients aged 12 and older.
Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival will be co-primary endpoints.
PFS analysis may occur as early as 24 months from the first patient dosed, depending on the number of events.
CMB305 Combination Therapy (CMB305+Atezolizumab vs Atezolizumab) Randomized Phase 2 Trial: interim analysis presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2017 shows greater benefit in sarcoma patients receiving the combination
The interim analysis (n=36 patients) data showed that NY-ESO-1+ synovial sarcoma or mixoid round cell liposarcoma patients receiving the combination of CMB305 and Genentech’s checkpoint inhibitor, Tecentriq (atezolizumab) experienced greater clinical benefit, in the form of Disease Control Rate (including partial responses), median Progression Free Survival and Time to Next Treatment, as well as immune response, than those receiving atezolizumab alone.
In the full study population (n=88), the trend of greater clinical benefit on the combination arm remains consistent.
G100 +/- pembrolizumab data in follicular NHL patients to be presented at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper); receipt of EMA Orphan Drug designation
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) has accepted an Immune Design presentation for its Annual Meeting in December 2017.
Data from a randomized, 26-patient, Phase 2 study evaluating G100, the novel, synthetic TLR4 agonist injected intratumorally, and low-dose radiation (XRT), versus G100 and XRT with the systemic administration of Merck’s anti-PD-1 antibody, Keytruda (pembrolizumab) will be presented.
The data in the submitted abstract show:
a 31% ORR for patients receiving G100+XRT+pembrolizumab (G+P), as compared to a 15% ORR for patients receiving G100+XRT (G); and
shrinkage of untreated (abscopal) tumors in 62% of patients receiving G+P and 46% of patients receiving G.
These abstract data are earlier (June 2017) than the data that will be presented in the planned presentation. The updated data appear to demonstrate a stronger clinical response and biomarker profile for those patients receiving G100, XRT and pembrolizumab, as compared to those patients receiving G100 and XRT alone.
G100 received Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from the EMA in October 2017.
Additional Upcoming Presentations

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) has accepted five Immune Design abstracts for presentation at its 32nd Annual Meeting, November 8-12, 2017 in National Harbor, Maryland. The oral and poster presentations are as follows:

Novel Biomarkers in Next-generation Cancer Vaccines: Public NY-ESO-1 specific TCRs as novel biomarkers for immune monitoring of NY-ESO-1 positive cancer patients
Combination Therapy (Cancer Vaccine + Intratumoral Immunization): G100 and ZVex-based combination immunotherapy induces near complete regression of established glioma tumors in mice
Multi-Target Cancer Vaccines: Transduction of MAGE-A1, A3, A4, A10 and IL-12 by ZVex, a dendritic cell targeting platform induces robust multi-antigen T-cell immune responses without antigenic interference or immunodominance
Next-Generation Intratumoral Vaccination Using ZVex: Intratumoral expression of IL12 using the ZVex dendritic cell-targeting lentiviral vector exerts potent anti-tumor effects via induction of multiple immune effectors, including CD8 T cell responses
Anti-NY-ESO-1 Immune Response and Survival Benefit After LV305 Therapy in Patients With Advanced Sarcoma and Other Solid Tumors
In addition to an investigator-sponsored presentation, at the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) Annual Meeting being held in Maui from November 8-11, Immune Design will be presenting data from the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting in two presentations:

A Phase 2 Study of CMB305 and Atezolizumab in NY-ESO-1+ Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Interim Analysis of Immunogenicity, tumor control and survival.
Association of NY-ESO-1 Expression with Baseline Immunity and Clinical Outcomes in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients Treated with LV305 or CMB305.
Completion of Follow-On Financing

On October 27, 2017, Immune Design completed an underwritten follow-on public offering, which resulted in the sale of 22,425,000 shares of common stock, inclusive of the full exercise by the underwriters of the 30-day option to purchase 2,925,000 additional shares, at a public offering price of $4.10 per share. Estimated net proceeds from the offering were $86.6 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses of $5.4 million. Both new and existing investors participated in the offering.

Financial Results

Third Quarter

Immune Design ended the third quarter of 2017 with $67.5 million in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and other receivables, compared to $110.4 million as of December 31, 2016. Net cash used in operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $43.2 million.

Net loss and net loss per share for the third quarter of 2017 were $13.4 million and $0.52, respectively, compared to $12.4 million and $0.60, respectively, for the third quarter of 2016.

Revenue for the third quarter of 2017 was $0.5 million and was primarily attributable to collaboration revenue associated with the Sanofi G103 HSV therapeutic vaccine product collaboration. Revenue for the third quarter of 2016 was $8.2 million and was primarily attributable to $7.0 million in license revenue, $0.4 million in product sales associated with Immune Design’s collaboration partner Sanofi and $0.8 million in collaboration revenue associated with the Sanofi G103 product collaboration.

Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2017 were $10.2 million compared to $11.2 million for the same period in 2016. The $1.0 million decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in in-licensing royalties and fees to other third parties that the company licenses various technologies from and a decrease in contract manufacturing activities primarily driven by the timing of when services are performed. These decreases were offset by an increase in personnel-related expenses and facility costs to support the company’s advancing research and clinical pipeline.

General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2017 were $3.9 million compared to $9.6 million for the same period in 2016. The $5.7 million decrease was primarily attributable to the settlement and license agreements with TheraVectys SA (TVS) involving the acquisition of certain present and future intellectual property rights from TVS and resolving the litigation initiated by TVS in July 2014 against the company, as well as related claims and counterclaims.
Year-to-Date

Net loss and net loss per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $39.9 million and $1.56, respectively, compared to $39.1 million and $1.92, respectively, for the same period in 2016.

Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $6.7 million and was primarily attributable to $6.4 million in collaboration revenue associated with the Sanofi G103 product collaboration and $0.3 million in product sales to other third parties. Revenue for the same period in 2016 was $11.2 million and was primarily attributable to $7.0 million in license revenue, $1.2 million in product sales associated with Immune Design’s collaboration partner Sanofi and $3.0 million in collaboration revenue associated with the Sanofi G103 product collaboration.

Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $35.1 million compared to $33.1 million for the same period in 2016. The $2.0 million increase was primarily attributable to continued advancement of Immune Design’s ongoing research and development programs, including ongoing Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials and an increase in personnel-related expenses to support the company’s advancing research and clinical pipeline.

General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $11.9 million compared to $17.4 million for the same period in 2016. The $5.5 million decrease was primarily attributable to the settlement and license agreements with TVS involving the acquisition of certain present and future intellectual property rights from TVS and resolving the litigation initiated by TVS in July 2014 against the company, as well as related claims and counterclaims.
Cash Guidance

Based on current expectations following Immune Design’s recent follow-on offering, the company expects to have cash to fund operations into 2020.

Conference Call Information

Immune Design will host a conference call and live audio webcast this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the third quarter 2017 financial results and provide a corporate update.

The live call may be accessed by dialing 844-266-9538 for domestic callers and 216-562-0391 for international callers. A live webcast of the call will be available online from the investor relations section of the company website at View Source A telephone replay of the call will be available for five days by dialing 855-859-2056 for domestic callers or 404-537-3406 for international callers and entering the conference code:4793869

An archived copy of the webcast will be available on Immune Design’s website beginning approximately two hours after the conference call. Immune Design will maintain an archived replay of the webcast on its website for at least 30 days after the conference call.

Geron Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

On November 1, 2017 Geron Corporation (Nasdaq:GERN) reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 (Press release, Geron, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521431]).

For the third quarter of 2017, the company reported a net loss of $6.9 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to $3.6 million, or $0.02 per share, for the comparable 2016 period. Net loss for the first nine months of 2017 was $20.5 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to $21.1 million, or $0.13 per share, for the comparable 2016 period. The company ended the third quarter of 2017 with $112.7 million in cash and investments.

Revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $163,000 and $874,000, respectively, compared to $5.1 million and $6.1 million for the comparable 2016 periods. Revenues for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2016 included license fee revenue of $5.0 million in connection with an upfront payment under a license agreement signed in September 2016 with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for certain rights to specialized oligonucleotide backbone chemistry and novel amidates.

Total operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $7.4 million and $22.3 million, respectively, compared to $9.0 million and $27.9 million for the comparable 2016 periods. Research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $2.6 million and $8.5 million, respectively, compared to $4.3 million and $13.9 million for the comparable 2016 periods. The decrease in research and development expenses for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2017, compared to the same periods in 2016, primarily reflects lower costs for the company’s proportionate share of clinical development expenses under the imetelstat collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc. and reduced personnel related expenses. General and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $4.8 million and $13.8 million, respectively, compared to $4.7 million and $14.0 million for the comparable 2016 periods. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the three-month period ending September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, primarily reflects higher non-cash stock-based compensation expense. The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, primarily reflects lower consulting and legal costs, partially offset by higher non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

Interest and other income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $363,000 and $1.0 million, respectively, compared to $322,000 and $871,000 for the comparable 2016 periods. The increase in interest and other income for the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2017, compared to the same periods in 2016, primarily reflects higher yields on the company’s marketable securities portfolio.

Conference Call and Webcast

At 4:30 p.m. ET on November 1, 2017, Geron’s management will host a conference call to discuss the company’s third quarter results as well as recent events.

Participants can access the conference call live via telephone dialing 877-303-9139 (U.S.); 760-536-5195 (international). The conference ID is 1056465. A live audio-only webcast is also available through the Investors section of the company’s website at www.geron.com or at View Source The audio webcast of the conference call will be available for replay approximately one hour following the live broadcast through December 1, 2017.

Foundation Medicine Announces 2017 Third Quarter Results and Recent Highlights

On November 1, 2017 Foundation Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ: FMI) reported financial and operating results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2017. Results and business highlights for the quarter included (Press release, Foundation Medicine, NOV 1, 2017, View Source [SID1234521430]):

Achieved third quarter revenue of $42.7 million, 45% year-over-year growth;
Reported 17,474 clinical tests in the third quarter, 50% year-over-year growth;
Presented validation data for FoundationOne CDx at the World Conference on Lung Cancer which demonstrated high concordance with multiple FDA-approved companion diagnostics across multiple solid tumor cancer types. FoundationOne CDx is currently under the Parallel Review process with FDA and CMS;
Presented validation data for a novel assay measuring tumor mutational burden in blood (bTMB) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) providing evidence that response to immunotherapy can be predicted using a blood sample. Based on these findings, the bTMB assay is being integrated as part of Roche/Genentech’s prospective, randomized Phase III Blood First Assay Screening Trial (BFAST) as a companion diagnostic assay to investigate bTMB as a non-invasive biomarker of response to first-line atezolizumab in advanced NSCLC patients; and
Published 19 manuscripts in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals and delivered 21 podium and poster talks at various medical and scientific meetings.
“Foundation Medicine made great progress in the third quarter as evidenced by record revenue and clinical volume,” said Troy Cox, chief executive officer of Foundation Medicine. “Our recent accomplishments, including progress with the parallel review process with FDA and CMS for FoundationOne CDx, expanding relationships with our biopharma partners, and driving continued innovation in our molecular information solutions pipeline with bTMB, continue to position our company for further growth, and competitive differentiation to transform cancer care.”

Foundation Medicine reported total revenue of $42.7 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $29.4 million in the third quarter of 2016. Revenue from biopharmaceutical customers was $29.6 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $20.7 million in the third quarter of 2016. The results of 2,817 tests were reported to biopharmaceutical customers in this year’s third quarter.

Revenue from clinical testing in the third quarter of 2017 was $13.1 million, compared to $8.7 million in the third quarter of 2016. The company reported 17,474 tests to clinicians in the third quarter of 2017, a 50% increase from the same quarter last year. This number includes 14,398 FoundationOne tests, 1,478 FoundationOne Heme tests, 1,488 FoundationACT tests, and 110 FoundationFocus CDxBRCA tests.

Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2017 were approximately $56.0 million, compared with $44.9 million for the third quarter of 2016. The increase in operating expenses was partially driven by investments in product development such as FoundationOne CDx and bTMB, investments in the company’s technology infrastructure, and certain non-recurring cash and non-cash expenses.

Net loss was approximately $32.6 million in the third quarter of 2017, or a $0.90 loss per share. At September 30, 2017, the company held approximately $76.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

Based on the new revenue reporting the company initiated last quarter, Molecular Information Services revenue was $28.4 million, including $13.1 million in revenue generated from our clinical customers, and $15.3 million in revenue generated from our biopharma customers during the third quarter. Pharma Research and Development Services revenue was $14.3 million.

2017 Outlook

Foundation Medicine’s business and financial outlook for 2017 is the following:

The company expects 2017 revenue will be in the range of $135 million to $145 million.
The company is increasing clinical volume guidance and now expects to deliver between 64,000 and 66,000 clinical tests in 2017.
The company expects 2017 operating expenses will be in the range of $215 million and $225 million.
The company expects to advance its comprehensive genomic profiling assay, FoundationOne CDx, through the FDA and CMS Parallel Review process with a decision anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The company expects to continue reimbursement progress and pursue additional coverage decisions for its CGP assays.
Conference Call and Webcast Details

The company will conduct a conference call today, Wednesday, November 1st at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial performance for the 2017 third quarter and other business activities, including matters related to future performance. To access the conference call via phone, dial 1-877-270-2148 from the United States or dial 1-412-902-6510 internationally. Dial in approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the call. The live, listen-only webcast of the conference call may be accessed by visiting the investors section of the company’s website at investors.foundationmedicine.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and will be archived on the company’s website for two weeks following the call.