On February 25, 2021 MacroGenics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGNX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, reported an update on its recent corporate progress and reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020 (Press release, MacroGenics, FEB 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234575635]).
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"Following the approval in late 2020 of our first drug with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2021 has the potential to be another transformative year for MacroGenics. We expect to launch MARGENZA in the coming weeks and will continue to advance our deep pipeline of promising product candidates in multiple clinical trials," said Scott Koenig, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of MacroGenics. "We are particularly excited about our ongoing, potentially registration-enabling studies, including flotetuzumab in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and margetuximab in gastric cancer, as well as two Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action dates in July related to retifanlimab and teplizumab. And finally, we look forward to providing clinical updates on multiple, ongoing dose expansion studies this year."
Key Updates on Proprietary Programs
Recent progress and anticipated events in 2021 related to MacroGenics’ approved and investigational product candidates in clinical development, as well as an advanced preclinical program, are highlighted below.
Margetuximab is an Fc-engineered, monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets the HER2 oncoprotein, which is expressed by certain breast, gastroesophageal and other solid tumor cells.
MARGENZA (margetuximab-cmkb) approval and commercial launch. In December 2020, the FDA approved MARGENZA in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2 regimens, at least one of which was for metastatic disease. The launch, which is being coordinated with MacroGenics’ commercial partner, EVERSANA, is expected in March.
Phase 2/3 MAHOGANY study in advanced gastric (GC) and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. The MAHOGANY clinical program contains two modules designed to evaluate margetuximab as an investigational agent in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor, with or without chemotherapy, as a potential first-line treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive GC/GEJ. Initial safety and efficacy data from among the first 40 patients enrolled in Module A, which is evaluating margetuximab in combination with retifanlimab (an anti-PD-1 therapy), are expected in the first half of 2021. Enrollment in Module B, which is evaluating margetuximab plus MacroGenics’ checkpoint inhibitor molecules in combination with chemotherapy compared to standard of care therapy of trastuzumab with chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive tumors irrespective of PD-L1 expression, is currently ongoing in coordination with the Company’s regional partner in Greater China, Zai Lab.
Flotetuzumab is a bispecific CD123 × CD3 DART molecule being evaluated in patients with primary induction failure (PIF) and early relapsed (less than six months, or ER6) AML. Six clinical and preclinical abstracts related to AML and flotetuzumab were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting & Exposition in December 2020. MacroGenics is conducting a single-arm, registration-enabling clinical study to evaluate flotetuzumab in up to 200 patients with PIF/ER6 AML, with complete remission (CR) and CR with partial hematological recovery (CRh) as the composite primary endpoint. The Company anticipates providing further updates on the clinical development of flotetuzumab in the second half of 2021, and completing full enrollment of this study in 2022.
MGC018 is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets B7-H3. MacroGenics continues to enroll patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the dose expansion portion of the Phase 1 clinical study. The Company expects to provide an update on this study in mid-2021.
Enoblituzumab is an Fc‐engineered, anti‐B7‐H3 mAb. In the coming weeks, MacroGenics expects to initiate a Phase 2 study of enoblituzumab in a chemo-free regimen in combination with retifanlimab in front-line patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who are PD-L1 positive and with tebotelimab in SCCHN patients who are PD-L1 negative.
Tebotelimab is a bispecific, tetravalent DART molecule targeting PD-1 and LAG-3. Tebotelimab is being evaluated in a Phase 1 dose expansion study as monotherapy in several tumor types. An oral presentation of tebotelimab Phase 1 data in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was made at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) in December 2020. In addition, data from the combination study of tebotelimab and margetuximab in patients with advanced HER2+ neoplasms were presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in November 2020. MacroGenics’ regional partner in Greater China, Zai Lab, is also evaluating tebotelimab in Phase 1 combination studies with niraparib and brivanib for the study of advanced gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively, as well as a monotherapy study in patients with melanoma. MacroGenics expects to provide clinical updates on tebotelimab in 2021, including future development plans.
MGD019 is a bispecific, tetravalent DART molecule targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4. The Company is enrolling Phase 1 dose expansion cohorts, initially in patients with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC) and checkpoint-naïve NSCLC at the recommended Phase 2 dose. The Company expects to provide a clinical update on this study in mid-2021.
IMGC936 is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets ADAM9, a cell surface protein over-expressed in several solid tumor types. IMGC936 is being advanced under a co-development agreement with ImmunoGen, Inc. Under the 50/50 collaboration, ImmunoGen is leading clinical development and the Phase 1 dose escalation study is currently enrolling patients with select advanced solid tumors.
MGD024 is a next-generation, bispecific CD123 × CD3 DART molecule in preclinical development. The molecule incorporates a CD3 component designed to minimize cytokine-release syndrome, while maintaining anti-tumor cytolytic activity, along with an Fc domain to permit intermittent dosing through a longer half-life. The Company anticipates submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the FDA by the end of 2021.
Key Partnered Programs Update
Recent progress and disclosed priorities for MacroGenics’ partnerered investigational molecules are highlighted below.
Retifanlimab is an anti-PD-1 mAb that has been exclusively licensed to Incyte Corporation. To date, MacroGenics has earned $65 million in milestones related to retifanlimab, triggered by advancement of the molecule through various clinical and regulatory activities. In January 2021, Incyte announced that the FDA had accepted for Priority Review its Biologics License Application (BLA) for retifanlimab as a potential treatment for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. The PDUFA target action date for retifanlimab is July 25, 2021. MacroGenics is eligible to receive up to a total of $685 million in potential remaining development, regulatory and commercial milestones. If retifanlimab is approved and commercialized, MacroGenics would be eligible to receive royalties, tiered from 15 to 24 percent, on future worldwide net sales of the drug.
Teplizumab is a mAb being developed by Provention Bio, Inc. for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. In January 2021, Provention announced the FDA filing of a BLA and Priority Review for this molecule, with a PDUFA target action date of July 2, 2021. In 2018, MacroGenics sold its interest in teplizumab to Provention and is eligible to receive up to $170 million upon the achievement of certain regulatory approval milestones, including $60 million upon approval of a BLA in the U.S., additional milestone payments totaling $225 million upon the achievement of certain sales milestones and single-digit royalties on net sales of the molecule.
Corporate Updates
Janssen Collaboration. In December 2020, MacroGenics announced a research collaboration and global license agreement to develop a preclinical bispecific molecule with Janssen Biotech, Inc. The research collaboration will incorporate MacroGenics’ proprietary DART platform to enable simultaneous targeting of two undisclosed targets in a therapeutic area outside oncology. Under the terms of the agreement, Janssen paid MacroGenics an upfront payment of $20 million and will be responsible for funding all expenses. MacroGenics will also be eligible to receive up to $312 million in potential milestone payments and tiered royalties on worldwide product sales.
Ms. Federica O’Brien Added to Board. MacroGenics recently announced the appointment of Federica "Freddi" O’Brien, a veteran executive with 25 years of financial and operational leadership in biopharmaceutical, medical device, and technology companies, to its Board of Directors.
2020 Financial Results
Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2020 were $272.5 million, compared to $215.8 million as of December 31, 2019.
Revenue: Total revenue, consisting primarily of revenue from collaborative agreements, was $104.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $64.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase was primarily due to the recognition of milestones, partially offset by timing of revenue recognition under the Company’s collaborative agreements.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $193.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $195.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $42.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $46.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in external costs, including consulting.
Net Loss: Net loss was $129.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to net loss of $151.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Shares Outstanding: Shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020 were 56,244,771.
Cash Runway Guidance: MacroGenics anticipates that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2020, as well as anticipated and potential collaboration payments, should enable it to fund its operations into 2023, assuming the Company’s programs and collaborations advance as currently contemplated.
Conference Call Information
MacroGenics will host a conference call today at 4:30 pm (ET) to discuss financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020 and provide a corporate update. To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 303-6253 (domestic) or (973) 409-9610 (international) five minutes prior to the start of the call and provide the Conference ID: 6094343.
The listen-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed under "Events & Presentations" in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and archived on the Company’s website for 30 days following the call.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION – MARGENZA
BOXED WARNING: LEFT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION AND EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY
Left Ventricular Dysfunction: MARGENZA may lead to reductions in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Evaluate cardiac function prior to and during treatment. Discontinue MARGENZA treatment for a confirmed clinically significant decrease in left ventricular function.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Exposure to MARGENZA during pregnancy can cause embryo-fetal harm. Advise patients of the risk and need for effective contraception.
WARNINGS & PRECAUTIONS:
Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Left ventricular cardiac dysfunction can occur with MARGENZA.
MARGENZA has not been studied in patients with a pretreatment LVEF value of <50%, a prior history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months, or congestive heart failure NYHA class II-IV.
Withhold MARGENZA for ≥16% absolute decrease in LVEF from pre-treatment values or LVEF below institutional limits of normal (or 50% if no limits available) and ≥10% absolute decrease in LVEF from pretreatment values.
Permanently discontinue MARGENZA if LVEF decline persists greater than 8 weeks, or dosing is interrupted more than 3 times due to LVEF decline.
Evaluate cardiac function within 4 weeks prior to and every 3 months during and upon completion of treatment. Conduct thorough cardiac assessment, including history, physical examination, and determination of LVEF by echocardiogram or MUGA scan.
Monitor cardiac function every 4 weeks if MARGENZA is withheld for significant left ventricular cardiac dysfunction.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on findings in animals and mechanism of action, MARGENZA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Post-marketing studies of other HER-2 directed antibodies during pregnancy resulted in cases of oligohydramnios and oligohydramnios sequence manifesting as pulmonary hypoplasia, skeletal abnormalities, and neonatal death.
Verify pregnancy status of women of reproductive potential prior to initiation of MARGENZA.
Advise pregnant women and women of reproductive potential that exposure to MARGENZA during pregnancy or within 4 months prior to conception can result in fetal harm.
Advise women of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 4 months following the last dose of MARGENZA.
Infusion-Related Reactions (IRRs)
MARGENZA can cause IRRs. Symptoms may include fever, chills, arthralgia, cough, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headache, diaphoresis, tachycardia, hypotension, pruritus, rash, urticaria, and dyspnea.
Monitor patients during and after MARGENZA infusion. Have medications and emergency equipment to treat IRRs available for immediate use.
In patients experiencing mild or moderate IRRs, decrease rate of infusion and consider premedications, including antihistamines, corticosteroids, and antipyretics. Monitor patients until symptoms completely resolve.
Interrupt MARGENZA infusion in patients experiencing dyspnea or clinically significant hypotension and intervene with supportive medical therapy as needed. Permanently discontinue MARGENZA in all patients with severe or life-threatening IRRs.
MOST COMMON ADVERSE REACTIONS:
The most common adverse drug reactions (≥10%) with MARGENZA in combination with chemotherapy are fatigue/asthenia, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, headache, pyrexia, alopecia, abdominal pain, peripheral neuropathy, arthralgia/myalgia, cough, decreased appetite, dyspnea, infusion-related reactions, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, and extremity pain.