On November 7, 2023 Pyxis Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: PYXS), a clinical-stage company focused on developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immune-oncology (IO) therapeutics to target difficult-to-treat cancers, reported initiatives to extend its cash runway, reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and provided a corporate update (Press release, Pyxis Oncology, NOV 7, 2023, View Source [SID1234637157]). The company ended the third quarter of 2023 with approximately $134.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We are excited to begin dosing in the fifth cohort of our Phase 1 trial of our lead asset PYX-201, a first-in-class and first-in-concept tumor stroma targeting ADC against EDB-fibronectin in tumor stroma. We believe the progress we are making through the dose escalation portion of our trial speaks to the potential safety profile of our ADC drug candidate. Moreover, based on data from Pfizer’s HER2 ADC previously under development with the same linker and payload and our preclinical experiments, we believe that at 3.6 mg/kg and above, we are approaching biologically active dose levels," said Lara S. Sullivan, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pyxis Oncology. "In order to maximize PYX-201’s chances of success, as well as those of PYX-106, we are announcing a number of initiatives to extend our cash runway into 2026, which we believe is the responsible thing to do in the current funding environment. We believe the actions we are taking best position Pyxis Oncology for future success, with our current cash resources now taking us beyond important near-term 2024 readouts for our ongoing clinical trials."

Pam Connealy, COO and CFO of Pyxis Oncology added, "In addition to the cost reductions announced today, which include a 40% decrease in headcount, we are also seeking additional non-dilutive funding through the potential monetization of our acquired Apexigen royalty streams. Additionally, we are evaluating partnerships of several assets that we have chosen not to move into the clinic and potential antibody and ADC platform technology collaborations. We believe this increased focus on our lead and secondary assets, in addition to the changes we are making to the PYX-106 program, gives us the best chance for success in bringing our novel ADC and IO candidates to the patients who need them. We appreciate the contributions from our dedicated team members that have enabled us to reach this point in our clinical programs."

Corporate Updates

•
PYX-201: Fifth dose cohort open for enrollment in Phase 1 trial. To date, 15 subjects have been dosed with PYX-201 in the PYX-201-101 trial. The fifth dose cohort is expected to begin enrolling shortly and is planned to evaluate a 3.6 mg/kg dose administered once every three weeks. Management believes the efficient progression through dose escalation to date speaks to the potential safety profile of PYX-201, with preliminary Phase 1 data expected in 1H 2024.
•
PYX-106: Phase 1 trial now focusing on NSCLC and other tumor types. Following analyses of data from a competing anti-Siglec-15 clinical trial and a review of internally generated preclinical results, Pyxis Oncology has decided to focus on enrolling additional patients with specific tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer, in its ongoing Phase 1 trial. Currently, dosing is ongoing in the second cohort at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg. As a result of this repositioning of the trial, preliminary data from the PYX-106-101 trial is now anticipated in 2H 2024. Importantly, the repositioning of the trial has not increased the cost of the study.
•
Cash runway extended to early 2026 due to cost reductions and portfolio prioritization. Pyxis Oncology plans to focus its cash resources on and around its two clinical-stage programs, extending its cash runway past key Phase 1 data readouts for PYX-201 and PYX-106, expected in 2024. Following a portfolio and business review, the company is announcing a reduction in overall headcount by approximately 40% and pausing funding of certain early-stage research programs. These initiatives are anticipated to extend Pyxis Oncology’s cash runway into early 2026. In addition, the company has undertaken monetization efforts for its acquired Apexigen royalty streams and has also undertaken initiatives for possible partnerships of several assets that we have chosen not to move into the clinic, and antibody and ADC platform technologies, which may bring in additional non-dilutive funding.
•
Acquisition of Apexigen completed and further sotigalimab development. On August 23, 2023, Pyxis Oncology announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Apexigen, Inc., in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $10.7 million. Opportunity to advance clinical development of sotigalimab (which Pyxis Oncology has renamed PYX-107) will be further assessed as part of portfolio evaluation following preliminary data for our ongoing Phase 1 trial of PYX-201.

Potential Upcoming Milestones

•
PYX-201 (ADC targeting various solid tumors): Report preliminary Phase 1 data and PK/PD results in 1H 2024.
•
PYX-106 (IO targeting various solid tumors): Report preliminary Phase 1 data and PK/PD results in 2H 2024.
•
Updates on additional non-dilutive funding efforts as appropriate.

Q3 2023 Financial Results

•
As of September 30, 2023, Pyxis Oncology had cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, and short-term investments of $134.4 million (unaudited), which is now expected to fund operations into early 2026 and reflects continued financial discipline.
•
Research and development expenses were $14.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $19.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The period-over-period decline was primarily due to lower contract manufacturing and preclinical research costs, which were partially offset by increased clinical trial-related expenses for PYX-201 and PYX-106.
•
General and administrative expenses were $10.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $9.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The period-over-period increase was primarily due to higher stock-based compensation expenses, which were partially offset by lower professional and consultant fees.
•
Net loss was $23.0 million, or $0.56 per common share, for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $27.7 million, or $0.85 per common share, for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Net losses for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 included $5.2 million and $4.4 million, respectively, related to non-cash stock-based compensation expense.
•
As of September 30, 2023, the outstanding number of shares of common stock of Pyxis Oncology was 44,294,092.