On November 12, 2021 Soligenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNGX) (Soligenix or the Company), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products to treat rare diseases where there is an unmet medical need, reported its recent accomplishments and financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 (Press release, Soligenix, NOV 12, 2021, View Source [SID1234595487]).
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Christopher J. Schaber, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Soligenix stated, "There continues to be a great deal of activity across our Specialized BioTherapeutics and Public Health Solutions business segments. We continue to work diligently to prepare the new drug application (NDA) for HyBryte (SGX301 or synthetic hypericin) following the positive pivotal Phase 3 FLASH (Fluorescent Light Activated Synthetic Hypericin) study in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The Office of Orphan Products Development of the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug designation to the active ingredient hypericin for the treatment of T-cell lymphoma, expanding the treatment population beyond CTCL. Additionally, we announced expansion of synthetic hypericin development into psoriasis, under the research name SGX302, where we plan to initiate a Phase 2a clinical study in the second half of 2022. This decision follows validation of synthetic hypericin’s biologic activity in the FLASH study, as well as positive proof-of-concept (PoC) demonstrated in a small Phase 1/2 pilot study in mild-to-moderate psoriasis patients, a large and underserved market with a significant unmet medical need. Under our Public Health Solutions business segment, we remain focused on developing heat-stable vaccines for global use. Most notably, we announced publication of compelling pre-clinical immunogenicity studies for CiVax (heat stable COVID-19 vaccine program) demonstrating durable broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody responses in non-human primates (NHPs), including against the Beta, Gamma and Delta variants."
Dr. Schaber continued, "With approximately $29 million in cash, not including our non-dilutive government funding, we anticipate having the necessary capital to achieve our upcoming milestones, including NDA filing and expansion into psoriasis with the conduct of the Phase 2a clinical trial. We are also continuing to actively assess various strategic options, including but not limited to, partnership and merger and acquisition opportunities."
Soligenix Recent Accomplishments
On November 8, 2021, the Company announced it had been granted a Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) product-specific waiver in the United Kingdom from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for HyBryte in the treatment of CTCL. To view this press release, please click here.
On November 4, 2021, the Company announced the publication of pre-clinical immunogenicity studies for RiVax (heat stable ricin toxin vaccine) demonstrating enduring protection for at least 12 months post-vaccination. The article titled "Durable Immunity to Ricin Toxin Elicited by a Thermostable, Lyophilized Subunit Vaccine" has been accepted for publication in the journal mSphere. To read the publication, please click here. To view this press release, please click here.
On September 28, 2021, the Company announced the publication of pre-clinical immunogenicity studies for CiVax demonstrating durable broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody responses, including against the Beta, Gamma and Delta variants of concern. The article, titled "Protein Vaccine Induces a Durable, More Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Response in Macaques than Natural Infection with SARS-CoV-2 P.1", has been posted as an accelerated preprint on bioRxiv. To view the publication, please click here. To view this press release, please click here.
On September 16, 2021, the Company announced that following the validation of synthetic hypericin’s biologic activity in the positive pivotal Phase 3 FLASH study in CTCL, as well as PoC demonstrated in a small Phase 1/2 pilot study in mild-to-moderate psoriasis patients, the Company will be expanding this novel therapy under the research name SGX302 into psoriasis, a large and underserved market affecting between 60-125 million people worldwide. To view this press release, please click here.
On September 9, 2021, the Company announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the U.S. FDA had granted orphan drug designation to the active ingredient hypericin for the treatment of T-cell lymphoma, extending the target population beyond CTCL as previously granted. To view this press release, please click here.
On August 23, 2021, the Company announced a publication describing the formulation of single-vial platform presentations of monovalent (single antigen), bivalent (two antigens) and trivalent (three antigens) combinations of filovirus vaccine candidates. In collaboration with University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) and University of Colorado co-authors, the manuscript titled "Single-Vial Filovirus Glycoprotein Vaccines: Biophysical Characteristics and Immunogenicity after Co-lyophilization with Adjuvant", has been published in Vaccine. To read the publication, please click here. To view this press release, please click here.
On August 18, 2021, the Company announced positive data demonstrating the efficacy of multiple filovirus vaccine candidates in NHPs, including thermostabilized multivalent vaccines in a single vial platform presentation. Collaborators at UHM describe the potent efficacy of vaccine candidates protecting against three life-threatening filoviruses, Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus and Marburg Marburgvirus in an article titled "Recombinant Protein Filovirus Vaccines Protect Cynomolgus Macaques from Ebola, Sudan, and Marburg Viruses", published in Frontiers in Immunology. To read the article, please click here. To view this press release, please click here.
Financial Results – Quarter Ended September 30, 2021
Soligenix’s revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 were $0.2 million as compared to $0.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. Revenues primarily included payments on grants received to support the development of: SGX943 for treatment of emerging and/or antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases; ThermoVax, our thermostabilization platform technology; and CiVax, our vaccine candidate for the prevention of COVID-19.
Soligenix’s basic net loss was $3.6 million, or ($0.09) per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $1.8 million, or ($0.06) per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. This increased net loss was primarily due to a reduction in revenue from the expiration of government contracts, an increase in research and development expenses associated with the continued development of HyBryte and additional interest expense on convertible debt.
Research and development expenses were $2.5 million as compared to $1.3 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase in research and development spending for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was primarily attributable to the increased expenses associated with the continued development of HyBryte.
General and administrative expenses were $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s cash position was approximately $29 million.