On July 23, 2020 Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNCA), a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation neoantigen immunotherapies, reported its operating and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 (Press release, Genocea Biosciences, JUL 23, 2020, View Source [SID1234562289]). Genocea had an active and productive second quarter, demonstrating important progress across the Company:
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GEN-009
•On July 30, 2020, the Company plans to present initial clinical data on the first 5 patients from Part B with Dr. Maura L. Gillison, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Part B of the study is exploring the combination of GEN-009 and immune checkpoint inhibitor-based regimens in advanced solid tumors.
•Presented long-term follow-up data from Part A of the ongoing Phase 1/2a clinical trial at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)20 Virtual Scientific Program that evaluates eight participants for duration of immune responses and clinical outcomes.
◦Seven out of eight patients treated on Part A of the study are without disease progression at one-year median follow-up.
◦ATLAS-identified neoantigens generate broad, sustained T cell responses starting after only 4 weeks and lasting for up to 1 year after the last vaccination.
GEN-011
•Hosted a virtual KOL symposium introducing GEN-011 – a neoantigen cell therapy that uses peripheral blood T cells and is powered by ATLAS to target the right tumor neoantigens. The event featured commentary from Dr. Eric Tran, Assistant Member at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute in the Providence Cancer Institute and members of the Genocea management team on GEN-011 as a new category of T cell therapy designed to improve on current limitations of TIL therapy.
•Filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a Phase 1/2a clinical study of GEN-011 evaluating patient safety, T cell proliferation and persistence, and clinical activity. The trial expects to enroll up to 24 patients and will assess GEN-011 in a range of tumor types, with a focus on patients who have failed standard-of-care checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The Company has received verbal notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the agency has completed its review of the Company’s IND for GEN-011. In this verbal feedback, the FDA informed Genocea that it is placing the IND on clinical hold until it receives additional information pertaining to certain third-party reagents used in the GEN-011 manufacturing process. These reagents are not a component of the final cell therapy product. The Company expects to receive official written communication from the FDA regarding the hold and the FDA’s position in the near future and plans to work with the FDA to resolve their questions as quickly as possible.
Private Placement
•On July 22, 2020 the Company entered into a private placement led by an undisclosed leading U.S. public investment fund specializing in life sciences as well as certain existing and new investors providing for the purchase of up to approximately $80 million of its common stock and warrants to purchase shares of Genocea common stock (before deducting fees to the placement agent and other offering expenses payable by Genocea). Genocea will offer 21.4 million shares of common stock and 12.2 million pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock, along with accompanying warrants to purchase one share of common stock for each share of common stock or pre-funded warrant purchased by an investor. The warrants will be exercisable immediately upon issuance, in whole or in part, at an exercise price of $2.25 per share and will have a 4-year term. The closing of the private placement is expected to occur on or about July 24, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.
Shionogi Material Transfer Agreement ("MTA")
•Entered into an MTA and exclusive license option with Shionogi & Co., Ltd. ("Shionogi") to develop a novel HSV-2 vaccine using Genocea’s proprietary HSV-2 antigens from the GEN-003 program, which the company discontinued in 2017. As part of this agreement, the Company received $2 million for the exclusive option to evaluate the HSV-2 antigens and to negotiate a license prior to expiration of the MTA. Upon exercise of Shionogi’s option, terms of the license are expected to include an upfront payment, regulatory and sales milestones, as well as tiered royalties. Final terms of the license agreement will be based on results of the MTA evaluation and overall diligence. If licensed, Shionogi will assume responsibility for global development and commercialization of the HSV-2 vaccine product.
Inhibigens
•Presented preclinical data at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting II that furthers understanding of inhibitory antigen (InhibigenTM) function and builds on previous research demonstrating that the presence of an Inhibigen in an otherwise protective immunotherapy can be detrimental to anti-tumor responses.
◦Inhibigens were found to alter the tumor microenvironment and drive tumor hyperprogression and also abolished both global and tumor antigen-specific T cell activity to beneficial anti-tumor antigens.
◦Findings suggest that Inhibigens must be identified and excluded from the rational design of cancer immunotherapies to achieve more favorable patient outcomes.
"We continue to advance our clinical programs for patients living with cancer," said Chip Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer, Genocea. "I am pleased by our ability to remain on track during these uncertain times, meeting our highest priority milestones and working to deliver on the promise of developing effective immunotherapies through our unique and differentiated approach."
Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results
•Cash position: As of June 30, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $22.1 million versus $40.1 million as of December 31, 2019.
•Research and Development (R&D) expenses: R&D expenses were $8.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to $6.8 million for the same period in 2019.
•General and Administrative (G&A) expenses: G&A expenses were $3.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to $3.2 million for the same period in 2019.
•Net loss: Net loss was $11.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to $6.5 million for the same period in 2019.
Guidance
Genocea expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents inclusive of the private placement proceeds are sufficient to support its operations to mid-2022.
Conference Call
Genocea will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Interested participants may access the conference call by dialing (844) 826-0619 (domestic) or (315) 625-6883 (international) and referring to conference ID number 8894505. To join the live webcast, please visit the presentation page of the investor relations section of the Genocea website at View Source A webcast replay of the conference call
will be available on the Genocea website beginning approximately two hours after the event and will be archived for 90 days.
GEN-009 Clinical Update Registration
Genocea will present a clinical update on GEN-009 on Thursday, July 30 at 8 a.m. EDT. Interested participants may access this event by registering here.