On August 5, 2020 Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCKT) ("Rocket"), a clinical-stage company advancing an integrated and sustainable pipeline of genetic therapies for rare childhood disorders, reported financial results for the quarter that ended June 30, 2020, along with an update on the Company’s key pipeline developments, business operations and upcoming milestones (Press release, Rocket Pharmaceuticals, AUG 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234562948]).
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"During this quarter, I am pleased to announce we continued to build pipeline momentum with positive data readouts and significant clinical trial progress," said Gaurav Shah, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Rocket. "We continued to enroll patients in our FA, LAD-I and PKD trials, and received FDA clearance of our IND for IMO. In addition, we presented positive data demonstrating sustained efficacy for both RP-L102 for FA and RP-L201 for LAD-I at ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper). With the continued buildout of our manufacturing facility, we anticipate GMP clinical material produced in 2021. With steady commitment and dedication, we remain focused on establishing a truly integrated and industry-leading multi-platform gene therapy approach aimed at improving and saving lives."
Dr. Shah continued, "Our progress comes amidst the backdrop of COVID-19, which continues to affect the lives of millions. As members of the healthcare community, we are committed to continuing to operate with a sense of responsibility to our employees and patients as we advance our pipeline aimed at addressing so many devastating rare genetic disorders. We want to also applaud the relentless work of our partners, patients and healthcare communities who skillfully navigate and respond to this pandemic with passion and care."
Key Pipelines and Operational Updates
Phase 1 clinical trial of RP-A501 for the treatment of Danon Disease continues to progress. Rocket has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Independent Data Safety Monitoring Committee (IDSMC) to move to the higher dose cohort of the study. The first patient in this cohort is expected to be treated in the third quarter, and preliminary Danon data is anticipated in the fourth quarter.
Positive clinical updates for the Company’s Fanconi Anemia (FA) and Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency-I (LAD-I) programs presented at the American Society of Gene & Cellular Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) meeting. At the virtual ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) conference, Rocket presented longer-term data from the FANCOLEN-I study of RP-L102 "Process A" for FA. Patients followed for a year or more after treatment with RP-L102 "Process A" continued to demonstrate durable engraftment and hematologic correction, without the use of pre-treatment conditioning regimens. Updates on FA "Process B" data are expected in the fourth quarter. In Rocket’s Phase 1/2 study of RP-L201 for the treatment of severe LAD-I, the first patient treated with RP-L201 demonstrated an increase in CD18 expression from less than 1% to 45%, sustained over six months. These results lend further support to the applicability of "Process B" across the lentiviral portfolio. Enrollment is now complete in the Phase 1 portion of the study, and Rocket expects to move to Phase 2 in the fourth quarter. Additional LAD-I data are on track for the fourth quarter.
First patient treated in the Phase 1 Trial of RP-L301 for Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD). PKD represents the Company’s largest lentiviral program. The trial is designed to assess safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of RP-L301 for the treatment of PKD. Preliminary data is anticipated in the fourth quarter.
Global Phase 1 trial of RP-L401 for Infantile Malignant Osteopetrosis (IMO) initiates enrollment. The Company received Investigational New Drug (IND) application approval of RP-L401 at the end of the second quarter. The trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of RP-L401.
Continued focus on supporting the patient community by serving as a pivotal resource for patient education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the quarter, as patients were faced with significant difficulties presented by the pandemic, the Rocket team made it a priority to connect with the community, share updates and host a variety of programs and events to support patients through this critical time. In addition to hosting multiple community Q&A sessions, the Rocket team and its partners participated in the 2020 Fanconi Anemia Family Meeting, hosted by the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund (FARF) where the latest FA data was presented, and a Q&A session was held for the patient community. More recently, Rocket organized two virtual sessions for patients with Danon Disease and their families. The first virtual event was focused on addressing the community’s concerns around COVID-19. The second event brought together patients with Danon Disease, their families and experts in the field to discuss current treatment options, the present state of research, the development of new treatments and ongoing clinical trials.
Rocket strengthens its balance sheet by extending the maturity of the existing convertible notes. Rocket extended the maturity of the 5.75% convertible notes due 2021. The Company conducted a second exchange offering and successfully exchanged an additional $7.5 million of the outstanding $12.65 million convertible notes. The new notes, with an aggregate principal amount of $46.85 million, will mature on August 1, 2022 and have an interest payment of 6.25% per annum. The remainder of the notes will retain the existing maturity date and interest payment.
Anticipated Milestones
FA (RP-L102)
Preliminary "Process B" data (4Q)
Phase 2 "Process B" data (2021)
Danon Disease (RP-A501)
First patient treatment in higher dose (3Q)
Preliminary Phase 1 data (4Q)
Phase 1 longer-term data (2021)
Phase 2 study initiation (2021)
LAD-I (RP-L201)
Initiate Phase 2 study (4Q)
Phase 1 data update (4Q)
Phase 2 data (2021)
PKD (RP-L301)
Preliminary Phase 1 data (4Q)
Longer-term Phase 1 data (2021)
Phase 2 study initiation (2021)
IMO (RP-L401)
Initiation of clinical study (4Q)
Phase 1 data (2021)
Phase 2 study initiation (2021)
Upcoming Investor Conferences
Citi’s 15th Annual BioPharma Virtual Conference, September 9-10, 2020
Morgan Stanley 18th Annual Global Healthcare Virtual Conference, September 14-18, 2020
Second Quarter Financial Results
Cash position. Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2020 were $249.8 million.
Debt. Our balance sheet includes $52.0 million of fully convertible notes.
R&D expenses. Research and development expenses were $16.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $14.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, due to an increase in compensation and benefits expense due to increased R&D headcount, and an increase in manufacturing and development costs.
G&A expenses. General and administrative expenses were $6.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $4.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, due to an increase in non-cash stock compensation expense and an increase in compensation and benefits expense due to increased G&A headcount.
Net loss. Net loss was $25.0 million or $0.45 per share (basic and diluted) for the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $18.7 million or $0.38 per share (basic and diluted) for the three months ended June 30, 2019.
Shares outstanding. 55,170,003 shares of common stock were outstanding as of June 30, 2020.
Financial Guidance
Cash position. As of June 30, 2020, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $249.8 million. Rocket expects such resources will be sufficient to fund its operations into the second quarter of 2022.