UroGen Pharma to Report Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results on Wednesday, August 4, 2021

On July 28, 2021 UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq: URGN), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to building and commercializing novel solutions that treat specialty cancers and urologic diseases, reported that it will report second quarter 2021 financial results on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, prior to the open of the market (Press release, UroGen Pharma, JUL 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234585264]). The announcement will be followed by a live audio webcast and conference call at 8:30 AM Eastern Time.

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!

Audio Webcast

The webcast will be made available on the Investors section of the Company’s website at View Source Following the live audio webcast, a replay will be available on the Company’s website for approximately 30 days.

TG Therapeutics to Host Conference Call on Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Business Update

On July 28, 2021 TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TGTX), reported that a conference call will be held on Monday, August 2, 2021 at 8:30 AM ET to discuss results for the second quarter 2021 and provide a business outlook for the remainder of the year (Press release, TG Therapeutics, JUL 28, 2021, https://ir.tgtherapeutics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tg-therapeutics-host-conference-call-second-quarter-2021 [SID1234585262]). Michael S. Weiss, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will host the call.

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!

In order to participate in the conference call, please call 1-877-407-8029 (U.S.), 1-201-689-8029 (outside the U.S.), Conference Title: TG Therapeutics. A live webcast of this presentation will be available on the Events page, located within the Investors & Media section, of the Company’s website at www.tgtherapeutics.com. An audio recording of the conference call will also be available for a period of 30 days after the call.

TG Therapeutics will announce its financial results for this period in a press release to be issued prior to the call.

Portage Biotech Announces Results for Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2021

On July 28, 2021 Portage Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTG) ("Portage" or the "Company") a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focused on the development of therapies and treatments targeting cancer treatment resistance, reported financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 (Press release, Portage Biotech, JUL 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234585260]).

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!

"Over the past year, we’ve transformed Portage, positioning the Company to capitalize on our promising portfolio of immuno-oncology platforms and assets as well as leverage our innovative drug development engine," said Dr. Ian Walters, chief executive officer of Portage Biotech. "Throughout this transformation, we’ve maintained efficiency in our capital expenditures and operations to maximize value for shareholders thanks to the support of our lean, experienced team. Our efficiency coupled with our recent financing provides us with sufficient cash runway to complete Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials for our lead invariant natural killer T cell (iNKT) agonists and is our first with formal biotech institutional support. We believe iNKTs have the potential to re-sensitize PD-1 tumors and could significantly expand the PD-1 market opportunity. With sufficient resources now in place, we are poised to advance our iNKT agonists and other assets through multiple data milestones and other value-driving catalysts in the coming year."

Financial & Business Highlights from FY 2021 (April 2020 – March 2021) and Recent Weeks

Increased financial resources with over $29 million raised since fiscal year end:
Successful public offering of 1,150,000 ordinary shares with gross proceeds of $26.5 million, securing a 2-year cash runway sufficient to advance programs and enable achievement of numerous milestones.
Generation of an additional $2.6 million through the sale of approximately 91,000 shares via the Company’s At-the-Market offering as of June 7, 2021.
Improved stock liquidity:
Listing of common shares on the NASDAQ exchange and subsequent voluntary delisting from the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index, bringing added visibility to the Company’s robust immuno-oncology pipeline.
Immuno-oncology focused: Divestiture of three legacy businesses (Portage Pharmaceuticals Limited, including subsidiaries Portage Glasgow Ltd. and EyGen Ltd) to Juvenescence Ltd. Through this divestiture, Portage may be entitled to share in revenues upon the achievement of certain milestones based on specified development criteria and may be eligible to receive potential royalties on net sales of products developed utilizing legacy intellectual property.
Clinical Highlights from FY 2021 (April 2020 – March 2021) and Recent Weeks

Acceleration of development programs from the Company’s first-in-class immuno-oncology asset portfolio, including milestones related to lead iNKT agonists PORT-2 and PORT-3 and intratumoral amphiphilic therapy PORT-1. Key milestones included:
Initiation of the PRECIOUS-01 Study of PORT-3 for the treatment of NY-ESO-1 positive solid tumors, the first in a comprehensive clinical development plan to evaluate the Company’s iNKT agonists (PORT-2 and PORT-3) to improve outcomes in a variety of solid tumors.
Initiation of the INVINCIBLE Trial, a Phase 2 early-stage breast cancer study of INT230-6 (PORT-1) conducted by Intensity Therapeutics.
Presentation of interim data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) conference from the IT-01 Phase 2 trial conducted by Intensity Therapeutics demonstrating strong safety and survival data for INT230-6 (PORT-1) as both a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab or ipilimumab in solid tumors.
Financial Results FY 2021 (April 2020 – March 2021)

The Company generated a net loss of $17.2 million in fiscal year 2021, compared to a net loss of $7.2 million in fiscal year 2020, an increase in net loss of $10.0 million year over year. Operating expenses, which include research and development and general and administrative expenses, were $12.4 million in fiscal year 2021, compared to $6.0 million in fiscal year 2020, an increase of $6.4 million. Operating expenses included $8.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense in fiscal year 2021, compared to $2.1 million in fiscal year 2020.

Research and development ("R&D") costs increased by $3.2 million, or approximately 78%, from $4.1 million in fiscal year 2020, to $7.3 million in fiscal year 2021. The increase was attributable to non-cash stock-based compensation expense associated with grants made under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan of $5.1 million, partially offset by a decrease in iOx related stock-based compensation expense of $0.8 million. Finally, fiscal 2021 development was slowed by the impact of the pandemic.

General and administrative ("G&A") expenses increased by $3.2 million, from $1.9 million in fiscal year 2020, to $5.1 million in fiscal year 2021. The principal reason for the increase was the $2.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense associated with the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan in fiscal 2021. Additionally, the Company incurred approximately $0.2 million relating to initiatives associated with a corporate restructuring and business development.

Other items of income and expense were substantially non-operating in nature and were $2.5 million net expense in fiscal year 2021, compared to $0.5 million net expense in fiscal year 2020. $2.0 million of the net expense in fiscal year 2021 was non-cash. Other items of income and expense included:

A loss on equity issued at a discount of $1.3 million in fiscal year 2021, representing the difference between the market price and the contractual exercise price, relating to the settlement of the SalvaRx Notes and warrants;
A loss from our equity investment in Stimunity of $0.5 million, compared to a small gain in fiscal year 2020;
A loss of $0.8 million representing the change in the fair value of the warrants issued with respect to the SalvaRx settlement;
A non-cash gain relating to the settlement of related liabilities on the disposition of PPL of $0.4 million, of which $0.2 million was recorded in operations in fiscal year 2021; and
Interest expense of $0.2 million is fiscal year 2021, compared to $0.6 million in fiscal year 2020 due to the settlement of the SalvaRx Notes. The Company also recorded a loss of $0.2 million on the early extinguishment of the SalvaRx Notes in fiscal year 2021.
Additionally, the Company reflected net deferred income tax provisions of $2.3 million and $0.7 million in the fiscal years 2021 and 2020, respectively.

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had approximately $28.6 million of cash on hand.

Myovant Sciences Announces Financial Results for First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021 and Corporate Updates

On July 28, 2021 Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV), a healthcare company focused on redefining care for women and for men, reported corporate updates and financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 (Press release, Myovant Sciences, JUL 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234585259]).

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!

"I am pleased with the significant progress Myovant has made toward delivering on our mission of redefining care for women and for men. MYFEMBREE was approved by the FDA in May for women with uterine fibroids and was launched by Myovant and Pfizer in mid-June. We are encouraged by our early progress and are excited to be bringing this important new treatment option to the millions of women suffering from the symptoms of uterine fibroids. In July, we submitted to the FDA a supplemental New Drug Application seeking to extend approval of MYFEMBREE to include women with endometriosis. Finally, RYEQO was approved in Europe as the first and only long-term, once-daily oral treatment for uterine fibroids. We look forward to RYEQO’s launch later this year, to be executed by Gedeon Richter," said David Marek, Chief Executive Officer of Myovant Sciences, Inc.

Mr. Marek added, "ORGOVYX launch momentum continued to accelerate in first fiscal quarter 2021 with net product revenues of $10.5 million, demonstrating substantial growth compared to the previous quarter. This performance reflects the overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received from patients and clinicians regarding the impact ORGOVYX has had on the advanced prostate cancer treatment experience. Providing patients and prescribers with an oral medication that is able to rapidly and profoundly reduce testosterone levels without an initial hormonal surge has positioned ORGOVYX to potentially become the new standard of care androgen deprivation therapy over time."

First Fiscal Quarter 2021 and Recent Corporate Updates

ORGOVYX (relugolix 120 mg)

First fiscal quarter 2021 net product revenues for ORGOVYX in the U.S. were $10.5 million, driven by increased prescriber demand.
Approximately 1,150 treatment centers have prescribed ORGOVYX to over 4,500 patients on free and commercial drug, estimated through June 30, 2021. The number of estimated patients initiating ORGOVYX therapy has steadily increased in each successive month since launch.
As of July 1, 2021, Myovant achieved 63% commercial coverage and 78% Medicare Part D coverage for ORGOVYX. Myovant continues to engage in negotiations with payors yet to make 2021 coverage decisions and now expects to achieve broad coverage before its original calendar year-end 2021 goal.
MYFEMBREE (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg)

On May 26, 2021, MYFEMBREE was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first and only once-daily oral treatment for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids.
The FDA approval of MYFEMBREE triggered a $100.0 million regulatory milestone payment from Pfizer, which Myovant received in July 2021 (Myovant’s second fiscal quarter 2021).
In mid-June 2021, Myovant and Pfizer launched MYFEMBREE in the U.S. First fiscal quarter 2021 net product revenues for MYFEMBREE in the U.S. were $1.1 million, reflecting initial inventory stocking by distributors upon MYFEMBREE product availability.
As of July 1, 2021, 37% of commercial lives were eligible for pre-review coverage for MYFEMBREE. Myovant continues to engage in coverage negotiations with key commercial payors and remains on track to achieve its goal of broad coverage within one year of launch.
On July 6, 2021, Myovant submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the FDA for once-daily MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. In April and June 2020 and January 2021, Myovant reported positive results from the two replicate Phase 3 SPIRIT studies and the SPIRIT long-term extension study.
On June 15, 2021, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted U.S. Patent. No. 11,033,551 to Myovant. This patent covers the unique and innovative method of treating patients for heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids with MYFEMBREE. This patent will expire in September of 2037 and is listed in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (the "Orange Book"). This patent term matches that of two methods patents (U.S. Patent. Nos. 10,786,501 and 10,449,191) previously granted by the USPTO for ORGOVYX that cover methods of treating advanced prostate cancer with relugolix.
On May 18, 2021, the FDA informed Myovant that they placed a partial clinical hold on the Phase 3 SERENE study evaluating MYFEMBREE for the prevention of pregnancy, pending certain study protocol modifications. In July 2021, Myovant provided to the FDA an amended study protocol for the SERENE study. Following Myovant’s discussions with the FDA, Myovant expects the partial clinical hold to be lifted in August 2021.
RYEQO (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg)

On July 16, 2021, the European Commission (EC) approved RYEQO for the treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age. RYEQO is the first and only long-term, once-daily oral treatment for uterine fibroids in Europe and has no limitation on its duration of use. The approval was based on safety and efficacy data from the Phase 3 LIBERTY program, which consisted of two replicate, 24-week, multinational clinical studies (LIBERTY 1 and LIBERTY 2), a one-year extension study, and supportive bone mineral density data from a randomized withdrawal study. The commercial launch of RYEQO is expected to begin in the second half of calendar year 2021 and will be executed by Gedeon Richter (Richter), Myovant’s commercialization partner for RYEQO in Europe and certain other international markets.
The approval of RYEQO for the uterine fibroids indication by the EC triggered a $15.0 million regulatory milestone payment due from Richter, which Myovant expects to receive and record as Richter license and milestone revenue in its second fiscal quarter of 2021. In addition to tiered milestones upon reaching certain net sales thresholds, Myovant is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales.
Pfizer Collaboration

In July 2021, Myovant and Pfizer agreed to extend the timeline for Pfizer’s decision to exercise its exclusive option to develop and commercialize relugolix in oncology outside of the U.S. and Canada, excluding certain Asian countries (the "Pfizer Territory"), through the end of October 2021.
Expected Upcoming Milestones

Pfizer’s decision regarding its exclusive option to acquire development and commercialization rights to relugolix in oncology in the Pfizer Territory is expected by the end of October 2021. If Pfizer exercises this option, Myovant will receive a $50.0 million payment and will be eligible to receive double-digit royalties on net sales in the Pfizer Territory.
Commercial launch of RYEQO in Europe is expected to begin in the second half of calendar year 2021, to be executed by Richter.
Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) submission to the European Medicines Agency for RYEQO for the treatment of women with endometriosis-associated pain is expected in the second half of calendar year 2021. Richter will be the MAA sponsor.
FDA submission of the Phase 3 LIBERTY randomized withdrawal study results for MYFEMBREE in women with uterine fibroids is expected by the end of calendar year 2021.
EC decision on the advanced prostate cancer MAA is expected in calendar year 2022.
First Fiscal Quarter 2021 Financial Summary

Total revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 were $41.1 million and $33.3 million, respectively.

Product revenue, net from sales of ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE in the U.S. for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were $10.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively. There were no such revenues recorded in the comparable prior year period.
Pfizer collaboration revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was $29.5 million, reflecting the partial recognition of the upfront payment Myovant received from Pfizer in December 2020 and of the regulatory milestone payment that was triggered upon the FDA approval of MYFEMBREE for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids on May 26, 2021. There were no such revenues recorded in the comparable prior year period.
Richter license and milestone revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was $33.3 million, reflecting the partial recognition of the upfront payment Myovant received from Richter in March 2020 and the regulatory milestone payment Myovant received from Richter in April 2020. There were no such revenues in the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Cost of product revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was $1.0 million related to the cost of goods sold and royalty expense payable to Takeda pursuant to the Takeda License Agreement. There were no such amounts recognized in the comparable prior year period.

Collaboration expense to Pfizer for the three months ended June 30, 2021, was $5.3 million, reflecting Pfizer’s 50% share of net profits from sales of ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE in the U.S., pursuant to the Pfizer Collaboration and License Agreement. There were no such amounts recognized in the comparable prior year period.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021, were $30.9 million compared to $44.2 million for the comparable prior year period. The decrease in R&D expenses reflects cost share reimbursements from Pfizer for certain R&D expenses and a reduction in clinical study costs as a result of the completion and wind down of Myovant’s Phase 3 LIBERTY, HERO, and SPIRIT studies. The decrease also reflects lower regulatory expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2021, as the prior year period included submission fees for Myovant’s New Drug Applications for ORGOVYX for advanced prostate cancer and MYFEMBREE for the uterine fibroids indication. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in medical affairs personnel expenses to support the U.S. commercial launches of ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021, were $61.2 million compared to $22.8 million for the comparable prior year period. The increase was primarily due to higher expenses related to commercial activities to support the ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE U.S. launches, higher personnel-related costs primarily due to the hiring of Myovant’s commercial operations, marketing, and market access teams, as well as the oncology and women’s health sales forces, and higher general overhead expenses to support Myovant’s organizational growth.

Interest expense was $3.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $2.2 million for the comparable prior year period. The increase in interest expense was primarily driven by the higher balance under Myovant’s loan agreement with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma (Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Loan Agreement) and $0.6 million of accretion of the financing component of the cost share advance from Pfizer.

Foreign exchange gain for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was $3.6 million, primarily the result of the increase in Myovant’s outstanding balance under the Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Loan Agreement and the impact of fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rate between the Swiss franc and the U.S. dollar. As a result of a change in the functional currency of Myovant’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Switzerland, Myovant Sciences GmbH, from the Swiss franc to the U.S. dollar in December 2020, Myovant is no longer exposed to significant foreign currency gains or losses.

Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2021 was $61.7 million compared to $32.9 million for the comparable prior year period. On a per common share basis, net loss was $0.67 and $0.37 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Capital resources: Cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and amounts available under the Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Loan Agreement totaled $611.1 million as of June 30, 2021, and consisted of $569.8 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and $41.3 million of available borrowing capacity under the Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Loan Agreement. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, Myovant received a $100.0 million milestone payment from Pfizer in July 2021 and expects to receive a $15.0 million milestone payment from Richter in second fiscal quarter 2021.

Conference Call
As previously announced, Myovant will hold a webcast and conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (5:30 a.m. Pacific Time) today, July 28, 2021, to discuss financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021 and corporate updates. Investors and the general public may access a live webcast of the call by visiting the investor relations page of Myovant’s website at investors.myovant.com. Institutional investors and analysts may also participate in the conference call by dialing 1-800-532-3746 in the U.S. or +1-470-495-9166 from outside the U.S. The webcast will be archived on Myovant’s Investor Relations website following the call.

About Relugolix
Relugolix is a once-daily, oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist that reduces testicular testosterone, a hormone known to stimulate the growth of prostate cancer, and ovarian estradiol, a hormone known to stimulate the growth of uterine fibroids and endometriosis. ORGOVYX (relugolix 120 mg) was approved in the U.S. by the FDA in December 2020 as the first and only oral GnRH receptor antagonist for the treatment of adult patients with advanced prostate cancer, and relugolix (120 mg) is also under regulatory review in Europe for men with advanced prostate cancer. MYFEMBREE (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) was approved in the U.S. by the FDA in May 2021 as the first and only once-daily oral treatment for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids. On July 16, 2021, the European Commission approved RYEQO (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) as the first and only long-term, once-daily oral treatment in Europe for moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age. On July 6, 2021, Myovant Sciences GmbH, a subsidiary of Myovant Sciences Ltd., submitted a supplemental New Drug Application to the FDA for once-daily MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. MYFEMBREE is also being assessed for contraceptive efficacy in women ages 18-35 years who are at risk for pregnancy, pending FDA removal of a partial clinical hold.

Mersana Therapeutics Announces Initiation of the UPGRADE Phase 1 Platinum Combination Cohort for UpRi in Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

On July 28, 2021 Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRSN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing a pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting cancers in areas of high unmet medical need, reported the initiation of patient dosing in UPGRADE, a Phase 1 combination dose escalation umbrella study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of upifitamab rilsodotin (UpRi, previously XMT-1536) in combination with other ovarian cancer therapies (Press release, Mersana Therapeutics, JUL 28, 2021, View Source [SID1234585258]). The initial arm of this umbrella study is evaluating carboplatin in combination with UpRi followed by continuation of UpRi monotherapy in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

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!

"The initiation of UPGRADE is another important milestone for Mersana as we work to build UpRi into a foundational medicine in the treatment of ovarian cancer," said Anna Protopapas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mersana Therapeutics. "To date, UpRi data has demonstrated clinically meaningful activity and a differentiated tolerability profile without severe neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy or ocular toxicity in patients with heavily pretreated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The initiation of the UPGRADE umbrella study is a critical first step in evaluating the potential of UpRi in earlier lines of therapy."

The UPGRADE Phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation portion of the study will determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and safety and tolerability of a once-every-four-week (Q4W) administration of UpRi in combination with carboplatin for six cycles followed by continuation of UpRi monotherapy in patients with platinum-sensitive high-grade serous ovarian cancer following 1-2 prior platinum-based regimens. Patients will not be preselected for NaPi2b expression; however, archival or fresh tissue will be required for retrospective assessment of expression. Upon completion of the dose-escalation portion of the study, the Company plans to initiate the expansion portion to assess both tolerability and efficacy and inform the further development of UpRi in a broader and earlier-line patient population.

"We are excited to initiate UPGRADE and are beginning with a platinum combination because platinum remains the mainstay therapy in earlier-line platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. UPGRADE is intended to allow us to assess the advantages of combining with carboplatin for six cycles and replacing paclitaxel, an agent that carries significant toxicities. We will also evaluate the benefit of continuing treatment with UpRi as a single agent beyond the six cycles of combination therapy," said Arvin Yang, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Mersana Therapeutics. "In the future, we plan to evaluate non-platinum-based combinations in this umbrella study to assess the potential of bringing UpRi to patients who do not benefit from platinum. We believe UpRi’s differentiated tolerability profile without the overlapping toxicities commonly seen with other ADC platforms may provide a significant advantage as a combination therapy for people living with ovarian cancer."