Blueprint Medicines Reports First Quarter 2022 Results

On May 3, 2022 Blueprint Medicines Corporation (NASDAQ: BPMC) reported financial results and provided a business update for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 (Press release, Blueprint Medicines, MAY 3, 2022, View Source [SID1234613385]).

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"The first quarter was marked by a number of important milestones across our business. We have strong momentum in our commercial execution, our pipeline is advancing rapidly, and we continue to build on our scientific leadership," said Kate Haviland, Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Medicines. "Our ongoing global launch of AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT (avapritinib) in the U.S. and now also in Europe is establishing a new standard of care for the treatment of advanced SM, targeting the underlying cause of the disease. We are on track to have topline data from our registration-enabling PIONEER trial in late summer, further expanding our leadership in SM as we potentially bring the first and only medicine to patients with the non-advanced form of the disease. In addition, we continue to progress our pipeline of innovative investigational medicines in difficult-to-treat and prevalent cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer. At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, we presented five abstracts highlighting data across four programs within our EGFR and CDK2 franchises, while earlier in the quarter we announced a targeted protein degradation discovery collaboration with Proteovant Therapeutics. The strength of this past quarter demonstrates that we are well on our way of delivering on our 2022 goals while also building the foundation to drive further value for the years ahead."

First Quarter 2022 Highlights and Recent Progress

AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT (avapritinib): advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM) and PDGFRA gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)

Recorded global net product revenues of $23.8 million for the first quarter of 2022.
Received European Commission approval for AYVAKYT for the treatment of adult patients with advanced SM, including aggressive SM, SM with an associated hematological neoplasm, or mast cell leukemia, after at least one systemic therapy, and treated the first commercial patients in Germany. Read the press release here.
GAVRETO (pralsetinib): RET-altered cancers

As previously recorded and reported by Roche, GAVRETO product sales for their region were 5 million CHF, which excludes sales in the Greater China territory driven by CStone Pharmaceuticals.
BLU-945, BLU-701 and BLU-451 (formerly LNG-451): EGFR-driven NSCLC

Reported proof-of-concept data at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) from the Phase 1/2 SYMPHONY clinical trial of BLU-945, showing early evidence of safety and clinical activity, with dose-dependent decreases in circulating tumor DNA (EGFR variant allele fractions) and radiographic tumor reductions, including an unconfirmed partial response (PR) in a patient treated with 400 mg once daily (QD). BLU-945 was generally well-tolerated, with no significant adverse events (AEs) associated with wild-type EGFR inhibition. The maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose have not yet been identified, and dose escalation is continuing. These results support plans to expand the development of BLU-945 in combination with multiple agents, including osimertinib, with the goal of preventing or treating tumor resistance to prolong patient benefit. Read the press release here.
Entered into a clinical trial supply agreement with AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq:AZN), under which Blueprint Medicines will evaluate BLU-945 and BLU-701 in combination with osimertinib in the ongoing SYMPHONY and HARMONY trials, respectively.
Also at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), reported preclinical data supporting the development of BLU-451 in EGFR exon 20 insertion-positive NSCLC.
Initiated patient dosing in the CONCERTO trial, a Phase 1/2 trial of BLU-451 in patients with EGFR-driven NSCLC harboring exon 20 insertion mutations.
BLU-222: breast, ovarian, and other CDK2-vulnerable cancers, including CCNE1-amplified tumors

Reported preclinical data in a CCNE1-amplified ovarian tumor model at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) supporting the development of BLU-222 in CDK2-vulnerable cancers.
Initiated the VELA trial, a Phase 1/2 trial of BLU-222 in CDK2-vulnerable cancers, including estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer and a range of other CCNE1-amplified tumors, and dosed the first patient in Part 1 dose escalation.
Corporate

Announced strategic collaboration with Proteovant Therapeutics to advance novel targeted protein degrader therapies to address important areas of medical need. Under the terms of the collaboration, the companies will jointly research important targets and advance up to four novel protein degrader therapies into development candidates. Read the press release here.
Recognized a $30 million milestone payment from Clementia related to the initiation of a Phase 2 trial of BLU-782, which is now called IPN60130, our out-licensed ALK2 inhibitor in development for the rare bone disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.
Key Upcoming Milestones

The company plans to achieve the following near-term milestones:

Report topline data from the registration-enabling Part 2 of the PIONEER trial of AYVAKIT in non-advanced SM in late summer 2022 and submit a supplemental new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for AYVAKIT in non-advanced SM in the second half of 2022.
Present initial data from the dose escalation cohort of the Phase 1/2 SYMPHONY trial evaluating BLU-945 in combination with osimertinib in the second half of 2022.
Present initial clinical data from the Phase 1/2 HARMONY trial of BLU-701 in the second half of 2022.
Present initial data from Part 1 of the HARBOR trial of BLU-263 in non-advanced SM in the second half of 2022.
Share the company’s research and portfolio vision, including scientific platform expansion plans, at an R&D Day in the second half of 2022.
First Quarter 2022 Results

Revenues: Revenues were $62.7 million for the first quarter of 2022, including $23.8 million of net product revenues from sales of AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT and $38.9 million in collaboration revenues. Blueprint Medicines recorded revenues of $21.6 million in the first quarter of 2021, including $7.1 million of net product revenues from sales of AYVAKIT/AYVAKIT, $1.8 million of net product revenues from sales of GAVRETO and $12.6 million in collaboration revenues.
Cost of Sales: Cost of sales was $5.1 million for the first quarter of 2022, as compared to $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2021.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $103.1 million for the first quarter of 2022, as compared to $79.7 million for the first quarter of 2021. This increase was primarily due to increased costs associated with the progression of our clinical trials, increased costs related to early discovery efforts, and a decrease in reimbursement from the global development cost sharing arrangement under our collaboration with Roche for GAVRETO. Research and development expenses included $10.0 million in stock-based compensation expenses for the first quarter of 2022.
SG&A Expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $57.1 million for the first quarter of 2022, as compared to $42.0 million for the first quarter of 2021. This increase was primarily due to increased costs associated with expanding our commercial infrastructure for commercialization of AYVAKIT/AYVAKYT. General and administrative expenses included $13.4 million in stock-based compensation expenses for the first quarter of 2022.
Net Loss: Net loss was $106.0 million for the first quarter of 2022, or a net loss per share of $1.79, as compared to a net loss of $99.7 million for the first quarter of 2021, or a net loss per share of $1.72.
Cash Position: As of March 31, 2022, cash, cash equivalents and investments were $893.4 million, as compared to $1,034.6 million as of December 31, 2021.
Financial Guidance

Blueprint Medicines continues to anticipate approximately $180 to $200 million in total net revenues in 2022, including approximately $115 to $130 million in AYVAKIT net product revenues. The company continues to expect that its existing cash, cash equivalents and investments, together with anticipated future product revenues, will provide sufficient capital to enable the company to achieve a self-sustainable financial profile.

Conference Call Information

Blueprint Medicines will host a live conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET today to discuss first quarter 2022 financial results and recent business activities. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 844-200-6205 (domestic) or 929-526-1599 (international), and referring to conference ID 694684. A webcast of the call will also be available under "Events and Presentations" in the Investors & Media section of the Blueprint Medicines website at View Source The archived webcast will be available on Blueprint Medicines’ website approximately two hours after the conference call and will be available for 30 days following the call.

Upcoming Investor Conferences

Blueprint Medicines will participate in three upcoming investor conferences:

Jefferies Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, June 9, 2022 in New York, NY.
JMP Securities 2022 Life Sciences Conference on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in New York, NY.
Goldman Sachs 43rd Annual Global Healthcare Conference on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
A live webcast of each presentation will be available by visiting the Investors & Media section of Blueprint Medicines’ website at View Source A replay of the webcasts will be archived on Blueprint Medicines’ website for 30 days following each presentation.

Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. Reports 33% U.S. Revenue Growth in First Quarter 2022

On May 3, 2022 Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. ("Apollo") (Nasdaq: APEN), a global leader in less invasive medical devices for gastrointestinal and bariatric procedures, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and recent corporate highlights (Press release, Apollo Endosurgery, MAY 3, 2022, View Source [SID1234613384]).

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First Quarter 2022 Selected Financial Results
First Quarter and Corporate Highlights
•Grew first quarter 2022 Endoscopic Suturing System (ESS) revenue 24% over the same period in 2021;
•Grew first quarter 2022 Intragastric Balloon (IGB) revenue 16% over the same period in 2021;
•Increased first quarter 2022 revenue from the Company’s top 10 direct accounts by 63% over the same period in 2021;
•Appointed Jeannette Bankes to Board of Directors, deepening Apollo Endosurgery’s Board-level expertise in developing and commercializing new medical technologies.
•Appointed Keely Scamperle as Vice President, Reimbursement & Market Access and promoted Tom Neudeck to Vice President of Research and Development, furthering the Company’s capabilities in key functions driving future growth strategies.
•Secured clearance of OverStitch Sx in Japan
"We commenced 2022 with a strong first quarter performance, including U.S. sales up 33% and total sales up 20% on a year-over-year basis. Perhaps most exciting to our business transformation efforts, we demonstrated sequential growth across all of our product lines in the first quarter overcoming both historical seasonal order patterns and impact from the Omicron outbreak throughout the quarter," said Chas McKhann, Apollo’s president and CEO. "We continue to focus on driving increased utilization of our therapeutic endoscopy portfolio in 2022 as we leverage our expanded sales team and growing adoption of our platforms."
Selected GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Results for First Quarter 2022 Compared to First Quarter 2021
Total worldwide revenues of $16.7 million for the first quarter of 2022 reflected an increase of 20% compared to $13.9 million in revenue during the first quarter of 2021. Compared to the first quarter of 2021, U.S. product sales increased 33% and OUS increased 6% (or 10% on a constant currency basis).
Compared to the first quarter of 2021, total ESS product sales increased $2.1 million, or 24%, and total IGB product sales increased $0.8 million, or 16%, due to the continued demand in our OverStitch and X-Tack product sales, and strong growth in sales of ORBERA in the U.S. compared to the prior year quarter.
Gross margin increased to 56% for the first quarter of 2022, from 54% in the first quarter of 2021, due to higher product sales and improved variable gross margin on our ESS product sales.
Total operating expenses increased $5.4 million compared to the first quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily due to the expanded salesforce higher and trained during 2021, higher non-cash stock-based compensation, and an increase in marketing spend.

Net loss for the first quarter of 2022 was $8.4 million compared to $4.6 million for the first quarter of 2021.
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, which excludes interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, unrealized foreign exchange and stock-based compensation, in the first quarter 2022 was a loss of $5.0 million, compared to a loss of $2.0 million in the first quarter 2021.
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $82.7 million as of March 31, 2022.
Conference Call
Apollo will host a live webcast audio call with slides today at 3:30 p.m. CT / 4:30 p.m. ET. Investors are invited to join the live call via webcast from the Investors section of the Company’s corporate website at www.apolloendo.com. An audio-only option is available is available by dialing +1-973-528-0011 and referencing access code 103583 or the "Apollo Endosurgery First Quarter 2022 Earnings Call." Investors who opt for audio-only will need to download the related slides at www.apolloendo.com.
A replay of the webcast will be made available on Apollo’s website, www.apolloendo.com, shortly after completion of the call.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement the Company’s financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company reports certain non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP adjusted operating expenses, non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP product sales percentage change in constant currency. Adjusted operating expense is calculated as operating expense less stock-based compensation. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as GAAP net loss, plus depreciation and amortization, interest expense, net, income tax expense, stock-based compensation and unrealized foreign exchange. Product sales percentage change in constant currency is calculated by translating current foreign currency sales at last year’s exchange rate. These supplemental measures of our performance are not required by, and are not determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with an additional tool for evaluating the Company’s core performance, which management uses in its own evaluation of continuing operating performance, and a baseline for assessing the future earnings potential of the Company. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in the Company’s industry, as other companies in the industry may calculate non-GAAP financial results differently. Non-GAAP financial results should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Included in the supplemental tables to this press release is a reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net loss.

Alpine Immune Sciences Announces Participation in May Investor Conferences

On May 3, 2022 Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALPN), a leading clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on developing innovative treatments for cancer and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, reported that members of its management team will participate at the following investor conferences in May 2022 (Press release, Alpine Immune Sciences, MAY 3, 2022, View Source [SID1234613383]):

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LifeSci Partners Immunology & Inflammation Symposium
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT
Event: Fireside Chat

BofA Securities Healthcare Conference 2022
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT
Event: Corporate Presentation

Webcasts of the LifeSci Partners fireside chat and BofA corporate presentation will be available online in the investor relations section of the company’s website at View Source A replay of the fireside chats will be available on the company website for 90 days following the webcast.

Alentis Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Andrea Pellacani as Chief Medical Officer

On May 3, 2022 Alentis Therapeutics ("Alentis" or "the Company"), the biotechnology company developing breakthrough treatments for organ fibrosis and fibrotic-associated cancers, reported the appointment of Andrea Pellacani, MD, PhD as Chief Medical Officer (Press release, Alentis Therapeutics, MAY 3, 2022, View Source [SID1234613382]).

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In his role as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pellacani will play a leading role in guiding the development of breakthrough treatments for fibrotic and rare diseases and associated cancers, using monoclonal antibodies with a unique mechanism of action that are highly selective for exposed and non-junctional Claudin-1 (CLDN1). Exposed and non-junctional CLDN1 is a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the pathology of kidney, liver and lung fibrosis and fibrotic-associated cancers.

Unlike current therapies in fibrosis, which mostly address the disease indirectly, Alentis’s pioneering approach has the potential to directly modify and reverse the course of disease progression.

Alentis’s lead therapeutic candidate, ALE.F02, is in Phase 1 clinical studies for the treatment of advanced kidney, liver and lung fibrosis, areas of large unmet need, which are expected to read out in Q1 2023. The Company’s second development candidate, ALE-C04, is currently in pre-clinical studies for treatment of solid tumors. In addition, Alentis’s proprietary discovery platform allows the identification of new targets and supports the fast development of new compounds for other CLDN-driven diseases and tumors.

Dr. Pellacani brings over thirty years of world-class leadership experience in the life sciences sector, both in the USA and in Europe. He has held senior medical and research & development roles at Amgen, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline and Abbott, where he led multiple successful discovery and development projects across the entire development spectrum up to regulatory approval and launch, with particular focus on metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and inflammation. Most recently, as General Manager, Head of R&D at Menarini Group, he led the company’s global research and development, with a special focus on precision oncology. Overall, Dr. Pellacani’s extensive experience in the discovery and development of medicines in areas aligned with the Company’s portfolio, focused on the treatment of kidney and liver diseases and oncology, is highly relevant and valuable for his new role at Alentis.

Dr. Roberto Iacone, Chief Executive Officer of Alentis Therapeutics, commented: "We are delighted to appoint Andrea Pellacani as our Chief Medical Officer. He brings a wealth of international experience in R&D leadership at large global pharma, across the entire development spectrum and particularly in kidney and liver disease and oncology, which will be invaluable as we seek to develop truly transformational treatments for patients with organ fibrosis and fibrotic-associated cancers."

Dr. Andrea Pellacani added: "I am very excited to join Alentis and contribute to the further development of its promising therapeutic candidates. Alentis’s unique approach of targeting Claudin-1 offers a potential therapeutic breakthrough, as this is a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the pathology of fibrosis across organs and solid tumors. Through our efforts, we are confident to develop valuable treatments that can directly modify and reverse the course of disease progression."

Akoya to Participate at Three Upcoming Investor Conferences

On May 3, 2022 Akoya Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKYA) ("Akoya"), The Spatial Biology Company, reported that it will be participating in three upcoming investor conferences (Press release, Akoya Biosciences, MAY 3, 2022, View Source [SID1234613381]).

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Bank of America 2022 Healthcare Conference
Presentation on Tuesday, May 10th at 10:40 AM PT
UBS Global Life Science Conference
Fireside chat on Monday, May 23rd at 7:45 AM ET
HC Wainwright Global Investment Conference
Virtual Presentation available on-demand May 24-26
Live and archived webcasts of the events will be available on the "Investors" section of the Akoya website at View Source