On March 16, 2020 AVEO Oncology (NASDAQ: AVEO) reported financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2019 and provided a business update (Press release, AVEO, MAR 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234555601]).
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 coming months will be an important period for AVEO, with filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) for tivozanib as a treatment for relapsed or refractory renal cell carcinoma (RCC) planned for the end of this quarter, and reporting of the final overall survival (OS) update for the TIVO-3 trial expected by June," said Michael Bailey, president and chief executive officer of AVEO. "As we work toward the potential FDA marketing approval of tivozanib, our attention will turn increasingly to commercialization and potential expanded clinical opportunities, while further advancing the balance of our pipeline. We continue to believe that our tivozanib dataset in RCC, which provides insights into the sequencing of therapies, notably, following immunotherapy, positions tivozanib well within this meaningful and growing relapsed or refractory RCC patient population."
Mr. Bailey added: "In addition, we look forward to continuing to build on the clinical evaluation of tivozanib-immunotherapy (IO) combinations, such as those studied in the TiNivo trial of tivozanib and OPDIVO (nivolumab) in RCC, for which we reported encouraging final PFS data at last year’s ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Conference, and the DEDUCTIVE trial of tivozanib and IMFINZI (durvalumab) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). With a favorable tolerability profile and results suggesting additive or synergistic activity in both treatment naïve and previously treated RCC patients, our early data support the potential for tivozanib to serve as a TKI companion in combination with IO therapy. Beyond tivozanib, building on promising results seen to date, we look forward to continued progress in the evaluation of ficlatuzumab in multiple clinical trials, including two ongoing randomized Phase 2 trials, one in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and one in head and neck cancer, with the goal of identifying a pivotal trial design for registration, assuming favorable trial outcomes."
Phase 3 TIVO-3 Trial and North America Regulatory Highlights
Published Data from Phase 3 TIVO-3 Trial in Lancet Oncology. In December 2019, AVEO announced that previously reported data from its positive Phase 3 TIVO-3 trial were published in The Lancet Oncology. The article, titled "Tivozanib versus sorafenib in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (TIVO-3): a phase 3, multicentre, randomised, controlled, open-label study", is available online via this link."
Presented Updated OS and Subgroup Data from TIVO-3 Trial at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium. In November 2019, AVEO announced updated data from the Phase 3 TIVO-3 trial, including two prespecified subgroup analyses of patients previously treated with a checkpoint inhibitor and a VEGFR TKI, or two VEGFR TKIs. Each of the prespecified subgroups showed superior progression free survival (PFS) and overall response rate, as well as an OS HR below 1, favoring tivozanib.
Tivozanib was shown to have lower overall rates of adverse events and fewer dose interruptions and reductions versus sorafenib, indicating better patient tolerability. A copy of the presentation, which was presented at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium, is available in the Publications & Presentations section of AVEO’s website.
NDA Submission Expected This Month and Final OS Analysis Report Expected by June. The Company continues to expect to submit an NDA to the U.S. FDA in relapsed/refractory RCC by the end of this month. As previously announced, a final OS analysis of the study will be conducted in the second quarter based on a May 1, 2020 data cutoff date, at which point the Company estimates that the study will have reached approximately 263 OS events. AVEO expects to report results from the final OS analysis by June 2020. The FDA and the Company agreed that if, during the review, the final analysis yields an OS HR above 1.00, the Company will withdraw its NDA. The FDA informed the Company that an Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee panel would likely be convened to review the final tivozanib data package.
Additional Tivozanib Updates
Announced Publication of Phase 1b/2 Trial of Tivozanib in Advanced, Inoperable HCC in the British Journal of Cancer. In February 2020, AVEO announced the publication of results from a monotherapy trial of tivozanib in patients with advanced, inoperable HCC in the British Journal of Cancer. 27 patients were enrolled in the trial that sought to evaluate the safety, dosing, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of tivozanib in patients with advanced HCC. The recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) was determined to be 1.0 mg once daily for 21 days followed by 7 days off treatment on a 28-day cycle. Median PFS and OS were 24 weeks and 9 months, respectively, for patients treated at the RP2D, with an overall response rate of 21%. A significant decrease in soluble plasma VEGFR-2 was also observed, suggesting adequate target engagement. The link to this publication is available on the Publications & Presentations section of AVEO’s website.
Announced Initiation of Enrollment in Phase 1b/2 DEDUCTIVE Trial of Tivozanib in Combination with IMFINZI (durvalumab) in Previously Untreated Metastatic HCC. In September 2019, AVEO announced the initiation of enrollment in the DEDUCTIVE trial, an open-label, multi-center Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating tivozanib in combination with IMFINZI (durvalumab), AstraZeneca’s human monoclonal antibody directed against programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), in patients with HCC who have not received prior systemic therapy. The trial is being conducted as part of a clinical collaboration between AVEO and AstraZeneca.
Announced Kyowa Kirin Buy Back of Tivozanib Non-Oncology Rights from AVEO. In August 2019, AVEO and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. amended the companies’ license agreement for tivozanib to allow Kyowa Kirin to buy back the non-oncology rights of tivozanib in AVEO’s territories, which includes the U.S. and EU. Under the terms of the amended license agreement, AVEO received a $25 million upfront payment and a waiver of the $18 million milestone payment that would have been due to Kyowa Kirin upon AVEO obtaining U.S. marketing approval for tivozanib. In addition, AVEO will be eligible
to receive up to $391 million in milestone payments upon the successful achievement of certain development and commercial objectives related to tivozanib formulations for the treatment of non-oncology indications. AVEO is also eligible to receive tiered royalty payments on net sales in these indications, which range from a high single-digit to low double-digit percentage of net sales.
Ficlatuzumab Update
Presented Results from Phase 1b Trial of Ficlatuzumab, Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer. In January 2020, AVEO and Biodesix, Inc. announced the presentation of results from an investigator-sponsored Phase 1b trial of ficlatuzumab, AVEO’s potent hepatocyte growth factor inhibitory antibody product candidate, in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The results were presented during a poster session at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers Symposium.
A total of 24 patients were enrolled. The average number of 28-day cycles received was 7.5 (range 1-15), with 3 patients remaining on active treatment at the end of the trial. The combination was associated with a promising durable response rate relative to data observed for gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone. This included a 29% partial response (PR) rate and 92% rate of disease control (PR + stable disease). Treatment with this regimen was associated with significant hypoalbuminemia and edema, and therefore a follow up safety study is under consideration of ficlatuzumab in combination with an alternate cytotoxic regimen. A copy of the presentation is available in the Publications & Presentations section of AVEO’s website.
Initiated CyFi-2 Trial of Ficlatuzumab in Relapsed and Refractory AML. In November 2019, AVEO and Biodesix, Inc. announced the initiation of the CyFi-2 study, a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating ficlatuzumab, AVEO’s potent hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibitory antibody product candidate, in combination with high-dose cytarabine vs. high-dose cytarabine alone in patients with relapsed and refractory AML.
AVEO will sponsor the CyFi-2 study for patients with AML who failed induction chemotherapy or who achieved a complete response but relapsed within one year. The CyFi-2 study is being conducted as part of the companies’ worldwide partnership to develop and commercialize ficlatuzumab. Under the terms of this agreement, AVEO and Biodesix equally share all development costs.
Recent Corporate Updates
Effected 1-for-10 Reverse Stock Split. In February 2020, the holders of a majority of AVEO’s outstanding shares of common stock approved a reverse stock split and gave AVEO’s Board of Directors authority to select a ratio for the split ranging from 1-for-5 to 1-for-15. The Board of Directors approved the reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-10, and
it became effective on February 19, 2020. AVEO’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on a split-adjusted basis on February 20, 2020.
Appointed Erick J. Lucera as Chief Financial Officer. In January 2020, AVEO announced the appointment of Erick Lucera as chief financial officer. Mr. Lucera brings to AVEO over twenty years of financial, operational, and investment experience in the biotechnology and medical device industries and will be responsible for managing all aspects of the Company’s financial and accounting functions.
Added Scarlett Spring to Board of Directors. In November 2019, AVEO announced the appointment of Scarlett Spring to its Board of Directors. Ms. Spring brings to AVEO extensive sales, commercial, and leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical and life sciences industries.
Key Commercial and Medical Affairs Leadership Appointments. AVEO appointed Jason Noto, Vice President of Market Access; Kevin Peacock, Vice President of Marketing; and Daniel Powers, D.O., Vice President of Medical Affairs.
Full Year 2019 Financial Highlights
AVEO ended 2019 with $47.7 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as compared with $24.4 million at December 31, 2018.
Total revenue for 2019 was approximately $28.8 million compared with $5.4 million for 2018. In August 2019, AVEO earned a $25 million upfront payment in connection with Kyowa Kirin’s buy back of tivozanib non-oncology rights.
Research and development expense for 2019 was $18.0 million compared with $20.7 million for 2018.
General and administrative expense for 2019 was $11.2 million compared with $10.8 million for 2018.
Net income for 2019 was $9.4 million, or net income of $0.61 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of $5.3 million for 2018, or a loss of $0.44 and $1.93 per basic and diluted share, respectively (adjusted to reflect the 1-for-10 reverse stock split described above).
Net income in 2019 reflects an approximate $11.6 million non-cash gain attributable to the decrease in the fair value of the 2016 private placement warrant liability that principally resulted from the decrease in the stock price that occurred within the fiscal year. The net loss in 2018 was partially offset by an approximate $19.9 million non-cash gain attributable to the decrease in the fair value of such warrant liability.
On August 1, 2019, as scheduled and included in AVEO’s cash guidance below, AVEO resumed principal payments of approximately $0.8 million per month on the $20.0 million Hercules loan that matures on July 1, 2021.
Financial Guidance
AVEO believes that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of approximately $47.7 million at December 31, 2019, along with anticipated partnership payments from cost sharing obligations and royalty revenues from sales of FOTIVDA by EUSA, would allow the Company to fund its planned operations into the second quarter of 2021.
About Tivozanib (FOTIVDA)
Tivozanib (FOTIVDA) is an oral, once-daily, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discovered by Kyowa Kirin and approved for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand and Iceland. It is a potent, selective and long half-life inhibitor of all three VEGF receptors and is designed to optimize VEGF blockade while minimizing off-target toxicities, potentially resulting in improved efficacy and minimal dose modifications.1,2 Tivozanib is being studied in the TIVO-3 trial, which is intended to support a regulatory submission of tivozanib in the U.S. seeking marketing approval as a treatment for relapsed/refractory RCC. Tivozanib has been shown to significantly reduce regulatory T-cell production in preclinical models3 and has demonstrated synergy in combination with nivolumab (anti PD-1) in a Phase 2 study in RCC4. Tivozanib has been investigated in several tumor types, including renal cell, hepatocellular, colorectal, ovarian and breast cancers.
About Ficlatuzumab
Ficlatuzumab (formerly known as AV-299) is a potent hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibitory antibody that binds to the HGF ligand with high affinity and specificity to inhibit HGF/c-Met biological activities. AVEO and Biodesix, Inc. have a worldwide agreement to develop and commercialize ficlatuzumab. Ficlatuzumab is currently being evaluated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), metastatic pancreatic ductal cancer (PDAC), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).