On May 7, 2020 Magenta Therapeutics (Nasdaq: MGTA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines to bring the curative power of immune reset to more patients, reported recent business highlights and financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 (Press release, Magenta Therapeutics, MAY 7, 2020, View Source [SID1234557315]).
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"The first quarter of 2020 has shown Magenta to be well-positioned to advance our programs and to weather unexpected obstacles. Magenta continues to execute and progress our pipeline, and we remain committed wholeheartedly to our patients, their families, our employees and our business partners," said Jason Gardner, D.Phil., President and Chief Executive Officer, Magenta. "In this first quarter, Magenta has showcased significant clinical and preclinical results, and we are building on these results to advance quickly."
Recent Business Highlights:
MGTA-117 lead clinical candidate for conditioning for stem cell transplant and gene therapy demonstrates broad therapeutic index; advancing MGTA-117 to deliver initial clinical data in 2021. Data presented at the Transplant and Cellular Therapies (TCT) conference in February 2020 demonstrated that MGTA-117’s optimized linker payload resulted in potent depletion of stem and progenitor cells with an improved therapeutic index of 30 (range for approved ADCs at this stage of development has been two- to six- fold). The ADC is advancing in GMP manufacture. Magenta will also present data in an oral presentation at the upcoming American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) annual conference, to be held May 12-15, demonstrating that a single dose of CD117-ADC enables hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-based gene therapy in non-human primates.
The Company is scaling up manufacturing of MGTA-117 and expects to complete investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies in 2020. This program is on track to complete GLP toxicology studies and progress GMP manufacturing in 2020, as well as to deliver initial clinical data in 2021.
Announced research and clinical collaboration agreement with AVROBIO to evaluate potential utility of MGTA-117 targeted ADC for conditioning patients with one or more AVROBIO lentiviral gene therapies. The collaboration will combine Magenta’s leadership in ADC-based conditioning with AVROBIO’s expertise in lentiviral gene therapies and will further the two companies’ shared mission to allow patients to live free from disease. Under the collaboration, Magenta and AVROBIO will jointly evaluate MGTA-117 in conjunction with one or more of AVROBIO’s investigational gene therapies. Magenta will retain all commercial rights to MGTA-117. AVROBIO will retain all commercial rights to its gene therapies and will be responsible for the clinical trial costs related to the evaluation of MGTA-117 with AVROBIO’s gene therapies.
The Phase 1 trial of MGTA-145, Magenta’s first-line stem cell mobilization therapy, met all primary and secondary endpoints, demonstrating rapid, same-day first line stem cell mobilization and collection in healthy volunteers, and enrollment in the renal pharmacokinetic study is complete. At TCT in February, Magenta presented data showing MGTA-145 was safe and well tolerated as a single agent and in combination with plerixafor and demonstrated rapid, same-day mobilization and collection of sufficient numbers of stem cells to enable a successful transplant.
Based on the results of the Phase 1 study, Magenta intends to initiate multiple Phase 2 trials of MGTA-145 which may be staggered over the course of this year due to clinical trial impacts from COVID-19. The Phase 2 trials will include both allogeneic and autologous transplant settings and will evaluate mobilization and collection of functional cells and engraftment of the cells after transplant to rebuild the immune system. There is potential for the Company to present initial Phase 2 data on MGTA-145 in 2020.
At the upcoming ASGCT (Free ASGCT Whitepaper) conference, Magenta will present two sets of preclinical data on MGTA-145. In one study, MGTA-145 plus plerixafor was shown to be a rapid, reliable, efficient and G-CSF-free method to obtain high numbers of HSCs, including HSCs that were gene-modified with robust and durable engraftment, which could be used to improve HSC collection and autologous gene therapy outcomes for a variety of therapeutic indications. In a separate preclinical study, MGTA-145 plus plerixafor was shown to serve as an efficient same-day mobilization regimen for in vivo gene therapy of HSCs, which could be applicable in patients with sickle cell disease and other genetic disorders.
IND-enabling work on CD45-ADC for immune system reset will progress in 2020, with lead antibody identified. Magenta is developing targeted ADCs designed to precisely remove the disease-causing cells in the body without the need for chemotherapy or radiation. Magenta’s CD45-ADC program targets CD45, a protein expressed on immune cells and stem cells and is designed to remove the cells that cause autoimmune diseases in order to enable curative immune reset.
Enrollment timelines for the MGTA-456 Phase 2 trial in inherited metabolic disorders have been shifted into 2021, due to COVID-19-related impacts. The trial remains open with seven of 12 patients enrolled and continued longer term follow-up on these patients will be conducted. Sixteen patients have been enrolled in the Phase 2 trial of MGTA-456 in patients with blood cancers at the University of Minnesota, and this trial is currently expected to complete enrollment in 2020.
Expanded senior leadership team. In February 2020, Magenta announced it had expanded its senior leadership with two new strategic hires, Kristen Stants as Chief People Officer, and Li Malmberg, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President, Head of Manufacturing. In April 2020, Magenta announced the promotion of John Davis Jr., M.D., M.P.H., M.S. to Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer.
COVID-19-related operational changes. Magenta has taken important steps to help ensure the safety of employees and their families and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the Cambridge community. In early March, Magenta created an internal, cross-functional COVID-19 response team, focused on employee safety and business continuity, to monitor closely the evolving situation and advise on the Company’s response. Magenta has established a work-from-home policy for all employees, other than those performing or supporting business-critical laboratory-based experiments, such as certain members of the Company’s laboratory and facilities staff. For those employees, Magenta has implemented stringent safety measures designed to comply with applicable federal, state and local guidelines instituted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Magenta has also maintained frequent communication with its partners and clinical sites as the COVID-19 situation has progressed.
Financial Results:
Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of March 31, 2020, were $130.4 million, compared to $145.7 million on December 31, 2019. Magenta anticipates that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund operations and capital expenditures into the first quarter of 2022.
Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses were $14.0 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to $10.5 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase was driven primarily by investments in manufacturing related to our conditioning programs and MGTA-456, increases in personnel to support the Company’s operations as a clinical-stage company and certain clinical activities for MGTA-145.
General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $7.3 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to $5.8 million for the first quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in personnel and facilities associated with the growth of the Company, in addition to consulting work related to pre-commercialization activities.
Net Loss: Net loss was $20.0 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to net loss of $14.8 million for the first quarter of 2019.
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