On August 6, 2020 FibroGen, Inc. (NASDAQ: FGEN) reported financial results for the second quarter of 2020 and provided an update on the company’s recent developments (Press release, FibroGen, AUG 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234563086]).
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"Despite this difficult time, we continue to be inspired by our unique opportunity to leverage world-class science to benefit patients," said Enrique Conterno, Chief Executive Officer, FibroGen. "I am pleased with the progress we are making with roxadustat across a number of fronts; including our engagement with the FDA, the European submission, and our impressive sales in China. Additionally, we recently initiated three new trials with pamrevlumab: our Phase 3 study with DMD and two trials in patients hospitalized with COVID-19."
Key Events in Recent Months and Other Developments
Roxadustat
U.S. NDA for roxadustat for the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD), in dialysis-dependent and non-dialysis-dependent patients, is under review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of December 20, 2020.
Marketing authorization application (MAA) for roxadustat for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with CKD, both on dialysis and not on dialysis, accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for regulatory review in May.
Japan sNDA for roxadustat for the treatment of anemia of CKD in non-dialysis-dependent patients is under review.
Presented results from the DOLOMITES Phase 3 study at the 57th ERA-EDTA Virtual Congress in which roxadustat demonstrated non-inferiority to darbepoetin alfa in achievement of hemoglobin correction in non-dialysis-dependent patients with CKD.
Continued enrollment of Phase 3 roxadustat clinical trial in anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and Phase 2 roxadustat clinical trial in chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA).
Pamrevlumab
Initiated a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study investigating the efficacy and safety of pamrevlumab in approximately 130 hospitalized patients with acute COVID-19 infection in the U.S.
Initiated BOREA, a Phase 2/3 investigator-initiated clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of pamrevlumab in approximately 68 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Italy.
Reopened enrollment of the ZEPHYRUS Phase 3 clinical trial of pamrevlumab in patients with IPF after pausing for two months to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Continued enrollment of the LAPIS Phase 3 clinical trial of pamrevlumab in patients with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC).
Upcoming Events
Plan to initiate ZEPHYRUS 2, a second IPF Phase 3 clinical trial similar in size and design to ZEPHYRUS, as COVID-19 conditions improve.
Plan to initiate LELANTOS, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pamrevlumab in approximately 90 patients with non-ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
Corporate and Financial
Total revenue for the second quarter of 2020 was $42.9 million, as compared to $191.6 million for the second quarter of 2019. The current quarter revenue consisted of $15.7 million in net roxadustat sales in China, $19.0 million in development revenue, and $8.2 million in roxadustat API sales to Astellas in Japan.
Net loss for the second quarter of 2020 was $85.3 million, or $0.95 net loss per basic and diluted share, compared to a net income of $116.0 million, or $1.34 net income per basic share and $1.26 per diluted share one year ago.
At June 30, 2020, FibroGen had $716.0 million in cash, cash equivalents, restricted time deposits, investments, and receivables.
Based on our latest forecast, we reiterate our year-end 2020 estimate to be in the range of $720 to $730 million in cash, cash equivalents, restricted time deposits, investments, and receivables.
Amended China Agreement with AstraZeneca in July 2020 such that both parties are optimally aligned to maximize the economic value of the roxadustat franchise, with more predictable economics and profitability for FibroGen.
Appointed Thane Wettig to the newly-created position of Chief Commercial Officer.
Appointed Aoife Brennan, M.B., B.Ch., President and CEO of Synlogic Inc. (NASDAQ:SYBX) to board of directors effective August 5, 2020.
Appointed Ben Cravatt, Ph.D., Professor and the Norton B. Gilula Chair of Chemical Biology in the Department of Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute to board of directors effective August 5, 2020.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
FibroGen will host a conference call and webcast today, Thursday, August 6, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) to discuss financial results and provide a business update. A live audio webcast of the call may be accessed in the investor section of the company’s website, www.fibrogen.com. To participate in the conference call by telephone, please dial 1 (877) 658-9081 (U.S. and Canada) or 1 (602) 563-8732 (international), reference the FibroGen second quarter 2020 financial results conference call, and use passcode 8363719. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call for a period of two weeks. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international) and use passcode 8363719.
About Roxadustat
Roxadustat is a first-in-class, orally administered small molecule HIF-PH inhibitor that promotes erythropoiesis through increasing endogenous production of erythropoietin, and improved iron absorption, transport and mobilization. Roxadustat is approved in China for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with CKD, both on dialysis and not on dialysis. In Japan it is approved for the treatment of anemia in CKD patients on dialysis and a supplemental NDA for the treatment of anemia in CKD patients not on dialysis is under regulatory review. The roxadustat NDA for the treatment of anemia in CKD is under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of December 20, 2020. The Marketing Authorization Application for roxadustat for the treatment of anemia in CKD was filed by our partner Astellas and accepted by the European Medicines Agency for review on May 21, 2020. Roxadustat is also in clinical development for anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA).
Astellas and FibroGen are collaborating on the development and commercialization of roxadustat for the treatment of anemia in territories including Japan and Europe. AstraZeneca and FibroGen are collaborating on the development and commercialization of roxadustat for the treatment of anemia in the U.S., China, and other markets.
About Pamrevlumab
Pamrevlumab is a first-in-class antibody developed by FibroGen that inhibits the activity of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a common factor in fibrotic and proliferative disorders. Pamrevlumab is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC), and in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and coronavirus (COVID-19). For information about pamrevlumab studies currently recruiting patients, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.