On November 4, 2021 Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO), a genomic medicine company, reported third quarter financial results and provided business and clinical highlights (Press release, Sangamo Therapeutics, NOV 4, 2021, View Source [SID1234594372]).
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"We are delighted to share clinical data and business updates across several programs demonstrating that Sangamo has three important assets progressing toward late-stage development. Our gene therapy portfolio is advancing with accumulating safety and efficacy data in our Fabry and hemophilia A programs, and preliminary proof-of-concept data demonstrate the clinical potential of our zinc finger genome engineering technology in sickle cell disease. These data readouts show the progression of our first-generation genomic medicine pipeline and potentially pave the way for new treatments. Our next generation programs focus on genome regulation and allogeneic CAR-Treg cell therapy, where we have a robust preclinical pipeline in neurological and autoimmune diseases. We are energized by this momentum and look forward to continued execution of our corporate strategy," said Sandy Macrae, Chief Executive Officer of Sangamo.
Recent Clinical and Business Highlights
Fabry Disease – First four patients dosed exhibited above normal α-Gal A activity; Phase 3 planning initiated
Earlier today, we announced preliminary clinical data from the first four patients treated in our Phase 1/2 STAAR study evaluating isaralgagene civaparvovec, or ST-920, our wholly owned Fabry disease gene therapy product candidate. Data as of the September 17, 2021 cutoff date from the four patients in the first two dose cohorts showed that isaralgagene civaparvovec was generally well tolerated. All four patients exhibited above normal alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) activity, which was maintained for up to one year for the first patient treated and through 14 weeks for the most recently treated patient. Activity of 2-fold to 15-fold above mean normal was observed at last measurement as of the cutoff date. Withdrawal from enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has taken place for one patient and is planned for the other patient on ERT, based on the stability of their α-Gal A activity following treatment.
The fifth patient in the STAAR study, who is the first patient in the third cohort (3e13vg/kg), was dosed after the cutoff date. The sixth patient is currently in screening also for the third dose cohort. We expect to provide updated data throughout 2022 and present these results at a medical meeting.
Based on the STAAR study results to date, we have initiated planning for a Phase 3 Fabry disease clinical trial.
Sickle Cell Disease – Preliminary-proof-of-concept data will be presented at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) as clinical program advances
Preliminary proof-of-concept results from the Phase 1/2 PRECIZN-1 study investigating SAR445136, formerly BIVV003, an investigational zinc finger nuclease gene edited cell therapy, in patients with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) will be presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) on December 12, 2021. Results as of the June 25, 2021 cutoff date show that all four treated patients did not require blood transfusions post engraftment and had no adverse or serious adverse events related to SAR445136 through 65 weeks of follow-up for the longest treated patient. The four treated patients all experienced increases in total hemoglobin, fetal hemoglobin and percent F cells.
We and Sanofi continue to advance the sickle cell disease program. We recently obtained manufacturing requirements guidance from FDA in preparation for further potential clinical studies. Separately, we and Sanofi made the business decision to cease development of the beta thalassemia indication in order to focus resources on the sickle cell disease program. ST-400 for beta thalassemia was developed with the support of a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
Hemophilia A – Four patients at highest dose experienced mean FVIII activity of 30.9% at week 104
Updated follow-up results from the Phase 1/2 Alta study of giroctocogene fitelparvovec gene therapy in patients with severe hemophilia A will be presented at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) on December 12, 2021. For the four patients in the highest dose 3e13vg/kg cohort who have reached 104 weeks of follow-up as of the May 19, 2021 cutoff date, mean Factor VIII (FVIII) activity was 30.9% at week 104 as measured by chromogenic assay. In this cohort, the annualized bleeding rate was zero for the first year after treatment and 0.9 throughout total duration of follow-up. Giroctocogene fitelparvovec was generally well tolerated.
We and Pfizer also announced that some of the patients treated in the Phase 3 AFFINE trial of giroctocogene fitelparvovec experienced FVIII activity greater than 150% following treatment. None of these patients have experienced thrombotic events and some have been treated with direct oral anticoagulants to reduce thrombotic risk. Pfizer voluntarily paused screening and dosing of additional patients in the trial to implement a protocol amendment intending to provide guidance regarding the management of patients with FVIII levels that exceed 150%. On November 3, 2021, Pfizer was informed that the FDA has put this trial on clinical hold. The next step is to share the proposed protocol amendment with health authorities and respond to the clinical hold, after which the Companies will be able to provide updated timing for the trial.
Renal Transplant – First patient enrolled, expect two patients to be dosed by mid-2022
The first patient has been enrolled in our Phase 1/2 STEADFAST study evaluating TX200, our wholly owned autologous HLA-A2 CAR Treg cell therapy product candidate treating patients receiving an HLA-A2 mismatched kidney from a living donor. We expect the first two patients in this study to be dosed by the middle of 2022 following kidney transplantation. We continue to open study sites and screen patients.
Research, Manufacturing, and Corporate Updates
Biogen announced type 1 myotonic dystrophy (DM1) as the previously undisclosed neuromuscular preclinical target in our collaboration.
We recently completed and brought online our in-house cell therapy manufacturing facility in our Brisbane, California headquarters and remain on track to complete our in-house cell therapy manufacturing facility in Valbonne, France by year-end.
We appointed D. Mark McClung as Chief Operating Officer, an important organizational step to support the multiple advancing wholly owned and partnered programs.
Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results
Consolidated net loss attributable to Sangamo for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 was $47.7 million, or $0.33 per share, compared to a net loss attributable to Sangamo of $1.6 million, or $0.01 per share, for the same period in 2020.
Revenues
Revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, were $28.6 million, compared to $57.8 million for the same period in 2020, a decrease of $29.2 million.
The reduction in revenue was primarily due to a $39.3 million decrease related to our giroctocogene fitelparvovec and C9ORF72 collaboration agreements with Pfizer, resulting from the completion of our activities in 2020, and a $2.3 million decrease related to our collaboration agreement with Sanofi. These decreases were partially offset by higher revenues of $11.5 million and $1.3 million related to our collaboration agreements with Novartis and Biogen, respectively.
GAAP and Non-GAAP operating expenses
Total operating expenses on a GAAP basis for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 were $77.0 million compared to $61.5 million for the same period in 2020. Non-GAAP operating expenses, which exclude stock-based compensation expense, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 were $69.1 million compared to $54.8 million for the same period in 2020.
The increase in total operating expenses on a GAAP basis was primarily driven by our higher clinical and manufacturing supply expenses along with our increased headcount to support the advancement of our clinical trials and our ongoing collaborations.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2021 were $519.0 million compared to $692.0 million as of December 31, 2020.
Revised Financial Guidance for 2021
We are revising our full-year operating expense guidance initially provided on February 24, 2021 and reiterated most recently on August 5, 2021 as follows:
Conference Call
Sangamo will host a conference call today, November 4, 2021, at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time, which will be open to the public. The call and live Q&A will be webcast.
The conference call dial-in numbers are (877) 377-7553 for domestic callers and (678) 894-3968 for international callers. The conference ID number for the call is 5178059. Participants may access the live webcast via a link on the Sangamo Therapeutics website in the Investors and Media section under Events and Presentations. Call replay will be available for one week following the conference call. The conference call replay numbers for domestic and international callers are (855) 859-2056 and (404) 537-3406, respectively. The conference ID number for the replay is 5178059.