On April 26, 2022 Ambrx Biopharma Inc., or Ambrx, (NYSE: AMAM), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using an expanded genetic code technology platform to create Engineered Precision Biologics, reported financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2021 (Press release, Ambrx, APR 26, 2022, View Source [SID1234612992]).
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!
"We have made great progress in advancing our engineered precision biologics and clinical pipeline in recent months. We continue to transition preclinical candidates into the clinic and anticipate submitting another IND to the U.S. FDA in 2022. Ambrx has several potential key milestones coming up in the mid-year and into the second half of this year including initiating two clinical trials of ARX788 for Her2+ breast cancer in the neoadjuvant setting, a single agent and a combination trial with an anti-PD-1 agent, and a clinical trial of ARX305 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and other cancers," commented Feng Tian, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Ambrx. "Ambrx has truly positioned itself as a leader in the antibody drug conjugate and precision biologics space, working together with our partners, demonstrating promising data from its ongoing trials. I look forward to furthering our clinical development throughout 2022, bringing value to stakeholders and patients alike."
2H 2021 and Subsequent Clinical Highlights
ARX788 Included in Quantum Leap’s I-SPY 2.2 Phase 2 Clinical Trial in Breast Cancer. In April 2022, Ambrx announced the inclusion of ARX788 in Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative’s I-SPY 2.2 Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. ARX788 will be evaluated as a monotherapy and in combination with cemiplimab, in HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer in the neoadjuvant setting.
Acceptance of an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for ARX305 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In February 2022, Ambrx announced that the FDA had accepted the company’s IND for ARX305 for the treatment of solid and hematological tumors and provided a "Study May Proceed" letter. The acceptance allows Ambrx to prepare a first in human, Phase 1 clinical trial of ARX305.
Positive Data on ARX788 for the Treatment of HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer Presented at SABCS. In December 2021, Ambrx presented positive data from the ACE-Breast-01 Phase 1 clinical trial of ARX788 for the treatment of HER+ positive metastatic breast cancer in patients whose disease is resistant/refractory to HER2 targeted agents including trastuzumab, ADCs, TKIs (tyrosine kinase inhibitors) and bispecific antibodies. At 1.5 mg/kg every three weeks, ARX788 demonstrated robust treatment effect with a disease control rate of 100% in 29 evaluable patients.
First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 ACE-Breast-03 Clinical Trial of ARX788. In November 2021, the company announced that the first patient had been dosed in its global ACE-Breast-03 Phase 2 clinical trial of ARX788 in patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. The Phase 2 trial will measure the objective response rate in patients whose HER2+ metastatic breast cancer is resistant or refractory to T-DM1, and/or T-DXd, and/or tucatinib-containing regiments.
Positive Data on ARX788 for the Treatment of HER2+ Gastric Cancer Presented at CSCO. In October 2021, NovoCodex Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ambrx’s partner in China, presented positive interim data from the ACE-Gastric-01 Phase 1 clinical trial of ARX788 for the treatment of HER2+ metastatic gastric / gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer.
First Patient Dosed in a Phase 1 Trial for ARX517. In August 2021, Ambrx announced that the first patient had been dosed in a Phase 1, multicenter, dose-escalation, and dose expansion trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor activity of ARX517, an ADC being developed to treat subjects with prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expressing tumors.
2H 2021 and Subsequent Corporate Highlights
Strengthened Board of Directors. In February 2022, Ambrx appointed Paul Maier to its Board of Directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee. Mr. Maier joins Ambrx’s Board with more than 25 years in senior operational, international and financial management experience in rapid growth biotechnology companies.
Anticipated Near-Term Milestones
Topline Phase 3 data in ACE-Breast-02 by the end of 2022
Additional Phase 1 data in ACE-Pan Tumor-01 in 2H 2022
Interim Phase 1 safety data in ARX517 for PSMA in 2H 2022
Initiate Phase 1 trial in ARX305 for RCC and other cancers in 2H 2022
Submit IND to FDA for ARX102 in 2H 2022
Financial Highlights
Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents were $170.1 million as of December 31, 2021, compared to $167.2 million for the first half ended June 30, 2021.
Revenue: Revenue was $2.4 million and $7.5 million for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to $7.2 million and $13.7 million for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. The decrease was primarily driven by less revenue recognized in connection with our R&D and license agreements including a cumulative catch-up adjustment, partially offset by increased third party reimbursable charges.
Research and development (R&D) expenses: R&D expenses were $32.7 million and $54.8 million for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to $10.5 million and $20.4 million for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. The increase year over year of $34.4 million was mainly due to increased costs related to clinical trial program spend primarily driven by our ARX788 clinical trials and related manufacturing and outside services costs as well as personnel related costs including stock-based compensation expense.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses: G&A expenses were $8.7 million and $17.1 million for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to $3.8 million and $6.4 million for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2020, respectively. The increase year over year of $10.7 million was mainly attributable to professional services and fees in connection with preparing for Ambrx’s IPO and operating as a public company, expenses associated with the corporate structure reorganization, and personnel related costs including stock-based compensation expense.
Other expenses: Other expense, net, for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2021 was zero and $3.9 million, respectively, as compared to $4.7 million for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2020.
Net loss: Net loss for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2021 was $39.1 million and $68.1 million, respectively, as compared to $11.1 million and $16.5 million for the six months and full year ended December 31, 2020, respectively.