On May 6, 2020 AnaptysBio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANAB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class antibody product candidates focused on emerging immune control mechanisms applicable to inflammation and immuno-oncology indications, reported operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 and provided pipeline updates (Press release, AnaptysBio, MAY 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234557137]).
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"Our wholly-owned pipeline continues to advance with three Phase 2 clinical trial readouts anticipated in the remainder of 2020," said Hamza Suria, president and chief executive officer of AnaptysBio. "AnaptysBio’s capital-efficient business model has resulted in the advancement of 7 internally-generated antibodies to the clinic to date, and we anticipate continued discovery and development of novel antibodies in the upcoming future. We also look forward to significant revenues associated with regulatory filing related milestone payment and future royalties upon FDA approval of dostarlimab under our GSK partnership later this year."
Etokimab (ANB020 Anti-IL-33) Program
AnaptysBio is conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in 100 adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, also referred to as the ECLIPSE trial. Patients are being treated with two multi-dosing frequencies of subcutaneously-administered etokimab or placebo, each in combination with mometasone furoate nasal spray as background therapy. We have over-enrolled this trial beyond the first 100 patients to compensate for lost patient visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and hence anticipate interim top-line data from this trial to be available in the third quarter of 2020.
As previously announced, the Company has decided to postpone the initiation of its planned Phase 2b etokimab clinical trial in eosinophilic asthma, a multi-dose, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 300-400 patients, until results are available from the ECLIPSE trial.
ANB019 (Anti-IL-36 Receptor) Program
In September, AnaptysBio announced positive topline data from an interim analysis of its Phase 2 clinical trial of ANB019 monotherapy in moderate-to-severe generalized pustular psoriasis, or GPP, also known as the GALLOP trial. In this interim analysis, both patients achieved the primary endpoint of disease score improvement at Day 29 and Day 113 without requiring rescue therapy, demonstrated rapid and sustained mJDA score improvement, with reduction of 58% at Day 8 and 63% at Day 113, and showed complete clearance of skin pustules by Day 8 and through Day 113, with CRP levels decreasing to nearly normal. The Company anticipates additional clinical data and a regulatory strategy update for the development of ANB019 in GPP during the second half of 2020.
The Company is also conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-dose Phase 2 trial in 50 patients with palmoplantar pustulosis, or PPP, also known as the POPLAR trial, with topline data anticipated in the second half of 2020.
Enrollment of the GALLOP and POPLAR trials has been enhanced by expanding clinical sites and geographies involved. While the Company does not believe that the aforementioned timelines are materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic at this point, some of the sites involved in the GALLOP and POPLAR trials have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Company will continue to monitor the situation over the upcoming months.
ANB030 (Anti-PD-1 Agonist) Program
ANB030 is a wholly-owned antibody that binds PD-1 in an agonistic manner, leading to reduced T cell activity and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. Genetic mutations in the PD-1 pathway are associated with increased susceptibility to various inflammatory conditions and we believe ANB030 has the potential to suppress inflammatory diseases by restoring insufficient PD-1-mediated negative signaling on activated T cells. The Company plans to focus future clinical development of ANB030 on certain autoimmune diseases where PD-1 checkpoint receptor function may be under-represented. Our Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for ANB030 has been cleared by the FDA and we plan to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in the first half of 2020. Preclinical data from the ANB030 was presented in June at the 2019 FOCIS Annual Meeting.
ANB032 (Anti-BTLA Modulator) Program
Our fourth wholly-owned program is an anti-BTLA modulator antibody, known as ANB032, which is broadly applicable to human inflammatory diseases associated with lymphoid and myeloid immune cell dysregulation. Mutations in the BTLA signaling pathway are associated with human inflammatory disease and we believe ANB032 silences pro-inflammatory signaling by modulating BTLA binding to HVEM. We anticipate filing an IND for ANB032 in the second half of 2020.
Dostarlimab (Anti-PD-1 Antagonist) Program Partnered with GSK
In the first quarter of 2020, the FDA accepted the first Biologics License Application (BLA) filing for dostarlimab, an AnaptysBio-generated PD-1 antagonist antibody under partnership with GSK, for the treatment of endometrial cancer. AnaptysBio received a $10.0 million cash milestone payment upon this acceptance, and anticipates an additional $20.0 million cash milestone upon first FDA approval of dostarlimab during 2020. Also in the first quarter of 2020, the EMA accepted GSK’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for approval of dostarlimab in the EU for endometrial cancer, for which AnaptysBio has earned a $5.0 million milestone payment. Including additional cash milestones due upon future development and commercialization of dostarlimab, TSR-022, an AnaptysBio-generated TIM-3 antibody, and TSR-033, an AnaptysBio-generated LAG-3 antibody, AnaptysBio can potentially receive a total of $1.1 billion in aggregate milestone payments under this GSK partnership. In addition, AnaptysBio is due a 4% to 8% royalty from GSK, tiered upon global sales, for each of the aforementioned programs.
First Quarter Financial Results
Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $412.7 million as of March 31, 2020 compared to $428.5 million as of December 31, 2019, for a decrease of $15.8 million. The decrease relates primarily to cash used for operating activities.
Collaboration revenue was $15.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, which related to milestone payments for successful BLA and MAA filings for dostarlimab, compared to zero for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Research and development expenses were $21.0 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $20.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was due primarily to continued advancement of the Company’s preclinical programs.
General and administrative expenses were $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was due primarily to personnel-related expenses, including share-based compensation.
Net loss was $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, or a net loss per share of $0.30, compared to a net loss of $22.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, or a net loss per share of $0.82.
Financial Guidance
AnaptysBio expects its net cash burn in 2020 will be approximately $60.0 million, and that its cash, cash equivalents and investments will fund its current operating plan at least into 2023.