On August 7, 2024 Applied Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APLT) (the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel drug candidates against validated molecular targets in indications of high unmet medical need, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 (Press release, Applied Therapeutics, AUG 7, 2024, View Source [SID1234645488]).

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"Momentum continues with our steady regulatory progress in Classic Galactosemia and SORD Deficiency," said Shoshana Shendelman, PhD, Founder and CEO of Applied Therapeutics. "We are incredibly pleased to share our alignment with the Neurology Division of the FDA regarding a potential second NDA submission for govorestat for the treatment of SORD Deficiency. Both Galactosemia and SORD Deficiency are rare neurological diseases with no currently approved treatment options. At Applied, we are dedicated to creating transformative treatments for rare diseases, and we continue to work closely with regulatory agencies and patient advocacy groups to ensure that treatments become available for patients with these debilitating diseases."

Recent Highlights

· Govorestat PDUFA Target Action Date of November 28, 2024; MAA under CHMP Review by EMA; Updated Cognition Data Included in Review. In the process of preparing for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection, it was discovered that the vendor hired to compile NIH Toolbox data for the Company used an adult formula for calculation of about one third of composite cognition and motor skills scores. Adjusting the formula to the pediatric formula resulted in significantly improved data for cognition as compared to the prior data, demonstrating improvement in the govorestat (AT-007) treated group of approximately 8 points on a standard scale, which was statistically significant compared to placebo (p=0.032). This also resulted in a statistically significant effect on the primary endpoint sensitivity analysis which included cognition (p=0.034). The motor skills data did not change substantially. These updates were disclosed and discussed with the FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMA) and will be used in the ongoing evaluation of the New Drug Application (NDA) and Marketing Authorization Application (MAA). As previously announced, the FDA Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date is November 28, 2024. Govorestat was previously granted Pediatric Rare Disease designation and will qualify for a Priority Review Voucher (PRV) upon approval. The Company has also submitted a MAA for govorestat for the treatment of Classic Galactosemia to the EMA, which was validated in December 2023 and is under review by the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). As previously announced, in April 2024, the EMA granted a 3-month extension to the Day 120 clock stop period to allow sufficient time for responses to the CHMP’s Day 120 list of questions. The Company expects a decision by the EMA early in the first quarter of 2025. The NDA and MAA submission packages are supported by rapid and sustained reduction in galactitol, which resulted in a meaningful benefit on clinical outcomes across pediatric patients, alongside a favorable safety profile. The submission packages include clinical outcomes data from the Phase 3 registrational ACTION-Galactosemia Kids study in children aged 2-17 with Galactosemia, the Phase 1/2 ACTION-Galactosemia study in adult patients with Galactosemia, and preclinical data. If approved, govorestat would be the first medication indicated for the treatment of Galactosemia and would be Applied Therapeutics’ first commercial product.

· FDA Advisory Committee Meeting to Review Govorestat NDA for the Treatment of Classic Galactosemia Tentatively Scheduled for October 9, 2024. The FDA notified the Company of their tentative plans to convene the Genetic Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee (GeMDAC) on October 9, 2024, to discuss the Company’s NDA for govorestat for the treatment of Classic Galactosemia. The date is tentative and has not yet been confirmed in the federal register. The newly formed GeMDAC will consist of experts in the fields of medical genetics, inborn errors of metabolism, epidemiology, and other related specialties.

· Company Aligned with the Neurology I Division of the FDA on Potential Submission of an NDA for Govorestat for the Treatment of SORD Deficiency Under Accelerated Approval. In July 2024, the Company held a Type C meeting with the FDA to align on the regulatory path forward for govorestat for the treatment of SORD Deficiency. The Neurology I Division confirmed that the data generated to-date was appropriate for a potential NDA submission under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program, and discussed the design of a new confirmatory study to be completed as a post-marketing requirement. The Company plans to hold a pre-NDA meeting to discuss administrative aspects of the submission in the second half of this year, and expects to submit an NDA early in the first quarter of 2025. If govorestat is approved for the treatment of Classic Galactosemia, the regulatory submission for the treatment of SORD will be submitted as a supplementary New Drug Application (sNDA). Patients in the INSPIRE study will be offered open-label govorestat treatment and will be followed for additional safety data generation. The review and potential approval of govorestat for SORD is independent of the ongoing review of govorestat for Classic Galactosemia.

· APLT Added to Russell 3000 Index. In June 2024, as part of the Russell indexes annual reconstitution, the Company was added to the Russell 3000 Index, a market capitalization-weighted equity index that tracks the performance of the largest 3,000 U.S. stocks. Membership of the Russell indexes is primarily determined by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes. Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies.

· Participated in Multiple Medical and Patient Advocacy Group Focused Conferences. In the second and third quarters of 2024, the Company deepened its relationships and partnership with the patient community, presenting data and giving keynote addresses at the following medical meetings and patient advocacy group conferences:

o Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation (HNF) Charcot-Marie Tooth Syndrome (CMT) Summit, June 7-8 in San Diego, California;
o Charcot-Marie-Tooth Associate (CMTA) Strategy to Accelerate Research (STAR) Advisory Board meeting held June 21 in Montreal, Canada;
o Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) 2024 Annual Meeting, held June 22-25 in Montreal, Canada;
o Sponsored and presented at the 2024 Galactosemia Foundation Conference, held July 18-20 in Concord, North Carolina.

Financial Results

· Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $122.2 million as of June 30, 2024, compared with $49.9 million at December 31, 2023.

· Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024, were $10.0 million, compared to $11.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease of approximately $1.9 million was primarily related to decreased expenses associated with clinical and pre-clinical expenses for the near completion of AT-001 and AT-007 and drug manufacturing and formulation costs, partially offset by an increase in regulatory and personnel expenses.

· General and administrative expenses were $10.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $5.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of approximately $5.3 million was primarily related to an increase in legal and professional fees of $1.3 million, an increase in commercial expenses to support planned commercialization of govorestat of $3.5 million, and an increase in personnel expenses of $1.1 million due to increased headcount and salary increases, offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation, insurance expenses and other miscellaneous expense.

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Net income for the second quarter of 2024 was $2.9 million, or $0.02 per basic common share and a net loss of $0.13 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $29.6 million, or $0.37 per basic and diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2023.

· Cash runway: The Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents will fund the business into 2026. Additionally, the Company expects that the sale of the priority review voucher (PRV), which would be granted upon a potential NDA approval of govorestat for the treatment of Galactosemia, could substantially extend the Company’s cash runway.