On May 19, 2021 BerGenBio ASA (OSE:BGBIO), BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for severe unmet medical need, reported its results for the first quarter of 2021 (Press release, BerGenBio, MAY 19, 2021, View Source [SID1234583868]).
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A presentation and live webcast by BerGenBio’s senior management will take place at 10.00 am CEST today, please see below for details.
Operational Highlights – first quarter of 2021 (including post-period end)
COVID-19
Update from investigational Phase II trials assessing bemcentinib in hospitalised COVID-19 patients
Latest data from BGBC020 and ACCORD2 show bemcentinib was well tolerated in hospitalised COVID-19 patients
Recruitment closed in BGBC020 trial assessing bemcentinib in COVID-19 at 96% of target enrolment, with a total of 115 patients enrolled in the Phase II study
ACCORD2 study stopped recruitment at 50% due to a reduction in UK COVID-19 incidence, and to permit a prompt analysis of data
In May 2021 we reported Ventilator Free Survival of 90% in COVID-19 patients treated with bemcentinib plus standard of care, vs 72% in the patients treated with standard of care, in a patient subset with increased disease severity, representing more than 50% of the hospitalised patients in the study.
Survival benefit for patients receiving bemcentinib was numerically greater than for those receiving standard of care only, 96% vs 91% respectively.
Preclinical bemcentinib COVID-19 data presented at the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI)
Bemcentinib demonstrated potent antiviral effects in preclinical SARS-CoV-2 and other coronavirus models
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Updated data from the Phase II bemcentinib combination study (BGBC008) in refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presented at the annual World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC)
Data from cohort B (in refractory patients previously treated with PD-L1 or PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) as monotherapy) showed that bemcentinib is well-tolerated and may reverse acquired resistance to checkpoint inhibition
Completed enrolment of cohort C1 in Phase II bemcentinib combination study in refractory NSCLC
Enrolment of 13 patients into cohort C1 (second line patients refractory to first line treatment with CPIs in combination with chemotherapy) of bemcentinib / pembrolizumab combination study
Tilvestamab
First patient dosed in Phase Ib trial of anti-AXL antibody tilvestamab (BGB149)
Study aims to determine safety, tolerability and recommended phase 2 dose of tilvestamab in patients with platinum resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer
Financial Highlights – first quarter of 2021
(Figures in brackets = same period 2020 unless otherwise stated)
Revenue amounted to NOK 0.0 million (NOK 0.0 million)
Total operating expenses were NOK 83.4 million (NOK 56.2 million), reflecting the increased level of activity related to new clinical trials and organizational expansion
Operating loss of NOK 83.4 million (NOK 56.2 million)
Cash and cash equivalents amounted to NOK 659.4 million (NOK 721.6 million at year end 2020)
Richard Godfrey, Chief Executive Officer of BerGenBio, commented:
"Against the continued backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has understandably been a great deal of interest in the progress of our clinical programme investigating bemcentinib as a potential treatment. While vaccine rollouts in some areas of the world have been proving successful, the severity of the virus’ impact in India, Brazil and elsewhere, combined with the very real risk that vaccine-resistant strains could emerge, clearly show that there remains an urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions, alongside vaccines.
While we are pleased to be playing a role in the continued effort against COVID-19, BerGenBio’s primary focus remains the continued clinical development of bemcentinib as a treatment for cancer indications including acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We remain well financed, have a clear strategy and our organisation is developing to meet the demands of late-stage drug development and delivering value for our shareholders."
Presentation and Webcast Details
A presentation by BerGenBio’s senior management team will take place today at 10:00 am CET and be webcast live.
Webcast link: https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20210519_1
The Q1 2021 Financial report and presentation are available on the Company’s website in the Investors/Financial Reports section and a recording of the webcast will be made available shortly after the webcast has finished.