On August 11, 2023 Black Diamond Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDTX), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing MasterKey therapies that target families of oncogenic mutations in patients with genetically defined cancers, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, and provided a corporate update (Press release, Black Diamond Therapeutics, AUG 11, 2023, View Source [SID1234634271]).
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"The second quarter of 2023 marked a crucial period of clinical and operational execution for Black Diamond, and I am incredibly pleased with our initial dose escalation data demonstrating a favorable tolerability profile and clinical proof of activity for BDTX-1535 in NSCLC patients harboring acquired resistance and intrinsic driver EGFR mutations. With these data in hand, we believe we are well positioned for rapid advancement of this novel MasterKey inhibitor for NSCLC patients and are looking forward to meeting with FDA later this year to discuss our dose optimization strategy that may enable a potential accelerated approval pathway as well as the opportunity to study BDTX-1535 in newly diagnosed NSCLC patients with intrinsic driver mutations," said David Epstein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Diamond Therapeutics. "Our recently completed underwritten public offering provides us with a strong cash position and extended runway to execute on the robust set of upcoming milestones for BDTX-1535 and our broader pipeline, all with the goal of bringing our MasterKey therapies to patients in need."
Recent Developments & Upcoming Milestones:
BDTX-1535:
•In June 2023, Black Diamond announced initial clinical data from the dose escalation portion of the Phase 1 clinical study of BDTX-1535, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) MasterKey inhibitor, demonstrating a favorable tolerability profile and clinical proof of activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring both acquired resistance and intrinsic driver EGFR mutations. Key highlights from the readout include:
◦Confirmed radiographic partial response (PR) by RECIST 1.1 achieved across predicted therapeutic doses in 5 of 12 NSCLC patients in a subgroup, who had measurable disease at study start, and underwent post baseline tumor assessment by RECIST 1.1. One additional patient demonstrated unconfirmed PR, while the remaining six patients had stable disease.
◦Confirmed PRs were observed in NSCLC patients with a wide range of EGFR mutations including classical and intrinsic driver mutations and acquired C797S resistance mutation, as well as complex mutations that include a combination of classical, intrinsic, and acquired resistance mutations. Two NSCLC patients demonstrated radiographic improvement in the peripheral disease and central nervous system (CNS) metastases.
◦BDTX-1535 was generally well tolerated by NSCLC and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients and the overall safety profile was consistent with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) class of drugs. The most common drug-related adverse events were mild to moderate rash, diarrhea, stomatitis, paronychia, nausea and fatigue. No patients experienced dose limiting toxicity at 15-200 mg once-daily (QD) doses. One of 15 patients treated at the 300 mg QD dose experienced dose limiting diarrhea and 5 of 12 patients at the 400 mg QD dose experienced dose limiting toxicity (diarrhea, 2 patients; rash, stomatitis, fatigue and decreased appetite, 1 patient each). No unexpected safety signal was identified during dose escalation.
•In July 2023, Black Diamond initiated expansion cohorts to assess overall response rate (ORR) by RECIST 1.1 in NSCLC patients with EGFR acquired resistance mutations after progression on a third generation EGFR TKI and intrinsic driver mutations after progression on an EGFR TKI.
•Black Diamond anticipates the following key milestones for BDTX-1535:
◦Presentation of the full BDTX-1535 dose escalation data in NSCLC at a medical conference in the fourth quarter of 2023.
◦Meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the fourth quarter of 2023 to align on dosing strategy to enable a potential accelerated approval pathway in NSCLC.
◦Initiation of an expansion cohort in newly diagnosed NSCLC patients with intrinsic driver mutations after discussion with the FDA.
◦Clinical update on BDTX-1535 Phase 1 dose escalation data in recurrent GBM patients in the fourth quarter of 2023.
BDTX-4933:
•BDTX-4933 is designed as a brain-penetrant, oral MasterKey inhibitor of oncogenic BRAF Class I, II and III and RAS mutations, while also avoiding paradoxical activation.
•In April 2023, Black Diamond presented a poster at the 2023 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, outlining its approach to characterizing RAF, RAS and MAPK pathways in addition to the design and preclinical development of BDTX-4933. Based on preclinical data, BDTX-4933 has a potential best-in-class profile to treat cancer patients harboring oncogenic BRAF Class I, II, III and RAS mutations, with or without brain disease.
•Black Diamond initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial for BDTX-4933 in select indications for patients harboring all-class BRAF or RAS mutations in the second quarter of 2023.
BDTX-4876:
•BDTX-4876 is a development candidate FGFR 2/3 MasterKey inhibitor, selective against FGFR 2 and 3 alterations, while sparing FGFR 1 and 4.
•Black Diamond is evaluating strategic alternatives for BDTX-4876 as it deepens focus on its two clinical-stage assets.
Discovery-Stage Pipeline and MAP Drug Discovery Engine:
•Black Diamond continues to leverage its Mutation-Allostery-Pharmacology (MAP) drug discovery engine to advance its discovery-stage pipeline to bring therapies to underserved patients and expects to progress another undisclosed program in solid tumors to development candidate nomination in 2023.
Corporate:
•In June 2023, Black Diamond announced the promotion of Melanie Morrison to Chief Development Officer.
•In July 2023, Black Diamond closed an underwritten public offering (Follow-on Offering) of 15,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $5.00 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $75.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.
Financial Highlights
•Cash Position: Black Diamond ended the second quarter of 2023 with approximately $89.5 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments compared to $122.8 million as of December 31, 2022. Net cash used in operations was $14.4 million for the second quarter of 2023 compared to $18.1 million for the second quarter of 2022.
•Research and Development Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $13.2 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $16.2 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease in R&D expenses was primarily due to reduced clinical trial activities stemming from the discontinuation of the development of BDTX-189 to focus on advancement of the Company’s pipeline programs, BDTX-1535 and BDTX-4933.
•General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $6.9 million for the second quarter of 2023, compared to $7.0 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease in G&A expenses was primarily due to a decrease in legal and other professional fees.
•Net Loss: Net loss for the second quarter of 2023 was $20.0 million, as compared to $23.2 million for the same period in 2022.
Financial Guidance
•Black Diamond ended the second quarter of 2023 with approximately $89.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments. The Company believes that the net proceeds from the Follow-on Offering, together with its existing cash, cash equivalents and investments, will enable the Company to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the first half of 2025.