On August 9, 2018 Dova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DOVA), a pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing drug candidates for rare diseases where there is a high unmet need, reported its operating and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, Dova Pharmaceuticals, AUG 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234528822]).

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"In the second quarter, we achieved our most significant milestone in Dova’s corporate history with the approval and launch of DOPTELET in the United States" said Alex C. Sapir, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dova. "We are pleased with the feedback we are hearing from physicians both in terms of how the drug is performing clinically, as well as the reimbursement support their patients are receiving through DOVA1SOURCE. This has translated to a high level of payer approval, as over 80% of referrals have been approved. In addition, we remain well-positioned financially, with approximately $135M in cash and equivalents to fund the operational success of the company for the foreseeable future."

DOPTLET Launch Highlights

·On May 21st, DOPTELET was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) who are scheduled to undergo a procedure. DOPTELET was launched in the United States on June 4th.

·A total of 148 health care professionals have prescribed DOPTELET to their patients since launch with an increasing number using DOPTELET for multiple patients within their practice.

· For prescriptions that have completed the adjudication process with payers, the Company has seen greater than 80% of those prescriptions approved by the payer with an average approval time of 6.9 days.

·The Company has made significant progress in its outreach efforts to target prescribers having reached 62% of top hepatologists an average of 3.1 times since launch.

· Pivotal Phase 3 data for DOPTELET were published in Gastroenterology (View Source). The data were also highlighted at several key global scientific conferences including Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2018, the 23rd Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper), and the 64th International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH).

Other Important Highlights for the Quarter

·On April 27th, the Company submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for DOPTELET for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with CLD who are scheduled to undergo a procedure. The EMA has granted a Standard Review Assessment with a targeted decision date of July 2019.

· A supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for the treatment of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an inadequate response to a previous treatment remains on track for submission to the FDA in the third quarter of 2018.

· The Company has initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT).

· The Company repaid, in full, the secured promissory note that was issued to Eisai on March 31, 2016 of $31.1 million. The Company refinanced a portion of the note by entering into a Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) for $20.0 million on April 17, 2018. The loan matures on April 17, 2021 unless a specified revenue milestone is achieved in which case the maturity date will be extended to April 17, 2022.

·Nancy J. Wysenski, an industry veteran with over 30 years of commercial and sales leadership, joined the Company’s Board of Directors. As the former Chief Commercial Officer at Vertex, she was responsible for launching Incivek, a treatment for hepatitis C, which is considered by many to be the most successful drug launch in U.S. history.

Dova will provide an update and additional details on DOPTELET’s launch activities during today’s call as well as at its upcoming Investor and Analyst Day scheduled for September 20, 2018 in New York City, New York. To RSVP for this event, please email John Woolford at [email protected].

Second Quarter and Financial Results

Dova reported a net loss of $20.0 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to a net loss of $5.5 million for the same period in 2017.

For the second quarter of 2018, Dova reported net product sales from DOPTELET of $2.0 million. The Company recognizes revenue using the sell-in methodology when products are delivered to its specialty pharmacy partners. The majority of net sales recognized in the quarter were related to the initial stocking of DOPTELET at the specialty pharmacies. In addition, in March 2018, Dova entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Industrial

Development Co., Ltd., (Fosun Pharma Industrial). Dova received a $5.0 million upfront payment from Fosun Pharma Industrial of which $2.6 million was recognized as revenue during the second quarter of 2018. There were no product sales or other revenue in the second quarter of 2017.

Cost of product sales for the second quarter were $0.5 million, of which approximately $0.3 million consisted of a one-time stock-based compensation charge.

Research and development expenses were $4.5 million in the second quarter of 2018, compared to $3.3 million for the same period in 2017. The increase was primarily due to the initiation of Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate DOPTELET for patients with thrombocytopenia undergoing surgery regardless of disease etiology and chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $18.6 million in the second quarter of 2018, compared to $1.9 million for the same period in 2017. The increase was primarily due to building Dova’s commercial infrastructure to support the launch of DOPTELET, increased corporate infrastructure, and additional costs associated with operating as a public company.

As of June 30, 2018, Dova had $134.7 million in cash and equivalents compared to $94.8 million as of December 31, 2017.

Company to Host Conference Call

Dova will host a conference call today, August 9, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss second quarter 2018 financial results and recent operational highlights. A question-and-answer session will follow Dova’s remarks.

To participate on the live call, please dial 866-550-8145 (domestic) or +1-430-775-1344 (international) and provide the conference ID 9093837 five to 10 minutes before the start of the call.

A live audio webcast of the call will also be available via the "Investor Relations" page of the Dova website, www.dova.com. Please log on through Dova’s website approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. A replay of the webcast will be archived on Dova’s website for 90 days following the call.

Indication and Important Safety Information

INDICATION

DOPTELET (avatrombopag) is indicated for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic liver disease who are scheduled to undergo a procedure.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

DOPTELET is a thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist and TPO receptor agonists have been associated with thrombotic and thromboembolic complications in patients with chronic liver disease. Portal vein thrombosis has been reported in patients with chronic liver disease treated with TPO receptor agonists. In the ADAPT-1 and ADAPT-2 clinical trials, there was 1 treatment-emergent event of portal vein thrombosis in a patient (n=1/430) with chronic liver disease and thrombocytopenia treated with DOPTELET.

Consider the potential increased thrombotic risk when administering DOPTELET to patients with known risk factors for thromboembolism, including genetic prothrombotic conditions (Factor V Leiden, Prothrombin 20210A, Antithrombin deficiency or Protein C or S deficiency).

DOPTELET should not be administered to patients with chronic liver disease in an attempt to normalize platelet counts.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

None

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Most common adverse reactions (> 3%) were: pyrexia, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, fatigue, and edema peripheral.

Please see full Prescribing Information for DOPTELET (avatrombopag) www.doptelet.com

On August 9, 2018 JHL Biotech has reported it received a positive Scientific Advice from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) related to the EU approval pathway for its proposed bevacizumab biosimilar, JHL1149 to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Press release, JHL Biotech, AUG 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234528582]).

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The EMA, like other regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and State Drug Administration of China (SDA), adopts the principle of a step-wise approach and the totality of the evidence from all studies in regulating the development and approval of biosimilars. In its correspondence to JHL, the EMA confirmed it agrees with JHL’s development approach, clinical development proposal, and study design of the global Phase III clinical study for JHL1149 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on the EMA’s review of these factors, the results of the Phase III clinical study will be acceptable for the submission of a Marketing Authorization Application as a biosimilar product, assuming the Phase III trial is completed successfully

On August 9, 2018 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, Puma Biotechnology, AUG 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234528600]). Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are for the second quarter 2018 compared to the second quarter 2017.

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On July 17, 2017, Puma Biotechnology received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for NERLYNX (neratinib) for the treatment of early stage HER2-positive breast cancer following adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy, and the Company began shipment to wholesalers at the end of July 2017. Prior to the launch of NERLYNX the Company had no product revenue. Net product revenue from sales of NERLYNX in the second quarter of 2018 amounted to $50.8 million, compared to net product revenue of $36.0 million and $20.1 million in the first quarter of 2018 and fourth quarter of 2017, respectively.

Based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), Puma reported a net loss applicable to common stock of $44.3 million, or $1.17 per share, for the second quarter of 2018, compared to a net loss applicable to common stock of $77.8 million, or $2.10 per share, for the second quarter of 2017. Net loss applicable to common stock for the first six months of 2018 was $68.7 million, or $1.82 per share, compared to $150.7 million, or $4.08 per share, for the first six months of 2017.

Non-GAAP adjusted net loss was $22.2 million, or $0.59 per share, for the second quarter of 2018, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $50.9 million, or $1.38 per share, for the second quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss for the first six months of 2018 was $21.2 million, or $0.56 per share, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $94.0 million, or $2.54 per share, for the first six months of 2017. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss excludes stock-based compensation expense, which represents a significant portion of overall expense and has no impact on the cash position of the Company. For a reconciliation of GAAP net loss to non-GAAP adjusted net loss and GAAP net loss per share to non-GAAP adjusted net loss per share, please see the financial tables at the end of this news release.

Net cash used in operating activities for the second quarter of 2018 was $17.6 million. Net cash used in operating activities for the first six months of 2018 was $23.9 million. At June 30, 2018, Puma had cash and cash equivalents of $95.9 million and marketable securities of $38.6 million, compared to cash and cash equivalents of $81.7 million at December 31, 2017.

"In the second quarter of 2018, we saw strong commercial progress for Puma," said Alan H. Auerbach, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Puma. "We continued to grow NERLYNX sales in the United States, with net sales of NERLYNX rising approximately 41% from the 2018 first quarter. We were also pleased that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion recommending marketing authorization for NERLYNX for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage hormone receptor positive HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer and who are less than one year from the completion of prior adjuvant trastuzumab based therapy. The CHMP recommendation will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU)."

Mr. Auerbach added, "We anticipate the following key milestones over the next 12 months: (i) in the third quarter of 2018, a decision by the European Commission (EC) regarding the Marketing Authorisation Application for neratinib; (ii) in the second half of 2018 or first half of 2019, reporting data from the Phase III NALA trial in third-line metastatic breast cancer patients; (iii) in the second half of 2018 and first half of 2019, submitting for regulatory approval of NERLYNX for the extended adjuvant HER2-positive early stage breast cancer indication in additional countries; (iv) in the fourth quarter of 2018, reporting additional data from the Phase II CONTROL trial; and (v) in the fourth quarter of 2018 and first half of 2019, reporting additional data from the Phase II SUMMIT trial."

Revenue

Total revenue consists of net product revenue from sales of NERLYNX, Puma’s first and only commercial product to date, and license revenue. The FDA approved NERLYNX for commercial sale in the United States in July 2017 and Puma commenced shipment to wholesalers in late July. For the second quarter of 2018, total revenue was $50.8 million, all of which was net product revenue. For the first six months of 2018, total revenue was $117.3 million, of which $86.8 million was net product revenue and $30.5 million was license revenue received from Puma’s sub-licensees.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating costs and expenses were $92.2 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $78.2 million for the second quarter of 2017. Operating costs and expenses for the first six months of 2018 were $182.1 million, compared to $151.4 million for the first six months of 2017.

Cost of Sales:

Cost of sales was $8.8 million for the second quarter of 2018 and $15.2 million for the first six months of 2018. The Company had no product sales prior to the third quarter of 2017.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $40.1 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $24.9 million for the second quarter of 2017. SG&A expenses for the first six months of 2018 were $76.7 million, compared to $43.3 million for the first six months of 2017. This approximately $33.4 million increase was attributable to an increase of approximately $8.5 million in external expenses, such as marketing, commercialization support and commercial strategy. Additionally, internal expenses increased approximately $22.0 million, primarily due to the hiring of a salesforce for the commercialization of NERLYNX in the United States. Finally, employee stock-based compensation increased approximately $2.9 million due to the hiring of the salesforce in conjunction with the NERLYNX commercial launch. Puma expects SG&A expenses in 2018 and into 2019 to remain higher than in 2017 as it launches NERLYNX commercially in the United States and other territories.

Research and Development Expenses:

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $43.3 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $53.3 million for the second quarter of 2017. R&D expenses for the first six months of 2018 were $90.2 million, compared to $108.1 million for the first six months of 2017. The $17.9 million year-to-date decrease resulted primarily from a decrease of approximately $12.1 million for stock-based compensation and a decrease of approximately $9.0 million for clinical trial expenses. This was partially offset by an increase of approximately $3.2 million in other expenses, such as additional personnel needed to support medical affairs and quality assurance. We expect R&D expenses in 2018 to continue to decline slightly when compared with R&D expenses in 2017 based on a decline in clinical trial activities as existing trials continue to wind down.

On August 9, 2018 Magenta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MGTA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines to bring the curative power of bone marrow transplant to more patients, reported financial results and business highlights for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 (Press release, Magenta Therapeutics, AUG 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234528624]).

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"Magenta has made important progress this year toward realizing our long-term vision of broadening the curative potential of bone marrow transplant to more patients and building a fully integrated biotechnology company. The first half of 2018 has been particularly productive for us with the advancement of MGTA-456 into a Phase 2 study and the completion of our Series C financing and initial public offering," said Jason Gardner, D.Phil., chief executive officer, president and co-founder, Magenta Therapeutics. "We are in a strong financial position to continue advancing our programs, and we plan to share data updates from several programs before the end of the year, including preliminary clinical data from our Phase 2 study of MGTA-456 in patients with inherited metabolic disorders."

Recent Business Highlights:

Transplanted First Patient in Phase 2 Study of MGTA-456: Magenta announced in April 2018 that the first patient was treated in a Phase 2 study of MGTA-456 in inherited metabolic disorders. MGTA-456 is a first-in-class allogeneic stem cell therapy consisting of a single umbilical cord blood unit expanded with an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) antagonist then administered to a patient through a bone marrow transplant.

Strengthened Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board: In April 2018, Magenta announced the addition of Amy Ronneberg, President of Be The Match BioTherapies, to its Board of Directors. Megan Sykes, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and Surgical Sciences at Columbia University Medical Center, joined Magenta’s Scientific Advisory Board in April 2018, and Bruce Blazar, M.D., Regents Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at the University of Minnesota, joined Magenta’s Scientific Advisory Board in June 2018.

Raised $52 Million in Series C Financing: In April 2018, Magenta completed a Series C financing, raising $52 million. The oversubscribed Series C financing was led by Casdin Capital, with participation from new investors EcoR1 Capital, Eventide Asset Management, Watermill Asset Management and additional long-term institutional investors. Existing investors Be the Match BioTherapies and Access Industries also participated.

Successfully Completed Initial Public Offering: In June 2018, Magenta successfully completed an initial public offering of 6,666,667 common shares at $15.00 per share, raising net proceeds of $90 million.

Financial Results:

Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2018, were $173.4 million compared to $51.4 million on December 31, 2017. The increase is primarily driven by proceeds from the $52 million Series C preferred stock financing completed in April 2018, and net proceeds of $90 million from Magenta’s IPO completed in June 2018. Magenta anticipates that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund operations and capital expenditures through at least the first quarter of 2020 on the Company’s current business plan.

Research and Development Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $9.7 million in the second quarter of 2018, compared to $13.8 million for the same period in 2017. The decrease was largely due to the prior year cost of in-licensing technology related to the rights to MGTA-456, partially offset by increased R&D personnel costs associated with the growth of the Company, the advancement of the MGTA-456 Phase 2 clinical trial and continued progression of the Company’s pipeline.

General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $4.3 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $1.9 million for the same period in 2017. The increase was largely due to increased G&A personnel costs associated with the growth of the Company and professional fees related to supporting operations as a public company.

Net Loss: Net loss was $13.7 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to net loss of $15.7 million for the same period in 2017.

On August 9, 2018 Sesen Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: SESN), a late-stage clinical company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies for the treatment of cancer, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to Vicinium for the treatment of BCG-unresponsive high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (Press release, Eleven Biotherapeutics, AUG 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234528823]). Vicinium, Sesen Bio’s lead product candidate, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 registration trial, the VISTA Trial, for the treatment of patients with high-grade NMIBC who have previously received two courses of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and whose disease is now BCG-unresponsive.

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"The granting of this designation is an important milestone for Sesen Bio, and we believe it exemplifies the urgent need for a new treatment option for people with NMIBC for whom bladder removal is the recommended course after BCG," said Dr. Thomas Cannell, president and chief executive officer of Sesen Bio. "We are highly encouraged by the differentiated product profile of Vicinium in NMIBC, with a unique mechanism of action, positive three-month data presented earlier this year and favorable tolerability in patients treated to-date. With Fast Track designation, we look forward to determining the optimal registration path and assessing the opportunity for accelerated approval to bring Vicinium to patients as quickly as possible."

The FDA’s Fast Track process is designed to expedite the development and review of drugs used to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and fill an unmet medical need. Fast Track designation allows for frequent communication and interactions with the review team at the FDA throughout the drug development and review process, with the goal of providing faster drug approval and greater patient access.

Enrollment is complete in the Phase 3 VISTA Trial and the company expects to report 12-month efficacy results in mid-2019.

About Vicinium
Vicinium, also known as VB4-845, is Sesen Bio’s lead product candidate and is a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), developed using the company’s proprietary Targeted Protein Therapeutics platform, for the treatment of high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Vicinium is comprised of a recombinant fusion protein that targets epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antigens on the surface of tumor cells to deliver a potent protein payload, Pseudomonas Exotoxin A (ETA). Vicinium is constructed with a stable, genetically engineered peptide linker to ensure the payload remains attached until it is internalized by the cancer cell, which is believed to decrease the risk of toxicity to healthy tissues, thereby improving its safety. In prior clinical trials conducted by Sesen Bio, EpCAM has been shown to be overexpressed in NMIBC cells with minimal to no EpCAM expression observed on normal bladder cells. Sesen Bio is currently conducting the Phase 3 VISTA Trial, designed to support the registration of Vicinium for the treatment of high-grade NMIBC in patients who have previously received two courses of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and whose disease is now BCG-unresponsive. Twelve-month data from the trial are anticipated in mid-2019. Additionally, Sesen Bio believes that Vicinium’s cancer cell-killing properties promote an anti-tumor immune response that may potentially combine well with immuno-oncology drugs, such as checkpoint inhibitors. The activity of Vicinium in BCG-unresponsive NMIBC is also being explored at the US National Cancer Institute in combination with AstraZeneca’s immune checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab.