Horizon Pharma plc Reports Record Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2018 Net Sales Driven by Orphan and Rheumatology Segment; Announces Full-Year 2019 Guidance

on February 27, 2019 Horizon Pharma plc (Nasdaq: HZNP) reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 financial results and provided its full-year 2019 net sales and adjusted EBITDA guidance (Press release, Horizon Pharma, FEB 27, 2019, View Source [SID1234533746]).

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"2018 was a year of exceptional progress – in addition to generating total company net sales growth of 14 percent, we executed on our strategic objectives – advancing our pipeline and driving net sales growth of KRYSTEXXA, which increased 65 percent," said Timothy P. Walbert, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Horizon Pharma plc. "We enrolled the Phase 3 trial of our biologic candidate teprotumumab well ahead of schedule and are now expecting top-line data by the end of the first quarter.

"We are building on the momentum we established in 2018 and expect continued strong commercial execution across our operating segments," continued Walbert. "We plan to submit our biologics license application for teprotumumab in mid-2019 if the clinical data is positive and expect to initiate two important clinical trials for KRYSTEXXA, with the MIRROR trial initiating in the second quarter and a new study in kidney transplant patients with uncontrolled gout beginning in the second half of 2019."

Fourth-Quarter and Recent Company Highlights

Accelerated Teprotumumab Phase 3 Top-Line Data Read-Out Timeline: The Company announced in January that it expects top-line data results for its pivotal teprotumumab Phase 3 confirmatory trial, OPTIC (Treatment of Graves’ Orbitopathy (Thyroid Eye Disease) to Reduce Proptosis with Teprotumumab Infusions in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study), by the end of first quarter of 2019. This is accelerated from the initial second quarter of 2019 timeline, and the Company is tracking to a mid-2019 biologics license application (BLA) submission.

Teprotumumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor in Phase 3 development for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED), in which the muscles and fatty tissue behind the eye expand and become inflamed, which can lead to proptosis (eye bulging) and diplopia (double vision) as well as quality-of-life issues.
Phase 2 Teprotumumab Data Presented at American Thyroid Association (ATA)and American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Meetings: Additional data for the pivotal Phase 2 teprotumumab trial presented at ATA and AAO demonstrated durability of the Phase 2 trial 48 weeks following the end of the treatment period (Week 24) and nearly a year off therapy. At Week 24, 71.4 percent (30 of 42) of patients responded with reductions of ≥2mm in proptosis and 61.9 percent of patients (26 of 42) responded with improvement of at least one grade in diplopia, both of which are considered a clinically meaningful change. At Week 72, 48 weeks following the study completion and nearly a year off therapy, 53.3 percent of the Week 24 proptosis responders maintained the reductions and 69.2 percent of patients with diplopia improvement maintained the benefit. These results demonstrate that teprotumumab has the potential to be the first and only disease-modifying therapy for thyroid eye disease.
New KRYSTEXXA Study in Kidney Transplant Patients with Uncontrolled Gout: The Company is announcing today that it plans to initiate a clinical trial in the second half of 2019 evaluating the effect of KRYSTEXXA, the Company’s medicine for uncontrolled gout, on serum uric acid levels in kidney transplant patients with uncontrolled gout (uncontrolled gout is chronic gout that is refractory to conventional therapies). Kidney transplant patients have more than a tenfold increase in the prevalence of gout when compared to the general population, and literature suggests that high serum uric acid levels are associated with organ rejection. Managing uncontrolled gout is one of the most common and significant unmet needs of kidney transplant patients.
New KRYSTEXXA Immunomodulation Data Presented at American College of Rheumatology/ Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR) Meeting: At the October 2018 ACR meeting, external investigators shared results from a case series of nine sequential patients with uncontrolled gout, evaluating the administration of KRYSTEXXA with the immunomodulator methotrexate to improve the durability of KRYSTEXXA response. The study stated that of the nine patients followed out to five months, all nine were responders as defined by >80 percent of serum uric acid levels being maintained at goal <6.0 mg/dL during the observation period.
Expanded Indication for RAVICTI: The Company received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in December to expand the age range for chronic management of urea cycle disorders to birth and older from the previous age range of two months of age and older.
Recent Business Development Initiatives: On Dec. 28, 2018, the Company sold the rights to RAVICTI and AMMONAPS outside of North America and Japan to Medical Need Europe AB for $35 million. In addition, effective Jan. 1, 2019, the RAYOS and LODOTRA license and supply agreements were amended, including the transfer of LODOTRA to Vectura Group plc, the current third-party supplier. Beginning in 2019, the Company will no longer recognize revenue from RAVICTI and AMMONAPS sales outside of North America and Japan, or from sales of LODOTRA. AMMONAPS is known as BUPHENYL and LODOTRA is known as RAYOS in the United States.
Research and Development Programs

Orphan Candidate and Program:

Teprotumumab: The pivotal Phase 3 confirmatory study, OPTIC, is evaluating teprotumumab for the treatment of TED, which has no FDA-approved treatments. OPTIC completed enrollment September of 2018, ahead of the year-end target, and top-line results are expected by the end of first-quarter 2019. OPTIC-X, a 48-week extension study in which participants may receive up to eight additional infusions of teprotumumab, continues to enroll patients. The objective of OPTIC-X is to evaluate the potential for retreatment as well as longer duration of treatment with teprotumumab.
Rheumatology Pipeline Candidates and Programs:

KRYSTEXXA Study in Kidney Transplant Patients: The Company plans to initiate a clinical trial in the second half of 2019 evaluating the effect of KRYSTEXXA on serum uric acid levels in kidney transplant patients with uncontrolled gout. Kidney transplant patients have more than a tenfold increase in the prevalence of gout when compared to the general population, and literature suggests that high serum uric acid levels are associated with organ rejection. Managing uncontrolled gout is one of the most common and significant unmet needs of kidney transplant patients.
KRYSTEXXA Immunomodulation Study: The Company is evaluating the use of methotrexate to enhance the response rate to KRYSTEXXA through its MIRROR (Methotrexate to Increase Response Rates in Patients with UncontrolledGOut Receiving KRYSTEXXA) open-label study. Methotrexate, the immunomodulator most commonly used by rheumatologists, has been shown to reduce anti-drug antibodies when combined with other biologics. The Company is adapting MIRROR’s trial design to support the potential for registration, with enrollment expected to begin in the second quarter of 2019.
Next-generation Biologic Programs for Uncontrolled Gout: The Company is pursuing two development programs for next-generation biologics for uncontrolled gout, HZN-003 and PASylated uricase technology, to support and sustain the Company’s market leadership in uncontrolled gout. The programs are exploring the use of optimized uricase technology coupled with optimized PEGylation or PASylation technology, to improve the molecule’s half-life, with the potential for subcutaneous dosing.
Augmented Rheumatology Pipeline with HemoShear Collaboration: The Company is collaborating with HemoShear Therapeutics, LLC, a privately held biotechnology company, to discover and develop novel therapeutics for gout.
Fourth-Quarter Financial Results

Note:For additional detail and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, please refer to the tables at the end of this release.

Net Sales: Fourth-quarter 2018 net sales were $355.5 million, an increase of 30 percent, driven by continued strong growth of the Company’s orphan and rheumatology segment.
Gross Profit: Under U.S. GAAP, the fourth-quarter 2018 gross profit ratio was 69.2 percent compared to 47.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017. The non-GAAP gross profit ratio in the fourth quarter of 2018 was 89.1 percent compared to 89.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Operating Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were 5.5 percent of net sales and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were 49.1 percent of net sales. Non-GAAP R&D expenses were 5.3 percent of net sales and non-GAAP SG&A expenses were 41.4 percent of net sales.
Income Tax Rate: In the fourth quarter of 2018, the income tax benefit rate on a GAAP basis was 114.9 percent and the income tax expense rate on a non-GAAP basis was 8.2 percent.
Net Income: On a GAAP basis in the fourth quarter of 2018, net income was $87.6 million. Fourth-quarter 2018 non-GAAP net income was $116.8 million.
Adjusted EBITDA: Fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted EBITDA was $151.1 million.
Earnings (Loss) per Share: On a GAAP basis in the fourth quarter of 2018, diluted earnings per share were $0.50 versus a diluted loss per share of $0.23 in the fourth quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2018 and 2017 were $0.67 and $0.29, respectively. Weighted average shares outstanding used for calculating GAAP and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2018 were 174.2 million.
Fourth-Quarter Segment Results

Management uses net sales and segment operating income to evaluate the performance of the Company’s two segments. While segment operating income contains certain adjustments to the directly comparable GAAP figures in the Company’s consolidated financial results, it is considered to be prepared in accordance with GAAP for purposes of presenting the Company’s segment operating results.

(1)On Jun. 23, 2017, Horizon Pharma completed the divestiture of a European subsidiary that owned the marketing rights to PROCYSBI and QUINSAIR in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. Horizon Pharma retains marketing rights for the two medicines in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Asia. Horizon Pharma’s 2017 net sales of PROCYSBI and QUINSAIR in EMEA were $9.5 million.

Fourth-quarter 2018 net sales of the orphan and rheumatology segment were $237.6 million, an increase of 33 percent over the prior year’s quarter, driven by continued strong KRYSTEXXA growth as well as growth of RAVICTI, PROCYSBI and RAYOS. Fourth-quarter 2018 orphan and rheumatology segment operating income was $84.8 million, an increase of 39 percent.
For the full-year 2018, KRYSTEXXA net sales of $258.9 million represented a 65 percent year-over-year increase, in line with the Company’s expectation.
On Dec. 28, 2018, the Company sold the rights to RAVICTI and AMMONAPS (AMMONAPS is known as BUPHENYL and LODOTRA is known as RAYOS in the United States) outside of North America and Japan to Medical Need Europe AB for $35.0 million. In addition, effective Jan. 1, 2019, the RAYOS and LODOTRA license and supply agreements were amended, including the transfer of LODOTRA to Vectura Group plc, the current third-party supplier. Beginning in 2019, the Company will no longer recognize revenue from RAVICTI and AMMONAPS sales outside of North America and Japan, or from sales of LODOTRA.

Fourth-quarter 2018 net sales of the primary care segment were $117.9 million and operating income was $66.2 million.
Cash Flow Statement and Balance Sheet Highlights

On a GAAP basis in the fourth quarter of 2018, operating cash flow was $108.7 million. Non-GAAP operating cash flow was $115.1 million.
The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $958.7 million as of Dec. 31, 2018.
As of Dec. 31, 2018, the total principal amount of debt outstanding was $1.993 billion, which consisted of $818 million in senior secured term loans due 2024; $300 million senior notes due 2024; $475 million senior notes due 2023 and $400 million exchangeable senior notes due 2022. As of Dec. 31, 2018, net debt was $1.034 billion and our net-debt-to-last-12-months adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio was 2.3 times.
2019 Guidance

The Company expects full‐year 2019 net sales to range between $1.23 billion and $1.25 billion and full‐year 2019 adjusted EBITDA is expected to range between $440 million and $455 million, reflecting investment in preparation for the potential U.S. launch of teprotumumab and continued R&D pipeline programs to drive long-term growth.

Webcast

At 8 a.m. EST / 1 p.m. IST today, the Company will host a live webcast to review its financial and operating results and provide a general business update. The live webcast and a replay may be accessed at View Source Please connect to the Company’s website at least 15 minutes prior to the live webcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be needed to access the webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the live webcast.

Intellia Therapeutics Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2018 Financial Results

On February 27, 2019 Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTLA), a leading genome editing company focused on developing curative therapeutics using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in both in vivo and ex vivo applications, reported operational highlights and financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018 (Press release, Intellia Therapeutics, FEB 27, 2019, View Source [SID1234533778]). In addition, Intellia highlighted select corporate milestones for 2019 and upcoming events for the first quarter of 2019.

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"We are delivering on our full-spectrum strategy, and we expect to have two candidates in development in 2019. Our in vivo transthyretin amyloidosis program is on track for IND filing in 2020, and by the end of this year we anticipate having our first engineered cell therapy development candidate targeting acute myeloid leukemia," said Intellia President and Chief Executive Officer John Leonard, M.D. "We have shown that a single lipid nanoparticle administration can produce very substantial transthyretin protein reduction in non-human primates, reaching levels that we believe hold great therapeutic promise for patients. We also look forward to sharing additional data on our acute myeloid leukemia program this year. We believe our TCR-based, CRISPR-engineered cell therapy will provide a much-needed option for patients."

Recent Operational Highlights

ATTR Program: During the fourth quarter, Intellia completed confirmatory non-human primate (NHP) studies, previewed in October, using its lead candidate for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Fifty-one days post infusion, these NHP studies verified a favorable tolerability profile across various dose levels, and a near-complete (average of >95 percent) reduction in

circulating transthyretin (TTR) protein in the liver. The improvements in TTR protein reduction were the result of certain modifications made to the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) cargo components of the therapy, and these modifications have been incorporated into the ongoing, dose-range finding studies and scale-up activities. These modifications will also have application in subsequent programs. The ATTR program is being co-developed with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron) with Intellia being the lead party. Intellia confirmed that it is on track for submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in 2020 for ATTR.

In Vivo Insertion: In October, Intellia demonstrated in vivo CRISPR-mediated, targeted transgene insertion in mouse liver. Data shared at the Annual Congress of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy highlighted the use of Intellia’s bi-directional DNA template, delivered in a proprietary hybrid LNP/adeno-associated viral (AAV) template delivery system. Insertion of the human F9 gene, the gene encoding the protein deficient in hemophilia B, yielded Factor IX protein levels in mice at or above therapeutic targets in patients. This work was done in collaboration with Regeneron. Additionally, the Company demonstrated the versatility of the hybrid LNP/AAV approach by successfully inserting a functional human SERPINA1 gene (encoding alpha-1 antitrypsin) into the same locus. These experiments in mice yielded human protein expression levels consistent with those of normal individuals without alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Engineered Cell Therapies: As part of the broad engineered cell therapy platform that the Company is developing, Intellia and its partner, Ospedale San Raffaele, isolated novel active T cell receptors (TCRs) recognizing an epitope of the Wilms’ Tumor 1 (WT1) protein. This protein is overexpressed in many blood cancers, as well as in solid tumors. T cells modified with these TCRs successfully killed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts in an in vitro model. This work will be the foundation for the Company’s first wholly owned ex vivo development candidate for the treatment of AML.

Novartis: In December, Intellia announced an expansion of the existing cell therapy collaboration with Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Inc. (Novartis) to include ocular stem cells. The Company received a $10 million payment from Novartis in relation to the inclusion of this cell type. Regarding its proprietary LNP delivery system and improvements, Intellia also obtained expanded access to Novartis’ LNP library, including the rights to use these lipids for in vivo or ex vivo applications in any genome editing technology.

Board of Directors: In January of 2019, Intellia appointed Fred Cohen, M.D., D.Phil, F.A.C.P., to its board of directors, adding both biotechnology drug development experience and extensive medical expertise to the current knowledge base of the Company’s board.

The Company has set forth the following for 2019 pipeline progression:

ATTR: Complete dose-range finding studies, initiate IND-enabling toxicology studies and commence manufacturing of lipid and CRISPR/Cas9 cargo

Engineered Cell Therapy: Nominate first engineered cell therapy development candidate for acute myeloid leukemia by the end of 2019

Present additional in vivo NHP insertion data and ATTR formulation improvement data at upcoming scientific conferences

Upcoming Events

The Company will participate in the following investor events:

Leerink Healthcare Conference, February 28, New York City

Barclays Global Healthcare Conference, March 12, Miami

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Financial Results

Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $314.1 million as of December 31, 2018, compared to $340.7 million as of December 31, 2017. The decrease was driven by cash used to fund operations of approximately $96 million, which was offset in part by $28.5 million of net equity proceeds raised from the Company’s "At the Market" (ATM) agreement, $11.7 million in proceeds from employee-based stock plans, $10.4 million of ATTR cost reimbursements made by Regeneron, and $19.0 million of funding received under the Novartis collaboration. The Novartis funding received included a $10.0 million upfront payment related to the expansion of the existing collaboration in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Collaboration Revenue: Collaboration revenue increased by $1.2 million to $7.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $6.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2017. The increase in collaboration revenue in 2018 was primarily driven by amounts recognized from the expansion of the existing collaboration with Novartis, as well as by amounts recognized under the Company’s ATTR Co/Co agreement with Regeneron. As previously disclosed, Regeneron is obligated to fund approximately 50 percent of the development costs for the ATTR program.

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses decreased by $1.3 million to $19.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $21.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2017. This decrease was driven primarily by lower consumable costs, as well as the timing of general R&D expenses.

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses decreased by $1.5 million to $8.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $10.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2017. This decrease was driven primarily by a decrease in stock-based compensation.

Net Loss: The Company’s net loss was $19.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $24.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Intellia expects that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2018, as well as technology access and funding from Novartis and Regeneron, will enable Intellia to fund its anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the first half of 2021. This expectation excludes any potential milestone payments or extension fees that could be earned and distributed under the collaboration agreements with Novartis and Regeneron or any strategic use of capital not currently in the base-case planning assumptions.

CytomX Therapeutics Announces Presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019

On February 27, 2019 CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTMX), a clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company pioneering a novel class of investigational antibody therapeutics based on its Probody therapeutic technology platform, reported that clinical and preclinical results for CX-2009, a CD166 targeting Probody Drug Conjugate, will be presented at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2019 from March 29 – April 3 in Atlanta, Georgia (Press release, CytomX Therapeutics, FEB 27, 2019, View Source [SID1234533794]).

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Title: Preliminary results of PROCLAIM-CX-2009, a first-in-human, dose-finding study of the Probody drug conjugate CX-2009 in patients with advanced solid tumors
Session: Late-Breaking Research: Immunology 2
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall B, Poster Section 42; Poster Board 3
Abstract Number: 7669

Title: A Probody Drug Conjugate Targeting CD166 (ALCAM) Enhances Preclinical Antitumor Activity of a Probody Therapeutic Targeting PD-1
Session Category: Immunology
Session Title: Combination Immunotherapies 2
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall B, Poster Section 23; Poster Board 12
Abstract Number: 3202

Title: CD166-DM4 Probody Drug Conjugate (CX-2009) Treatment of 198 Patient-derived Xenograft Models (PDX) in a Mouse Clinical Trial Format
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Antibody-Drug Conjugates: New Agents and Technologies
Date and Time:Sunday, March 31, 2019 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall B, Poster Section 9; Poster Board 3
Abstract Number: 212

Omeros Corporation to Announce Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2018 Financial Results on March 1, 2019

On February 26, 2019 Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER), reported that the company will issue its fourth quarter and year-end 2018 financial results for the period ended December 31, 2018, on Friday, March 1, 2019, before the market opens (Press release, Omeros, FEB 26, 2019, View Source [SID1234533687]). Omeros management will host a conference call and webcast that day at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (5:30 a.m. Pacific Time) to discuss the financial results.

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Conference Call Details

To access the live conference call via phone, please dial (844) 831-4029 from the United States and Canada or (920) 663-6278 internationally. The participant passcode is 3544038. Please dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A telephone replay will be available for one week following the call and may be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 from the United States and Canada or (404) 537-3406 internationally. The replay passcode is 3544038.

To access the live or subsequently archived webcast of the conference call on the internet, go to the company’s website at www.omeros.com and select "Events" under the Investors section of the website. To access the live webcast, please connect to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to allow for any software download that may be necessary.

Alkermes Initiates Clinical Study of ALKS 4230 Administered Subcutaneously in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

On February 26, 2019 Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS) reported the initiation of ARTISTRY-2, a new clinical study of ALKS 4230 administered subcutaneously as monotherapy and in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with advanced solid tumors (Press release, Alkermes, FEB 26, 2019, View Source;p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2388952 [SID1234533688]). The study will explore the safety, tolerability and efficacy of ALKS 4230 administered subcutaneously and assess once-weekly and once-every-three-week dosing schedules. ALKS 4230 is a novel, engineered fusion protein designed to selectively activate tumor-killing immune cells while avoiding the expansion of immunosuppressive cells by preferentially binding to the intermediate-affinity interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor complex. Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells.

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ARTISTRY-2, a phase 1/2 study, will be conducted in two stages: dose-escalation followed by dose-expansion. The dose-escalation stage is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ascending doses of ALKS 4230 administered subcutaneously once-weekly and once-every-three-weeks as both lead-in monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. Following identification of the optimal dose and recommended dosing schedule, the dose-expansion stage of the study will evaluate ALKS 4230 administered subcutaneously in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. The dose-expansion stage will evaluate overall response rate, duration of response, non-progression rate at specific time points and overall survival.

"The initiation of our clinical subcutaneous dosing study represents an important milestone for the ALKS 4230 program as we explore new regimens that may offer patients a more convenient alternative to daily IV dosing that is complementary to checkpoint inhibitor regimens," said Craig Hopkinson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Medicines Development and Medical Affairs at Alkermes. "Based on the emerging profile of ALKS 4230, we’ve rapidly expanded our clinical development program in recent months to evaluate combination therapy, potential efficacy in new tumor types and dosing optionality. The expansion of this program reflects our belief in the significant potential of ALKS 4230 and our recognition of the urgent and persistent need that exists for patients with cancer."

Data presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper)’s (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 33rd Annual Meeting demonstrated that subcutaneous administration of ALKS 4230 in non-clinical models achieved similar total systemic exposure of ALKS 4230 compared to intravenous (IV) administration, yet with less frequent dosing and a lower Cmax, leading to similar expansion of total CD8+ T cell and natural killer (NK) cell populations. These data support further clinical evaluation of subcutaneous administration of ALKS 4230 as an alternative to IV dosing.

About ALKS 4230
ALKS 4230 is a novel, engineered fusion protein designed to selectively activate tumor-killing immune cells while avoiding the expansion of immunosuppressive cells by preferentially binding to the intermediate-affinity interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor complex. The selectivity of ALKS 4230 is designed to leverage the proven anti-tumor effects of existing IL-2 therapy while mitigating certain limitations.

About the ARTISTRY Clinical Program
ARTISTRY is an Alkermes-sponsored clinical program evaluating ALKS 4230 in patients with advanced solid tumors. ARTISTRY-1 is an ongoing phase 1 study in which ALKS 4230 is administered as an intravenous infusion daily for five consecutive days. ARTISTRY-1 has three distinct stages: an ongoing monotherapy dose-escalation stage, a planned monotherapy dose-expansion stage and an ongoing combination therapy stage with pembrolizumab. ARTISTRY-2 is the second clinical study to initiate in the ARTISTRY clinical development program for ALKS 4230.