On March 5, 2018 ArQule, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQL) reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2017 (Press release, ArQule, MAR 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234524407]).
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For the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company reported a net loss of $7,760,000 or $0.09 per share, compared with net loss of $6,820,000 or $0.10 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. The Company reported a net loss of $29,203,000 or $0.39 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared with a net loss of $22,718,000 or $0.33 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2016.
At December 31, 2017, the Company had a total of approximately $48,036,000 in cash and marketable securities.
Key Highlights
ARQ 531, orally bioavailable, potent and reversible BTK inhibitor, is recruiting on schedule in the phase 1a trial. Initial phase 1a data will be presented at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) which will be held April 14 through April 18, 2018.
Miransertib, lead proprietary AKT inhibitor, is recruiting at three sites for Overgrowth Diseases. The phase 1/2 trial for Overgrowth Diseases evaluating patients with PROS and Proteus syndrome, age two and older in the U.S. and EU, continues to dose.
Data supporting miransertib in combination with the aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole, for the treatment of advanced endometrial cancer will be presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper). Phase 1b trial conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering presents potential clinical path forward in this hard to treat disease setting.
Derazantinib, a pan-FGFR inhibitor, continues to enroll on schedule in a registrational trial for FGFR2 fusion driven intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). The recruitment of patients needed to perform the interim analysis is expected to be completed by year-end.
ArQule has granted a Roivant Sciences Ltd. subsidiary an exclusive license to develop and commercialize derazantinib in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Deal terms include an upfront payment to ArQule of $3 million and an additional $2.5 million development milestone within the first year. ArQule is also eligible for regulatory and commercial milestones and royalties on future sales of derazantinib in Greater China.
2018 Goals
ARQ 531 – BTK Inhibitor
Complete phase 1a trial in refractory B-cell malignancies
Publish foundational pre-clinical paper including chemical and crystal structure
Present initial phase 1a data at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) and additional data later this year
Miransertib – AKT Inhibitor Rare Diseases
Initiate registrational program in Proteus syndrome
Publish NIH phase 1 trial findings and compassionate use case reports
Miransertib and ARQ 751 – AKT Inhibitors Oncology
Present data from phase 1b in oncology for miransertib
Present data from phase 1a in oncology for ARQ 751
Derazantinib – FGFR Inhibitor
Complete dosing of patients needed to conduct interim analysis in registrational trial in 2nd line iCCA
Explore opportunities in additional tumor types
"During 2017 we have worked diligently to advance all the assets in our proprietary pipeline, and we are now in the position to make 10 presentations at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) in April demonstrating our commitment to precision medicine," said Paolo Pucci, Chief Executive Officer of ArQule. "2018 has the prospect of being a pivotal year for ArQule as we see a complete data set from the phase 1a trial of our BTK inhibitor, ARQ 531, launch a registrational program in Proteus syndrome, and explore emerging late-stage opportunities in oncology with our AKT program."
"For ArQule the scientific highlights of 2017 were achieving, in collaboration with the NIH, clinical proof of concept with miransertib in Proteus syndrome, initiating a registrational trial with derazantinib and initiating a phase 1 trial for ARQ 531," said Dr. Brian Schwartz, M.D., Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer at ArQule. "Consistent with our strategy we are now preparing to launch a registrational program for Proteus syndrome, as well as continuing with our ongoing trials for our BTK inhibitor, ARQ 531, and derazantinib. In addition, the data to be presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) for miransertib in combination with anastrozole will highlight a new opportunity."
Revenues and Expenses
Revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, were zero, compared with revenues of $1,187,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017 were zero compared with revenues of $4,709,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. Research and development revenue in 2016 includes revenue from the Daiichi Sankyo tivantinib development agreement and the Kyowa Hakko Kirin exclusive license agreement.
Research and development expenses in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $4,721,000, compared with $6,242,000 for the fourth quarter 2016. Fiscal 2017 research and development expenses were $19,468,000 compared with $20,042,000 for fiscal 2016.
Research and development expense decreased $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 primarily due to lower outsourced clinical and product development costs of $1.0 million, professional fees of $0.3 million and labor related costs of $0.2 million. Research and development expense decreased $0.6 million in 2017 primarily due to lower labor costs.
General and administrative expenses in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $1,849,000, compared with $1,808,000 for the fourth quarter of 2016. General and administrative expenses for fiscal 2017 were $7,551,000, compared to $7,563,000 for fiscal 2016.
2018 Financial Guidance
For 2018, ArQule expects revenue to range between $3 and $4 million. Net use of cash is expected to range between $26 and $28 million for the year. Net loss is expected to range between $27 and $30 million, and net loss per share to range between $(0.30) and $(0.34) for the year. ArQule expects to end 2018 with between $23 and $25 million in cash and marketable securities.
Conference Call and Webcast
ArQule will hold its fourth quarter and full year financial results call today, March 5, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The live webcast can be accessed in the "Investors and Media" section of our website, www.arqule.com, under "Events and Presentations." You may also listen to the call by dialing (877) 868-1831 within the U.S. or (914) 495-8595 outside the U.S. A replay will be available two hours after the completion of the call and can be accessed in the "Investors and Media" section of our website, www.arqule.com, under "Events and Presentations."