Oncobiologics Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2018 Results

On February 14, 2018 Oncobiologics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ONS) today reported financial results and business highlights for its first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2017 (Press release, Oncobiologics, FEB 14, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2332432 [SID1234523977]). Oncobiologics had a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $17.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and total cash of $ 13.8 million at December 31, 2017. On an adjusted basis, Oncobiologics had a net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended December 31, 2017 of $5.0 million.

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Oncobiologics’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Pankaj Mohan commented, "With the closing of the GMS Tenshi strategic investment in October 2017, in 2018 we plan to execute on a newly developed strategy to organically generate funding for our biosimilar development programs, in addition to our ongoing efforts to secure additional development partners. The first step in this strategy is to leverage the capacity and capabilities of our BioSymphony Platform to accelerate and maximize commercial revenues from our core expertise in drug development and manufacturing. As we roll out this new contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) business, we initially plan to assist our clients with the development and manufacturing of their drug product candidates for clinical trials."

"In 2017, Oncobiologics also completed the process of out-licensing rights to ONS-3010 and ONS-1045 biosimilar development programs for emerging markets to GMS Tenshi. In each of these smaller, ex-U.S. markets, we identified potential synergies between our partner’s strategy to enter the biologics marketplace and access to our biosimilar development platform. For many of these emerging market opportunities, our partners may be able to take advantage of differing regulatory requirements that could allow more rapid regulatory approval of these product candidates and commercial sales."

Dr. Mohan continued, "Going forward, we will continue to focus on the development of our biosimilar pipeline and look for partners for our most advanced programs, ONS-3010 and ONS-1045, to move those candidates into Phase 3 clinical trials to support FDA and EMA approvals. Additionally, we are excited to confirm two programs we are preparing for clinical development ONS-4010, a biosimilar of Prolia/Xgeva, and ONS-3040, a biosimilar for Stelara. We have also begun work on ONS-5010, an innovative drug product candidate that will not use the biosimilar regulatory pathway. Our intent is to seek and receive feedback from U.S. regulatory authorities and proceed into Phase 1 clinical trials for ONS-5010 in 2018."

"As we execute this updated strategy with the support of our new partner and investor, GMS Tenshi, we believe that the company is well positioned to begin generating revenue from our new CDMO business in 2019, which we expect to cover the basic operating costs of running our business and allow us to use funds generated from partnerships and other transactions for investment directly in our development pipeline," concluded Dr. Mohan.

First Quarter Highlights

Stockholders approved the strategic investment by GMS Tenshi Holdings Pte. Limited, from which the Company received the remaining $21.7 million of gross proceeds from the sale of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock;
The Company initiated efforts to launch a new CDMO business to support ongoing biosimilar drug development efforts;
Started work in emerging markets with development partners to expedite regulatory approvals and position the Company for potential revenue generation;
Continued discussions with potential development partners to initiate Phase 3 programs for ONS-3010 and ONS-1045;
Confirmed next biosimilar pipeline candidates for clinical development, ONS-4010 and ONS-3040;
Identified ONS-5010, an innovative drug product candidate to be developed outside of the biosimilar regulatory pathway.
2018 – Anticipated Milestones

• Q2 2018

Enter into first CDMO contract;
• Q3/Q4 2018

Initiate clinical development program for ONS-3010 and/or ONS-1045 by partners in emerging markets;
Initiate ONS-5010 Phase 1 clinical development program;
Announce licensing/co-development partnership announced for major market.
Long-term Milestones

• 2019

CDMO business cash flow positive by end of 2019;
Initiate Phase 3 trial for ONS-1045 in major markets with development partner;
• 2020

First revenue from emerging market partnerships;
Initiate Phase 3 trial for ONS-3010 in major markets with development partner;
Initiate ONS-3040 and ONS-4010 clinical development programs;
• 2021

Submit applications to FDA for ONS-1045 and ONS-3010.
Financial Highlights

For the three months ended December 31, 2017, Oncobiologics reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $17.7 million, or $0.71 per share, compared to $19.1 million, or $0.82 per share for the same period in the preceding year. For the three months ended December 31, 2017, net loss attributable to common stockholders includes $1.9 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense, $0.7 million of depreciation and amortization, a $1.3 million loss from the extinguishment of debt, $0.1 million from a decrease in the fair value of warrant liability, $3.2 million benefit from the sale of state of New Jersey net operating losses, a $15.4 million beneficial conversion charge related to the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock and a $3.2 million reduction in expenses from the favorable settlement of the termination of a clinical contract. Adjusting for these items, the Company reported an adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders of $5.0 million, or $0.20 per share, on a non-GAAP basis as appears in the attached non-GAAP reconciliation. Adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended December 31, 2016 was $15.2 million, or $0.65 per share, on a non-GAAP adjusted basis comparable to the same period in the current fiscal year.

The primary factor for the decrease in adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the same period in the prior year was a significant reduction in research and development expenses, which was related to the Company’s decision to postpone the initiation of planned Phase 3 clinical trials for ONS-3010 and ONS-1045 until additional development partners have been secured.

Cash was $13.8 million as of December 31, 2017, compared to $3.2 million as of September 30, 2017.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure – Adjusted Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders

Oncobiologics prepares its consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and pursuant to accounting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding the results and to provide a meaningful period-over-period comparison of Oncobiologics financial performance, Oncobiologics sometimes uses non-GAAP financial measures (NGFM) as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. In this press release, Oncobiologics uses the NGFM, "adjusted net loss attributable to common stockholders." Management uses this NGFM because it adjusts for unusual transactions, transactions not related to the Company’s core business or events that are not expected to recur, such as losses from extinguishment of debt, sales of state net operating losses, as well as the settlement of a clinical development contract in connection with the decision to postpone Phase 3 clinical trials of two biosimilar programs, as well as significant non-cash items that impact financial results but not cash flows, such as the recognition of the beneficial conversion feature due to the issuance of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to GMS Tenshi, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization expense, and fair value measurements for the Company’s equity and debt securities. Management used this NGFM to evaluate Oncobiologics’ financial performance against internal budgets and targets. Management believes that this NGFM is useful for evaluating Oncobiologics core operating results and facilitating comparison across reporting periods. Oncobiologics believes this NGFM should be considered in addition to, and not in lieu of, GAAP financial measures. Oncobiologics NGFM may be different from the same NGFM used by other companies.

For additional details on Oncobiologics’ financial performance during the quarter, please see the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at: View Source;owner=exclude&action=getcompany

Oncoceutics and Calvert Research Announce Development/Investment Agreement for ONC 206

On February 14, 2018 Oncoceutics Inc. and Calvert Research, LLC reported that the two companies have entered into a second product development and investment partnership agreement, this time to further develop and enable the submission of an investigational new drug (IND) application for ONC206, Oncoceutics’ next generation molecule (Press release, Oncoceutics, FEB 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234558372]).

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As a part of this second agreement, Calvert Research will enlist the capabilities of its CRO affiliate, Calvert Laboratories, Inc. to conduct certain GLP animal safety and pharmacology studies on ONC206 in its GLP certified facilities. In addition, Calvert Research has made a second equity investment in Oncoceutics. This agreement follows the same successful investment-development partnership model established between Oncoceutics and Calvert Research in 2013 that lead to Oncoceutics being able to open an IND application for ONC201, its lead molecule.

ONC206 is a member of a family of drug candidates called "imipridones" that possess the same core structure of ONC201 and that have demonstrated the same favorable drug characteristics, including efficacy in pre-clinical models against cancer with high levels of safety. Given these attractive attributes, Oncoceutics filed a pre-IND application with the FDA describing its plans for a clinical trial with ONC206 and received positive written feedback to the pre-IND submission from the FDA. Based on the FDA written response, Oncoceutics has defined all of the studies required to have an IND accepted by the FDA. These include manufacturing ONC206 in quantity and at quality sufficient to treat people, and the toxicology work necessary to open an investigational new drug application (IND) that will be completed by Calvert Laboratories. Oncoceutics expects to complete all studies by the end of 2018 and to file the IND and begin first-in-human studies for ONC206 in 2019.

Previously, Oncoceutics has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent providing the company with composition of matter protection for ONC206.

"We are pleased to enter into a second investment partnership agreement with Calvert Research, a firm that possesses excellent capabilities in the field of GLP-compliant animal safety studies," said Martin Stogniew Ph.D., Chief Development Officer of Oncoceutics. "By bringing the second member of the imipridone family towards a clinical trial, we are continuing our transformation of Oncoceutics from a company with one drug in development into a company developing a portfolio of drugs."

Nohla Therapeutics Initiates Global LAUNCH Phase 2 Trial of NLA101 in Patients with AML

On February 13, 2018 Nohla Therapeutics Inc. (Nohla), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of universal, off-the-shelf cell therapies to treat cancer and other critical diseases, reported the initiation of its Phase 2 LAUNCH clinical trial (Press release, Nohla Therapeutics, FEB 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234523955]). The open-label, multi-center, randomized, controlled, dose-finding LAUNCH trial will evaluate Nohla’s lead product candidate, NLA101, in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are at risk for myelosuppression after receiving high-dose chemotherapy.

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The LAUNCH trial (NCT03301597) will enroll approximately 220 adult patients and will evaluate NLA101’s ability to reduce the rate of ≥ Grade 3 infections associated with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, and identify the lowest effective cell dose of NLA101. Patients in the Phase 2 study will be randomized to one of three investigational treatment arms or a control arm. Patients randomized to an investigational treatment arm will be eligible to receive a single fixed dose of NLA101 after the first cycle of chemotherapy, and up to two additional identical NLA101 doses after subsequent cycles of chemotherapy. Additional information on this trial can be found at View Source Funding for the LAUNCH trial is supported by a $6.92 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

"For patients receiving intensive chemotherapy, life-threatening infections are very common and typically lead to lengthy hospitalizations, increased reliance on supportive care, and delays or reductions in additional treatment," said Colleen Delaney, MD, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Nohla. "We look forward to further clinical evaluation of NLA101 and the ability to reduce the rate of infections and toxicities associated with high-dose chemotherapy which could have a significant impact on clinical outcomes and patient quality of life."

"Although there have been improvements in therapeutic options for AML patients, they still face significant risk of infectious complications associated with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia," said Naval Daver, MD, Co-lead Investigator and Associate Professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. "We are excited to participate in the LAUNCH trial as it will help determine NLA101’s ability to provide a durable recovery that may reduce multiple regimen-related toxicities of chemotherapy while potentially improving the efficacy of the primary treatment."

About NLA101
NLA101 is a universal, off-the-shelf stem and progenitor cell therapy designed to provide short-term bone marrow function, while also providing long term immunologic benefits with the potential for improved survival. Over 125 infusions of NLA101 have been administered across four clinical trials since 2009.

About AML
AML is a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow. The disease progresses rapidly, with an overproduction of abnormal myeloid cells taking over the bone marrow and interfering with the production of normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. The standard treatment for AML includes high-dose chemotherapy, which can lead to risk of myelosuppression in approximately 80% of patients. Induction and consolidation chemotherapy is frequently followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be approximately 19,520 new cases of AML in the US in 2018.

MOLOGEN Signs License Deal for China and Global Co-Development Agreement with ONCOLOGIE for Lead Compound lefitolimod

On February 13, 2018 The biopharmaceutical company MOLOGEN AG (ISIN DE0006637200; Frankfurt Stock Exchange Prime Standard: MGN) reported the signing of a license deal for the Chinese territory and a global co-development agreement between MOLOGEN and ONCOLOGIE Inc. for its lead compound lefitolimod (Press release, Mologen, FEB 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527267]). The signed agreement is conditional upon an initial payment of EUR 3 million received by MOLOGEN. ONCOLOGIE is an oncology-focused drug development company with headquarters in Boston and operations in Shanghai. The company is backed by top-tier international investors and has the objective to develop novel personalized medicines in the field of immuno-oncology. The signed agreement with ONCOLOGIE includes the development, manufacture and commercialization of lefitolimod in China and a planned global co-development program.

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"We are delighted to partner our lead compound lefitolimod with ONCOLOGIE. Their approach of an innovative biomarker-driven development strategy for novel cancer immunotherapies has convinced us that partnering with them will expand the opportunities for success of lefitolimod. With the combined licencing and co-development deal for our flagship compound lefitolimod we have achieved one of the main milestones in implementing our strategy. In ONCOLOGIE we have found a partner with a highly dedicated and experienced international team who will not only drive lefitolimod development in China to achieve market approval but will also strongly support our global development efforts. Together we will strive to unleash lefitolimod’s full market potential in China and on a global level", said Dr Mariola Soehngen, Chief Executive Officer of MOLOGEN.

"We are happy to partner with MOLOGEN on lefitolimod, a best-in-class TLR9 agonist with exciting potential. This program complements ONCOLOGIE’s strategy for biomarker-driven global development and has multiple opportunities for treating indications prevalent in the Asian market", said Dr Laura Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of ONCOLOGIE.

As previously announced, MOLOGEN had started negotiations on such a deal with the Chinese iPharma. After a certain exclusivity period had expired, MOLOGEN opened the licencing process also for additional parties. Discussions and negotiations with ONCOLOGIE have now been successfully completed and the deal could be signed. The terms of the signed agreement with ONCOLOGIE describe development, manufacture and commercialization of lefitolimod in China and a planned global co-development program.

The contract comprises two parts: First, a license agreement including sublicense rights under which MOLOGEN grants ONCOLOGIE an exclusive license for the development, manufacturing and commercialization for MOLOGEN’s lead compound lefitolimod in the following territory: China, Hong Kong and Macao, Taiwan and Singapore. Second, a commitment for global co-development leveraging novel biomarker plans from ONCOLOGIE. MOLOGEN is to receive an initial payment of EUR 3 million as well as a EUR 2 million equity investment by ONCOLOGIE within the next 12 months. Besides the initial payment and the equity investment, the parties agreed on further development and commercialisation milestones. They are due upon reaching predefined development steps as well as market approval. In addition, commercial milestones are defined which are due upon reaching certain sales thresholds. The total payments can amount to above EUR 100 million and will be paid over several years. Additionally, MOLOGEN will receive low double digit royalties on sales. MOLOGEN and ONCOLOGIE will share the economic returns from global joint development pursuant to both parties’ contributions.

All costs relating to development, registration, marketing and commercialization of lefitolimod in the territory are to be covered by ONCOLOGIE.

Frontier Fighter of Brain Tumor

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and deadliest of the glial tumors because it is hard to cure with a very high possibility of recurring. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a sub-kind of glioblastoma that mainly affects children. It has a 5-year survival rate less than 1%.

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According to the ABTA, there are nearly 700,000 people in the United States living with a primary brain and central nervous system tumor. Of these, 14.9 percent are glioblastomas. There is an estimated of 12,390 new cases predicted in 2017.
ACT001 is a drug designed and developed by Accendatech specifically used to target brain tumor for treatment of GBM and DIPG

ACT001
ACT001 is an investigational product currently finished testing in phase 1 clinical studies.