Immunomedics Announces Fiscal 2017 Results and Strategic Developments; Reiterates Guidance on BLA Submission Timeline

On August 16, 2017 Immunomedics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IMMU) ("Immunomedics" or the "Company") reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 (Press release, Immunomedics, AUG 16, 2017, View Source [SID1234520288]). The Company also highlighted recent key developments and planned activities for its clinical pipeline. Please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed today with the SEC for more detail on the Company’s financial results.

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Dr. Behzad Aghazadeh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Immunomedics, stated, "We believe we have made significant progress toward preparing a Biologics License Application (BLA) for filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for accelerated approval of IMMU-132 in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). To that end, we have made advancements in all areas, including clinical, regulatory, and manufacturing, and we expect to receive clarification during a pre-BLA meeting with the FDA on the level of Chemistry, Manufacturing & Controls (CMC) process validation required at the time of the BLA submission. Importantly, our continued evaluation of the clinical data and manufacturing processes, as well as the progress over the past several months, have further strengthened our confidence in the prospects for IMMU-132 in mTNBC. We look forward to submitting the BLA between December 2017 and March 2018, which along with business development opportunities, should enable us to generate significant value for our stockholders."

Key 2017 Accomplishments:

The Company completed enrollment of the full complement of 100+ patients in the single-arm Phase 2 trial of mTNBC, and presented encouraging preliminary results on the initial 85 patients at its January 18th Investor R&D Day. The complete dataset will be part of the BLA submission for accelerated approval.

In February, the Company presented interim Phase 2 results for IMMU-132 in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer at the 2017 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. The results demonstrated IMMU-132’s potential to become a second line or later treatment to platinum-based or immuno-oncology therapy for these patients.

In March, the Company underwent a management transition and a new Board of Directors was seated, accompanying a new strategic direction focused on maintaining commercial rights for IMMU-132 and developing plans in preparation for a potential U.S. launch in 2018.

In May, Immunomedics completed a private placement of its Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock with institutional investors, raising $125 million in gross proceeds. The capital provides the financial flexibility to ensure that the Company has the right organizational structure and resources necessary to bring IMMU-132 to market and working toward achieving its long-term objectives.

As part of a full multi-faceted review of the Company, highly credentialed independent consultants were appointed by the Board in the areas of project management, manufacturing, and clinical and regulatory strategy.

In July, results from IMMU-132 clinical trials in advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were published in peer-reviewed journals. These results support the breadth of the therapeutic role for IMMU-132 in the treatment of metastatic solid cancers.
Key Upcoming Events:

Interim Phase 2 results with IMMU-132 in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2017 Congress (ESMO; Sept. 2017 Madrid, Spain), by Dr. Scott T. Tagawa, Associate Professor of Medicine and Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College.

The Company expects to receive clarification during a pre-BLA meeting with the FDA on the level of CMC process validation required at the time of the BLA submission. The level of validation required by the FDA will be a determining factor in the filing timeline, which is expected to be between December 2017 and March 2018.

Preparation for the confirmatory Phase 3 trial in mTNBC is proceeding according to plan, with enrollment of first patient expected to occur in early fourth quarter of calendar 2017, satisfying the FDA requirement for the BLA filing for accelerated approval in mTNBC.

The Company expects to present the final results of IMMU-132 in mTNBC that will form the basis of the BLA submission later this year.
Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2017 Results

Total revenue for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2017, was $0.6 million, compared to $0.9 million for the same quarter last year, a decrease of approximately 33%. Total revenue for the full year ended June 30, 2017 was $3.1 million, compared to $3.2 million for the fiscal year 2016, a decrease of approximately 3.0%. The decreases for both the fourth quarter and full-year periods were due primarily to a decrease in grant revenue. The decrease in the full-year revenue was offset partially by a $0.1 million increase in LeukoScan sales.

Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2017 were $27.4 million, compared to $15.6 million for the same quarter last year, an increase of approximately 76%. Total costs and expenses were $82.2 million for the full year ended June 30, 2017, an increase of approximately 32%, compared to the same period in 2016. The increases for both the fourth quarter and full-year periods were due primarily to non-recurring general and administrative expenses including legal and advisory fees associated with the proxy contest launched by venBio Select Advisor LLC (venBio) in November 2016, the reimbursement of proxy-related costs incurred by venBio, and incremental executive severance.

Research and development expenses were $51.8 million for the full year ended June 30, 2017, a decrease of approximately 3%, compared to the same period in 2016 due primarily to a $11.4 million reduction in clinical trial costs resulting from the closure of the Phase 3 PANCRIT-1 clinical trial in fiscal 2016, offset partially by a $9.7 million increase in product development expense for IMMU-132 manufacturing.

The Company recognized $25.5 million and $61.1 million in non-cash expense during the fourth quarter and full year ended June 30, 2017, respectively, arising from the increase in fair value of warrant liability resulting from the increase in the share price of our common stock during both periods. The Company also recognized a $7.6 million non-cash warrant-related expense for the full year, representing the excess of fair value of the warrant issued to Seattle Genetics, Inc. on February 10, 2017 (the "SGEN Warrant") over the proceeds received for the issuance of common stock and the SGEN Warrant. There was no warrant-related expense in fiscal 2016.

Interest expense related to the 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (Convertible Notes) was $1.4 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, including the amortization of $0.2 million debt issuance costs in each quarter. Interest expense related to the Convertible Notes was $5.5 million for the full years ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, including the amortization of $0.7 million debt issuance costs in each fiscal year.

The Company did not realize any income tax benefit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, compared to a $5.1 million income tax benefit for fiscal year 2016 from the sale of a portion of our New Jersey State net operating losses and research and development tax credits. The Company did not receive an income tax benefit during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 because it had reached the maximum amount permissible under the New Jersey Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program.

Net loss attributable to stockholders was $53.3 million, or approximately $0.48 per share, for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2017, and $153.2 million, or approximately $1.47 per share, for the full year ended June 30, 2017. This compares to net loss attributable to stockholders of $15.9 million, or approximately $0.17 per share, for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2016 and $59.0 million, or approximately $0.62 per share, for full year 2016.

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $154.9 million as of June 30, 2017.

"We are pleased with the significant operational progress we are making and believe that our current financial resources are sufficient to support operations through September 2018, not factoring in any potential cash receipts from warrants outstanding with Seattle Genetics or other investors," said Michael R. Garone, Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

10-K – Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

(Filing, 10-K, Immunomedics, AUG 16, 2017, View Source [SID1234520270])

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Xenetic Biosciences Reports 2017 Second Quarter Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On August 15, 2017 Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: XBIO) ("Xenetic" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, research and development of next-generation biologic drugs and novel orphan oncology therapeutics, reported its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 (Press release, Xenetic Biosciences, AUG 15, 2017, View Source [SID1234537805]).

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Xenetic also provided an update to its corporate progress as well as clinical and regulatory status and anticipated milestones for the Company’s lead product candidate, XBIO-101 (sodium cridanimod), a small-molecule immunomodulator and interferon inducer which, in preliminary studies, has been shown to increase progesterone receptor ("PrR") expression in endometrial tumor tissue, and an update on its proprietary PolyXen platform technology.

"The second quarter was marked by the advancement of our flagship program, XBIO-101, into our Phase 2 program for the treatment of endometrial cancer, along with the important data we received from Shire’s Phase 1/2 study of SHP656, which utilized our PolyXen platform technology. While this study did not meet its primary endpoint and Shire has subsequently stated the program has been discontinued, key findings from the study specific to our PolyXen platform technology, provide further validation that it has the potential to improve the clinical utility of protein and peptide drugs," stated M. Scott Maguire, Xenetic’s CEO.

XBIO-101 Program Update

In the second quarter of 2017, the Company commenced patient enrollment for its Phase 2 clinical study of XBIO-101 in conjunction with progestin therapy for the treatment of endometrial cancer. The study targets a population of patients who have either failed progestin monotherapy or who have been identified as having progesterone receptor negative ("PrR-") tumors.

The primary objective of the open-label, multi-center, single-arm, two-period Phase 2 study is to assess the antitumor activity of XBIO-101 in conjunction with progestin therapy as measured by Overall Disease Control Rate in women with recurrent or persistent endometrial carcinoma not amenable to surgical treatment or radiotherapy who have either failed progestin monotherapy or who have been identified as PrR-. Secondary objectives include assessments of efficacy and safety/tolerability parameters.

The study is expected to enroll up to 72 women with recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer not amenable to surgical treatment or radiotherapy but suitable to be treated with progestins. All subjects determined to be PrR- at screening, as well as those subjects who experience disease progression after at least 4 weeks of progestin monotherapy, will receive XBIO-101 in combination with continued progestin treatment. Subjects will receive treatment until disease progression as defined according to RECIST 1.1 criteria.

Xenetic has also filed a protocol under its existing Investigational New Drug application to expand the development of XBIO-101 into a biomarker study related to the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.

Expected Upcoming Milestones

Commence patient dosing in the Phase 2 clinical study evaluating XBIO-101 in conjunction with progestin therapy for the treatment of progestin resistant endometrial cancer in Q3 2017; and
Announce interim data from Phase 2 study before the end of 2018.
PolyXen Platform Technology Update

In May 2017, the Company, along with its strategic collaborator, Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG), announced data from Shire’s Phase 1/2 program of SHP656, its PSA-Recombinant Factor VIII ("rFVIII"), which was being developed as a long-acting therapeutic for the treatment of hemophilia A, utilizing Xenetic’s PolyXen platform technology to conjugate polysialic acid to therapeutic blood-clotting factors. Despite not achieving the principal objective of once-weekly dosing in this Phase 1/2 study, the Company’s PolyXen technology demonstrated that it works as a platform to successfully extend the circulating half-life of rFVIII with no drug-related serious adverse events reported to date. Including the Company’s own studies with a polysialylated erythropoietin ("PSA-EPO", "ErepoXen") candidate, this is the second instance in which PolyXen platform technology has been demonstrated, in a human clinical trial setting, to confer extended half-life to a biotherapeutic, while maintaining pharmacological activity and a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Moving forward, Xenetic believes data from Shire’s SHP656 program, although discontinued, continues to support the broad utility of its proprietary PolyXen technology platform, and expects the growing body of data from this platform will enable the Company to build a pipeline of partnerships utilizing this proven technology.

Expected Next Steps

Pursue business development activities to identify target molecules to explore partnerships utilizing PolyXen delivery platform; and
Explore other potential applications of the PolyXen platform technology within the Shire portfolio.
"We remain focused on driving forward with our strategy, including the continued advancement of our lead product candidate XBIO-101, as well as leveraging our proprietary PolyXen platform technology with the goal of building shareholder value in both the near and long-term," concluded Mr. Maguire.

Summary of Financial Results for Second Quarter 2017

Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2017, was $2.9 million compared to a net loss of approximately $47.8 million for the same period in 2016. The decrease in net loss was primarily due to a decrease of in-process research and development expense, as well as a decrease in share-based compensation expense related to warrants previously issued in 2016. These decreases were offset by an increase in general operating costs and costs related to the initiation of our XBIO-101 Phase 2 clinical study.

The Company ended the quarter with approximately $2.3 million of cash.

Pipeline Review Check

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U.S. FDA REMOVES CLINICAL HOLD ON CEL-SCI’S PHASE 3 HEAD & NECK CANCER TRIAL

On August 14, 2017 CEL-SCI Corporation (NYSE American: CVM) reported it has received a letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that the clinical hold that had been imposed on the Company’s Phase 3 cancer study with Multikine* (Leukocyte Interleukin, Inj.) has been removed and that all clinical trial activities under this Investigational New Drug application (IND) may resume (Press release, Cel-Sci, AUG 14, 2017, View Source [SID1234520217]).

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Multikine is being studied as a potential first-line (before any other cancer treatment is given) immunotherapy that is aimed at harnessing the patient’s own immune system to produce an anti-tumor response. Nine hundred twenty-eight (928) newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients have been enrolled in this Phase 3 cancer study and all the patients who have completed treatment continue to be followed for protocol-specific outcomes in accordance with the Study Protocol.

The study’s primary endpoint is a 10% increase in overall survival for patients treated with the Multikine treatment regimen plus standard of care (SOC) versus those who receive SOC only. The determination if the study’s primary end point has been met will occur when there are a total of 298 deaths in those two groups. Current SOC for this indication is surgery, followed by radiation therapy alone or followed by concurrent radio-chemotherapy.

There is a clear and unmet medical need for a new treatment in this indication as the last FDA approved treatment for advanced primary head and neck cancer was over 50 years ago. The FDA has also designated Multikine an Orphan Drug for neoadjuvant therapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

About Head and Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer describes squamous cell carcinomas located inside the neck, mouth, nose, and throat. According to the World Health Organization, the annual incidence of head and neck cancer is approximately 550,000 cases worldwide, with about 300,000 deaths each year. Risk factors involved with head and neck cancer include heavy alcohol use, tobacco use, and the cancer causing type of human papilloma virus (HPV).