On November 14, 2017 GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq:GTXI) reported financial results for the third quarter of 2017 and highlighted recent accomplishments and upcoming milestones (Press release, GTx, NOV 14, 2017, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2316925 [SID1234522065]).
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"During the quarter, we achieved a key milestone for the company when we reported positive results from our first clinical trial in stress urinary incontinence," said Robert J. Wills, Ph.D., Executive Chairman of GTx. "Remarkably, 18 out of 18 women who received enobosarm for 12 weeks responded. These responses also appear to be durable, lasting months after dosing. These exciting results provided the basis for our recently initiated, placebo-controlled clinical trial of enobosarm for the treatment of SUI."
"Recent data suggests 50 percent of women report SUI, for which there are no FDA-approved pharmaceutical therapies. An orally-available therapy would offer numerous advantages over existing treatments including surgery, and would provide a significant new option that many women would choose in order to address this medical condition," said Kenneth M. Peters, M.D., Chairman of Urology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and the principal investigator in the trial.
Third Quarter 2017 Clinical Highlights and Anticipated Milestones
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI):
Enobosarm, a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM), is being evaluated in Phase 2 clinical development for SUI, the Company’s lead indication. Recent important milestones are summarized as follows:
Reported positive results from the Phase 2 proof-of-concept (POC) clinical trial of enobosarm 3 mg administered orally in post-menopausal women with SUI. With the inclusion of the final patient completing treatment in the POC clinical trial, data from the 18 evaluable patients completing the required 12 weeks of daily treatment showed a clinically meaningful reduction (50 percent or greater) in stress leaks per day, compared to baseline. The mean decrease in stress leaks per day was 81 percent overall (5.17 mean leaks/day at baseline to 1.0 mean leaks/day at 12 weeks).
Patients are being followed for an additional 28 weeks post-treatment to assess the durability of treatment effect. Durability of response for patients who completed the 28-week observation phase has resulted in a 41 to 100 percent reduction in stress leaks/day from baseline (N=6). For those patients who have not completed the 28-week observation phase, the durability of response, measured beginning 4 weeks post dosing, continues to be sustained.
Highlighted the Phase 2 POC results at the International Continence Society (ICS) annual meeting in a poster entitled, "Kegels in a Bottle: Preliminary Results of a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (GTx-024) for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Post-Menopausal Women", which subsequently was voted best poster for the conference.
Initiated a second clinical trial, Assessing Enobosarm for Stress Urinary Incontinence Disorder (ASTRID): a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 trial to assess the efficacy and safety of two doses of enobosarm (1 mg and 3 mg) administered orally in post-menopausal woman with SUI compared to placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial is the percentage of patients with at least a 50 percent reduction in mean leaks/day, compared to baseline. This trial is expected to enroll approximately 400 patients across 70 clinical sites in the U.S. Top-line results are expected to be available by the end of 2018.
Breast Cancer:
Enobosarm is also being evaluated as a hormonal therapy for women with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and androgen receptor positive (AR+) breast cancer in a Phase 2 clinical trial for this advanced breast cancer population. As reported earlier for the 9 mg cohort, the Phase 2 trial pre-specified threshold for success, clinical benefit response (CBR), was attained and therefore met the primary efficacy endpoint. In addition, the 18 mg cohort has also met the primary efficacy endpoint. The trial has now completed enrollment of the predefined number of evaluable patients in both dosage arms with at least 44 patients in each of two cohorts receiving 9 mg or 18 mg daily doses of enobosarm.
In the 9 mg cohort, following 24 weeks of treatment, a total of 14 patients achieved a CBR out of 49 evaluable patients confirmed as AR positive (28.6%), with two patients achieving a partial response and 12 reporting stable disease. Currently, four patients in this cohort remain on study. In the 18 mg cohort, with 48 evaluable patients, 12 patients achieved a CBR (25%) at 24 weeks with one patient demonstrating a partial response and 11 patients reporting stable disease. Three patients remain on study in the 18 mg cohort. Both doses of enobosarm appear to be safe and generally well tolerated. A complete summary of the study results will be submitted for presentation or publication in 2018.
Although both the 9 mg and 18 mg cohorts met the primary efficacy endpoint in the Phase 2 clinical trial, after evaluating the drug development environment for breast cancer, where treatment paradigms are shifting to immunotherapies and/or combination therapies, the Company has decided that the time and cost of conducting the necessary clinical trials for approval in this indication do not warrant further development of enobosarm in this indication at this time.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD):
SARMs have also been evaluated in preclinical models of DMD, in which GTx SARMs have increased lean muscle mass and physical function. The Company is pursuing a potential strategic collaboration with biopharma companies experienced in orphan drug development to continue the development of a SARM for the treatment of DMD.
Prostate Cancer:
The Company has a Selective Androgen Receptor Degrader (SARD) preclinical program to evaluate its novel SARD technology in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The Company has ongoing mechanistic preclinical studies designed to select the most appropriate compound to advance into a first-in-human clinical trial.
Third Quarter 2017 Corporate Highlights and Financial Results
During the quarter, GTx raised net proceeds of $45.6 million in a private placement of its common stock and warrants to purchase its common stock. GTx sold 5,483,320 immediately separable units, comprised of an aggregate of 5,483,320 newly-issued shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to 3,289,988 additional shares of common stock. Both the common stock and warrants have been registered for resale with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
As of September 30, 2017, cash and short-term investments were $53.6 million compared to $21.9 million at December 31, 2016.
Research and development expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were $5.9 million compared to $4.6 million for the same period of 2016.
General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were $2.6 million compared to $2.3 million for the same period of 2016.
Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $8.5 million compared to a net loss of $6.9 million for the same period in 2016.
Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $21.2 million compared to a net loss of $10.9 million for the same period in 2016. The nine months ended September 30, 2016 included a non-cash gain of $8.2 million due to the change in fair value of the Company’s warrant liability. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company modified its outstanding warrants with no further adjustment to the fair value of these warrants being required.
GTx had approximately 21.5 million shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2017. Additionally, there are warrants outstanding to purchase approximately 6.4 million shares of GTx common stock at an exercise price of $8.50 per share and approximately 3.3 million shares of GTx common stock at an exercise price of $9.02.