On November 13, 2017 BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ:BGNE), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative molecularly targeted and immuno-oncology drugs for the treatment of cancer, reported business highlights and financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 (Press release, BeiGene, NOV 13, 2017, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2316622 [SID1234521997]).
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"BeiGene has achieved several important milestones since the beginning of the third quarter. Our strategic collaboration with Celgene Corporation has transformed us into a commercial-stage company in China and is expected to enhance the potential of our investigational PD-1 inhibitor, BGB-A317. We have also made important clinical progress with the expansion of the global pivotal program for our BTK inhibitor BGB-3111, the initiation of the first Phase 3 study for BGB-A317 in China, and the completion of patient enrollment of our first China pivotal trials for both BGB-3111 and BGB-A317. In addition, we strengthened our balance sheet with the upfront payment and investment from Celgene as well as our public offering in August," said John V. Oyler, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of BeiGene.
"Looking ahead, we plan to present additional data on BGB-3111 at the 59th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December. We also look forward to initiating additional pivotal trials for our portfolio assets in the coming months," commented Mr. Oyler.
Third Quarter 2017 and Recent Business Highlights
Clinical Programs:
BGB-3111, an investigational small molecule inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK)
• Completed enrollment in the pivotal Phase 2 trial in China of BGB-3111 in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma;
• Initiated the following trials:
Global Phase 3 trial of BGB-3111 compared to bendamustine and rituximab in treatment-naïve chronic lymphocytic leukemia / small lymphocytic lymphoma patients;
Global pivotal Phase 2 trial of BGB-3111 in combination with GAZYVA (obinutuzumab) in relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma patients; and
Pivotal Phase 2 trial in China of BGB-3111 in Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.
BGB-A317, an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody against the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1
• Presented data from patients with gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and ovarian cancer enrolled in the global Phase 1 trial of BGB-A317 in patients with advanced solid tumors at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2017 Congress;
• Presented preliminary Phase 1 data on BGB-A317 in Chinese patients with advanced tumors at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology;
• Completed enrollment in the pivotal Phase 2 trial of BGB-A317 in China in relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma;
• Completed enrollment in the global Phase 1a/1b trial of BGB-A317 in advanced tumors with a total of over 450 patients;
• Initiated the following trials:
Phase 3 trial in China of BGB-A317 as a second- or third-line treatment for patients with advanced lung cancer;
Pivotal Phase 2 trial in China of BGB-A317 in previously treated, PD-L1-positive, locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer;
Phase 2 trial in China of BGB-A317 in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced lung cancer; and
Phase 2 trial in China of BGB-A317 in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal, gastric, or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma.
BGB-290, an investigational small molecule PARP inhibitor
• Presented updated data from the global Phase 1 trial of BGB-290 in patients with advanced solid tumors at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2017 Congress;
• Initiated the following trials:
Global Phase 1 trial of BGB-290 in combination with temozolomide in locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors; and
Global Phase 1b/2 trial of BGB-290 in combination with radiation therapy and/or temozolomide in glioblastoma.
Corporate Development:
• Closed our global strategic collaboration with Celgene Corporation.
Expected Upcoming Milestones
BGB-3111 (BTK Inhibitor)
• Present additional Phase 1 data for BGB-3111 in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, updated Phase 1 data for the combination of BGB-3111 and Gazyva (obinutuzumab), and initial Phase 1 data for the combination of BGB-3111 and BGB-A317 at the 59th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, December 9-12, 2017.
BGB-A317 (PD-1 Antibody)
• Present initial Phase 1 data for the combination of BGB-3111 and BGB-A317 at the 59th ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, December 9-12, 2017; and
• Initiate Phase 3 trials of BGB-A317 in China in the fourth quarter of 2017 or the first quarter of 2018.
BGB-290 (PARP Inhibitor)
• Initiate a pivotal trial in China in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments were $757.44 million as of September 30, 2017, compared to $407.43 million as of June 30, 2017 and $368.17 million as of December 31, 2016. The increase in the quarter was primarily attributable to the Celgene strategic collaboration. Funding from Celgene includes upfront licensing fees of $263.00 million, $92.05 million of which was received as of September 30, 2017 and the rest of which is payable in the fourth quarter of 2017, and an equity investment of $150.00 million. In addition, net proceeds from our August 2017 follow-on public offering contributed $188.52 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering-related expenses. These were partially offset by cash used in operating activities and for capital expenditures during the three months ended September 30, 2017.
The Company consolidates the BeiGene Biologics joint venture in its consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2017, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments included $141.64 million of cash held by BeiGene Biologics.
Cash provided by operations for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $6.60 million, compared to a use of cash of $24.28 million for the same period in 2016. The increase in cash flow from operating activities was primarily attributable to upfront licensing fees of the Celgene collaboration, which offset increased research and development (R&D) and selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in the period. Capital expenditures for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were $18.79 million, including $13.94 million attributable to BeiGene Biologics, compared to $6.68 million for the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to increased investment in our manufacturing facilities in Guangzhou and Suzhou.
Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $220.21 million, compared to nil in the same period in 2016, and was comprised of $8.82 million of net product revenue and $211.39 million of collaboration revenue. The product revenues represent net product sales of Abraxane and Revlimid in China following the effective date of the Celgene transaction, August 31, 2017. The collaboration revenue recognized in the period relates to the upfront fee allocated to the BGB-A317 license element of the arrangement.
R&D Expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $87.66 million, compared to $30.11 million in the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to increased spending on clinical activities and manufacturing for BGB-3111, BGB-A317, and BGB-290 due to expansion of ongoing clinical programs and increased employee compensation-related expenses as a result of increased headcount to support a broader clinical program. R&D-associated share-based compensation expense was $10.38 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $2.14 million for the same period in 2016, primarily due to increased headcount, higher share price, and increased expense attributable to non-employee consultant awards.
SG&A Expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $15.64 million compared to $4.72 million in the same period in 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to increased employee compensation-related expenses as a result of increased headcount, including personnel costs for the employees transferred from Celgene China and higher share price as well as higher professional service fees, including legal, finance and accounting fees related to the Celgene transaction, patent prosecution activities and costs to support our growing operations. In addition, SG&A-associated share-based compensation expense was $2.95 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $0.64 million for the same period in 2016.
Net Income attributable to BeiGene, Ltd. for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $117.39 million compared to a net loss of $35.49 million in the same period in 2016.