On November 14, 2024 Celcuity Inc. (Nasdaq: CELC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pursuing development of targeted therapies for oncology, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 and other recent business developments (Press release, Celcuity, NOV 14, 2024, View Source [SID1234648393]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Enrollment in our VIKTORIA-1 study remains robust and on-track. The PIK3CA wild-type cohort is 100% enrolled, and enrollment in the PIK3CA mutant cohort is on plan," said Brian Sullivan, CEO and co-founder of Celcuity. "Based on our current forecast of reaching the event thresholds that will trigger primary analysis in both the PIK3CA wild-type and mutant cohorts, we expect to report topline data for the PIK3CA wild-type cohort sometime in late Q1 2025 or during Q2 2025 and to report topline data for the PIK3CA mutant cohort in the second half of 2025."

Third Quarter 2024 Business Highlights and Other Recent Developments

● The VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 clinical trial expects to provide topline data for the PIK3CA wild-type cohort in late Q1 2025 or during Q2 2025 and for the PIK3CA mutant cohort in the second half of 2025.

○ VIKTORIA-1 is evaluating gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant with and without palbociclib in adults with HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer who have received prior treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor.
○ The PIK3CA wild-type cohort is 100% enrolled and enrollment of the PIK3CA mutant cohort is on-track relative to plan.

● The VIKTORIA-2 Phase 3 clinical trial remains on track to enroll its first patient in Q2 2025.

○ The VIKTORIA-2 study is a global Phase 3 open-label randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor, either ribociclib or palbociclib, in comparison to fulvestrant plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor as a first-line treatment for patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer who are endocrine therapy resistant.
○ Prior to the initiation of the Phase 3 portion of the trial, a safety run-in study will be conducted in 12-36 participants to assess the safety profile of gedatolisib in combination with ribociclib and fulvestrant.
○ Site qualification activities to support activation of up to 200 sites across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia are on track.

● The Phase 1b/2 clinical trial, evaluating gedatolisib in combination with darolutamide for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), is ongoing and expected to report preliminary data in Q2 2025.

● Overall survival data from the B2151009 Phase 1b clinical trial will be presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), taking place December 10-13, 2024. Details of the poster presentation are as follows:

○ Abstract Title: Overall survival in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer treated in a phase 1b trial evaluating gedatolisib in combination with palbociclib and endocrine therapy (SESS-1510)
○ Presentation Number: P4-08-25
○ Date/Time: Thursday, December 12, 5:30 PM CST

● Additional nonclinical data further characterizing the mechanism of action of gedatolisib and its effect on breast cancer cell metabolic functions will also be presented at the SABCS.

○ Abstract Title: Mechanism of action of gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant and/or palbociclib in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer models (SESS-989)
○ Abstract Title: Different effects of gedatolisib versus single-node PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors on breast cancer cell metabolic functions (SESS-997)
● In October, Cancers published results of nonclinical studies in gynecological cancer cell line models highlighting the differences between single-node inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and gedatolisib. The published manuscript is available online and on the publications section of Celcuity’s website.

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Total operating expenses were $30.1 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $18.9 million for the third quarter of 2023.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $27.6 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $17.5 million for the prior-year period. Of the approximately $10.1 million increase in R&D expenses, $6.3 million primarily related to activities supporting the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial, the Phase 1b/2 trial and the initiation of the VIKTORIA-2 Phase 3 trial, and $3.8 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $2.5 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $1.4 million for the prior-year period. Employee and consulting related expenses accounted for $0.9 million of the increase. Professional fees and other administrative expenses accounted for the remaining increase of approximately $0.2 million.

Net loss for the third quarter of 2024 was $29.8 million, or $0.70 loss per share, compared to a net loss of $18.4 million, or $0.83 loss per share, for the third quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss for the third quarter of 2024 was $27.6 million, or $0.65 loss per share, compared to non-GAAP adjusted net loss of $17.3 million, or $0.78 loss per share, for the third quarter of 2023. Non-GAAP adjusted net loss excludes stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense, and non-cash interest income. Because these items have no impact on Celcuity’s cash position, management believes non-GAAP adjusted net loss better enables Celcuity to focus on cash used in operations. For a reconciliation of financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) to non-GAAP financial measures, please see the financial tables at the end of this press release.

Net cash used in operating activities for the third quarter of 2024 was $20.6 million, compared to $12.7 million for the third quarter of 2023.

At September 30, 2024, Celcuity reported cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $264.1 million.