On November 3, 2023 GlycoMimetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLYC), a late clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing glycobiology-based therapies for cancers and inflammatory diseases, reported its financial results and highlights for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023. Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2023 were $49.4 million (Press release, GlycoMimetics, NOV 3, 2023, View Source [SID1234636883]).
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"We look ahead to 2024 with anticipation and excitement. Topline results for our pivotal Phase 3 study of uproleselan in relapsed/refractory AML remain on track by the end of Q2 and together with our potential NDA filing before the end of 2024 represent a transformational opportunity for patients, clinicians, and our company," said Harout Semerjian, Chief Executive Officer of GlycoMimetics. "Our progress toward these important milestones, along with the upcoming presentation of independent data on uproleselan at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) and the expected initial results of our Phase 1a GMI-1687 study by end of Q1 2024, demonstrate our ability and ambition to deliver our development strategy and move closer to becoming a commercial stage company."
Operational Highlights
Uproleselan
In Q2, GlycoMimetics announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of a protocol amendment to the company’s pivotal Phase 3 study of uproleselan for R/R AML. This amendment provides for a time-based analysis of the primary endpoint of overall survival after a defined cutoff date, if the 295 survival events of the originally planned event-driven analysis have not been observed by that date. With the addition of the time-based analysis, the company expects topline results by the end of Q2 2024.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology will conduct a planned interim analysis of event-free survival in 267 patients randomized to its Phase 2/3 clinical trial (NCI protocol A041701) evaluating uproleselan in newly diagnosed older adults with AML who are fit for chemotherapy. Enrollment of the Phase 2 portion of the study was completed in December of 2021. The company reiterates that when available, it will share these results.
The company agreed with the European Medicines Agency on a Pediatric Investigational Plan (PIP), which followed the prior agreement with the FDA in Q2 2023 on an initial Pediatric Study Plan (iPSP). The PIP and iPSP each include a deferral for study completion, and a waiver for children less than 28 days of age. As part of the pediatric plans, an NCI sponsored Phase 1/2 pediatric trial is currently being conducted by the Children’s Oncology Group Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trials Network. The Phase 1/2 dose escalation study (NCI protocol PEPN2113) evaluates the safety and preliminary activity of uproleselan plus fludarabine and high dose cytarabine in pediatric AML patients after two or more prior therapies. The first patient in the Phase 1 portion of the study has been dosed with an expected enrollment of 18 patients.
Updated clinical data from an investigator-initiated trial studying the use of uproleselan in combination with chemotherapy for patients with treated secondary AML has been accepted for poster presentation at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December. Investigators at MD Anderson Cancer Center are conducting the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial to evaluate safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of uproleselan added to cladribine and low dose cytarabine in patients with this difficult to treat subset of AML.
GMI-1687
In August, GlycoMimetics initiated a Phase 1a double-blind, single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, sequential, single ascending dose trial in healthy adult volunteers. It is expected to enroll approximately 40 subjects. Eligible subjects will receive a single dose of GMI-1687 or placebo (6:2 ratio) via subcutaneous injection. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of up to five dose levels (3.3, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg) will be evaluated. GMI-1687 is a highly potent E-selectin antagonist that has potential application in inflammatory diseases with initial focus on sickle cell disease. Initial results are expected by the end of Q1 2024.
Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results:
Cash position: As of September 30, 2023, GlycoMimetics had cash and cash equivalents of $49.4 million as compared to $47.9 million as of December 31, 2022.
R&D Expenses: The company’s research and development expenses increased to $5.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, as compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2022. The increased expenses were primarily due to the clinical development costs related to the Phase 1a trial of GMI-1687 in healthy adult volunteers, which was initiated in August 2023; the increase was partially offset by decreased personnel-related and stock-based compensation costs due to a lower number of personnel than in the prior year.
G&A Expenses: The company’s general and administrative expenses increased to $4.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, as compared to $3.8 million for the same period in 2022. The increased expenses were primarily due to higher personnel-related expenses and higher professional fees as the company advances uproleselan and prepares for potential regulatory filing and commercialization.
Shares Outstanding: Shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2023 were 64,368,843.
The company will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ET. To access the call by phone, please go to this registration link, and you will be provided with dial in details. Participants are encouraged to connect 15 minutes in advance of the scheduled start time.
A live webcast of the call will be available on the "Investors" tab on the GlycoMimetics website. A webcast replay will be available for 30 days following the call.
About Uproleselan
Discovered and developed by GlycoMimetics, uproleselan is an investigational, first-in-class E-selectin antagonist. Uproleselan (yoo’ pro le’se lan), currently in a broad development program including a late-stage Phase 3 trial in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), has received Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations from the FDA and Breakthrough Therapy designation from the Chinese National Medical Products Administration for the treatment of adult AML patients with relapsed or refractory disease. Uproleselan is designed to block E-selectin binding and stimulation of myeloid cells. E-selectin is expressed on the surface of blood vessels, and its binding to myeloid cells confers a pro-survival effect. Uproleselan is intended to enable a novel approach to disrupting established mechanisms of leukemic cell resistance.
About GMI-1687
Discovered and developed by GlycoMimetics, GMI-1687 is a highly potent E-selectin antagonist that has been shown in animal models to be fully bioavailable following subcutaneous administration. This second-generation compound is currently being studied in a Phase 1a double-blind, single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, sequential, single ascending dose trial in healthy adult volunteers. GMI-1687 is believed to have potential application in inflammatory diseases, and the company’s initial development focus is treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). E-selectin is believed to play a major role in vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), the vascular clots and blockages that cause pain crises in people living with SCD. Administration of GMI-1687 via subcutaneous injection, if successfully developed in the clinic, may enable the drug to address current challenges of IV therapies for SCD as well as offer a potential point-of-care treatment option at the onset of VOC.