On March 24, 2020 Gossamer Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOSS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, acquiring, developing and commercializing therapeutics in the disease areas of immunology, inflammation and oncology, reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 and provided a business update (Press release, Gossamer Bio, MAR 24, 2020, View Source [SID1234555784]).

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"Our hearts are with the patients, families, caregivers and medical professionals suffering and sacrificing in the ongoing Covid-19 viral pandemic. We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis to understand the impact on Gossamer and our programs and are taking the necessary actions now to do what is best for our patients, employees and company," said Sheila Gujrathi, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gossamer Bio.

"2019 was a year of execution for Gossamer Bio, as we continued to advance all four of our clinical-stage product candidates in our target areas of immunology, inflammation and oncology. Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, we expect to continue our momentum in 2020, with data from all of our candidates expected this year. We are committed to advancing our product candidates and the field of medicine for the betterment of patients and their families, and we look forward to providing updates on these efforts throughout the year."

Clinical-Stage Product Candidate Updates

GB001: Oral DP2 Antagonist for Eosinophilic Asthma and Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS)

Gossamer has made available three poster presentations from its GB001 program for patients with asthma. All three posters, which Gossamer had planned to present at the now cancelled 2020 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting, can be found in the Posters and Publications section of Gossamer’s website:

"Effect of the DP2 Antagonist GB001 on Asthma Worsening in Patients with Mild-Moderate Asthma" showed that GB001 treatment is associated with longer time to asthma worsening / exacerbation and observed treatment effects were greater in the populations with higher baseline FeNO and / or eosinophils.

"In Vitro and In Vivo Profile of GB001, a Potent and Selective DP2 Antagonist for the Treatment of Moderate-Severe Asthma" demonstrates that, in pre-clinical studies,

GB001 is an insurmountable antagonist and compares favorably to other DP2 antagonists in functional residence time and prolonged pharmacodynamic effects, while inhibiting immune cell infiltration and improving airway function.

"Corticosteroid Use Across Asthma Healthcare Providers: A Real-world Experience." The widespread use of OCS revealed by this claims analysis underscores the high level of unmet need for these patients and the need for new therapies.

Enrollment in the ongoing Phase 2b LEDA study in patients with moderate-to-severe eosinophilic asthma has been completed. We are on track to conduct an interim analysis in the second quarter of this year, following study completion by approximately two thirds of patients. Topline results are expected in the second half of this year.

Enrollment in the ongoing Phase 2 TITAN proof-of-concept study in chronic rhinosinusitis, both with and without nasal polyps has been completed. Topline data from the TITAN study are expected in the second half of this year.

We continue to evaluate the possibility of initiating a Phase 2 study in chronic spontaneous urticaria and expect to make this decision in the second half of the year following a review of available data and the competitive landscape.

GB002: Inhaled PDGFR Inhibitor for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

Enrollment is underway in the Phase 1b study of GB002 in patients with PAH. Gossamer expects to report initial topline results from the study in the second quarter of this year.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 viral pandemic, the Phase 2 study in patients with PAH will likely commence in the second half of this year. This trial will enroll functional class II and III PAH patients. Patients will remain on their background therapies throughout the study. The primary endpoint for this 24-week study will be change in PVR from baseline. A key secondary endpoint will be change from baseline in 6-minute walk distance at week 24.

GB004: Oral HIF-1α Stabilizer for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Enrollment is complete in the Phase 1b study of GB004 in patients with active mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). The primary goals of the study are to assess safety, tolerability, PK, PD and target engagement in patients with active disease. Gossamer expects to report topline results from this Phase 1b study in the second quarter of this year.

GB1275: Oral CD11b Modulator for Oncology Indications

Enrollment for the KEYNOTE-A36 Phase 1/2 study to evaluate GB1275 as a monotherapy and in combination with either KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) or chemotherapy in patients with selected advanced solid tumors is underway, and we expect to report initial Phase 1 data in the second half of this year.

Financial Results for Quarter and Full Year Ended December 31, 2019

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2019, were $401.8 million. In response to the ongoing Covid-19 viral pandemic and anticipated potential challenges to clinical trials globally, Gossamer has planned a series of cost-optimization initiatives. As a result, we currently expect cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, and access to our debt facility will be sufficient to fund operating and capital expenditures to the middle of 2022.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, R&D expenses were $42.6 million, compared to R&D expenses of $25.9 million for the same period in 2018. R&D expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2019, were $143.4 million compared to $55.3 million for the full year ended December 31, 2018. The increases were primarily due to an increase in expenses for GB001, GB002, GB004 and GB1275 and increased headcount.

In-Process Research and Development (IPR&D) Expenses: For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, IPR&D expenses were $1.6 million, compared to $0.0 million for the same period in 2018. IPR&D expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2019, were $3.6 million compared to $49.7 million for the full year ended December 31, 2018.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: For the quarter ended December 31, 2019, G&A expenses were $11.6 million, compared to $13.9 million for the same period in 2018. G&A expenses for the full year ended December 31, 2019, were $39.1 million compared to $44.1 million for the full year ended December 31, 2018. The decreases were primarily attributable to a decrease in stock-based compensation costs, which was partially offset by increases in personnel-related costs, professional and legal fees, costs associated with insurance, and facility and office-related costs.

Net Loss: Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2019, was $54.7 million, or $0.89 per share, compared to a net loss of $38.8 million, or $4.92 per share, for the same period in 2018. Net loss for the full year ended December 31, 2019, was $180.3 million, or $3.29 per share compared to a net loss of $147.0 million, or $22.59 per share, for the full year ended December 31, 2018.