On September 29, 2021 Kintara biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new solid tumor cancer therapies, reported financial results for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2021 and provided a corporate update (Press release, Kintara Therapeutics, SEP 29, 2021, View Source [SID1234590471]).
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CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Entered into securities purchase agreements with healthcare-focused institutional investors to raise approximately $15 million in gross proceeds (September). Funding from this registered direct offering, which was priced at a premium to market, was consummated on September 28, 2021, and provides cash for ongoing clinical studies and corporate working capital needs.
Bolstered patient enrollment opportunities in the U.S. by activating additional clinical trial sites for glioblastoma (GBM) patients for the VAL-083 arm of the GBM AGILE registrational study sponsored by the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR).
Announced initiation of patient recruitment at first site (January)
Reported activation of 15 clinical sites for the GBM AGILE study (May)
Updated site activation to 26 clinical sites (August)
The GBM AGILE study is a revolutionary, patient-centered, adaptive platform trial for registration evaluating multiple therapies for patients with newly-diagnosed and recurrent GBM. VAL-083 currently represents the only therapeutic agent being evaluated in all subgroups of GBM AGILE (newly-diagnosed methylated MGMT, newly-diagnosed unmethylated MGMT, and recurrent patients). The study will enroll up to 150 patients in the initial evaluation (labeled ‘stage 1’) for the VAL-083 arm of the study at over 40 sites in the U.S. and Canada, with potential to increase to 65 clinical trial centers worldwide. The Company is forecasting that the recent financing will provide sufficient funding through stage 1, which could result in graduation to the final confirmatory stage, the potentially NDA enabling portion of the GBM AGILE study.
Reported topline results from the Phase 2 study conducted at the MD Anderson Cancer Center that affirm the safety and efficacy of VAL-083 in two different GBM patient subtypes and support continued evaluation of VAL-083 in the GBM AGILE registrational study.
In September, topline Phase 2 clinical study results for VAL-083 as adjuvant therapy for newly-diagnosed GBM patients were reported demonstrating progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 10.0 months and 16.5 months, respectively, in efficacy evaluable patients
In July, topline Phase 2 clinical study results for VAL-083 for recurrent GBM were reported demonstrating median overall survival (mOS) for the 48 efficacy evaluable patients initially receiving the GBM AGILE treatment dose of 30 mg/m2/day of 8.0 months.
Continued to advance development of REM-001 for the treatment of Cutaneous Metastatic Breast Cancer (CMBC), including taking critical steps toward manufacturing sufficient quantity of drug to allow for initiation and completion of our 15-patient lead-in CMBC study.
Joined the Russel Microcap Index effective June 28, 2021. Russell Indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell’s U.S. Indexes.
Enhanced leadership team by appointing Tamara A. Seymour to the Board of Directors (April). Ms. Seymour is a corporate finance veteran with three decades of experience in biotech and life sciences including roles as a Chief Financial Officer and Board member of publicly-listed companies.
"As we embark on a new fiscal year with a strengthened cash position from our recent financing, I’m extremely pleased with where the Company is positioned on the clinical and corporate development fronts," commented Saiid Zarrabian, Kintara’s President and Chief Executive Officer. "Moving forward, our diversified, late-stage pipeline has multiple, significant near-term milestones, highlighted by the GCAR GBM AGILE study. We believe this registration study represents an extraordinary opportunity for the Company as it provides an optimal clinical path given its highly accelerated program as evidenced by the initiation of patient enrollment at 26 sites in less than eight months, and from a cost savings standpoint through an FDA approved registrational trial which provides Kintara the unique opportunity to enroll three separate GBM patient subtypes. We are entering a pivotal juncture in the Company’s development, and I wish to extend gratitude to our longstanding shareholders for their continued support."
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021
At June 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $10.5 million. For the year ended June 30, 2021, the Company reported a net loss of approximately $38.3 million, or $1.60 per share, compared to a net loss of approximately $9.1 million, or $0.87 per share, for the year ended June 30, 2020. The increase in loss for the year ended June 30, 2021 compared to the year ended June 30, 2020 was largely due to the recognition of $16.1 million of non-cash expenses related to the acquisition of in-process research and development costs associated with the acquisition of Adgero Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. and an expanded rate of expenditures with the initiation of the GCAR study and REM-001 development.