On May 9, 2024 Lantern Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRN), an artificial intelligence ("AI") company developing targeted and transformative cancer therapies using its proprietary RADR AI and machine learning ("ML") platform with multiple clinical-stage drug programs, reported operational highlights and financial results for the first quarter 2024, ended March 31, 2024 (Press release, Lantern Pharma, MAY 9, 2024, View Source [SID1234642999]).
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"Our company made meaningful progress across multiple clinical trials and in furthering our AI platform this past quarter while advancing our internal capabilities to both support data-driven, precision oncology trials and accelerate the cost-effective development of drug-conjugates. Our team is at the forefront of demonstrating how combining emerging AI technologies, cancer biology and biomarker expertise along with focused clinical operations holds the promise of transforming timelines and costs in biopharma development." said Panna Sharma, President and CEO of Lantern Pharma.
Sharma continued, "Over the past several months, we have experienced growing interest in machine-learning enabled drug development and, in our RADR, AI platform. Our team is energized by the growing desire to adopt and leverage AI-driven innovations in biopharma and in the meaningful progress we are making with our own drug-candidates. We are excited about the opportunities we have in front of us to drive increased collaborations on our AI platform this year, and also propel the streamlined development of our own portfolio of high-value, high-impact drug-candidates."
Highlights of AI-Powered Pipeline:
LP-184 – Five cohorts of patients, comprised of dose levels 1 thru 5, have been enrolled and dosed – in escalating doses – in the ongoing Phase 1A clinical trial. This is a first-in-human Phase 1 trial across multiple solid tumor indications that are advanced and refractory to existing standard-of-care therapies. The trial is actively enrolling and dosing patients at dose level 6 that have relapsed/refractory advanced solid tumors, such as pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma (GBM), lung, triple-negative breast cancer, and multiple other solid tumor types. There have not been any observed dose-limiting toxicities to date.
The company believes that enrollment should be complete this summer and on-track for a readout of data in late summer or early fall. Current efforts are underway to focus enrollment efforts on cancer patients with tumors that have DDR(1) (DNA damage repair) deficiency. DDR deficient tumors have been observed to have higher sensitivity to LP-184. The company has also submitted a dose optimization and expansion protocol (Supplement A) to the FDA related to LP-184 in non-CNS solid tumors, including TNBC (triple negative breast cancer) with DDR alterations. Additionally, the company in collaboration with Starlight Therapeutics, has also submitted to the FDA a dose optimization and expansion protocol in recurrent IDH wild-type high grade gliomas (Supplement B).
The dosage and safety data obtained in the Phase 1a and 1b trials are expected to be used to advance the central nervous system (CNS) indications for a future Phase 2 trial to be sponsored by Lantern’s wholly owned subsidiary, Starlight Therapeutics. The Phase 1a data will also inform other anticipated later phase trials in select solid tumors, most likely with genomic signatures signifying DDR (DNA damage repair) deficiency, that have shown responsiveness to LP-184. Genomic identification of these patients and biomarker characterization of their underlying tumor is central to our focus of personalizing treatment and developing efficient later stage clinical trials. To further this effort, Lantern has also initiated the development of a PCR-based molecular diagnostic test that may help in identifying cancer patients with the best likelihood of response and benefit from treatment with LP-184.
AI and preclinical studies are ongoing to further refine drug combination studies supporting the use of LP-184 to improve the durability or overall response rates in combination with FDA approved drugs that are widely used in cancer treatment. Globally, the aggregate annual market potential of LP-184’s target indications is estimated to be approximately $12+ billion, consisting of $4.5+ billion for CNS cancers and $7.5+ billion for solid tumors.
LP-284 – The initial two cohorts of patients have been dosed, and no dose-limiting toxicities have been observed in the Phase 1a clinical trial. The company expects to open additional sites in the US throughout the second quarter with the potential to advance to Phase 1b/2 by the close of 2024. LP-284 has shown nanomolar potency across multiple published in vitro and in vivo studies, including mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), double hit lymphoma (DHL), and other advanced NHL cancer subtypes and certain sarcomas with DDR deficiencies, notably those with compromised functioning of the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene due to mutations or deletions. Nearly all MCL, DHL, and HGBL patients relapse from the current standard-of-care agents and there is an urgent and unmet need for novel improved therapeutic options for these patients. In the US and Europe, MCL, DHL, and HGBLs are diagnosed in 16,000-20,000 patients each year and have an estimated annual market potential of over USD 3+ billion.
LP-300 – The phase 2 Harmonic clinical trial sites in the US are continuing to screen for patients and have also increased the pace of enrollment. This past quarter we also received approval to proceed with the Phase 2 clinical trial in Japan and Taiwan. This is expected to accelerate the collection of patient and response data needed for the next-stage of evaluation and development of LP-300, an investigational therapeutic for the treatment of relapsed and inoperable primary adenocarcinoma of the lung given in combination with chemotherapy Additionally, it may also bring a needed therapeutic option for LCINS (Lung Cancer In Never Smokers) diagnosed patients in Japan and Taiwan, where one-third of all lung cancer diagnoses are made among those who have never smoked.
Dr. Yashushi Goto, a physician and researcher focused on lung cancer at the National Cancer Center of Japan, will be leading the phase 2 trial in Japan, where the incidence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in never-smokers is double or more than that of the United States. Lantern believes that this improves the positioning for drug-candidate LP-300 to develop collaborative and co-development partnerships with global biopharma companies with a primary focus in serving the Asian markets.
The Harmonic trial is assessing the effect of LP-300 in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed) in LCINS patients with relapsed NSCLC. Globally, LCINS patients are a growing population of patients and do not respond well to PD-1/PD-L1-based therapies or the available chemotherapy doublets, leaving them with reduced treatment options. In the US it is estimated that LP-300 has an annual market potential of $1.5 billion, and a global estimated annual market potential of over $2.6 billion. LCINS is the eighth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the USA and the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
RADR Platform Growth and Development:
RADR continues to advance in size, scope, and capabilities and is progressing towards becoming a standard for AI-driven drug development in oncology – for both early-stage development and later-stage patient biomarker and combination therapy identification. The company recently announced a artificial intelligence (AI)-driven collaboration to optimize the development of a protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) inhibitor drug candidate, XCE853, for a variety of novel and targeted cancer indications. The collaboration is leveraging RADR’s AI-based capabilities, including 200+ machine learning (ML) algorithms and foundational models for oncology drug development to uncover biomarkers and molecular correlates of efficacy and define potential combination regimens to sharpen and accelerate XCE853’s drug development strategy. Lantern Pharma is receiving equal IP co-ownership and drug development rights in newly discovered biomarkers, novel indications, and use for new pharmacological strategies for XCE853.
The scope of RADR’s data has broadened with a strategic focus on additional classes of compounds, including drug-conjugates such as ADCs and inclusion of detailed data on chemical and biochemical features and drug-interaction data. Additionally, data from clinical studies such as those being obtained from liquid biopsy, and data from preclinical combination studies that aim to define drug interaction and optimal dosage are being incorporated into the datapoints and data sets powering RADR. Lantern expects to pursue additional biopharma and technology partnerships during 2024 to further advance and commercialize the RADR AI platform.
Starlight Therapeutics:
Starlight Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lantern Pharma focused on CNS and brain cancers with STAR-001, continues advancements with the filing of a clinical trial protocol for the Phase 1B dose optimization and expansion cohort in recurrent IDH wild-type high grade gliomas. IDH wild-type glioblastomas are the most malignant glial tumors with median survival of only 14–16 months after diagnosis; patients aged ≥ 65 years have reportedly worse outcomes.(3) Lantern formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Starlight Therapeutics Inc. ("Starlight"), in early 2023 for the clinical development of drug candidate LP-184’s central nervous system (CNS) and brain cancer indications – including GBM, brain mets., and several rare pediatric CNS cancers. Starlight will refer to the molecule LP-184, as it is developed in CNS indications, as "STAR-001". The indications and mechanistic insights powering the creation of Starlight and the identification of multiple CNS tumors that can be potentially impacted were largely driven by insights and analysis from the RADR AI platform.
During Q4 of 2023 Lantern announced that it had hired a CMO, Dr. Marc Chamberlain, who will focus on Starlight’s clinical trials, development of personnel to execute on the planned clinical trials and overall support in corporate development activity. Starlight and Lantern expect to initiate Phase 1b/2 clinical trials during the second half of 2024. The market potential for the currently planned indications for Starlight’s synthetically-lethal, cancer-cell DNA damaging agent – STAR-001 – is estimated to be 4.5 billion to 5+ billion USD across both adult and pediatric primary and secondary CNS cancers.
ADC & Drug Conjugate Programs:
During the first quarter, Lantern, in collaboration with academic research partners in Germany, advanced the development, synthesis, and preclinical proof-of-concept of a novel, highly potent, cryptophycin-based ADC (cpADC). The cpADC has shown picomolar potency in a wide range of solid tumors tested in preclinical development and is being further evaluated for clinical potential in six solid tumor indications. In preclinical work, the cpADC produced an 80% cancer cell kill rate which was more than other commonly used approved ADCs, including in a cancer sub-type, medium and low HER-2 expression cancers, which is an area of critical patient need. Lantern expects to move towards IND development of its ADC program during 2024 with a focus on select solid tumors that are unresponsive or refractory to current therapies.
Additionally, Lantern has advanced its AI module for differentiated, machine-learning based ADC development, characterization, analysis and bioactivity prediction. The ADC module is being developed as an extension to RADR and leverages the data and biomarker insights curated by and generated in RADR. Lantern has plans to further advance the development through partnerships and collaborations with both technology and biopharma companies.
Additional Operational Highlights:
A new publication on the lethal activity of LP-184, inducing elevated levels of DNA double-strand breaks, in HR deficient (HRD) cancer cells was published by research scientists at Lantern Pharma in collaboration with Georgetown University Medical Center in Cancer Research Communications. The publication showcased that depletion of key HR components BRCA2 or ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) in cancer cells conferred up to 12-fold increased sensitivity to LP- 184 and that LP-184 showed nanomolar potency in a diverse range of HRD cancer models. A link to the publication titled "LP-184, a Novel Acylfulvene Molecule, Exhibits Anticancer Activity against Diverse Solid Tumors with Homologous Recombination Deficiency" can be accessed here.
New data and scientific findings for LP-284 and the ongoing clinical trial were presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) (American Association for Cancer Research) during the 2024 Annual Meeting in San Diego – Phase 1a/1b clinical trial of LP-284, a highly potent TP53 mutation agnostic DNA damaging agent, in patients with refractory or relapsed lymphomas and solid tumors (NCT06132503)
The company also announced during April that it will hosting a series of educational and informative webinars focused on updates on Lantern’s areas of research, clinical trials and AI efforts titled Webinar Wednesdays. The first of these webinars was held on April 24th and featured Dr. Joseph Treat, a Professor in the Department of Hematology and Oncology, Vice Chair of Education, and Medical Director of Ambulatory Care at Fox Chase Cancer Center discussing LP-300 and the Harmonic clinical trial focused on LCINS patients.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
Balance Sheet: Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were approximately $38.4 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to approximately $41.3 million as of December 31, 2023. The quarterly cash burn rate continues to reflect our capital-efficient, collaborator-centered business model.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were approximately $4.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to approximately $2.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. This increase was largely driven by an increase in clinical trial activity and clinical trial site activations.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were approximately $1.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to approximately $1.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
Net Loss: Net loss was approximately $5.4 million (or $0.51 per share) for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to a net loss of approximately $3.9 million (or $0.36 per share) for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.
Warrant Exercises: Lantern issued 20,132 shares of common stock during Q1 2024, relating to the cashless exercise of warrants to purchase 79,021 shares. Also, in Q1 2024, Lantern issued 17,481 shares of common stock for aggregate proceeds of approximately $55,000, relating to the exercise of warrants for cash. Following these exercises, there remain 81,496 warrants outstanding to purchase Lantern common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $16.55 per share.
Earnings Call and Webinar Details:
Lantern will host its 1st quarter 2024 earnings call and webinar today, May 9, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET. A link to register can be accessed at: Lantern 1st Quarter 2024 Earnings Call & Webinar Link
Related presentation materials will be accessible at: View Source
A replay of the 1st quarter 2024 earnings call and webinar will be available at: View Source