On August 12, 2024 Leap Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:LPTX), a biotechnology company focused on developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 (Press release, Leap Therapeutics, AUG 12, 2024, View Source [SID1234645732]).
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Leap Highlights:
· Overall response rate (ORR) increases to 33% across all evaluable patients and 38% across evaluable patients with left-sided CRC in updated data from Part A of the Phase 2 DeFianCe study evaluating DKN-01 in combination with bevacizumab and chemotherapy in second-line patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC)
· Expanded the randomized controlled Part B of the DeFianCe study to 180 patients; enrollment expected to be completed by end of September 2024 with data expected in mid-2025
· Patient follow-up continues in the randomized controlled Part C of the Phase 2 DisTinGuish study evaluating DKN-01 in combination with tislelizumab and chemotherapy in first-line patients with advanced gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and gastric cancer; data expected in Q4 2024 or early 2025
· Completed $40 million private placement with new and existing investors, including Gilead Sciences, Inc.
"With the momentum provided by our $40 million private placement, we are positioned to achieve our critical company milestones," said Douglas E. Onsi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Leap. "We have executed well on our two DKN-01 randomized controlled trials and on preparatory activities for registrational studies. We look forward to sharing initial data from both randomized controlled studies over the next 12 months as we strive to deliver new treatments for patients fighting against cancer."
DKN-01 Development Update
· ORR increases in updated data from Part A of the DeFianCe Study. The DeFianCe study (NCT05480306) is a Phase 2 study evaluating DKN-01 in combination with bevacizumab and chemotherapy in second-line patients with advanced microsatellite stable CRC. Preliminary results from Part A of the study were previously reported at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in January 2024. In April 2024, a ninth Part A patient was identified as having a partial response (PR). This patient, who has left-sided Consensus Molecular Subtype 4 CRC with APC and TP53 mutations and KRAS wildtype genetics, had been previously treated with cetuximab and chemotherapy. The patient enrolled in Part A in March 2023 and had a best response of stable disease (SD) for over a year before the tumor reduction deepened into a PR. The patient remains on study with a confirmed PR.
· Key Updated Part A Findings (as of June 7, 2024 data cut-off):
o Across all patients enrolled (n=33):
§ ORR among response-evaluable patients (n=27) was 33% and disease control rate (DCR) was 93%, including 9 PRs and 16 patients with a best response of SD
§ Median progression-free survival (PFS) was unchanged at 6.3 months
o Enhanced activity in patients with left-sided tumors (n=25), a group that has more frequent activation of the Wnt pathway modulated by DKK1
§ 38% ORR and 100% DCR in response-evaluable population (8 PRs, 13 SDs)
§ Median PFS was unchanged at 8.6 months
o DKN-01 plus bevacizumab and chemotherapy was well-tolerated, with a majority of DKN-01 related events being low grade (Grade 1/2)
· Enrollment in Part B of the DeFianCe Study in CRC patients is ongoing and expected to be completed by the end of September 2024. The Company expanded the randomized controlled Part B of the DeFianCe study from 130 to 180 patients and included PFS in the subpopulation of patients with left-sided CRC as an additional primary endpoint. As of August 9, 2024, 161 patients have enrolled in Part B. The Company expects to complete enrollment by the end of September 2024, with data expected mid-2025.
· Randomized controlled Part C of the DisTinGuish study in patients with GEJ and gastric cancer is ongoing, with initial data expected in Q4 2024 or early 2025. The DisTinGuish study (NCT0436380) is a Phase 2, randomized, open-label, multicenter study of DKN-01 in combination with tislelizumab and chemotherapy in first-line, HER-2 negative patients with GEJ and gastric cancer. Part C enrolled 170 patients randomized 1:1 to evaluate DKN-01 in combination with tislelizumab and chemotherapy, compared to tislelizumab and chemotherapy alone. The Company expects to report initial data from Part C of the DisTinGuish study in Q4 2024 or early 2025.
Business Update:
· Completed a $40 million private placement. In April 2024, Leap entered into a securities purchase agreement with a select group of new and existing investors including Gilead Sciences, Inc., a life sciences-focused investor, Samsara BioCapital, LP, 683 Capital Partners, LP, Laurion Capital Management LP, and Rock Springs Capital Management LP. Gross proceeds from the private placement were approximately $40 million. The net proceeds from this financing, combined with existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, are expected to fund Leap’s operating and capital expenditures into the second quarter of 2026.
Selected Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Net Loss was $20.4 million for the second quarter 2024, compared to $13.4 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase in research and development expenses.
Research and development expenses were $17.9 million for the second quarter 2024, compared to $11.1 million for the same period in 2023. The increase of $6.8 million was primarily due to an increase of $5.7 million in clinical trial costs due to patient enrollment, the duration of patients on study, the enhancement of correlative studies, increase in site activity associated with Part C of the DisTinGuish study, and the expansion of the size of Part B of the DeFianCe study. There was also an increase of $0.6 million in manufacturing costs related to clinical trial material and manufacturing campaigns and an increase of $0.5 million in payroll and other related expenses due to an increase in headcount of our R&D full-time employees.
General and administrative expenses were $3.4 million for the second quarter 2024, compared to $3.6 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease was due to a decrease of $0.3 million in professional fees associated with our business development activities, partially offset by a $0.1 million increase in payroll and other related expenses.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $78.5 million at June 30, 2024.