On August 3, 2016 MacroGenics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGNX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, as well as autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases, reported a corporate progress update and reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 (Press release, MacroGenics, AUG 3, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514214]).
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"MacroGenics continues to make progress across its broad pipeline of clinical compounds, including margetuximab, our Fc-optimized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, our two clinical programs targeting B7-H3 as well as several bispecific product candidates based on our DART platform," said Scott Koenig, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of MacroGenics. "Of note during the second quarter, we presented promising Phase 1 clinical data for one of our DART programs, MGD010, at EULAR 2016. We look forward to providing data on other programs later this year, including additional clinical data from our enoblituzumab monotherapy study."
"In terms of our preclinical projects, we expect to continue our pace of generating promising clinical development candidates based on MacroGenics’ technology platforms. We remain on track to submit one IND later this year and two additional INDs in 2017," commented Dr. Koenig. "Finally, during the second quarter of 2016, we were very pleased to enter into a second collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc. for the development of MGD015, a DART program being developed for the treatment of various hematological malignancies and solid tumors."
Pipeline Update
Margetuximab. Recent highlights related to the Company’s Fc-optimized monoclonal antibody that targets the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2, include:
SOPHIA Study: MacroGenics’ Phase 3 pivotal study in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is ongoing, as the Company continues to initiate sites and enroll patients. This study is evaluating the efficacy of margetuximab plus chemotherapy compared to trastuzumab plus chemotherapy in approximately 530 relapsed/refractory patients. Approximately three-quarters of the anticipated study sites have been activated as of June 30, 2016. The Company expects to provide an update on patient enrollment and the expected timing of trial completion after all sites are activated and actively enrolling.
Phase 1b/2 Gastric Cancer Study: MacroGenics continues to recruit and dose patients in a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of margetuximab in combination with pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer. Treatment options for these patients are limited and this proposed combination regimen would avoid chemotherapy while exploiting the potential for enhancing the antitumor immune response. This trial is being conducted in collaboration with Merck and is currently recruiting patients in the United States, with plans to expand into Asia later this year.
B7-H3 Franchise. MacroGenics is developing a portfolio of therapeutics that target B7-H3, a member of the B7 family of molecules involved in immune regulation. The Company is advancing multiple programs that target B7-H3 through complementary mechanisms of action and take advantage of this antigen’s broad expression across multiple solid tumor types. Current ongoing clinical-stage development programs include:
Enoblituzumab: The Company continues to recruit patients in three ongoing studies of enoblituzumab, an Fc-optimized monoclonal antibody that targets B7-H3. These studies include one monotherapy study and two combination studies with each of ipilimumab and pembrolizumab. As previously reported, the monotherapy study was expanded to include additional prostate and bladder cancer cohorts.
MGD009: This DART molecule targeting B7-H3 and CD3 is being evaluated in a Phase 1 study across multiple solid tumor types.
DART Product Candidates. There are currently six DART molecules in Phase 1 clinical development, including MGD006 (CD123 x CD3, also known as S80880), MGD007 (gpA33 x CD3), MGD009 (B7-H3 x CD3), MGD010 (CD32B x CD79B), MGD011 (CD19 x CD3, also known as JNJ-64052781) and PF-06671008 (P-cadherin x CD3). Highlights during the second quarter include:
MGD010 Clinical Data Presentation: MacroGenics presented clinical data from its Phase 1 study of MGD010 at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2016) in London, England. MGD010, a DART molecule, was designed to simultaneously target the B-cell surface proteins, CD32B and CD79B, and is being developed for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Data from the first-in-human, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers showed that MGD010 was well tolerated at all dose levels. MGD010 demonstrated linear pharmacokinetics and modulation of B-cell function without depletion.
PF-06671008 Phase 1 Study Commencement: Pfizer commenced the Phase 1 clinical study of PF-06671008, which targets P-cadherin and CD3. The dosing of the first patient in the study triggered a $2 million milestone payment to MacroGenics under the companies’ 2010 agreement.
MacroGenics expects to submit IND applications for MGA012, a monoclonal antibody, in 2016 as well as two DART molecules in 2017. These two DART molecules are:
MGD013: MacroGenics is developing MGD013 to simultaneously block two immune checkpoint molecules, PD-1 and LAG-3.
MGD014: MGD014 is a DART molecule that is being developed to eliminate latent HIV infection.
Beyond MGD013 and MGD014, MacroGenics continues to generate and evaluate multiple other candidates that target a range of immune regulatory and other molecules using its proprietary platforms.
Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results
Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2016, were $265.6 million, compared to $339.0 million as of December 31, 2015. The MGD015 collaboration agreement with Janssen closed during the second quarter of 2016; however, the $75 million upfront payment from them was not received until early in the third quarter.
Revenue: Total revenue, consisting primarily of revenue from collaborative agreements, was $80.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, compared to $6.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015. This increase is primarily due to the $75 million in revenue recognized under the Janssen MGD015 collaboration announced in the second quarter of 2016 and the $2 million milestone received from Pfizer.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $33.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, compared to $22.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015. This increase was due primarily to increased activity in the Company’s preclinical immune checkpoint programs, including MGD013, the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial of MGD009 and the initiation of two Phase 1 clinical trials combining enoblituzumab with other compounds.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $7.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, compared to $5.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015. This increase is primarily due to increased professional fees, recruiting costs and stock-based compensation expense.
Net Income/Loss: Net income was $40.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, compared to net loss of $21.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015. The change from net loss to net income was primarily due to the recognition of the $75 million upfront payment from Janssen.
Shares Outstanding: Shares outstanding as of June 30, 2016 were 34,694,039.