On November 3, 2023 Morphic Therapeutic (Nasdaq: MORF), a biopharmaceutical company developing a new generation of oral integrin therapies for the treatment of serious chronic diseases, reported corporate highlights and financial results for the third quarter 2023 (Press release, Morphic Therapeutic, NOV 3, 2023, View Source [SID1234636911]).
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"Morphic presented a comprehensive set of positive results from the 12-week induction phase of the EMERALD-1 study of MORF-057 in UC, showing consistent efficacy across-the-board for patients, while demonstrating no safety signals. These results are particularly impressive, given that enrollment was skewed towards the severe end of the spectrum of moderately-to-severely active UC. Notably, we continue to observe improvement in these difficult to treat patients beyond the induction phase of the study in 44-week data presented recently," commented Bruce Rogers, PhD, President of Morphic Therapeutic. "The Phase 2a study of MORF-057 clearly signaled everything we believed it would at this point in development and we are excited to continue enrolling patients in our ongoing EMERALD-2 Phase 2b study. On a separate note, what the company continues to accomplish, while Praveen is on medical leave, is a testament to the quality the team that he put in place, and we are all wishing him the very best in his continued recovery."
Third Quarter 2023 and Recent Corporate Highlights
Chief Executive Officer of Morphic Therapeutic, Praveen Tipirneni, MD, continues to improve while remaining on a medical leave of absence after suffering an emergent medical event in late September. Dr. Tipirneni is expected to return after he recovers.
In the EMERALD-1 Phase 2a trial of MORF-057 in UC, additional positive data, presented at UEGW 2023 and in a company conference call, indicate that in a moderately-to-severely-active UC population with severe disease burden, MORF-057:
•Continues to be generally well tolerated with no safety signal observed to date
•Achieved primary endpoint with high statistical significance in reduction of RHI of 6.4 points (p=0.0019)
•Showed clinical improvement consistently across key measures at week 12, including remission and response (mMCS remission of 25.7%; mMCS response of 45.7%)
•Demonstrated RHI change ≥7 points in 48.6% of patients and RHI remission in 22.9% of patients
•Led to clinical improvement in mMCS within the 12-week induction period for 76% of patients, including advanced therapy-experienced patients
•PK/PD results confirm those seen in healthy volunteer studies
◦Median RO >99% and sustained saturation at week 12
◦Predicted lymphocyte subset changes observed, consistent with engagement of α4β7
•Demonstrated deepening of clinical effect beyond the 12-week induction period, with symptomatic remission rates continuing to increase out to 44 weeks in both advanced treatment-naïve and advanced treatment-experienced patients
Ongoing MORF-057 EMERALD Phase 2 Development Program Updates
•Continued the 40-week maintenance phase of the EMERALD-1 study as planned
•EMERALD-2 global Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of MORF-057 in patients with moderate-to-severe UC continues to enroll as projected
▪The primary endpoint of EMERALD-2 is the clinical remission rate as measured by mMCS at 12 weeks and is expected to report in the first half of 2025
•The Phase 2b study of MORF-057 in Crohn’s Disease is anticipated to begin in the first half of 2024
MORF-057 Preclinical Studies
•Presented preclinical data on rational selection of combination therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment using an established clinical mode at UEGW 2023
◦This study explored preclinical combination models in UC and preliminarily examined the potential utility and rationale of combining anti-inflammatory mechanisms with α4β7 integrin inhibition in IBD
Pipeline Programs
•Continued late-stage preclinical work in the MORF-088 small molecule αvβ8 inhibitor program, with initiation of clinical trials anticipated in the first half of 2024
◦αvβ8 inhibition holds promise as a novel mechanism to treat myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer, because the αvβ8 integrin is an activator of TGF-β which is believed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of myelofibrosis
Financial Results for the Third Quarter 2023
•Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, was $36.2 million or $0.73 per share compared to net income of $30.0 million or $0.78 per share for the same quarter last year
•Revenue was $0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, compared to $2.1 million for the same quarter last year due to the conclusion of the Company’s research and development collaborations with AbbVie and Janssen
•Research and development expenses were $34.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, as compared to $25.2 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily attributable to higher manufacturing and development costs along with higher pre-clinical and phase 2 clinical trial costs to support our lead product candidate, MORF-057
•General and administrative expenses were $10.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, compared to $8.3 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was due to increased non-cash stock-based compensation expenses and higher payroll costs
As of September 30, 2023, Morphic had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $725.1 million, compared to $731.4 million as of June 30, 2023. Based on its current operating plan, Morphic believes its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2023, will be sufficient to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2027.
About MORF-057
Morphic is developing MORF-057 as a selective, oral small molecule inhibitor of the α4β7 integrin for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). α4β7 has been clinically validated as a target for the treatment of IBD by the success of the approved injectable antibody therapeutic vedolizumab. MORF-057, like vedolizumab, is designed to block the interactions between α4β7 on the surface of lymphocytes and the mucosal endothelial cell ligand MAdCAM-1, substantially reducing lymphocyte migration from the bloodstream into intestinal mucosal tissues and avoiding inflammation that is associated with IBD.
About the EMERALD-1 Study
EMERALD-1 (MORF-057-201) is an open-label multi-center phase 2a trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of MORF-057 in adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. The 35 patients enrolled in the main cohort of the EMERALD-1 study have been treated with 100 mg BID (twice daily) at sites in the United States and Poland. The primary endpoint of the trial was the change in Robarts Histopathology Index (RHI), a validated instrument that measures histological disease activity in ulcerative colitis at 12 weeks compared to baseline. Patients will continue for an additional 40 weeks of maintenance therapy followed by a 52-week assessment. Secondary and additional pre-specified measures in the EMERALD-1 study include change in the modified Mayo clinic score, safety, pharmacokinetic parameters and key pharmacodynamic measures including α4β7 receptor occupancy and lymphocyte subset trafficking.
About the EMERALD-2 Study
EMERALD-2 (MORF-057-202) is a global phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of MORF-057 that is currently enrolling patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. The primary endpoint of EMERALD-2 is clinical remission rate as measured by the Modified Mayo Clinic Score (mMCS) at 12 weeks. EMERALD-2 will also measure several secondary and exploratory endpoints based on the mMCS as well as histologic, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measures, and safety parameters. Patients in the EMERALD-2 study will be randomized to receive either 200 mg BID MORF-057, 100 mg BID MORF-057, a QD (once daily) dose of MORF-057, or a placebo dose. Following the 12-week induction phase, all patients will receive MORF-057 for 40-weeks of maintenance dosing. For more information about the EMERALD clinical trials of MORF-057, please click here.