Celsion Corporation Reports First Quarter 2017 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On May 12, 2017 Celsion Corporation (NASDAQ:CLSN), an oncology drug development company, reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and provided an update on its development programs for ThermoDox, its proprietary heat-activated liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin and GEN-1, an IL-12 DNA plasmid vector encased in a nanoparticle delivery system, which enables cell transfection followed by persistent, local secretion of the IL-12 protein (Press release, Celsion, MAY 12, 2017, View Source [SID1234519075]). The Company’s lead program is ThermoDox which is currently in Phase III development for the treatment of primary liver cancer and in Phase II development for the treatment of recurrent chest wall breast cancer. The Company’s immunotherapy program consists of GEN-1 and is currently in Phase I development for the localized treatment of ovarian cancer.

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"Celsion continues to make major progress with respect to our ongoing global, pivotal Phase III OPTIMA Study in primary liver cancer. This ground-breaking study continues to attract interest and support from the medical community, international regulatory agencies, and research organizations like the National Institutes of Health," said Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion’s chairman, president and CEO. "Our product development efforts in immuno-oncology are equally important. We have demonstrated the potential of our GEN-1 IL-12 immunotherapy program to be an effective adjuvant, in both first and second-line ovarian cancer. Recruiting the immune system to work in combination with the standard of care in this patient population has been the goal of medical researchers worldwide. With GEN-1, we believe there is the potential for a break-through and we look forward to reporting comprehensive clinical results and translational research data from our Phase 1B OVATION Study at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in June 2017."

Recent Developments
ThermoDox
Announced the Publication of Preclinical Results of ThermoDox for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer in the International Journal of Hyperthermia. The Company reported results from porcine in vivo studies to evaluate ThermoDox in combination with loco-regional mild hyperthermia for targeted drug delivery to the bladder wall as a potential treatment for bladder cancer. Doxorubicin accumulation and distribution within the bladder wall with ThermoDox plus mild bladder hyperthermia was achieved at concentrations nearly ten times higher than with free intravenous doxorubicin combined with mild bladder hyperthermia. The study was conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate whether
ThermoDox combined with mild heating of the bladder can target drug delivery in the bladder.

Announced Support for the OPTIMA Study from the China FDA and Vietnam Ministry of Health. The Company discussed ThermoDox and the OPTIMA Study with regulatory agencies in two key markets, China and Vietnam. The Company met with the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) to review the ongoing Phase III OPTIMA Study and regulatory pathway for ThermoDox in China. CFDA was presented with the final overall survival data from the Chinese patient cohort of the HEAT study, which demonstrated a survival benefit in patients treated with ThermoDox plus optimized RFA versus optimized RFA alone. The CFDA informed the Company that if the ongoing Phase III OPTIMA Study is successful, the trial could serve as the basis for a direct regulatory filing in China without the need to file for prior approval in the U.S. or European Union which is currently required for foreign company application. This would allow the Company to accelerate its plans for a regulatory filing in China and, if approved, provide for a significantly earlier launch date in China than originally expected. The Company’s management team also met with the Ministry of Health in Vietnam and based on that meeting, it will move forward with launching additional trial sites for the OPTIMA Study in that country. The Company plans to activate 5 additional clinical trial sites in Vietnam by the second quarter of 2017. Vietnam represents a significant market for ThermoDox where HCC incidence rates are among the highest in the world.

Announced the Issuance of Two New Patents for ThermoDox. In January 2017, the Company announced the issuance of two patents which are directly applicable to the method of treating cancer using our current ThermoDox formulation. These new patents further strengthen the Company’s global patent portfolio around novel heat-sensitive liposome engineered to address a broad range of difficult-to-treat cancers.

GEN-1 Immunotherapy
Announced Continuing Positive Data from the OVATION Study in Newly Diagnosed Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients. In January 2017, the Company announced data from the first four cohorts of patients in its Phase Ib dose escalating clinical trial (the OVATION Study) combining GEN-1 with the standard of care for the treatment of newly-diagnosed patients with advanced ovarian cancer who will undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery. In the first twelve patients dosed in the OVATION Study, GEN-1 plus standard chemotherapy produced impressive results, with no dose limiting toxicities and highly promising efficacy signals in this difficult to treat cancer. The efficacy data included highly encouraging tumor response rates – 100% disease control rate (DCR) and 75% objective response rate (ORR), successful surgical resections of the eligible patients’ tumors, impressive pathological responses and dramatic, clinically meaningful drops in CA-125 protein levels. In February 2017, the Company presented two posters at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) – Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium held from February 23 – 25, 2017 in Orlando, FL. The ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)-SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Symposium focused on the latest clinical and translational research in immuno-oncology and the implications for clinical care.

Corporate Development
Raised $6.8 Million Through Two Equity Offerings in December 2016 and February 2017. The Company completed two equity offerings of shares of common stock, or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof, to purchase common stock with institutional healthcare and retail investors totaling $6.8 million in gross proceeds.

Financial Results
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, Celsion reported a net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.7 million, or $0.24 per share, in the same period of 2016. Operating expenses were $4.9 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $5.3 million in the same period of 2016. This decrease was primarily due to lower general and administrative expenses.

Research and development (R&D) costs were relatively constant at $3.5 million and $3.4 million in the first quarters of 2017 and 2016, respectively. Clinical development costs for the Phase III OPTIMA Study were $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $1.0 million in the same period of 2016 due to higher patient enrollment and investigator grant expenses in the trial. R&D costs for other development programs were lower as a result of the Company’s tighter clinical development focus around the pivotal Phase III OPTIMA Study for the treatment of primary liver cancer and the clinical development program for GEN-1 IL-12 immunotherapy for the localized treatment of ovarian cancer coupled with lower costs in the first quarter of 2017 associated with the production of ThermoDox clinical supplies to support the OPTIMA Study. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.4 million, from $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2016 to $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2017. This 21% decrease in general and administrative expenses in 2017 is primarily the result of reduction in personnel costs and lower professional fees.

Net cash used in operations was $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $4.7 million in the same period of 2016. The Company ended the first quarter of 2017 with $4.5 million of total cash and cash equivalents. In February 2017, the Company raised $5 million in gross proceeds under a secondary public offering with various institutional and retail investors.

Imfinzi significantly reduces the risk of disease worsening or death in the Phase III PACIFIC trial for Stage III unresectable lung cancer

On May 12, 2017 AstraZeneca and MedImmune, its global biologics research and development arm, reported positive results for the Phase III PACIFIC trial, a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multi-centre trial of Imfinzi (durvalumab) as sequential treatment in patients with locally-advanced, unresectable (Stage III) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had not progressed following standard platinum-based chemotherapy concurrent with radiation therapy (Press release, AstraZeneca, MAY 12, 2017, View Source [SID1234519058]).

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A planned interim analysis conducted by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) concluded that the trial has already met a primary endpoint by showing statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful PFS, as assessed by blinded independent central review, in patients receiving Imfinzi compared to placebo. The results also demonstrate a favourable benefit/risk profile. The trial will also evaluate overall survival (OS), the other primary endpoint, which will be assessed in due course as specified by the protocol. AstraZeneca plans to submit the initial results from the PACIFIC trial for presentation at a forthcoming medical meeting.

Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca, said: "These are highly encouraging results for patients with locally-advanced lung cancer for whom surgery is not an option. We look forward to working with regulatory authorities around the world to bring Imfinzi to lung cancer patients as soon as possible. Alongside this, we continue to explore Imfinzi’s full potential as monotherapy as well as in combination with tremelimumab and other medicines in areas of continued unmet need across multiple types of cancer."

Stage III lung cancer represents approximately one third of NSCLC incidence and was estimated to affect around 100,000 patients in the G7 countries in 2016[i]. About half of these patients have tumours that are unresectable. The prognosis remains poor and long-term survival rates are low.

AstraZeneca recently received accelerated approval from the US FDA for Imfinzi in previously treated patients with advanced bladder cancer. Imfinzi is also being tested in the 1st-line treatment of patients with NSCLC as monotherapy in the MYSTIC and PEARL Phase III trials. It is also being developed in combination with tremelimumab, a checkpoint inhibitor that targets CTLA-4, as part of the MYSTIC, NEPTUNE and POSEIDON Phase III trials.

[i] Kantar, other market research based on 2016 patient numbers; Globocan 2012. G7 countries include the US, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Canada.

About PACIFIC
The PACIFIC trial is a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multi-centre trial of Imfinzi as sequential treatment in unselected patients with locally-advanced, unresectable (Stage III) NSCLC who have not progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy concurrent with radiation therapy.

The trial is being conducted in 235 centres across 26 countries, including the US, Canada, Europe, South and Central America, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, South Africa and Australia. The primary endpoints of the trial are PFS and OS, and secondary endpoints include landmark PFS and OS, objective response rate and duration of response.

About Imfinzi
Imfinzi (durvalumab, previously known as MEDI4736), a human monoclonal antibody directed against PD-L1, blocks PD-L1 interaction with PD-1 and CD80 on T cells, countering the tumour’s immune-evading tactics and inducing an immune response.

Imfinzi continues to advance in multiple monotherapy trials and combination trials with tremelimumab and other potential new medicines in IO. Imfinzi is being assessed in Phase III trials as a monotherapy in various stages of NSCLC, in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), in urothelial bladder cancer and in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The combination of Imfinzi and tremelimumab is being assessed in Phase III trials in urothelial bladder cancer, NSCLC, SCLC and HNSCC and in Phase I/II trials in gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and haematological malignancies.

About AstraZeneca in NSCLC
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, accounting for about one-third of all cancer deaths and more than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined.

AstraZeneca has a comprehensive portfolio of approved and potential new medicines in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of NSCLC across all stages of disease and lines of therapy. We aim to address unmet needs of patients with EGFR-mutated tumours as a genetic driver of disease, which occur in 15-20% of NSCLC patients globally and 30-40% of NSCLC patients in Asia, with our approved medicines Iressa and Tagrisso and on-going FLAURA and ADAURA trials. Our extensive late-stage immuno-oncology programme focuses on 75-80% of patients with NSCLC without a known genetic mutation. Our portfolio includes Imfinzi (durvalumab), an anti-PDL1 antibody, which is in development as monotherapy (ADJUVANT, PACIFIC, MYSTIC, PEARL and ARCTIC trials) and in combination with tremelimumab, anti-CTLA-4 (MYSTIC, NEPTUNE and POSEIDON trials).

10-K – Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

Burzynski Research Institute has filed a 10-K – Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405] with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission .

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Pipeline Review Check


Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Application
Therapeutic
area
Cardiovascular-
Metabolics
Oncology
Others

Edoxaban (JP)
(DU-176b / AF / FXa inhibitor)

Prasugrel (JP)
(CS-747 / Ischemic stroke / Anti-
platelet agent)

Esaxerenone (JP)
(CS-3150 / Hypertension /
MR antagonist)

Edoxaban (ASCA etc.)
(DU-176b / AF / FXa inhibitor)

Edoxaban (ASCA etc.)
(DU-176b / VTE / FXa inhibitor)

Denosumab (JP)
(AMG 162 / Breast cancer adjuvant /
Anti-RANKL antibody)

Nimotuzumab (JP)
(DE-766 / Gastric cancer / Anti-EGFR
antibody)

Vemurafenib (US/EU)
(PLX4032 / Melanoma Adjuvant / BRAF
inhibitor)

Quizartinib (US/EU/Asia)
(AC220 / AML-2
nd
/ FLT3-ITD inhibitor)

Quizartinib (US/EU/Asia)
(AC220 / AML-1
st
/ FLT3-ITD inhibitor)

Pexidartinib (US/EU)
(PLX3397 / TGCT / CSF-1R/KIT/FLT3-ITD
inhibitor)

Laninamivir (US/EU)
(CS-8958 / Anti-influenza /
out-licensing with Biota)

Mirogabalin (US/EU)
(DS-5565 / Fibromyalgia /
α
2
δ
ligand)

Mirogabalin (JP/Asia)
(DS-5565 / DPNP/
α
2
δ
ligand)

Mirogabalin (JP/Asia)
(DS-5565 / PHN /
α
2
δ
ligand)

CHS-0214 (JP)
(Etanercept BS / Rheumatoid
arthritis / TNF
α
inhibitor)

VN-0105 (JP)
(DPT-IPV / Hib vaccine)

Laninamivir (JP)
(CS-8958 / Anti-influenza / nebulizer)

Esaxerenone (JP)
(CS-3150 / DM nephropathy / MR
antagonist)

Patritumab (EU)
(U3-1287 / Anti-HER3 antibody)

Pexidartinib (US)
(PLX3397 / Glioblastoma /
CSF-1R/KIT/FLT3-ITD
inhibitor)

DS-1647 (JP)
(Glioblastoma / G47
Δ
virus)

Quizartinib (JP)
(AC220 / AML-2
nd
/ FLT3-ITD
inhibitor)

DS-1040
(Acute ischemic stroke / TAFIa inhibitor)

DS-2330
(Hyperphosphatemia)

DS-9231/TS23
(Thrombosis /
α
2-PI inactivating antibody)

DS-3032 (US/JP)
(MDM2 inhibitor)

PLX7486 (US)
(FMS / TRK inhibitor)

PLX8394 (US)
(BRAF inhibitor)

DS-6051 (US/JP)
(NTRK/ROS1 inhibitor)

PLX9486 (US)
(KIT inhibitor)

DS-3201 (JP/
US
)
(EZH1/2 inhibitor)

PLX73086 (US)
(CSF-1R inhibitor)

PLX51107 (US)
(BRD4 inhibitor)

DS-1971
(Chronic pain)

DS-1501 (US)
(Osteoporosis / Anti-Siglec-15 antibody)

DS-7080 (US)
(AMD / Angiogenesis inhibitor)

DS-2969 (US)
(
Clostridium difficile
infection
/GyrB inhibitor)

DS-5141 (JP)
(DMD / ENA oligonucleotide)

VN-0102/JVC-001 (JP)
(MMR vaccine)

Hydromorphone (JP)
(DS-7113 / Cancer pain / Opioid
μ

receptor agonist)

CL-108 (US)
(Acute pain / Opioid
μ
-receptor
agonist)

Intradermal Seasonal
Influenza Vaccine (JP)
(VN-100 / prefilled i.d. vaccine for
seasonal flu)

VN-0107/MEDI3250 (JP)
(Nasal spray flu vaccine)

Denosumab (JP)
(AMG 162 / Rheumatoid arthritis /
Anti-RANKL antibody)
Major R&D Pipeline

DS-8273 (US)
(Anti-DR5 antibody)

DS-8201 (JP/US)
(anti-HER2 ADC


DS-1123 (JP)
(Anti-FGFR2 antibody)

U3-1402 (JP)
(Anti-HER3 ADC)

DS-1001 (JP)

IDH1m inhibitor

As of May 2017
Red: Major changes after the FY2016 Q3 financial announcement on Ja
nuary 31, 2017
12. Major R&D Pipeline (Innovative pharmaceuticals


Oncology (Late-stage
pipeline products)
Generic Name/Project Code Number
(Brand Name)
Class
Target indication
Region Stage
Dosage
Form
Partner
Target FY for
approval/launch
Anti-RANKL antibody
Breast cancer adjuvant
JP
P3 Injection
Amgen
2020
BRAF inhibitor
Melanoma adjuvant
US/EU
P3
Oral


US/EU/Asia P3
2018
US/EU/Asia P3
2021-
JP
P2
2018-
Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor (TGCT)
US/EU
P3
2019
Solid tumors
Asia
P1

Glioblastoma
US
P2

c-KIT Melanoma
Asia
P1/2

Melanoma, Solid tumors
US
P1/2
Merck & Co., Inc.

Anti-EGFR antibody
Gastric cancer
JP
P3 Injection InnoClMAb Pte Ltd
2
020
Anti-HER3 antibody
Head & neck cancer
EU
P2 Injection


Oncolytic HSV-1
Glioblastoma
JP
P2 Injection
ActiVec Inc.

Underline: change after FY2016 Q3 Financial Announcement in Jan
uary 2017
Denosumab/AMG 162
Ranmark (JP)
Additional indication
The fully human monoclonal antibody to target RANK Ligand, an e
ssential mediator of osteoclast formation.
Vemurafenib/PLX4032
Zelboraf
Additional indication. Licensee Roche is conducting the
study. Submission in 2017 is planned.
The molecular-targe
ted agent to inhibit BRAF V600E mutation.
Nimotuzumab/DE-766
Patritumab/U3-1287
Pexidartinib/PLX3397
CSF-1R/KIT/FLT3-ITD inhibitor
Oral

Quizartinib/AC220
DS-1647(G47

)
Granted SAKIGAKE designation from MHLW
Investigator Initiated Study is on-going
The third generation oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-
1), genetically-engineered to restrict virus replication to tum
or cells. This oncolytic virus therapy is expected equal or be
tter safety and better efficacy profile compare to
existing oncolytic virus.
As of May 2017
The humanized monoclonal antibody to target Epidermal Growth Fa
ctor Receptor(EGFR). This antibody is expected to be a best in
class EGFR, safety against the skin toxicity and the efficacy c
omparable to the other antibodies.
The fully human monoclonal antibody to target HER3, one of the
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) family of proteins. HER
3 is overexpressed in many tumors of epithelial origin and HER
2/HER3 dimers and EGFR/HER3
dimers are expected more potent to induce tumor cell proliferat
ion than homodimers of HER2 or EGFR.
Including pigmented villonodular synovitis
Including TGCT
Combination with pembrolizumab in collaboration with Merck
The molecular-targeted agent to inhibit CSF-1R, KIT and FLT3-IT
D. This agent is expected to reduce tumor cell proliferation an
d expansion of metastases.
Remarks
FLT3-ITD inhibitor
Acute myeloid leukemia
Oral

Relapsed and refractory AML patients
Newly diagnosed AML patients
Relapsed and refractory AML patients
Kinase inhibitor against a receptor-type tyrosine kinase, FLT3.
Therapeutic effect for patients with acute myeloid leukemia ha
rboring FLT3-ITD mutation is expected.

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Heat Biologics Provides Business and Clinical Update for the First Quarter of 2017

On May 11, 2017 Heat Biologics, Inc. ("Heat") (NASDAQ: HTBX), a leader in the development of novel therapies designed to activate a patient’s immune system against cancer, reported a business and clinical update for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017 (Press release, Heat Biologics, MAY 11, 2017, View Source [SID1234525053]).

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During the first quarter, Heat announced a number of major developments. First, it met the safety and efficacy endpoints in its Phase 1b lung cancer trial evaluating HS-110 in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab (Opdivo), enabling it to progress to Phase 2 clinical trials. Preliminary data suggests Heat’s therapeutic vaccine has the potential to significantly expand the percentage of patients responding to checkpoint inhibitors by increasing T cell activity within the tumor, thereby converting "cold” tumors into "hot" tumors.

"We are encouraged by these results, showing signs of synergistic efficacy with nivolumab," said Jeff Wolf, Heat’s founder and CEO. "Patients with increased levels of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) at 10 weeks saw a durable benefit, with 75% (6 out of 8 of these patients) alive at the one-year follow-up point. Additionally, 60% of the patients (3 of the 5 patients) exhibiting low TIL experienced significant tumor reduction, which compares favorably to the 10% response rate of low TIL patients reported for existing data on nivolumab alone."

Researchers reported a strong correlation between T cell activation, tumor reductions and increased overall survival in the 12 of the 15 patients that were evaluable for ELISPOT analysis. Importantly, the timing of immune responses to HS-110 corresponded to the timing of observed clinical responses, and those responses appear to be sustained.

Mr. Wolf continued, "While checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the landscape in the fight against cancer, they are only effective as a monotherapy in a small minority of patients. Our approach has the potential to dramatically increase the response rate in the majority of patients who don’t respond to checkpoint therapy alone. As a result of the encouraging data in our checkpoint combination trials and the positive response from within the industry, we are now prioritizing combination therapies, with a particular emphasis on checkpoint inhibitors and T cell co-stimulators. As a result, we are discontinuing programs where we do not see an opportunity to immediately combine with checkpoints, such as our non-muscle invasive bladder cancer program, and will instead reallocate those resources to fund current and future checkpoint and T cell co-stimulator combination programs."

Heat recently completed the acquisition of Pelican Therapeutics, whose product candidates strengthen its portfolio in the emerging T cell activation space. Pelican’s approach has the potential to improve the durability of responses in combination with Heat’s vaccine platform, as well as others, by stimulating the production of "memory" CD8+ T cells, as supported by pre-clinical data. This acquisition also brings with it a $15.2 million grant awarded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to advance multiple products through preclinical development and at least one program through a 70-patient Phase 1 clinical trial.

"We believe our growing franchise in immuno-oncology and activating cytotoxic T cells places us in a unique position at the core of future combination therapies," Wolf said. "We plan to continue to remain at the forefront in the development of exciting new therapies to activate T cells as part of a broad-based combination approach against cancer."

Heat ended the quarter with over $11 million in cash, and $15 million in non-dilutive grant funding through Pelican.

Recent Developments & First Quarter 2017 Corporate Highlights

In April 2017, Heat acquired an 80% controlling interest in Pelican Therapeutics, Inc. As of the acquisition date, Pelican is structured as a subsidiary to Heat focused on developing agonists to TNFRSF25, a highly differentiated and potentially "best-in-class" T cell costimulatory receptor. Pelican was the recipient of a highly-competitive $15.2 million New Company Product Development Award from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), which will enable the Company to advance multiple products through preclinical development and at least one program through a 70-patient Phase 1 clinical trial.
In April 2017, Heat presented new preclinical data from its collaboration with OncoSec Medical Incorporated at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. Results suggested that combining ComPACT DNA electroporation and cellular vaccination led to increased tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells, delayed tumor progression, and improved overall survival in preclinical models. The data demonstrated possible synergistic benefits of vaccination plus intratumoral injection.
In March 2017, Heat reported positive interim results from its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating HS-110 in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab (Opdivo), for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Fifteen patients had completed the HS-110/nivolumab combination to-date and 12 of these 15 patients were evaluable for ELISPOT analysis. ELISPOT results suggest that HS-110 plays an integral role in tumor reduction and may enhance efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer patients.
In March 2017, Heat announced that Natasa Strbo, M.D., D.Sc., Research Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, received a three-year $981,901 grant from the Florida Department of Health 2016-17 Zika Research Grant Initiative to further develop and test gp96-based Zika vaccine. This vaccine is being developed under a collaboration between the University of Miami and Heat’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Zolovax, Inc., which has licensed the intellectual property from the University of Miami.
In March 2017, Heat announced that it had achieved the safety and efficacy endpoints for its Phase 1b trial evaluating HS-110 in combination with nivolumab for the treatment of NSCLC and that the trial met the expansion criteria to advance into a Phase 2. Five out of 15 patients treated with the HS-110/nivolumab combination had 20% or greater tumor reduction. Patients with increased levels of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) at 10 weeks appeared to have a durable benefit, with six out of eight of these patients (75%) alive at the one-year follow-up point.
In January 2017, Heat announced the appointment of Jeff Hutchins, Ph.D., as its Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President of Preclinical Development. Dr. Hutchins brings over 24 years of research and clinical development experience from both large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

First Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights

Research and development expenses decreased to approximately $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2017 from $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2016, a decrease of $1.8 million. The decrease is attributable to reductions in clinical trial costs, professional and consulting fees, personnel-related expenses, travel, and other costs.
General and administrative expenses increased to $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2017 from $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of $0.5 million. The increase is attributable to professional services and third-party expenses related to the acquisition of Pelican.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2017 was $3.2 million, compared to a net loss of $4.7 million for the first quarter of 2016.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $11.1 million at March 31, 2017, compared to $7.8 million at December 31, 2016. Through the acquisition of Pelican, the Company also has access to a $15.2 million grand from CPRIT, which will enable it to advance multiple products through preclinical development and at least one program through a 70-patient Phase 1 clinical trial.