On August 6, 2024 Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL), a commercial stage biotechnology company focused on hematologic disorders and cancer, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, including sales of TAVALISSE (fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate) for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP); REZLIDHIA (olutasidenib) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (R/R) mutated isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (mIDH1) acute myeloid leukemia (AML); and GAVRETO (pralsetinib) for the treatment of metastatic rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer, and recent business progress (Press release, Rigel, AUG 6, 2024, View Source [SID1234645434]).
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"In the second quarter, we advanced key strategic initiatives including the successful transfer of GAVRETO to our commercial portfolio, enabling us to bring this important treatment option to current and newly prescribed patients without interruption," said Raul Rodriguez, Rigel’s president and CEO. "The addition of GAVRETO, combined with record revenues from TAVALISSE and REZLIDHIA, has allowed us to approach net income break even. We look to maintain our financial discipline as we expand our commercial reach and advance our development programs."
Second Quarter 2024 Business Update
Commercial Update
Commercial strength continues with record TAVALISSE and REZLIDHIA bottles shipped to patients and clinics and total bottles sold.
In June 2024, Rigel announced the completion of the transfer of the New Drug Application (NDA) for the U.S. rights to GAVRETO. GAVRETO became commercially available from Rigel in the U.S. beginning June 27, 2024, ahead of the company’s July 1 target for commercial availability.
The following table summarizes total bottles shipped for the second quarter:
TAVALISSE
REZLIDHIA
GAVRETO*
Bottles shipped to patients and clinics
2,672
424
–
Change in bottles remaining in distribution channel
50
(23)
228
Total bottles shipped
2,722
401
228
*GAVRETO bottle count represents 60-count bottle equivalent
Clinical and Development Update
Rigel continues to advance its Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of R2891, a novel and selective IRAK1/4 inhibitor, in patients with relapsed/refractory lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (LR-MDS). Enrollment in the fourth dose level (250 mg twice daily) of the trial is underway. Preliminary data are expected by the end of 2024.
In early August, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, with Rigel’s support, opened enrollment for a Phase 1b/2 trial of decitabine and venetoclax in combination with olutasidenib in patients with IDH1-mutated AML (NCT06445959). This is the first trial in Rigel’s multi-year strategic development collaboration with MD Anderson. The Phase 1b part of the trial seeks to determine the safety and tolerability and recommended Phase 2 dose of decitabine and venetoclax in combination with olutasidenib. The primary objective of the Phase 2 part of the trial is to determine the complete remission rate in both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients.
In late July, City of Hope National Medical Center opened enrollment for a pilot trial of olutasidenib as maintenance therapy following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The primary objective of the trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of olutasidenib as post-HCT maintenance therapy in patients with mIDH1 AML, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).
Rigel presented the final long-term efficacy data from the registrational Phase 2 trial of REZLIDHIA in heavily pretreated patients with R/R mIDH1 AML, including those receiving prior venetoclax, in an oral presentation and 4 posters at the EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper)2024 Hybrid Congress. In addition, the company presented 3 posters at the 2024 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, which included safety and efficacy of olutasidenib treatment in elderly patients with R/R mIDH1 AML and an overview of the Phase 1b trial of R289 in patients with LR-MDS.
Dr. Jorge E. Cortes, Director, Georgia Cancer Center, Cecil F. Whitaker Jr., GRA Eminent Scholar Chair in Cancer, and Phase 2 trial investigator, was published in the Expert Review of Hematology in May outlining the drug profile and summarizing key safety and efficacy data for olutasidenib, including in patients previously treated with venetoclax or ivosidenib.
Second Quarter 2024 and Year-To-Date Financial Update
For the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, total revenues were $36.8 million, consisting of $26.4 million in TAVALISSE net product sales, $5.2 million in REZLIDHIA net product sales, $1.9 million in GAVRETO net product sales, and $3.4 million in contract revenue from collaborations. TAVALISSE net product sales grew 24% compared to $21.3 million in the same period of 2023. REZLIDHIA net product sales grew 102% compared to $2.6 million in the same period of 2023. GAVRETO became commercially available from Rigel on June 27, 2024. Contract revenue from collaborations consisted of $2.2 million from Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Kissei) related to delivery of drug supplies, $1.1 million from Grifols S.A. (Grifols) related to earned royalties, and $0.1 million from Medison Pharma Trading AG (Medison) related to delivery of drug supplies and earned royalties.
Total costs and expenses were $36.4 million compared to $32.2 million for the same period of 2023. The increase in costs and expenses was partly due to higher cost of product sales, driven primarily by higher amortization of intangibles and royalties, increased personnel-related costs, and increased research and development costs due to the progress of clinical activities, including R289, the company’s IRAK 1/4 inhibitor program.
Rigel reported a net loss of $1.0 million, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $6.6 million, or $0.38 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of 2023. The basic and diluted share and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the 1-for-10 reverse stock split effected on June 27, 2024 on a retroactive basis for all periods presented.
For the six months ended June 30, 2024, total revenues were $66.4 million, consisting of $47.5 million in TAVALISSE net product sales, $10.0 million in REZLIDHIA net product sales, $1.9 million in GAVRETO net product sales, and $6.9 million in contract revenue from collaborations. TAVALISSE net product sales grew 9% compared to $43.6 million in the same period of 2023. REZLIDHIA net product sales grew 150% compared to $4.0 million in the same period of 2023. As mentioned above, GAVRETO became commercially available from Rigel on June 27, 2024. Contract revenue from collaborations consisted of $4.5 million from Kissei related to delivery of drug supplies, $2.2 million from Grifols related to earned royalties, and $0.2 million from Medison related to delivery of drug supplies and earned royalties.
Total costs and expenses were $72.9 million compared to $70.9 million for the same period of 2023. The increase in costs and expenses was partly due to higher cost of product sales, driven primarily by higher amortization of intangibles and royalties, increased personnel-related costs and higher stock-based compensation expenses mainly from performance awards. These increases were partially offset by decreased research and development costs due to the timing of clinical trial activities related to R289, the company’s IRAK 1/4 inhibitor program, as well as reduced trial activities related to the completed Phase 3 clinical trials of fostamatinib in patients with COVID-19 and warm antibody hemolytic anemia (wAIHA).
Rigel reported a net loss of $9.3 million, or $0.53 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $20.1 million, or $1.16 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of 2023. As discussed above, the share and per share amounts have been restated to reflect the 1-for-10 reverse stock split on a retroactive basis for all periods presented.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of June 30, 2024 was $49.1 million, compared to $49.6 million as of March 31, 2024, and $56.9 million as of December 31, 2023.
Conference Call and Webcast with Slides Today at 4:30pm Eastern Time
Rigel will hold a live conference call and webcast today at 4:30pm Eastern Time (1:30pm Pacific Time).
Participants can access the live conference call by dialing (877) 407-3088 (domestic) or (201) 389-0927 (international). The conference call will also be webcast live and can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at www.rigel.com. The webcast will be archived and available for replay after the call via the Rigel website.
About ITP
In patients with ITP (immune thrombocytopenia), the immune system attacks and destroys the body’s own blood platelets, which play an active role in blood clotting and healing. Common symptoms of ITP are excessive bruising and bleeding. People suffering with chronic ITP may live with an increased risk of severe bleeding events that can result in serious medical complications or even death. Current therapies for ITP include steroids, blood platelet production boosters (TPO-RAs), and splenectomy. However, not all patients respond to existing therapies. As a result, there remains a significant medical need for additional treatment options for patients with ITP.
About AML
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects myeloid cells, which normally develop into various types of mature blood cells. AML occurs primarily in adults and accounts for about 1 percent of all adult cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 20,800 new cases in the United States, most in adults, in 2024.2
Relapsed AML affects about half of all patients who, following treatment and remission, experience a return of leukemia cells in the bone marrow.3 Refractory AML, which affects between 10 and 40 percent of newly diagnosed patients, occurs when a patient fails to achieve remission even after intensive treatment.4 Quality of life declines for patients with each successive line of treatment for AML, and well-tolerated treatments in relapsed or refractory disease remain an unmet need.
About NSCLC
It is estimated that over 230,000 adults in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2024. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S, with NSCLC being the most common type accounting for 80-85% of all lung cancer diagnoses.5 RET fusions are implicated in approximately 1-2% of patients with NSCLC.6
About TAVALISSE
TAVALISSE (fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate) tablets is indicated for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment.
Please click here for Important Safety Information and Full Prescribing Information for TAVALISSE.
About REZLIDHIA
REZLIDHIA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test.
Please click here for Important Safety Information and Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING, for REZLIDHIA.
About GAVRETO
GAVRETO is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as detected by an FDA-approved test and adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and who are radioactive iodine-refractory (if radioactive iodine is appropriate).*
*Thyroid indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s).
Please click here for Important Safety Information and Full Prescribing Information for GAVRETO.
To report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA, visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088).
TAVALISSE, REZLIDHIA and GAVRETO are registered trademarks of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.