On February 24, 2025 Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) ("Summit," "we," or the "Company") reported its financial results and provides an update on operational progress for the fourth quarter and year-ended December 31, 2024 (Press release, Summit Therapeutics, FEB 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234650486]).
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Operational & Corporate Updates
Operational progress continues with ivonescimab (SMT112), an investigational, potentially first-in-class bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF into a single molecule:
In January 2023, we closed our Collaboration and License Agreement with Akeso Inc. (Akeso, HKEX Code: 9926.HK) for ivonescimab (SMT112), with which over 2,300 patients have been treated in clinical studies globally. Summit has rights to develop and commercialize ivonescimab in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Latin America, including Mexico and all countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Africa while Akeso retains development and commercialization rights for the rest of the world, including China.
Since in-licensing ivonescimab, we have begun our development for ivonescimab in non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC"), specifically launching Phase III clinical trials in the following proposed indications:
HARMONi: Ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after treatment with a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)
HARMONi-3: Ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy in first-line metastatic NSCLC patients
In addition, we have begun to activate clinical trial sites in the United States for a Phase III clinical study in the following proposed indication:
HARMONi-7: Ivonescimab monotherapy in first-line metastatic NSCLC patients with high PD-L1 expression
In October 2024, we completed enrollment in our HARMONi clinical trial. We expect to disclose topline results from HARMONi in mid-2025, depending upon maturation of the data per the protocol.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has granted Fast Track designation for the proposed use of ivonescimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR mutation, who have experienced disease progression following EGFR-TKI therapy.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, we amended the HARMONi-3 protocol to, amongst other changes, include patients with both squamous and non-squamous histologies, significantly increasing the population of patients eligible for treatment in the proposed indication. Enrollment has begun in all regions for patients with squamous tumors; the protocol amendment is effective and enrollment has begun in United States for patients with non-squamous tumors.
Recently, we announced a clinical trial collaboration with Pfizer in which Pfizer will contribute multiple antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) to be evaluated in combination with ivonescimab in unique solid tumor settings. The goal of the collaboration is to accelerate the advancement of potentially landscape-changing therapeutic combinations, which seek to improve the standards of care for patients facing serious unmet needs.
Under the terms of the agreement, Summit will provide ivonescimab for use in the proposed studies, and Pfizer will be responsible for conducting the operations of the studies, including associated costs. The studies will be overseen by both Summit and Pfizer. Both parties retain their respective rights to their products. The studies combining ivonescimab with Pfizer’s vedotin ADCs are planned to begin in the middle of this year. Further details on the clinical trials will be announced at a later date.
We intend to explore further clinical development of ivonescimab in solid tumor settings outside of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, Additionally, institutions with whom we have collaborated have begun opening investigator-sponsored trials across multiple oncology settings. We plan to review the data generated from these clinical trials as a part of our consideration for advancing our clinical development for ivonescimab beyond non-small cell lung cancer.
Financial Highlights
Cash and Cash Equivalents & Short-term Investments
Aggregate cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were $412.3 million and $186.2 million at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
GAAP and Non-GAAP Research and Development (R&D) Expenses
GAAP R&D expenses according to generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP") were $150.8 million for the full year of 2024, compared to $59.4 million for the full year of 2023.
Non-GAAP R&D expenses were $134.8 million for the full year of 2024, compared to $55.0 million for the full year of 2023.
GAAP and Non-GAAP General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses
GAAP G&A expenses were $60.5 million for the full year of 2024, compared to $30.3 million for the full year of 2023.
Non-GAAP G&A expenses were $25.5 million for the full year of 2024, compared to $20.6 million for the full year of 2023.
GAAP and Non-GAAP Operating Expenses
GAAP operating expenses were $226.3 million for the full year of 2024, compared to $610.6 million for the full year of 2023.
Non-GAAP operating expenses were $175.3 million for the full year of 2024, compared to $596.5 million for the full year of 2023. The decrease is primarily related to the decrease in acquired in-process R&D expenses of $505.9 million, offset by the increase in R&D expenses due to expansion of clinical studies and development costs related to ivonescimab and increases in people costs as we continue to build out our team.
GAAP and Non-GAAP Net Loss
GAAP net loss in the full year of 2024 and 2023 was $221.3 million or $(0.31) per basic and diluted share, and $614.9 million or $(0.99) per basic and diluted share, respectively.
Non-GAAP net loss in the full year of 2024 and 2023 was $170.3 million or $(0.24) per basic and diluted share, and $600.8 million or $(0.97) per basic and diluted share, respectively.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release includes measures that are not in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("Non-GAAP measures"). These Non-GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as a substitute for, Summit’s reported GAAP results, and may be different from Non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these Non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Summit management uses these non-GAAP measures for internal budgeting and forecasting purposes and to evaluate Summit’s financial performance. Summit management believes the presentation of these Non-GAAP measures is useful to investors for comparing prior periods and analyzing ongoing business trends and operating results. For further information regarding these Non-GAAP measures, please refer to the tables presenting reconciliations of our Non-GAAP results to our U.S. GAAP results and the "Notes on our Non-GAAP Financial Information" that accompany this press release.
Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Call
Summit will host an earnings call this morning, Monday, February 24, 2025, at 9:00 am ET. The conference call will be accessible by dialing (800) 715-9871 (toll-free domestic) or (646) 307-1963 (international) using conference code 3934052. A live webcast and instructions for joining the call are accessible through Summit’s website www.smmttx.com. An archived edition of the webcast will be available on our website after the call.
About Ivonescimab
Ivonescimab, known as SMT112 in Summit’s license territories, North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan, and as AK112 in China and Australia, is a novel, potential first-in-class investigational bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF into a single molecule. Ivonescimab displays unique cooperative binding to each of its intended targets with multifold higher affinity when in the presence of both PD-1 and VEGF.
This could differentiate ivonescimab as there is potentially higher expression (presence) of both PD-1 and VEGF in tumor tissue and the tumor microenvironment (TME) as compared to normal tissue in the body. Ivonescimab’s tetravalent structure (four binding sites) enables higher avidity (accumulated strength of multiple binding interactions) in the TME (Zhong, et al, SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper), 2023). This tetravalent structure, the intentional novel design of the molecule, and bringing these two targets into a single bispecific antibody with cooperative binding qualities have the potential to direct ivonescimab to the tumor tissue versus healthy tissue. The intent of this design, together with a half-life of 6 to 7 days (Zhong, et al, SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper), 2023), is to improve upon previously established efficacy thresholds, in addition to side effects and safety profiles associated with these targets.
Ivonescimab was engineered by Akeso Inc. (HKEX Code: 9926.HK) and is currently engaged in multiple Phase III clinical trials. Over 2,300 patients have been treated with ivonescimab in clinical studies globally.
Summit has begun its clinical development of ivonescimab in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), commencing enrollment in 2023 in two multi-regional Phase III clinical trials, HARMONi and HARMONi-3, and the Company has begun to activate clinical trial sites in the United States for HARMONi-7.
HARMONi is a Phase III clinical trial which intends to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after treatment with a 3rd generation EGFR TKI (e.g., osimertinib). Enrollment in HARMONi was completed in the second-half of 2024, and top-line results are expected to be announced in the middle of this year.
HARMONi-3 is a Phase III clinical trial which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC.
HARMONi-7 is a Phase III clinical trial which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab monotherapy compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have high PD-L1 expression.
In addition, Akeso has recently had positive read-outs in two single-region (China), randomized Phase III clinical trials for ivonescimab in NSCLC, HARMONi-A and HARMONi-2.
HARMONi-A was a Phase III clinical trial which evaluated ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after treatment with an EGFR TKI.
HARMONi-2 is a Phase III clinical trial evaluating monotherapy ivonescimab against monotherapy pembrolizumab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have positive PD-L1 expression.
Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy that is not approved by any regulatory authority in Summit’s license territories, including the United States and Europe. Ivonescimab was approved for marketing authorization in China in May 2024. Ivonescimab was granted Fast Track designation by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the HARMONi clinical trial setting.