On April 27, 2021 Transgene (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, reported its business update for the quarter ending March 31, 2021, and provides an update on the progress of its portfolio of clinical trials (Press release, Transgene, APR 27, 2021, View Source [SID1234578576]).
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Since January 2021, Transgene has achieved significant milestones on all candidates of its clinical portfolio, with:
ü the first patients dosed with TG4050, the individualized therapeutic vaccine against cancer based on Transgene’s myvac technology – the first data from the two ongoing Phase I clinical trials are expected in 4Q 2021;
ü regulatory clearance received in the United States, in France and in Spain, which are expected to allow enrolment of patients with HPV-positive anogenital cancers in the randomized Phase II trial of TG4001 + avelumab versus avelumab alone in 2Q 2021;
ü first patients dosed in the Phase I trial evaluating BT-001, an oncolytic virus based on the Invir.IO platform – first data are expected in 1H 2022;
ü TG6002 initial data, presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper), providing the clinical proof of concept of the intravenous administration of an oncolytic virus. After intravenous administration, TG6002 reached the tumor, multiplied within tumor cells, and induced the local expression of its payload (the FCU1 gene). These data also suggest that candidates derived from Transgene’s unique Invir.IO platform could also be given intravenously, extending the use of these therapies to a broad range of solid tumors – Next data with TG6002 are expected in 2H 2021 (intra-hepatic artery route).
SUMMARY OF KEY ONGOING CLINICAL TRIALS
AND EXPECTED MILESTONES
myvac
TG4050
Phase I
NCT03839524
Targets: tumor neoantigens
Ovarian cancer – after surgery and first-line chemotherapy
ü Trial ongoing in the United States and in France
ü Inclusions and patient dosing progressing in line with forecast
Ü First data expected in 4Q 2021
myvac
TG4050
Phase I
NCT04183166
HPV-negative head and neck cancer – after surgery and adjuvant therapy
ü Trial ongoing in the United Kingdom and in France
ü First patient treated in Jan. 2021 – Inclusions and patient dosing progressing in line with forecast
Ü First data expected in 4Q 2021
TG4001
+ avelumab
Phase II
NCT03260023
Targets: HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins
Recurrent/metastatic anogenital HPV-positive – 1st and 2nd line
ü A Phase II randomized trial comparing the efficacy of TG4001 + avelumab versus avelumab single-agent benefits from the extended clinical collaboration with Merck KGaA and Pfizer, for the supply of avelumab
ü Regulatory authorizations received in the Unites States, Spain, and France
Ü Patient enrollment in the randomized trial expected to start in 2Q 2021
Ü First data from the randomized trial are expected around the end of 2022. This timeline is based on patient enrollment starting in 2Q 2021 and there being no major impact on recruitment from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Invir.IO
BT-001
Phase I/IIa
NCT04725331
Payload: anti-CTLA4 antibody and GM-CSF cytokine
Solid tumors
ü Co-development with BioInvent
ü Trial ongoing in France and Belgium
ü First patient enrolled in February 2021 – Inclusions and patient dosing progressing in line with forecast
Ü US IND expected in 2021
Ü First Phase I data expected in 1H 2022
TG6002
Phase I/IIa
NCT03724071
Payload: FCU1 for the local production of a 5-FU chemotherapy
Gastro-intestinal cancer (colorectal cancer for Phase II) – Intravenous (IV) administration
ü Multicenter trial ongoing in Belgium, France and Spain
ü Poster presentation at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2021 on initial data of the trial, demonstrating the clinical proof of concept of the intravenous route of administration
Ü Phase I part ongoing
TG6002
Phase I/IIa
NCT04194034
Colorectal cancer with liver metastasis – Intrahepatic artery (IHA) administration
ü Multicenter trial ongoing in the United Kingdom
Ü First observations expected in 2H 2021
During the first quarter of 2021, revenue from collaborative and licensing agreements was mainly composed of the revenue from the collaboration with AstraZeneca.
As of March 31, 2021, government financing for research expenditures mainly consisted of 25% of the research tax credit expected for 2021 (€1.5 million in the first quarter of 2021, in line with the same period in 2020).
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS
AND OTHER FINANCIAL ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents and other financial assets stood at €19.1 million as of March 31, 2021, compared to €26.3 million as of December 31, 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, Transgene’s cash burn was €7.2 million, compared to €8.0 million for the same period in 2020.
In addition, Transgene has access to a €15 million credit line available from Natixis, the maturity date of which has been extended to April 15, 2023. The Company holds shares of Tasly BioPharmaceuticals valued at €32.3 million at the end of December 2020.
As a result, the Company has a financial visibility until the second half of 2022.