TRACON Pharmaceuticals Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update
“We have once again utilized our CRO-independent Product Development Platform to augment our pipeline. The license of the potential best-in-class CTLA-4 antibody YH001 complements our prior license of the subcutaneously administered PD-L1 antibody envafolimab and satisfies our goal of owning complementary checkpoint inhibitors. We expect to initiate a trial combining these two drug candidates in sarcoma in the coming months,” said
Recent Corporate Highlights
- In October, TRACON licensed the CTLA-4 antibody YH001 from Eucure Biopharma. The Company expects to file an IND and initiate a Phase 1/2 trial of YH001 combined with envafolimab in soft tissue sarcoma subtypes in early 2022, and initiate trials of YH001 in other indications in combination with approved standard of care agents in late 2022.
- In September, the book Unnecessary Expense: An Antidote to the Billion Dollar Drug Problem, authored by TRACON senior management and profiling TRACON’s approach to efficient drug development, was published by ForbesBooks and is available on Amazon and other retailers.
Expected Key Upcoming Milestones
- Interim ENVASARC efficacy data by end of 2021.
- Request FDA breakthrough therapy designation or fast track designation for envafolimab by end of 2021, assuming positive interim efficacy data.
- Decision on the envafolimab New Drug Application submitted by our partners 3D Medicines and Alphamab Oncology, in MSI-H/dMMR cancer that is under priority review by the
Chinese National Medical Products Administration .
Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results
- Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were
$29.9 million atSeptember 30, 2021 , compared to$36.1 million atDecember 31, 2020 . - Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2021 were
$2.7 million , compared to$1.8 million for the third quarter of 2020. - General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2021 were
$4.2 million , compared to$2.1 million for the third quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to legal expenses incurred due to the ongoing arbitration withI-Mab related to the TJ4309 and bispecific antibody agreements. - Net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was
$7.0 million , compared to$4.0 million for the third quarter of 2020.
Conference Call Details
Domestic: | 855-779-9066 |
International: | 631-485-4859 |
Conference ID: | 4846079 |
A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the Investor/Events and Presentations page of the Company’s website at www.traconpharma.com.
After the live webcast, a replay will remain available on TRACON’s website for 60 days.
About Envafolimab
Envafolimab (KN035), a novel, single-domain antibody against PD-L1, is the first subcutaneously injected PD-(L)1 inhibitor to be studied in pivotal trials. Envafolimab is currently being studied in the ENVASARC Phase 2 pivotal trial in the
About ENVASARC (NCT04480502)
The ENVASARC pivotal trial is a multicenter, open label, randomized, non-comparative, parallel cohort study at approximately 25 top cancer centers in
About YH001
YH001 is an IgG1 antibody against CTLA-4 that has shown enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (
About TRC102
TRC102 (methoxyamine) is a novel, small molecule inhibitor of the DNA base excision repair pathway, which is a pathway that causes resistance to alkylating and antimetabolite chemotherapeutics. TRC102 is currently being studied in multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials sponsored by the
About TJ004309
TJ004309 is a novel, humanized antibody against CD73, an ecto-enzyme expressed on stromal cells and tumors that converts extracellular adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to adenosine, which is highly immunosuppressive. TJ004309 is currently being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 trial to assess safety and preliminary efficacy as a single agent and when combined with the PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq in patients with advanced solid tumors.
About TRACON
TRACON develops targeted therapies for cancer utilizing a capital efficient, CRO independent, product development platform. The Company’s clinical-stage pipeline includes: Envafolimab, a PD-L1 single-domain antibody given by rapid subcutaneous injection that is being studied in the pivotal ENVASARC trial for sarcoma; YH001, a potential best-in-class CTLA-4 antibody in Phase 1 development; TRC102, a Phase 2 small molecule drug candidate for the treatment of lung cancer; and TJ004309, a CD73 antibody in Phase 1 development for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. TRACON is actively seeking additional corporate partnerships whereby it leads
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding TRACON's and its collaboration partners’ plans to further develop product candidates; expectations regarding the timing and scope of clinical trials and availability of clinical data; expected development, regulatory and commercial milestones and timing thereof; potential utility of product candidates; and TRACON’s business development strategy and goals to enter into additional collaborations. Risks that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward‐looking statements include: risks associated with clinical development and regulatory approval of novel pharmaceutical products; whether TRACON or others will be able to complete or initiate clinical trials on TRACON’s expected timelines, if at all, including due to risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; the fact that future preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be successful or otherwise consistent with results from prior studies; the fact that TRACON has limited control over whether or when third party collaborators complete on-going trials or initiate additional trials of TRACON’s product candidates; the fact that TRACON’s collaboration agreements are subject to early termination; whether TRACON will be able to enter into additional collaboration agreements on favorable terms or at all; potential changes in regulatory requirements in
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
|||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||
Collaboration revenue | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 346 | $ | - | ||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
Research and development | 2,730 | 1,785 | 8,082 | 6,001 | ||||||||
General and administrative | 4,151 | 2,063 | 12,948 | 6,045 | ||||||||
Total operating expenses | 6,881 | 3,848 | 21,030 | 12,046 | ||||||||
Loss from operations | (6,881 | ) | (3,848 | ) | (20,684 | ) | (12,046 | ) | ||||
Total other income (expense) | (71 | ) | (144 | ) | (271 | ) | (418 | ) | ||||
Net loss | $ | (6,952 | ) | $ | (3,992 | ) | $ | (20,955 | ) | $ | (12,464 | ) |
Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.38 | ) | $ | (0.38 | ) | $ | (1.27 | ) | $ | (1.69 | ) |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 18,533,772 | 10,509,220 | 16,514,652 | 7,366,888 |
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
2021 | 2020 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 29,901 | $ | 32,131 | |||
Short-term investments | - | 3,999 | |||||
Prepaid and other assets | 1,241 | 784 | |||||
Total current assets | 31,142 | 36,914 | |||||
Property and equipment, net | 49 | 16 | |||||
Other assets | 1,617 | 508 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 32,808 | $ | 37,438 | |||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 9,527 | $ | 6,235 | |||
Accrued compensation and related expenses | 1,128 | 1,590 | |||||
Long-term debt, current portion | 2,079 | 2,718 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 12,734 | 10,543 | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 1,211 | 432 | |||||
Long-term debt, less current portion | - | 1,391 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||
Common stock | 19 | 15 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 218,908 | 204,166 | |||||
Accumulated deficit | (200,064 | ) | (179,109 | ) | |||
Total stockholders’ equity | 18,863 | 25,072 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 32,808 | $ | 37,438 |
Company Contact: | Investor Contact: |
Chief Business Officer | |
(858) 251-3492 | (212) 915-2578 |
mwiggins@traconpharma.com | britchie@lifesciadvisors.com |
Source: TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc.