Calithera Biosciences Reports Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results and Recent Highlights
November 02 2017 - 7:30AM
Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:CALA), a clinical-stage
pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel
small molecule drugs directed against tumor metabolism and tumor
immunology targets for the treatment of cancer, announced today its
financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.
As of September 30, 2017, cash, cash equivalents and investments
totaled $196.5 million.
“In the quarter, Calithera advanced each of our internally
discovered first-in-class, small molecule onco-metabolism clinical
candidates. We initiated two new phase 2 trials with our oral
glutaminase inhibitor and we recently initiated dosing of our oral
arginase inhibitor in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor,”
said Susan Molineaux, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Calithera. “Our clinical development plans are progressing
and we plan to present clinical updates on CB-839, including the
initial results of CB-839 dosed in combination with Bristol Myers
Squibb’s Opdivo® (nivolumab) at the Annual Meeting of the Society
for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC).”
Third Quarter 2017 and Recent Highlights
CB-839
- Oral Presentation Accepted at SITC. We
will present clinical trial results from CB-839 dosed in
combination with Opdivo® (nivolumab) in patients with advanced
melanoma, renal cell carcinoma or non-small cell lung cancer in an
oral presentation at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society for
Immunotherapy of Cancer which is being held from November 10-12,
2017. We will also present the data in a poster format at the
meeting, and we will host a clinical update webcast on Saturday,
November 11th, 2017.
- Initiated Randomized Phase 2 Combination Trial in Renal
Cell Carcinoma. In August 2017, we initiated a
randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial to evaluate the
safety and efficacy of CB-839 in combination with everolimus versus
placebo in approximately 250 patients with metastatic, clear cell
renal cell carcinoma who have been treated with at least two lines
of prior systemic therapy including a VEGFR-targeting tyrosine
kinase inhibitor and at least one of either CABOMETYX™
(cabozantinib) or an active PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor. The primary
endpoint of this trial is progression free survival, and CB-839 has
been granted Fast Track designation for this indication.
- Initiated Phase 2 Trial in Triple Negative Breast
Cancer. In July 2017, we initiated a
Phase 2 trial of CB-839 with paclitaxel in patients with triple
negative breast cancer patients. Four single arm, open label,
cohorts of African American and non-African American patients will
be treated in both the early stage setting, where patients have no
prior treatment for metastatic disease, as well as the late stage
setting, after at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease
including prior taxane therapy. The primary endpoint of this trial
is objective response rate. Additional data from the triple
negative breast cancer development program are expected in the
fourth quarter.
INCB01158
- Initiated Combination Dosing. In October
2017, the first patient was treated in the Phase I cohort of
INCB01158 (formerly known as CB-1158) dosed in combination with
Keytruda® (pembrolizumab), an anti-PD1 immune checkpoint
inhibitor.
Corporate
- Augmented Board of Directors. In
September 2017, Calithera appointed Blake Wise, President and Chief
Operating Officer of Achaogen, to the company’s Board of
Directors.
Selected Third Quarter 2017 Financial
Results
Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled
$196.5 million at September 30, 2017.
Revenue was $7.3 million for the three months
ended September 30, 2017 and represents the portion of deferred
revenue recognized in the third quarter from the company’s
collaboration and license agreement with Incyte.
Research and development expenses were $10.8
million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared
with $6.3 million for the same period in the prior year. The
increase of $4.5 million was due to an increase in the CB-839
program to support our new and ongoing clinical trials, including
the company’s two Phase 2 trials which began in the third quarter
of 2017, as well as investment in our early stage research
programs, offset by decreases in the INCB01158 program, primarily
due to Incyte’s co-funding of development costs.
General and administrative expenses were $3.1
million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared
with $2.3 million for the same period in the prior year. The
increase of $0.8 million was due to increases in professional
services and higher personnel-related costs.
Net loss from operations for the three months ended September
30, 2017 was $6.1 million, or $0.17 per share.
Conference Call Information
Calithera will webcast a clinical update on CB-839 on Saturday,
November 11th at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time/ 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Time. The call can be accessed by dialing (855) 783-2599
(domestic) or (631) 485-4877 (international), and referring to
conference ID 1878409. To access the live audio webcast or the
subsequent archived recording, visit the Investors section of the
Calithera website at www.calithera.com. The webcast will be
recorded and available for replay on Calithera’s website for 30
days.
About Calithera
Calithera Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical
company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule
drugs directed against tumor metabolism and tumor immunology
targets for the treatment of cancer. Calithera’s lead product
candidate, CB-839, is a potent, selective, reversible and orally
bioavailable inhibitor of glutaminase. CB-839 takes advantage of
the pronounced dependency many cancers have on the nutrient
glutamine for growth and survival. It is currently being evaluated
in Phase 2 clinical trials in combination with standard of care
agents. INCB01158 is a first-in-class immuno-oncology metabolic
checkpoint inhibitor targeting arginase, a critical
immunosuppressive enzyme responsible for T-cell suppression by
myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Arginase depletes arginine, a
nutrient that is critical for the activation, growth and survival
of the body’s cancer-fighting immune cells, known as cytotoxic
T-cells. INCB01158 is being developed in collaboration with Incyte
Corporation and is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Calithera
is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. For more
information about Calithera, please visit www.calithera.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements contained 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. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate,"
"estimate," "intend," "poised" and similar expressions (as well as
other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions,
or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These statements include those related to the timing of
Calithera’s clinical trials, Calithera’s ability to fund its
clinical programs, and Calithera’s receipt of clinical data from
its clinical trials. Because such statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The
potential product candidates that Calithera develops may not
progress through clinical development or receive required
regulatory approvals within expected timelines or at all. In
addition, clinical trials may not confirm any safety, potency or
other product characteristics described or assumed in this press
release. Such product candidates may not be beneficial to patients
or successfully commercialized. The failure to meet expectations
with respect to any of the foregoing matters may have a negative
effect on Calithera's stock price. Additional information
concerning these and other risk factors affecting Calithera's
business can be found in Calithera's periodic filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. These
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by
law, Calithera disclaims any obligation to update these
forward-looking statements to reflect future events or
circumstances.
Calithera Biosciences, Inc. |
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Selected Consolidated Statements of Operations
Financial Data |
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|
|
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|
(in thousands, except per share amounts) |
|
|
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(unaudited) |
|
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Three Months Ended
September 30, |
|
Nine Months
Ended September
30, |
|
|
2017 |
|
|
|
2016 |
|
|
|
2017 |
|
|
|
2016 |
|
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Collaboration revenue |
$ |
7,254 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
18,701 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Total
revenue |
|
7,254 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
18,701 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research
and development |
|
10,833 |
|
|
|
6,313 |
|
|
|
27,615 |
|
|
|
21,155 |
|
General
and administrative |
|
3,074 |
|
|
|
2,319 |
|
|
|
9,230 |
|
|
|
7,575 |
|
Total
operating expenses |
|
13,907 |
|
|
|
8,632 |
|
|
|
36,845 |
|
|
|
28,730 |
|
Loss
from operations |
|
(6,653 |
) |
|
|
(8,632 |
) |
|
|
(18,144 |
) |
|
|
(28,730 |
) |
Interest
income, net |
|
582 |
|
|
|
88 |
|
|
|
1,292 |
|
|
|
246 |
|
Net
loss |
$ |
(6,071 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,544 |
) |
|
$ |
(16,852 |
) |
|
$ |
(28,484 |
) |
Net loss per share,
basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.44 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.53 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.50 |
) |
Weighted
average common shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and
diluted |
|
35,475 |
|
|
|
19,507 |
|
|
|
32,072 |
|
|
|
18,963 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calithera Biosciences, Inc. |
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Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Financial
Data |
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(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
(unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2017 |
|
|
|
2016 |
|
|
Balance Sheet
Data: |
|
|
|
|
Cash,
cash equivalents and investments |
$ |
196,533 |
|
|
$ |
51,781 |
|
|
Working
capital |
|
134,630 |
|
|
|
49,108 |
|
|
Total
assets |
|
205,543 |
|
|
|
54,796 |
|
|
Deferred
revenue |
|
38,299 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Total
liabilities |
|
47,451 |
|
|
|
4,890 |
|
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
(139,358 |
) |
|
|
(122,502 |
) |
|
Total
stockholders’ equity |
|
158,092 |
|
|
|
49,906 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact:Jennifer
McNealeyir@Calithera.com650-870-1071
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