MESO Mesoblast Limited

Mesoblast Limited (Nasdaq:MESO; ASX:MSB), global leader in allogeneic cellular medicines for inflammatory diseases, today provided an activity report for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Financial highlights

• Net cash usage for operating activities in the quarter was reduced by 33%, or US$6.8 million, to US$13.9 million compared with US$20.7 million in the comparative quarter last year.1
• Net cash usage for operating activities for the 12 months ended June 2022 were reduced by 38%, or US$40.9 million, to US$68.7 million compared with US$106.7 million in the comparative 12 months.1
• Cash on hand at the end of the quarter was US$60.4 million, with up to an additional US$40 million available to be drawn down from existing financing facilities subject to certain milestones.
• Revenues2 in the quarter were US$2.2 million, including US$2.1 million from TEMCELL® HS Inj.3 royalties on sales for SR-aGvHD in Japan, an increase of 12% on the comparative quarter last year.
• Revenues2 for the 12 months ended June 2022 increased 37%, compared with the comparative 12-month period, to US$10.2 million primarily due to increased royalties on sales of TEMCELL® HS Inj. royalties on sales for SR-aGvHD in Japan and other milestone revenue.

Key updates on remestemcel-L

Biologics License Application (BLA) resubmission to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of children with steroid-refractory graft versus host disease (SR-aGVHD)

• In response to FDA guidance, Mesoblast has optimized a potency assay that was in place at the time of the 54-patient Phase 3 trial in children with SR-aGVHD.
• Mesoblast believes that the proposed potency assay measuring remestemcel-L’s in vitro anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity helps establish a clear understanding of remestemcel-L’s mechanism of action in SR-aGVHD.
• The potency assay from the Phase 3 trial demonstrates a relationship between the product’s activity in vitro and its effects on survival in the Phase 3 trial, with the strongest correlation to survival in those patients at highest mortality risk as measured by clinical severity or high biomarker levels of inflammation.
• Additionally, Mesoblast has now generated data from the expanded access program (EAP 275) of 241 children which confirm the ability of the in-vitro potency assay to measure product activity relevant to survival outcomes.
• In preparation for the expected FDA review, during the period Mesoblast completed a successful mock pre-approval inspection of its GMP manufacturing facility and process comprising both on-site and virtual inspections by external auditors.
• Mesoblast will provide these new data to FDA and address all chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) outstanding items as required for the planned BLA resubmission in the current quarter. If the resubmission is accepted, CBER will consider the adequacy of the clinical data in the context of the related CMC issues.

COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

• Mesoblast provided a 12-month update on survival outcomes from the randomized controlled trial of remestemcel-L in ventilator-dependent COVID-19 patients with moderate/severe acute ARDS. Through the initial 90 days, remestemcel-L reduced mortality by 48% compared to controls in a pre-specified analysis of 123 patients below age 65 (26% vs 44%, p=0.038),4,5 but not in 97 patients over age 65, as previously reported. In an exploratory analysis in patients under age 65 who also received dexamethasone as part of their standard of care, remestemcel-L reduced 90-day mortality by 77% compared to controls (14% vs 48%, p=0.0037).4,5 These early survival outcomes in the remestemcel-L group relative to controls were maintained at later timepoints in those under age 65, with a 42% reduction in mortality through 12 months and with continued observed synergy with dexamethasone (p<0.05).4,5
• Mesoblast has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which coordinates and works closely with clinical investigators at over 40 sites across the United States focused on studying ARDS and other critical illnesses. The MOU proposes a collaboration toward the design and execution of a second COVID-19 trial for remestemcel-L; to jointly develop a trial protocol and seek FDA approval for the trial, the results from which Mesoblast may use to support regulatory filings (such as seeking Emergency Use Authorization from FDA); and to negotiate a written, cooperative agreement and proceeding with the trial upon receipt of FDA approval.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s colitis

• Results from the first patient cohort in the randomized, controlled study of remestemcel-L by direct endoscopic delivery to areas of inflammation in patients with medically refractory Crohn’s colitis were published in the peer-reviewed journal British Journal of Surgery.6

• Strategically, Mesoblast views UC and Crohn’s colitis as a potentially important label extension for remestemcel-L given the gastrointestinal involvement common to acute graft versus host disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Gastrointestinal damage is the major driver of aGVHD mortality and is linked to systemic inflammation in aGVHD. Biomarkers that predict high mortality in aGVHD, such as blood levels of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2),7,8 have shown to be significantly reduced in patients treated with remestemcel-L.9 ST2 has also been shown to be associated with active IBD (UC & Crohn’s).

Key updates on rexlemestrocel-L:

Chronic Heart Failure

• Results from the DREAM-HF Phase 3 trial of rexlemestrocel-L in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were highlighted at a heart failure panel discussion titled “Late-Stage Advancements in Heart Failure Therapeutics and Management.”
• Treatment with rexlemestrocel-L resulted in greater improvement in the pre-specified analysis of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 12 months relative to controls, after a single intervention in the 565-patient randomized controlled trial in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II/III chronic heart failure. Improvement in LVEF was most pronounced in the setting of inflammation and preceded long-term reduction in the 3-point MACE of cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack or stroke. Effects on LVEF and MACE outcomes were even more pronounced in 301 HFrEF patients with high baseline levels of inflammation as measured by hsCRP. LVEF improvement at 12 months may be an appropriate early surrogate endpoint for long-term reduction in MACE.
• Results from three randomized controlled trials in class II/III HFrEF and in end-stage HFrEF with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) support the idea of a common mechanism of action (MOA) by which rexlemestrocel-L reverses inflammation-related endothelial dysfunction and reduces adverse clinical outcomes across the spectrum of HFrEF patients.

• Rexlemestrocel-L has regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designation from the FDA for treatment of chronic heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with an LVAD. Mesoblast now intends to meet with FDA under the RMAT framework to discuss the totality of the data and the evidence of a common rexlemestrocel-L MOA across the broader HFrEF spectrum.

Chronic Low Back Pain

• Mesoblast hosted a webinar for analysts and investors focused on the current treatment landscape and unmet medical need for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) due to degenerative disc disease (DDD), a condition associated with local inflammation in the disc. The webinar featured presentations from Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) Douglas P. Beall, MD, FIPP, FSIR, DAAPM (Clinical Radiology Oklahoma) and Hyun W. Bae, MD (Spine-Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center). The KOLs focused on Mesoblast’s Phase 3 program for rexlemestrocel-L and where it may fit in the paradigm of the patient journey.
• Mesoblast received feedback in December 2021 from FDA on the Phase 3 program for CLBP and plans to conduct an additional US Phase 3 trial which may support submissions for potential approval in both the US and EU. Following review of the completed Phase 3 trial data, FDA agreed with Mesoblast’s proposal for pain reduction at 12 months as the primary endpoint of the next trial, with functional improvement and reduction in opioid use as secondary endpoints.

Other:

Salary payments to full-time Executive Directors were US$337,605 and fees to Non-Executive Directors were US$192,798, detailed in Item 6 of the Appendix 4C cash flow report for the quarter.10

A copy of the Appendix 4C – Quarterly Cash Flow Report for the fourth quarter FY2022 is available on the investor page of the company’s website www.mesoblast.com.

About Mesoblast Mesoblast is a world leader in developing allogeneic (off-the-shelf) cellular medicines for the treatment of severe and life-threatening inflammatory conditions. The Company has leveraged its proprietary mesenchymal lineage cell therapy technology platform to establish a broad portfolio of late-stage product candidates which respond to severe inflammation by releasing anti-inflammatory factors that counter and modulate multiple effector arms of the immune system, resulting in significant reduction of the damaging inflammatory process.

Mesoblast has a strong and extensive global intellectual property portfolio with protection extending through to at least 2041 in all major markets. The Company’s proprietary manufacturing processes yield industrial-scale, cryopreserved, off-the-shelf, cellular medicines. These cell therapies, with defined pharmaceutical release criteria, are planned to be readily available to patients worldwide.

Mesoblast is developing product candidates for distinct indications based on its remestemcel-L and rexlemestrocel-L allogeneic stromal cell technology platforms. Remestemcel-L is being developed for inflammatory diseases in children and adults including steroid refractory acute graft versus host disease, biologic-resistant inflammatory bowel disease, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Rexlemestrocel-L is in development for advanced chronic heart failure and chronic low back pain. Two products have been commercialized in Japan and Europe by Mesoblast’s licensees, and the Company has established commercial partnerships in Europe and China for certain Phase 3 assets

Mesoblast has locations in Australia, the United States and Singapore and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (MSB) and on the Nasdaq (MESO). For more information, please see www.mesoblast.com, LinkedIn: Mesoblast Limited and Twitter: @Mesoblast

References / Footnotes

1. Accounting policy change resulted in a US$1.8 million benefit in the June 2022 quarter and a US$6.1m benefit for the 12 months ended 30 June 2022
2. Unaudited
3. TEMCELL® HS Inj. is a registered trademark of JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.
4. All p-values are descriptive and not adjusted for multiplicity
5. Hazard Ratios calculated using Cox regression proportional hazards model without adjustment; p-value from log rank test
6. Lightner AL., et al. Remestemcel-L allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell product to treat medically refractory Crohn’s colitis: preliminary phase IB/IIA study. British J Surgery 2022; 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znac078
7. Reichenbach DK et al. Blood. 2015 May 14;125(20):3183-92.
8. Vander Lugt MT et al. New Engl J Med. 2013 Aug 8 369:529-39.
9. Kurtzberg J., 62nd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) on December 6, 2020
10. As required by ASX listing rule 4.7 and reported in Item 6 of the Appendix 4C, reported are the aggregated total payments to related parties being Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes forward-looking statements that relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We make such forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and actual results may differ from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material and adverse. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Mesoblast’s preclinical and clinical studies, and Mesoblast’s research and development programs; Mesoblast’s ability to advance product candidates into, enroll and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; Mesoblast’s ability to advance its manufacturing capabilities; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals (including BLA resubmission), manufacturing activities and product marketing activities, if any; the commercialization of Mesoblast’s product candidates, if approved; regulatory or public perceptions and market acceptance surrounding the use of stem-cell based therapies; the potential for Mesoblast’s product candidates, if any are approved, to be withdrawn from the market due to patient adverse events or deaths; the potential benefits of strategic collaboration agreements and Mesoblast’s ability to enter into and maintain established strategic collaborations; Mesoblast’s ability to establish and maintain intellectual property on its product candidates and Mesoblast’s ability to successfully defend these in cases of alleged infringement; the scope of protection Mesoblast is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its product candidates and technology; estimates of Mesoblast’s expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and its needs for additional financing; Mesoblast’s financial performance; developments relating to Mesoblast’s competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Mesoblast’s product candidates, if approved. You should read this press release together with our risk factors, in our most recently filed reports with the SEC or on our website. Uncertainties and risks that may cause Mesoblast’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligations to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Release authorized by the Chief Executive.

For more information, please contact:

Corporate Communications / Investors	Media
Paul Hughes	Sumit Media
T: +61 3 9639 6036	Grant Titmus
E: investors@mesoblast.com	T: +61 419 388 161
	E: grant@sumitmedia.com.au
	Rubenstein
	Tali Mackay
	E: tmackay@rubenstein.com