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Verastem Oncology Reports First Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Company Reports
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments of
Company to Host Conference Call Today at
“We are now into the second full quarter of the COPIKTRA launch and
sales were up approximately 38% compared to the prior quarter,” said
“The commercial team has been diligently working to enhance physician and advocacy group awareness of COPIKTRA, and to overcome certain historical misperceptions concerning the PI3K class. We believe the groundwork we have laid over the past several months will have an increasingly positive impact through 2019 and into next year. In parallel, we continue to advance duvelisib in additional lines of therapy, both as a monotherapy and in combination, as well as in additional indications like peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) for which preliminary data are expected by the end of this year,” concluded Mr. Forrester.
Key First Quarter 2019 and Recent Accomplishments:
COPIKTRA (duvelisib)
- Launched COPIKTRA in FL – In
mid-March 2019 , upon completion of the required 120-day waiting period following receipt of accelerated approval from theFDA , the Company launched its physician education and marketing campaign for COPIKTRA for the treatment of patients with FL after at least two prior systemic therapies. Accelerated approval in FL was based on overall response rate and continued approval may be contingent upon confirmatory trials, the first of which is expected to start in 2019. - Presented COPIKTRA Data at the 23rd
Annual
International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies (ICHM) – The Company presented four COPIKTRA abstracts at ICHM 2019, including an abstract highlighting Phase 3 DUO data in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL who have progressed following two prior lines of the therapy. This is the same indication for which COPIKTRA received approval from theFDA inSeptember 2018 . In this analysis, COPIKTRA demonstrated progression-free survival (PFS) of 16.4 months and an ORR of 78%, with a manageable safety profile. The remaining three abstracts featured data from a long-term (>2 years) efficacy and safety analysis, the Phase 3 DUO crossover extension study, and prognostic and immune-related factors associated with response to duvelisib from the Phase 2 DYNAMO™ study in indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (iNHL). Collectively, the data presented at ICHM 2019 continue to support the use of COPIKTRA in its approved indications of relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL after at least two prior therapies and FL after at least two prior systemic therapies. PDF copies of all of the ICHM 2019 poster presentations are available here. - Phase 2 DYNAMO Study Results Published in the
Journal of Clinical Oncology – InFebruary 2019 , results of the Phase 2 DYNAMO™ study, which evaluated COPIKTRA in patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) who were refractory to both rituximab and chemotherapy or radioimmunotherapy, was published online in the peer-reviewedJournal of Clinical Oncology . The full manuscript, titled “DYNAMO: A Phase II Study of Duvelisib (IPI-145) in Patients with Refractory Indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma,” (Flinn, et al. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.18.00915) can be accessed at www.ascopubs.org. - Continued Commercialization of COPIKTRA in
the United States –Verastem Oncology launched COPIKTRA, an oral inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and the first approved dual inhibitor of PI3K-delta and PI3K-gamma, inthe United States followingFDA approval for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL after at least two prior therapies. COPIKTRA also received accelerated approval for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory FL after at least two prior systemic therapies.
COPIKTRA contains a BOXED WARNING for fatal and/or serious toxicities including infections, diarrhea or colitis, cutaneous reactions, and pneumonitis. Verastem Oncology has implemented a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy to provide appropriate dosing and safety information to better support physicians in managing their patients on COPIKTRA.
Additionally, use of COPIKTRA is associated with other adverse reactions which may also require dose reduction, treatment delay or discontinuation of COPIKTRA.
Please see www.COPIKTRAHCP.com/prescribinginformation for full Prescribing Information including BOXED WARNING and Select Important Safety Information provided below.
Corporate and Financial
- Chief Commercial Officer
Joseph Lobacki to Step Down in 2019 –Joseph Lobacki , Chief Commercial Officer of Verastem Oncology will be stepping down from the Company in 2019 to pursue other professional opportunities, including Board of Director roles. Mr. Lobacki intends to continue in his role until the Company identifies and appoints a successor. During this transition,Brian Stuglik , RPh, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors and the former Chief Marketing Officer of Lilly Oncology, will provide strategic oversight and advisory support for the commercial organization. - Amended Hercules Loan Facility – In
April 2019 , the Company announced an amendment to its existing Loan and Security Agreement withHercules Capital, Inc. , changing key terms of the agreement, including a lower overall interest rate and an extended principal repayment timeline. The amendment also increases the borrowing limit from$50 million to $75 million in financing.
First Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Net product revenue for the 2019 Quarter was
Research and development (R&D) expense for the 2019 Quarter was
Selling, general and administrative expense for the 2019 Quarter was
Net loss for the three months ended
As of
Financial Outlook
For 2019, the Company expects net product revenue from sales of COPIKTRA
to be in the range of
Conference Call and Webcast Information
The Verastem Oncology management team will host a conference call and
webcast today,
The live, listen-only webcast of the conference call can be accessed by visiting the investors section of the Company's website at www.verastem.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company's website for 90 days following the call.
About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
are cancers that affect lymphocytes and are essentially the same
disease, with the only difference being the location where the cancer
primarily occurs. When most of the cancer cells are located in the
bloodstream and the bone marrow, the disease is referred to as CLL,
although the lymph nodes and spleen are often involved. When the cancer
cells are located mostly in the lymph nodes, the disease is called SLL.
The symptoms of CLL/SLL include a tender, swollen abdomen and feeling
full even after eating only a small amount. Other symptoms can include
fatigue, shortness of breath, anemia, bruising easily, night sweats,
weight loss, and frequent infections. However, many patients with
CLL/SLL will live for years without symptoms. In 2018, there were
approximately 200,000 patients in
About Follicular Lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is typically a slow-growing or indolent form of
non-Hodgkin lymphoma (
About Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a rare, aggressive type of
non-Hodgkin lymphoma (
About COPIKTRA™ (duvelisib)
COPIKTRA is an oral inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and the first approved dual inhibitor of PI3K-delta and PI3K-gamma, two enzymes known to help support the growth and survival of malignant B-cells. PI3K signaling may lead to the proliferation of malignant B-cells and is thought to play a role in the formation and maintenance of the supportive tumor microenvironment.3,4,5 COPIKTRA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) after at least two prior therapies and relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after at least two prior systemic therapies. COPIKTRA is also being developed by Verastem Oncology for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), for which it has received Fast Track status, and is being investigated in combination with other agents through investigator-sponsored studies.6 For more information on COPIKTRA, please visit www.COPIKTRA.com. Information about duvelisib clinical trials can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Verastem Oncology
Our first
COPIKTRA™ (duvelisib) – Select Important Safety Information
WARNING: FATAL AND SERIOUS TOXICITIES: INFECTIONS, DIARRHEA OR COLITIS, CUTANEOUS REACTIONS, and PNEUMONITIS
See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
- Fatal and/or serious infections occurred in 31% of COPIKTRA-treated patients. Monitor for signs and symptoms of infection. Withhold COPIKTRA if infection is suspected.
- Fatal and/or serious diarrhea or colitis occurred in 18% of COPIKTRA-treated patients. Monitor for the development of severe diarrhea or colitis. Withhold COPIKTRA.
- Fatal and/or serious cutaneous reactions occurred in 5% of COPIKTRA-treated patients. Withhold COPIKTRA.
- Fatal and/or serious pneumonitis occurred in 5% of COPIKTRA-treated patients. Monitor for pulmonary symptoms and interstitial infiltrates. Withhold COPIKTRA.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- Hepatotoxicity: Monitor hepatic function.
- Neutropenia: Monitor blood counts.
- Embryo-Fetal toxicity: COPIKTRA can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception.
ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common adverse reactions (> 20%) are diarrhea or colitis, neutropenia, rash, fatigue, pyrexia, cough, nausea, upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, musculoskeletal pain, and anemia.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact
DRUG INTERACTIONS
- CYP3A inducers: Avoid co-administration with strong CYP3A inducers.
- CYP3A inhibitors: Monitor for COPIKTRA toxicities when co-administered with strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors. Reduce COPIKTRA dose to 15 mg twice daily when co-administered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
- CYP3A substrates: Monitor for signs of toxicities when co-administering COPIKTRA with sensitive CYP3A substrates.
See full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, at www.COPIKTRA.com
Forward looking statements notice
This press release and the commentary in the conference call to be held today each include forward-looking statements about Verastem Oncology’s strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements regarding the development and activity of Verastem Oncology’s lead product COPIKTRA, and Verastem Oncology’s PI3K program generally, its commercialization of COPIKTRA, the potential commercial success of COPIKTRA, including financial guidance and patient population estimates, the anticipated adoption of COPIKTRA by patients and physicians, the structure of its planned and pending clinical trials and the timeline and indications for clinical development, regulatory submissions and commercialization activities. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement.
Applicable risks and uncertainties include the risks and uncertainties,
among other things, regarding: the commercial success of COPIKTRA in
Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading
"Risk Factors" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended
References
1
2
3 Winkler D.G., Faia K.L., DiNitto J.P. et al. PI3K-delta and PI3K-gamma inhibition by IPI-145 abrogates immune responses and suppresses activity in autoimmune and inflammatory disease models. Chem Biol 2013; 20:1-11.
4 Reif K et al. Cutting Edge: Differential Roles for Phosphoinositide 3 kinases, p110-gamma and p110-delta, in lymphocyte chemotaxis and homing. J Immunol 2004:173:2236-2240.
5 Schmid M et al. Receptor Tyrosine Kinases and TLR/IL1Rs Unexpectedly activate myeloid cell PI3K, a single convergent point promoting tumor inflammation and progression. Cancer Cell 2011;19:715-727.
6www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03372057
Verastem, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) |
||||||
March 31, | December 31, | |||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and investments | $ | 211,659 | $ | 249,653 | ||
Accounts receivable, net | 558 | 306 | ||||
Inventory | 306 | 327 | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 4,073 | 2,973 | ||||
Property and equipment, net | 1,256 | 1,369 | ||||
Intangible assets, net | 21,185 | 21,577 | ||||
Other assets | 4,328 | 1,031 | ||||
Total assets | $ | 243,365 | $ | 277,236 | ||
Current Liabilities | $ | 28,624 | $ | 37,077 | ||
Long-term debt | 24,814 | 19,506 | ||||
Convertible senior notes | 97,159 | 95,231 | ||||
Other liabilities | 4,308 | 1,123 | ||||
Stockholders’ equity | 88,460 | 124,299 | ||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 243,365 | $ | 277,236 |
Verastem, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share amounts) |
||||||
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
2019 | 2018 | |||||
Revenue: | ||||||
Product revenue, net | $ | 1,671 | $ | — | ||
Total revenue | 1,671 | — | ||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||
Costs of revenues, excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets | 158 | — | ||||
Research and development | 9,758 | 10,934 | ||||
Selling, general and administrative | 26,033 | 9,827 | ||||
Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 392 | — | ||||
Total operating expenses | 36,341 | 20,761 | ||||
Loss from operations | (34,670) | (20,761) | ||||
Interest income | 1,497 | 191 | ||||
Interest expense | (4,929) | (480) | ||||
Net loss | $ | (38,102) | $ | (21,050) | ||
Net loss per share—basic and diluted | $ | (0.52) | $ | (0.41) | ||
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing |
73,854 | 50,835 |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190509005837/en/
Source:
Verastem Oncology:
John Doyle
Vice President, Investor
Relations & Finance
+1 781-469-1546
jdoyle@verastem.com
Investors:
Joseph Rayne
Argot Partners
+1
617-340-6075
joseph@argotpartners.com