Five Prime Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Financial Results

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Clinical pipeline expected to more than double in 2018
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Global Phase 3 clinical trial of bemarituzumab in gastric cancer
anticipated to begin in 2018
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Positive initial data in pancreatic cancer driving cabiralizumab
advancement
Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:FPRX), a clinical-stage
biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative
immuno-oncology protein therapeutics, today provided a corporate update
and reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year
ending December 31, 2017.
Related Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Healthcare News
“2017 was a year of continued progress across our pipeline,” said Aron
Knickerbocker, chief executive officer of Five Prime Therapeutics.
“Notably, positive and important data in microsatellite stable
pancreatic cancer are driving further development of the
cabiralizumab/Opdivo® combination in this cancer type, which
is associated with tremendous unmet need, and in which no response to
immunotherapy has been demonstrated. We also presented data in 2017
showing clinical benefit with cabiralizumab in patients with PVNS, and
with bemarituzumab in patients with gastric cancer. In 2018, our
clinical pipeline is on track to more than double to five products, and
we will initiate our first global registrational clinical trial. Our
unique discovery platform is proving to be an IND engine, and more
programs are forthcoming. Additionally, our strategic alliances and
strong balance sheet position us well to further advance our multiple
assets.”
2017 Business Highlights and Recent Developments
Clinical Pipeline:
Cabiralizumab (FPA008): an antibody that inhibits CSF1R and
has been shown to block the activation and survival of monocytes and
macrophages.
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Completed enrollment of the ongoing Phase 1a/1b trial of
cabiralizumab/Opdivo® (nivolumab) and
Five Prime continues to treat patients who remain in the study.
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Five Prime completed enrollment in the trial, including patients
with pancreatic cancer who were added to the trial after
encouraging data were observed in the initial Phase 1b cohort of
31 patients with late-line pancreatic cancer.
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Five Prime and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) are evaluating
the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the
immunotherapy combination of cabiralizumab with the PD-1 immune
checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo® (nivolumab) in advanced
solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer, squamous cell
carcinoma of the head and neck, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma,
renal cell carcinoma and ovarian cancer.
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BMS initiated randomized Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with
locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.
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In January 2018,BMS initiated a randomized Phase 2
clinical trial (NCT03336216), evaluating cabiralizumab and Opdivo®
(nivolumab) with and without chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy
alone in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The Phase 2
trial is expected to enroll approximately 160 patients with
locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer that has
progressed during or after one line of chemotherapy.
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The advancement of the cabira/ Opdivo® (nivolumab)
combination into Phase 2 development triggered a $25 million
payment to Five Prime.
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Five Prime and others have previously demonstrated evidence of
synergy by combining CSF-1R and PD-1 antibodies with chemotherapy
in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer.
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Presented initial Phase 1a/1b data demonstrating early efficacy
signal in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer
with microsatellite stable (MSS) disease.
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In November 2017,Five Prime and BMS presented initial
clinical safety data from all cohorts in the Phase 1a/1b clinical
trial of cabiralizumab and Opdivo® (nivolumab), and
efficacy data from the Phase 1b pancreatic cancer cohort. In this
Phase 1b cohort of heavily pre-treated patients with advanced
pancreatic cancer (n=31 evaluable patients), durable clinical
benefit was observed in five patients (16%), including confirmed
objective responses in four patients with microsatellite stable
(MSS) disease (objective response rate of 13%, confirmed by
blinded independent review committee), a patient population in
which no prior responses to immunotherapy have been demonstrated.
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Preliminary results show that the safety profile of cabiralizumab
plus Opdivo® (nivolumab) was generally consistent with
that of monotherapy of the two drugs.
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Advanced the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of cabiralizumab in patients
with pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS).
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Five Prime reported initial trial data at the ASCO Annual Meeting
in June 2017, showing that cabiralizumab demonstrated clinical
benefit in patients with PVNS.
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The company is enrolling up to 30 additional patients in the Phase
2 portion of the trial to refine the dosing schedule to optimize
the therapeutic index of cabiralizumab in this chronic disease
setting. Data from these additional patients are intended to
enable a go/no go decision by the end of 2018 on whether to
advance cabiralizumab in PVNS into a pivotal trial.
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Five Prime estimates the combined prevalence of diffuse PVNS is
approximately 67,500 patients in the U.S., EU5 and Japan.
Bemarituzumab (FPA144): an isoform-selective antibody with
enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in
development as a targeted immuno-therapy for tumors that overexpress
FGFR2b.
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Initiated Phase 1 portion (NCT03343301) of the FGFR2b Inhibition in
Gastric Cancer Treatment (FIGHT) Phase 1/3 clinical trial, a global
registrational study.
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The FIGHT trial will evaluate bemarituzumab in combination with
the modified FOLFOX6 regimen (mFOLFOX6) versus placebo plus
mFOLFOX6 in approximately 550 patients with advanced gastric or
gastroesophageal junction cancer whose tumors overexpress FGFR2b
or have FGFR2 gene amplification.
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In January 2018, Five Prime initiated patient dosing in the Phase
1 portion of the FIGHT trial. This safety lead-in portion of the
study is designed to identify a recommended dose of bemarituzumab
and to support the Phase 3 portion of the trial.
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The Phase 3 portion of the FIGHT trial is expected to begin in
2018 and will include sites in the U.S., Europe and Asia,
including China, South Korea and Japan, where the incidence of
gastric cancer is high.
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Five Prime will use immunohistochemistry (IHC) and circulating
tumor DNA (ctDNA) tests to identify the estimated 10% of patients
with gastric cancer who would be eligible for the trial.
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Entered into strategic development collaboration and exclusive
license agreement in Greater China for bemarituzumab with Zai Lab in
December 2017. Five Prime’s collaboration with Zai Lab will
increase the speed of the FIGHT trial and lower Five Prime’s global
development costs for the FIGHT trial. Five Prime earned a $5
million upfront payment and is eligible to receive up to $39
million in development and regulatory milestone payments. Five Prime
is also eligible to receive from Zai Lab a royalty percentage on net
sales of bemarituzumab in Greater China ranging from the high teens to
the low twenties.
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In December 2017, Five Prime filed a clinical trial application
(CTA) for bemarituzumab in China. With its collaborators at Zai
Lab, Five Prime is aiming to initiate clinical trial sites in China
for the FIGHT trial by the end of 2018.
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Enrolling patients in Phase 1 safety trial of bemarituzumab
monotherapy in unselected patients with gastric cancer in Japan, where
the incidence of gastric cancer is high. Completion of this
Phase 1 trial is intended to enable the inclusion of Japanese patients
in the Phase 3 portion of the FIGHT trial.
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Advanced the Phase 1 monotherapy cohort testing bemarituzumab in
patients with metastatic bladder cancer. The company continues to
enroll patients in the Phase 1 clinical trial cohort testing
bemarituzumab as a treatment for patients with metastatic bladder
cancer whose tumors overexpress FGFR2b.
FPA150 (anti-B7-H4): An antibody designed for two mechanisms of
action: to block an inhibitory T cell checkpoint pathway and to enhance
killing of B7-H4-expressing tumors by ADCC. B7-H4 is frequently
overexpressed in breast, ovarian, endometrial and bladder cancers.
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Investigational New Drug (IND) application submitted December 2017.
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Five Prime anticipates initiating the Phase 1 trial in the first
half of 2018.
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Data featured in an oral poster discussion during the ESMO
2017 Congress.
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Data presented suggest that FPA150, which possesses T cell
checkpoint and ADCC activity, has the potential to be an effective
therapeutic by improving anti-tumor immune responses in patients
with cancer.
BMS TIM-3 Antibody: Achieved a $5 million milestone payment for
the first IND filing by BMS for a therapeutic candidate under the
immuno-oncology research collaboration with Five Prime.
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In January 2018, BMS filed an IND for the first clinical candidate
from the immuno-oncology research collaboration with Five Prime. The
candidate is a fully-human monoclonal antibody targeting TIM-3 (T-cell
immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3), an immune checkpoint receptor that
is known to limit the duration and magnitude of T-cell responses.
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In December 2017, BMS extended the research term an additional year to
March 2019. This is the second extension to the original research term
under the agreement that was established in March 2014.
Preclinical Research and Development:
FPT155 (CD80-Fc): A CD80 fusion protein that uses the binding
interactions of soluble CD80 to (i) block CTLA-4 from competing for
endogenous CD80, allowing CD28 signaling to prevail in T cell activation
in the tumor microenvironment and (ii) directly engage CD28 to further
enhance its co-stimulatory T-cell activation activity without inducing
super agonism.
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Preclinical data on FPT155 were featured in a poster presentation at
the 2017 AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets
and Cancer Therapeutics in October. Work done in preclinical models
with FPT155 suggests that it has the potential to be a potent T-cell
co-stimulator with strong monotherapy antitumor activity, and it may
have a synergistic effect when combined with anti-PD1 therapy.
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Five Prime anticipates filing an IND application or a foreign
equivalent in mid-2018.
Target discovered by Five Prime in its respiratory disease
collaboration exclusively licensed by partner GSK.
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In August 2017, GSK exercised its right to license exclusively a drug
target discovered by Five Prime in the respiratory disease
collaboration between the companies. This resulted in a $500,000
payment to Five Prime.
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This is the second respiratory target that GSK exclusively licensed
from Five Prime under the respiratory disease collaboration.
Summary of Financial Results and Guidance:
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Cash Position. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
totaled $292.7 million on December 31, 2017 compared to $421.7 million
on December 31, 2016. The decrease in year-end cash in 2017 was
primarily attributable to net cash used in operations to advance the
company's clinical and preclinical pipeline. On January 29, 2018, Five
Prime completed a public offering resulting in estimated net proceeds
of approximately $108 million.
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Revenue. Collaboration and license revenue for the fourth
quarter of 2017 increased by $4.9 million, or 59%, to $13.2 million
from $8.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Five Prime earned a
$5 million milestone payment from BMS in the fourth quarter of 2017
for the first IND application by BMS for a therapeutic candidate under
the immune checkpoint pathway discovery collaboration. Collaboration
and license revenue for the full year 2017 increased by $8.8 million,
or 29%, to $39.5 million from $30.7 million for the full year 2016.
This difference was primarily from increases in revenue from the
cabiralizumab collaboration agreement with BMS and the immune
checkpoint pathway discovery collaboration with BMS.
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R&D Expenses. Research and development expenses for the
fourth quarter of 2017 increased by $3.6 million, or 12%, to $32.7
million from $29.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Full year
2017 research and development expenses increased by $56.8 million, or
60%, to $150.9 million from $94.1 million in 2016. These increases
were primarily related to advancing the bemarituzumab program in a
Phase 1 clinical trial, advancing the cabiralizumab program in
immuno-oncology and PVNS, advancing the FPA150program to an
IND application, and advancing our internal immuno-oncology
preclinical and research activities.
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G&A Expenses. General and administrative expenses for both
the fourth quarters of 2017 and 2016 was $10.5 million. Full year 2017
general and administrative expenses were $40.0 million, an increase of
$4.2 million, or 12%, from $35.8 million in 2016. This increase was
primarily due to greater facilities expenses related to our new
corporate office and personnel related expenses, including stock-based
compensation.
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Net Income (Loss). Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 was
$29.2 million, or $1.04 per basic share and diluted share, compared to
a net loss of $20.1 million, or $0.73 per basic and diluted share, for
the fourth quarter of 2016. Full year 2017 net loss was $150.2
million, or $5.38 per basic share and diluted share, compared to a net
loss of $65.7 million, or $2.44 per basic share and diluted share for
the full year 2016. These increases in net loss were primarily related
to advancing the clinical pipeline and preclinical research and
development.
Cash Guidance. Five Prime expects full-year 2018 net cash used in
operating activities to be less than $135 million, which includes the
previously mentioned milestone payments earned by Five Prime. The
company estimates ending 2018 with approximately $250 million in cash,
cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Conference Call Information
Five Prime will host a conference call and live audio webcast today at
4:30 p.m. (ET) / 1:30 p.m. (PT) to discuss its financial results and
provide a corporate update. To participate in the conference call,
please dial (877) 878-2269 (domestic) or (253) 237-1188 (international)
and refer to conference ID 7184787. To access the live webcast please
visit the "Events & Presentations" page under the "Investors" tab on
Five Prime's website at www.fiveprime.com.
An archived copy of the webcast will be available on Five Prime's
website beginning approximately two hours after the conference call.
Five Prime will maintain an archived replay of the webcast on its
website for at least 30 days after the conference call.
About Five Prime
Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. discovers and develops innovative
therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with serious diseases.
Five Prime's comprehensive discovery platform, which encompasses
virtually every medically relevant extracellular protein, positions it
to explore pathways in cancer, inflammation and their intersection in
immuno-oncology, an area with significant therapeutic potential and the
focus of the company's R&D activities. Five Prime has entered into
strategic collaborations with leading global pharmaceutical companies
and has promising product candidates in clinical and late preclinical
development. For more information, please visit www.fiveprime.com
or follow us on LinkedIn,
Twitter
and Facebook.
Cautionary Note on Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words
such as "may," "will," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate,"
"intend" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions
referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
are based on Five Prime's expectations and assumptions as of the date of
this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves
risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this
press release include statements regarding (i) the timing of IND
filings; (ii) the timing of initiation, progress and scope of clinical
trials for Five Prime’s product candidates; (iii) the extent of gene
amplification and protein overexpression in certain patient populations;
(iv) the prevalence and incidence of certain diseases; ; (v) Five
Prime’s potential receipt of milestone payments and royalties; (vi) Five
Prime’s full-year 2018 net cash used in operating activities; and (vii)
the amount of Five Prime’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities at the end of 2018. Many factors may cause differences
between current expectations and actual results including unexpected
safety or efficacy data observed during research, preclinical or
clinical studies, changes in expected or existing competition, changes
in the regulatory, pricing or reimbursement environment, and unexpected
litigation or other disputes. Other factors that may cause actual
results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking
statements in this press release are discussed in Five Prime’s filings
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk
Factors" contained therein. Except as required by law, Five Prime
assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained
herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information
becomes available.
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Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc.
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Selected Balance Sheets Data
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(in thousands)
|
|
|
December 31,
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December 31,
|
2017
|
2016
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
$
|
292,690
|
$
|
421,748
|
Total assets
|
344,047
|
448,281
|
Total current liabilities (excluding deferred revenue)
|
38,268
|
24,591
|
Deferred revenue (in total, including short term portion)
|
22,936
|
32,006
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
265,202
|
391,575
|
|
Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc.
|
Condensed Statements of Operations
|
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
For The Three Months Ended
December 31,
|
For The Year Ended
December 31,
|
2017
|
2016
|
2017
|
2016
|
Collaboration and license revenue
|
$
|
13,218
|
$
|
8,262
|
$
|
39,508
|
$
|
30,691
|
Operating expenses:
|
Research and development
|
32,671
|
29,149
|
150,908
|
94,072
|
General and administrative
|
|
10,479
|
|
|
10,522
|
|
40,002
|
|
|
35,831
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
43,150
|
39,671
|
190,910
|
129,903
|
Operating income (loss)
|
(29,932
|
)
|
(31,409
|
)
|
(151,402
|
)
|
(99,212
|
)
|
Interest income and other expense
|
|
721
|
|
|
646
|
|
2,884
|
|
|
2,467
|
|
Income (loss) before income tax
|
(29,211
|
)
|
(30,763
|
)
|
(148,518
|
)
|
(96,745
|
)
|
Income tax benefit (provision)
|
|
—
|
|
|
10,657
|
|
(1,704
|
)
|
|
31,048
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
$
|
(29,211
|
)
|
$
|
(20,106
|
)
|
$
|
(150,222
|
)
|
$
|
(65,697
|
)
|
Basic net income (loss) per common share
|
$
|
(1.04
|
)
|
$
|
(0.73
|
)
|
$
|
(5.38
|
)
|
$
|
(2.44
|
)
|
Diluted net income (loss) per common share
|
$
|
(1.04
|
)
|
$
|
(0.73
|
)
|
$
|
(5.38
|
)
|
$
|
(2.44
|
)
|
|
Shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per common share
|
|
28,129
|
|
|
27,436
|
|
27,945
|
|
|
26,955
|
|
Shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per common share
|
|
28,129
|
|
|
27,436
|
|
27,945
|
|
|
26,955
|
|

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227006580/en/
Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc.
Heather Rowe, 415-365-5737
Senior
Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
heather.rowe@fiveprime.com
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