SAN DIEGO, Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TPTX), a precision oncology company developing next-generation therapies that target genetic drivers of cancer, today reported financial results and operational updates for the third quarter ended Sept. 30.

“We made substantial progress in our repotrectinib and TPX-0022 programs since our last quarterly update -- reporting early interim data from both the Phase 2 TRIDENT-1 registrational study of repotrectinib and the Phase 1 SHIELD-1 study of TPX-0022 – and raised net proceeds of approximately $434 million through our October stock offering to fund current operations into 2024,” said Athena Countouriotis, M.D., president and chief executive officer. “In addition, we continued to build a strong team to advance our pipeline of four drug candidates, with three new clinical trials planned for 2021, and importantly, to invest in earlier stage discovery. We look forward to completing our site activations in TRIDENT-1 and submitting our fourth IND in early 2021.”

Third quarter and recent highlights include:

Third Quarter Financial Update
Revenue of $25 million recorded in the quarter was the result of an upfront payment from Zai Lab under the company’s license agreement for repotrectinib in Greater China. Operating expenses for the third quarter totaled $43.5 million compared to $22.1 million in the third quarter of 2019. Primary drivers of the year-over-year increase were investments made to develop repotrectinib, TPX-0022, TPX-0046 and personnel expenses.

Excluding a one-time non-cash stock-based compensation charge in the first quarter, non-GAAP operating expenses for the first nine months totaled $107.5 million compared to $54.7 million in the prior-year period. Year-to-date net cash used in operating activities was $49.4 million.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at Sept. 30 totaled $711.4 million, an increase of $1 million from June 30 driven by the upfront payment from Zai Lab, partially offset by cash used in operating activities for the quarter. In addition, Turning Point completed a follow-on public stock offering in October that generated net proceeds of $433.6 million. Turning Point Therapeutics projects its cash position funds current operations into 2024.

Upcoming Milestones
Key milestones anticipated into 2021 include:

About Turning Point Therapeutics Inc.
Turning Point Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision oncology company with a pipeline of internally discovered investigational drugs designed to address key limitations of existing cancer therapies. The company’s lead drug candidate, repotrectinib, is a next-generation kinase inhibitor targeting the ROS1 and TRK oncogenic drivers of non-small cell lung cancer and advanced solid tumors. Repotrectinib, which is being studied in a registrational Phase 2 study called TRIDENT-1 in adults and a Phase 1/2 study in pediatric patients, has shown antitumor activity and durable responses among kinase inhibitor treatment-naïve and pre-treated patients. The company’s pipeline of drug candidates also includes TPX-0022, targeting MET, CSF1R and SRC, which is in a Phase 1 study called SHIELD-1 in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring genetic alterations in MET; RET-inhibitor TPX-0046, which is in a Phase 1/2 study of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring genetic alterations in RET; and ALK-inhibitor TPX-0131, which is in IND-enabling studies. Turning Point’s next-generation kinase inhibitors are designed to bind to their targets with greater precision and affinity than existing therapies, with a novel, compact structure that has demonstrated an ability to potentially overcome treatment resistance common with other kinase inhibitors. The company is driven to develop therapies that mark a turning point for patients in their cancer treatment. For more information, visit www.tptherapeutics.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to the financial results that are provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), this press release also contains a non-GAAP financial measure. When preparing our supplemental non-GAAP financial results, the Company excluded certain GAAP items that management does not consider to be normal. In particular, the non-GAAP measure excludes non-cash stock-based compensation expense relating to a one-time charge of $31.4 million associated with previously disclosed modifications to the vesting of existing stock options, pursuant to the transition agreement with the company’s scientific founder. This non-GAAP measure is provided as a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP as management believes this non-GAAP financial measure is important in comparing current results with prior-period results. A reconciliation of the GAAP financial results to non-GAAP financial results is included in the attached financial information.

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. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the efficacy, safety and therapeutic potential of Turning Point Therapeutics’ drug candidates, repotrectinib, TPX-0022, TPX-0046 and TPX-0131, the results, conduct, progress and timing of Turning Point Therapeutics’ development programs and clinical trials including the Phase 2 TRIDENT-1 clinical study, the Phase 1/2 pediatric clinical study of repotrectinib, the Phase 1 SHIELD-1 clinical study of TPX-0022 and the Phase 1/2 clinical study of TPX-0046, plans regarding future clinical trials and regulatory submissions, the regulatory approval path for repotrectinib, the potential to receive milestone and royalty payments from Zai Lab, the strength of Turning Point Therapeutics’ balance sheet and the adequacy of cash on hand. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “plans”, “will”, “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Turning Point Therapeutics’ current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with Turning Point Therapeutics’ business in general, risks and uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to Turning Point’s business and the other risks described in Turning Point Therapeutics’ filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Turning Point Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.


TURNING POINT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Balance Sheet Data
(In thousands)
(unaudited)

  September 30,  December 31,  
  2020  2019  
Balance Sheet Data:         
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities $711,388  $409,151  
Working capital  697,907   400,915  
Total assets  724,633   422,202  
Accumulated deficit  (232,800)  (122,884) 
Total stockholders' equity  701,588   404,351  


TURNING POINT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
  2020  2019  2020  2019  
Revenue $25,000   -  $25,000  $-  
Operating expenses:                 
Research and development  32,213   16,640   79,136   40,802  
General and administrative  11,326   5,500   59,761   13,857  
Total operating expenses  43,539   22,140   138,897   54,659  
Loss from operations  (18,539)  (22,140)  (113,897)  (54,659) 
Other income, net  834   1,657   3,981   3,487  
Net loss  (17,705)  (20,483)  (109,916)  (51,172) 
Unrealized gain / (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax  (606)  (24)  141   322  
Comprehensive loss $(18,311) $(20,507) $(109,775) $(50,850) 
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $(0.42) $(0.63) $(2.82) $(2.54) 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted  42,185,824   32,312,814   38,914,789   20,178,979  
                  


TURNING POINT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Results
(In thousands)
(unaudited)

  Three Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
  2020  2019  2020  2019  
GAAP Operating Expenses $(43,539) $(22,140) $(138,897) $(54,659) 
Adjustments:                 
Share-based compensation expense (1)        31,405     
Non-GAAP Operating Expenses $(43,539) $(22,140) $(107,492) $(54,659) 

(1)   During the first quarter of 2020, the Company recognized in non-cash stock-based compensation expense a one-time charge of $31.4 million associated with previously disclosed modifications to the vesting of existing stock options, pursuant to the transition agreement with the company’s scientific founder.


Jim Mazzola
jim.mazzola@tptherapeutics.com
858-342-8272