MEI Pharma Reports Fiscal Year 2016 Results
"All of our efforts over the past year combined to set the stage for what has already been an exciting start to the new fiscal year, highlighted by Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the
Recent Company Highlights
- Strategic partnership for Pracinostatworth up to
$464 million . InAugust 2016 ,MEI Pharma entered into an exclusive licensing, development and commercialization agreement withHelsinn Healthcare, SA , a Swiss pharmaceutical corporation, for Pracinostat in AML and other potential indications. Under the terms of the agreement,Helsinn is granted exclusive worldwide rights to Pracinostat and will be responsible for funding its global development and commercialization. As compensation for such grant of rights,MEI Pharma will receive near-term payments of$20 million , including a$15 million upfront payment and a$5 million payment upon the earlier to occur of (i) dosing of the first patient in the upcoming Phase III study of Pracinostat in newly diagnosed AML patients unfit to receive induction therapy, or (ii)March 1, 2017 . In addition, the Company will be eligible to receive up to$444 million in potential regulatory and sales-based milestones, along with royalty payments on the net sales of Pracinostat. In a related transaction,Helsinn made a$5 million equity investment inMEI Pharma . - Significantly increased market opportunity for Pracinostat. As part of the license, development and commercialization agreement, the Company will also collaborate with
Helsinn to explore an optimal dosing regimen of Pracinostat in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of high-risk MDS. Based on its clinical experience with the combination, the Company believes that an optimized dose and schedule may show considerable promise in MDS, an indication with a significantly higher addressable patient population than that of AML. This Phase II clinical study is anticipated to commence in the first half of 2017. - Breakthrough Therapy Designation from
FDA . InAugust 2016 ,MEI Pharma announced that theFDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Pracinostat in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed AML who are ≥75 years of age or unfit for intensive chemotherapy. According to theFDA , Breakthrough Therapy Designation is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs for serious or life-threatening conditions. The criteria for Breakthrough Therapy Designation require preliminary clinical evidence that demonstrates the drug may have substantial improvement on at least one clinically significant endpoint over available therapy. In addition, the Company announced that agreement has been reached with theFDA on the proposed Phase III AML study design. - Long-term survival benefit in Phase II AML study. The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is supported by data from a Phase II study of Pracinostat plus azacitidine in elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML, not candidates for induction chemotherapy. The study showed a median overall survival of 19.1 months and a complete response (CR) rate of 42% (21 of 50 patients). These data compare favorably to a Phase III study of azacitidine (AZA-AML-001), which showed a median overall survival of 10.4 months with azacitidine alone and a CR rate of 19.5% in a similar patient population. The combination of Pracinostat and azacitidine was generally well tolerated, with no unexpected toxicities. The most common grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events included febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia and fatigue.
- IND approved for next-generation PI3K delta inhibitor ME-401. In
March 2016 , theFDA approvedMEI Pharma's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ME-401 in B-cell malignancies. PI3K delta is a class of drugs that has shown promise in the treatment of B-cell malignancies, but with certain toxicities. The Company believes this provides an opportunity for a next-generation oral drug that can produce therapeutic responses at a safe, effective dose. The Company expects to dose the first patient in a Phase Ib dose-escalation study of ME-401 in patients with recurrent chronic lymphocytic leukemia or follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the third quarter of 2016. - Potential for improved therapeutic window for ME-401. Results from a first-in-human, single ascending dose clinical study of ME-401 in healthy volunteers were presented at the
American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting inApril 2016 . The data showed on-target activity of ME-401 at very low plasma concentrations. In addition, the results suggest that ME-401 has the potential for a superior pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile and an improved therapeutic window compared to idelalisib (marketed as Zydelig®), with a half-life that supports once-daily dosing. The goal of the upcoming Phase Ib study will be to demonstrate this therapeutic window in cancer patients. Interim data from the study is expected in the second quarter of 2017. - New clinical study of mitochondrial inhibitor ME-344 open for enrollment. In
August 2016 , an investigator-sponsored study of the Company's mitochondrial inhibitor drug candidate ME-344 in combination with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor bevacizumab (marketed as Avastin®) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer was opened for enrollment. The study is being conducted in collaboration with theSpanish National Cancer Research Centre inMadrid . Pre-clinical data from the collaboration showed mitochondria-specific effects of ME-344 in cancer cells, including substantially enhanced anti-tumor activity when combined with agents that inhibit the activity of VEGF. The data demonstrate that these anti-cancer effects are due to an inhibition of both mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolism. Data from the combination study with bevacizumab are expected in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Highlights
- As of
June 30, 2016 ,MEI Pharma had$45.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, with no outstanding debt. Subsequent to the Company's year-end, it received a$15 million upfront payment in connection with its license, development and commercialization agreement withHelsinn and an additional$5 million in a related equity transaction. - Net cash used in operations was
$17.9 million for the year endedJune 30, 2016 , compared to$28.1 million for 2015. Net cash used in operations was$3.5 million for the fourth quarter endedJune 30, 2016 . - Research and development expenses were
$13.4 million for the year endedJune 30, 2016 , compared to$23.8 million for 2015. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in clinical trial, production and development costs of Pracinostat. - General and administrative expenses were
$7.6 million for the year endedJune 30, 2016 , compared to$8.9 million for 2015. The decrease primarily relates to lower levels of share-based compensation expense. - Net loss was
$20.9 million , or$0.61 per share, for the fiscal year endedJune 30, 2016 , compared to$32.7 million , or$1.16 per share for 2015.
About
Under
Years Ended |
|||
2016 |
2015 |
||
(In thousands, except share and per share data) |
|||
Statement of Operations Data: |
|||
Operating expenses |
|||
Research and development |
$ (13,403) |
$ (23,823) |
|
General and administrative |
(7,601) |
(8,948) |
|
Total operating expenses |
(21,004) |
(32,771) |
|
Loss from operations |
(21,004) |
(32,771) |
|
Other income, net |
142 |
77 |
|
Net loss |
$ (20,862) |
$ (32,694) |
|
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ (0.61) |
$ (1.16) |
|
Shares used to calculate net loss per share, basic and diluted |
34,400,441 |
28,204,356 |
|
As of |
|||
2016 |
2015 |
||
(In thousands) |
|||
Balance Sheet Data: |
|||
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments |
$ 45,918 |
$ 63,779 |
|
Total assets |
47,164 |
64,750 |
|
Total liabilities |
5,512 |
4,959 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
(177,001) |
(156,139) |
|
Total stockholders' equity |
41,652 |
59,791 |
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