Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:THLD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for cancer, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016 and provided an update on the Company’s corporate and clinical development activities.
“We plan to initiate a clinical trial evaluating evofosfamide in combination with checkpoint inhibitors with our collaborators at MD Anderson Cancer Center while at the same time continue to pursue registration of evofosfamide in Japan for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In addition, we continue to pursue potential collaborations to expand our development pipeline while we complete IND-enabling toxicology studies with TH-3424 with the goal of reaching the clinic with a new compound in 2017”, said Barry Selick, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Threshold.
Recent Highlights
Evofosfamide – The Company’s lead product candidate is an investigational hypoxia-activated prodrug that is designed to be activated under tumor hypoxic conditions, a hallmark of many cancers.
| · | First meeting scheduled with the Japanese PMDA (Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency) to present the improvement in overall survival that was observed in the Japanese sub-population of the MAESTRO Phase 3 trial; |
| · | The Company announced a partnership with Caris Life Sciences to develop a customized assay for pancreatic cancer patients to predict likelihood of response to evofosfamide; |
| · | Clinical development collaborations investigating evofosfamide in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET), recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain ongoing; |
| · | A recent presentation by one of the Company’s collaborators from the MD Anderson Cancer Center highlighted the promise of evofosfamide in combination with a class of checkpoint inhibitor antibodies to improve the efficacy of this class of potent anti-cancer therapies; and |
| · | The Company plans to initiate a clinical trial in various solid tumors evaluating evofosfamide in combination with one or more checkpoint inhibitor antibodies in development. |
Tarloxotinib – The Company had been prosecuting Phase 2 proof of concept studies with tarloxotinib, a hypoxia-activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), which was designed to selectively release an irreversible EGFR-TKI in hypoxic tumors.
| · | During the quarter, the Company announced interim results from two proof-of-concept, Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and skin. While results in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin were minimally sufficient for continuation, the response rate in the NSCLC trial and the head and neck arms of the squamous cell cancer trial did not meet the minimum response rate hurdles for study continuation. Accordingly, enrollment in both Phase 2 clinical trials and further development of tarloxotinib has been discontinued. |
TH-3424 – TH-3424 is the Company’s small-molecule drug candidate being evaluated for the treatment of hepatocellular (liver) cancer (HCC), castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL), and other cancers expressing high levels of aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3). Tumors overexpressing AKR1C3 can be resistant to radiation therapy, chemotherapy and anti-androgen therapy. TH-3424 is a prodrug that selectively releases a potent DNA cross-linking agent in the presence of AKR1C3.
| · | TH-3424 has been selected as a lead candidate and Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies have been initiated in collaboration with Ascenta Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. |
Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results
| · | Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $28.1 million at September 30, 2016 compared to $33.6 million at June 30, 2016; the net decrease of $5.5 million was a result of operating cash requirements for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. With the previously announced decision to cease joint development of evofosfamide under the Company’s former collaboration with Merck KGaA, the decision in September to discontinue further development of tarloxotinib, and the workforce reduction, the Company continues to expect its operating cash requirements to be lower for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2017. |
| · | No revenue was recognized in the third quarter ended September 30, 2016 compared to $3.7 million for the same period of 2015. Revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 related to the amortization of the aggregate of $110 million in upfront and milestone payments received from the Company’s former collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The revenue from the upfront payment and milestone payments received under the agreement were previously being amortized over the relevant performance period, rather than being immediately recognized when the upfront payment and milestones were earned or received. As a result of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s and the Company’s decision to cease further joint development of evofosfamide in December 2015, the Company immediately recognized all of the remaining deferred revenue into revenue during the quarter ending December 31, 2015. Also as a result of the termination of the agreement, the Company is no longer eligible to receive any further milestone payments from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. |
| · | Research and development expenses were $3.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016, compared to $8.1 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease in research and development expenses, net of reimbursement for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s 70 percent share of total eligible collaboration expenses for evofosfamide, was due primarily to a $2.8 million decrease in employee related expenses, including a $0.4 million decrease in non-cash stock-based compensation expense and a $1.8 million decrease in clinical development expenses and consulting expenses. The Company expects research and development expenses to continue to decline in 2016 as a result of the decision to cease further joint development of evofosfamide under the Company’s former collaboration with Merck KGaA and the workforce reduction. |
| · | General and administrative expenses were $1.7 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016 compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was due primarily to a $0.5 million decrease in employee related expenses and a $0.2 million decrease in consulting expenses. |
| · | Non-cash stock-based compensation expense included in total operating expenses was $0.8 million for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease in stock-based compensation expense was due to the amortization of a smaller number of options with lower fair values. |
| · | Net loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $5.7 million compared to $6.4 million for the same period in 2015. Included in the net loss for the third quarter of 2016 was an operating loss of $5.2 million and non-cash expense of $0.5 million compared to an operating loss of $6.8 million and non-cash income of $0.3 million for the third quarter of 2015. The non-cash income or expense is related to changes in the fair value of the Company’s outstanding and exercised warrants that was classified as other income (expense). |
About Evofosfamide
Evofosfamide (previously known as TH-302) is an investigational hypoxia-activated prodrug of a bis-alkylating agent that is preferentially activated under severe hypoxic tumor conditions, a feature of many solid tumors. Areas of low oxygen levels (hypoxia) in solid tumors are due to insufficient blood vessel supply. Similarly, the bone marrow of patients with hematological malignancies has also been shown, in some cases, to be severely hypoxic.
About Tarloxotinib Bromide
Tarloxotinib bromide (previously known as TH-4000), or “tarloxotinib”, is a prodrug designed to selectively release a covalent (irreversible) EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor under severe hypoxia, a feature of many solid tumors. In September 2016, the Company announced the discontinuation of any further development of tarloxotinib.
About TH-3424
TH-3424 is small-molecule drug candidate being evaluated for the potential treatment of hepatocellular (liver) cancer (HCC), castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL), and other cancers expressing high levels of aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3). Tumors overexpressing AKR1C3 can be resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. TH-3424 is a prodrug that selectively releases a potent DNA cross-linking agent in the presence of AKR1C3. Preliminary nonclinical toxicology studies suggested an adequate therapeutic index that the Company believes warrants conducting Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling toxicology studies, which are being done in collaboration with Ascenta Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
About Threshold Pharmaceuticals
Threshold is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of drugs and diagnostic agents targeting the tumor microenvironment of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. This approach offers broad potential to treat a variety of cancers. By selectively targeting tumor cells, we are building a pipeline of drugs that hold promise to be more effective and less toxic to healthy tissues than conventional anticancer drugs. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website.