Corvus Pharmaceuticals Provides Business Update and Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results
“In 2020, we made considerable progress expanding our technology platform to address COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. As a result, we have extended our product development strategy with the initiation of a Phase 3 study of CPI-006 for COVID-19. In a recently completed Phase 1 study, CPI-006 induced robust and prolonged anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses,” said
2021 Key Areas of Focus
Corvus is focused on several potential transformational opportunities in its pipeline in 2021, headlined by the execution of its global Phase 3 study of CPI-006 in COVID-19. The Company is also efficiently advancing its other clinical programs, CPI-818 and ciforadenant, along with pre-clinical programs in its pipeline. The highlights from the Company’s clinical pipeline include:
CPI-006 Phase 3 Study for COVID-19
- In
February 2021 , the Company initiated a Phase 3 registration clinical trial of CPI-006, an anti-CD73 B cell activating antibody, for the treatment of hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. This randomized, double-blind trial is planned to enroll up to 1,000 patients, who will be randomized into one of three arms and receive either 1.0 mg/kg or 2.0 mg/kg of CPI-006, or placebo. The primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients that progress to requiring mechanical ventilation or death within 28 days of dosing. The study will be conducted inthe United States ,Europe ,Latin America andSouth Africa and will include an interim safety and futility analysis. The Company expects to complete enrollment in the study in the fourth quarter 2021. - Results from the Phase 1 dose escalation (0.3 to 5.0 mg/kg) clinical trial of CPI-006 in 29 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 showed that patients developed sustained high titers of polyclonal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. As of
March 4, 2021 , all the patients in the study were discharged from the hospital in a median of three days and no patients progressed to requiring mechanical ventilation. The results from the Phase 1 study were presented in the “Hot Topic Symposium: COVID-19 and Cancer” session at the 2020Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting inNovember 2020 .
CPI-818 Phase 2 Study for PTCL in Partnership with
- The Company expects that a global Phase 2 trial of CPI-818, a small molecule ITK inhibitor, for the treatment of refractory peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) will be initiated in partnership with
Angel Pharmaceuticals . - Interim data from the Phase 1/1b clinical trial of CPI-818 for T cell lymphoma demonstrated tumor responses in very advanced, refractory, difficult to treat T cell malignancies. As of
March 4, 2021 , of seven patients with PTCL, there has been one complete response lasting over 15 months and one partial response lasting for over five months; both responses are ongoing. The interim data was presented at the 62ndAmerican Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition inDecember 2020 . Angel Pharmaceuticals is a newChina -based biopharmaceutical company co-founded by Corvus inOctober 2020 . Angel licensed the rights to develop and commercialize Corvus’ three clinical-stage candidates – CPI-006, CPI-818 and ciforadenant – in greaterChina and obtained global rights to Corvus’ BTK inhibitor preclinical programs. The formation of Angel is expected to provide Corvus with clinical study synergies and accelerated timelines, whereby data from patients enrolled inChina studies could potentially be used as part ofU.S. regulatory submissions as part of a global pivotal study protocol. Corvus currently holds a 49.7% ownership position inAngel Pharmaceuticals , excluding 7% of Angel’s equity reserved for issuance under the Angel employee stock ownership plan.
Ciforadenant Phase 2 Study for Front Line RCC
- The Company plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial of ciforadenant, a small molecule antagonist of the adenosine A2A receptor, in first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC) in combination with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib. The study is planned to be conducted in collaboration with the
Kidney Cancer Consortium , is expected to enroll approximately 60 patients and is intended to increase complete responses and deep responses in the front-line setting. Preclinical studies indicate adenosine may be a cause of resistance to current therapies with anti PD(L)-1 and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Tumor biopsies will be evaluated for expression of the adenosine gene signature.
Financial Results
As of
Research and development expenses for the three months and full year ended
Gain on deconsolidation of
Net income for the three months ended
About Corvus Pharmaceuticals
About CPI-006
CPI-006 is an investigational, potent humanized monoclonal antibody that is designed to react with a specific site on CD73. In preclinical studies, it has demonstrated immunomodulatory activity resulting in activation of lymphocytes, induction of antibody production from B cells and effects on lymphocyte trafficking. While there are other anti-CD73 antibodies and small molecules in development for treatment of cancer, such agents react with a different region of CD73 and are designed to block production of adenosine, which is not involved in the immunomodulatory processes seen with CPI-006.
About CPI-818
CPI-818 is an investigational small molecule drug given orally that has selectively inhibited ITK (interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase) in preclinical studies. It was designed to possess dual properties: to block malignant T-cell growth and to modulate immune responses. ITK, an enzyme, is expressed predominantly in T-cells and plays a role in T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas and leukemias, as well as in normal immune function. Interference with ITK signaling can modulate immune responses to various antigens. The Company believes the inhibition of specific molecular targets in T-cells may be of therapeutic benefit for patients with T-cell lymphomas and in patients with autoimmune diseases. The Company is conducting a Phase 1/1b trial in patients with refractory T-cell lymphomas.
About Ciforadenant
Ciforadenant (CPI-444) is an investigational small molecule, oral, checkpoint inhibitor designed to disable a tumor’s ability to subvert attack by the immune system by blocking the binding of adenosine in the tumor microenvironment to the A2A receptor. Adenosine, a metabolite of ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate), is produced within the tumor microenvironment where it may bind to the adenosine A2A receptor present on immune cells and block their activity.
About
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to the potential safety and efficacy of CPI-006, CPI-818 and ciforadenant, the Company’s ability to develop and advance product candidates into and successfully complete preclinical studies and clinical trials, including the Company’s Phase 3 clinical trial of CPI-006 for COVID-19, the timing of the availability and announcement of clinical data and certain other product development milestones, and the sufficiency of the Company’s cash resources and operating expenses for the full year 2021. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “seek,” “will,” “may” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Three Months Ended |
Year Ended |
||||||||||||||
2020 |
2019 |
2020 |
2019 |
||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 7,191 | $ | 8,920 | $ | 31,830 | $ | 37,975 | |||||||
General and administrative | 2,688 | 2,520 | 11,930 | 10,879 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 9,879 | 11,440 | 43,760 | 48,854 | |||||||||||
Loss from operations | (9,879 | ) | (11,440 | ) | (43,760 | ) | (48,854 | ) | |||||||
Interest income and other expense, net | 1 | 393 | 540 | 2,182 | |||||||||||
Gain on deconsolidation of |
37,459 | - | 37,459 | - | |||||||||||
Loss from equity method investment | (234 | ) | - | (234 | ) | - | |||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 27,347 | $ | (11,047 | ) | $ | (5,995 | ) | $ | (46,672 | ) | ||||
Net income (loss) per share, basic and diluted | $ | 0.92 | $ | (0.38 | ) | $ | (0.20 | ) | $ | (1.59 | ) | ||||
Shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted | 29,574,424 | 29,395,400 | 29,478,878 | 29,349,810 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
Year ended |
|||||||
2020 |
2019 |
||||||
Assets | |||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | 44,259 | $ | 77,982 | |||
Operating lease right-of-use asset | 1,648 | 2,327 | |||||
Other assets | 2,397 | 3,337 | |||||
Investment in |
37,225 | - | |||||
Total assets | $ | 85,529 | $ | 83,646 | |||
Liabilities and stockholders' equity | |||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other liabilities | $ | 11,071 | $ | 9,347 | |||
Operating lease liability | 2,310 | 3,188 | |||||
Stockholders' equity | 72,148 | 71,111 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 85,529 | $ | 83,646 |
INVESTOR CONTACT:
Chief Financial Officer
+1-650-900-4522
llea@corvuspharma.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
W2O pure
+1-949-903-4750
sseapy@purecommunications.com
Source: Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.