“We continue to screen and enroll OPMD subjects into the Natural History Study at the
Operational Updates
The key milestones related to the development of BB-301 for the treatment of Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD), along with other corporate updates, are outlined below:
BB-301 Clinical Development Program Overview:
- The BB-301 clinical development program will be conducted in
the United States ,Canada , andFrance , and the primary elements of the program are summarized below:- The program will comprise approximately 76 weeks of follow-up which we anticipate will consist of:
- The OPMD Natural History (NH) Study: 6-month pre-treatment observation periods for the evaluation of baseline disposition and natural history of OPMD-derived dysphagia (swallowing impairment) in each study participant.
- Dosing with BB-301: 1-day of BB-301 dosing to initiate participation in the Phase 1b/2a single-arm, open-label, sequential, dose-escalation cohort study. BB-301 will be delivered directly to the pharyngeal muscles of each study subject.
- Phase 1b/2a Treatment Evaluation: 52-weeks of post-dosing follow-up for conclusive evaluation of the primary and secondary endpoints of the BB-301 Phase 1b/2a treatment study, with interim safety and efficacy results expected to be available at the end of each 90-day period following the administration of BB-301.
- The OPMD Natural History (NH) Study: 6-month pre-treatment observation periods for the evaluation of baseline disposition and natural history of OPMD-derived dysphagia (swallowing impairment) in each study participant.
- The OPMD NH Study will characterize the level of dysphagia borne by each OPMD subject at baseline and assess subsequent progression of dysphagia via the use of the following quantitative radiographic measures (i.e., videofluoroscopic swallowing studies or “VFSS”). The VFSS outlined below collectively provide objective assessments of global swallowing function and the function of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles (i.e., the muscles whose functional deterioration drives disease progression in OPMD):
- Total Pharyngeal Residue %(C2-4)2
- Pharyngeal Area at Maximum Constriction (PhAMPC)
- Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity Scale (DIGEST)
- Vallecular Residue %(C2-4)2, Pyriform Sinus Residue %(C2-4)2, and Other Pharyngeal Residue %(C2-4)2
- Normalized Residue Ratio Scale (NRRSv, NRRSp)
- Pharyngeal Construction Ratio (PCR)
- Total Pharyngeal Residue %(C2-4)2
- The program will comprise approximately 76 weeks of follow-up which we anticipate will consist of:
- The NH study will also employ clinical measures of global swallowing capacity and oropharyngeal dysphagia, along with two distinct patient-reported outcome instruments targeting the assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia.
- Upon the achievement of 6-months of follow-up in the NH Study, participants will be eligible for enrollment into the BB-301 Phase 1b/2a treatment study.
- BB-301 Phase 1b/2a Treatment Study:
- This first-in-human (FIH) study will evaluate the safety and clinical activity of intramuscular doses of BB-301 administered to subjects with OPMD.
- The primary endpoint of the FIH study will be safety.
- Secondary endpoints are designed to determine the impact of BB-301 on swallowing efficiency, swallowing safety, and pharyngeal constrictor muscle function in subjects diagnosed with OPMD with dysphagia via the use of serial clinical and videofluoroscopic assessments. Critically, each of the clinical and videofluoroscopic assessments employed in the FIH study will be equivalent to those employed for the NH study to facilitate comparative clinical and statistical analyses.
- The primary and secondary endpoints will be evaluated during each 90-day period following BB-301 intramuscular injection (Day 1).
- The NH of dysphagia observed for each OPMD study participant, as characterized by the VFSS and clinical swallowing assessments carried out during the NH Study, will serve as the baseline for comparative assessments of safety and efficacy of BB-301 upon rollover from the NH Study onto the BB-301 Phase 1b/2a Treatment Study.
- This first-in-human (FIH) study will evaluate the safety and clinical activity of intramuscular doses of BB-301 administered to subjects with OPMD.
- In
December 2022 , Benitec began screening OPMD subjects at the lead clinical study site inthe United States . - In
January 2023 , Benitec announced the enrollment of the first OPMD subject into the NH Study. As of today, 9 subjects have been enrolled into the NH study inthe United States . - The pace of enrollment of OPMD subjects into the NH Study at the
U.S. clinical study site supports our central clinical development goals of: (1) administering BB-301 to OPMD subjects in 2H2023, and (2) disclosing interim safety and efficacy data in 2H2023 for one or more subjects that have received BB-301. Jerel A. Banks , M.D., Ph.D., Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Benitec, will present at theOPMD International Conference inTel Aviv, Israel , taking place onTuesday, May 16 th, 2023.
Regulatory Updates for the Clinical Development Program:
- Formal submission of the comprehensive NH Study trial package to the Research Ethics Board (REB) for the lead clinical study site in
Canada was completed, and Benitec awaits the formal response from the REB.- Approval of the NH Study trial package by the REB is required for clinical study site activation and OPMD patient screening and enrollment to begin in
Canada .
- Approval of the NH Study trial package by the REB is required for clinical study site activation and OPMD patient screening and enrollment to begin in
- BB-301 Investigational New Drug (IND) application acceptance by the
U.S. FDA is expected in theSecond Calendar Quarter of 2023.- BB-301 IND acceptance is required to initiate the dosing of OPMD subjects with BB-301 in the Phase 1b/2a Treatment Study in
the United States .
- BB-301 IND acceptance is required to initiate the dosing of OPMD subjects with BB-301 in the Phase 1b/2a Treatment Study in
- BB-301 Clinical Trial Application (CTA) clearance is expected in 2H2023.
- BB-301 CTA clearance is required to initiate the dosing of OPMD subjects with BB-301 in the Phase 1b/2a Treatment Study in
Canada .
- BB-301 CTA clearance is required to initiate the dosing of OPMD subjects with BB-301 in the Phase 1b/2a Treatment Study in
- The first NH Study subject is anticipated to be eligible for BB-301 administration in the
Third Calendar Quarter of 2023, following the completion of 6 months of NH Study clinical follow-up and confirmation of eligibility for the BB-301 Phase 1b/2a Treatment Study. Interim safety and efficacy results are expected to become available approximately 90 days following the administration of BB-301.
- BB-301 CTA filing to support the conduct of a comprehensive BB-301 clinical study in
France , inclusive of a 6-month pre-treatment observation period, one day of BB-301 dosing, and a subsequent 52-week follow-up period, is planned for completion in theThird Calendar Quarter of 2023.
Financial Highlights
Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Revenue for the quarter ended
Operating expenses for the quarter ended
The loss from operations for the quarter ended
Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||||||
(in thousands, except par value and share amounts) | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||
Current assets: | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 6,551 | $ | 4,062 | |||||||
Restricted cash | 14 | 14 | |||||||||
Trade and other receivables | 56 | 3 | |||||||||
Prepaid and other assets | 774 | 741 | |||||||||
Total current assets | 7,395 | 4,820 | |||||||||
Property and equipment, net | 106 | 222 | |||||||||
Deposits | 25 | 25 | |||||||||
Other assets | 105 | 135 | |||||||||
Right-of-use assets | 589 | 771 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 8,220 | $ | 5,973 | |||||||
Liabilities and stockholders' equity | |||||||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
Trade and other payables | $ | 2,455 | $ | 1,880 | |||||||
Accrued employee benefits | 429 | 400 | |||||||||
Lease liabilities, current portion | 269 | 252 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities | 3,153 | 2,532 | |||||||||
Lease liabilities, less current portion | 354 | 559 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | 3,507 | 3,091 | |||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) | |||||||||||
Stockholders' equity: | |||||||||||
Common stock, | 3 | 1 | |||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 168,791 | 152,453 | |||||||||
Accumulated deficit | (163,228 | ) | (148,327 | ) | |||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (853 | ) | (1,245 | ) | |||||||
Total stockholders' equity | 4,713 | 2,882 | |||||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 8,220 | $ | 5,973 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements | |||||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue: | |||||||||||||||||||
Licensing revenues from customers | $ | 54 | $ | 48 | $ | 68 | $ | 73 | |||||||||||
Total revenues | 54 | 48 | 68 | 73 | |||||||||||||||
Operating Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||
Research and development | 3,167 | 2,171 | 9,588 | 8,096 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 1,228 | 1,337 | 5,011 | 5,093 | |||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 4,395 | 3,508 | 14,599 | 13,189 | |||||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (4,341 | ) | (3,460 | ) | (14,531 | ) | (13,116 | ) | |||||||||||
Other income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss) | (45 | ) | 229 | (391 | ) | 36 | |||||||||||||
Interest expense, net | (7 | ) | (10 | ) | (25 | ) | (22 | ) | |||||||||||
Other income, net | - | (29 | ) | 50 | (29 | ) | |||||||||||||
Unrealized loss on investment | (4 | ) | (5 | ) | (4 | ) | (10 | ) | |||||||||||
Total other income (loss), net | (56 | ) | 185 | (370 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (4,397 | ) | $ | (3,275 | ) | $ | (14,901 | ) | $ | (13,141 | ) | |||||||
Other comprehensive income: | |||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized foreign currency translation gain (loss) | 45 | (233 | ) | 392 | (51 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income (loss) | 45 | (233 | ) | 392 | (51 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total comprehensive loss | $ | (4,352 | ) | $ | (3,508 | ) | $ | (14,509 | ) | $ | (13,192 | ) | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (4,397 | ) | $ | (3,275 | ) | $ | (14,901 | ) | $ | (13,141 | ) | |||||||
Net loss per share: | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.40 | ) | $ | (0.67 | ) | $ | (1.61 | ) | |||||||
Weighted average number of shares outstanding: basic and diluted | 27,981,161 | 8,171,690 | 22,090,191 | 8,171,690 | |||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. | |||||||||||||||||||
About
Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical information set forth herein, the matters set forth in this press release include forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Benitec's plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, the timing of the initiation and completion of pre-clinical and clinical trials, the timing of patient enrolment and dosing in clinical trials, the timing of expected regulatory filings, the clinical utility and potential attributes and benefits of ddRNAi and Benitec's product candidates, potential future out-licenses and collaborations, the intellectual property position and the ability to procure additional sources of financing, and other forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: unanticipated delays; further research and development and the results of clinical trials possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; determinations made by the FDA and other governmental authorities; the Company's ability to protect and enforce its patents and other intellectual property rights; the Company's dependence on its relationships with its collaboration partners and other third parties; the efficacy or safety of the Company's products and the products of the Company's collaboration partners; the acceptance of the Company's products and the products of the Company's collaboration partners in the marketplace; market competition; sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution requirements; greater than expected expenses; expenses relating to litigation or strategic activities; the Company's ability to satisfy its capital needs through increasing its revenue and obtaining additional financing; given market conditions and other factors, including our capital structure; our ability to continue as a going concern; the length of time over which the Company expects its cash and cash equivalents to be sufficient to execute on its business plan; the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which may adversely impact the Company's business and pre-clinical and future clinical trials; the impact of local, regional, and national and international economic conditions and events; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the
Investor Relations Contact:
VP,
Phone: 646-378-2946
Email: wwindham@soleburystrat.com
Source:
2023 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source