Humanigen, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGEN) (“Humanigen”), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing lenzilumab (LENZ®),
a first-in class antibody that neutralizes granulocyte-macrophage
colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), today reported financial
results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30,
2022.
“We have made excellent progress on the strategic realignment
announced in July. We have increased the number of sites for the
PREACH-M study in Australia of lenzilumab in chronic myelomonocytic
leukemia (‘CMML’), a rare blood cancer, and have interest from top
oncology centers in the United States. We are on track to enroll
the first patient in the RATinG study in the UK of lenzilumab in
acute graft versus host disease (‘aGvHD’) and expect dosing soon,”
stated Cameron Durrant, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Humanigen. “Given the positive results from the company’s LIVE-AIR
study and the survival trend observed in the ACTIV-5/BET-B study,
we have interest from a global group of leading institutions and
research networks to include lenzilumab in their large-scale,
multinational studies of COVID-19. Tocilizumab and baricitinib
demonstrated mortality benefit following inclusion in such studies
despite having failed to do so in smaller studies. We are exploring
the requirements for inclusion in these studies and plan to provide
an update before the end of 2022. In addition, we are currently
assessing requests for investigator-initiated trials (‘IIT’s’) of
lenzilumab in combination with CAR-T therapies and plan to continue
the development of ifabotuzumab (‘iFab’), an EpAh-3 targeted
monoclonal antibody currently in Phase 1 development, as part of an
antibody drug conjugate (‘ADC’), for certain solid tumors in
Australia.”
As recently announced, the company has strategically realigned
its pipeline and resources with plans to accelerate the development
of lenzilumab in CMML, for which the “PREcision Approach to Chronic
Myelomonocytic Leukemia,” or “PREACH-M” study, is already underway
and to continue the “Risk Adapted Therapy in Acute GvHD,” or “
RATinG” study, in patients undergoing bone marrow transplant, that
is expected to enroll its first patient in the third quarter of
2022. These studies are majority funded by the company’s partners.
Under the realignment plan, the company will deemphasize the
deployment of certain resources for the development of lenzilumab
for COVID-19. The preliminary topline results from the Accelerating
COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines-5 (“ACTIV-5”) and
Big Effect Trial, in the “B” arm of the trial (“BET-B”), referred
to as the ACTIV-5/BET-B trial did indicate that lenzilumab
demonstrated a positive trend in mortality. The company continues
to support National Institutes of Health’s (“NIH’s”) further
analysis of the data.
Second Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 Financial
Results
Net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was $30.1 million,
or $0.43 per share, as compared to $70.8 million, or $1.20 per
share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The net loss for the
six months ended June 30, 2022 was $51.4 million or $0.75 per
share, as compared to $136.4 million or $2.45 per share for the six
months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in net loss for both
periods was largely due to a decrease in expenses, mainly Research
and Development (“R&D”) expense. R&D expense decreased
$36.6 million from $63.0 million for the three months ended June
30, 2021, to $26.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022
and decreased $79.2 million from $122.9 million for the six months
ended June 30, 2021 to $43.7 million for the six months ended June
30, 2022. The decrease in R&D expense is primarily due to
decreased lenzilumab manufacturing costs for the quarter ended June
30, 2022 of $34.6 million, and for the six months ended June 30,
2022 of $70.3 million.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Net cash used in operating activities, net of balance sheet
changes, was $44.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
During the first half of 2022, the company sold shares of its
common stock under its At-the-Market or “ATM” facility, raising net
proceeds of approximately $21.8 million. As of June 30, 2022, the
company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $47.0
million. Subsequent to end of the quarter and through August 10,
2022, the company raised an additional $15.9 million under the
ATM.
In July 2022, the company repaid the Term Loan with Hercules by
prepaying $25.0 million of outstanding principal, together with
approximately $1.7 million of accrued interest, fees and other
amounts, due under the loan, terminating all obligations, liens and
security interests thereunder. By retiring the Term Loan, the
company reduced future cash payments for interest and enhanced its
ability to generate additional liquidity from its intellectual
property by removing the loan’s collateral requirements.
A summary of key financial highlights as of and for the three
and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 is as follows ($ in
thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
2022
2021
2022
2021
License revenue $
1,036
$
1,036
$
2,072
$
1,522
Research and development
26,438
63,012
43,658
122,946
General and administrative
3,949
8,076
8,294
13,024
Loss from operations
(29,351
)
(70,052
)
(49,880
)
(134,448
)
Net loss $
(30,149
)
$
(70,803
)
$
(51,427
)
$
(136,370
)
Net loss per common share $
(0.43
)
$
(1.20
)
$
(0.75
)
$
(2.45
)
Weighted average common shares
70,670,971
58,843,567
68,137,762
55,735,008
June 30, 2022 December 31, 2021 Cash and cash
equivalents $
47,046
$
70,016
Current assets $
49,359
$
70,971
Current liabilities
76,990
68,725
Working capital $
(27,631
)
$
2,246
About Lenzilumab
Lenzilumab is a proprietary Humaneered® first-in-class
monoclonal antibody that has been proven to neutralize GM-CSF, a
cytokine of critical importance in the hyperinflammatory cascade,
sometimes referred to as cytokine release syndrome, or cytokine
storm. Humanigen believes that GM-CSF neutralization with
lenzilumab also has the potential to treat patients with CMML and
to reduce the hyper-inflammatory cascade known as cytokine release
syndrome common to aGvHD. A study of lenzilumab is underway for
patients with CMML exhibiting RAS pathway mutations. This study
builds on evidence from a Phase 1 study, conducted by Humanigen,
that showed RAS mutations are associated with hyper-proliferative
features, which may be sensitive to GM-CSF neutralization.
Lenzilumab will also be tested to assess its ability to prevent
and/or treat aGvHD in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic
stem cell transplantation.
About Humanigen, Inc.
Humanigen, Inc. (NASDAQ: HGEN) ("Humanigen"), is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing
lenzilumab, a first-in-class antibody that binds to and neutralizes
granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Humanigen is
developing lenzilumab as a treatment for chronic myelomonocytic
leukemia and acute graft versus host disease. Humanigen is also
exploring use of lenzilumab to prevent toxicities associated with
CAR-T therapy through investigator-initiated trials. Humanigen is
also developing an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) utilizing its
EphA-3 targeted monoclonal antibody ifabotuzumab ("ifab") for solid
tumors. For more information, visit www.humanigen.com and follow
Humanigen on Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical facts
contained in this press release are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge,
assumptions, judgment, and expectations regarding future
performance or events. Although management believes that the
expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, they give
no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, and
you should be aware that actual events or results may differ
materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements.
Words such as "will," "expect," "intend," "plan," "potential,"
"possible," "goals," "accelerate," "continue," and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks inherent in
our lack of profitability and need for additional capital; our
dependence on partners to further the development of our product
candidates; the uncertainties inherent in the development,
attainment of the requisite regulatory authorizations and approvals
and launch of any new pharmaceutical product; the outcome of
pending or future litigation or arbitration; and the various risks
and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" sections of our
latest annual and quarterly reports and other filings with the
SEC.
All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their
entirety by this cautionary notice. You should not rely upon any
forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We
undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking
statements made in this press release to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof, to reflect new information or
the occurrence of unanticipated events, or to update the reasons
why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated
in the forward-looking statements, in each case, except as required
by law.
LENZ® and Humaneered® are trademarks of Humanigen, Inc.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220812005104/en/
Humanigen Investor Relations Tim Morris COO & CFO
tmorris@humanigen.com 650-400-6874
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