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MEI Pharma Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Results

Published: May 04, 2017

SAN DIEGO, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --  

Company Ends Quarter with $56.8 Million in Cash

Gene Mutation and Clinical Response Data from Phase 2 Study of Pracinostat Plus Azacitidine in AML at ASCO in June

First Patient in Phase 2 Dose-Optimization Study of Pracinostat in MDS Expected in June

Initial Safety and Efficacy Data from ME-401 Phase 1b Study in June

MEI Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEIP), an oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapies for cancer, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended March 31, 2017. The Company also outlined a number of key upcoming milestones.

"I am proud of the progress we have made over the past quarter, with a steadfast focus on clinical study planning and execution, while maintaining a healthy cash position," said Daniel P. Gold, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MEI Pharma. "We have been working diligently with our partners at Helsinn on the design and implementation of a large, international Phase 3 study of Pracinostat in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a Phase 2 dose-optimization study in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and expect to enroll the first patients next month. We also look forward to presenting new genetic analysis data from our Phase 2 study in AML at ASCO, which increases our understanding of the study's patient demographics.

"Finally," Dr. Gold continued, "we look forward to initial safety and efficacy data from our clinical study of ME-401 in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and follicular lymphoma next month. ME-401 is a differentiated oral PI3K delta inhibitor that is predicted to have a wide therapeutic window which may lead to safer treatment options for patients with lymphomas. We are very encouraged by the early results from our ongoing study and look forward to presenting them in more detail. While much of our recent progress has occurred behind the scenes, the stage is now set for what should be an exciting remainder of the year."

Upcoming Milestones

  • Initiation of global Phase 3 study of Pracinostat in AML. In August 2016, the Company entered into an exclusive license, development and commercialization agreement with Helsinn Healthcare SA, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, for the investigational drug candidate Pracinostat in AML and other potential indications (Helsinn License Agreement). Under the terms of the agreement, Helsinn is granted a worldwide exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize Pracinostat, and is primarily responsible for funding its global development and commercialization. Site recruitment for the Phase 3 study of Pracinostat and azacitidine in newly diagnosed AML patients who are 75 years of age or unfit for intensive induction chemotherapy is ongoing.
  • First patient in Phase 2 dose-optimization study of Pracinostat in MDS. As part of the Helsinn License Agreement, the Company will work with Helsinn to determine an optimal dosing regimen of Pracinostat in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of high and very high risk MDS. The cost of this study will be shared by Helsinn and the Company, and enrollment is anticipated to commence in June 2017.
  • Gene mutation data from Phase 2 study of Pracinostat in AML at ASCO. Data from a post hoc analysis of a Phase 2 clinical study of Pracinostat and azacitidine in elderly patients with AML who were not eligible for induction chemotherapy were accepted for presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago on Monday, June 5, 2017. The abstract, entitled "Correlation between Mutation Clearance and Clinical Response in Elderly Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Treated with Azacitidine and Pracinostat," will be released on abstracts.asco.org at 5:00 pm EDT on May 17, 2017.
  • Interim data from Phase 1b study of ME-401 in CLL and follicular lymphoma. Interim safety and efficacy data from the first cohort in a Phase 1b clinical study of ME-401 in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL or follicular lymphoma are expected in June. ME-401 is a highly differentiated oral PI3K delta inhibitor that has a distinct chemical structure from other drugs in its class, including idelalisib (marketed as Zydelig®). Results from a first-in-human study of ME-401 showed levels of drug exposure that support the potential for an improved therapeutic window compared to idelalisib, with a half-life that supports once-daily dosing.

Financial Highlights

  • In March 2017, the Company received a $5 million payment from Helsinn in accordance with the Helsinn License Agreement. The Company is also eligible to receive up to $444 million in potential regulatory and sales-based milestones, along with royalty payments on the net sales of Pracinostat.
  • As of March 31, 2017, the Company had $56.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, compared to $55.2 million as of December 31, 2016, with no outstanding debt. The Company believes its cash position will be sufficient to fund operations through at least the end of calendar year 2018.
  • Research and development expenses were $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and $5.2 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. This compares with research and development expenses of $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, and $9.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in expenses related to Pracinostat pursuant to the Helsinn License Agreement.
  • General and administrative expenses were $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and $6.8 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $2.0 million and $5.8 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2016. The increase was primarily due to professional service costs.
  • Revenues were $4.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, and $22.8 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2017, related to the Helsinn License Agreement. During the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017, the cost of research and development revenue was $1.1 million and $4.0 million, respectively. Cost of research and development revenue is comprised primarily of reimbursable third-party pass-through costs.

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