I-Mab (NASDAQ:IMAB) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Maybe just finally, to touch on the monoclonal antibodies in development, which you mentioned and which may commercialize in the next year or so. These results are indeed important. But as I mentioned earlier, we look for givastomig. We’re about to begin combination studies. We intend to study with chemotherapy and with checkpoint inhibitors. And as I mentioned also, we’ve seen benefit in even monotherapy in patients across a wide range of Claudin expression, including patients with quite low expression have received monotherapy benefit. So we’re quite encouraged by what we’ve seen to date with givastomig and the ability that givastomig could help address the unmet needs for a wide range of patients. and look forward to initiating those studies to combine with current standard frontline treatments.

Andrew Zhu: Hey, Raj, could I add one point to John’s comments?

Raj Kannan: Sure Andrew. Sure.

Andrew Zhu: Yeah. So Bing, you’re obviously touching a very, very critical point. We are fully aware of the competitive landscape in the Claudin targeting area. However, as John pointed out, I think definitely our drug can actually cover a broad range of clouding expression level. And the second attractive feature is really the safety profile. As you know, for zolbetuximab and all the Claudin targeted native antibodies, they have the class specific toxicity profile. In particular, the GI side effects is actually quite challenging for the clinicians to manage. So our data so far really highlight the favorable safety profile of givastomig. So I think combined with these two features, I think even in the first-line setting, even with the pending zolbetuximab approval, we still think we can actually position our drug very broadly in the first-line gastric esophageal space just because of the broader [indiscernible] with Claudine expression as well as the favorable safety profile.

Just want to clarify that point.

Raj Kannan: And I think — just one other thing I just wanted to say is, right, we will have more details of the data presented at ESMO, which will be interesting as well for you to take note of.

Bing Zhao: Yep. Thanks.

Tyler Ehler: Thank you, Bing. Next question. I’d like to direct it to Zhuxuan Jiang. Zhuxuan, please go ahead.

Zhuxuan Jiang: Okay. So, thank you very much for this chance. And my question is about our early-stage pipeline development. So could you elaborate more about the pipelines that are going to enter the R&D stage? Thank you.

Raj Kannan: Yeah. So great question. I think the early pipeline in China has been — the China, specifically the talent in China has been a complete foundation and a core driver for innovation in how I-Mab has progressed to date. That being said, I think as you look — hear the prepared remarks that we have today and the shift and the focus and the strategy is to really focus on those drugs that are in the clinic today to be able to accelerate the development and bring it to market. I think that is a huge shift. While we will continue to look at assets in the earlier stage right now in terms of shareholders and value inflection, we’re looking at the next two to five years in terms of how we can maximize the value of the company for our shareholders who have been with us for these years, right?

So you’ll see more information as we progress the late-stage compounds. We feel comfortable on the likelihood and the success of those compounds getting to market, and we’re participating in the market, you’ll see more data on how we start focusing on preclinical and early stage compounds. Does that answer your question?

Zhuxuan Jiang: Yes, thank you.

Tyler Ehler: Thank you, Zhuxuan. We will take one last quick question. We have three minutes left. I would like to direct the last question to [indiscernible]. Please go ahead.