TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCON) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCON) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript March 8, 2023

Operator: Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to TRACON Pharmaceuticals Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 2022 Earnings Conference Call. . During today’s call, we will be making certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected timing of clinical trials and results, regulatory activities, future expenses and cash runaway, our development plan and strategy and the timing and results of our arbitration with I-Mab. These statements are subject to various risks that are described in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and unless required by applicable law, we disclaim any obligation to update such statements.

Now I’d like to turn the call over to Dr. Charles Theuer, President and CEO of TRACON Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Theuer?

Charles Theuer: Good afternoon, and thank you for joining TRACON’s fourth quarter and year-end 2022 financial results and business update call. I will begin with an update on our pipeline and then review our recent activities. Following that, Scott Brown, our Chief Financial Officer, will review our financial results for the 3 and 12 months ended December 31, 2022. Finally, we will conclude by taking your questions. I’ll begin with an update on our continued progress with the ongoing ENVASARC pivotal trial, evaluating ENVA as a single agent and in combination with Yervoy. We have now enrolled nearly 90 patients with refractory UPS, or MFS, into ENVASARC, which is accruing at 29 sites in the U.S. and one site in the U.K. Accrual continues to exceed projections and the completion of enrollment of 160 patients treated at the 600-milligram ENVA dose is anticipated to occur before the end of 2023.

In December, we announced that the DMC reviewed interim safety and efficacy data from 18 patients enrolled into each of the 2 cohorts who completed a minimum of 12 weeks of efficacy evaluations that included 2 on-treatment scans. The double-digit objective response rate assessed by blinded independent central review in each cohort more than satisfied the prespecified futility rule. ENVA monotherapy in combination with Yervoy was well tolerated with only a single related serious adverse event reported in 36 patients. Responses were noted in patients regardless of weight at the 600-milligram dose of ENVA that was instituted following the previous DMC review of interim safety and efficacy data from patients in the ENVASARC trial treated at the 300-milligram dose of ENVA.

The DMC recommended the trial continue as planned at the 600-milligram ENVA dose. As a reminder, the primary endpoint in each cohort is objective response rate by RECIST confirmed by central blinded independent review, and 9 out of 80 objective responses, or an 11.25% objective response rate, defines a level of response that satisfies the primary endpoint of the study to statistically exceed the 4% objective response rate of Votrient, the only approved treatment for patients with refractory UPS or MFS. Therefore, a double-digit response rate at the time of interim analysis is meaningful, indicating that we are on track to achieve the primary endpoint of the study. Notably, Votrient is a drug with a black box warning for fatal liver toxicity.

Our goal in ENVASARC, therefore, is to demonstrate that ENVA is both safer and more efficacious than Votrient. Given the robust accrual into the ENVASARC trial, we are on track for the DMC to perform the protocol mandated second interim efficacy analysis in the third quarter. During the interim efficacy assessment, committee will apply a futility rule that requires at least 3 responses in 46 patients who have been followed for us 3 months to permit 2 on-study scans in order to continue accrual into each cohort. Based on the data from trials of other checkpoint inhibitors in refractory UPS or MFS, we are targeting a 15% response rate for single-agent ENVA and up to a 30% response rate for ENVA in combination with Yervoy. Furthermore, we plan to approach the FDA to discuss a BLA filing strategy as soon as we determine 9 responses in either cohort.

We were very pleased to receive Fast Track designation for ENVA in the sarcoma subtypes of UPS and MFS that have progressed on 1 or 2 prior lines of therapy, based on activity observed in ENVASARC. This designation complements the orphan drug designation we received in 2021, and holds important advantages that might expedite the development and regulatory review of ENVA. Moving on to our second checkpoint inhibitor, YH001, a potentially best-in-class CTLA-4 antibody that we licensed from Eucure Biopharma in October of 2021. In August, the FDA approved our IND to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial of YH001 for the treatment of sarcoma patients, including patients who have not received prior therapy. In October, we initiated the first site in the trial.

Several sites are now open, and we have dosed multiple patients using TRACON’s product development platform of CRO-independent research. Our initial YH001 trial leverages data from 2 completed Phase I trials conducted by our partner, Eucure. These 2 trials demonstrated the recommended Phase II dose of YH001 as a single agent and in combination with the PD-1 antibody, toripalimab. Our sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial will evaluate a triplet that includes YH001, ENVA and doxorubicin chemotherapy as doxorubicin is the current frontline standard of care treatment for sarcoma. The Phase I portion of the trial assesses the tolerability of the combination of the ENVA and YH001 doublet as well as the triple therapy that includes doxorubicin. And we expect to report Phase I data in the second half of this year.

Thereafter, the Phase II portion of the trial will assess the response rate in common and rare sarcoma subtypes to combination treatment with the intent of demonstrating superior response rates compared to historical data using standard of care agents. In leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma, we plan to compare the response rate of triple therapy to the historical 10% to 15% response rate of single agent doxorubicin. In the case of rare sarcoma subtypes like chondrosarcoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma, where chemotherapy is not highly effective, we intend to study the doublet of YH001 and ENVA to assess the response rate compared to historical response rates for chemotherapy or single-agent checkpoint inhibition. One of the objectives of this Phase I/II trial is to determine the subtypes of sarcoma that best respond to the combination of ENVA, YH001 and doxorubicin.

Assuming positive trial results in the ENVASARC pivotal trial and potential accelerated approval of ENVA, the FDA will require a randomized trial to demonstrate a survival benefit. We expect this Phase III post-approval trial will compare single-agent doxorubicin to the triplet combination of doxorubicin with ENVA and YH001, with PFS as the end point. This trial would be expected to enroll patients with UPS and MFS as well as other sarcoma subtypes shown to respond to triple therapy based on data from the Phase I/II trial that I described earlier. We expect to discuss the design of a frontline trial with the FDA and initiate accrual prior to our planned BLA submission of ENVA for accelerated approval in refractory sarcoma based on data from ENVASARC.

Our strategic goal is to commercialize 2 in-licensed immuno-oncology therapies together in sarcoma. It is important to understand the sales potential in sarcoma with ENVA at parity pricing is not solely the forecasted $200 million in peak annual ENVA revenues expected in the initial indications of refractory UPS and MFS and the $100 million in annual revenue in rare sarcoma subtypes where the activity of checkpoint inhibition is demonstrated. Our clinical development strategy is designed to create the opportunity for ENVA to broadly benefit patients with sarcoma in the front-line adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings by seeking supplemental indications. Moreover, we believe TRACON’s total sarcoma-driven sales revenue would be significantly enhanced by marking ENVA and YH001 together as part of a treatment combination in sarcoma.

In addition to our 2 checkpoint inhibitors, we are pleased that the National Cancer Institute continues to fund development of our DNA, damage repair inhibitor, TRC102. Last year, the National Cancer Institute initiated a randomized Phase II trial, assessing TRC102 in stage 3, non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer in combination with chemoradiation. The 2-arm trial will enroll 78 patients to assess the benefit of adding TRC102 to current standard of care treatment of pemetrexed, cisplatin and radiation therapy followed by consolidated durvalumab maintenance treatment. The primary endpoint of the trial is PFS, and the trial is designed to detect an improvement in PFS at 1 year from 56% to 75%. Multiple sites are open in the U.S. for enrollment and final results are expected in 2025.

Our fourth clinical-stage asset is the CD73 antibody TJ4309 that TRACON evaluated in a Phase I study as a single agent and in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq. We have completed data analysis of the clinical trial, which triggers I-Mab option to acquire TJ4309. If I-Mab does not exercise their option then TRACON is entitled to a greater portion of royalty and non-royalty revenue to our revenue share provision. Next, I will provide an update on our legal disputes with I-Mab. As a reminder, I-Mab commenced arbitration in June 2020 after TRACON invoked contractual dispute resolution provisions, assuring that I-Mab had breached its contractual obligations concerning both of our agreements entered into in November 2018. I-Mab initiated the arbitration to declare they were not in breach of either agreement.

We filed counter claims in the arbitration seeking to recover over $200 million in damages from I-Mab based on the alleged breaches. Under the applicable rules of arbitration, the prevailing party may also be awarded attorney’s fees at the tribunals discretion. In February 2022, arguments for alleged breaches of both of our agreements with I-Mab were heard before an International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Tribunal under New York law, and the post-hearing briefs were submitted to the Tribunal in late May. On November 8, 2022, the Tribunal invited the parties to submit an additional limited briefing on 2 discrete issues by December 9. Following that submission, the party submitted their respective cost submissions. The Tribunal did not indicate when it expects to render this award.

However, the Tribunal did note, they are far along in their deliberations and preparation of a final award, and we continue to expect the Tribunal to provide their final award this quarter. The claims under the arbitration are complex. Accordingly, we cannot predict the outcome of the arbitration. We are unable to estimate the amount of recovery of damages, if any, that may be awarded by the Tribunal. Pending results of the arbitration, we continue to meet our obligations under the terms of both agreements. We will promptly provide an update when the Tribunal announced their award. Given the challenging capital markets, the expectation to secure nondilutive capital from existing and new corporate partners is important. In the meantime, we recently secured capital through another source.

In December, we entered into an up to $30 million nondilutive, nonrecourse financing related to the arbitration award decision expected this quarter. Of the up to $30 million total, $3.5 million was funded in December and an additional $26.5 million or the lesser amount based on the amount awarded will be available subject to the award exceeding its threshold and satisfaction of other conditions set forth in the agreement. With 25% of the total award being available to be funded after award announcement and the remainder available over a multiyear period. The nonrecourse funding will be repaid upon a collection of any award from I-Mab at varying rates that depend on the time elapse from funding and certain other matters related to the arbitration.

This financing extends our crash runway to support the robust accrual of the pivotal ENVASARC trial while we wait the outcome of the binding arbitration with I-Mab and notification of I-Mab regarding their option to terminate the TJ4309 agreement for $9 million. As we have noted in the past, we expect to further supplement our cash position through opportunities for nondilutive capital enabled through our CRO independent product development platform that we believe positions us as one of the most efficient clinical development organizations. We expect to continue to leverage our platform in 2 ways that provide for potential nondilutive capital to TRACON. First, we continue to evaluate drug candidates, whereby TRACON performs clinical trials at a lower fixed cost compared to a CRO, but still at a premium to our cost using a pay-for-performance model.

This is an aligned structure we used in the past, for example, with Johnson & Johnson. Second, we continue to explore a franchise model, whereby we are paid to share our proprietary capabilities and know-how to enable another company to independently internalize clinical operations and use these new capabilities to avoid contracting with CROs to exceed clinical trials. As has been the experience at TRACON, we believe such an investment could be expected to result in substantial time and cost savings for our partner. We believe that over time, our product development platforms earned strong credibility as a compelling solution for companies who wish to become CRO independent and reap the rewards of conducting trials faster at higher quality and at lower cost compared to trials typically contracted to CROs. At this time, Scott will provide an update on our financials.

Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

Scott Brown: Thank you, Charles, and good afternoon, everyone. TRACON’s research and development expenses were $3.9 million and $13.9 million for the 3 and 12 months ended December 31, 2022, respectively, compared to $3.1 million and $11.1 million for the comparable periods of 2021. The increase in both periods was related to robust accrual in the pivotal ENVASARC trial. General and administrative expenses were $2 million and $14 million for the 3 and 12 months ended December 31, 2022, respectively, compared to $4.6 million and $17.5 million for the comparable periods of 2021. The decrease in both periods was due to lower legal expenses as the arbitration hearing is now complete. We expect G&A expenses to remain relatively consistent in 2023 to the fourth quarter of 2022.

However, there may be increases to the extent we must expand additional legal fees in connection with enforcing and collecting any arbitration award from I-Mab. Our net loss was $7 million and $29.1 million for the 3 and 12 months ended December 31, 2022, respectively, compared to $7.7 million and $28.7 million for the comparable periods of 2021. Turning to the balance sheet. At December 31, 2022, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $17.4 million compared to $24.1 million at December 31, 2021. We expect our current capital resources to be sufficient to fund our planned operations into mid-2023. With that, I will turn the call back over to Charles.

Charles Theuer: Thank you, Scott. As you have heard, our corporate strategy is proceeding as planned. Allow me to recap 5 key events: First, this quarter, we expect to report the arbitration panel’s binding decision, including potential damage awards regarding our legal disputes with I-Mab; second, this quarter, we expect I-Mab’s decision on their option to terminate the TJ4309 agreement for a payment to TRACON of $9 million; third, in the third quarter, we expect to report on the second DMC interim efficacy assessment for each of the 2 ENVASARC cohorts of 46 patients dosed with the 600-milligram dose of ENVA; fourth, in the second half of this year, we expect to report Phase I data of the combination of ENVA and our CTLA-4 antibody YH001 as well as the triple therapy that includes doxorubicin; fifth, this year, we also expect to further leverage our unique product development platform to provide TRACON non-dilutive capital in exchange for enabling companies tired of being beholden to CROs to potentially benefit from our capabilities and realize for themselves the substantial time and cost savings we enjoy at TRACON.

Thank you for your time and attention, and we are now available to answer your questions.

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Q&A Session

Operator: . The first question that we have today is coming from Soumit Roy of Jones Research.

Soumit Roy: The first one on the upcoming interim readout in the third quarter from the ENVASARC trial, should we expect update from 90 patients at that time? And the futility hurdle, if you can just elaborate, are you looking at best overall response or only the continued response at that time point?

Charles Theuer: Soumit, thanks for your question. So with respect to the interim analysis — the second mandated interim analysis, which again we expect in third quarter, we will look at 46 patients in each of the 2 cohorts, with the 46 patients being on study at least 3 months to permit at least 2 CT scans, and we will look at the best overall response in those 46 patients. Each cohort considered separately — and per the rule of the protocol, the futility analysis requires at least 3 responses among 46 patients in a given cohort in order to continue accrual of that cohort.

Soumit Roy: Got it. And on the expected arbitration outcome this quarter, is there a possibility there will be an extension of the deadline? Or do you think this is pretty much at end when they have to give a verdict?

Charles Theuer: Yes. I think on the arbitration, we do expect an award announcement this quarter. We can never guarantee, if you will, an exact timeline. But based on communications, we’ve had from the tribunal, the advice of our counsel, we do believe and expect the announcement this quarter. I would point out that the arbitration is a confidential, if you will, consideration, and so we can’t disclose information from the tribunal on a routine basis. As you say, would be able to disclose if there was a public lawsuit, but our guidance is based on the totality of the information that we possess at this time.

Operator: The next question will be coming from Joel Beatty of Baird.

Joel Beatty: The first one is on Phase I trial ongoing of YH001 in combination with envafolimab and doxorubicin. Could you just help frame what would be good data from the readout that’s expected in the second half of this year?

Charles Theuer: Joel, thanks for your question. So the YH001, ENVA and doxorubicin trial is a Phase I and Phase II trial. Our goal coming out of the Phase I study would be to show that the dose of 001 we’re studying with ENVA is well tolerated, and further, that dose is also well tolerated when you add doxorubicin to the triple therapy. We also would like to see the anticipated PK data, which generally is very straightforward with antibodies. And we’d also like to see hints of activity, knowing that the initial cohorts will be 6 patient cohorts in that study. And so — hence that activity will be important but not definitive. The more definitive efficacy data will come with the Phase II cohorts of which there are 4 separate cohorts. So in summary, the goal for the end of this year is to establish a recommended Phase II dose of YH001 with the standard dose of ENVA and the standard dose of doxorubicin and show that’s well tolerated in patients with sarcoma.

Joel Beatty: Got it. That’s helpful. And then for the ongoing arbitration, the press release mentioned the potential upside of — or at least the claims for over $200 million of damages. I’m curious in framing the downside for TRACON a little bit more. Is TRACON preparing for a potential scenario in which the company potentially goes bankrupt from the arbitration?

Charles Theuer: Yes. We don’t consider that as a consideration, frankly, Joel. I think when we think about the arbitration, we think about it in the following manner that we’re defending ourselves. That arbitration was initiated by I-Mab and the potential award really encompasses 3 separate considerations. One is regarding the revenue share provision in the TJ4309 agreement, and we feel we’re entitled to a payment based on a deal they did with KG Bio. The amount of that deal is not publicly disclosed, but it is material to TRACON. Second is the fact that we feel they’ve breached the bispecific antibody agreement, which we also feels entitles us to material damages in the total between the revenue share provision and the damages we were entitled to with respect to bispecific agreement is over $200 million.

And then the third category is reimbursement of legal fees. We spent $200 million defending ourselves to be clear. We’re the respondent or the defendant in this claim. So we feel that the 3 potential awards all could be a benefit to TRACON.

Operator: . The next question is coming from Bert Hazlett of BTIG.

Robert Hazlett: With regard to the extra $26.5 million in nondilutive, nonrecourse financing, could you just talk about how the terms of that financing and the timing? What are the deliverables with regard to the arbitration that need to be affected to be able to access that?

Charles Theuer: I appreciate the question, Bert. Yes, I think it was an important event for TRACON that we engage in what could be term litigation financing. This is a nonrecourse financial vehicle, meaning if we weren’t to win the arbitration, we wouldn’t need to pay back even the amount already advanced of $3.5 million prior to end of last year. With respect to further draws on that facility, we are entitled up to potentially $30 million. That includes the $3.5 million already advanced. That leaves $26.5 million that potentially is accessible and that’s successful based on the award exceeding a certain threshold. Upon the initial announcement of the award exceeding a given threshold, then we would be entitled to take 25% of that, which, for instance, could mean $7.5 million immediately upon announcement of the award.

Thereafter, we’re also entitled to take additional amounts up to a total of , and that’s is done over an 18-month period of time. So it basically is an award that allows us to have resources to enforce the potential award or so I should say, it’s a facility that allows us the resources to enforce a potential award, but also to continue to run our operations and complete the full data analysis of the ENVASARC trial to facilitate the expected BLA submission.

Robert Hazlett: That’s very helpful. And then just thinking about — well, I guess follow-up to that. In terms of enforcement of the award, again, this is binding arbitration. I think I’ve asked this before. I think we’ve talked about this before. What additional elements would there be for a party, either you or them, to challenge this arbitration award?

Charles Theuer: Yes, great question, Bert. So typically — and I think you can also instructive in these cases, for instance, as the recent arbitration award that received from Sorrento, which is, I think, about $180 million or so. The initial award was binding arbitration. It was confirmed, I think, within about 2 to 3 months thereafter and then is due. So we would also engage in those similar steps following an award announcement through binding arbitration that has confirmed the award and then expect to collect it with the potential enforcement starting immediately upon the award announcement, but further aided by the confirmation of the award in a U.S. court, for example.

Robert Hazlett: That’s great. Just moving — one other question then. Just moving toward future directions, can you — got a presence in sarcoma with regard to envafolimab and YH001. How are you thinking about assuming monies come in and you’ve got your platform, how are you thinking about the types of additional molecules you would like to be involved with? Are you focused on sarcoma activities? Or how should we think about the future directions that TRACON could be headed in?

Charles Theuer: No. Great question, Bert. So this company is really focused on unmet need populations with our focus being oncology. I think the ENVASARC trial is a perfect example. We saw a clear activity of checkpoint inhibitors in sarcoma. We saw that no company was going to pursue a label to make a therapy — approved therapy available for patients in that indication. So we scoured the globe to find what we consider the best-in-class PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor, namely ENVA, and immediately moved it into a pivotal trial. Now given our cost-effective in-house operations model, we’re able to deliver that trial for about $20 million. I don’t know if any other company in the world could make that statement. So we will continue to look for assets to address unmet need populations with oncology being our focus with the similar kind of dynamics that we did with envafolimab.

So example, we’ll take on the burden of a clinical trial, assuming that we have significant cash resources coming out of the arbitration, knowing that we typically offload the manufacturing cost to our partner, who is already making the drug, for instance, to market it outside the U.S. and really are left with the burden just of running a clinical trial at incredibly low cost given our capital efficiencies. So look for us based on resources that potentially would flow from an arbitration award to continue along the lines in that model. One other possibility would be to try to expand the envafolimab license and bring that molecule to other patients in the U.S., who also have an unmet need similar to sarcoma patients, but it also could involve new molecules, antibody drug conjugates, again, based on the fact that we have — based on the prospect that we have access to additional capital.

Operator: This concludes our Q&A session. I would like to turn the call back over to Dr. Theuer for closing remarks. Please go ahead.

Charles Theuer: Thank you, everyone, for your questions and for listening. We look forward to updating you in the near future, and we’ll continue to move forward on our development plans with expected announcements coming up in the near future. Thank you.

Operator: This concludes today’s conference call. You may all disconnect, and everyone, have a great evening.