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Pipeline of rationally-designed synthetic cannabinoids position Corbus to become the leader in treating inflammatory and fibrotic diseases by targeting the endocannabinoid system (ECS) | |
| â— | Continued progress in four ongoing clinical studies as lenabasum moves towards expected 2020 topline data readouts in systemic sclerosis and cystic fibrosis studies | |
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Strategic agreement with Kaken Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. for Japanese market establishes roadmap for commercialization of lenabasum with unencumbered rights in all other geographies | |
| â— | Second clinical candidate CRB-4001 expected to commence clinical studies in 2019 | |
| â— | Company to host conference call and webcast today, March 12 at 8:30 a.m. ET |
Norwood, MA, March 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (CRBP) (“Corbus†or the “Companyâ€), a clinical stage drug development company with the industry’s leading pipeline focused on treating inflammatory and fibrotic diseases through the endocannabinoid system pathways, announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018. The Company also provided an update on its corporate progress, clinical status and financial position.
Recent Clinical and Corporate Achievements:
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Entered into strategic collaboration with Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the development and commercialization of lenabasum in Japan. Deal included a $27 million upfront payment, up to $173 million of additional potential milestone payments and double-digit royalties; | |
| â— | Appointed Craig Millian as Chief Commercial Officer to lead global marketing and commercialization strategies; | |
| â— | Announced the successful closing of $40 million public offering of common stock; | |
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Strengthened lenabasum intellectual property protection through 2034 with issuance of four U.S. patents (#’s10,154,986, 10,085,964, 9,801,849 and 9,820,964) covering composition of matter and broad use in inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; | |
| â— | Initiated Phase 3 lenabasum study in dermatomyositis (DM), titled “DETERMINEâ€; and | |
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Presented ongoing Phase 2 lenabasum open label extension (OLE) data for both Systemic Sclerosis and Dermatomyositis at the 2018 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Meeting and the 2018 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology Meeting (EULAR). |
“2018 was a year of significant progress for Corbus. We made meaningful advancements in the clinical development of lenabasum, and we also completed two transformational commercial transactions, which expanded our clinical pipeline and broadened our global commercial opportunity. We believe the acquisition of more than 600 ECS-targeting drug candidates will fuel sustained growth of our platform and cement our leadership position in the field. The most advanced candidate, CRB-4001, is expected to enter Phase 1 clinical study later this year and to be followed by a Phase 2 study in patients with NASH. Our strategic collaboration with Kaken Pharmaceutical in Japan is our first step towards commercializing lenabasum in key markets outside of the United States,†commented Yuval Cohen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Corbus.
Dr. Cohen continued, “Looking ahead, we are focused on positioning the Company for a successful commercial launch of lenabasum, following potential U.S. FDA approval in 2021. We are excited for the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing to develop meaningful solutions for patients, while driving value for our shareholders.â€
Lenabasum – Novel, synthetic, oral, selective cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) agonist designed to resolve chronic inflammation and fibrotic processes
Systemic Sclerosis – Late-Stage Clinical Program with Potential Commercialization in 2021
| â— | Systemic Sclerosis is a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis affecting ~200,000 people in the U.S., Europe and Japan; | |
| â— | Approximately 40% to 60% 10-year mortality; | |
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18-month OLE data presented at ACR demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and further improvement in efficacy outcomes. The modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) improved by a mean of -10.7 points in the OLE. The ACR CRISS score steadily improved and reached a median score of 99% with 50% of the subjects achieving an ACR CRISS of 100%; | |
| â— | Enrollment and dosing are ongoing in the Phase 3 international RESOLVE-1 study; and | |
| â— | No drugs currently approved by the FDA for treatment of SSc. Treatment options for overall disease control limited to immunosuppressive drugs. |
Corbus expects to report topline results from the Phase 3 RESOLVE-1 study in 2020. For more information on the Phase 3 study, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference Identifier NCT03398837.
Dermatomyositis – Phase 3 “DETERMINE†Study Underway
| â— | DM is a rare and serious autoimmune condition characterized by skin and muscle inflammation affecting ~80,000 people in the U.S., EU and Japan; | |
| â— | 5-year mortality as high as 30%; | |
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12-month OLE data presented at ACR demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and further improvement in efficacy outcomes. The CDASI activity score improved by a -17.6 points in the OLE, with an improvement of -4 to -5 points being considered medically important; | |
| ◠| Commenced Phase 3 study titled “DETERMINE†in December 2018; and | |
| â— | Lenabasum granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S and in Europe. |
For more information on the Phase 3 study, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference Identifier NCT03813160.
Cystic Fibrosis–Phase 2b Study Funded by a Development Award for up to $25 Million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
| â— | Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease characterized by chronic lung inflammation that leads to lung damage and fibrosis; | |
| â— | Affects ~70,000 people in 7 major markets; | |
| â— | Current average life expectancy for CF patients is approximately 40 years; | |
| â— | Enrollment and dosing are ongoing in the Phase 2b study with Pulmonary Exacerbations as the primary efficacy endpoint; and | |
| â— | Continued unmet need for drugs to treat pulmonary exacerbations, which are acute episodes of lung inflammation which cause significant decline in respiratory function, high medical costs, and frequently irreversible lung damage. |
Corbus expects to report topline results for the Phase 2b CF study in 2020. For more information on the Phase 2b study, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference Identifier NCT03451045.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) – Represents the Largest Patient Population Targeted by Lenabasum
| â— | Enrollment and dosing are ongoing in a first-in-patient Phase 2 study being conducted and funded by the National Institute of Health; | |
| â— | Prototypical multisystem autoimmune disease in which the innate immune system is chronically activated leading to tissue inflammation and damage; | |
| â— | Affects ~300,000 people in U.S. with a 2.4-fold increase in mortality; and | |
| â— | Patients with SLE continue to have high unmet medical need as current treatments are generally immunosuppressive agents, which can lead to significant side effects. |
For more information on the Phase 2 study of lenabasum for the treatment of SLE, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference Identifier NCT03093402.
Lenabasum is not approved for the treatment of systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, cystic fibrosis or systemic lupus erythematosus.
CRB-4001 - Peripheral CB1 Inverse Agonist Targeting Liver Fibrosis
CRB-4001 is rationally designed to have a potent effect on deactivating CB1 to reduce inflammation and fibrosis in target organs such as the liver or kidneys while avoiding blood-brain barrier penetration to limit impact on CB1 brain receptors, thus mediating the neuropsychiatric issues associated with first-generation CB1 inverse agonists or antagonists. Preparations are underway to commence a Phase 1 study of CRB-4001 followed by a planned Phase 2 NASH study expected to be conducted by the NIH. Potential indications for CRB-4001 include NASH, primary biliary cholangitis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis, myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction, and acute interstitial nephritis, among others.
CRB-4001 is not approved for the treatment of NASH.
Summary of Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2018
For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, the Company reported a net loss of approximately $17,306,000 or a net loss per diluted share of $0.30, compared to a net loss of approximately $10,694,000, or a net loss per diluted share of $0.20, for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company reported a net loss of approximately $55,672,000 or a net loss per diluted share of $0.98, compared to a net loss of approximately $32,422,000, or a net loss per diluted share of $0.65, for the year ended December 31, 2017.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, revenue from awards increased by approximately $2.4 million to $4.8 million due to revenue recognized from the up to $25 million Development Award Agreement with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Operating expenses increased by approximately $26.6 million to $61.6 million due to increased spending for clinical studies, manufacturing costs to produce lenabasum for clinical studies and staffing costs. For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, revenue from awards increased by approximately $1.9 million and operating expenses increased by approximately $8.7 million.
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance at December 31, 2018 was approximately $41.7 million. In January 2019, the Company completed a $40 million public offering before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses and the Company will receive a $27 million up-from payment from the Kaken licensing deal. The Company expects the current cash and cash equivalents to fund operations into the fourth quarter of 2020, based on current planned expenditures.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Corbus management will host a conference call and webcast presentation for investors, analysts and other interested parties today, Tuesday, March 12 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
To participate in the call, please dial (877) 407-3978 (domestic) or (412) 902-0039 (international). The live webcast will be accessible on the Events page of the Investors section of the Corbus website, www.corbuspharma.com, and will be archived for 90 days.
About Lenabasum
Lenabasum is a rationally-designed, oral, small molecule that selectively binds as an agonist to the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2). CB2 is preferentially expressed on activated immune cells, fibroblasts, muscle cells, and endothelial cells. In both animal and human studies conducted to-date, lenabasum has induced the production of Specialized Pro-resolving lipid Mediators (“SPMsâ€) that activate endogenous pathways which resolve inflammation and speed bacterial clearance without immunosuppression. Lenabasum is also believed to have a direct effect on fibroblasts to limit production of fibrogenic growth factors and extracellular connective tissue that lead to tissue fibrosis (scarring). Data from animal models and human clinical studies suggest that lenabasum can reduce expression of genes and proteins involved in inflammation and fibrosis. Lenabasum has demonstrated promising activity in animal models of skin and lung inflammation and fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Lenabasum is also active in animal models of lung infection and inflammation in cystic fibrosis and joint inflammation and scarring in rheumatoid arthritis.
Lenabasum has demonstrated an acceptable safety and tolerability profiles in clinical studies to date. Lenabasum improved multiple physician-assessed and patient-reported efficacy outcomes in Phase 2 studies in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc and skin-predominant dermatomyositis. Lenabasum also reduced pulmonary exacerbations in a Phase 2 cystic fibrosis study. Additional clinical studies are being conducted and/or planned to confirm these results and support applications for regulatory approval.
About CRB-4001
CRB-4001 is a 2nd generation, peripherally-restricted, CB1 inverse agonist. CRB-4001 was developed in collaboration with and financial support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). CRB-4001 was specifically designed to eliminate blood-brain barrier penetration and brain CB1 receptor occupancy that mediate the neuropsychiatric issues associated with first-generation CB1 inverse agonists such as rimonabant. Corbus expects to initiate a Phase 1 study for CRB-4001 in 2019, followed by an NIH-funded first-in-patient Phase 2 study.
About Corbus
Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (CRBP) is a Phase 3 clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases by leveraging its industry leading pipeline of endocannabinoid system-targeting drug candidates. The Company’s lead product candidate, lenabasum, is a novel, synthetic, oral, selective cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) agonist designed to resolve chronic inflammation and fibrotic processes. Lenabasum is currently being evaluated in systemic sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, dermatomyositis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Corbus is also developing a pipeline of drug candidates from more than 600 novel compounds targeting the endocannabinoid system. The pipeline includes CRB-4001, a 2nd generation, peripherally-restricted, selective cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) inverse agonist specifically designed to eliminate blood-brain barrier penetration and brain CB1 receptor occupancy that mediate the neuropsychiatric issues associated with first-generation CB1 inverse agonists. Potential indications for CRB-4001 include NASH, primary biliary cholangitis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis, myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction and acute interstitial nephritis, among others. CRB-4001 is scheduled to enter a Phase 1 study in 2019 followed by a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded first-in-patient Phase 2 study.
For more information, please visit www.CorbusPharma.com and connect with the Company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Forward-Looking Statements