LOUISVILLE, CO--(Marketwired - August 14, 2015) - GlobeImmune, Inc. (
Second Quarter 2015 Highlights:
"Three of our Tarmogen product candidates are being developed under strategic collaborations with leading biotechnology companies, Gilead Sciences and Celgene Corporation, for infectious disease and multiple cancer indications. We also recently engaged Cantor Fitzgerald as our exclusive advisor to help us explore strategic alternatives. The goal of this strategy is to allow retention of the upside of our partnerships while exploring additional mechanisms to create stockholder value," said Timothy C. Rodell, M.D., FCCP, President and CEO of GlobeImmune, Inc.
Product Highlights
GS-4774
GS-4774, exclusively licensed to Gilead Sciences, Inc., is a therapeutic vaccine engineered to activate an HBV-specific T cell immune response to eliminate, or clear virus from, cells containing HBV. GS-4774 is being developed to increase the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion rate, which is generally considered a cure, when used in combination with oral antiviral therapy. Gilead has initiated two Phase 2 trials of GS-4774:
GI-6301
The GI-6301 Tarmogen, exclusively licensed to Celgene Corporation, is designed to target cancers expressing the brachyury protein, which plays a role in metastatic progression of certain cancers and the initiation of chordoma. Based on previously reported data from the Phase 1 study, a Phase 2 trial was initiated in April at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that was designed together with the GlobeImmune's collaborators at the NCI, the Chordoma Foundation and Celgene.
GI-6207
The GI-6207 Tarmogen, exclusively licensed to Celgene Corporation in August 2015, targets carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a protein that is over-expressed in a large number of epithelial cancers. GI-6207 is the second Tarmogen product candidate licensed by Celgene under the collaboration. Under the terms of the agreement, GlobeImmune will receive an option exercise payment of $1.9 million, and is eligible for regulatory and sales milestones, as well as royalties on product sales in exchange for a worldwide license. GI-6207 is being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial at the NCI in subjects with MTC.
Financial Results - Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2015
GlobeImmune reported a net loss of $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2015, compared to a net loss of $9.2 million for the same period in 2014. Net cash used in operating activities for the first six months ending June 30, 2015 was $4.4 million, compared to $5.9 million for the same period in 2014. The Company's losses have resulted principally from costs incurred in its discovery and development activities.
Total research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2015, were $1.3 million, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2014. General and administrative expenses were $1.2 million, compared to $0.9 million for the same period in 2014. The majority of the increase was related to expenses associated with being a public company.
At June 30, 2015, GlobeImmune had cash and cash equivalents of $12.4 million. The Company believes that existing cash and cash equivalents will allow the Company to fund operations through 2016, based on current operations.
About GlobeImmune
GlobeImmune is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases based on its proprietary Tarmogen® platform. Tarmogens activate the immune system by stimulating cellular immunity, known as T cell immunity, in contrast to traditional vaccines that predominately stimulate antibody production. To date, Tarmogen product candidates have been generally well tolerated in clinical trials for multiple disease indications and are efficient to manufacture. In May 2009, the Company entered into a worldwide strategic collaboration and option agreement with Celgene Corporation focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of product candidates intended to treat cancer. Under this agreement, Celgene exercised their option to take an exclusive worldwide license to the GI-6300 Tarmogen product series targeting brachyury. In October 2011, the Company entered into a worldwide, strategic collaboration with Gilead Sciences, Inc., to develop Tarmogens intended for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection. For additional information, please visit the company's website at www.globeimmune.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the adequacy of the Company's capital to fund its ongoing operations, the potential for Tarmogens to treat or prevent any disease, potential Tarmogen side effect profiles, the Company and its collaborators' abilities to successfully complete clinical trials, timing and eventual prospects for completion of clinical trials and any approval to market any of the Company's products and the prospects for the Company's collaborations. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties associated with: the Company's financial resources and whether they will be sufficient to meet the Company's business objectives and operational requirements; the likelihood of the Company successfully entering into and completing any strategic transactions; the Company's ability to successfully restructure its operations; results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future clinical trial results, the protection and market exclusivity provided by the Company's intellectual property; risks related to the drug discovery and the regulatory approval process; and, the impact of competitive products and technological changes. The Company's forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they prove incorrect, would cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning GlobeImmune's business are described in additional detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and the Company's other Periodic and Current Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Tarmogen is a registered trademark of GlobeImmune, Inc.
Contact Information:
GLOBEIMMUNE CONTACT
Timothy C. Rodell M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
T: 303-625-2820
information@globeimmune.com
GLOBEIMMUNE INVESTOR CONTACT
Susan Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications
T: 212-966-3650
susan@sanoonan.com