Boundless Bio Provides Business Updates Focused on Key Value Drivers and Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Boundless Bio (Nasdaq: BOLD) provided business updates and Q2 2024 financial results. Key points include:

1. BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial ongoing; initial proof-of-concept data now expected in H2 2025.
2. BBI-825 STARMAP trial ongoing; initial data expected in H2 2025.
3. ECHO ecDNA diagnostic validated for use in BBI-355 trial.
4. Operations streamlined to extend runway into Q4 2026.
5. Q2 2024 financials: Cash position $179.3M, R&D expenses $14.7M, G&A expenses $4.7M, Net loss $17.0M.

The company is focusing on core ecDTx programs while scaling back early discovery efforts. Enrollment in BBI-355 combination cohorts is slower than projected, prompting initiatives to accelerate recruitment.

Positive

• Cash position of $179.3 million as of June 30, 2024
• Operating runway extended into Q4 2026
• ECHO ecDNA diagnostic analytically validated and IRB-approved for use in BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial
• Multiple dose levels completed in BBI-825 STARMAP trial with oral bioavailability and general tolerability

Negative

• Slower than anticipated enrollment in BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial combination cohorts
• Initial proof-of-concept data for BBI-355 delayed to second half of 2025
• Net loss increased to $17.0 million in Q2 2024 from $12.4 million in Q2 2023
• R&D expenses increased to $14.7 million in Q2 2024 from $11.1 million in Q2 2023

Insights

Financial Analyst

Boundless Bio's Q2 2024 results reveal a mixed financial picture. While the company's cash position remains strong at $179.3 million, providing runway into Q4 2026, the increased net loss of $17.0 million compared to $12.4 million in Q2 2023 is concerning. R&D expenses rose to $14.7 million from $11.1 million, reflecting ongoing clinical trials. However, the delay in clinical proof-of-concept data to H2 2025 and slower-than-anticipated enrollment could impact investor confidence. The streamlining of operations and focus on core programs may help mitigate financial pressures but could also limit future growth potential.

Oncology Researcher

The development of ecDNA-directed therapeutics represents an innovative approach in oncology. The progress of BBI-355 and BBI-825 through clinical trials is promising, but the delayed timeline for proof-of-concept data is a setback. The analytical validation and IRB approval of the ECHO diagnostic is a significant milestone, potentially enhancing patient selection for trials. However, the slower enrollment in combination cohorts raises questions about the practical challenges of targeting ecDNA in cancer treatment. The company's focus on three core ecDTx programs and diagnostic deployment demonstrates a strategic approach to a complex scientific challenge.

Market Research Analyst

Boundless Bio's market position in the oncology space is unique, focusing on ecDNA biology. While this niche could provide a competitive edge, the extended timelines for clinical data may impact investor sentiment in the short term. The company's decision to streamline operations and focus on core programs is prudent, potentially improving capital efficiency. However, the reduction in early discovery efforts could limit long-term pipeline growth. The successful development of the ECHO diagnostic could be a key differentiator, potentially opening doors for companion diagnostics in oncology. Overall, Boundless Bio's market outlook remains uncertain, hinging on the success of its clinical trials and ability to demonstrate the efficacy of its ecDNA-targeted approach.

BBI-355 POTENTIATE clinical trial ongoing with initiatives implemented to expedite enrollment in combination cohorts; initial proof-of-concept data now expected in the second half of 2025

BBI-825 STARMAP clinical trial ongoing with initial proof-of-concept data expected in the second half of 2025

ECHO ecDNA diagnostic analytically validated and IRB-approved for use as a clinical trial assay in BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial

Streamlined operations expected to extend operating runway into the fourth quarter of 2026

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boundless Bio (Nasdaq: BOLD), a clinical-stage oncology company interrogating extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) biology to deliver transformative therapies to patients with previously intractable oncogene amplified cancers, today provided business updates for the company’s top strategic priorities and reported financial results for the second quarter of 2024.

“At Boundless, we’re on a bold mission to pioneer a new category of cancer treatment for patients with oncogene amplified cancer who are in dire need of new therapeutic options,” said Zachary Hornby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boundless Bio. “In the second quarter of 2024, we continued to advance our first clinical-stage ecDTx, BBI-355, began dosing patients with our second ecDTx, BBI-825, and completed the analytical validation and received IRB approval of our novel ecDNA diagnostic, ECHO, for deployment as a clinical trial assay in our BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial. Though we have made progress toward our goals, the number of patients enrolled thus far in the combination cohorts of the BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial is lower than originally projected. While we implement measures to accelerate enrollment, we have chosen to scale back our early discovery efforts and streamline our operations to extend our runway and help ensure we have the necessary capital for our core ecDTx programs. Moving forward, we believe we are well-positioned to move our lead programs through initial clinical proof-of-concept data readouts and remain steadfast in advancing this innovative approach for patients with high unmet need.”

Strategic Priorities for Core Programs

Boundless Bio has outlined its core portfolio priorities to support the achievement of potential near-term catalysts and long-term patient impact. Through 2025, the company’s core strategic priorities remain:

• Executing the ongoing Phase 1/2 POTENTIATE (Precision Oncology Trial Evaluating Novel Therapeutic Interrupting Amplifications Tied to ecDNA) clinical trial of its lead ecDNA directed therapeutic candidate (ecDTx), BBI-355, a novel, oral CHK1 inhibitor, to generate initial proof-of-concept in solid tumor cancer patients with driver oncogene amplifications;
• Executing the ongoing Phase 1/2 STARMAP (Study Targeting Acquired Resistance: MAPK Amplifications) clinical trial of its second ecDTx, BBI-825, a novel, oral RNR inhibitor, to generate initial proof-of-concept in colorectal cancer patients with BRAF^V600E or KRAS^G12C mutations and resistance oncogene amplifications;
• Advancing the company’s third ecDTx program, directed to a novel, previously undrugged kinesin target essential for ecDNA segregation, into IND-enabling studies; and
• Deploying its proprietary ecDNA diagnostic in the clinic to identify ecDNA+ patients who are most likely to benefit from its ecDTx therapeutics.

In alignment with its strategic priorities, Boundless Bio has narrowed its discovery research work and, as a result, modestly reduced its workforce. The company believes the combination of these operational efficiencies and its cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $179.3 million as of June 30, 2024, provides an operating runway into the fourth quarter of 2026.

BBI-355, a novel, oral, potent, selective CHK1 inhibitor targeting replication stress for cancer patients with driver oncogene amplifications

• The company presented preclinical and clinical pharmacodynamic data on BBI-355 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April 2024.
• Enrollment is progressing in the Phase 1/2 POTENTIATE clinical trial evaluating BBI-355 as a single agent and in combination with targeted therapies in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors with oncogene amplifications.
• To date, no new safety signals have been observed, and there has been no evidence of combinatorial toxicity in the dose escalation cohorts evaluating BBI-355 in combination with either the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib or the FGFR inhibitor futibatinib.
• The initial pace of enrollment in the combination cohorts has been slower than anticipated. The company has recently implemented multiple initiatives to help accelerate enrollment, including engaging with next-generation sequencing vendors to identify patients, adding new clinical sites in the US, and preparing for the initiation of ex-US sites.
• Based on its current projections, the company now anticipates reporting initial clinical proof-of-concept data from POTENTIATE in the second half of 2025.
  

BBI-825, a novel, oral, potent, selective RNR inhibitor targeting ecDNA assembly and repair for cancer patients with resistance oncogene amplifications

• In April 2024, the company announced the first patient had been dosed with BBI-825 in the Phase 1/2 STARMAP clinical trial.
• Multiple dose levels have been completed in the single-agent, dose-escalation portion of the STARMAP clinical trial and, to date, BBI-825 has demonstrated oral bioavailability and has been generally well-tolerated. Initial clinical proof-of-concept data from the trial are expected in the second half of 2025.

ecDTx 3, a novel kinesin program involved in ecDNA segregation

• The company’s third ecDTx program, directed to a previously undrugged kinesin target essential for ecDNA segregation whose inhibition is synthetic lethal to ecDNA-enabled cancer cells, is currently advancing through lead optimization.

ECHO, a proprietary diagnostic for detection of ecDNA amplified oncogenes

• The company’s proprietary ecDNA diagnostic, referred to as ECHO (ecDNA Harboring Oncogenes), is designed to detect ecDNA in patient tumor specimens. ECHO was previously determined by the FDA to be a non-significant risk device for use as a clinical trial assay (CTA) in the BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial.
• ECHO has now been analytically validated and institutional review board (IRB)-approved for use as a CTA in the BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

• Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $179.3 million as of June 30, 2024.
• R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $14.7 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $11.1 million for the same period in 2023.
• G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $4.7 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $2.9 million for the same period in 2023.
• Net Loss: Net loss totaled $17.0 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $12.4 million for the same period in 2023.

About BBI-355

Boundless Bio’s lead ecDTx, BBI-355, is a novel, oral, selective small molecule inhibitor of checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) being studied in the ongoing, first-in-human, Phase 1/2 POTENTIATE clinical trial (NCT05827614) in cancer patients with oncogene amplifications. CHK1 is a master regulator of cells’ response to replication stress (RS). RS is elevated in cancer cells with oncogene amplification, including on ecDNA, and, because of this, represents a key vulnerability of those cells. BBI-355 was designed to exploit the elevated RS in ecDNA-enabled oncogene amplified cancer cells by disrupting proper CHK1 function in regulating RS and thereby facilitating catastrophic RS to preferentially kill cancer cells relative to healthy cells.

About BBI-825

Boundless Bio’s second ecDTx, BBI-825, is a novel, oral, selective small molecule inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) being studied in the ongoing, first-in-human, Phase 1/2 STARMAP clinical trial (NCT06299761) in colorectal cancer patients with BRAF^V600E or KRAS^G12C mutations and resistance gene amplifications. In preclinical studies, BBI-825 demonstrated low double digit nanomolar RNR inhibition and tumor growth inhibition, including regressions, in both the prevention and treatment of amplification-mediated resistance in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-activated tumors. RNR is the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for cellular de novo synthesis of deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs), the building blocks of DNA, and is essential to the assembly and repair of ecDNA. BBI-825 was shown to dysregulate ecDNA-reliant cancer cell dNTP pools, deplete ecDNA, and was synthetic lethal in multiple oncogene amplified preclinical cancer models.

About Boundless Bio

Boundless Bio is a clinical-stage oncology company dedicated to unlocking a new paradigm in cancer therapeutics to address the significant unmet need of patients with oncogene amplified tumors by targeting extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), a root cause of oncogene amplification observed in more than 14% of cancer patients. Boundless Bio is developing the first ecDNA-directed therapeutic candidates (ecDTx), BBI-355, which is an oral inhibitor of checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in cancer patients with oncogene amplifications. Boundless Bio’s second ecDTx, BBI-825, is an oral inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in colorectal cancer patients with BRAF^V600E or KRAS^G12C mutations and resistance gene amplifications. Leveraging its Spyglass platform, Boundless Bio has an additional program (ecDTx 3) advancing through preclinical development and discovery. Boundless Bio is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

For more information, visit www.boundlessbio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Forward-Looking Statements

Boundless Bio cautions you that statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and include but are not limited to: the potential to achieve catalysts and long-term patient impact; the potential to expedite enrollment in the POTENTIATE trial; the timing of expected data readouts; the impact on our cash runway of our streamlining efforts and the sufficiency of our cash position and such efforts to fund operations and initial clinical proof-of-concept data readouts; and the potential safety and therapeutic benefits of our ecDTx in treating patients with oncogene amplified cancers. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, including, without limitation: we are early in our development efforts and our approach to discover and develop ecDTx directed against ecDNA in oncogene amplified cancers is novel and unproven; results from preclinical studies or early clinical trials not necessarily being predictive of future results; potential delays in the commencement, enrollment, data readouts or completion of clinical trials or preclinical studies; our dependence on third parties in connection with clinical trials, preclinical studies, ecDNA diagnostic development, and manufacturing; unfavorable results from clinical trials or preclinical studies; we may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular ecDTx and fail to capitalize on ecDTx with greater development or commercial potential; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate efficacy of our ecDTx that may limit their development, regulatory approval, and/or commercialization; the potential for our programs and prospects to be negatively impacted by developments relating to our competitors, including the results of studies or regulatory determinations relating to our competitors; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; efforts to streamline operations may not produce the efficiencies expected; we may use our capital resources sooner than we expect; and other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Investor Contacts:

Ben Flaum, Boundless Bio
bflaum@boundlessbio.com

Renee Leck, THRUST Strategic Communications
renee@thrustsc.com

Media Contact:

Dan Budwick, 1AB
Dan@1abmedia.com

BOUNDLESS BIO, INC.  Condensed Financial Information (Unaudited)
Condensed Statements of Operations Data:	Three months ended June 30								Six months ended June 30
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2024				2023				2024				2023
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$	14,735			$	11,075			$	27,864			$	20,577
General and administrative		4,656				2,885				8,410				5,470
Total operating expenses		19,391				13,960				36,274				26,047
Loss from operations		(19,391	)			(13,960	)			(36,274	)			(26,047	)
Other income, net:
Interest income		2,382				1,551				3,803				1,914
Other income, net		33				11				65				16
Total other income, net		2,415				1,562				3,868				1,930
Net loss	$	(16,976	)		$	(12,398	)		$	(32,406	)		$	(24,117	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.77	)		$	(10.28	)		$	(2.78	)		$	(20.18	)
Weighted-average shares used in calculation		22,023				1,206				11,641				1,195
Condensed Balance Sheet Data:									June 30,				December 31,
(In thousands)									2024				2023
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments									$	179,290			$	120,752
Total assets									$	188,203			$	129,894
Total liabilities									$	8,957			$	9,359
Convertible preferred stock									$	-			$	247,617
Accumulated deficit									$	(168,515	)		$	(136,109	)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)									$	179,246			$	(127,082	)
Working capital (1)									$	174,175			$	114,845
__________
(1) We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities.

FAQ

What is Boundless Bio's stock symbol?

Boundless Bio's stock symbol is BOLD, traded on the Nasdaq.

When does Boundless Bio expect initial proof-of-concept data for BBI-355?

Boundless Bio now expects to report initial proof-of-concept data for BBI-355 from the POTENTIATE trial in the second half of 2025.

What was Boundless Bio's cash position as of June 30, 2024?

Boundless Bio reported a cash position of $179.3 million as of June 30, 2024, including cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.

What is the status of Boundless Bio's ECHO ecDNA diagnostic?

ECHO has been analytically validated and IRB-approved for use as a clinical trial assay in the BBI-355 POTENTIATE trial.