Galera Reports First Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Updates

Rhea-AI Summary

Galera Therapeutics (GRTX) plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for avasopasem, targeting radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis, by the end of 2022. The Phase 3 ROMAN trial results will be presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting. Positive topline data from the Phase 2a AESOP trial showed avasopasem significantly reduced the incidence of severe esophagitis in lung cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy. Financially, Galera reported a net loss of $15.4 million for Q1 2022, down from $18.7 million in Q1 2021, with cash reserves of $60.9 million expected to sustain operations into late 2023.

Positive

• Plan to submit NDA for avasopasem by end of 2022.
• Positive topline results from Phase 2a AESOP trial highlighting reduced esophagitis incidence.

Negative

• Net loss of $15.4 million for Q1 2022.

Company plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for avasopasem for the treatment of radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis (SOM) by end of 2022

Data from its Phase 3 ROMAN trial of avasopasem for SOM will be presented in an oral presentation at the upcoming 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting

Reported positive topline results from its Phase 2a AESOP trial of avasopasem for chemoradiotherapy-induced esophagitis

MALVERN, Pa., May 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutics that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and provided recent corporate updates.

“We are excited to announce our plan to submit an NDA for avasopasem by year end following discussions with the FDA,” said Mel Sorensen, M.D., Galera’s President and CEO. “Based on the positive data readout from our Phase 3 ROMAN trial, Galera continues to execute on its development strategy to advance its lead program, avasopasem, toward potential commercialization. To that end, we are delighted to attend the upcoming ASCO Annual Meeting where our ROMAN data will be highlighted in an oral presentation. In addition, we recently announced positive topline data from our Phase 2a AESOP study of avasopasem for chemoradiotherapy-induced esophagitis in patients with lung cancer. We are encouraged by these results, which further demonstrate avasopasem’s ability to reduce radiation toxicity in high-risk patient populations.”

Recent Corporate Updates

Radiotherapy-Induced Toxicity Programs:

Severe Oral Mucositis (SOM)

• The Company announced plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for avasopasem, its lead product candidate, for the treatment of radiotherapy-induced SOM to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of 2022.
• An abstract on the Phase 3 ROMAN data of avasopasem for SOM was accepted for an oral presentation on June 3^rd at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Esophagitis

• The Company reported positive topline data from the Phase 2a AESOP trial of avasopasem evaluating its ability to reduce the incidence of severe acute radiation-induced esophagitis in patients with lung cancer receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Overall, avasopasem was well tolerated and the incidence of Grade 3 esophagitis was substantially reduced in comparison to literature. No patients experienced Grade 4 or 5 esophagitis at any point during the trial.
  

Anti-Cancer Programs:

Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (LAPC)

• Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 2b, 160-patient randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled GRECO-2 trial of rucosopasem, Galera’s second dismutase mimetic product candidate, in combination with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in patients with LAPC. The primary endpoint of the trial is overall survival.
• A Trials in Progress abstract on GRECO-2 was accepted for presentation at the upcoming 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

• Enrollment is ongoing in the Phase 1/2 GRECO-1 trial of rucosopasem in combination with SBRT in patients with NSCLC. The Company expects to report initial data from this trial in the first half of 2022.
  

First Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

• Research and development expenses were $8.1 million in the first quarter of 2022, compared to $12.4 million for the same period in 2021. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in avasopasem development costs, partially offset by an increase in rucosopasem development costs.

• General and administrative expenses were $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2022, consistent with the first quarter of 2021.

• Galera reported a net loss of $(15.4) million, or $(0.58) per share, for the first quarter of 2022, compared to a net loss of $(18.7) million, or $(0.75) per share, for the same period in 2021.

• As of March 31, 2022, Galera had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $60.9 million. Galera expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will enable Galera to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2023.

About Galera Therapeutics
Galera Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutic candidates that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer. Galera’s selective dismutase mimetic product candidate avasopasem manganese (GC4419, also referred to as avasopasem) is being evaluated for radiotherapy-induced toxicities. The Company’s second product candidate, rucosopasem manganese (GC4711, also referred to as rucosopasem), is in clinical-stage development to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Galera is headquartered in Malvern, PA. For more information, please visit www.galeratx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding: the expectations surrounding the continued advancement of Galera’s product pipeline; the potential safety and efficacy of Galera’s product candidates and their regulatory and clinical development; the timing of the submission of an NDA for avasopasem for the treatment of radiotherapy-induced SOM in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer with the FDA; the ability of the results of the Phase 2a AESOP trial of avasopasem evaluating its ability to reduce the incidence of esophagitis induced by radiotherapy in patients with lung cancer to demonstrate avasopasem’s ability to reduce radiation toxicity in high-risk patient populations; the expectations surrounding the progress of the Phase 2b trial of rucosopasem in patients with LAPC; the expectations surrounding the progress of the Phase 1/2 trial of rucosopasem in patients with NSCLC and the timing of the release of initial data therefrom; the Company’s ability to achieve its goal of transforming radiotherapy in cancer treatment with its selective dismutase mimetics; the potential of GC4711 to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of SBRT in patients with NSCLC and LAPC; and the Company’s ability to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2023. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause Galera’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: Galera’s limited operating history; anticipating continued losses for the foreseeable future; needing substantial funding and the ability to raise capital; Galera’s dependence on avasopasem manganese (GC4419); uncertainties inherent in the conduct of clinical trials; difficulties or delays enrolling patients in clinical trials; the FDA’s acceptance of data from clinical trials outside the United States; undesirable side effects from Galera’s product candidates; risks relating to the regulatory approval process; failure to capitalize on more profitable product candidates or indications; ability to receive or maintain Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Fast Track Designation for product candidates; failure to obtain regulatory approval of product candidates in the United States or other jurisdictions; ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review; risks related to commercialization; risks related to competition; ability to retain key employees and manage growth; risks related to intellectual property; inability to maintain collaborations or the failure of these collaborations; Galera’s reliance on third parties; the possibility of system failures or security breaches; liability related to the privacy of health information obtained from clinical trials and product liability lawsuits; unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives; environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Galera’s business and operations, including preclinical studies and clinical trials, and general economic conditions; risks related to ownership of Galera’s common stock; and significant costs as a result of operating as a public company. These and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Galera’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Galera’s other filings with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Galera as of the date of this release, and Galera assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Galera Therapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited, in thousands except share and per share data)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2022				2021
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$	8,107			$	12,423
General and administrative		5,047				5,058
Loss from operations		(13,154	)			(17,481	)
Other income (expense), net		(2,289	)			(1,234	)
Net loss	$	(15,443	)		$	(18,715	)
Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted	$	(0.58	)		$	(0.75	)
Weighed average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted		26,749,379				24,988,198

Galera Therapeutics, Inc.
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(unaudited, in thousands)
	March 31,				December 31,
		2022				2021
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments	$	60,947			$	71,217
Total assets		71,099				83,311
Total current liabilities		10,931				12,935
Total liabilities		141,570				141,315
Total stockholders' deficit		(70,471	)			(58,004	)

 

Investor Contacts:
Christopher Degnan
Galera Therapeutics, Inc.
610-725-1500
cdegnan@galeratx.com

William Windham
Solebury Trout
646-378-2946
wwindham@soleburytrout.com

Media Contact:
Zara Lockshin
Solebury Trout
330-417-6250
zlockshin@soleburytrout.com

 

FAQ

What is the NDA submission plan for GRTX?

Galera Therapeutics plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) for avasopasem by the end of 2022.

What were the financial results for Galera Therapeutics in Q1 2022?

Galera reported a net loss of $15.4 million or $0.58 per share for Q1 2022.

What were the key results from the Phase 2a AESOP trial?

The Phase 2a AESOP trial reported positive topline data showing a significant reduction in severe acute radiation-induced esophagitis incidence.

When will Galera present its ROMAN trial data?

The data from the Phase 3 ROMAN trial will be presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting on June 3, 2022.