Ikena Oncology Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Corporate Update
Ikena Oncology (Nasdaq: IKNA) reported its Q1 2024 financial results, highlighting a strong financial position with $157.3 million in cash and equivalents, sufficient to fund operations into H2 2026. The IK-930 program is on track for a clinical update in H2 2024, focusing on mesothelioma patients. The IK-595 program continues dose escalation in RAS and RAF mutant cancer patients, with more updates expected later in the year.
Financially, the company reported no collaboration revenue in Q1 2024, down from $5.3 million in Q1 2023 due to the completion of the Bristol-Myers Squibb collaboration. R&D expenses decreased to $9.6 million from $15.6 million, while general and administrative expenses increased to $6.0 million from $5.3 million. The net loss grew to $16.1 million, up from $14.2 million in the previous year.
Notable corporate updates include a renewed focus on core oncology programs and the appointment of Dr. Caroline Germa as Chief Medical Officer.
- Strong financial position with $157.3 million, sufficient to fund operations into H2 2026.
- IK-930 program on track for clinical update in H2 2024, focusing on mesothelioma patients.
- IK-595 program continues dose escalation in RAS and RAF mutant cancer patients.
- Decreased R&D expenses from $15.6 million to $9.6 million, indicating potential cost management efficiency.
- Appointment of Dr. Caroline Germa as Chief Medical Officer, potentially strengthening clinical leadership.
- No collaboration revenue in Q1 2024, down from $5.3 million in Q1 2023 due to the completion of the Bristol-Myers Squibb collaboration.
- Increased general and administrative expenses from $5.3 million to $6.0 million.
- Net loss increased to $16.1 million, up from $14.2 million in the previous year.
- Restructuring and other costs amounted to $2.6 million.
Insights
The financial results show that Ikena Oncology has a strong cash position with
The update on Ikena's pipeline is promising from a clinical perspective. The IK-930 program, focused on the TEAD1-selective Hippo pathway inhibitor, continues to progress with patient recruitment, especially in mesothelioma cases. The planned clinical update in the second half of 2024 will be important for assessing its efficacy and safety profile. Similarly, the IK-595 program is advancing in its Phase 1 study targeting RAS and RAF mutant cancers, which are known to be challenging therapeutic areas. These developments highlight Ikena's commitment to addressing significant unmet medical needs in oncology. However, the real test will come with the clinical results later this year, making the next few months critical for both patient outcomes and investor confidence.
From a market perspective, Ikena Oncology's shift to a more targeted focus on its core oncology programs, IK-930 and IK-595, is a strategic move. The recent appointment of Dr. Caroline Germa as Chief Medical Officer could bring new insights and direction to their clinical efforts. Investors might see this as a positive sign of the company's dedication to strengthening its leadership and advancing its pipeline. The statement about backfilling in select cohorts for IK-595 in the second half of 2024 indicates that the company is refining its study design to optimize outcomes. This news, while promising, will need to be backed by tangible clinical success to significantly impact the stock market sentiment. Continual updates and transparent communication will be key to maintaining investor trust and interest.
Strong financial position with
IK-930 program on track to deliver clinical update in 2H 2024
IK-595 program continues dose escalation in patients with RAS and RAF mutant cancers
BOSTON, May 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ikena Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKNA, “Ikena,” “Company”), a targeted oncology company forging new territory in patient-directed cancer treatment, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company also provided an update regarding its organization and pipeline.
"We continue to execute thoughtfully and diligently on our clinical programs," said Mark Manfredi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ikena. "With the dedication of our hyper-focused team and strong balance sheet, we are well positioned to build value for our shareholders by pursuing the development of novel, targeted therapies for patients.”
Recent Pipeline Progress & Corporate Update
IK-930: TEAD1-Selective Hippo Pathway Inhibitor
- The IK-930 clinical program continues to recruit patients with tumors harboring mutations in the Hippo pathway, with a focus on enrollment of mesothelioma patients
- The optimized formulation continues to be dosed in the ongoing Phase 1 clinical program
- The Company remains on track to provide planned clinical update for IK-930 program in the second half of 2024
IK-595: MEK-RAF Molecular Glue
- Dose escalation in the Phase 1 study of IK-595 in patients with RAS and RAF mutant cancers continues, with backfilling in select cohorts planned for the second half of 2024
Corporate Update
- In January 2024, the Company announced a renewed focus on advancing its core targeted oncology clinical programs, IK-930 and IK-595
- In February 2024, the Company announced the appointment of Dr. Caroline Germa as Chief Medical Officer
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2024
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of
Collaboration revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was
Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were
Restructuring and other costs for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were
The Company reported a net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 of
About Ikena Oncology
Ikena Oncology® is focused on developing differentiated therapies for patients in need that target nodes of cancer growth, spread, and therapeutic resistance in the Hippo and RAS onco-signaling network. The Company’s lead targeted oncology program, IK-930, is a TEAD1 selective Hippo pathway inhibitor, a known tumor suppressor pathway that also drives resistance to multiple targeted therapies. The Company’s second clinical stage program targets the RAS signaling pathway with IK-595, a novel MEK-RAF molecular glue. Ikena aims to utilize their depth of institutional knowledge and breadth of tools to efficiently develop the right drug using the right modality for the right patient. To learn more, visit www.ikenaoncology.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and express statements regarding: the timing and advancement of our targeted oncology programs, including the timing of updates; our expectations regarding the therapeutic benefit of our targeted oncology programs; our ability to efficiently discover and develop product candidates; our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates; expectations with respect to projected cash runway; the anticipated results of our organizational changes; the implementation of our business model; and strategic plans for our business and product candidates. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties related to the timing and advancement of our targeted oncology programs; our expectations regarding the therapeutic benefit of our targeted oncology programs; our ability to efficiently discover and develop product candidates; the implementation of our business model, and strategic plans for our business and product candidates, the sufficiency of the Company’s capital resources to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and the period in which such resources are expected to be available, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Ikena’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as updated by any subsequent SEC filings. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent our views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. We explicitly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Investor Contact:
Rebecca Cohen
Ikena Oncology
rcohen@ikenaoncology.com
Media Contact:
Luke Shiplo
LifeSci Communications
lshiplo@lifescicomms.com
| Selected Financial Information | |||||||
| (in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
| (unaudited) | |||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
| Selected Statement of Operations Items: | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
| Collaboration revenue | $ | — | $ | 5,313 | |||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||
| Research and development | 9,645 | 15,552 | |||||
| General and administrative | 5,999 | 5,276 | |||||
| Restructuring and other charges | 2,582 | — | |||||
| Total operating expenses | 18,226 | 20,828 | |||||
| Loss from operations | (18,226 | ) | (15,515 | ) | |||
| Investment income | 2,114 | 1,296 | |||||
| Other income (expense) | (7 | ) | — | ||||
| Loss before income taxes | (16,119 | ) | (14,219 | ) | |||
| Income tax expense | (27 | ) | — | ||||
| Net loss | $ | (16,146 | ) | $ | (14,219 | ) | |
| Net loss per share: | |||||||
| Net loss per share- basic and diluted | $ | (0.33 | ) | $ | (0.39 | ) | |
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 48,258,111 | 36,257,493 | |||||
| Selected Balance Sheet Items: | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities | $ | 157,349 | $ | 175,465 | |
| Total assets | $ | 172,782 | $ | 192,092 | |
| Total liabilities | $ | 17,435 | $ | 22,335 | |
| Total stockholders' equity | $ | 155,347 | $ | 169,757 | |
FAQ
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