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Leap Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

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Leap Therapeutics (Nasdaq:LPTX) reported its third quarter financial results for 2021, revealing a net loss of $11.1 million, up from $7.1 million in Q3 2020. The company successfully completed a $103.6 million public offering, netting $96.8 million. Positive initial data from the DisTinGuish Study of DKN-01 plus tislelizumab indicated a 68.2% overall response rate in first-line gastric cancer patients. R&D expenses rose to $10.1 million, attributed to increased clinical trial costs and staffing. Cash and equivalents stood at $124.8 million as of September 30, 2021.

Positive
  • Successful $103.6 million public offering, netting $96.8 million.
  • Initial data from DisTinGuish Study showed 68.2% overall response rate in G/GEJ cancer patients.
Negative
  • Net loss increased to $11.1 million compared to $7.1 million in Q3 2020.
  • R&D expenses rose to $10.1 million, indicating higher operational costs.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leap Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:LPTX), a biotechnology company focused on developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Leap Third Quarter Highlights:

  • Completed a $103.6 million public offering of common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock, resulting in net proceeds of $96.8 million
  • Presented positive initial data from the DisTinGuish Study of DKN-01 plus tislelizumab and chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2021

"We presented positive new data at ESMO of DKN-01 in combination with BeiGene's tislelizumab and chemotherapy demonstrating compelling overall response rates in patients with first-line gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer, particularly those patients whose tumors expressed high levels of DKK1 or low PD-L1," said Douglas E. Onsi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Leap. "We look forward to presenting additional data from the DisTinGuish study early next year and aggressively advancing DKN-01 into the next stages of development in G/GEJ and other cancers."

Business Update

  • Leap Completed a $103.6 Million Public Offering of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase Common Stock - In September 2021, Leap announced the commencement and closing of an underwritten public offering of 27,568,072 shares of its common stock, including the sale of an additional 4,740,000 shares of its common stock pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares, and of pre-funded warrants to purchase 8,771,928 shares of its common stock. Aggregate gross proceeds to Leap from the offering were $103.6 million, including $7.25 million invested by its collaborator and existing investor BeiGene, Ltd., resulting in net proceeds after underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses of $96.8 million.

DKN-01 Clinical Milestones

DKN-01 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to and blocks the activity of the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) protein. DKK1 modulates the Wnt/Beta-catenin and PI3kinase/AKT signaling pathways, which play an important role in tumor cell signaling and in mediating an immuno-suppressive tumor microenvironment through enhancing the activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and downregulating NK cell ligands on tumor cells.

  • Initial Data from the DisTinGuish Clinical Trial of DKN-01 Plus Tislelizumab and Chemotherapy Presented at ESMO Congress 2021. The Company presented initial positive data from the first-line cohort of the Phase 2a study in patients with G/GEJ cancer. Of the 25 first-line HER2- G/GEJ patients who received a full cycle of DKN-01 therapy, overall response rate (ORR) was 68.2%, with 90% ORR in DKK1-high patients and 56% in DKK1-low patients. Among those patients with PD-L1-low expression, ORR was 79% (with 100% ORR in DKK1-high patients and 57% ORR in DKK1-low patients), and in patients with PD-L1-high expression, ORR was 67% (with 75% ORR in DKK1-high patients and 50% in DKK1-low patients), suggesting response to DKN-01 was independent of PD-L1 expression.

Selected Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Net Loss was $11.1 million for the third quarter 2021, compared to $7.1 million for the same period in 2020.

License revenues were $0.4 million for each of the third quarter 2021 and the same period in 2020, and relate to the Agreement with BeiGene for the development and commercialization of DKN-01 in Asia (excluding Japan), Australia, and New Zealand.

Research and development expenses were $10.1 million for the third quarter 2021, compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2020. The increase of $4.7 million in research and development expenses was due to an increase of $3.3 million in manufacturing costs related to clinical trial material due to timing of manufacturing campaigns, an increase of $0.7 million in clinical trial costs due to timing of patient enrollment, an increase of $0.6 million in payroll and other related expenses due to an increase in headcount of our research and development full time employees, and an increase of $0.1 million in stock based compensation expense due to new stock options granted to research and development full time employees in 2021.

General and administrative expenses were $2.4 million for the third quarter 2021, compared to $2.5 million for the second quarter 2020. The decrease of $0.1 million in general and administrative expenses was due to a $0.4 million decrease in professional fees partially offset by an increase of a $0.2 million in stock based compensation expense due to new stock options granted to general and administrative full time employees in 2021 and an increase of $0.1 million in payroll and other related expenses.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $124.8 million at September 30, 2021. Research and development incentive receivables totaled $1.6 million at September 30, 2021.

About Leap Therapeutics

Leap Therapeutics (Nasdaq: LPTX) is focused on developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics. Leap's most advanced clinical candidate, DKN-01, is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) protein. DKN-01 is in clinical trials in patients with esophagogastric, hepatobiliary, gynecologic, and prostate cancers. Leap has entered into a strategic collaboration with BeiGene, Ltd. for the rights to develop DKN-01 in Asia (excluding Japan), Australia, and New Zealand. For more information about Leap Therapeutics, visit http://www.leaptx.com or view our public filings with the SEC that are available via EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov or via https://investors.leaptx.com/.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include Leap's expectations with respect to the development and advancement of DKN-01, including the initiation, timing and design of future studies, enrollment in future studies, potential for the receipt of future option exercise, milestone, or royalty payments from BeiGene, and other future expectations, plans and prospects. Although Leap believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: that the initiation, conduct, and completion of clinical trials, laboratory operations, manufacturing campaigns, and other studies may be delayed, adversely affected, or impacted by COVID-19 related issues; the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for financing; the outcome, cost, and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials; the uncertain clinical development process, including the risk that clinical trials may not have an effective design or generate positive results; our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our drug product candidates; the size and growth potential of the markets for our drug product candidates; our ability to continue obtaining and maintaining intellectual property protection for our drug product candidates; and other risks. Detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially will be included in Leap Therapeutics' periodic filings with the SEC, including Leap's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on March 12, 2021 and as may be updated by Leap's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the other reports Leap files from time to time with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement contained in this release speaks only as of its date. Leap undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

CONTACT:

Douglas E. Onsi
President & Chief Executive Officer
Leap Therapeutics, Inc.
617-714-0360
donsi@leaptx.com

Matthew DeYoung  
Investor Relations
Argot Partners
212-600-1902
leap@argotpartners.com

 

Leap Therapeutics, Inc.










Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations










(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)


































(Unaudited)



(Unaudited)









Three Months Ended September 30, 



Nine Months Ended September 30, 









2021


2020



2021


2020

















License revenue


$                    375


$                   375



$                  1,125


$                 1,125

Operating expenses:











Research and development


10,077


5,369



24,090


15,322


General and administrative 


2,438


2,514



7,973


7,188




    Total operating expenses


12,515


7,883



32,063


22,510

Loss from operations


(12,140)


(7,508)



(30,938)


(21,385)

Interest income 


1


3



4


91

Interest expense  


(9)


(17)



(39)


(42)

Australian research and development incentives


1,269


228



1,584


343

Foreign currency gain (loss)


(260)


237



(410)


189

Net loss


(11,139)


(7,057)



(29,799)


(20,804)

Dividend attributable to down round feature of warrants


-


-



-


(303)

Dividend attributable to Series A & B convertible preferred stock


-


-



-


(372)

Series A & B convertible preferred stock - beneficial conversion feature 


-


-



-


(9,399)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders


$              (11,139)


$               (7,057)



$              (29,799)


$              (30,878)

















Net loss per share 













Basic & diluted


$                  (0.14)


$                (0.09)



$                  (0.39)


$                 (0.58)

















Weighted average common shares outstanding 













Basic & diluted


78,218,774


76,321,644



76,631,172


53,548,902

 

Leap Therapeutics, Inc.





Consolidated Balance Sheets





(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
























September 30, 


December 31, 









2021


2020









(Unaudited)














Assets







Current assets:






Cash and cash equivalents


$       124,771


$         52,071


Research and development incentive receivable


59


73


Prepaid expenses and other current assets


271


130



Total current assets


125,101


52,274













Property and equipment, net


43


65


Right of use assets, net


311


528


Research and development incentive receivable, net of current portion


1,508


-


Deferred tax assets


169


179


Deferred costs


34


345


Deposits



914


980



Total assets


$       128,080


$         54,371

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity 





Current liabilities:






Accounts payable


$           7,966


$           2,717


Accrued expenses


2,597


2,747


Deferred revenue - current portion


375


1,500


Lease liability - current portion


323


408



Total current liabilities


11,261


7,372












Non current liabilities:






Restricted stock liability


-


204


Lease liability, net of current portion


-


144



Total liabilities


11,261


7,720























Stockholders' equity:






Common stock, $0.001 par value; 240,000,000 shares authorized; 87,836,818
   and 59,657,742 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and
   December 31, 2020, respectively


88


60


Additional paid-in capital


369,761


270,155


Accumulated other comprehensive loss


(246)


(579)


Accumulated deficit 


(252,784)


(222,985)



Total stockholders' equity 


116,819


46,651



Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 


$       128,080


$         54,371

 

 Leap Therapeutics, Inc. 










 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 










 (in thousands) 


















 (Unaudited) 



 (Unaudited) 









 Three Months Ended September 30 



 Nine Months Ended September 30 









2021


2020



2021


2020













 Cash used in operating activities 


$            (8,102)


$                  (6,592)



$           (24,441)


$                (19,969)

 Cash provided by investing activities 


-


-



-


25

 Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 


97,262


(385)



97,280


73,997

 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 


(123)


65



(139)


31

 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 


89,037


(6,912)



72,700


54,084

 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 


35,734


64,887



52,071


3,891

 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 


$          124,771


$                  57,975



$          124,771


$                  57,975

 

Leap Therapeutics logo (PRNewsfoto/LEAP Therapeutics)

 

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SOURCE Leap Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What were Leap Therapeutics' Q3 2021 earnings results?

Leap Therapeutics reported a net loss of $11.1 million for Q3 2021.

What is the response rate reported in the DisTinGuish Study for DKN-01?

The DisTinGuish Study reported a 68.2% overall response rate in first-line gastric cancer patients.

How much cash did Leap Therapeutics have at the end of Q3 2021?

Leap Therapeutics had $124.8 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2021.

What were the R&D expenses for Leap Therapeutics in Q3 2021?

R&D expenses for Q3 2021 were $10.1 million, up from $5.4 million in the same quarter of 2020.

Did Leap Therapeutics announce any public offerings recently?

Yes, Leap Therapeutics completed a $103.6 million public offering in September 2021.

Leap Therapeutics, Inc.

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