Monopar Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Business Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Monopar Therapeutics (MNPR) announced key updates from its third quarter 2020. The Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of its lead product, Validive, targeting severe oral mucositis, is set to start before year-end. New patents have been issued for Validive, enhancing its market position. Additionally, a Phase 2 clinical trial for camsirubicin is anticipated to begin by early 2021. As of September 30, 2020, the company holds $18.0 million in cash, expected to fund operations through 2021. However, fundraising will be essential for the Phase 3 trial of Validive.

Positive

• Start of Validive Phase 2b/3 clinical trial expected before year-end.
• New patents issued for Validive enhance potential for future development.
• Anticipated start of camsirubicin Phase 2 trial by early 2021.
• Current cash reserves of $18.0 million will fund planned operations through 2021.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $1.6 million in Q3 2020 from $0.7 million in Q3 2019.
• R&D expenses surged to $1.2 million, significantly up from $0.2 million in the previous year.
• Additional fundraising or partnerships needed to complete Validive Phase 3 trial.

Validive^® Phase 2b/3 Clinical Trial on Track to Start Before Year-end
Issuance of New Patents For Validive
Camsirubicin Phase 2 Clinical Trial to Start Late 2020/Early 2021

WILMETTE, Ill., Nov. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (Monopar or the Company) (Nasdaq: MNPR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on developing proprietary therapeutics designed to extend life or improve the quality of life for cancer patients, today announced third quarter 2020 financial results and business update.

Third Quarter Business Update

Lead Product Candidate Validive

• Monopar’s Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of Validive (clonidine HCl mucobuccal tablet) for the prevention of severe oral mucositis (SOM) in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is on track to commence before year-end. There currently is no FDA-approved prevention or treatment for radiation-induced SOM.
  
• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office allowed patent claims for Monopar’s lead product candidate, Validive, covering “Clonidine and/or clonidine derivatives for use in the prevention and/or treatment of adverse side effects of chemotherapy.” The recently issued patents would provide protection should Monopar determine in the future to conduct additional Validive development and commercialization activities related to adverse side effects of chemotherapy beyond OPC.
  

Camsirubicin

• The Phase 2 clinical trial of camsirubicin is anticipated to begin at the end of 2020 or in early 2021. Monopar has partnered with Grupo Español de Investigación en Sarcomas (GEIS), which will lead the multi-country, randomized, open-label Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating camsirubicin head-to-head against standard-of-care doxorubicin in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (ASTS).
  
• The trial will begin with a dose escalation “run-in” prior to the randomization portion of the trial. The primary endpoint of the trial will be progression-free survival, with secondary endpoints including overall survival, response rate, and incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events.
  

MNPR-101

• Forward progress was made on the Monopar/NorthStar collaboration focused on developing a novel treatment for severe COVID-19 by partnering with 1) IsoTherapeutics Group, LLC to develop and manufacture radioimmunotherapeutics targeting uPAR (uPRITs), 2) Aragen Bioscience, Inc. to perform studies aimed at selecting a lead candidate uPRIT to advance into IND-enabling development, and 3) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and its Texas Lung Injury Institute (TLII) to perform in vitro and in vivo studies through the TLII and to participate in the clinical development of uPRITs.
  

Third Quarter Summary Financial Results

Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2019

Cash and Net Loss

Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2020 were $18.0 million, which includes $6.7 million of net proceeds raised in the third quarter of 2020 under the Company’s Capital on Demand^® Sales Agreement with JonesTrading Institutional Services, at an average gross price per share of $9.66. Monopar anticipates that its current cash and cash equivalents will fund the Company’s planned operations through 2021, including the initiation and completion of the Phase 2b portion of its Validive clinical trial and the initiation of the Phase 3 portion, the funding of the initiation of the GEIS Phase 2 camsirubicin clinical trial, and continuation of the development of the COVID-19 uPRIT program. The Company will need to raise funds or engage a partner to complete the Validive Phase 3 clinical trial. Net loss for the third quarter of 2020 was $1.6 million or $0.15 per share compared to net loss of $0.7 million or $0.08 per share for the third quarter of 2019.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses

R&D expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were $1.2 million, compared to $0.2 million, for the third quarter of 2019. This increase of $1.0 million is primarily attributed to increases in expenses for the planning of the camsirubicin Phase 2 clinical trial and manufacturing expenses of $0.4 million, increases in the Validive clinical trial planning and manufacturing expenses of $0.3 million, and increases in R&D personnel salaries and benefits, including equity grants and salaries and benefits for three new R&D personnel of $0.3 million.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses

G&A expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were $0.4 million, compared to $0.5 million, for the third quarter of 2019.

About Monopar Therapeutics

Monopar Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on developing proprietary therapeutics designed to extend life or improve the quality of life for cancer patients. The Company's pipeline consists of Validive^® for the prevention of chemoradiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis in oropharyngeal cancer patients; camsirubicin for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma; and a preclinical stage uPAR targeted antibody, MNPR-101, for advanced cancers and severe COVID-19. For more information, and links to SEC filings that contain detailed financial information, visit: https://ir.monopartx.com/quarterly-reports.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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. Examples of these forward-looking statements include statements concerning Monopar’s ability to commence its Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of Validive before the end of 2020, whether the recently issued patents would provide protection for development and commercialization in potential future indications, GEIS’s ability to begin the camsirubicin Phase 2 clinical trial at the end of 2020 or early 2021, whether the Monopar/NorthStar collaboration will be successful in developing a uPRIT to treat severe COVID-19 with its development partners and whether the Company’s current cash and cash equivalents will fund the Company’s planned operations through 2021. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, not commencing the Validive Phase 2b/3 clinical trial or the Phase 2 GEIS-sponsored camsirubicin clinical trial within expected timeframes, if at all, our ability to commence the Validive Phase 3 portion without additional fundraising or a development partnership, to raise sufficient funds or engage a partner to complete the Phase 3 clinical trial, and not successfully developing a COVID-19 uPRIT with the Company’s development collaborators. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks are described more fully in Monopar's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Monopar undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Monopar’s views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date.

Contact

Kim R. Tsuchimoto
Chief Financial Officer
kimtsu@monopartx.com

Follow Monopar on social media for updates: 
Twitter: @MonoparTx LinkedIn: Monopar Therapeutics

FAQ

What is the current status of Monopar Therapeutics' Validive trial?

The Phase 2b/3 clinical trial for Validive is on track to start before year-end 2020.

How much cash does Monopar have as of September 30, 2020?

Monopar has $18.0 million in cash and cash equivalents.

When is the camsirubicin Phase 2 trial expected to start?

The camsirubicin Phase 2 clinical trial is anticipated to begin by late 2020 or early 2021.

What were Monopar's financial results for Q3 2020?

Monopar reported a net loss of $1.6 million, up from $0.7 million in Q3 2019.

Will Monopar need additional funding for its Validive trial?

Yes, additional fundraising or partnerships will be required to complete the Validive Phase 3 trial.