ORIC Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results and Operational Update

Rhea-AI Summary

ORIC Pharmaceuticals reported its financial results for Q2 2022, highlighting a robust cash position of $237.8 million to fund operations into the second half of 2024. The company is advancing three Phase 1 programs: ORIC-533 for multiple myeloma, ORIC-114 for EGFR/HER2 cancers, and ORIC-944 for prostate cancer, with initial data expected in 1H 2023. R&D expenses decreased to $13.8 million, while G&A expenses rose to $6.9 million. The CEO expressed confidence in their differentiated pipeline and upcoming clinical milestones.

Positive

• Cash reserves of $237.8 million expected to fund operations into 2H 2024.
• Advancement of three Phase 1 programs with initial data readouts anticipated in 1H 2023.

Negative

• R&D expenses increased to $30.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021.

Three ongoing single agent Phase 1 programs, ORIC-533 in multiple myeloma, ORIC-114 in EGFR/HER2 cancers, and ORIC-944 in prostate cancer, all expected to report initial data in 1H 2023

Cash and investments of $237.8 million expected to fund current operating plan into 2H 2024

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ORIC), a clinical stage oncology company focused on developing treatments that address mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, today reported financial results and operational updates for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

“We are well positioned with a highly differentiated and diverse pipeline of oncology candidates, a strong cash position and multiple, key upcoming clinical readouts,” said Jacob M. Chacko, MD, chief executive officer. “As we head into the second half of 2022, we continue to execute on our programs and anticipate three initial data readouts from our three ongoing studies of ORIC-533, ORIC-114 and ORIC-944 in the first half of 2023.”

Second Quarter 2022 and Other Recent Highlights

Preclinical Data Presented at AACR: In April 2022, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, ORIC disclosed new preclinical data in three poster presentations and one oral presentation from our ORIC-533 and ORIC-114 programs, as well as a newly disclosed PLK4 inhibitor program.

Anticipated Program Milestones

ORIC anticipates the following upcoming milestones:

• ORIC-533 (oral CD73 inhibitor): Initial Phase 1b data in 1H 2023
• ORIC-114 (brain penetrant EGFR/HER2 exon 20 inhibitor): Initial Phase 1b data in 1H2023
• ORIC-944 (allosteric PRC2 inhibitor): Initial Phase 1b data in 1H 2023
  

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

• Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments: Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $237.8 million as of June 30, 2022, which the company expects will fund its current operating plan into the second half of 2024.
  
  
• R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $13.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $15.5 million for the same period in 2021. The decrease was primarily driven by a net decrease in external expenses of $2.4 million related to lower ORIC-101 costs due to the discontinuation of the program and lower ORIC-533 manufacturing costs, offset by higher personnel costs, including non-cash stock-based compensation of $0.3 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, R&D expenses were $30.7 million, compared to $27.2 million for the same period of 2021. The increase was primarily driven by a net increase of external expenses related to the advancement of ORIC-533, ORIC-114, ORIC-944 and our other product candidates as well as higher personnel costs, including non-cash stock-based compensation of $0.8 million.
  
  
• G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $6.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $5.5 million for the same period in 2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, G&A expenses were $13.3 million compared to $10.4 million for the same period of 2021. The increases were primarily due to higher personnel costs, including non-cash compensation of $0.6 million and $1.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the same periods in 2021, respectively.
  

About ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ORIC Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving patients’ lives by Overcoming Resistance In Cancer. ORIC’s clinical stage product candidates include (1) ORIC-533, an orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of CD73, a key node in the adenosine pathway believed to play a central role in resistance to chemotherapy- and immunotherapy-based treatment regimens, being developed for multiple myeloma, (2) ORIC-114, a brain penetrant inhibitor designed to selectively target EGFR and HER2 with high potency against exon 20 insertion mutations, being developed across multiple genetically defined cancers, and (3) ORIC-944, an allosteric inhibitor of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) via the EED subunit, being developed for prostate cancer. Beyond these three product candidates, ORIC is also developing multiple precision medicines targeting other hallmark cancer resistance mechanisms. ORIC has offices in South San Francisco and San Diego, California. For more information, please go to www.oricpharma.com, and follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding ORIC’s development plans and timelines; the potential advantages of ORIC’s product candidates and programs; plans underlying ORIC’s clinical trials and development; the expected timing of reporting initial data from the ORIC-533, ORIC-114 and ORIC-944 clinical trials; plans underlying any of ORIC’s other programs; ORIC’s anticipated milestones; the period over which ORIC estimates its existing cash, cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan; and statements by the company’s chief executive officer. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon ORIC’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics and operating as an early clinical stage company; ORIC’s ability to develop, initiate or complete preclinical studies and clinical trials for, obtain approvals for and commercialize any of its product candidates; changes in ORIC’s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates; the potential for clinical trials of ORIC-533, ORIC-114, ORIC-944 or any other product candidates to differ from preclinical, interim, preliminary or expected results; negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on ORIC’s operations, including clinical trials; the risk of the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of ORIC’s license agreements; ORIC’s ability to raise any additional funding it will need to continue to pursue its business and product development plans; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; ORIC’s reliance on third parties, including contract manufacturers and contract research organizations; ORIC’s ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; the loss of key scientific or management personnel; competition in the industry in which ORIC operates; general economic and market conditions; and other risks. Information regarding the foregoing and additional risks may be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in ORIC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 11, 2022, and ORIC’s future reports to be filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and ORIC assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Contact:
Dominic Piscitelli, Chief Financial Officer
dominic.piscitelli@oricpharma.com
info@oricpharma.com

ORIC PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	June 30, 2022				December 31, 2021
	(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	227,064			$	236,979
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,462				3,543
Total current assets		233,526				240,522
Long-term investments		10,772				43,386
Property and equipment, net		3,005				2,413
Other assets		12,381				12,321
Total assets	$	259,684			$	298,642
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	2,093			$	1,886
Accrued liabilities		10,381				13,265
Total current liabilities		12,474				15,151
Other long-term liabilities		10,340				10,515
Total liabilities		22,814				25,666
Total stockholders' equity		236,870				272,976
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	259,684			$	298,642

ORIC PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
	2022				2021				2022				2021
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$	13,834			$	15,517			$	30,662			$	27,214
General and administrative		6,862				5,540				13,292				10,396
Total operating expenses		20,696				21,057				43,954				37,610
Loss from operations		(20,696	)			(21,057	)			(43,954	)			(37,610	)
Other income:
Interest income, net		409				33				508				77
Other		—				15				—				15
Total other income		409				48				508				92
Net loss	$	(20,287	)		$	(21,009	)		$	(43,446	)		$	(37,518	)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Unrealized (loss) gain on investments		(429	)			(14	)			(1,128	)			34
Comprehensive loss	$	(20,716	)		$	(21,023	)		$	(44,574	)		$	(37,484	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.51	)		$	(0.57	)		$	(1.10	)		$	(1.02	)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted		39,481,628				36,701,836				39,456,812				36,690,824

FAQ

What are the recent financial results of ORIC Pharmaceuticals for Q2 2022?

ORIC Pharmaceuticals reported $237.8 million in cash and investments, with R&D expenses at $13.8 million.

What is the expected timeline for initial data from ORIC's clinical programs?

Initial data from ORIC-533, ORIC-114, and ORIC-944 is expected to be reported in the first half of 2023.

How do the 2022 R&D expenses compare to 2021 for ORIC Pharmaceuticals?

R&D expenses for the first half of 2022 totaled $30.7 million, an increase from $27.2 million in 2021.

What are the highlights from the recent ORIC Pharmaceuticals press release?

Key highlights include a strong cash position, ongoing Phase 1 programs, and positive milestones expected in 1H 2023.