Vincerx Pharma Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results and Provides a Corporate Update

Rhea-AI Summary

Vincerx Pharma has dosed its first patient in the VIP152 and pembrolizumab combination trial, part of the Phase 1b study. The Company also plans to initiate Phase 2 studies of VIP152 in the second half of 2022. It obtained IND approval for the small molecule drug conjugate VIP236, aiming for IND filing in 2H2022. Vincerx reported a net loss of $39.3 million for 2021, with R&D expenses reaching $40.1 million. The company holds $111.5 million in cash, sufficient for operations through 2023, and is funded by a German government research allowance of up to EUR 6 million.

Positive

• Dosing of first patient in VIP152 and pembrolizumab combination arm of Phase 1b study.
• Cash balance of $111.5 million as of December 31, 2021, sufficient to meet operating requirements through 2023.
• Received German government research allowance of up to EUR 6 million.

Negative

• Reported a net loss of $39.3 million for full year 2021.
• R&D expenses increased significantly to $40.1 million in 2021, compared to $2.1 million in 2020.

Dosed first patient in VIP152 and pembrolizumab combination arm of study VNC-152-101

Preliminary findings in gynecologic malignancies will be presented as a poster at upcoming AACR Annual Meeting in April 2022

Anticipate initiating Phase 2 studies of VIP152 in 2H2022

IND filing for small molecule drug conjugate (SMDC) candidate, VIP236, in solid tumors on-target for 2H2022

Approved for German government research allowance of up to EUR 6 million

Expected cash runway through 2023

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vincerx Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: VINC), a biopharmaceutical company aspiring to address the unmet medical needs of patients with cancer through paradigm-shifting therapeutics, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021, and provided a corporate update.

“We are excited to report the recent dosing of the first patient in the VIP152 and pembrolizumab combination arm of our ongoing Phase 1b trial. Additionally, in December, we dosed the first patient in our Phase 1b dose-escalation study of VIP152 in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or Richter Syndrome, marking the initiation of the second Vincerx-sponsored clinical trial in 2021,” said Ahmed Hamdy M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Vincerx. “While we have experienced challenges to patient enrollment in our two ongoing Phase 1b trials similar to those faced by many of our peers due to the effect of the ongoing pandemic, we are proactively taking steps to address this with the addition of multiple new trial sites globally and are encouraged by an acceleration in recruitment to start the year. Moreover, on a strategic level, we are aligning our clinical trial design with the FDA’s Project Optimus initiative (https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/oncology-center-excellence/project-optimus), which strives to reform the dose optimization and dose selection paradigm in oncology drug development. While we believe we have identified the recommended Phase 2 dose of VIP152, we are planning a dose optimization cohort to position VIP152 for success as we move forward with our clinical trials. We remain on track to initiate Phase 2 studies of VIP152 in the second half of this year.”

“In parallel, we continue to advance our preclinical bioconjugation pipeline, comprising our diverse, modular platform of linkers and payloads that can be conjugated with typical antibodies, bispecifics, and small molecules, creating the potential for novel drugs with improved efficacy and safety compared with current antibody-drug conjugates. We recently announced the publication of key preclinical data for our small molecule-drug conjugate, VIP236, in the journal Cancers, which highlighted VIP236’s potential to direct a potent cancer chemotherapy to tumors while sparing healthy tissues. We are on-target to file an IND for VIP236 in the second half of the year,” continued Dr. Hamdy.

“Our balance sheet, strengthened by the proceeds from our successfully completed private placement last September, positions us to continue to execute on our upcoming clinical and regulatory milestones,” concluded Dr. Hamdy.

Recent Corporate Highlights

• Received Investigational New Drug (IND) Application approval for Phase 1/2 study of VIP152, venetoclax, and prednisone (VVIP) in relapsed or refractory lymphoid malignancies in collaboration with the NIH
  
  
• Dosed first patient in the VIP152 and pembrolizumab combination arm of the Company’s ongoing Phase 1b study (VNC-152-101)

• Announced dosing of first patient in the Company’s Phase 1 dose-escalation study of VIP152 in relapsed or refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or Richter Syndrome (RS) (VNC-152-102)
  
  
• Received Orphan Drug Designation from European Commission for VIP152 for the Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
  
  
• Announced poster presentation, “VIP152, a selective CDK9 inhibitor, demonstrates sensitivity in gynecologic cell lines that are cisplatin sensitive or resistant and delivers in vivo antitumor efficacy,” at upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April 2022
  
  
• Hosted key opinion leader webinar and presented data on VIP152 in high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL) and CLL at the 63^rd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting 2021
  
  
• Completed GLP toxicity studies of VIP236 in rats; initiating additional GLP toxicity studies in dogs to continue preclinical advancement of VIP236 towards IND filing in 2H22
  
  
• Approved for research grant program from the German government providing for tax refunds/reimbursements of up to EUR 1 million per year over six years

• Several key publications:
  
  • Publication of a peer-reviewed article titled, “A Small Molecule–Drug Conjugate (SMDC) Consisting of a Modified Camptothecin Payload Linked to an αVß3 Binder for the Treatment of Multiple Cancer Types,” in the special issue, “The Role of Tumor Microenvironment in Solid Tumors: The New Frontier of Cancer Research” of the journal Cancers
    
    
  • Publication of a peer-reviewed article titled, “First-in-human dose escalation study of cyclin-dependent kinase-9 inhibitor VIP152 in patients with advanced malignancies shows early signs of clinical efficacy,” in the journal Clinical Cancer Research
    
    
  • Publication of article titled “New frontiers in ADCs and SMDCs” in the journal Nature
    
    
  • Publication of book chapter titled, “Protease-sensitive linkers,” co-authored by Vincerx’s Chief Scientific Officer, Hans-Georg Lerchen, Ph.D., in the e-Book, Chemical Linkers in Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
    
    
  • Publication of book chapter titled, “IL3RA-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate BAY-943 with a Kinesin Spindle Protein Inhibitor Payload Shows Efficacy in Preclinical Models of Hematologic Malignancies,” co-authored by Vincerx’s Chief Scientific Officer, Hans-Georg Lerchen, Ph.D. and Chief Development Officer, Beatrix Stelte-Ludwig, Ph.D., in the e-Book, Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies and Antibody Products, Their Optimization and Drug Design in Cancers

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results

• Vincerx Pharma had $111.5 million in cash as of December 31, 2021, as compared to $61.8 million as of December 31, 2020. Based on its current business plans and assumptions, Vincerx believes its available cash will be sufficient to meet its operating requirements through 2023.
  
  
• Research and development (R&D) expenses for the fourth quarter and full year 2021 were $12.3 million and $40.1 million, respectively, as compared to $2.1 million for each of the same periods in 2020. The quarterly and annual increases were primarily driven by increases in stock-based compensation expense, third party preclinical, clinical and manufacturing services in connection with our preclinical studies and clinical trials and new employee salaries.
  
  
• General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the fourth quarter and full year 2021 were $5.4 million and $22.6 million, respectively, as compared to $3.3 million and $3.6 million for the same periods in 2020. The quarterly and annual increases were primarily driven by increases in legal (both general and patent protection and filings), insurance and accounting and other professional services in support of our operations as a public company, stock-based compensation expense and new employee salaries.
  
  
• For the fourth quarter and full year 2021, Vincerx reported a net loss of $6.5 million, or $0.31 per share, and a net loss of $39.3 million, or $2.29 per share, respectively. For the fourth quarter and full year 2020, Vincerx reported a net loss of $16.3 million, or $2.74 per share, and a net loss of $16.6 million, or $3.16 per share, respectively.
  
  
  

About Vincerx Pharma, Inc.
Vincerx Pharma, Inc. (Vincerx) is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on leveraging its extensive development and oncology expertise to advance new therapies intended to address unmet medical needs for the treatment of cancer. Vincerx has assembled a management team of biopharmaceutical experts with extensive experience in building and operating organizations that develop and deliver innovative medicines to patients. Vincerx’s current pipeline is derived from an exclusive license agreement with Bayer and includes a clinical-stage and follow-on small molecule drug program and a preclinical stage modular bioconjugation platform, which includes next-generation antibody-drug conjugates and innovative small molecule drug conjugates. For more information, please visit www.vincerx.com.

Cautionary Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies, expectations and events, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “suggest,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “potential,” “on-target,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: Vincerx’s business model, capital requirements and sufficiency of available cash, pipeline, strategy, timeline, product candidates and preclinical and clinical development and results. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance or events. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding future business developments, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control.

Actual results, conditions and events may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, conditions and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; risks associated with preclinical or clinical development and trials, including those conducted prior to Vincerx’s in-licensing; failure to realize the benefits of Vincerx’s license agreement with Bayer; risks related to the rollout of Vincerx’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; changes in the assumptions underlying Vincerx’s expectations regarding its future business or business model; Vincerx’s ability to develop and commercialize product candidates; Vincerx’s capital requirements and availability and uses of capital; the effects of competition on Vincerx’s future business; and the risks and uncertainties set forth in Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the SEC from time to time by Vincerx. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Vincerx disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contacts
Bruce Mackle
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
646-889-1200
bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com

Vincerx Pharma, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)

	December 31, 2021			December 31, 2020
ASSETS	(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash	$	111,459		$	61,792
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		382			1,318
Total current assets		111,841			63,110
Right-of-use assets		3,949			-
Property, plant and equipment, net		233			-
Other assets		1,653			82
Total assets	$	117,676		$	63,192
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	2,019		$	505
Accrued expenses		4,715			-
Lease liability		738			-
License payable		-			5,000
Common stock warrant liabilities		6,447			32,308
Total current liabilities		13,919			37,813
Lease liability, net of current portion		3,436			-
Total liabilities		17,355			37,813
Total stockholders' equity		100,321			25,379
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	117,676		$	63,192

Vincerx Pharma, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	For the three months ended						For the years ended
	December 31,						December 31,
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Operating expenses:
General and administrative	$	5,369		$	3,256		$	22,575		$	3,598
Research and development—license acquired		-			5,000			-			5,000
Research and development		12,338			2,116			40,081			2,116
Total operating expenses		17,707			10,372			62,656			10,714
Loss from operations		(17,707)			(10,372)			(62,656)			(10,714)
Other income (expense)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		11,256			(5,136)			23,358			(5,136)
Financing costs—derivative warrant liabilities		-			(762)			-			(762)
Other expense		(21)			(6)			(8)			(8)
Total other income (expense)		11,235			(5,904)			23,350			(5,906)
Net loss	$	(6,472)		$	(16,276)		$	(39,306)		$	(16,620)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted	$	(0.31)		$	(2.74)		$	(2.29)		$	(3.16)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted		20,841			5,951			17,176			5,252

 

FAQ

What are the recent developments for Vincerx Pharma in 2022?

Vincerx Pharma has initiated patient dosing in its VIP152 and pembrolizumab combination trial and plans to start Phase 2 studies in the second half of 2022.

What is Vincerx Pharma's financial status as of 2021?

As of December 31, 2021, Vincerx reported $111.5 million in cash, a net loss of $39.3 million, and significant increases in R&D expenses.

How is Vincerx Pharma funded for its research and development initiatives?

Vincerx has secured a research allowance from the German government of up to EUR 6 million to support its initiatives.

What challenges has Vincerx Pharma faced in patient enrollment?

Vincerx has encountered challenges in patient enrollment for its Phase 1b trials due to the ongoing pandemic, but is taking steps to improve recruitment.