Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Operational Progress

Rhea-AI Summary

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ZNTL) reported Q2 2024 financial results and operational progress. Key highlights include:

- Cash position of $426.4 million as of June 30, 2024, with projected runway into mid-2026
- R&D expenses increased to $48.4 million, up from $42.7 million in Q2 2023
- General and administrative expenses rose to $16.8 million, compared to $15.7 million in Q2 2023
- Partial clinical hold placed on certain azenosertib studies following two deaths in the DENALI study
- Discontinuation of ZN-d5 development and its combination with azenosertib in AML
- Appointment of Luke Walker, M.D., to the Board of Directors
- Diana Hausman, M.D., stepped down as Chief Medical Officer

The company faces challenges with the azenosertib program but remains confident in its potential for gynecological malignancies. Zentalis continues to engage with regulators to resolve the hold and advance clinical development efforts.

Positive

• Strong cash position of $426.4 million, providing runway into mid-2026
• Continued progress in azenosertib clinical trials, with topline results expected in 2H 2024
• Appointment of experienced oncologist Luke Walker, M.D., to the Board of Directors

Negative

• Partial clinical hold on certain azenosertib studies following two deaths in the DENALI study
• Discontinuation of ZN-d5 development and its combination with azenosertib in AML
• Increase in R&D expenses by $5.7 million compared to Q2 2023
• Chief Medical Officer Diana Hausman stepped down, creating a leadership gap

Insights

Financial Analyst

Zentalis' Q2 2024 results reveal a strong cash position of $426.4 million, projecting runway into mid-2026. This is a positive indicator of financial stability. However, R&D expenses increased by $5.7 million to $48.4 million, primarily due to clinical and translational expenses. G&A expenses also rose slightly to $16.8 million.

The partial clinical hold on azenosertib studies is concerning, potentially impacting future revenue streams. The discontinuation of ZN-d5 development may lead to cost savings but also represents a setback in the pipeline. These factors, combined with increased expenses, suggest cautious short-term outlook despite solid cash reserves.

Oncology Researcher

The partial clinical hold on azenosertib following two deaths in the DENALI study is a significant setback. However, the drug's potential in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and osteosarcoma remains promising. The Phase 1 results in osteosarcoma presented at ASCO indicate ongoing progress.

The discontinuation of ZN-d5 in AML is disappointing, but the clinical activity observed in venetoclax-treated patients is noteworthy. The focus on azenosertib in various combinations (PARP inhibitors, BEACON regimen) shows a strategic pivot. The upcoming data from DENALI Cohort 1b and other trials will be important in determining the drug's future prospects.

Biotech Industry Analyst

Zentalis faces challenges with the azenosertib partial hold, but maintains a diverse pipeline with multiple upcoming milestones. The appointment of Dr. Luke Walker to the Board adds valuable oncology expertise. However, the departure of CMO Diana Hausman is a concern, potentially impacting clinical development strategies.

The company's partnerships with GSK and Pfizer for combination trials demonstrate industry confidence in azenosertib. The out-licensing of the ROR1 ADC platform shows strategic asset management. Despite setbacks, Zentalis' focus on clinically differentiated small molecules in cancer treatment remains a compelling long-term proposition in the competitive oncology market.

$426.4M cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2024;
Projected cash runway into mid-2026

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zentalis® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing clinically differentiated small molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancers, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, and highlighted recent corporate accomplishments.

"While we faced challenges this quarter with regards to the ongoing partial clinical hold on azenosertib, we remain steadfast in our confidence in the program’s therapeutic potential and in our commitment to bringing this investigational medicine to patients with gynecological malignancies,” said Kimberly Blackwell, M.D., Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to engage with regulators to resolve the hold and advance our clinical development efforts, which have already made important progress this year. Notably, we announced this quarter that we look forward to sharing the results of Cohort 1b of our DENALI study, a study that enrolled heavily pretreated platinum resistant ovarian cancer patients. We are grateful to our study investigators who continue to believe in the potential of azenosertib, to our employees who are laser-focused on our goal of making azenosertib available to patients, and most importantly, our clinical study participants and their families for their support.”

Program Updates

• Azenosertib development update. On June 18, 2024, Zentalis disclosed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a partial clinical hold on certain clinical studies of azenosertib. The action followed two recent deaths in the DENALI study. Zentalis will provide additional updates to the azenosertib clinical development and certain data timelines following resolution of the partial clinical hold.

• Phase 1 azenosertib clinical data in osteosarcoma presented at ASCO. In accordance with the Company’s guidance, Phase 1 results of azenosertib in combination with gemcitabine in adult and pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) osteosarcoma were presented in a poster session at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) program update. Today, Zentalis is disclosing that it is no longer developing the combination of its BCL-2 inhibitor, ZN-d5, with azenosertib, and is discontinuing development of ZN-d5. The combination of ZN-d5 and azenosertib was studied in 27 patients with R/R AML in a Phase 1 study. Thirteen patients were evaluable for efficacy, and the other 14 patients experienced progressive disease prior to efficacy evaluation or withdrew. The combination demonstrated clinical activity in patients who had been previously treated with venetoclax. Of the 6 patients who completed at least two cycles of therapy and underwent a cycle 3, day 1 bone marrow (BM) aspirate: 1 achieved a complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) and became transplant eligible, 2 patients had decreased BM blast counts, 2 had stable BM blasts, and 1 patient had increased BM blasts. The safety profile was manageable and in-line with other combinations in the R/R AML disease setting.
  

Corporate Updates

• Today, Zentalis is disclosing that effective August 8, 2024, Diana Hausman, M.D., has stepped down and is no longer serving as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer. The Company is conducting a search for a new Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Blackwell will serve as the Company’s Interim Chief Medical Officer.
• On May 29, 2024, Zentalis announced the appointment of Luke Walker, M.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Walker is the Chief Medical Officer of Harpoon Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, and brings nearly three decades of experience as a practicing oncologist and drug developer advancing new cancer therapies.

Anticipated Upcoming Milestones

• 2H 2024
  • Topline results from Cohort 1b of the Phase 2 DENALI study (ZN-c3-005) of azenosertib monotherapy in platinum resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer
  • Presentation of final results of Phase 1b (ZN-c3-001) azenosertib monotherapy trial in solid tumors
  • Topline data from Phase 1/2 MAMMOTH (ZN-c3-006) azenosertib + PARP inhibitor (niraparib) and azenosertib monotherapy trial in platinum resistant ovarian cancer in partnership with GSK
  • Presentation of initial data from Phase 1 (ZN-c3-016) azenosertib + BEACON regimen (encorafenib + cetuximab) trial in BRAF mutant metastatic colorectal cancer in partnership with Pfizer
  • Additional updates to the azenosertib clinical development and other data timelines to be provided following resolution of the partial clinical hold.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

• Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities Position: As of June 30, 2024, Zentalis had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $426.4 million, which includes $27.8 million representing the June 30, 2024 fair value of Immunome common stock received by the Company as part of its upfront payment for the out-licensing of its ROR1 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) product candidate and ADC platform in January 2024. The Company believes that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (excluding the Immunome stock) as of June 30, 2024 will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into mid-2026.
  
• Research and Development Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024, were $48.4 million, compared to $42.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $5.7 million was primarily due to increases of $7.4 million for clinical and certain translational expenses and $1.0 million for drug manufacturing and supplies costs. The Company also saw increases of $1.4 million resulting from no R&D cost sharing arrangement with Zentera. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $2.7 million of personnel expense of which $1.5 million is related to non-cash stock-based compensation and $1.4 million of facilities and allocated expenses.
  
• General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024, were $16.8 million, compared to $15.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2023. This increase of $1.1 million was primarily attributable to an increase in personnel expenses of $1.3 million and lease termination costs of $0.5 million. This was partially offset by a decrease of other expenses of $0.7 million, net.
  

About Azenosertib
Azenosertib is a novel, selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitor of WEE1 currently being evaluated as a monotherapy and combination clinical studies in ovarian cancer and additional tumor types. WEE1 acts as a master regulator of the G1-S and G2-M cell cycle checkpoints, through negative regulation of both CDK1 and CDK2, to prevent replication of cells with damaged DNA. By inhibiting WEE1, azenosertib enables cell cycle progression, despite high levels of DNA damage, thereby resulting in the accumulation of DNA damage and leading to mitotic catastrophe and cancer cell death.

About Zentalis Pharmaceuticals
Zentalis^® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing clinically differentiated small molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancers. The Company’s lead product candidate, azenosertib (ZN-c3), is a potentially first-in-class and best-in-class WEE1 inhibitor for advanced solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Azenosertib is being evaluated as a monotherapy and in combination across multiple clinical trials and has broad franchise potential. In clinical trials, azenosertib has been well tolerated and has demonstrated anti-tumor activity as a single agent across multiple tumor types and in combination with several chemotherapy backbones. As part of its azenosertib clinical development program, the Company is exploring enrichment strategies targeting tumors of high genomic instability, such as Cyclin E1 positive tumors, homologous recombination deficient tumors and tumors with oncogenic driver mutations. The Company is also leveraging its extensive experience and capabilities across cancer biology and medicinal chemistry to advance its research on protein degraders. Zentalis has operations in San Diego.

For more information, please visit www.zentalis.com. Follow Zentalis on X/Twitter at @ZentalisP and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/zentalis-pharmaceuticals.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential of azenosertib; resolving the ongoing partial clinical hold on azenosertib; our plans to disclose clinical data, and the timing thereof; our plans to provide additional updates to the azenosertib clinical development timelines and other data timelines following resolution of the partial clinical hold; our anticipated milestones and the timing thereof; our anticipated cash runway; the potential for azenosertib to be first-in-class and best-in-class; the broad franchise potential of azenosertib; and our plans with respect to the development of our product candidates, including azenosertib. The terms “believe,” “continue,” “goal,” “look forward,” “milestones,” “potential,” and “will” and similar references are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to resolve the ongoing partial clinical hold on azenosertib; our limited operating history, which may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future success and viability; we have and expect to continue to incur significant losses; our need for additional funding, which may not be available; our plans, including the costs thereof, of development of any diagnostic tools; our substantial dependence on the success of our lead product candidate, azenosertib; the outcome of preclinical testing and early trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials; failure to identify additional product candidates and develop or commercialize marketable products; potential unforeseen events during clinical trials could cause delays or other adverse consequences; risks relating to the regulatory approval process or ongoing regulatory obligations; failure to obtain U.S. or international marketing approval; our product candidates may cause serious adverse side effects; inability to maintain our collaborations, or the failure of these collaborations; our reliance on third parties; effects of significant competition; the possibility of system failures or security breaches; risks relating to intellectual property; our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel, and risks relating to management transitions; significant costs as a result of operating as a public company; and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed periodic report on Form 10-K or 10-Q and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and our other filings with the SEC. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

ZENTALIS® and its associated logo are trademarks of Zentalis and/or its affiliates. All website addresses and other links in this press release are for information only and are not intended to be an active link or to incorporate any website or other information into this press release.

Contact:
Elizabeth Pingpank Hickin
ehickin@zentalis.com
860-463-0469

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023				2024				2023
License Revenue		$—				$—				$40,560				$—
Operating Expenses
Research and development		48,386				42,684				97,971				91,268
Zentera in-process research and development		—				45,568				—				45,568
General and administrative		16,762				15,664				32,502				32,033
Total operating expenses		65,148				103,916				130,473				168,869
Operating loss		(65,148	)			(103,916	)			(89,913	)			(168,869	)
Other Income (Expense)
Investment and other income (expense), net		(22,863	)			4,451				12,085				8,560
Net loss before income taxes		(88,011	)			(99,465	)			(77,828	)			(160,309	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		266				(605	)			409				(497	)
Loss on equity method investment		—				13,704				—				16,014
Net loss		(88,277	)			(112,564	)			(78,237	)			(175,826	)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		—				(37	)			(28	)			(80	)
Net loss attributable to Zentalis		$(88,277	)			$(112,527	)			$(78,209	)			$(175,746	)
Net loss per share outstanding, basic and diluted		$(1.24	)			$(1.85	)			$(1.10	)			$(2.93	)
Common shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted		71,040				60,790				70,769				60,038

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(In thousands)
		As of June 30,			As of December 31,
			2024			2023
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities			$426,385			$482,919
Working capital (1)			372,924			427,351
Total assets			491,680			551,688
Total liabilities			109,099			114,297
Total Zentalis equity			$382,581			$437,391
(1) The Company defines working capital as current assets less current liabilities.

FAQ

What is Zentalis Pharmaceuticals' cash position as of Q2 2024?

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals (ZNTL) reported a cash position of $426.4 million as of June 30, 2024, which includes cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.

Why was a partial clinical hold placed on Zentalis' azenosertib studies?

The FDA placed a partial clinical hold on certain azenosertib studies following two recent deaths in the DENALI study. Zentalis is working with regulators to resolve the hold and advance clinical development efforts.

What are the expected milestones for Zentalis Pharmaceuticals in 2H 2024?

Zentalis (ZNTL) anticipates topline results from Cohort 1b of the Phase 2 DENALI study of azenosertib in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, final results of the Phase 1b azenosertib monotherapy trial in solid tumors, and initial data from the Phase 1 azenosertib combination trial in BRAF mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.

How did Zentalis Pharmaceuticals' R&D expenses change in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023?

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals (ZNTL) reported R&D expenses of $48.4 million for Q2 2024, an increase of $5.7 million compared to $42.7 million in Q2 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher clinical and translational expenses, and drug manufacturing costs.