8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 18, 2020

CHEMOCENTRYX, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-35420	94-3254365
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

850 Maude Avenue, Mountain View, CA	94043
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 210-2900

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share	CCXI	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On May 18, 2020, ChemoCentryx, Inc. (the “Company”) and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd., a company of Vifor Pharma Group, issued a press release announcing topline data from LUMINA-1, a forty-six (46) patient Phase II dose-ranging trial in the orphan kidney disorder, primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (“FSGS”). The LUMINA-1 trial tested CCX140, an orally-administered selective inhibitor of the chemokine receptor known as CCR2, in primary FSGS subjects. In the study, CCX140 did not demonstrate a meaningful reduction in proteinuria relative to the control group after 12 weeks of blinded treatment.

LUMINA-1 was a dose-ranging Phase II study enrolling forty-six (46) patients with primary FSGS. The primary efficacy measure was a change in proteinuria (measured by urine protein to creatinine ratio, (“UPCR”)) in four blinded treatment groups (three active CCX140 doses vs. placebo) from baseline to week 12. At week 12, all subjects including those in the placebo group were then treated with the highest dose of CCX140, 15 mg twice daily (BID) for an additional 12 weeks of treatment, after which UPCR changes from week 12 to week 24 were also assessed. In the intent to treat (“ITT”) analysis of UPCR changes at week 12 relative to baseline, the 15 mg BID CCX140 group exhibited the greatest reduction of UPCR (median reduction from baseline 0.9 g/g or approximately 30%, and approximately 25% reduction from baseline for the geometric mean), but that did not differ significantly from the placebo group (median reduction from baseline 0.45 g/g; or approximately 22%, and approximately 23% reduction from baseline for the geometric mean). Also, after crossover of the blinded portion of the trial to 15 mg BID active dosing, the previous placebo group did not appear to exhibit an additional reduction of UPCR. CCX140 at all doses was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events (SAE’s) during the blinded trial and a numerically lower rate of treatment-emergent adverse events in the CCX140 treatment groups than in the placebo group. A full analysis of the data is underway and expanded results are expected to be announced at medical meetings later in the year.

The CCX140 clinical development program in FSGS is distinct from the Company’s complement 5a receptor inhibitor, avacopan. Avacopan is an orally-administered small molecule that is a selective inhibitor of the complement C5a receptor, or C5aR. In the pivotal Phase III ADVOCATE trial, avacopan demonstrated the ability to induce vasculitis remission at 26 weeks and statistical superiority in sustaining vasculitis remission at 52 weeks. The topline safety results revealed an acceptable safety profile in this serious and life-threatening disease with fewer subjects having serious after events in the avacopan group than in the glucocorticoid-containing standard of care. The Company is also developing avacopan for the treatment of patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).

A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein solely for purposes of this Item 7.01 disclosure.

The information contained in this Item 7.01 and in Exhibits 99.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 8.01 Other Events

On May 18, 2020, the Company and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd., a company of Vifor Pharma Group, issued a press release announcing topline data from LUMINA-1, a forty-six (46) patient Phase II dose-ranging trial in the orphan kidney disorder, primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The LUMINA-1 trial tested CCX140, an orally-administered selective inhibitor of the chemokine receptor known as CCR2, in primary FSGS subjects. In the study, CCX140 did not demonstrate a meaningful reduction in proteinuria relative to the control group after 12 weeks of blinded treatment.

LUMINA-1 was a dose-ranging Phase II study enrolling forty-six (46) patients with primary FSGS. The primary efficacy measure was a change in proteinuria (measured by urine protein to creatinine ratio (“UPCR”)) in four blinded treatment groups (three active CCX140 doses vs. placebo) from baseline to week 12. At week 12, all subjects including those in the placebo group were then treated with the highest dose of CCX140, 15 mg twice daily (BID) for an additional 12 weeks of treatment, after which UPCR changes from week 12 to week 24 were also assessed. In the intent to treat (“ITT”) analysis of UPCR changes at week 12 relative to baseline, the 15 mg BID CCX140 group exhibited the greatest reduction of UPCR (median reduction from baseline 0.9 g/g or approximately 30%, and approximately 25% reduction from baseline for the geometric mean), but that did not differ significantly from the placebo group (median reduction from baseline 0.45 g/g; or approximately 22%, and approximately 23% reduction from baseline for the geometric mean). Also, after crossover of the blinded portion of the trial to 15 mg BID active dosing, the previous placebo group did not appear to exhibit an additional reduction of UPCR. CCX140 at all doses was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events (SAE’s) during the blinded trial and a numerically lower rate of treatment-emergent adverse events in the CCX140 treatment groups than in the placebo group. A full analysis of the data is underway and expanded results are expected to be announced at medical meetings later in the year.

The CCX140 clinical development program in FSGS is distinct from the Company’s complement 5a receptor inhibitor, avacopan. Avacopan is an orally-administered small molecule that is a selective inhibitor of the complement C5a receptor, or C5aR. In the pivotal Phase III ADVOCATE trial, avacopan demonstrated the ability to induce vasculitis remission at 26 weeks and statistical superiority in sustaining vasculitis remission at 52 weeks. The topline safety results revealed an acceptable safety profile in this serious and life-threatening disease with fewer subjects having serious after events in the avacopan group than in the glucocorticoid-containing standard of care. The Company is also developing avacopan for the treatment of patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the timing of publication or presentation of additional data from the LUMINA-1. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties in the Company’s business, including those risks described in the Company’s periodic reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company 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. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set forth in the reports and other documents the Company files with the SEC available at www.sec.gov, including without limitation the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed on March 10, 2020.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press release, dated May 18, 2020.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	CHEMOCENTRYX, INC.
Date: May 18, 2020
	By:	/s/ Susan M. Kanaya
	Name:	Susan M. Kanaya
	Title:	Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and Secretary

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

                 

ChemoCentryx and VFMCRP Announce Topline Data from Phase II LUMINA-1 Trial of CCX140 in Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and ST GALLEN, CH, May 18, 2020 - ChemoCentryx, Inc., (NASDAQ: CCXI) and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (VFMCRP) today announced topline data from a forty-six (46) patient Phase II dose-ranging trial in the orphan kidney disorder, primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The LUMINA-1 trial tested CCX140, an orally-administered selective inhibitor of the chemokine receptor known as CCR2, in primary FSGS subjects. In the study, CCX140 did not demonstrate a meaningful reduction in proteinuria relative to the control group after 12 weeks of blinded treatment.

“With the CCR2 inhibitor CCX140 we desired to help people with FSGS,” said Thomas J. Schall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of ChemoCentryx. “Regrettably the data observed in the dose-ranging Phase II LUMINA-1 trial of CCX140 do not provide a productive way forward in this patient population. While CCX140 won’t move forward in FSGS, an entirely different situation exists with our lead program, the C5aR inhibitor avacopan. With the avacopan program, we remain intensely focused on our NDA submission for patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis mid-year, along with data readouts for the renal disease C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) by the end of the year, the dermal indication HS in Q3, and we are actively exploring the expansion of avacopan’s unique potential in kidney disease.”

Stefan Schulze, Chief Executive Officer Vifor Pharma Group comments, “Unfortunately, the results of the Phase II LUMINA-1 trial are not what we have hoped for in the interests of patients suffering from this debilitating disease. These kind of setbacks are part of clinical development activities and do not affect our confidence in our strategy and ability to deliver strong growth from new and existing products in the future. Our overall partnership and collaboration with ChemoCentryx has been highly successful and is unaffected by this development.”

LUMINA-1 was a dose-ranging Phase II study enrolling 46 patients with primary FSGS. The primary efficacy measure was a change in proteinuria (measured by urine protein to creatinine ratio, (UPCR)) in four blinded treatment groups (three active CCX140 doses vs placebo) from baseline to week 12. At week 12, all subjects including those in the placebo group were then treated with the highest dose of CCX140, 15 mg twice daily (BID) for an additional 12 weeks of treatment, after which UPCR changes from week 12 to week 24 were also assessed. In the intent to treat (ITT) analysis of UPCR changes at week 12 relative to baseline, the 15 mg BID CCX140 group exhibited the greatest reduction of UPCR (median reduction from baseline 0.9 g/g or approximately 30%, and approximately 25% reduction from baseline for the geometric mean), but that did not differ significantly from the placebo group (median reduction from baseline 0.45 g/g; or approximately 22%, and approximately 23% reduction from baseline for the geometric mean). Also, after crossover of the blinded portion of the trial to 15 mg BID active dosing, the previous placebo group did not appear to exhibit an additional reduction of UPCR. CCX140 at all doses was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events (SAE’s) during the blinded trial and a numerically lower rate of treatment-emergent adverse events in the CCX140 treatment groups than in the placebo group. A full analysis of the LUMINA-1 data is underway and expanded results are expected to be announced at a medical meeting later this year.

About LUMINA-1

LUMINA-1 was a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-ranging study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CCX140 in patients primary FSGS with ³1 gram/day baseline proteinuria (protein in the urine). The study enrolled a total of 46 patients worldwide, randomizing them to one of four arms (1:1:1:1). Patients received a placebo or CCX140 dosed at 5 mg once-daily, 10 mg twice daily, or 15mg twice daily over 12 weeks. All patients enrolled in the study remained on background therapy of either Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or Angiotensin II receptor blockers. After the 12-week randomization period, all patients were eligible for an additional 12 weeks of CCX140 treatment in an open-label extension (OLE) with the highest safe dose of CCX140, which was 15mg twice daily. There was a four week follow up period from week 24-28 where no CCX140 was administered.

About CCX140

CCX140 is an orally-administered inhibitor of the chemokine receptor known as CCR2. CCX140 was previously evaluated in a Phase II placebo-controlled, clinical trial in patients with diabetic nephropathy. CCX140 treatment in these patients resulted in a statistically significant reduction in proteinuria.

About ChemoCentryx

ChemoCentryx is a biopharmaceutical company developing new medications targeted at inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer. ChemoCentryx targets the chemokine and chemoattractant systems to discover, develop and commercialize orally-administered therapies. ChemoCentryx is currently focusing on two late stage drug candidates with distinctly-different mechanisms of action for patients with rare and orphan diseases, avacopan (CCX168) and CCX140.

Avacopan is an orally-administered small molecule that is a selective inhibitor of the complement C5a receptor, or C5aR. In the pivotal Phase III ADVOCATE trial, avacopan demonstrated the ability to induce vasculitis remission at 26 weeks and statistical superiority in sustaining vasculitis remission at 52 weeks. The topline safety results revealed an acceptable safety profile in this serious and life-threatening disease with fewer subjects having serious after events in the avacopan group than in the glucocorticoid-containing standard of care. ChemoCentryx is also developing avacopan for the treatment of patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted avacopan orphan-drug designation for ANCA-associated Vasculitis and C3G. ChemoCentryx expects to

release avacopan topline data from its ACCOLADE Phase II trial in C3G by the end of 2020 and from its Phase II AURORA trial in HS in the third quarter 2020. The European Commission has granted orphan medicinal product designation for avacopan for the treatment of two forms of ANCA-associated Vasculitis: microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis), as well as for C3G.

The Company’s other late stage drug candidate is CCX140, an inhibitor of the chemokine receptor known as CCR2, which is being evaluated in the Phase II LUMINA-2 trial in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) with the more severe nephrotic levels of proteinuria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted CCX140 orphan-drug designation for the treatment of FSGS.

ChemoCentryx’s Kidney Health Alliance with Vifor Pharma provides Vifor Pharma with exclusive rights to commercialize avacopan and CCX140 in markets outside of the U.S.

ChemoCentryx also has early stage drug candidates that target chemoattractant receptors in other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and in cancer.

About Vifor Pharma and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma

Vifor Pharma Group is a global specialty pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. Vifor Pharma Group consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma, a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care; Relypsa; and OM Pharma. Vifor Pharma Group is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348). For more information, visit www.viforpharma.com.

Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd., a common company of Vifor Pharma Group and Fresenius Medical Care, develops and commercializes innovative and high quality therapies to improve the life of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. The company was founded at the end of 2010 and is owned 55% by Vifor Pharma Group and 45% by Fresenius Medical Care. For more information about Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma and its parent companies, please visit www.vfmcrp.com, www.viforpharma.com and www.freseniusmedicalcare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

ChemoCentryx cautions that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “seek,” “contemplate,” “potential,” “continue” or “project” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include the Company’s statements regarding the achievement of anticipated goals and milestones, when full data analysis of LUMINA-1 and topline LUMINA-2 clinical data might become available or announced, whether the avacopan NDA for ANCA vasculitis will be filed mid-year, the timing of topline data from the avacopan Phase II studies in the treatment of HS and C3G and whether the Company’s drug candidates will be shown to be effective in ongoing or future clinical trials. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by ChemoCentryx that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the ChemoCentryx business and other risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and ChemoCentryx undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances

after the date hereof. Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading “Risk Factors” in ChemoCentryx’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including ChemoCentryx’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2020 and its other reports which are available from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) and on ChemoCentryx’s website (www.chemocentryx.com) under the heading “Investors.” All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

ChemoCentryx Contacts:   Susan M. Kanaya Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer investor@chemocentryx.com   Media: Stephanie Tomei 408.234.1279 media@chemocentryx.com   Investors: William Slattery, Jr., Burns McClellan 212.213.0006 bslattery@burnsmc.com Vifor Pharma Contacts:   Media Relations Nathalie Ponnier Global Head Corporate Communications +41 79 957 9673 media@viforpharma.com   Investor Relations Julien Vignot Head of Investor Relations +41 58 851 66 90 investors@viforpharma.com