EXHIBIT 99.1
Corbus Pharmaceuticals Reports 2017 Financial Results and Provides Clinical Update
| ● | Advancing clinical studies in four rare and serious inflammatory diseases with significant morbidity and mortality and clear unmet medical needs | |
| ● | Reported positive data in Phase 2 dermatomyositis clinical study | |
| ● | Reported clinical data from ongoing Phase 2 open-label extension in systemic sclerosis demonstrating continued benefit | |
| ● | Received development award for up to $25MM by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for upcoming Phase 2b study | |
| ● | Multiple clinical and regulatory milestones expected in 2018 |
Norwood, MA (March 12, 2018) – Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRBP) (“Corbus” or the “Company”), a Phase 3 clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat rare, chronic and serious inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, announced today its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The Company also provided an update on its corporate progress, clinical status and anticipated milestones for lenabasum, its novel synthetic oral endocannabinoid-mimetic drug designed to resolve chronic inflammation and halt fibrosis in rare autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Recent Clinical and Corporate Highlights
| ● | Commenced patient dosing in Phase 3 study in systemic sclerosis (SSc) expected to enroll 354 patients; | |
| ● | Initiated Phase 2b study in cystic fibrosis (CF) expected to enroll 415 patients with pulmonary exacerbations as sole primary endpoint; | |
| ● | Received Development Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for up to $25 million to support Phase 2b CF study; | |
| ● | Reported six-month clinical data from the ongoing Phase 2 open-label extension study in SSc showing continued benefit; | |
| ● | Reported positive Phase 2 results in dermatomyositis (DM); | |
| ● | Commenced patient dosing in NIH-funded, 100-patient Phase 2 clinical study in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); | |
| ● | Announced peer-reviewed publication of human clinical inflammatory model demonstrating lenabasum as the first experimental therapy to activate the resolution of inflammation; | |
| ● | Granted two key U.S. patents covering lenabasum for the treatment of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases through 2034; and | |
| ● | Raised gross proceeds of $78.4 million from public offerings in 2017, including $37.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. Ended 2017 with $62.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. |
“We made significant progress during 2017 executing our clinical and corporate strategy on multiple fronts. We believe we are well positioned to advance clinical development of lenabasum in rare inflammatory diseases with no or limited treatment options. Importantly we are poised for solid execution on our four clinical programs, and we are preparing to evolve into a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company,” stated Yuval Cohen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Systemic Sclerosis Clinical Program Update
SSc is a serious autoimmune disease affecting approximately 90,000 people in the U.S. and Europe and is associated with significant morbidity and up to 60% 10-year mortality. There are currently no drugs specifically approved by the FDA for treatment of SSc.
In January 2017, Corbus initiated patient dosing in its Phase 3 RESOLVE-1 study, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy and safety of lenabasum for the treatment of SSc. The study is expected to enroll approximately 354 subjects at 70 sites worldwide. The planned duration of treatment with lenabasum is 52 weeks. Subjects will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive lenabasum 5 mg twice per day, lenabasum 20 mg twice per day, or placebo twice per day.
The primary efficacy outcome of the RESOLVE-1 study will be the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS). Secondary outcomes include patient- and physician-reported outcomes, forced vital capacity and the American College of Rheumatology Combined Response Index in diffuse cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (ACR CRISS) score. For more information on the Phase 3 study, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference Identifier NCT03398837.
In November 2017, the Company presented six-month safety and efficacy data at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting from 36 patients in the ongoing open-label extension (OLE) study. Lenabasum demonstrated a significant and clinically meaningful reduction in mRSS reaching minus 8.4 (p < 0.0001 2-paired t-test) and an unprecedented ACR CRISS of 71% at 28 weeks.
Lenabasum has been granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and Fast Track status for the treatment of systemic sclerosis from the FDA and Orphan Designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Expected Milestones:
| ● | Report 12-month data from the ongoing OLE study in mid-2018; and | |
| ● | Complete the RESOLVE-1 study and report topline data in H1 2020. |
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Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Program Update
CF is a chronic, life-threatening, genetic rare disease, characterized by chronic lung inflammation that leads to lung damage and fibrosis that affects approximately 30,000 patients in the U.S. and 75,000 patients worldwide. The current average life expectancy for CF patients is 40 years. The harmful inflammation and accompanying fibrosis in CF damages multiple organs, impairs function of multiple organs, reduces health-related quality of life, drives progression of the disease and is the most common cause of mortality. There remains a recognized unmet need for safe and effective drugs that target chronic inflammation and fibrosis for the treatment of CF without the risk of immunosuppression currently associated with existing anti-inflammatory drugs.
In January 2018, the Company initiated a Phase 2b study in CF supported by a development award for up to $25 million from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Phase 2b multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study is expected to enroll approximately 415 subjects with CF who are at least 12 years of age with an increased risk for pulmonary exacerbations. The study’s primary outcome is the event rate of pulmonary exacerbations. Secondary efficacy outcomes include other measures of pulmonary exacerbations, change in Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised Respiratory domain score and change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), % predicted. The study will be conducted in approximately 100 sites across North America, Europe, Israel and Australia. Subjects will be centrally randomized to one of three cohorts to receive lenabasum 20 mg twice per day, lenabasum 5 mg twice per day, or placebo twice per day for 28 weeks, with 4 weeks follow-up off active treatment. This Phase 2b CF study was designed with input from the Therapeutic Development Network of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Clinical Trials Network. For more information on the Phase 2b study, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference Identifier NCT03451045.
Lenabasum was granted ODD and Fast Track status for the treatment of CF by the FDA in 2015 and Orphan Drug Status from the EMA in 2016.
Expected Milestones:
| ● | Commence patient dosing in Phase 2b CF study in Q1 2018; | |
| ● | Submit Pediatric Investigational Plan to EMA; and | |
| ● | Complete Phase 2b study and report top line data by H1 2020. |
Dermatomyositis Clinical Program Update
DM is a rare and serious systemic autoimmune condition characterized by skin and muscle inflammation that affects as many as 70,000 people in the US. Mortality is high with 5-year survival of 70% and 10-year survival of 57%. Current standard of care includes antimalarial drugs and potent immunosuppressive agents, which have significant side effects that lead to adverse effects.
In October 2017, the Company completed a 22-patient, double-blind placebo-controlled Phase 2 study in diffuse cutaneous skin-predominant DM and reported positive results. The mean improvement (reduction) in the primary efficacy outcome, the Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI) activity score, an outcome measure of skin disease severity, was 9.3 points for lenabasum treatment versus a reduction of 3.7 points for placebo treatment (p = 0.04) at sixteen weeks. Lenabasum also outperformed placebo in multiple secondary efficacy outcomes studied. Lenabasum was well tolerated with no severe or serious side effects associated with the drug. No subjects dropped out. The data was presented at the ACR Annual Meeting. The Phase 2 DM trial was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.
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Expected Milestones:
| ● | Report on six-month data from Phase 2 open-label extension study in mid-2018; and | |
| ● | Consult with FDA and initiate next clinical study before the end of 2018. |
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Clinical Program Update
SLE is a prototypical autoimmune disease in which the innate immune system is chronically activated by immune complexes containing autoantibodies and self-antigens, which leads to widespread inflammation and tissue damage. About 500,000 individuals in the U.S. and in the E.U. suffer from SLE and the disease has many manifestations, including arthritis, rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, pleuritis, pericarditis, kidney problems, seizures and psychosis and blood cell abnormalities. Current drugs specifically approved by the FDA for SLE are limited to aspirin, corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine and belimumab. Physicians commonly treat disease manifestations with immunosuppressive or corticosteroid therapies that have significant toxicities.
In February 2018 patient dosing commenced in a Phase 2 clinical study of lenabasum for SLE. The Phase 2 SLE clinical trial is being conducted by the Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence (ACE) program, which is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 trial is being conducted at 15 sites across the U.S. and is expected to enroll 100 adult SLE patients with active musculoskeletal disease, which is the most common manifestation of SLE. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to one of four cohorts to receive placebo or three different doses of lenabasum for 3 months, with 1-month follow-up. The primary efficacy outcome assesses pain from active musculoskeletal disease, and secondary efficacy outcomes include other assessments of active musculoskeletal disease, overall disease activity using SLE Responder Index, SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) scoring systems, and patient-reported outcomes.
For more information on the Phase 2 study of lenabasum for the treatment of SLE, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and reference Identifier NCT03093402.
Summary of Financial Results for 2017
For the year ended December 31, 2017, Corbus reported a net loss of approximately $32,422,000, or a net loss per diluted share of $0.65, compared to a net loss of approximately $19,999,000, or a net loss per diluted share of $0.49 for the year ended December 31, 2016.
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Revenue from awards increased by approximately $529,000 to $2.4 million due to revenue recognized from the $5 million development award received from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc. Operating expenses increased by approximately $13.1 million to $35.0 million due to increased spending for clinical studies, manufacturing costs to produce lenabasum for clinical studies and staffing costs.
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance at December 31, 2017 was approximately $62.5 million and increased by $47.5 million during 2017. In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company completed a secondary public offering resulting in approximately $37.4 million of gross proceeds. The Company expects the current cash on hand together with the expected milestone payments from the up to $25 million Development Award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to fund operations through the fourth quarter of 2019, based on current planned expenditures.
About Lenabasum
Lenabasum (formerly known as anabasum) is a synthetic, oral, small-molecule, selective cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) agonist that preferentially binds to CB2 expressed on activated immune cells and fibroblasts. CB2 activation triggers physiologic pathways that resolve inflammation, speed bacterial clearance and halt fibrosis. CB2 activation also induces the production of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators that activate an endogenous cascade responsible for the resolution of inflammation and fibrosis, while reducing production of multiple inflammatory mediators. Through activation of CB2, lenabasum also is designed to have a direct effect on fibroblasts to halt tissue scarring. Lenabasum is believed to induce resolution rather than immunosuppression by triggering biological pathways to turn “off” chronic inflammation and fibrotic processes. Lenabasum has demonstrated promising potency in preclinical models of inflammation and fibrosis. Preclinical and human clinical studies have shown lenabasum to have a favorable safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile. Further, the drug has demonstrated clinical benefit and positive impact on inflammatory and immunological markers in Phase 2 studies in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis and cystic fibrosis.
About Corbus
Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. is a Phase 3 clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat rare, chronic, and serious inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. The Company’s lead product candidate, lenabasum, is a novel, synthetic oral endocannabinoid-mimetic drug designed to resolve chronic inflammation and fibrotic processes. Lenabasum is currently being evaluated in systemic sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, dermatomyositis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
For more information, please visit www.CorbusPharma.com and connect with the Company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Facebook.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the Company’s product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statement that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management’s current beliefs and assumptions.
These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events or our financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
| For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||||
| Revenue from awards | $ | 2,440,195 | $ | 1,911,424 | $ | 648,382 | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
| Research and development | 26,038,965 | 15,436,735 | 5,888,659 | |||||||||
| General and administrative | 8,964,046 | 6,459,747 | 3,613,416 | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 35,003,011 | 21,896,482 | 9,502,075 | |||||||||
| Operating loss | (32,562,816 | ) | (19,985,058 | ) | (8,853,693 | ) | ||||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||
| Interest income, net | 183,112 | 477 | 977 | |||||||||
| Foreign currency exchange gain (loss) | (41,908 | ) | (14,094 | ) | 1,977 | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 141,204 | (13,617 | ) | 2,954 | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (32,421,612 | ) | $ | (19,998,675 | ) | $ | (8,850,739 | ) | |||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.65 | ) | $ | (0.49 | ) | $ | (0.28 | ) | |||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 50,176,953 | 41,137,518 | 31,350,145 | |||||||||
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Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 62,537,495 | $ | 14,992,257 | ||||
| Restricted cash | 158,991 | 150,000 | ||||||
| Grants receivable | — | 1,000,000 | ||||||
| Stock subscriptions receivable | — | 330,413 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 2,808,244 | 930,261 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 65,504,730 | 17,402,931 | ||||||
| Restricted cash | — | 50,000 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 1,432,655 | 435,251 | ||||||
| Other assets | 40,776 | — | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 66,978,161 | $ | 17,888,182 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Notes payable | $ | 332,861 | $ | 271,757 | ||||
| Accounts payable | 3,130,295 | 3,419,921 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | 4,741,519 | 3,256,455 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue, current | — | 1,940,195 | ||||||
| Deferred rent, current | — | 10,263 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 8,204,675 | 8,898,591 | ||||||
| Deferred rent, noncurrent | 989,550 | 65,724 | ||||||
| Other liabilities | 375 | 4,632 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 9,194,600 | 8,968,947 | ||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Preferred Stock $0.0001 par value:10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 | — | — | ||||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized, 55,603,427 and 44,681,745 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively | 5,560 | 4,468 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 123,476,102 | 42,191,256 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (65,698,101 | ) | (33,276,489 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 57,783,561 | 8,919,235 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 66,978,161 | $ | 17,888,182 | ||||
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Investor Contacts:
Institutional Investor Inquiries
Ted Jenkins, Senior Director, Investor Relations and Communications
Corbus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Phone: +1 (617) 415-7745
Email: ir@corbuspharma.com
All Other Investor Inquiries
Jenene Thomas
Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC
Phone: +1 (908) 938-1475
Email: jtc@jtcir.com
Media Contact
Eliza
Schleifstein
Scient Public Relations
Phone:
+ 1 (917) 763-8106
Email: eliza@scientpr.com
Source: Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.
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