CASI Pharmaceuticals Inc

NASDAQ:CASI

Earnings Call Transcript 2022-Q1

[Operator]

Good morning everyone and welcome to the CASI Pharmaceuticals First Quarter 2022 Business Update and Financial Results Conference Call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. [Operator Instructions] After today’s presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. [Operator Instructions] Please also note today’s event is being recorded.

At this time, I’d like to turn the floor over to Wei Zhang, Vice President of CASI Pharmaceuticals. Please go ahead.

[Wei Zhang, President]

Thank you, Jimmy. Good morning and welcome to CASI’s first quarter 2022 conference call. Earlier today, CASI issued a press release providing the details of the company’s business update and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. This press release is available in the Investors Relations section of the company’s website.

Today’s call will be led by Dr. Wei-Wu He, our Chairman and CEO, along with Mr. Larry Zhang, our President; Dr. Alex Zukiwski, our Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer; and Dr. Jim Goldschmidt, our Chief Business Development Officer. They will also be available to answer questions during the Q&A portion of this call.

As a reminder, we will be making forward-looking statements, including our business plans, objectives and milestones. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and therefore you should not put undue reliance upon them. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in our forward-looking statements. For a description of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ, we refer you to the statements in our ITC filings.

It is now my pleasure to turn the call over to our Chairman and CEO, Dr. Wei-Wu He. Dr. He?

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Thank you, Wei. Good morning, everyone and thank you for joining us. I will begin the call with an update on the business followed by our lead programs and near-term catalysts, concluding with our financial highlights.

We have experienced significant challenges during the first quarter of 2022, mainly due to the recent COVID-19 lockdown in China, including Shanghai, where we generate significant revenues. The restrictive measures put in place secondary to the COVID-19 surge are extensive and shift the hospital priorities away from the non-COVID related cares and procedures. The lockdown in several cities continues as of today, and may have a negative impact on the sales of our products for the second quarter and the whole year. The restrictions also adversely impacted the enrolling of patients for the CNCT-19 Phase 2 studies.

Despite these challenges, we continue to make progress across a number of our priorities. Sales of EVOMELA increased by 58% compared to the same period last year. Our strategic focus in 2022 will continue to be to advance the development and commercialization of the portfolio. Through our partners ventures the CNCT-19 NDA submission to the NNPA is still on track, with potential minor delay due to COVID-19lockdown in cities where we are conducting trials.

We anticipate the start of BI-1206 Phase 1 trial in China. We expect that CB-5339 to receive Clinical Trial Application approval from the NMPA during 2022. Meanwhile, our CID-103 Phase 1 study continues. We are excited by our momentum and will continue to execute on several key milestones across our broad portfolio in the quarters ahead.

Now let’s move to CASI’s first commercialized product, EVOMELA. We are pleased to report $9 million in EVOMELA sales for the first quarter of 2022. EVOMELA is approved in China for use as a high dose conditioning aid treatment prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma. EVOMELA is a proprietary formulation with patent protection until at least 2030, is currently the only cyclodextrin [ph] enabled formulation of injectable melphalan commercially available in China.

Our experienced specialty sales and marketing team in the hematology, oncology market in China is a major competitive advantage. We have established access to a substantial number of key opinion leaders who can advise us on the unmet medical needs of our patient population. CASI continues to pursue a similar strategy with respect to marketing efforts and the physician visits to further the adoption of stem cell transplantation as a standard of care in the multiple myeloma treatment setting and will continue working to address the persistent high unmet need in this patient population.

CNCT19, our CAR-T treatment. Our partner to Juventas Cell Therapy continues the development of CNCT19 an autologous CD19 CAR-T investigative product, for which CASI has co-commercial and profit-sharing rights. CNCT19 is being developed as a potential treatment for patients with hematological malignancies, which express CD19, including B-cell leukemia B-ALL and B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In January CNCT19 received Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. FDA. CNCT19 is being locally developed and will be locally manufactured which distinguishes this program from other CAR-T 19 therapies developed and manufactured in part outside of China. The pricing of cell therapy and other innovative drugs in China is a crucial issue for patients. Similar CD19 CAR-T developed and manufactured utilizing imported components are subject to certain ex-China CMC and high cost of goods making the price point significantly higher than where we believe the price of CNCT19 will be.

Juventas has completed the Phase 1 studies in B-ALL and B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in China and it is currently enrolling the Phase 2 registration studies for both indications. Throughout 2021 our commercial franchise has thoroughly prepared for the anticipated China NDA filing of CNCT19 CAR-T program, which we currently expect to be in the second half of 2022.

Next I will address other product candidates in our pipeline, BI-1206. Along with our partner, BioInvent, we continue to progress the development and regulatory framework for BI-1206 in China. We in-licensed BI-1206, a first-in-class, fully human monoclonal antibody that targets Fc gamma RIIB receptor for the Greater China market. BI-1206 has a novel mode of action, blocking the single inhibitory antibody checkpoint receptor Fc gamma RIIB to unlock anticancer immunity in both liquid and solid tumors. Fc gamma receptors are antibody checkpoints that modulate the efficacy of tumor cell-directed targeting antibodies and immune checkpoint-targeting antibodies used in cancer immunotherapy. BI-1206 can potentially be used with all therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that rely on ADCC and CDC for efficacy.

BI-1206 is currently being investigated outside of China in two Phase 1/2 trials. One is evaluating the BI-1206 in combination with rituximab for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which includes patient with follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and marginal zone lymphoma, who have relapsed or are refractory to rituximab.

A second Phase 1/2 trial is investigating BI-1206 in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA in solid tumors. The NMPA granted BI-1206 CTA approval in December 2021. Earlier this year, the U.S. FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation for BI-1206 for the treatment of follicular lymphoma, the most common form of slow-growing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Together with BioInvent, we plan to continue to develop BI-1206 in both hematological malignancies and solid tumors, with CASI responsible for development and commercialization in Greater China. Our lead indication will be BI-1206 in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed and refractory NHL. We anticipate the start of BI-1206 Phase 1 trial in China in the second quarter of 2022 with the first patient in Q4 2022.

Now, a word about CB-5339. In 2021, we acquired CB-5339, a first-in-class VCP/p97 inhibitor from Cleave Therapeutics for the Greater China market. CB-5339 represents a promising new agent for selectively targeting the VCP/p97 in cancers and is a complementary addition to our pipeline of hematology/oncology assets. Cleave is responsible for the ex-China development of CB-5339, an oral second-generation small molecule VCP/p97 inhibitor and is evaluating the molecule in Phase 1clinical trials in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and MDS.

Together with Cleave, we plan to develop CB-5339 in AML as the initial indication, with CASI responsible for development and commercialization in Greater China. CB-5339 CTA application for multiple myeloma indication is in preparation after receiving an acceptance letter for the CB-5339 IND package from the China Center for Drug Evaluation. We look forward to the joint development of CB-5339 with our focus on helping to accelerate the development program by initiating trials for current and potential new indications in China.

CID-103, our anti-CD38 program. CID-103 is a fully human IgG1 anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, recognizing a unique epitope that has demonstrated encouraging preclinical efficacy and safety profile compared to other anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies. CASI maintains exclusive global rights and is developing CID-103 for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

In June 2021, we enrolled the first patient in our Phase 1 dose escalation and expansion study of CID-103. The Phase 1study in patients with previously treated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma is currently ongoing in France and in UK. This Phase 1 trial is expected to generate valuable information and has the potential to provide early evidence of clinical activity in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

Thiotepa. Lastly on Thiotepa, we are in process of regulatory submissions for two indications. Now this completes the update of our key pipeline assets. Next, we are going to provide updates on our financials and Wei is actually going to give everybody the financial highlights. Wei?

[Wei Zhang, President]

Thank you, doctor. We saw continued goals and strong performance across our business. Today, I will briefly summarize our financial results and provide key highlights for the first quarter. Revenues consist of product sales of EVOMELA. Revenue was $9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, 58% increase compared to $5.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Cost of revenue was $3.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 compare to $2.4 million for the same period last year which includes royalty payment of $1.8 million in first quarter of 2022 and $1.1 million for the same period in 2021.

We closed this quarter with $29.3 million cash and cash equivalent. We have sufficient resources to fund our operations beyond the 2022. By implementing management and budgetary control, we continue to be thoughtful on how we deploy our cash with a focus on creating shareholder value.

Next, I would like to address two items which are uncertain on our investments [indiscernible]. Early this year, CASI announced the receivable of a differentiated lighter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the NASDAQ Stock Market. We continue to actively monitor the closing price of CASI’s common stock and are considering available options, including a reverse stock split. In CASI’s recent proxy statement, CASI has submitted a reverse stock split proposal to shareholders for approval.

Next, I would like to address the recent events related to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act which refers to HSCA. According to the HICCA [ph], after being conclusively identified as a commission identified by the issuer for three consecutive years, there will be an initial trading prohibition, while working with the auditor to address a method to comply with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board rules. In the meantime, we will actually note that China Securities Regulatory Commission is holding talks with U.S. regulators over audit cooperation and there is expectations that an acceptable resolution regarding this matter will be reached between the two respective government entities. We will continue to monitor developments and evaluate all strategic options, which include but are not limited to adding business processes and controls to meet the requirement of the HSCA.

Now I would like to turn the call back over to the operator to open up the line for questions. Jimmy?

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] And our first question today comes from Justin Zelin from BTIG. Please go ahead with your question.

[Justin Zelin, BTIG]

Hi Wei-Wu, good morning and congrats on the quarter. I was just curious on CNCT-19 if you have an idea from your partner, Juventus whether they'd be on track for filing the NDA, potentially within the next 12 months or if you think that potentially the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt the filing or delay it?

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Yes, thank you, Justin. So I, you know, sorry, I was interrupted a little bit. So your question is really regarding the COVID-19 impact on the delay. I don't know, Alex do you want to address that question or should I?

[Alexander Zukiwski]

Sure. Justin, this is Alex. As we anticipated, there might be some slight delay, but we are reasonably confident that within the next 12 months, our partner Juventus will be able to complete the filing unless there is substantial additional disruption secondary to COVID-19 impact in China. If there is further disruption, and any delay that we can perceive, we will obviously inform the investors through the appropriate channels.

[Justin Zelin, BTIG]

Great, that's very helpful. And, obviously, EVOMELA continues to be very strong in the revenues, we’re just curious on how you're seeing in real time how the COVID situation may impact the sales of EVOMELA in the future, whether you're seeing, you expect to see any disruption there?

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Yes, probably Larry can address you this question, since he's in charge of our commercial. Larry, do you want to make, address?

[Larry Zhang, President]

Absolutely, thank you Justin for the question. You can see in our first quarter and the revenue came in strong compared to the same period of last year. And we believe the entire year and our sales, and we will keep in the relatively growth. However, as our Chairman and CEO, Dr. He mentioned that the COVID-19 impact is there, especially in lockdown in Shanghai and some other big cities. And we will pay close attention and to the impact what the impact of would be. We still don't know and for how long and the pandemic if it will continue, especially for the lockdown in the big cities and hopefully, will go over quickly which I don't know. So we will see, we will try all the best and to gather the business and on track and resume as normal as we can. Thank you.

[Justin Zelin, BTIG]

Great, okay, so the next one comes to me.

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Yes, Justin, there's still a lot of uncertainty on the big city because most transplant happens in big cities. But unfortunately, right now, the major lockdown is in the big cities. So there's still a lot of uncertainty that that really is not under our control. Our sales people are not even allowed to visit patients, visit the doctors right now in Beijing and Shanghai, so the two pretty big revenue centers for us.

[Justin Zelin, BTIG]

Got it. Well, hopefully the situation improves in the future. And thanks so much for taking the questions.

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Thank you.

[Operator]

And our next question comes from Sean Lee from HC Wainwright. Please go ahead with your question.

[Sean Lee, HC Wainwright]

Good morning, guys and thanks.

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Hi Sean.

[Sean Lee, HC Wainwright]

Thanks for taking my question. Hi, Wei. Jest a quick question on the CID-103 study. So with the first patient in last year and almost a year into the study, just wondering when can we expect to see some of the first results from it?

[Alexander Zukiwski]

So Sean this is Alex. We are currently at a relatively high level in dose escalation. We believe that within the next one dose or next one to two dose escalations, we will potentially hit the recommended Phase 2 dose. That data will be determined on the safety profile and the PK profile. As soon as there is data available to be put into the public domain, we will seek the most appropriate medical scientific meeting to either have a presentation or poster put out to make sure that we get the information out to the public. We will keep you informed of the status of any presentation that will occur in the future.

[Sean Lee, HC Wainwright]

Thanks. And beyond that, is there any other clinical milestones that we can expect over the next 12 months?

[Alexander Zukiwski]

Wei-Wu, do you want me to address that?

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Yes.

[Alexander Zukiwski]

Okay. So Sean, the milestones would be the initiation of the BI-1206 Study. As Wei-Wu has outlined we have gotten approval from the NMPA to start. We are actively looking forward to receiving study drugs in China and we anticipate getting the study started in the second quarter with the first patients enrolled in Q3. So we’re targeting a July first patient in, however depending upon COVID-19 impact that could be delayed slightly.

For the Cleave CB-5339 program, we have submitted the regulatory applications. We are working with our partner, and we hope to get that program started as soon as possible. Some things are out of our control, such as the timeline for the regulatory review. So we'll have at least two programs that will be getting started in the second and hopefully third and fourth quarter.

For Thiotepa, we are in the midst of discussions on a regulatory submission and the path forward with the CDE and we hope to have some more information ready for the analysts and investors in the next quarter or so.

[Sean Lee, HC Wainwright]

Thanks for the clarity. That's all I have.

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Thank you, Sean.

[Operator]

And our next question comes from Trevor Allred from Oppenheimer. Please go ahead with your question.

[Trevor Allred, Oppenheimer]

Hey good morning, thanks for taking my question. So I guess, just two quick ones from me, can you remind us where the enrollment sites are for CID-103 and CNCT-19 and do you expect to see any follow up impacts from COVID? And then also do you expect to enroll sites for BI-1206 in areas which might have lower COVID impact? Thanks.

[Alexander Zukiwski]

So for the CID-103 the sites are located in France and in the UK and we are looking at expanding the sites because we’re looking for specific patient populations into the other Eastern European countries. In terms of the BI-1206 it is difficult to predict at this point in time where the COVID-19 pandemic will impact next. But we have chosen and selected what I think are some of the best centers to execute the 1206 plus rituximab program in China.

In terms of the Juventus CNCT-19, likewise they have placed their study, their cell based therapy study in some of the most, I think, prestigious institutions in China and that is ongoing. So indeed, there is some slight impact. But we're getting very close to completing the accrual and the long-term follow up which the CDE has requested for this patient population. So hopefully, there won't be any further delay or if there is it will be slight on the CNCT-19 side, but I'm optimistic that we'll be able to meet the submission deadlines as outlined by Dr. He earlier.

[Trevor Allred, Oppenheimer]

Okay, great. Thanks very much.

[Operator]

And ladies and gentlemen, with that we will be ending today's question-and-answer session. I'd like to turn the floor back over to the management team for any closing remarks.

[Wei-Wu He, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer]

Well thank you again for joining today's call. There's no doubt in my mind that we are on our course in building a fundamentally strong biopharmaceutical company. We look forward to leveraging our existing commercial infrastructure, pursue pre-commercial launch activities for this CNCT-19 program, drive expanded pipeline progress and continue to observe steady EVOMELA growth. We thank each of you for your continued support in CASI during this exciting period. Thank you, operator. You may now conclude this call.

[Operator]

Ladies and gentlemen, with that we will end today's presentation. We do thank you for joining. You may now disconnect your lines.