CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Surface Oncology (Nasdaq: SURF), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation immunotherapies that target the tumor microenvironment, today reported financial results and business highlights for the second quarter of 2022 as well as upcoming anticipated corporate milestones.
“In the second quarter, we presented encouraging new SRF388 clinical data in an oral presentation at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting,” said Rob Ross, M.D., chief executive officer. “SRF388, our first-in-class anti-IL27 antibody, demonstrated activity as both a monotherapy and in combination with other IO agents, bolstering our belief that this agent holds the potential to treat a broad range of tumor types. With cash runway into 2024, we believe we are well positioned to deliver a series of meaningful clinical data updates across our pipeline beginning later this year and through the first half of 2023.”
Second Quarter and Subsequent Corporate Highlights
- In June, Surface announced the publication of a new study highlighting the role of the IL-27 pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Surface collaborated with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Fox Chase Cancer Center to conduct the study which evaluated the role of the IL-27 pathway in the development of HCC. The study was published in the online edition of Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
- In June, Surface presented new SRF388 Phase 1/1b clinical data at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting. SRF388 demonstrated clinical activity in multiple solid tumor types with three partial responses across non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and HCC. Surface also announced plans to conduct a new expansion study of SRF388 in combination with pembrolizumab in up to 40 patients with relapsed/refractory NSCLC.
- In June, Surface announced the appointment of Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., to the board of directors. Dr. Brunn brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience within multiple biotech and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
- In April, Surface announced the initiation of two Phase 2 clinical studies evaluating SRF388 in multiple tumor types, including a randomized Phase 2 clinical study evaluating SRF388 in combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in patients with treatment-naïve HCC and a Phase 2 monotherapy study in patients with previously-treated NSCLC. In addition, the company announced an expansion of the open-label lead-in of the SRF388 randomized Phase 2 study in first-line HCC. The 30-patient lead-in is expected to inform the start of the randomized stage and could elucidate important biomarkers to support enriched patient selection.
- At the AACR Annual Meeting 2022 in April, Surface presented preclinical and translational data supporting the SRF388 recommended Phase 2 monotherapy dose of 10 mg/kg administered intravenously every four weeks.
- In April, the company announced that it was recognized by the Boston Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work for the second year in a row
- In Q2, Surface received the anticipated $30 million milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline for the initiation of the first Phase 1 study for GSK4381562. As part of the licensing agreement, Surface is eligible to receive up to $700 million in potential milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on global net sales.
- The company granted non-qualified stock options to one new employee to purchase 80,000 shares of the company’s common stock with a per share exercise price of $1.64, the closing price on August 1, 2022. The option grant was made under Surface’s 2021 Inducement Plan (the Plan) as an inducement material to the employee entering into employment with the company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and was granted pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
Selected Anticipated Near-term Corporate Milestones
- The company expects to provide a clinical data update on SRF617, a fully human antibody designed to inhibit CD39, in the fourth quarter of 2022.
- Surface remains on track to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for SRF114, a fully human IgG1 anti-CCR8 antibody, before the end of the year.
- Surface anticipates providing multiple SRF388 clinical updates in the first half of 2023, including initial safety and efficacy data from the expanded 30 patient lead-in to the Phase 2 study in first-line HCC.
Financial Results
As of June 30, 2022, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $156.6 million, compared to $154.1 million on December 31, 2021.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $6.4 million for both the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, and for the same period in 2021. Decreases in legal and professional fees were partially offset by increased personnel related costs and increased insurance premiums. G&A expenses included $1.3 million in stock-based compensation expense for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
Research and development (R&D) expenses were $18.2 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to $12.7 million for the same period in 2021. This increase was primarily driven by progress on our SRF617 and SRF388 Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials. R&D expenses included $0.8 million in stock-based compensation expense for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
For the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, net loss was $25.2 million, or basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.46. Net loss was $19.0 million for the same period in 2021, or basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.44.
Surface Oncology continues to project that current cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund the company into 2024.
About Surface Oncology
Surface Oncology is an immuno-oncology company developing next-generation antibody therapies focused on the tumor microenvironment. Its pipeline includes two wholly-owned clinical-stage programs targeting CD39 (SRF617) and IL-27 (SRF388), as well as a preclinical program focused on selectively depleting regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment via targeting CCR8 (SRF114). In addition, Surface has two partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies: a collaboration with Novartis targeting CD73 (NZV930; Phase 1) and a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline targeting PVRIG (GSK4381562, formerly SRF813; Phase 1). Surface’s novel, investigational cancer immunotherapies are designed to achieve a clinically meaningful and sustained anti-tumor response and may be used alone or in combination with other therapies. For more information, please visit www.surfaceoncology.com.
About SRF388
SRF388 is a fully human anti-IL-27 antibody designed to inhibit the activity of this immunosuppressive cytokine. Surface Oncology has identified particular tumor types, including liver, kidney and lung cancer, where IL-27 appears to play an important role in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and may contribute to resistance to treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. SRF388 targets the rate-limiting p28 subunit of IL-27, and preclinical studies have shown that treatment with SRF388 blocks the immunosuppressive biologic effects of IL-27, resulting in immune cell activation in combination with other cancer therapies including anti-PD-1 therapy, as well as potent anti-tumor effects as a monotherapy. Furthermore, Surface Oncology has identified a potential biomarker associated with IL-27 that may be useful in helping to identify patients most likely to respond to SRF388. In November 2020, Surface announced that SRF388 was granted Orphan Drug designation and Fast Track designation for the treatment of refractory hepatocellular carcinoma from the FDA.
About SRF617
SRF617 is a fully human antibody designed to inhibit the enzymatic activity of CD39 in the tumor microenvironment, allowing for a dual mechanism of action to promote anti-tumor immunity via reduction of immunosuppressive adenosine in addition to increasing levels of immunostimulatory ATP. A substantial body of research supports a role for CD39 in allowing cancer to evade immune responses. For example, pancreatic cancer stromal cells within the tumor micro-environment express high levels of CD39, which may inhibit anti-cancer immune responses. In preclinical studies, SRF617 has exhibited strong affinity for and inhibition of CD39, the ability to reduce adenosine and increase ATP levels and anti-tumor activity both as a single agent and in combination with multiple therapeutic agents. SRF617 has been granted Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer by the FDA.
