BOSTON, March 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Compass Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMPX), a clinical-stage, oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary antibody-based therapeutics to treat multiple human diseases, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2022 financial results.
“Compass made tremendous progress last year as we advanced the development of our three drug candidate programs. Importantly, we initiated two key studies with CTX-009: a Phase 2/3 study in patients with biliary tract cancers and a Phase 2 study in patients with advanced colorectal cancer,” said Thomas J. Schuetz, MD, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to initial results from the CTX-009 colorectal study and the CTX-471 combination study later this year and in 2024 for CTX-009 in BTC.”
“Completing the $80 million PIPE offering in the fourth quarter of 2022 has positioned us well to reach key milestones over the next year with continued investment in our pipeline programs,” said Vered Bisker-Leib, PhD, MBA, President and Chief Operating Officer.
Development Pipeline Update and Highlights:
CTX-009 (DLL4 and VEGF-A bispecific antibody)
- Presented Phase 2 results of CTX-009 in combination with paclitaxel in patients with BTC at the 2023 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium
- Data showed 9 confirmed partial responses (PRs) for an overall response rate (ORR) of 37.5% in the second and third line settings (n= 24 patients dosed)
- In the second line setting, an ORR of 63.6% in 11 patients treated was observed
- Median progression free survival (PFS) was 9.4 months and median overall survival (OS) was 12.5 months
- Safety and tolerability were consistent with prior studies
- In January 2023, announced first patient dosed in the U.S. Phase 2 study of CTX-009 as a monotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
- The study design is an Adaptive Simon Two-Stage, with Stage 1 of the study enrolling 37 patients. If there are 3 or more responses confirmed in Stage 1, the study will advance to Stage 2 and an additional 47 patients will be enrolled
- Patients are being evaluated for safety and tolerability, as well as clinical response
- Initial results from this study are expected in the third quarter of 2023
- Initiated U.S. Phase 2/3 study of CTX-009 in combination with Paclitaxel in BTC
- The study will enroll 150 patients with BTC who have received one prior systemic therapy, randomized 2:1 to receive either CTX-009 combined with paclitaxel or paclitaxel alone
- The primary endpoint of the study is ORR, and secondary endpoints include PFS, OS, clinical benefit rate (CBR) and duration of response (DOR)
- Initial results from this study are expected in the first half of 2024
CTX-471 (CD137 agonistic monoclonal antibody)
- Generated monotherapy evidence of activity for CTX-471
- Phase 1 of CTX-471 in patients with various metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors who initially benefited from a checkpoint blocker has been fully enrolled
- Four PRs were observed in the monotherapy arm of the Phase 1 study, three of which were confirmed by RECIST 1.1
- In November 2022, opened and dosed the first patient in the combination arm of the study of the Phase 1 study of CTX-471 with KEYTRUDA®
- This arm of the study is enrolling patients with metastatic or locally advanced cancers of the lung, head and neck and melanoma who have progressed after treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor. Patients enrolled in the study are treated with CTX-471 in combination with KEYTRUDA® with the goal of restoring a response
- CTX-471 is supplied by Compass, which is the sponsor of the study, and KEYTRUDA® is provided by Merck under a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement
- Initial results from the combination arm are expected in the second half of 2023
CTX-8371 (PD-1 and PD-L1 bispecific antibody)
- Completed GMP manufacturing campaign and toxicology studies in non-human primates
- An investigational new drug (IND) application is on track and planned for the first half of 2023
Financial Results
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2022, was $39.2 million or $0.37 per share, compared to $82.2 million or $1.31 per share for the same period in 2021. The net loss for 2021 includes $50.6 million non-recurrent in-process R&D expense related to the acquisition of TRIGR Therapeutics which was completed in June 2021.
Research and development (R&D) Expenses
R&D expenses were $30.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to $20.3 million for the same period in 2021, an increase of $9.7 million or 47%. The increase for the year was primarily attributable to $10.3 million of project costs related to our three development programs (CTX-009, CTX-471 and CTX-8371) resulting from increased clinical, manufacturing, and toxicology activities.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses
G&A expenses were $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to $10.9 million for the same period in 2021, an increase of $0.7 million or 7%. The increase was primarily attributable to a higher stock compensation expense of $1.2 million, partially offset by lower legal costs of $0.5 million.
Cash Position
As of December 31, 2022, cash and marketable securities were $186.6 million as compared to $144.5 million as of December 31, 2021, providing the Company with an anticipated cash runway into 2026. During 2022, the Company increased its cash position by $80.3 million from financing activities that generated net proceeds of $75.8 million. The Company used $34.1 million of cash to fund operations.
About Compass Therapeutics
Compass Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary antibody-based therapeutics to treat multiple human diseases. Compass’s scientific focus is on the relationship between angiogenesis, the immune system, and tumor growth. The company pipeline of novel product candidates is designed to target multiple critical biological pathways required for an effective anti-tumor response. These include modulation of the microvasculature via angiogenesis-targeted agents, induction of a potent immune response via activators on effector cells in the tumor microenvironment, and alleviation of immunosuppressive mechanisms used by tumors to evade immune surveillance. Compass plans to advance its product candidates through clinical development as both standalone therapies and in combination with proprietary pipeline antibodies based on supportive clinical and nonclinical data. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit the Compass Therapeutics website at https://www.
