08/09/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/09/2022 05:04
Company on track to submit NDA to U.S. FDA for avasopasem by end of 2022
Phase 3 ROMAN trial data highlighted in an oral presentation at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
Phase 1 stage of GRECO-1 trial demonstrated rucosopasem in combination with SBRT was well tolerated with early indications of anti-cancer activity
Completion of enrollment in both GRECO-1 and GRECO-2 trials of rucosopasem in combination with SBRT expected in 2H 2023
MALVERN, Pa., Aug. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutics that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 and provided recent corporate updates.
"During this past quarter, we made substantial progress in advancing our product candidates, avasopasem and rucosopasem, across all programs," said Mel Sorensen, M.D., Galera's President and CEO. "We continue to prepare for submission of an NDA for avasopasem for the treatment of radiotherapy-induced SOM and are on track to submit it by the end of the year. Further, data from our Phase 3 ROMAN trial were presented at multiple prestigious medical conferences, including ASCO, underscoring the significant unmet need for an FDA-approved treatment option for radiotherapy-induced SOM in patients with head and neck cancer. In addition, we recently announced data from the open-label Phase 1 stage of GRECO-1 investigating rucosopasem in combination with SBRT in patients with NSCLC and are pleased to report that rucosopasem seems to exhibit a favorable benefit-risk profile, with in-field partial responses or stable disease seen in six of the seven patients at six months follow-up."
Recent Corporate Updates
Radiotherapy-Induced Toxicity Programs:
Severe Oral Mucositis (SOM)
Esophagitis
Anti-Cancer Programs:
Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (LAPC)
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights
About Galera Therapeutics
Galera Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutic candidates that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer. Galera's selective dismutase mimetic product candidate avasopasem manganese (GC4419, also referred to as avasopasem) is being evaluated for radiotherapy-induced toxicities. The Company's second product candidate, rucosopasem manganese (GC4711, also referred to as rucosopasem), is in clinical-stage development to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Galera is headquartered in Malvern, PA. For more information, please visit www.galeratx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding: the expectations surrounding the continued advancement of Galera's product pipeline; the potential safety and efficacy of Galera's product candidates and their regulatory and clinical development; the timing of the submission of an NDA for avasopasem for the treatment of radiotherapy-induced SOM in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer with the FDA; the expectations surrounding the progress of the Phase 2b trial of rucosopasem in patients with LAPC and the timing of completion of enrollment of the trial; the expectations surrounding the progress of the Phase 1/2 trial of rucosopasem in patients with NSCLC and the timing of completion of enrollment of the trial; the Company's ability to achieve its goal of transforming radiotherapy in cancer treatment with its selective dismutase mimetics; the potential of GC4711 to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of SBRT in patients with NSCLC and LAPC; and the Company's ability to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause Galera's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: Galera's limited operating history; anticipating continued losses for the foreseeable future; needing substantial funding and the ability to raise capital; Galera's dependence on avasopasem manganese (GC4419); uncertainties inherent in the conduct of clinical trials; difficulties or delays enrolling patients in clinical trials; the FDA's acceptance of data from clinical trials outside the United States; undesirable side effects from Galera's product candidates; risks relating to the regulatory approval process; failure to capitalize on more profitable product candidates or indications; ability to receive or maintain Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Fast Track Designation for product candidates; failure to obtain regulatory approval of product candidates in the United States or other jurisdictions; ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review; risks related to commercialization; risks related to competition; ability to retain key employees and manage growth; risks related to intellectual property; inability to maintain collaborations or the failure of these collaborations; Galera's reliance on third parties; the possibility of system failures or security breaches; liability related to the privacy of health information obtained from clinical trials and product liability lawsuits; unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party reimbursement practices or healthcare reform initiatives; environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Galera's business and operations, including preclinical studies and clinical trials, and general economic conditions; risks related to ownership of Galera's common stock; the possibility of Galera's common stock being delisted from The Nasdaq Global Market; and significant costs as a result of operating as a public company. These and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Galera's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Galera's other filings with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Galera as of the date of this release, and Galera assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Galera Therapeutics, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited, in thousands except share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 6,662 | $ | 15,966 | $ | 14,769 | $ | 28,389 | ||||||||
General and administrative | 5,293 | 5,122 | 10,340 | 10,180 | ||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (11,955 | ) | (21,088 | ) | (25,109 | ) | (38,569 | ) | ||||||||
Other income (expense), net | (2,603 | ) | (1,298 | ) | (4,892 | ) | (2,532 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (14,558 | ) | $ | (22,386 | ) | $ | (30,001 | ) | $ | (41,101 | ) | ||||
Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted | $ | (0.54 | ) | $ | (0.88 | ) | $ | (1.12 | ) | $ | (1.63 | ) | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 26,821,303 | 25,401,046 | 26,785,540 | 25,195,763 | ||||||||||||
Galera Therapeutics, Inc. | ||||||||
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data | ||||||||
(unaudited, in thousands) | ||||||||
June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments | $ | 52,007 | $ | 71,217 | ||||
Total assets | 61,078 | 83,311 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 10,986 | 12,935 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 144,324 | 141,315 | ||||||
Total stockholders' deficit | (83,246 | ) | (58,004 | ) | ||||
Investor Contacts:
Christopher Degnan
Galera Therapeutics, Inc.
610-725-1500
[email protected]
William Windham
Solebury Trout
646-378-2946
[email protected]
Media Contact:
Zara Lockshin
Solebury Trout
330-417-6250
[email protected]