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Fulcrum Therapeutics(FULC) - 2024 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
2024-11-14 00:48
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - As of September 30, 2024, cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $257.2 million, an increase from $236.2 million as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to an $80 million upfront payment from Sanofi [20] - Collaboration revenue was $0 in Q3 2024, down from $0.8 million in Q3 2023, due to the completion of research services under a collaboration agreement with MyoKardia [21] - Research and development expenses decreased to $14.6 million in Q3 2024 from $18.2 million in Q3 2023, mainly due to cost-sharing reimbursements from Sanofi [22] - General and administrative expenses were $8.4 million in Q3 2024, down from $10 million in Q3 2023, attributed to reduced employee compensation costs following workforce reductions [23] - The net loss for Q3 2024 was $21.7 million, compared to a net loss of $24 million in Q3 2023 [23] - The company expects to end 2024 with approximately $240 million in cash and anticipates a cash burn of $55 million to $65 million in 2025, with sufficient funds to support operations into at least 2027 [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The development of losmapimod was suspended after failing to meet primary and key secondary endpoints in the Phase 3 REACH trial, leading to a workforce reduction of approximately 40% [7][8] - The focus has shifted to advancing pociredir, an oral HbF inducer for sickle cell disease, with ongoing Phase 1b trials and plans for additional studies in healthy volunteers [9][11][13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. and 4.4 million people worldwide, highlighting a significant unmet need for effective treatments [9][10] - The recent withdrawal of OXBRYTA underscores the demand for safe and accessible oral therapeutic options for sickle cell disease [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to improving the lives of patients with genetically defined diseases and is focusing on advancing pociredir and early-stage development programs in inherited aplastic anemia [8][15] - The management team is exploring potential licensing opportunities for markets outside the U.S. while prioritizing internal development of promising preclinical programs [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed disappointment over the losmapimod trial results but remains committed to sharing full trial results and advancing pociredir [8] - The company is optimistic about the potential of pociredir to address unmet needs in sickle cell disease and plans to provide more detailed guidance on data sharing in early 2025 [11][41] Other Important Information - Rachel King joined the Board of Directors, bringing extensive experience in biotech, while Pat Horn, the Chief Medical Officer, will retire at the end of the year [16][18] - The company has initiated Phase 1 clinical trials of pociredir in healthy volunteers to support its comprehensive development program [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: High-level question on platform technology and pipeline - The company has a rich preclinical pipeline, focusing on inherited aplastic anemias and plans to announce updates on development candidates soon [27] Question: Feedback from FDA regarding healthy volunteer studies - The FDA did not require additional clinical data to resume studies in healthy volunteers, and these studies are part of the routine development of the compound [32][34] Question: Guidance on data rollout from the PIONEER trial - The company intends to share data from the 12 mg and 20 mg cohorts at different times in 2025, with more specific guidance to be provided early in the new year [40][41] Question: Balancing early discovery programs and external assets - The company has a robust balance sheet and is focused on advancing internal programs while remaining open to selective external opportunities [57] Question: Activation of additional sites for the PIONEER trial - The company has activated 12 sites and is working to onboard additional sites, with a goal of reaching 20 by the end of the year [62][64] Question: Funding for broader patient scope in the pociredir program - The company plans to approach the FDA about expanding the patient population after completing the current study with more severe patients [70][72]
Fulcrum Therapeutics(FULC) - 2024 Q3 - Quarterly Report
2024-11-13 12:10
Financial Performance - Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $26,870,000, compared to a net loss of $72,579,000 for the same period in 2023, showing an improvement of 63.1%[18] - Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $6.843 million, a significant improvement compared to a net loss of $72.579 million for the same period in 2023[21] - The net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $21.7 million, compared to a net loss of $24.0 million for the same period in 2023[153] - The loss from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $25.1 million, compared to a loss of $27.4 million for the same period in 2023[153] - The net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $97.3 million, while for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the net income was $6.8 million due to $80.0 million of collaboration revenue from Sanofi[195] Revenue and Collaboration - Collaboration revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $80,000,000, compared to $1,934,000 for the same period in 2023, indicating a significant increase[17] - The Company received an upfront license payment of $80.0 million from Sanofi in Q2 2024 as part of the collaboration agreement[70] - The Company recognized $80.0 million in revenue associated with the upfront license payment for losmapimod during the nine months ended September 30, 2024[76] - Collaboration revenue decreased by $0.8 million from $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, to zero for the three months ended September 30, 2024[154] Cash and Assets - Total current assets increased to $267,489,000 as of September 30, 2024, up from $242,199,000 at December 31, 2023, representing a growth of 10.4%[16] - Cash and cash equivalents rose to $72,630,000 as of September 30, 2024, compared to $25,563,000 at December 31, 2023, marking an increase of 184.8%[16] - Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash increased to $73.831 million as of September 30, 2024, up from $31.172 million at the end of the same period in 2023[22] - As of September 30, 2024, total cash equivalents and marketable securities amounted to $257,234,000, an increase from $236,221,000 as of December 31, 2023[40] - As of September 30, 2024, the company had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $257.2 million, funded primarily by $792.5 million from capital stock sales and collaboration agreements[168] Expenses - Research and development expenses decreased to $51,673,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, down from $52,802,000 in the prior year, reflecting a reduction of 2.1%[17] - The total operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were $82,468,000, down from $84,606,000 in the prior year, a decrease of 2.5%[17] - General and administrative expenses decreased by $3.1 million from $31.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, to $28.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024[166] - The company incurred stock-based compensation expenses of $12.077 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $11.353 million in the same period of 2023[21] - Restructuring expenses were $2.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to zero for the same period in 2023[157] Liabilities and Equity - Total liabilities decreased to $21,717,000 as of September 30, 2024, down from $22,501,000 at December 31, 2023, a reduction of 3.5%[16] - Stockholders' equity increased to $257,291,000 as of September 30, 2024, compared to $235,193,000 at December 31, 2023, reflecting a growth of 9.4%[16] - The accumulated deficit as of September 30, 2024, was $502.8 million, indicating ongoing financial challenges despite recent improvements[26] Future Outlook - The company expects its cash and marketable securities to be sufficient to fund operating expenses for at least 12 months from the date of the financial statements[27] - The company anticipates continued operating losses and negative cash flows as it expands its research and development efforts[26] - The company expects substantial increases in expenses related to ongoing research and development activities, leading to continued operating losses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future[175] - Existing cash and marketable securities are projected to fund operations into at least 2027, although this estimate is based on potentially incorrect assumptions[176] - The company plans to reduce its workforce from 80 to 51 full-time employees, resulting in annual operating expense savings of approximately $10.0 million starting in Q1 2025[125] Legal and Regulatory - A class action lawsuit is pending against the company related to alleged misleading statements regarding a clinical hold on a product candidate, with potential implications for financial performance[192] - The Securities Action alleges violations related to the Company's February 2023 announcement of a clinical hold on the pociredir application[112] Research and Development - The company is focused on developing small molecules for genetically-defined rare diseases, indicating a strategic emphasis on high unmet medical needs[23] - The ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial of pociredir in SCD is a key focus, with expenses expected to increase substantially as additional clinical trials are planned[200] - The Phase 3 REACH clinical trial of losmapimod did not achieve its primary endpoint, leading to the suspension of its future development[124]
Fulcrum Therapeutics(FULC) - 2024 Q3 - Quarterly Results
2024-11-13 12:05
Financial Performance - As of September 30, 2024, Fulcrum Therapeutics reported cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $257.2 million, an increase from $236.2 million as of December 31, 2023[4]. - Collaboration revenue for the third quarter of 2024 was zero, down from $0.8 million in the same period of 2023, due to the completion of research services under a prior collaboration agreement[4]. - Research and development expenses decreased to $14.6 million in Q3 2024 from $18.2 million in Q3 2023, primarily due to reimbursements from a collaboration with Sanofi[4]. - General and administrative expenses were $8.4 million for Q3 2024, down from $10.0 million in Q3 2023, attributed to reduced employee compensation costs following workforce reduction[4]. - The net loss for Q3 2024 was $21.7 million, compared to a net loss of $24.0 million in Q3 2023[4]. - Fulcrum expects to end 2024 with approximately $240.0 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, with a projected cash burn of $55.0 million to $65.0 million for 2025[5]. Clinical Development - Patient enrollment and site activation are ongoing in the Phase 1b PIONEER trial of pociredir for sickle cell disease, with plans to share clinical data in 2025[3]. - Following the REACH trial results, Fulcrum has suspended development of losmapimod and is focusing on advancing pociredir and other novel therapeutic agents[3]. - Cohort 3 of the Phase 1b trial is evaluating pociredir at a 12 mg once daily dose, with plans for Cohort 4 at a 20 mg once daily dose, each enrolling up to 10 patients[3]. - Pociredir has received FDA Fast Track designation and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of sickle cell disease[8].
Fulcrum Therapeutics to Participate in the Stifel Healthcare Conference
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2024-11-12 21:05
Core Viewpoint - Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. is actively engaging with investors through a fireside chat at the Stifel Healthcare Conference, highlighting its focus on developing treatments for genetically defined rare diseases [1][2]. Company Overview - Fulcrum Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing small molecules aimed at improving the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases, particularly in areas with high unmet medical needs [3]. - The company's lead program is pociredir, a small molecule designed to increase fetal hemoglobin expression, currently in development for treating sickle cell disease (SCD) [3]. - Fulcrum employs proprietary technology to identify drug targets that can modulate gene expression, addressing the root causes of gene misexpression [3].
Fulcrum Therapeutics to Host Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ET
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2024-11-06 13:00
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc.® (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FULC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to improve the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases, today announced that its third quarter 2024 financial results will be released on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, before the U.S. financial markets open. Management will host a conference call and webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results and ...
Fulcrum Before Q3 Earnings: How Should Investors Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2024-10-25 14:56
Fulcrum Therapeutics (FULC) , a clinical-stage company, is expected to report third-quarter 2024 results early next month. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter's loss is pinned at 40 cents per share. The company currently does not have any marketed products and does not record any revenues. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Fulcrum's loss per share has narrowed from 46 cents to 28 cents for 2024 over the past 60 days, while that for 2025 has narrowed from $1.51 to $1.14. FULC Estimate ...
Fulcrum Stock Tanks 58% in a Month: Buying Opportunity or Risky Bet?
ZACKS· 2024-10-09 16:37
Core Viewpoint - Fulcrum Therapeutics (FULC) has experienced a significant stock decline of 58% over the past month, underperforming compared to the industry and the S&P 500, primarily due to disappointing results from a late-stage study of its candidate losmapimod for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) [1][2][3] Company Performance - The phase III REACH study for FSHD did not meet its primary endpoint, failing to show a change from baseline in relative surface area compared to placebo at week 48, leading to the cessation of losmapimod's development in this indication [3][4] - Despite the setback with losmapimod, Fulcrum has another promising candidate, pociredir, which is being developed for sickle cell disease (SCD) [4][5] Pipeline Development - Pociredir is an investigational oral small-molecule inhibitor developed using Fulcrum's proprietary technology, FulcrumSeek, and is currently in a phase Ib study with four dosage strengths [6][7] - Early data for pociredir in SCD has shown proof-of-concept by increasing HbF levels, indicating potential benefits for patients, and it has been well-tolerated with no serious adverse events reported [7][8] Market Potential - The SCD market presents significant growth opportunities due to unmet medical needs and regulatory incentives, with pociredir already receiving Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations in the U.S. [8][12] - Competitors in the SCD market include Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics, which have recently launched their gene therapy, highlighting the competitive landscape [9] Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Fulcrum's stock appears attractive from a valuation perspective, trading at a price/book value ratio of 0.81, below the industry average of 3.89 and its own 5-year mean of 2.25 [10] - Analysts have narrowed the loss per share estimates for Fulcrum, indicating an improving outlook, with estimates for 2024 reduced from 46 cents to 28 cents and for 2025 from $1.51 to $1.14 [11][12] Investment Consideration - Despite the recent pipeline setback, the potential of pociredir for SCD could drive growth, making Fulcrum a stock worth considering for investors looking for opportunities in the biotech sector [11][13]
FMR LLC's Strategic Reduction in Fulcrum Therapeutics Inc Shares
GuruFocus· 2024-10-07 18:03
FMR LLC (Trades, Portfolio) Transaction Overview - FMR LLC (Trades, Portfolio) sold 3,605,932 shares of Fulcrum Therapeutics Inc (FULC) on September 30, 2024, reducing its holdings to 1,724,014 shares [1] - The shares were traded at $3.57, reflecting a strategic adjustment in the firm's portfolio [1] - This transaction reduced FMR LLC's stake in Fulcrum Therapeutics to 2.76% [5] FMR LLC (Trades, Portfolio) Background - FMR LLC, also known as Fidelity, was established in 1946 and has a strong focus on growth potential and innovative investment strategies [2] - The firm manages a vast portfolio with significant holdings in technology and healthcare sectors, including major companies like Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp [2] - As of June 30, 2024, FMR LLC's top holdings include NVIDIA Corp ($129.0B), Microsoft Corp ($96.8B), and Apple Inc ($72.8B) [3] Fulcrum Therapeutics Inc Overview - Fulcrum Therapeutics Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for complex diseases such as muscular dystrophy and sickle cell disease [4] - The company went public on July 18, 2019, and currently has a market capitalization of $224.955 million [4] - Fulcrum's stock price is $3.605, significantly below its GF Value of $48.74 [4] Market Performance and Valuation of Fulcrum Therapeutics - Fulcrum Therapeutics has experienced a 50% year-to-date price decrease and a 75.14% drop since its IPO [6] - The company's GF Score is 54/100, indicating poor future performance potential [6] - Fulcrum ranks 1/10 in Profitability and 0/10 in Growth, further highlighting its challenges [6] Biotechnology Sector and FMR LLC's Strategy - FMR LLC has historically allocated a significant portion of its portfolio to the healthcare sector, with biotechnology being a key focus [7] - The recent reduction in Fulcrum Therapeutics holdings suggests a possible realignment of FMR LLC's investment strategy within the volatile biotechnology sector [7] Future Outlook for Fulcrum Therapeutics - Analysts remain cautious about Fulcrum Therapeutics' future due to its financial health and market challenges [8] - The strategic reduction by FMR LLC may indicate broader concerns about the biotechnology sector's near-term prospects [8] Conclusion - The transaction by FMR LLC represents a significant realignment of its investment in Fulcrum Therapeutics, reflecting the firm's adaptive portfolio management strategy [9] - This move is indicative of FMR LLC's response to the evolving dynamics of the biotechnology sector [9]
FULC INVESTOR ALERT: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC Announces an Investigation into Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm!
GlobeNewswire News Room· 2024-09-13 20:00
NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. ("Fulcrum" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: FULC). Investors who purchased Fulcrum securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/FULC. Investigation Details On September 12, 2024, Fulcrum announced that "its Phase 3 REACH trial evaluating losma ...
FULC Stock Falls as Muscle Disorder Study Misses Primary Goal
ZACKS· 2024-09-13 16:11
Shares of Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. (FULC) plunged 61.1% on Sept. 12 after the company announced disappointing top-line data from the phase III REACH study, which evaluated its pipeline candidate, losmapimod, for treating patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare and debilitating disease. Currently, there are no treatments approved for the given indication. The study did not meet its primary endpoint as treatment with losmapimod failed to demonstrate a change from baseline in rela ...