MacroGenics(MGNX) - 2024 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, was $52.2 million, compared to a net loss of $38 million for the same quarter in 2023 [5] - Total revenue for the quarter was $9.1 million, down from $24.5 million in the same quarter of 2023, primarily due to a decrease in revenue from collaborative agreements [30] - Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of March 31, 2024, were $184.2 million, down from $229.8 million as of December 31, 2023 [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The TAMARACK study is evaluating vobra duo in mCRPC patients, with interim data showing a disease control rate of 91.1% in the 2 mg per kg cohort and 87.5% in the 2.7 mg per kg cohort [8][12] - The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 17.8% for the 2 mg per kg cohort and 25% for the 2.7 mg per kg cohort, with unconfirmed ORR at 24.4% and 43.8% respectively [8][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The study included patients with prior androgen receptor access targeted agents and a split of approximately 60-40 between those who had prior taxane treatment and those who had not [124] - The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was high, with 98.9% of patients in the 2 mg per kg cohort experiencing any grade of TEAEs [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is confident in the potential of targeting the B7-H3 pathway and is exploring additional molecules for future IND submissions [14][17] - The company plans to expand the tumor types evaluated in the TAMARACK trial to include non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and others, with dosing expected to begin in mid-2024 [33] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the safety and efficacy data from the TAMARACK study, noting that the safety profile appears manageable compared to previous studies [41] - The company anticipates presenting rPFS data at a scientific conference in the second half of the year, with expectations for improved results based on ongoing patient responses [85] Other Important Information - Research and development expenses for the quarter were $46 million, slightly up from $45.9 million in the same quarter of 2023, while selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to $14.7 million from $13.5 million [121] - The company is currently conducting a Phase 1 dose escalation study of MGC026, targeting B7-H3, which is viewed as a complementary approach to vobra duo [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide additional color on the patient deaths and whether they were treatment-related? - Management indicated that cardiac deaths were not deemed drug-related, and two cases of pneumonitis are under investigation, with no clear association established yet [43] Question: How are you thinking about choosing the dose moving forward into Phase 3? - Management noted that they are evaluating the optimal dosing range based on ongoing data and expect to finalize this in the near future [47] Question: Can you comment on how the efficacy and safety look in chemo-pretreated versus chemo-naive patients? - Management stated that both populations are under consideration for development, with no unexpected observations regarding overall responses [66] Question: When could we find out about the adjudication of the death, if they are treatment-related or not? - Management expects to have more information available by the time of the presentation at a medical conference in the second half of the year [88]