BioLineRx Ltd (BLRX)

[midastouch017]

BioLineRx Reports Year-End 2020 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biolinerx-reports-end-2020-financial-120000195.html

- Final results from Phase 2a COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 study of motixafortide in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) showed substantial improvement as compared to historical results across all study endpoints -
- Management to hold conference call today, February 23, at 10:00 am EST -

TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BioLineRx Ltd. (BLRX) (TASE: BLRX), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, today reports its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020 and provides a corporate update.

Significant events and achievements during the fourth quarter 2020 and subsequent period:

Announced positive results from an interim analysis of its GENESIS Phase 3 trial of motixafortide in stem-cell mobilization (SCM). The interim analysis found statistically significant evidence for the primary endpoint favoring treatment with motixafortide. Based on a recommendation from the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), enrollment was ceased early at 122 patients (instead of 177 originally planned), and top-line data, including full primary and secondary efficacy endpoints, is anticipated in early second quarter of 2021. In parallel, the Company is proceeding with all activities in support of an NDA submission in this indication anticipated in the first half of 2022, including a pre-NDA meeting with the FDA planned for the second half of 2021.


Reported positive final results from the triple combination arm of the Company's COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 study evaluating motixafortide in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) and chemotherapy in patients with second-line stage IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The results of the study showed substantial improvement as compared to historical results across all study endpoints. The Company is currently planning next development steps for this program, including discussions with potential collaboration partners and development of a protocol for a randomized controlled study.


Announced initiation of a Phase 2 investigator-initiated clinical trial evaluating motixafortide in combination with LIBTAYO® and chemotherapy in first-line metastatic PDAC. The study is led by Columbia University.


Announced initiation of a Phase 1b investigator-initiated clinical trial evaluating motixafortide in patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections.


Completed underwritten public offering with gross proceeds of $34.5 million.


"The fourth quarter 2020 was perhaps our most significant so far, having achieved positive data milestones in two programs with significant unmet medical needs – stem-cell mobilization and PDAC," stated Philip Serlin, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. "The Phase 3 SCM interim data that we reported in October were overwhelmingly positive, and based on the DMC's recommendation, we ceased enrollment at 122 out of the originally planned 177 patients. We now look forward to presenting full top-line results from the study, including data related to 100 days of post-transplantation follow-up, by early second quarter of this year. SCM remains our most expeditious path to registration, and we therefore view these data as potentially transformational for our company. In parallel, we are moving forward very aggressively with all activities in support of an NDA submission, which we expect in the first half of next year.

"We are equally excited about the final results from our Phase 2a COMBAT/KEYNOTE-202 PDAC study that we announced in December last year. The data demonstrated that the triple combination of motixafortide, KEYTRUDA and chemotherapy outperformed historical data across all endpoints, including median overall survival, median progression free survival, confirmed and overall response rates and disease control rate. In a cancer population as difficult to treat as second-line metastatic PDAC, and even more specifically those patients initially diagnosed with unresectable stage IV disease, we view these results as highly encouraging and are planning our next development steps forward in this program, likely in collaboration with a biopharmaceutical partner.

"Finally, subsequent to the end of the year, we strengthened our balance sheet through a financing that resulted in gross proceeds of $34.5 million. These funds will allow us to continue to execute on our strategy for motixafortide in both SCM and PDAC, while in parallel advancing our second clinical candidate, the anti-cancer immunotherapy AGI-134, through clinical development. In summary, we exited 2020 on a very positive note, with two data sets that demonstrate both the effectiveness and versatility of motixafortide across multiple indications, and we plan to build upon these successes this year," concluded Mr. Serlin.

Upcoming Significant Expected Milestones

Top-line results from the Phase 3 GENESIS trial in SCM in early Q2 2021.


Initial results from Part 2 of the Phase 1/2a trial of AGI-134 in solid tumors in the second half of 2021.


Pre-NDA meeting with the FDA for SCM in the second half of 2021


NDA submission for SCM in the first half of 2022
Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2020

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $18.2 million, a decrease of $5.2 million, or 22.5%, compared to $23.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease resulted primarily from termination of the BATTLE clinical study for motixafortide in 2019, from lower expenses associated with the motixafortide COMBAT clinical trial and from lower expenses associated with the AGI-134 study, as well as a decrease in share-based compensation and payroll due to a company-wide salary reduction related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $0.8 million, similar to sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019.

General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $3.9 million, an increase of $0.1 million, or 2.6% compared to $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in D&O insurance expenses and share-based compensation, offset by small decreases in a number of G&A expenses.

The Company's operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 amounted to $22.9 million, compared to an operating loss of $28.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Non-operating expenses amounted to $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to non-operating income of $4.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Non-operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily relate to fair-value adjustments of warrant liabilities on the Company's balance sheet, warrant offering expenses and ATM issuance expenses. Non-operating income for the year ended December 31, 2019 primarily relates to fair-value adjustments of warrant liabilities on the Company's balance sheet, offset by warrant offering expenses.

Net financial expenses amounted to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to net ?nancial expenses of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Net financial expenses for both periods primarily relate to interest paid on loans, offset by investment income earned on bank deposits.

The Company's net loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 amounted to $30.0 million, compared with a net loss of $25.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The Company held $22.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits as of December 31, 2020. Subsequent to year end, the Company raised gross proceeds of $34.5 million in an underwritten public offering, and received another $9.8 million in gross proceeds from the exercise of outstanding warrants.

Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $23.2 million, compared to $22.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The $0.5 million increase in 2020 was primarily the result of a decrease in accounts payable and accruals.

Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $16.7 million, compared to $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The changes in cash flows from investing activities relate primarily to investments in, and maturities of, short-term bank deposits.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $17.9 million, compared to $19.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The cash flows in 2020 primarily reflect the registered direct offerings of the Company's ADSs in May and June 2020, as well as net proceeds from the ATM program, offset by repayments of the loan from Kreos Capital. The cash flows in 2019 primarily reflect the underwritten public offering of the Company's ADSs in February 2019, as well as net proceeds from the ATM program.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

BioLineRx will hold a conference call today, Thursday, February 23, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. EST. To access the conference call, please dial [phone] from the US or [phone] internationally. The call will also be available via webcast and can be accessed through the Investor Relations page of BioLineRx's website. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download any necessary software to listen to the live broadcast.

A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after completion of the live conference call on the Investor Relations page of BioLineRx's website. A dial-in replay of the call will be available until February 25, 2021; please dial [phone] from the US or [phone] internationally.

(Tables follow)

About BioLineRx

BioLineRx Ltd. (TASE: BLRX) is a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology. The Company's business model is to in-license novel compounds, develop them through clinical stages, and then partner with pharmaceutical companies for further clinical development and/or commercialization.

The Company's lead program, Motixafortide (BL-8040), is a cancer therapy platform that was successfully evaluated in a Phase 3 study in stem-cell mobilization for autologous bone-marrow transplantation. Motixafortide was also successfully evaluated in a Phase 2a study for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in combination with KEYTRUDA® and chemotherapy under a clinical trial collaboration agreement with MSD (BioLineRx owns all rights to motixafortide), and is currently being studied in combination with LIBTAYO® and chemotherapy as a first-line PDAC therapy.

BioLineRx is developing a second oncology program, AGI-134, an immunotherapy treatment for multiple solid tumors that is currently being investigated in a Phase 1/2a study