Checkpoint Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Highlights

NEW YORK, Nov. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. (“Checkpoint”) (NASDAQ: CKPT), a clinical-stage immunotherapy and targeted oncology company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients with solid tumor cancers, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020, and recent corporate highlights.

James F. Oliviero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Checkpoint, said, “We are excited to have presented updated positive interim results from the ongoing registration-enabling clinical trial of cosibelimab for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (“mCSCC”) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (“ESMO”) Virtual Congress 2020. These compelling data underscore cosibelimab’s potential to be best-in-class. We expect to complete enrollment of the registration-enabling cohort in mCSCC in early 2021 and anticipate reporting top-line results in the second half of the year. Based on our planned pricing strategy, we believe cosibelimab can be a market-disruptive product in the $25 billion PD-(L)1 class. Importantly, in order to support the continued development of cosibelimab, as well as our broader oncology pipeline, we expanded our cash runway through the successful completion of a $20.5 million financing during the third quarter.”

Recent Corporate Highlights:

  • In September 2020, Checkpoint announced updated positive interim results from the ongoing global, open-label, multicohort, Phase 1 clinical trial of its anti-PD-L1 antibody, cosibelimab, in patients with advanced cancers, including the registration-enabling cohort of patients with mCSCC. Cosibelimab demonstrated a 51.4% objective response rate (“ORR”) and 13.5% complete response rate, which is nearly double the complete response rate observed at the time of previous analysis. These interim data were presented at the ESMO Virtual Congress 2020.
  • In September 2020, Checkpoint closed on gross total of approximately $20.5 million in an underwritten public offering of its common stock before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering-related expenses.
  • Earlier this month, Checkpoint announced the expansion of a long-term manufacturing partnership for cosibelimab with Samsung Biologics. Building upon an existing contract manufacturing agreement entered into in 2017, Samsung Biologics will provide additional commercial-scale drug substance manufacturing for cosibelimab.

Financial Results:

  • Cash Position: As of September 30, 2020, Checkpoint’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $42.0 million, compared to $26.1 million as of December 31, 2019, an increase of $15.9 million year-to-date.
  • R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were $2.5 million, compared to $3.9 million for the third quarter of 2019, a decrease of $1.4 million. Research and development expenses for the third quarters of 2020 and 2019 each included $0.2 million of non-cash stock expenses.
  • G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2020 were $2.4 million, compared to $1.6 million for the third quarter of 2019, an increase of $0.8 million. General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2020 included $1.3 million of non-cash stock expenses, compared to $0.7 million in stock compensation expense for the third quarter of 2019.
  • Net Loss: Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the third quarter of 2020 was $4.9 million, or $0.09 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.15 per share, in the third quarter of 2019.

About Checkpoint Therapeutics
Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. (“Checkpoint”) is a clinical-stage immunotherapy and targeted oncology company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel treatments for patients with solid tumor cancers. Checkpoint is evaluating its lead antibody product candidate, cosibelimab, a potential best-in-class anti-PD-L1 antibody licensed from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in an ongoing global, open-label, multicohort Phase 1 clinical trial in checkpoint therapy-naïve patients with selected recurrent or metastatic cancers, including ongoing cohorts in locally advanced and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma intended to support one or more applications for marketing approval. In addition, Checkpoint is evaluating its lead small-molecule, targeted anti-cancer agent, CK-101, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (“EGFR”) inhibitor, as a potential new treatment for patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Checkpoint is headquartered in New York City and was founded by Fortress Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ: FBIO). For more information, visit www.checkpointtx.com.

Forward‐Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our plans to submit one or more Biologics License Applications and seek approvals for cosibelimab, statements regarding the potential differentiation of cosibelimab, including a potentially favorable safety profile as compared to the currently available anti-PD-1 therapies, statements relating to the half-life and functional Fc domain of cosibelimab translating into potential enhanced efficacy, statements relating to the timing of the completion of enrollment and full top-line results, statements relating to how long we believe our cash will fund our operations, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs, and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock value. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include: risks that regulatory authorities will not accept an application for approval of cosibelimab based on data from the ongoing Phase 1 study; risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks relating to the timing of starting and completing clinical trials; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law, and we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Company Contacts:
Jaclyn Jaffe and William Begien
Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc.
(781) 652-4500
ir@checkpointtx.com

Investor Relations Contact:
Ashley R. Robinson
Managing Director, LifeSci Advisors, LLC
(617) 430-7577
arr@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Relations Contact:
Tony Plohoros
6 Degrees
(908) 591-2839
tplohoros@6degreespr.com

 
CHECKPOINT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
       
  September 30, 2020   December 31, 2019
  (Unaudited)    
ASSETS      
Current Assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 42,029     $ 26,077  
Prepaid expenses and other assets   588       863  
Other receivables - related party   28       26  
Total current assets   42,645       26,966  
Total Assets $ 42,645     $ 26,966  
       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY      
Current Liabilities:      
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 5,665     $ 7,257  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses - related party   755       862  
Total current liabilities   6,420       8,119  
Total Liabilities   6,420       8,119  
       
Commitments and Contingencies      
       
Stockholders' Equity      
Common Stock ($0.0001 par value), 95,000,000 shares authorized      
Class A common shares, 7,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019   1       1  
Common shares, 60,883,303 and 47,004,764 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively   6       5  
Common stock issuable, 0 and 1,459,305 shares as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively   -       2,510  
Additional paid-in capital   169,185       136,442  
Accumulated deficit   (132,967 )     (120,111 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity   36,225       18,847  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 42,645     $ 26,966  
       


CHECKPOINT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
  For the three months ended September 30,   For the nine months ended September 30,
   2020    2019    2020    2019
Revenue - related party $ 28     $ 280     $ 1,042     $ 1,683  
               
Operating expenses:              
Research and development   2,543       3,894       8,207       12,595  
General and administrative   2,429       1,620       5,794       5,081  
Total operating expenses   4,972       5,514       14,001       17,676  
Loss from operations   (4,944 )     (5,234 )     (12,959 )     (15,993 )
               
Other income              
Interest income   14       28       103       105  
Total other income   14       28       103       105  
Net Loss $ (4,930 )   $ (5,206 )   $ (12,856 )   $ (15,888 )
               
Loss per Share:              
Basic and diluted net loss per common share outstanding $ (0.09 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.24 )   $ (0.48 )
               
Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding   56,405,734       34,561,844       53,040,215       33,178,567  
               

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Source: Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc