Initial Phase 1b monotherapy data for ERAS-007 in HERKULES-1 and first-in-human Phase 1 monotherapy data for ERAS-601 in FLAGSHP-1 expected in H2 2022
IND filing for CNS-penetrant KRAS G12C inhibitor ERAS-3490 in KRAS G12C mutant NSCLC in H2 2022
Bolstered clinical, operational, and commercial leadership
Strong balance sheet with cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $391 million
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erasca, Inc. (Nasdaq: ERAS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company singularly focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapies for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers, today reported financial results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022, and provided business updates.
“We continued to advance our development-stage programs this quarter, while also establishing a strong clinical foundation for their future expansion. We also were excited to enter two new clinical partnerships that broaden the clinical potential of ERAS-007 and ERAS-601 and complement our ongoing HERKULES and FLAGSHP-1 trials, respectively,” said Jonathan E. Lim, M.D., Erasca’s chairman, CEO, and co-founder. “These partnerships include a second clinical trial collaboration with Eli Lilly to explore cetuximab with our SHP2 inhibitor ERAS-601 in EGFR-driven cancers dependent on RAS/MAPK signaling and a partnership with Dr. Ryan Corcoran at Harvard Medical School and Dr. Scott Kopetz at MD Anderson Cancer Center to evaluate our ERK inhibitor ERAS-007 with a KRAS G12C inhibitor in KRAS G12C-driven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC), which trial is being funded under a grant from Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).”
Dr. Lim continued, “In the second half of the year, we look forward to providing clinical updates on ERAS-007 and ERAS-601 and expect to file an IND for our central nervous system (CNS)-penetrant KRAS G12C inhibitor ERAS-3490 in KRAS G12C mutant NSCLC. For ERAS-007 and ERAS-601, we expect to report preliminary monotherapy safety and pharmacokinetics data to help inform dose selection and administration for combination regimens, as well as preliminary monotherapy efficacy data for our two lead clinical candidates. With a strong balance sheet and focused therapeutic strategies, we remain on track to execute across our near-term catalysts in the second half of the year and our long-term mission to erase cancer.”
Research and Development (R&D) Highlights
Corporate Highlights
Key Upcoming Milestones
Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results
Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $390.8 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to $459.2 million as of December 31, 2021. Erasca expects its current cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities balance to fund operations into the second half of 2024.
Research and Development Expenses: R&D expenses were $27.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to $17.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The increase was primarily driven by expenses incurred in connection with clinical trials, preclinical studies, discovery activities, personnel costs due to increased headcount to support increased development activities, and stock-based compensation. Erasca also recorded $0 and $5.5 million of in-process R&D expense during the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to the issuance of shares of its common stock issued in connection with the amendment to its license agreement with The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $8.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to $5.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The increase was primarily driven by personnel costs, insurance costs, and stock-based compensation.
Net Loss: Net loss was $35.6 million, or $(0.30) per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to $28.2 million, or $(1.20) per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
About Erasca
At Erasca, our name is our mission: To erase cancer. We are a clinical-stage precision oncology company singularly focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapies for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers. Our company was co-founded by leading pioneers in precision oncology and RAS targeting to create novel therapies and combination regimens designed to comprehensively shut down the RAS/MAPK pathway for the treatment of cancer. We have assembled what we believe to be the deepest RAS/MAPK pathway-focused pipeline in the industry. We believe our team’s capabilities and experience, further guided by our scientific advisory board which includes the world’s leading experts in the RAS/MAPK pathway, uniquely position us to achieve our bold mission of erasing cancer.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Erasca cautions you that statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and include, but are not limited to: our expectations regarding the potential therapeutic benefits of our product candidates, including ERAS-007, ERAS-601, and ERAS-3490; the planned advancement of our development pipeline, including the anticipated timing of data readouts for our clinical trials and other upcoming development milestones; the expected timing of the IND filing for ERAS-3490; our ability to successfully execute on our near-term and long-term business plans; our ability to realize the benefits of the two new clinical partnerships described in this press release; and our expectation that our current cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will fund our operations into the second half of 2024. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, including, without limitation: our approach to the discovery and development of product candidates based on our singular focus on shutting down the RAS/MAPK pathway, a novel and unproven approach; potential delays in the commencement, enrollment, and completion of clinical trials and preclinical studies; our dependence on third parties in connection with manufacturing, the supply of third-party drugs, research, and preclinical and clinical testing; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate efficacy of our product candidates that may limit their development, regulatory approval, and/or commercialization, or may result in recalls or product liability claims; unfavorable results from preclinical studies or clinical trials; results from preclinical studies or early clinical trials not necessarily being predictive of future results; the inability to realize any benefits from our current licenses, CTCSAs, and acquisitions and any future licenses, CTCSAs, acquisitions, or collaborations, and our ability to fulfill our obligations under such arrangements; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates and maintain our rights under intellectual property licenses; our ability to fund our operating plans with our current cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities; our ability to maintain undisrupted business operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical events, such as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; unstable market and economic conditions having serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and stock price; and other risks described in our prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Erasca, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
June 30, | December 31, | ||||||
2022 | 2021 | ||||||
Balance Sheet Data: | |||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities | $ | 390,789 | $ | 459,245 | |||
Working capital | 359,102 | 393,636 | |||||
Total assets | 444,823 | 501,415 | |||||
Accumulated deficit | (310,232 | ) | (238,166 | ) | |||
Total stockholders’ equity | 395,067 | 456,528 | |||||
Erasca, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended June 30, |
Six months ended June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 27,488 | $ | 17,598 | $ | 54,917 | $ | 29,843 | ||||||||
In-process research and development | — | 5,488 | 2,000 | 9,168 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative | 8,417 | 5,098 | 15,493 | 8,780 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 35,905 | 28,184 | 72,410 | 47,791 | ||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (35,905 | ) | (28,184 | ) | (72,410 | ) | (47,791 | ) | ||||||||
Other income (expense) | ||||||||||||||||
Interest income | 388 | 31 | 502 | 61 | ||||||||||||
Other expense | (91 | ) | (61 | ) | (158 | ) | (116 | ) | ||||||||
Change in fair value of preferred stock purchase right liability | — | — | — | 1,615 | ||||||||||||
Total other income (expense), net | 297 | (30 | ) | 344 | 1,560 | |||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (35,608 | ) | $ | (28,214 | ) | $ | (72,066 | ) | $ | (46,231 | ) | ||||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.30 | ) | $ | (1.20 | ) | $ | (0.60 | ) | $ | (2.02 | ) | ||||
Weighted-average shares of common stock used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted | 120,193,973 | 23,546,390 | 119,844,633 | 22,893,533 | ||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | ||||||||||||||||
Unrealized loss on marketable securities, net | (272 | ) | (2 | ) | (1,061 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||
Comprehensive loss | $ | (35,880 | ) | $ | (28,216 | ) | $ | (73,127 | ) | $ | (46,234 | ) |
ERBITUX® is a registered trademark owned by or licensed to Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
BRAFTOVI® is a registered trademark owned by or licensed to Pfizer Inc., its subsidiaries, or affiliates.
Contact:
Joyce Allaire
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com
Source: Erasca, Inc.
Source: Erasca, Inc.