Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRVS), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company, today provided a business update and
reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31,
2025.
“The new soquelitinib data being presented at the Society for
Investigative Dermatology annual meeting supports its potential to
be a meaningful new treatment for atopic dermatitis, along with the
broader opportunity for ITK inhibition to provide a new mechanism
of action to treat a range of immune diseases,” said Richard A.
Miller, M.D., co-founder, president and chief executive officer of
Corvus. “Looking forward, we remain on track with our key potential
value-driving initiatives for soquelitinib in atopic dermatitis,
including data from our new extension cohort in the fourth quarter
and initiating a Phase 2 clinical trial before year-end. We also
remain excited about our other soquelitinib clinical programs –
patient enrollment in the Phase 3 registration clinical trial in
peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) and the Phase 2 trial in
autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is ongoing, and we
plan to initiate a solid tumor clinical trial later in 2025.”
Business Update and Strategy
Soquelitinib (Corvus’ selective ITK inhibitor) for
Immune Diseases
- On May 8, 2025, Corvus reported interim results (data as of May
6, 2025) from the first three cohorts of its randomized,
placebo-controlled Phase 1 clinical trial of soquelitinib in
patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis that continued
to demonstrate a favorable safety profile and efficacy profile.
This includes earlier and deeper responses in cohort 3 (200 mg
twice per day, total daily dose 400 mg) compared to cohorts 1 and 2
(100 mg twice per day and 200 mg once per day, total daily dose 200
mg). Overall, all three cohorts showed significant responses in the
soquelitinib treatment groups compared to placebo for clinically
significant endpoints of EASI (Eczema Area and Severity Index) 75
and IGA (Investigator Global Assessment) 0 or 1. Soquelitinib was
well tolerated, with no dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) and no
clinically significant laboratory abnormalities observed in any of
the cohorts.
- Corvus amended the clinical trial protocol to replace cohort 4
(400 mg once per day) with 24 patients randomized 1:1 between
active and placebo. Treatment for this group will be extended to 8
weeks with additional 30 day follow-up with no treatment. The dose
level for this group is planned to be the same as cohort 3 – 200 mg
orally twice per day.
- Corvus also continues to advance its next-generation ITK
inhibitor preclinical product candidates, which are designed to
deliver precise T-cell modulation that is optimized for specific
immunology indications.
Collaboration with National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- In April, the first patient was enrolled in the recently
initiated ALPS Phase 2 clinical trial, which is being conducted
under a clinical research and development agreement with NIAID. The
Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT06730126) is anticipated to enroll up to
30 patients aged 16 or older with confirmed ALPS based on genetic
testing.
Soquelitinib for T Cell Lymphoma
- Corvus continues to enroll patients in a registrational Phase 3
clinical trial of soquelitinib in patients with relapsed PTCL at
multiple clinical sites. This randomized controlled trial is
anticipated to enroll a total of 150 patients with relapsed PTCL
and is evaluating soquelitinib versus physicians’ choice of either
belinostat or pralatrexate. The primary endpoint of the trial is
progression free survival. There are no FDA fully approved agents
for the treatment of relapsed PTCL, and the FDA has granted
soquelitinib Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of T cell
lymphoma and Fast Track designation for treatment of adult patients
with relapsed or refractory peripheral T cell lymphoma after at
least 2 lines of systemic therapy.
- In March, additional data from the Phase 1/1b clinical trial of
soquelitinib for patients with T cell lymphoma that continued to
demonstrate strong indications of anti-tumor activity was presented
at the 16th Annual T-Cell Lymphoma Forum.
Collaboration with Kidney Cancer Research Consortium:
Ciforadenant (adenosine A2a receptor inhibitor)
- Corvus is collaborating with the Kidney Cancer Research
Consortium (KCRC) in a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating
ciforadenant as a potential first line therapy for metastatic renal
cell cancer (RCC) in combination with ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) and
nivolumab (anti-PD-1). The efficacy endpoint for the trial is deep
response rate, defined as complete response (CR) plus partial
responses (PRs) of greater than 50% tumor volume reduction. The
trial is fully enrolled and patients are being followed.
Partner Led Program: Mupadolimab
(anti-CD73)
- Angel Pharmaceuticals, Corvus’ partner in China, continues to
evaluate data from its Phase 1/1b clinical trial of mupadolimab in
patients with relapsed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Financial ResultsAs of March 31, 2025, Corvus
had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of
$44.2 million as compared to $52.0 million as of December 31,
2024. In May 2025, holders of 8,945,175 common stock warrants to
purchase 8,945,175 shares of common stock, exercised all of their
warrants at $3.50 per share in advance of the June 30, 2025
expiration date which resulted in cash proceeds to Corvus of
approximately $31.3 million. Included in the 8,945,175 shares were
559,073 shares purchased for $1,956,756 by Richard Miller, Corvus’
CEO, related to his early exercise of common stock warrants. Based
on its current plans, Corvus expects its cash to fund operations
into the fourth quarter of 2026.
Research and development expenses for the three months ended
March 31, 2025 totaled $7.5 million compared to $4.1 million for
the same period in 2024. The increase of approximately $3.4 million
was primarily due to higher clinical trial and manufacturing costs
associated with the development of soquelitinib as well as an
increase in personnel related costs.
Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $15.2
million, which included a gain of $25.1 million associated with the
change in fair value of the Company’s warrant liability. Net loss
for the same period in 2024 was $5.7 million. Total stock
compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was
$1.3 million compared to $0.7 million for the same period in 2024
and the non-cash loss from Corvus’ equity method investment in
Angel Pharmaceuticals was $0.5 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2025 compared to non-cash income of $0.2 million for the
same period in 2024.
Conference Call DetailsCorvus will host a
conference call and webcast today, Thursday, May 8, 2025,
at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT), during which time
management will provide a business update and discuss the first
quarter 2025 financial results. The conference call can be accessed
by dialing 1-800-717-1738 (toll-free domestic) or 1-646-307-1865
(international) or by clicking on this link for instant telephone
access to the event. The live webcast may be accessed via the
investor relations section of the Corvus website. A replay of the
webcast will be available on Corvus’ website for 90 days.
About Corvus PharmaceuticalsCorvus
Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
pioneering the development of ITK inhibition as a new approach to
immunotherapy for a broad range of cancer and immune diseases. The
Company’s lead product candidate is soquelitinib, an
investigational, oral, small molecule drug that selectively
inhibits ITK. Its other clinical-stage candidates are being
developed for a variety of cancer indications. For more
information, visit www.corvuspharma.com or follow the
Company on LinkedIn.
About SoquelitinibSoquelitinib (formerly
CPI-818) is an investigational small molecule drug given orally
designed to selectively inhibit ITK (interleukin-2-inducible T cell
kinase), an enzyme that is expressed predominantly in T cells and
plays a role in T cell and natural killer (NK) cell immune
function. Soquelitinib has been shown to affect T cell
differentiation and induce the generation of Th1 helper cells while
blocking the development of both Th2 and Th17 cells and production
of their secreted cytokines. Th1 T cells are required for immunity
to tumors, viral infections and other infectious diseases. Th2 and
Th17 helper T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of many
autoimmune and allergic diseases. The Company believes the
inhibition of specific molecular targets in T cells may be of
therapeutic benefit for patients with cancers, including solid
tumors, and in patients with autoimmune and allergic diseases.
Recent studies have demonstrated that ITK controls a switch between
the differentiation of Th17 proinflammatory cells and T regulatory
suppressor cells. Inhibition of ITK leads to a shift toward T
regulatory cell differentiation which has the potential to suppress
autoimmune and inflammatory reactions. Based on interim results
from a Phase 1/1b clinical trial in patients with refractory T cell
lymphomas, which demonstrated tumor responses in very advanced,
refractory, difficult to treat T cell malignancies, the Company has
initiated a registrational Phase 3 clinical trial (NCT06561048) of
soquelitinib in patients with relapsed PTCL. Soquelitinib is also
now being investigated in a randomized placebo-controlled phase 1
clinical trial in patients with atopic dermatitis. A recent
publication describing the chemistry, enzymology and biology of
soquelitinib appeared in npj Drug Discovery in December 2024 and is
available online at the Nature website and on the Publications and
Presentations page of the Corvus website.
About Peripheral T Cell LymphomaPeripheral T
cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of malignancies accounting
for about 10% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) in Western
populations, reaching 20% to 25% of NHL in some parts of Asia and
South America. The most common subtypes are PTCL-not otherwise
specified (PTCL-NOS) and T follicular helper cell lymphoma. First
line treatment for these diseases is typically combination
chemotherapy; however, approximately 75% of patients either do not
respond or relapse within the first two years. Patients in relapse
are treated with various chemotherapy agents but have poor overall
outcomes with median progression-free survival in the three to four
month range and overall median survival of six to 12 months. There
are no approved drugs in relapsed PTCL based on randomized
trials.
PTCL is a disease of mature helper T cells that express ITK,
often containing numerous genetic mutations and frequently
associated with viral infection. Most often the malignant cells of
PTCL express a Th2 phenotype.
About Atopic DermatitisAtopic dermatitis, also
called eczema, is a chronic disease that can cause inflammation,
redness, scaly patches, blisters and irritation of the skin. It
affects up to 20% of children and up to 10% of adults, and
treatments include topical therapies, oral therapies and systemic
injectable biologic therapies. It is frequently associated with
other allergic disorders such as food allergies and asthma. Atopic
dermatitis, like asthma and allergy, involves the participation of
Th2 lymphocytes which secrete cytokines that result in
inflammation. Soquelitinib has been shown in preclinical studies to
inhibit cytokine production from Th2 lymphocytes.
About Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
(ALPS)ALPS is a rare genetic disease affecting children
that manifests with lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, cytopenias (low
blood counts), proteinuria and autoimmunity. The disease is caused
by a mutation in the Fas gene, which provides instructions for
making a signaling protein involved in the induction of apoptosis.
The mutation results in immune dysregulation due to abnormally high
levels of “double negative” T cells (CD4 and CD8 double negative),
which infiltrate the blood, spleen and lymphoid tissues. Fas
signaling is regulated by ITK and T cell receptor signaling and
patients with ALPS have an imbalance in this regulation resulting
in a failure of T cells to undergo apoptosis and an accumulation of
abnormal T cells.
About CiforadenantCiforadenant (CPI-444) is an
investigational small molecule, oral, checkpoint inhibitor designed
to disable a tumor’s ability to subvert attack by the immune system
by blocking the binding of adenosine to immune cells present in the
tumor microenvironment. Adenosine, a metabolite of ATP (adenosine
tri-phosphate), is produced within the tumor microenvironment where
it may bind to the adenosine A2a receptor present on immune cells
and block their activity. Ciforadenant has been shown to block the
immunosuppressive effects of myeloid cells present in tumors and
preclinical studies published in 2018 demonstrated synergy with
combinations of anti PD1 and anti-CTLA4 antibodies.
About MupadolimabMupadolimab (CPI-006) is an
investigational, potent humanized monoclonal antibody that is
designed to react with a specific site on CD73. In preclinical
studies, it has demonstrated immunomodulatory activity resulting in
activation of lymphocytes, induction of antibody production from B
cells and effects on lymphocyte trafficking. Unlike certain other
anti-CD73 antibodies and small molecules in development for
treatment of cancer, which react with a different region of CD73,
mupadolimab is designed to react with a region of the molecule that
acts to stimulate B cells and block production of immunosuppressive
adenosine. It is postulated that the activation of B cells will
enhance immunity within the tumors, leading to improved clinical
outcomes.
About Angel PharmaceuticalsAngel
Pharmaceuticals is a privately held biopharmaceutical company
developing a pipeline of precisely targeted investigational
medicines for cancer, autoimmune, infectious and other serious
diseases in China. Angel Pharmaceuticals was launched through a
collaboration with Corvus and investments from investors in China.
Angel Pharmaceuticals licensed the rights to develop and
commercialize Corvus’ three clinical-stage candidates –
soquelitinib, ciforadenant and mupadolimab – in greater China and
obtained global rights to Corvus’ BTK inhibitor preclinical
programs. Under the collaboration, Corvus currently has a 49.7%
equity stake in Angel Pharmaceuticals excluding 7% of Angel’s
equity reserved for issuance under the Angel employee stock
ownership plan, and Corvus has designated three individuals on
Angel’s five-person Board of Directors. For more information, visit
www.angelpharma.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements, including statements related
to the potential safety and efficacy of the Company’s product
candidates; the interim results from the Phase 1 trial of
soquelitinib in patients with atopic dermatitis; the potential use
of soquelitinib to treat a variety of hematological cancers and
autoimmune diseases; clinical strategy and the design of clinical
trials, including the timeline for initiation, target or expected
number of patients to be enrolled, dose levels, number of sites and
other product development milestones; the availability and timing
of clinical and preclinical data announcements and clinical
readouts, including data from the extension cohort of the Phase 1
clinical trial for atopic dermatitis with soquelitinib; and the
amount of cash to fund operations into the first quarter of 2026.
All statements other than statements of historical fact contained
in this press release are forward-looking statements. These
statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “seek,” “will,” “may”
or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or
circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s
actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied
in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including
but not limited to, risks detailed in the Company’s Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the
date hereof, as well as other documents that may be filed by the
Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In particular, the following factors, among others,
could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements: the Company’s ability
to demonstrate sufficient evidence of efficacy and safety in its
clinical trials of its product candidates; the accuracy of the
Company’s estimates relating to its ability to initiate and/or
complete preclinical studies and clinical trials and release data
from such studies and clinical trials; the results of preclinical
studies and interim data from clinical trials not being predictive
of future results; the Company’s ability to enroll sufficient
numbers of patients in its clinical trials; the unpredictability of
the regulatory process; regulatory developments in the United
States and foreign countries; the costs of clinical trials may
exceed expectations; the Company’s ability to accurately estimate
the cash on hand providing funding into the first quarter of 2026
and the Company’s ability to raise additional capital. Although the
Company believes that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that
the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking
statements will be achieved or occur, and the timing of events and
circumstances and actual results could differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you
should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and
the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. The Company’s results for
the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 are not necessarily
indicative of its operating results for any future periods.
|
CORVUS
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except share and
per share data) |
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
(unaudited) |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
Research and development |
$ |
7,453 |
|
|
$ |
4,075 |
|
General and administrative |
|
2,469 |
|
|
|
2,178 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
9,922 |
|
|
|
6,253 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
(9,922 |
) |
|
|
(6,253 |
) |
Interest income and other expense, net |
|
525 |
|
|
|
316 |
|
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
25,129 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Income (loss) before equity method investment |
|
15,732 |
|
|
|
(5,937 |
) |
Income (loss) from equity method investment |
|
(539 |
) |
|
|
236 |
|
Net income (loss) |
$ |
15,193 |
|
|
$ |
(5,701 |
) |
Net income (loss) per share, basic |
$ |
0.21 |
|
|
$ |
(0.12 |
) |
Net loss per share, diluted |
$ |
(0.13 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.12 |
) |
Shares used to compute net income (loss) per share, basic |
|
72,126,496 |
|
|
|
49,038,582 |
|
Shares used to compute net loss per share, diluted |
|
75,152,514 |
|
|
|
49,038,582 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CORVUS
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) |
|
|
March
31, |
|
December
31, |
|
2025 |
|
2024 |
|
(unaudited) |
|
|
Assets |
|
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities |
$ |
44,212 |
|
|
$ |
51,964 |
|
Operating lease right-of-use asset |
|
1,095 |
|
|
|
1,177 |
|
Other assets |
|
2,073 |
|
|
|
3,226 |
|
Investment in Angel Pharmaceuticals |
|
12,058 |
|
|
|
12,540 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
59,438 |
|
|
$ |
68,907 |
|
Liabilities and stockholders' equity |
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other liabilities |
$ |
5,179 |
|
|
$ |
6,307 |
|
Operating lease liability |
|
1,153 |
|
|
|
1,122 |
|
Warrant liability |
|
3,781 |
|
|
|
28,910 |
|
Stockholders' equity |
|
49,325 |
|
|
|
32,568 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$ |
59,438 |
|
|
$ |
68,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
INVESTOR CONTACT:Leiv LeaChief Financial
OfficerCorvus Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.+1-650-900-4522llea@corvuspharma.com
MEDIA CONTACT:Sheryl SeapyReal
Chemistry+1-949-903-4750sseapy@realchemistry.com
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