Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION
AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT NOTICE
This Form 10-Q contains certain
forward-looking statements. For this purpose, any statements contained in this Form 10-Q that are not statements of historical fact may
be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as “may,” “will,”
“expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate” or “continue” or comparable
terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and
uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within our control. These
factors include but are not limited to economic conditions generally and in the industries in which we may participate; competition within
our chosen industry, including competition from much larger competitors; technological advances and failure to successfully develop business
relationships.
Description of Business
Actinium
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Actinium”) is a biopharmaceutical company developing targeted radiotherapies to deliver
cancer-killing radiation with cellular level precision to treat patients with high unmet medical needs. Our vision is to build a
specialty, hospital focused, radiotherapeutics company that develops and markets medicines for relapsed or refractory cancer
patients who are treated primarily in large quaternary care hospitals and their catchment areas. We intend to leverage the clinical
data of our lead product candidates, Iomab-B and Actimab-A, to improve outcomes in patients with relapsed or refractory acute
myeloid leukemia (“r/r AML”) by launching two radiotherapy drugs over the next several years to address the significant
need for better outcomes from treatment with therapeutics or from undergoing a bone marrow transplant (“BMT”).
We also intend to further
advance Iomab-B outside of acute myeloid leukemia (“AML”) based on promising data as a disease control and conditioning agent
for various other blood cancers. Based on early promising clinical trial results, we are also working on a lower dose, next generation
conditioning program, Iomab-ACT, for rapidly growing cell and gene therapies.
Our Clinical Pipeline
AML is an aggressive, heterogeneous
disease that is difficult-to-treat. Most AML patients develop relapsed or refractory disease within one year of being afflicted and have
an extremely poor prognosis and dismal survival. Currently, a BMT is the only curative regimen available for AML patients, however, access
is limited to AML patients who are fit enough to withstand the challenges associated with this treatment. The majority of AML patients
are considered not transplantable in routine clinical practice as they are not fit enough to withstand the rigors of the patient journey
which includes therapy to attain a remission, conditioning regimens to destroy diseased marrow, challenge of the transplant itself or
post-transplant complications.
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Our Iomab-B and Actimab-A
product candidates potentially fill the major unmet medical needs in r/r AML in a complementary fashion as they are directed at different
parts of the patient journey. Iomab-B is being developed as a targeted bridging therapy candidate that we believe could provide both disease
control and conditioning in one agent. We believe results from a Phase 3 trial demonstrate the possibility for unprecedented access to
a BMT and improved survival in unfit patients who are currently not considered transplantable in routine clinical practice. We are developing
Actimab-A as a targeted therapy candidate for fit patients that has demonstrated an extension in survival in a proof-of-concept study
and is poised for advanced development in collaboration with the NCI, or National Cancer Institute. Together, we believe these two product
candidates could provide us the opportunity to transform the treatment of AML, especially in the relapsed and refractory segment which
represents over 50% of AML patients.
We announced in October 2022
that Iomab-B met the primary endpoint of durable Complete Remission (“dCR”) with a high degree of statistical significance
(p<0.0001) in the pivotal Phase 3 Study of Iomab-B in Elderly Relapsed or Refractor AML, or “SIERRA trial.” In February
2023, we announced full trial results, demonstrating unprecedented transplant access and improved outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory
AML, with double 1-year and median overall survival (“OS”) compared to control arm patients. These data were presented at
the 2023 Tandem Meetings aka the Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular
Therapy (“ASTCT”) and the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (“CIBMTR”). We believe
these results from the SIERRA trial may provide the opportunity, if we are able to obtain FDA approval, to establish Iomab-B as a new
standard of care.
The results from the SIERRA
trial were recently presented and discussed at major oncology medical and nursing congresses, which is helping to broaden the awareness
of Iomab-B among members of the relevant medical and scientific communities as we prepare for potential commercialization if we achieve
FDA approval. On April 27, 2023, the results from the SIERRA trial were also showcased at the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
(“EBMT”) 49 th Annual Meeting, which is well-attended by the European transplant community. On April 28, 2023, we
announced that two posters that detailed clinical findings from the SIERRA trial sites were presented at the 48 th Annual Oncology
Nursing Society (“ONS”) Congress. We believe that the scientific community present at such events took note of the successful
administration of Iomab-B infusions at various BMT centers, which was done without increasing radiation exposure risks to treating nursing
staff. On May 11, 2023, we announced that these results were also accepted for oral presentation at the European Hematology Association
(“EHA”) 2023 Hybrid Congress to be held in Frankfurt, Germany on June 8-11, 2023.
We are working towards completing
and submitting our Biologics License Application (“BLA”) for Iomab-B to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)
in the second half of 2023 and if approved, we intend to commercialize Iomab-B in the U.S.
We are committed to bringing
Iomab-B to patients globally and are working with Immedica AB (“Immedica”), our European, Middle East and North Africa (“EUMENA”)
partner, for the subsequent marketing authorization application (“MAA”) of Iomab-B with the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”).
Europe represents a large commercial market opportunity with approximately twice as many transplants performed in Europe compared to the
U.S.
Actimab-A is being developed
under what we believe to be the current industry-leading clinical-study program utilizing the potent alpha radiation emitting isotope
Actinium-225 (“Ac-225”) with clinical data in approximately 150 patients treated over 6 clinical trials. The potent linear
energy transfer emitted by Ac-225 has no known resistance mechanism. Actimab-A is being developed in combination with other regimens to
exploit mechanistic synergies and leverage the mutation-agnostic mechanism of action of Ac-225 with the objective of establishing it as
a backbone therapy in AML, an extremely heterogenous disease.
We believe our Actimab-A +
CLAG-M therapeutic combination trial results in r/r AML provide validation of this approach, which such results were presented at the
American Society of Hematology (“ASH”) 2022 Annual Meeting & Exposition in December 2022. Phase 1 results from the Actimab-A
+ CLAG-M combination trial showed high response rates and minimal residual disease (“MRD”) negativity, translating to a survival
benefit of 53% and 32% at one and two years in patients who are typically expected to live two to four months. At the same meeting, we
shared Phase 1 data showing that the combination of Actimab-A + venetoclax was well-tolerated with responses, including a Complete Remission
(“CR”) and a partial response in early dose escalation cohorts. We believe the promise of these results may pave the way for
the NCI Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (“CRADA”), announced on February 6, 2023, to develop Actimab-A for
the treatment of patients with AML and other hematologic malignancies.
To explore the potential for
a broader development opportunity with our Actimab-A program, we are studying the potential use of Actimab-A in solid tumor indications
through our R&D efforts. CD33-expressing myeloid derived suppressor cells (“MDSCs") are present within the tumor microenvironment
and exert immunosuppressive effects. On April 18, 2023, we presented preclinical data at the Association for Cancer Research (“AACR”)
Annual Meeting that depicted Actimab-A’s role in the tumor microenvironment to overcome immunosuppression driven by MDSCs. We believe
that our findings thus far show Actimab-A’s potential to selectively deplete MDSCs in lung and colorectal cancer. Actimab-A also
demonstrated superior depletion of human MDSCs compared to Mylotarg, a CD33-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (“ADC”) in colorectal
cancer (p<0.01), highlighting the powerful cytotoxicity and potential therapeutic benefit of radiotherapy compared to naked antibodies
or ADCs. We believe that the data we have gathered to-date continues to support our objective to demonstrate the potential for Actimab-A
to be a backbone therapy to broadly improve antitumor activity of immunotherapies and other therapeutic modalities.
Our differentiated R&D
efforts are further exemplified by our next-generation Iomab-ACT conditioning program for rapidly growing cell and gene therapies, as
well as our solid tumor and immunotherapy collaborations with Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”), AVEO Oncology/LG Chem (“LG
Chem”) and EpicentRx, Inc. (“EpicentRx”). We have several ongoing programs in solid tumors at the pre-clinical stage
with investigational new drug (“IND”) enabling studies underway.
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Our platform has been used
to develop a pipeline of novel radiotherapeutic assets to drive company growth. Preclinical pharmacology studies with our targeted radiotherapeutics
such as HER3-ARC, HER2-ARC or CD33-ARC have shown strong improvement in tumor growth inhibition in various preclinical tumor models as
single agents or in combination with immunotherapy such as magrolimab, an anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody. These results have prompted the
team to spearhead efforts in multiple solid tumor programs.
Actinium’s lead solid
tumor program is a targeted radiotherapy against HER3, a pan-cancer target that is overexpressed in several solid tumor indications with
high unmet need. We have aligned our R&D strategy of advancing solid tumors into the clinic with our Actimab-A program. We recently
presented pre-clinical data at the AACR 2023 Annual Meeting, highlighting this opportunity. We believe the results support further testing
to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of HER3-targeted radiotherapy. HER3 conjugated to either alpha-emitting Ac-225 or beta-emitting Lutetium-177
(“Lu-177”) displayed anticancer activity in ovarian and colorectal cancer preclinical models. The consistent overexpression
of HER3 in multiple solid tumor types, including ovarian, renal, prostate, urothelial, breast, and lung cancers suggests broad utility
of a HER3-targeted agent in a clinical setting, which we intend to explore further. In addition, our intellectual property (“IP”)
portfolio includes over 200 issued patents and pending patent applications worldwide
We are actively working on
launching an early access program (“EAP”) for Iomab-B and intend to file a BLA by year-end while preparing for a U.S. commercial
launch, if such BLA is approved by FDA, and working with our partner Immedica to support the Marketing Authorization Application (“MAA”)
and, if approved by EMA, commercialization in the EU. Late-stage Actimab-A development is expected to begin in the second half of 2023
under the NCI CRADA. With the approximately $94.5 million cash on hand as of March 31, 2023, we expect to fund operations through 2025
as we continue to drive ahead with realizing our five-year plan.
Market Opportunity
The market opportunity for
Iomab-B and Actimab-A, as depicted in the diagram below, exists in AML and for cellular therapy conditioning in various blood cancers.
We believe that Iomab-B and Actimab-A can fill the major unmet medical needs in r/r AML in a complementary fashion as they are utilized
in different parts of the patient treatment journey. The incidence of AML is approximately 21,000 patients per year, with a prevalence
of approximately 70,000 in the U.S., (approximately 27,500 new patients per year in Europe) and the disease has an outsized economic impact
relative to its population size. Over 50% of patients diagnosed with AML will develop relapsed or refractory disease, with a median age
of 68 years at diagnosis. Despite 10 new approved therapies since 2017, no significant advancements have been made toward a cure and there
is an important unmet medical need for better therapeutics, which provide the opportunity for Actimab-A. Actimab-A is a targeted radiotherapy
for fit patients that has demonstrated an impressive improvement in survival in a proof-of-concept study and is poised for advanced development
in collaboration with the NCI. Using Actimab-A in combination with chemotherapy or a targeted therapy, we have the potential opportunity
to treat both newly diagnosed or r/r AML patients, with the potential addressable population comparable to the prevalence of patients
with AML.
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Today, less than 20% of AML
patients are able to access a BMT, currently the only potentially curative option. These patients are usually younger, fit, and able to
withstand the challenges associated with this treatment, leaving the large majority of AML patients ineligible for transplant. This provides
an opportunity for Iomab-B, which has demonstrated the ability to enable unfit patients to benefit from a BMT. Thus Iomab-B can potentially
expand the market from the approximately 400 r/r AML patients who are transplanted currently to approximately 8,000 unfit patients that
could be eligible for transplant. Iomab-B has demonstrated the ability to improve BMT access with extended survival and potentially curative
outcomes in several other hematological diseases outside of AML. Several clinical trials in over 300 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
(“MDS”), acute lymphocytic leukemia (“ALL”), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (“HL”), Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
(“NHL”) and multiple myeloma (“MM”) have demonstrated the same value proposition as in AML. This data provides
a potential opportunity to expand the market for Iomab-B beyond AML via label expansion. In the U.S., there are approximately 185,000
patients diagnosed annually with blood cancers (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma) that are treatable with BMT, of which, approximately
20,000 are transplanted, leaving greater than 165,000 patients who could potentially benefit from transplant. These patients do not receive
a BMT today primarily because they are unfit with active disease and are not considered eligible, as they cannot tolerate the rigors of
therapy required to induce a remission and the conditioning agents required to ablate the marrow prior to a BMT.
Beyond BMT, the opportunity
exists for better conditioning in other areas of cellular therapy such as CAR-T as well as gene therapies. The pipeline of CAR-T and gene
therapies has rapidly expanded, with the addressable patient population expected to nearly double in the next one to five years and reach
approximately 93,000 patients in the U.S. by 2030 based on the current pipeline of cellular therapies. The CAR-T market size in terms
of dollars is estimated to grow at a CAGR of approximately 11% over the next 5 plus years. The addressable market for Iomab-ACT is in
line with the patient population for cellular therapy as all patients receive conditioning of some type prior to these treatments. We
will continue to develop Iomab-ACT, our lower dose, next generation conditioning program for rapidly growing cell and gene therapies based
on early promising results, ultimately with the value proposition of improving overall access and outcomes for patients who need cellular
or gene therapies.
Our Strategy
Actinium’s strategy
is to build a fully integrated, specialty radiotherapeutics company focused on the top 100 cancer hospitals using the power of our platform
to deliver new treatment options for patient populations living with high unmet medical needs in hematology and oncology. We believe our
focus on relapsed and refractory disease in cancer indications with high unmet medical need, with limited or no competition, and where
the primary delivery of care occurs in large comprehensive cancer care centers, is the appropriate strategy for our company. The cell
killing power of linear energy transfer delivered via radiotherapeutics is unmatched by other technologies and we believe relapsed, refractory
disease is an area where radiotherapeutics can succeed over other approaches. However, radiotherapeutics must be delivered on a just-in-time
basis, and commercial and supply chain barriers are higher than with other types of medicines. The validity of our approach is demonstrated
by our product development strategy as well as the commercial and operating model that we are building for our lead product candidates,
Iomab-B and Actimab-A.
We intend to transform the
treatment of AML with our Iomab-B and Actimab-A product candidates, each of which has demonstrated extension of survival in the most difficult-to-treat
patients who are typically expected to survive for two to four months. The r/r AML segment comprises over 50% of all AML patients. Actimab-A,
a therapeutic agent, and Iomab-B for induction and conditioning, can be used in a complementary fashion as depicted in the diagram below.
Based on solid clinical evidence with these product candidates, we intend to develop and commercialize these two radiotherapy drugs, starting
with Iomab-B in 2024 and Actimab-A in 2027, if approved, to improve survival in patients with r/r AML.
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Iomab-B and Actimab-A have the potential
to significantly improve r/r AML outcomes in a complementary manner
The operating model required to achieve our vision
is attractive for several reasons, including the concentrated point of care; the top 50 transplant centers account for approximately 75%
of BMTs and the top 100 hospitals treat over 50 percent of r/r AML patients. Further, there is significant overlap in the healthcare providers
and ecosystem required to diagnose, treat and care for r/r AML patients within these hospitals, which will enable us to deploy a relatively
small commercial organization and operate a supply chain without the need for large investments. Our product pipeline is targeting a broader
opportunity in conditioning via label expansion of Iomab-B into BMT for other blood cancers and with Iomab-ACT, our next generation conditioning
program for rapidly growing cell and gene therapies. Further, our solid tumor programs are initially directed at relapsed or refractory
cancers, a stage of disease where treatment is again concentrated in large hospitals, which account for a significant portion of patients.
We believe our strategy will enable us to build a successful company with high operating efficiencies and is feasible to achieve without
requiring a commercial partner.
Our strategic priorities are to:
●
Establish Iomab-B as the standard of care to improve BMT access and survival outcomes in r/r AML patients who are currently not considered transplantable in routine clinical practice: We intend to file a BLA in the second half of 2023 based on the positive results from the Pivotal Phase 3 SIERRA trial and leverage our operating track record at key cancer centers to build an organization that can effectively commercialize Iomab-B. By virtue of the SIERRA trial, we have established operations at 24 leading BMT centers that represent about 30% of transplant volume in the U.S. and have strong working partnership with Key Opinion Leaders and their teams. The SIERRA results demonstrating unprecedented access to BMT and outcomes along with our commitment to operational excellence provides a strong foundation for our commercial team in the U.S. We will also work with our partner Immedica to file the MAA for the EU and support Iomab-B’s potential approval and launch with our expertise, as well as supply drug product for commercialization.
●
Advance Actimab-A in combinations as a backbone therapy for r/r AML: We intend to progress late-stage development of Actimab-A to leverage its mutation-agnostic mechanism of action and exploit synergies in combination with other treatments to develop it as an AML backbone therapy. This approach is validated by proof-of-concept data from our Actimab-A + CLAG-M combination trial in r/r AML, which included 57% of patients who had failed venetoclax and are expected to live two to four months on average. The results demonstrated high response rates overall and in these venetoclax failed patients’ median OS was 59% at one year and thirty-two percent at two years. Our collaboration with the NCI under the CRADA could provide broad support for late-stage development of Actimab-A + CLAG-M and also other clinical trials to broaden use of Actimab-A. Actimab-A, if approved, would enable us to launch a second product that is complementary to Iomab-B and fulfill our ambition of transforming the treatment outcomes of r/r AML and expand our commercial footprint into the remaining top 100 cancer care centers outside of the leading BMT hospitals.
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●
Expand the Iomab-B label and revenue stream via life cycle management: We intend to leverage data from several clinical trials that demonstrate the ability of Iomab-B to improve BMT access and outcomes in five additional hematologic indications. These data in MDS, ALL, HL, NHL and MM provide the foundation to expand the label for Iomab-B and increase its market potential. In AML, we would seek label expansion into haploidentical transplants, earlier lines of treatment and younger patients below the age of 55, the cutoff in the SIERRA trial. As much as possible, we would seek to use investigator sponsored trials as the primary strategy for label expansion in order to maximize capital utilization.
●
Further expand our conditioning franchise by developing Iomab-ACT for cell and gene therapies: We plan to develop Iomab-ACT to be used for either lymphodepletion or reduced intensity conditioning prior to CAR-T and gene therapies. Similar to BMT, access and outcomes of patients who might benefit from these therapies is limited by sub-optimal chemotherapy-based conditioning agents. The number of patients potentially eligible for Iomab-ACT is growing with increased availability of commercial cell and gene therapy products, as well as the expanding number of indications. We are studying Iomab-ACT in conditioning prior to CAR-T cellular therapy via a National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) funded clinical trial with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (“MSKCC”). We expect to present proof-of-concept data from this study in the second half of 2023 and announce further development of this program in the CAR-T space.
●
Leverage our R&D capabilities and technological prowess to advance our solid tumor programs and partnerships: We intend to continue to direct our R&D effort to advance our solid tumor programs into the clinic and support life cycle management for Iomab-B and Actimab-A. Our solid tumor programs and technological capabilities are validated by our partnerships with Astellas, LG Chem, and EpicentRx, which are focused on solid tumors and immunotherapies. Our R&D capability is demonstrated by our patent portfolio with over 200 issued and pending patent applications worldwide which include protection for Iomab-B into 2037. Our IP portfolio also includes several patent families to manufacture Ac-225 in a cyclotron and includes valuable know-how.
● In keeping with our strategic vision over the
next five years, we plan to first focus on ensuring an Iomab-B approval and successful launch into core BMT centers to support commercial
success. We intend to expand the Iomab-B label and revenue stream while progressing the development of Actimab-A by leveraging the NCI
CRADA. We will progress the development of Iomab-ACT to proof-of-concept and explore potential partnerships as a means to achieve commercialization.
Our solid tumor programs will progress toward the clinic as we continue to build out our commercial footprint into the top 100 hospitals
leaving us positioned to develop them in line with our vision. With commercial dynamics aligning favorably for a successful Iomab-B launch
and with late-stage development of Actimab-A in collaboration with the NCI, we plan to deliver on our mission to transform the treatment
of AML and patient outcomes, and create a highly differentiated, specialty radiotherapeutics company focused on the top 100 large hospitals.
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Our Product Pipeline
We have strategically focused our development
efforts in areas where there is a significant unmet medical need. We are developing a portfolio of novel radiotherapeutics that has the
potential to positively impact the outcomes of people living with hard-to-treat diseases such as r/r AML via both a therapeutic and induction/conditioning
agent. Outside of AML, our pipeline development offers the opportunity to enhance the value proposition of cell and gene therapies with
our targeted conditioning programs.
AML Focused Programs – Iomab-B
and Actimab-A
Our Iomab-B and Actimab-A product candidates are
focused on addressing the major unmet medical needs in r/r AML in a complementary manner and are directed at different parts of the patient
journey.
Iomab-B – Targeted Radiotherapeutic
for Induction and Conditioning. A potential new standard of care enabling a curative BMT in currently non-transplantable r/r AML patients
with poor survival prognosis
Opportunity to Change the Current Paradigm
for Accessing a BMT and Improving Outcomes
The current approach in preparing patients for
a BMT is to first induce a remission with therapeutic agents to reduce the disease burden and then suppress or destroy the patient’s
immune system, including the diseased bone marrow, with conditioning regimens prior to transplanting the healthy donor hematopoietic stem
cells, which are expected to restore normal bone marrow function following engraftment. As this approach requires patients to withstand
multiple challenges from non-targeted therapies, which include chemotherapy agents and/or total body irradiation that are highly toxic,
BMT is typically limited to FIT patients. Iomab-B is a targeted therapy that provides both disease control and conditioning in one agent
and is well-tolerated even by UNFIT patients who typically are not transplanted in routine practice today. The SIERRA trial was designed
to demonstrate that UNFIT patients with active disease could be administered Iomab-B and proceed directly to a BMT without the need for
inducing a remission and that this approach could result in improved survival and curative outcomes. As seen by the positive results of
the SIERRA trial detailed below, Iomab-B represents an exciting new paradigm in the management of AML patients and establishes a potential
new standard of care especially for UNFIT patients in the relapsed or refractory setting.
A similar approach has also been tried in the
Phase 3 ASAP trial but with FIT patients. However, to avoid confusion between the potential of the approaches used in the ASAP and SIERRA
trials, important distinctions between these trials are depicted in the graphic below. The ASAP trial sought to demonstrate non-inferiority
between two non-novel approaches and found that outcomes similar to those of current practice could be achieved without first getting
a patient into remission before taking them to BMT by giving them sequential conditioning or treating them twice with non-targeted chemotherapy
agents that are typically used in this setting.
The ASAP approach is limited to only FIT patients
as the UNFIT patients treated in SIERRA could not tolerate ASAP’s highly toxic sequential conditioning approach. Sequential conditioning
is not novel as a similar trial to ASAP was conducted by the UK National Cancer Research Institute in 2019, which did not show any benefit
from this approach in high-risk AML and MDS patients (Craddock et al. Augmented Reduced Intensity Regimen Does Not Improve Postallogeneic
Transplant Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 2021). The SIERRA trial results therefore can change the paradigm in
transplant because non-transplantable patients in routine clinical practice can benefit from a transplant with Iomab-B and have superior
outcomes. While both approaches in these trials support increased access to BMT, only Iomab-B is applicable to the unfit patients who
comprise approximately 80%of r/r AML patients and can potentially expand the market for transplant.
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Schetelig et al. Results from the Randomized
Phase III ASAP Trial. ASH 2022
Pivotal Phase 3 SIERRA Trial for Iomab-B ( 131 Iodine-apamistamab)
The SIERRA trial was designed to demonstrate the
ability of Iomab-B to overcome challenges related to patient access to curative BMT. Unfortunately, approximately 30% of patients with
AML have primary refractory disease while 50% relapse quickly after achieving initial remission. Getting these patients with primary r/r
AML into remission is very challenging due to characteristics such as age, comorbidities, and disease features such as high-risk mutations
that contribute to lack of response to salvage therapies and limit treatment options.
Patients must be able to overcome several challenges
related to curative BMT. The first access challenge is that the patient needs to be in complete remission prior to BMT. The current clinical
practice is not to transplant patients with active AML as outcomes are poor due to high relapse rates. The National Comprehensive Cancer
Network (“NCCN”) guidelines also recommend treatment to achieve remission prior to transplant in patients with relapsed AML.
The second challenge to access is tolerance to current conditioning regimens. For older patients, myeloablative regimens are not an option
due to intense toxicity and mortality. The third challenge is the ability to achieve post-BMT remission and successful engraftment. Inadequate
conditioning can lead to graft failure, which is associated with very high mortality. Patients who fail to achieve a CR post-transplant
have extremely poor outcomes and a survival of a few weeks. The fourth challenge relates to BMT tolerability and post-BMT complications.
The conditioning and immunosuppressive regimens given to these patients put them at high risk for infectious complications and toxicity.
In the SIERRA trial, Iomab-B addresses all four of these challenges. Access to BMT is improved as CR is not needed pre-BMT given effective
disease control and targeted myeloablation. With better post-BMT engraftment, CR and lower complications, the SIERRA trial also addressed
the challenges related to improved outcomes through Iomab-B.
The SIERRA results, presented in the late-breaker
session at the 2023 Tandem Meetings: Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of the ASTCT and the CIBMTR, support Iomab-B’s
value proposition of enabling both improved access and outcomes of a BMT, thereby providing a significant curative option for r/r patients,
a segment that represents approximately 50% of all AML patients and the majority not transplanted today. The design of the SIERRA trial
is provided in the figure below.
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SIERRA: A Novel, Pivotal Phase 3 Study of
Iomab-B in r/r AML
The pivotal Phase 3 SIERRA trial is a 153-patient,
randomized, multi-center, controlled trial of Iomab-B in patients aged 55 and above with active r/r AML, who were heavily pre-treated
and had high-risk characteristics. Patients enrolled had blast counts of 5% or greater in the marrow or circulating blasts suggestive
of active AML. In this study, Iomab-B was compared to the control arm that allowed physician’s choice of over 20 available agents,
including chemotherapies and/or targeted therapies such as venetoclax (BCL-2 inhibitor), FLT3 inhibitors, IDH inhibitors and Mylotarg,
reflecting current best treatment practices attempting to get patients to CR. The control arm included recently approved AML therapies
that were added to the SIERRA protocol as they became available. The crossover arm was designed in SIERRA for an equipoise that offered
Iomab-B to patients failing to achieve a CR on the control arm with an intent to rescue them by taking them to transplant. Of note, SIERRA
had highly restrictive optionality for post-transplant maintenance. Patients with active, r/r AML are not considered eligible for BMT
with current approaches and the SIERRA trial was the only randomized Phase 3 trial to offer BMT as a treatment option for this patient
population. These patients would not be offered BMT in standard practice and therefore have dismal survival outcomes of two to three months.
The primary endpoint of the SIERRA trial was dCR of 180 days and the secondary endpoints are OS and Event-Free Survival (“EFS”).
The comparison of OS in subjects randomized to the control arm who crossed over to receive Iomab-B versus all others in the control group
was an exploratory efficacy endpoint.
As seen in the graphic below,
the primary endpoint of 6-month dCR was met with a high degree of statistical significance (p<0.0001). 75% of patients (44/59) receiving
Iomab-B achieved an initial remission 30 days after their BMT compared to 6.3% of patients (4/64) in the control arm. 22% of the patients
receiving Iomab-B maintained dCR lasting 180 days or more despite limited optionality for post-transplant maintenance, while none of the
patients on the control arm achieved dCR. The current standard practice is to administer post-transplant maintenance therapy to reduce
chances of relapse. The results presented below are on a per protocol basis, which means that only data that was in strict adherence to
the protocol without any deviations was considered for the analysis. It is important to note that the p-value of the primary endpoint
in the Intent-to-Treat (“ITT”) analysis was <0.0001, the same as the per protocol analysis.
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SIERRA Results: Iomab-B Meets Primary Endpoint
with High Significance (p<0.0001)
As demonstrated in the OS graph below, patients
who achieved 6-month dCR had 92.3% 1-year survival and 59.9% 2-year survival. Median OS had not been reached in these patients. It is
worth noting that two years in CR is a significant milestone in this patient population, highly indicative of long-term survival and a
possible curative outcome.
Overall Survival for Patients who Achieved
6-month dCR with Iomab-B
OS was one of the secondary
endpoints of the study. The Kaplan-Meier plot in the inset of the graph below shows ITT OS results between the Iomab-B arm and the control
arm. Due to the crossover design, ITT analysis of OS was confounded by the early crossover of patients (within 28 days) from the control
arm to the Iomab-B arm (57.1%). The effective rescue of these crossover patients by Iomab-B led to an outsized contribution of the Iomab-B
effect on control arm patients. As a result, median OS in the Iomab-B arm was similar to that in the control arm and this secondary endpoint
was not met in the ITT analysis.
In order to isolate the true impact of Iomab-B
on OS, one of the exploratory efficacy endpoints was the comparison of OS in subjects randomized to the control arm who crossed over to
receive Iomab-B versus all others in the control arm, as well as the control arm patients who did not crossover versus the Iomab-B arm.
The Kaplan-Meier plot of OS in the graphic below shows that this exploratory analysis demonstrated the clear benefit of Iomab-B over the
control arm. The median OS for the Iomab-B group was 6.4 months which was double the 3.2 months for the non-crossover patients in the
control arm. Patients who crossed over from the control arm to receive Iomab-B had a median OS of 7.1 months demonstrating further the
ability of Iomab-B to treat patients who are non-treatable by conventional means.
25
A similar pattern favoring the Iomab-B group was
seen across the pre-defined subgroups, where 1-year OS for Iomab-B was 26.1% compared with 13.1% for the non-crossover control arm. The
1-year OS for patients in the crossover arm was 35.8%. This clearly demonstrates the OS benefit of Iomab-B over the control arm and two
to three-fold improvement in survival outcomes possible with its use.
Kaplan-Meier Plot of Overall Survival ‒
Iomab-B, Crossover, and Non-Crossover Control Arm
Iomab-B produced a significant and clinically
meaningful improvement in the secondary endpoint of EFS, with a 78% reduction in the probability of an event (Hazard Ratio=0.22, p<0.0001
for both per protocol and ITT basis). EFS at 180 days for the Iomab-B arm was 28% compared to 0.2% for the control arm. In the SIERRA
trial, an event is defined as one of the following: a patient not achieving CR/CRp or crossing over, patient not receiving BMT, a patient
relapsing or death.
In the figure below comparing EFS with Iomab-B
versus the control arm, the initial vertical drop in the curve in the Iomab-B arm represents those patients who did not achieve a remission
after Iomab-B or those who did not proceed to transplant, while the initial vertical drop in the curve in the control arm mainly represents
patients who did not achieve a remission with salvage therapy and either crossed over to Iomab-B or went onto best supportive care.
Event-Free Survival with Iomab-B Versus Control
Arm
26
The table below shows relevant adverse events
in transplanted Iomab-B patients. In these patients, incidence of sepsis was four times lower in the Iomab-B arm than the control arm
(6.1% vs. 28.6%). In addition, rates of other treatment related adverse events were lower in favor of Iomab-B, including febrile neutropenia
(43.9% vs. 50.0%), mucositis (15.2% vs. 21.4%) and acute graft versus host disease (“GVHD”) (26.1% vs. 35.7%).
Grade ≥3 Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
in Transplanted Patients Through Day 100 Post-HCT
With current treatment practice, patients who
have r/r AML with active disease, utilizing current conditioning agents have poor outcomes and very low survival rates. Using an Iomab-B
led regimen, an unprecedented number of patients were able to access transplant and were able to do so with active disease, eliminating
need for achieving a CR in order to transplant the patient. Thus, patients are also able to access BMT faster with Iomab-B, in less than
half the time compared to conventional care. Iomab-B represents an exciting new paradigm with the potential to establish a new standard
of care in r/r AML setting, making it possible for most patients to get to a successful transplant with Iomab-B with a portion of these
patients having a long-term survival benefit. As shown below, with an Iomab-B led regimen, the majority of patients who are non-transplantable
in routine clinical practice can be successfully transplanted, administering myeloablative radiation with reduced intensity conditioning
tolerability to ultimately achieve transformative survival outcome, changing the treatment paradigm for r/r AML patients.
Iomab-B – New Paradigm to Upend BMT
Access and Improve r/r AML Outcomes
27
Future Development and Life Cycle Management
for Iomab-B
The results of the Pivotal Phase 3 SIERRA trial
validate the value proposition of Iomab-B, and we believe it could establish unprecedented access to transplant (currently the only curative
option) with better safety and tolerability and improved outcomes, all of which could potentially make Iomab-B the new standard of care
for patients with r/r AML. We are actively working to launch an EAP and successfully file a BLA in the second half of 2023, and if approved,
we anticipate the commercial launch for Iomab-B in 2024.
We intend to commercialize Iomab-B in the U.S.
The commercial opportunity is supported by favorable dynamics, summarized by the “Three Ps and Two Cs”:
●
Patients : With its promising profile, Iomab-B provides the opportunity for unprecedented BMT access and better outcomes for patients, with favorable safety and tolerability
●
Physicians : Our goal is to help physicians make BMT an option for a vast majority of r/r AML patients who currently are unable to access transplant without disruption to current practice. Patients are able to return to their referring physicians for post-BMT follow-up, long-term care
●
Payers : Iomab-B potentially unlocks value through getting patients safely to effective, potentially curative transplants, with improved outcomes and a manageable safety and tolerability profile
●
Competition : While there have been multiple new product approvals in AML over the last several years, they primarily focus on addressing genetic mutations, with limited competition in conditioning to increase access to BMT. We do not see direct or indirect visible competition for Iomab-B in the 5-to-10-year horizon to impair the commercial success of Iomab-B
●
Concentrated Call Points : The commercialization for Iomab-B will benefit from a concentrated market. The top 50 centers perform 75% of BMTs and tend to be concentrated in metropolitan areas. These factors allow for commercialization delivered by a focused 35–50-person commercial organization.
The favorable commercial dynamics for Iomab-B
in the U.S. are further supported by the strong foundation of core competencies developed during the successful execution of the SIERRA
trial at leading high-volume BMT centers. We established and actively managed end-to-end supply chain, never missing a patient dose, and
were able to treat 60% more patients than expected due to the high number of crossover patients. We focused on operational excellence
at the point of care, working in partnership with leading Key Opinion Leaders and their teams to successfully execute SIERRA at a wide
array of centers. As a result, we have broad reach across leading BMT centers that account for 30% of BMT volume, which speaks to the
concentration of the BMT market. The positive SIERRA results of unprecedented access and outcomes along with our commitment to operational
excellence provide a strong foundation for our commercial team.
In April 2022, Actinium licensed the EUMENA commercial
rights for Iomab-B to Immedica, an independent pharmaceutical company headquartered in Sweden. Immedica has significant know-how and experience
in commercializing niche and specialty care products across Europe and the Middle East, with extensive regulatory and commercial expertise
and capabilities. Actinium will continue to be responsible for certain clinical development activities and Iomab-B manufacturing and will
retain commercialization rights in the U.S. and rest of the world. Currently, there an estimated ~7,200 BMTs for AML in EUMENA, two times
that of the U.S., performed in a concentrated of number of centers. The incidence rate of AML in Europe is 3.7 per 100,000, or ~27,500
new patients per year. Actinium received an upfront payment of $35 million USD with the potential for an additional $417 million USD in
regulatory and sales milestones and mid-twenty percent royalties. Iomab-B has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the EMA and has
received positive Scientific Advice from EMA that the SIERRA trial can support a marketing authorization with filing expected in 2024.
28
Background on Iomab-B
Iomab-B is a first-in-class targeted radiotherapy consisting of apamistamab,
an anti-CD45 mouse antibody conjugated to radioactive iodine 131 (“I-131”) designed to deliver targeted myeloablative radiation
to malignant and hematopoietic cells prior to allogeneic BMT. CD45 is uniquely expressed on blood cancer, immune and bone marrow stem
cells at high levels. Targeting CD45 enables delivery of high radiation doses directly to the bone marrow, with a median of 16 gray and
as high as 44.6 gray in the SIERRA trial, while minimizing radiation exposure to vital organs such as lungs, heart and gastrointestinal
tract, thereby producing myeloablative outcomes with an overall better safety profile and the tolerability of a reduced intensity regimen.
I-131 is a beta- and gamma-emitting radioisotope that works on the cell surface and does not need to be internalized. Developed at the
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (“FHCRC”), Iomab-B has been studied in multiple disease indications including leukemias,
lymphomas, MDS, and MM. Over 300 patients received Iomab-B through prior studies, demonstrating the potential for unprecedented access
to BMT, improved survival and tolerability, and we intend to leverage these data as we plan for label expansion of Iomab-B. Iomab-B has
been granted Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA and has patent protection into 2037.
Actimab-A – CD33 targeting radiotherapeutic
– mutation agnostic mechanism of action has potential as combination backbone therapy in highly radiosensitive, mutation rich AML
Our Actimab-A ( 225 Ac-lintuzumab
satetraxetan) program is focused on developing combinations with other AML treatment regimens with mechanistic synergies to establish
Actimab-A as a backbone therapy, leveraging the mutation-agnostic mechanism of action of Actimab-A. There is no known resistance mechanism
to targeted radiotherapies, making Actimab-A an attractive candidate for a variety of combinations. The scientific rationale is to use
CLAG-M, a powerful chemotherapy regimen routinely used to treat patients with r/r AML, and then use Actimab-A for its precision targeting
ability that produces double-strand-DNA breaks that lead to cancer cell death to clear out residual disease. Actimab-A has demonstrated
clinically significant survival benefit in a proof-of-concept study and is poised for advanced development in collaboration with the NCI.
Actimab-A + CLAG-M Phase 1 Study Results
In collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin,
the Actimab-A + CLAG-M Phase 1 trial was conducted in r/r AML patients. These patients had a median age of 63, failed two or more lines
of therapy, which includes 57% having received prior treatment with venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor. 67% of these patients had adverse cytogenetics,
52% had a TP53 mutation, and 57% had a prior BMT. Median OS is typically two to four months for this patient population, with a median
OS of less than 3 months for patients who relapsed following venetoclax and a median OS less than 2 months for those with a TP53 mutation.
These trial results were presented
as an oral presentation at the ASH Annual Meeting in December 2022. In this difficult-to-treat r/r AML population, the results demonstrate
its high potential. We reported 1-year survival of 53% and 2-year survival of 32%, which are as much as double what can be expected with
currently available therapies. The trial showed an Overall Response Rate (“ORR”) of 65% across all dose cohorts, 52% complete
remission rate, and a 75% MRD negativity rate. As highlighted in the figure below, the results are highly encouraging and show that the
high rates of responses and MRD negativity are translating to a meaningful survival benefit in these difficult-to-treat patients, who
would otherwise have dismal outcomes.
29
Actimab-A + CLAG-M – Impressive Response
and Survival Benefit in r/r AML
Actimab-A + CLAG-M Compared to CLAG-M Alone
in r/r AML
Efficacy of CLAG-M has been reported in older
studies (Halpern and Walter. CLAG-M with dose-escalated mitoxantrone for adults with acute myeloid leukemia. Oncotarget 2018 and Mushtaq
et al. Comparison of Salvage Chemotherapy Regimens in Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia. ASH 2018) in patients with r/r AML,
however, almost all of these studies were conducted in the pre-targeted therapy era where no patients enrolled had prior venetoclax-based
therapy, thus efficacy data of CLAG-M in the current era, in patients exposed to prior venetoclax, or with other high-risk features, is
limited. When combined with Actimab-A, the combination has demonstrated a clinically significant survival benefit in a proof-of-concept
study irrespective of prior targeted treatment. Relapsed or refractory AML after failing venetoclax-based therapy is associated with dismal
survival outcomes, with a median OS of less than 3 months. In comparison, the combination trial of Actimab-A + CLAG-M led to 1-year survival
of 59% and 2-year survival of 32% in patients who failed prior venetoclax-based therapy, which compares very favorably to the traditional
outcomes in these patients.
Actimab-A + venetoclax Phase 1/2 Study Results
We are conducting a
Phase 1/2 multi-center trial combining Actimab-A + venetoclax in both fit and unfit patients 18 years and older with r/r AML led by
UCLA Medical Center. Data from our Actimab-A + venetoclax combination trial was presented at the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting. We have
demonstrated preclinically that combinations of Actimab-A and venetoclax have mechanistic synergies. Overexpression of MCL-1, an
anti-apoptotic protein, is associated with resistance to venetoclax in AML. Actimab-A kills tumors cells with DNA double-strand
breaks and downregulates MCL-1, which can (re-)sensitize AML cells or reduce tumor resistance to venetoclax. The Actimab-A +
venetoclax combination has been well-tolerated with responses, including a CR and a partial response in early dose escalation
cohorts. In our ongoing clinical trial, we are exploring the optimal dose of Actimab-A, as well as the dosing regimen of the
combination. We expect to present proof-of-concept of this study in the second half of 2023.
Further Development for Actimab-A
On February 6, 2023, we announced that we entered
into a CRADA with the NCI, part of the NIH, to develop Actimab-A for the treatment of patients with AML and other hematologic malignancies.
The NCI will serve as the regulatory sponsor for any clinical trials mutually approved by both parties to study Actimab-A, and the CRADA
will provide extensive support for and accelerate the development of Actimab-A alone or in combination with chemotherapy, immunotherapy,
targeted agents and other novel combinations. The CRADA studies will be overseen by the NCI in collaboration with Actinium’s clinical
development team, where Actinium has the right to review and approval all protocols and has full right to all data. This broad collaboration
may accelerate our Actimab-A development efforts with access to NCI’s vast network of over 2,000 clinical trial sites and its Myelomatch
program. Later this year, we will provide updates on our progress as we move into late-stage development with Actimab-A + CLAG-M, as well
as other developments with our venetoclax combination trial as part of our backbone development strategy.
We are exploring the broader
opportunity with our Actimab-A program and the potential use of Actimab-A in solid tumor indications through our R&D efforts. CD33-expressing
MDSCs are present within the tumor microenvironment and exert immunosuppressive effects, and we believe that Actimab-A can play an important
role in the tumor microenvironment by depleting MDSCs in a targeted manner. On April 19, 2023, we presented data at the AACR Annual Meeting,
that we believe support the potential role of Actimab-A to overcome immunosuppression by MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment. We believe
our preclinical findings show promise with regard to Actimab-A’s ability to selectively deplete CD33-expressing MDSCs in both lung
and colorectal cancer, which we intend to explore further via clinical development. Actimab-A also demonstrated superior depletion of
human MDSCs compared to Mylotarg, a CD33-targeted ADC in colorectal cancer (p<0.01), highlighting the powerful cytotoxicity and potential
therapeutic benefit of radiotherapy compared to naked antibodies or ADCs. MDSCs are ubiquitous across multiple cancer indications and
with the substantial number of immunotherapies in development or currently in clinical use, we believe our data may support the potential
for Actimab-A, if ultimately approved for commercialization for such indication, to be a backbone therapy that could broadly improve antitumor
activity of immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors and T and NK cell therapies and other therapeutic modalities in multiple solid
tumor indications.
30
Background on Actimab-A
Actimab-A is an anti-CD33
antibody linked to the potent alpha-emitting radioisotope Ac-225. Actimab-A targets CD33, which is expressed in virtually all malignant
cells in patients with AML regardless of cytogenetics or mutations and enables potent alpha radiation to be directed against radiosensitive
AML cells. These cells have no known resistance or repair mechanisms when hit with the alpha particles from the Ac-225 isotope payload
that cause double stranded DNA breaks. We believe Actimab-A is the first radiotherapeutic for r/r AML and has the unique value proposition
of broad applicability, a differentiated mechanism of action, and targeted precision that is well-tolerated with minimal toxicity. Our
CD33 development program is driven by data obtained from approximately 150 AML patients in 6 trials and demonstrated single agent activity
with high response rates, but was also associated with prolonged neutropenia. A combination strategy was considered appropriate given
the changing treatment landscape of AML; hence, based on presumed mechanistic synergies, an investigator-initiated trial of Actimab-A
+ CLAG-M and a company-sponsored Actimab-A + venetoclax were developed and patients were enrolled into these studies.
Conditioning Focused Programs
Iomab-B
We will further expand the Iomab-B franchise by
focusing on lifecycle management for label enhancement and indication expansion. Iomab-B data in five additional hematologic indications
(i.e., MDS, ALL, HL, NHL, and MM) provide the foundation to explore indication expansion opportunities to increase the total addressable
market for Iomab-B. Across early trials at the FHCRC, Iomab-B demonstrated similar improved access to BMT and outcomes. We will leverage
these data with strong results from the pivotal Phase 3 SIERRA trial to execute a comprehensive life cycle management strategy to further
expand Iomab-B’s role in a variety of malignant and non-malignant hematological disorders. We will continue to develop the Iomab-B
franchise to potentially address a broader market opportunity to address the over 165,000 patients diagnosed with cancers (e.g., leukemia,
lymphoma, and myeloma), who could potentially benefit from transplant, but are unable to access one today.
Iomab-ACT
Iomab-ACT is comprised of apamistamab, the same
anti-CD45 antibody as Iomab-B, but utilizes lower, nonmyeloablative levels of I-131 to achieve lymphodepletion for cellular therapies
such as CAR-T or reduced intensity conditioning for gene therapies. We intend to continue to develop the Iomab-ACT program designed specifically
for use prior to CAR-T and gene therapies, ultimately with a value proposition of improving overall access and outcomes for patients who
need cellular or gene therapies.
Preclinical data showed a single, low-dose of
Iomab-ACT demonstrated lymphodepletion and as CD45 positive immune cells are implicated in major CAR-T side effects, i.e., cytokine release
syndrome ("CRS") and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (“ICANS"), Iomab-ACT has the potential
to be developed as a conditioning agent for CAR-T therapies. CRS and ICANS remain two most common toxicities of CAR-T therapies with severe
cases (>Grade 3) seen in >20% of patients and fatality rates between 0-10%. Due to its effect on host monocytes/macrophages, we
believe conditioning with Iomab-ACT will potentially reduce the incidence of CRS and ICANS.
Unlike chemotherapy, Iomab-ACT is targeted in
nature, and we expect it to potentially promote improved CAR-T cell expansion, resulting in responses that are higher and more durable.
We believe our Iomab-ACT program is highly differentiated when compared to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (“Flu/Cy”) or
other chemotherapy-based regimens that are used as standard practice today for lymphodepletion prior to cell therapy.
31
We are studying
Iomab-ACT in collaboration with MSKCC, for conditioning prior to CAR-T therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (“B-ALL”) or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (“DLBCL”). This study funded by a NIH
grant is the first-of-its-kind study to use a radiotherapeutic-based conditioning regimen with CAR-T therapy. We have completed
treatment of an initial cohort of three patients and will expand to a second cohort. This study was presented at the ASH Annual
Meeting in December 2022 as a trial-in-progress. We expect to present proof-of-concept data from this study in the second half of
2023 and look forward to sharing more on our Iomab-ACT trial with MSKCC, along with future development plans in the CAR-T space.
R&D and Preclinical Programs
Our R&D efforts yield
differentiated, high-value programs that demonstrate our experience across multiple validated cancer targets and isotopes and cover broad
areas of focus leveraging our clinical development experience across hematology, targeted conditioning, solid tumors, and next generation
radiotherapies. Our programs also inform the advancement of our Iomab-B, Actimab-A, and Iomab-ACT programs. We have utilized our technology
platform to develop our clinical portfolio in hematology – Iomab-B and Actimab-A, in conditioning for transplant and as a therapeutic,
respectively. Our research collaborations with Astellas, LG Chem (formerly AVEO Oncology), and EpicentRx establish our work with immunotherapies
and in solid tumors. We are working on several preclinical programs which include novel approaches to established targets such as HER2
and HER3, as well as novel targets that show immense potential for radiotherapeutic approaches. Underpinning our development programs
is our expanded patent portfolio of over 200 issued patents and pending patent applications worldwide.
Our platform has been used to develop a pipeline of novel radiotherapeutic
assets to drive company growth. Preclinical pharmacology studies with our targeted radiotherapeutics such as HER3-ARC, HER2-ARC or CD33-ARC
have shown strong improvement in tumor growth inhibition in various preclinical tumor models as single agents or in combination with immunotherapy
such as magrolimab, an anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody. These results have prompted the team to spearhead efforts in multiple solid tumor
programs.
Actinium’s lead solid
tumor program is a targeted radiotherapy against HER3, a pan-cancer target that is overexpressed in several solid tumor indications with
high unmet need. The HER3-targeted radiotherapeutic agent showed potent tumor cell cytotoxicity, enhanced antitumor effects and significantly
improved survival with an Ac-225 radiolabeled HER3 antibody compared to a naked HER3 antibody in a preclinical non-small cell lung cancer
(“NSCLC”) model. We have also demonstrated the direct impact of targeted radiotherapy in modulating immune signals such as
calreticulin upregulation to enhance tumor cell killing. Further, we have leveraged the immunomodulatory effect(s) of targeted radiotherapy
in combination with CD47 targeting agents such as magrolimab for sustained tumor growth inhibition in mouse models of AML and NSCLC.
We have also aligned our R&D
strategy of advancing solid tumors with HER3 into the clinic with our Actimab-A program. On April 19, 2023, we announced encouraging preclinical
proof-of-concept data at the AACR 2023 Annual Meeting showcasing the anti-tumor effects of HER3-targted radiotherapy using multiple
therapeutic radionuclides in preclinical models of high unmet need malignancies. Actinium’s HER3-ARC conjugated to either Ac-225
or Lu-177 showed highly significant tumor growth suppression (p<0.0001) in an ovarian cancer model compared to bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF
monoclonal antibody indicated in ovarian cancer. Data presented also showed promising antitumor activity in a preclinical model of colorectal
cancer, a highly aggressive malignancy, including a significant reduction in tumor growth (p<0.0001), when dosed with 225Ac-HER3-ARC.
Actinium's HER3-targeted radiotherapy displayed strong anticancer activity when conjugated to either alpha-emitting Actinium-225 or beta-emitting
Lutetium-177 in models of two high unmet need cancers, highlighting its therapeutic potential for HER3+ malignancies. The consistent overexpression
of HER3 in multiple solid tumor types, including ovarian, renal, prostate, urothelial, breast, and lung cancers suggests broad utility
of a HER3-targeted agent in a clinical setting.
We continue to expand on capabilities and technologies across therapeutic
modalities, linker technologies and in vivo cancer models, and build visibility through presentations at key conferences and publications
in journals of high impact. Our R&D efforts are centered on the advancement of our key programs with a robust “fast-to-clinic”
approach in niche indications. Underpinning our development programs is our expanded patent portfolio of over 200 issued patents and pending
patent applications worldwide.
32
Our Platform Technology
Our proprietary technology
platform is built on the core competency to produce targeted radiotherapeutics, and coupled with our know-how and IP, establishes our
company in the development of isotope-agnostic, multi-targeted products that may address the treatment of hard-to-treat diseases. In our
clinical and preclinical programs, we have utilized multiple isotopes including Ac-225, I-131 and Lu-177 directed at multiple targets
in oncology and hematology such as CD45, CD33, HER3, among others. Our targeted radiotherapies combine the cell-killing ability of radiation
via a radioisotope payload with a targeting agent, such as a monoclonal antibody.
In addition to developing targeted radiotherapies,
we also own patents related to the manufacturing of Ac-225 in a cyclotron. We have expertise in utilizing the alpha emitting isotope Ac-225
including clinical experience in treating approximately 150 patients with our alpha-emitter-based therapies, “gold standard”
linker technology and five issued patents in the U.S. and 49 patents internationally related to the manufacturing or Ac-225 in a cyclotron,
which we believe has the potential to produce higher quantities of highly pure Ac-225 than current methods. When appropriate, we are well-positioned
to leverage this technology to produce Ac-225.
Intellectual Property
Our proprietary technology platform is supported
by IP, know-how and trade secrets that cover the generation, development, methods of use and manufacture of targeted radiotherapies and
their select components. Our IP covers various methods of use in multiple diseases, including indication, dose and scheduling, radionuclide
warhead, and therapeutic combinations.
As of March 2023, we have expanded our patent
portfolio to over 200 issued patents and pending patent applications worldwide, which we believe constitutes a valuable business asset.
Our IP includes 45 patent families, including key patents that relate primarily to our radiotherapeutic candidates. Our patent portfolio
includes 12 issued patents and 39 pending patent applications in the U.S., and 151 that are issued or pending internationally. The effective
lives of the issued patents in our portfolio, or patents that may issue from the pending applications in our portfolio, ranges from expirations
between 2024 and 2043.
For our Iomab-B product candidate, we have four
issued patents in the U.S. and issued patents in Canada, Europe and Japan that relate to the composition. The basic patent terms of these
patents expire in 2036 and 2037. Related patent applications are also currently pending in the U.S. and internationally. In addition,
we own both U.S. and international pending patent applications that relate to the use of Iomab-B or Iomab-ACT in the treatment of cancers
and non-malignant conditions.
Our patents also cover key areas of our business
such as manufacturing key components of our product candidate, Actimab-A, including Ac-225 in a cyclotron. We have expertise in utilizing
the alpha emitting isotope Ac-225 including clinical experience in treating approximately 150 patients with our alpha-emitter-based therapies,
“gold standard” linker technology and five issued patents in the U.S. and 49 patents internationally related to the manufacturing
or Ac-225 in a cyclotron, which we believe has the potential to produce higher quantities of Ac-225 than currently utilized methods. These
patents will expire in the years 2024 through 2027. In addition, we also own U.S. and international patents and pending patent applications
that relate to the manufacturing of Actimab-A and its use in the treatment of cancers.
33
Results of Operations –
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
The following table sets forth,
for the periods indicated, data derived from our statements of operations:
For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
Revenue:
Revenue
$ -
$ -
Other revenue
-
940
Total revenue
-
940
Operating expenses:
Research and development, net of reimbursements
7,849
4,369
General and administrative
3,735
1,735
Total operating expenses
11,584
6,104
Other income:
Interest income – net
547
35
Total other income
547
35
Net loss
$ (11,037 )
$ (5,129 )
Revenue
We recorded no commercial
revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022.
Other revenue
We determined that certain
collaborations with a third-party are within the scope of Topic ASC 606, Revenue Recognition from Contracts with Customers, or
ASC 606. The collaboration agreement is made up of multiple modules related to various research activities. While the third party has
the option to terminate the agreement at the conclusion of any module, we identified a single performance obligation to provide research
services within each module for which we receive monetary consideration. The consideration is recognized to revenue over each module and
revenue of $0.8 million was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2022. There was no other revenue recognized from a collaboration
during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The National Institutes of
Health awarded us a Small Business Technology Transfer cost reimbursable grant to support a clinical collaboration with Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center, or MSK, to study Iomab-ACT, our CD45-targeting Antibody Radio-Conjugate, for targeted conditioning to achieve
lymphodepletion prior to administration of a CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy developed at MSK. We recognized other revenue from this
grant for the three months ended March 31, 2022 of $0.1 million. There was no other revenue recognized from a grant from a government-sponsored
entity for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
On April 7, 2022, we
entered into a license and supply agreement with Immedica Pharma AB, or Immedica, pursuant to which Immedica licensed the exclusive product
rights for commercialization of Iomab-B in the European Economic Area, Middle East and North Africa (EUMENA) including Algeria, Andorra,
Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Monaco, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi
Arabia, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the Vatican City and Yemen. Upon signing, we
were entitled to an upfront payment of $35 million from Immedica, which was received in May 2022. Under the terms of the License Agreement,
we are eligible to receive regulatory and commercial milestone payments and are entitled to receive royalties in the mid-20 percent range
on net sales of the product in certain countries that may result from the License Agreement. We will continue to be responsible for certain
clinical development activities and the manufacturing of Iomab-B and will retain commercialization rights in the U.S. and rest of the
world.
Our contract liabilities are
recorded within Other revenue deferred – current liability or Long-term license revenue deferred in our condensed consolidated balance
sheets depending on the short-term or long-term nature of the payments to be recognized. Our contract liabilities primarily consist of
advanced payments from licensees. There was no Other revenue deferred-current liability at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Long-term
license revenue deferred was $35.0 million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, resulting from the receipt from Immedica; this deferred
revenue will be recognized upon European Union regulatory approval of Iomab-B.
34
Research and Development Expense, net of reimbursements
Research and development expenses
of $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased $3.4 million from $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31,
2022. Higher research and development expenses were primarily due to increased CMC activity related to the planned BLA filing for Iomab-B
in the second half of 2023, as well as increased compensation of $1.1 million resulting from higher headcount. The CMC expenses associated
with the planned BLA filing are expected to be one-time in nature and incurred in the first half of 2023, with a decrease in CMC expenses
expected in the second half of 2023 with submission of the BLA for Iomab-B.
General and administrative expense
General and administrative expenses of $3.7 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2023 increased by $2.0 million from $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Higher expenses were primarily
due to higher professional and consulting fees, as well as legal fees, which as we detail in our subsequent risk factors herein, were
related to obtaining a permanent injunction against a former employee who violated the non-compete provision of their employment agreement,
increased compensation of $0.3 million and non-cash equity compensation of $0.5 million.
Other income
Other income is comprised
of net interest income in both reporting periods. The amount for the three months ended March 31, 2023 of $0.5 million increased from
$35 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2022 due to a higher average interest rate, as well as a higher average cash balance.
Net loss
Net loss of $11.0 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased by $5.9 million from $5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 primarily
due to higher research and development expenses, of which certain CMC expenses are expected to be one-time in nature and incurred in the
first half of 2023, as well as general and administrative expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, we have financed
our operations primarily through sales of shares of our stock. The following table sets forth selected cash flow information for the
periods indicated:
For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
Cash used in operating activities
$ (15,077 )
$ (5,781 )
Cash used in investing activities
(76 )
(7 )
Cash provided by / used in financing activities
770
(22 )
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$ (14,383 )
$ (5,810 )
Net cash used in operating
activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 of $15.1 million increased by $9.3 million from $5.8 million in the prior-year period,
primarily as a result of a higher net loss of $5.9 million, and compared to the prior-year period, a reduction in accounts payable and
accrued expenses of $2.5 million and an increase in prepaid expenses of $1.9 million.
Net cash used in investing
activities was $76 thousand and $7 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, due to the purchase of equipment.
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Net cash provided by financing
activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $0.8 million from the sale of common stock. During the three months ended March
31, 2022, net cash used in financing activities was $22 thousand of payments of finance leases.
In August 2020 we entered
into the Capital on Demand™ Sales Agreement with JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC, or JonesTrading, pursuant to which we
may sell, from time to time, through or to JonesTrading, up to an aggregate of $200 million of our common stock. On June 28, 2022, we
entered into an Amended and Restated Capital on Demand™ Sales Agreement, or the Amended Sales Agreement, with JonesTrading and
B. Riley Securities, Inc. The Amended Sales Agreement modifies the original Capital on Demand™ Sales Agreement to include B. Riley
as an additional sales agent thereunder. Shares of common stock are offered pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed
with the SEC on August 7, 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, we sold 0.1 million shares of common stock, resulting in gross
proceeds and net proceeds of $0.8 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, there were no sales of common stock.
As of the date of filing this
report, we expect that our existing resources will be sufficient to fund our planned operations for more than 12 months following
the date of this report.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Our management’s discussion
and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared
in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial
statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements during the reporting periods. These items are monitored
and analyzed by us for changes in facts and circumstances, and material changes in these estimates could occur in the future. We base
our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the
circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not
readily apparent from other sources. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results for the period in which they become known.
Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Our significant accounting
policies are described in detail in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Fair Value Measurement
Fair value is defined as the
price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants.
A fair value hierarchy has been established for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for
identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.
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Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue in accordance
with ASC 606. Under ASC 606, we recognize revenue when our customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects
the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements
within the scope of ASC 606, we perform the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance
obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price, including variable consideration, if any; (iv) allocate the transaction
price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue as we satisfy a performance obligation. We only apply
the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration to which we are entitled in exchange for the
goods or services we transfer to the customer.
At contract inception, once
the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, we assess whether the promised goods or services promised within each contract
are distinct and, therefore, represent a separate performance obligation. Goods and services that are determined not to be distinct
are combined with other promised goods and services until a distinct bundle is identified. In determining whether goods or services are
distinct, we evaluate certain criteria, including whether (i) the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own
or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer (capable of being distinct) and (ii) the good or service
is separately identifiable from other goods or services in the contract (distinct in the context of the contract).
ASC 606 requires us to allocate
the arrangement consideration on a relative standalone selling price basis for each performance obligation after determining the transaction
price of the contract and identifying the performance obligations to which that amount should be allocated. The relative standalone selling
price is defined in the new revenue standard as the price at which an entity would sell a promised good or service separately to a customer.
We then recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation as each performance
obligation is satisfied, either at a point in time or over time, and if over time, recognition is based on the use of an output or input
method.
Collaborative Arrangements
We follow the accounting guidance
for collaboration agreements, which requires that certain transactions between us and collaborators be recorded in our consolidated statements
of operations on either a gross basis or net basis, depending on the characteristics of the collaborative relationship, and requires enhanced
disclosure of collaborative relationships. We evaluate our collaboration agreements for proper classification in our consolidated statements
of operations based on the nature of the underlying activity. When we conclude that we have a customer relationship with one of our collaborators,
we follow the guidance of ASC 606 .
Grant Revenue
We had a grant from a government-sponsored
entity for research and development related activities that provided for payments for reimbursed costs, which included overhead and general
and administrative costs as well as an administrative fee. We recognized revenue from the grant as we performed services under this arrangement.
Associated expenses were recognized when incurred as research and development expense. Revenue and related expenses are presented gross
in the consolidated statements of operations.
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License Revenue
We entered into a product
licensing agreement whereby we allowed a third party to commercialize a certain product in specified territories using our trademarks.
The terms of this arrangement includes payment to us for a combination of one or more of the following: upfront license fees; development,
regulatory and sales-based milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products. We use judgment to determine whether milestones
or other variable consideration should be included in the transaction price.
Upfront license fees :
If the license to our intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement,
we will recognize revenue from upfront license fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee
is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other promises, we determine whether the combined performance
obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time.
Development, regulatory
or commercial milestone payments : At the inception of each arrangement that includes payments based on the achievement of certain
development, regulatory and sales-based or commercial events, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved
and estimate the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant
revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not
within our or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until regulatory
approval is received. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, we will re-evaluate the probability of achieving such development
and regulatory milestones and any related constraint, and if necessary, adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such
adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis and recorded as part of license revenues during the period of adjustment.
Sales-based milestone payments
and royalties : For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the volume of sales, we
will determine whether the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties or sales-based milestones relate and if
such is the case, we will recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation
to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied).
Upfront payments and fees
may require deferral of revenue recognition to a future period until we perform our obligations under these arrangements or when it is
probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with
any variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Amounts payable to us are recorded as accounts receivable when our right to consideration
is unconditional.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs
are expensed as incurred. These costs include the costs of manufacturing drug components and final drug product, the costs of clinical
trials, costs of employees and associated overhead, and depreciation and amortization costs related to facilities and equipment. Research
and development reimbursements are recorded by us as a reduction of research and development costs.
Share-Based Payments
We estimate the fair value
of each stock option award at the grant date by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value determined represents the
cost for the award and is recognized over the vesting period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the
award. We account for forfeitures of stock options as they occur.
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Accounting Standards Recently Adopted
In November 2021, the FASB
issued ASU 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832), Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance , which provides
guidance on disclosure requirements to entities other than not-for-profit entities about transaction with a government that are accounted
for by applying a grant or contribution accounting model by analogy. ASU 2021-10 requires an entity to make annual disclosures related
to (1) the nature of the transactions and the related accounting policy used to account for the government transactions, (2) quantification
and disclosure of amounts related to the government transactions included in balance sheet and income statement financial statement line
items, and (3) significant terms and conditions of the government transactions, including commitments and contingencies. The amendments
of ASU 2021-10 are effective January 1, 2022, including interim periods. We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2022 and the standard
did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In October 2021, FASB issued
ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Account for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers ,
which provides guidance on accounting for contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance ASC
606. To achieve this, an acquirer may assess how the acquiree applied ASC 606 to determine what to record for the acquired revenue contracts.
Generally, this should result in an acquirer recognizing and measuring the acquired contract assets and contract liabilities consistent
with how they were recognized and measured in the acquiree’s financial statements. The amendments of ASU 2021-08 are effective January
1, 2023, including interim periods. We will evaluate the impact of ASU 2021-08 on any future business combinations that we may enter in
the future.
In May 2021, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (topic 260), Debt — Modifications and Extinguishments
(Subtopic 470-50), Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in an Entity’s
Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) – Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified
Written Call Options , which provides guidance of a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option
that remains equity classified after modification or exchange as (1) an adjustment to equity and, if so, the related earnings per share
(EPS) effects, if any, or (2) an expense and, if so, the manner and pattern of recognition. The amendments in this ASU are effective January
1, 2022, including interim periods. We adopted this standard effective January 1, 2022 and the standard did not have a material effect
on our financial statements.
Subsequent Event
Since March 31, 2023, we have
sold 0.6 million shares of common stock under our A&R Sales Agreement, resulting in net proceeds of $5.6 million.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.