DEVON, Pa., Aug. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZYNE), the leader in innovative pharmaceutically-produced transdermal cannabinoid therapies for rare and near-rare neuropsychiatric disorders, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020, and provided an overview of recent operational highlights.
“We have made solid progress over the past few months towards our core mandate of developing important new therapies for patients suffering from underserved rare and near rare neuropsychiatric disorders,” said Armando Anido, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zynerba. “Regarding our pivotal CONNECT-FX data in Fragile X Syndrome, we continue to evaluate the data and believe that we have identified an important and severely impacted patient population that responded well to Zygel™ CBD gel. We also announced positive data from the Phase 2 BRIGHT trial in autism spectrum disorder during the quarter. We expect to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the second half of this year to discuss the results from both trials and to clarify the paths forward.”
Second Quarter 2020 and Recent Highlights
Zygel in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)
Reported Topline Results from Pivotal CONNECT-FX Trial; Pre-planned Ad Hoc Analysis Showed Statistically Significant Improvements (p=0.020) in Primary Endpoint in Children and Adolescents with Full Methylation of FMR1 Gene
Zygel did not achieve statistical significance versus placebo in the primary or secondary endpoints in the full analysis set (n=210). However, a pre-planned ad hoc analysis of the most severely impacted patients in the trial (n=167), as defined by full methylation of the impacted FMR1 gene (FMet), demonstrated that Zygel achieved statistical significance in the primary endpoint of improvement at 12 weeks of treatment in the Social Avoidance subscale of the ABC-CFXS compared to placebo (p=0.020). The median improvement in this subscale after twelve weeks of treatment was 40% for patients on Zygel and 21% for patients on placebo. This group comprised 80% of the patients enrolled in the CONNECT-FX study and approximately 60% of the overall FXS patient population. Zygel was very well tolerated in CONNECT- FX, and the safety profile was consistent with previously released data from other Zygel clinical trials. Zynerba intends to meet with the FDA to discuss a regulatory path forward. (Press release)
Presented CONNECT-FX Data Showing Statistically Significant Caregiver-Reported Improvements in Most Impactful FXS Behaviors at the 17th NFXF International Conference Research Roundup; Results Support Statistically Significant Results of Pre-planned Ad Hoc Analysis in FMet Patients
Consistent with guidance from the FDA on capturing the voice of the patient in drug development, the Company collected additional qualitative data on the clinical relevance of various FXS behaviors to caregivers during CONNECT-FX. The results of the Qualitative Caregiver Reported Behavioral Survey indicate that caregivers found anxiety, socially avoidant behaviors (including elopement and isolation seeking), and disruptive behaviors (including aggression and temper tantrums) to be the most challenging. The results of the Caregiver Global Impression – Change survey show a broad shift toward global improvement from baseline to week 12 in FMet patients, with three of the four behavioral domains (social avoidance and isolation, irritable and disruptive behaviors, and social interactions) showing statistically significant improvements in favor of patients on Zygel compared to placebo and the fourth domain (overall behavior) trending toward significance. (Press release)
Presented New Two-Year Data from the Open Label Extension of the Phase 2 FAB-C Trial in Patients with Fragile X at 2020 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Science Highlights Virtual Session
At the completion of the 12-week Phase 2 FAB-C study (Period 1), patients could enter an open label extension study (Period 2). Statistically significant improvements from baseline were observed at week 12 in all subscale scores of the ABC-CFXS in Period 1 and these statistically significant improvements were sustained through two years in subjects who entered Period 2. In this analysis, the majority of patients who completed Period 1 met important criteria for therapeutic response (?25% or ?50% improvement from baseline in ABC-CFXS domains) at weeks 4, 8, and 12 of the Phase 2 trial; this response was sustained or continued to improve through two years in patients who entered Period 2. Zygel was very well tolerated over two years. (Press release)
Zygel in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Reported Positive Topline Results from Phase 2 BRIGHT Trial of Zygel in ASD; Statistically Significant Improvements from Baseline Observed in All Subscales of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist – Community (ABC-C)
Thirty-seven children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe ASD were enrolled in the 14-week open label exploratory Phase 2 BRIGHT trial. The clinical trial was designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Zygel as an add-on to standard-of-care for the treatment of pediatric and adolescent patients with ASD. All five subscales of the ABC-C showed both statistically significant (p<0.0002) and clinically meaningful improvements at 14 weeks of treatment from baseline. The results of other efficacy assessments reinforce the results demonstrated in the ABC-C, including a mean improvement of 46% at week 14 from baseline as measured by the Parent Reported Anxiety Scale for ASD (PRAS-ASD; p<0.0001) and 57% of patients were assessed as “very much improved” or “much improved” at week 14 as measured by the Clinical Global Impression - Improvement scale (CGI-I). Zygel was very well tolerated. (Press release)
Zygel in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q)
Recruitment into Phase 2 INSPIRE Trial of Zygel in 22q Delayed Due to the Impact COVID-19 in Australia
Recruitment into the 14-week open label Phase 2 INSPIRE trial in children and adolescents (ages six through 17) with genetically confirmed 22q has been delayed due to the impact of COVID-19 in Australia and resulting travel restrictions. As a result of the uncertainty of the scope, duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the Company has withdrawn its guidance on the timing of data from this trial, and will provide updated guidance as soon as possible.
Zygel in Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEE)
Presented Additional Phase 2 BELIEVE Safety, Efficacy and Quality of Life Data at the 2020 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Science Highlights Virtual Session
Over the Phase 2 BELIEVE 26-week treatment period, the median percentage reduction from baseline in monthly frequency of focal impaired awareness seizures (FIAS) and tonic clonic seizures (CS) was 43.5% (primary efficacy endpoint). Monthly (28-day) reductions from baseline in seizure frequency ranged from 44% to 58% from month two of the treatment period onward using monthly seizure frequency normalized to 28 days (SF28). At six months of treatment in the BELIEVE trial, 62% of patients achieved a ?35% reduction in FIAS and TCS from baseline, and 55% of patients achieved a ?50 reduction. Statistically significant reductions from baseline in mean Epilepsy and Learning Disabilities Quality of Life (ELDQOL)-modified subscale scores for seizure severity, behavior, and mood were observed at week 26 (p<0.01 for all measures). At month six, the combined proportion of “good day” and “fantastic day” reports increased from 52% at baseline to 70%, and the combined proportion of “terrible day” and “bad day” reports decreased from 12% at baseline to 4%. (Press release)
Outcome of Discussions with FDA on Clinical Pathway for Zygel in DEE Expected in the Third Quarter of 2020
Based on the Phase 2 trial design and positive efficacy and safety results, Zynerba anticipates that it will pursue an indication that includes the syndromes and encephalopathies in the DEE category that present with FIAS and/or TCS, the most common and debilitating seizure types representing 75% to 80% of all seizures. Zynerba expects to announce the results of its ongoing discussions with the FDA on the clinical path forward in DEE in the third quarter of 2020.
Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results
As of June 30, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $77.0 million, compared to $70.1 million as of December 31, 2019. In the second quarter of 2020, the Company sold and issued 5,682,784 shares of its common stock in the open market at a weighted-average selling price of $4.92 per share, for gross proceeds of $27.9 million and net proceeds, after deducting commissions and offering expenses, of $27.2 million under an a Controlled Equity Offering Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Canaccord Genuity, LLC, H.C. Wainwright & Co. LLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
Our Australian subsidiary, Zynerba Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, or the Subsidiary, is incorporated in Australia and is eligible to participate in an Australian research and development tax incentive program. As part of this program, the Subsidiary is eligible to receive a cash refund from the Australian Taxation Office, or ATO, for a percentage of the research and development costs expended by the Subsidiary in Australia. In July 2019, the Australian government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, or AusIndustry, responded to an Advance Overseas Finding, or AOF, application submitted by Zynerba that AusIndustry would allow certain research and development expenses incurred with respect to our product candidate Zygel outside of Australia to be eligible for the Australian research and development tax incentive program. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we recorded $8.3 million as an incentive and tax receivable and a corresponding credit to research and development expense for amounts expected to be received through the AOF for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019. As of June 30, 2020, incentive and tax receivables included $8.1 million related to the AOF. The reduction of $0.2 million versus December 31, 2019 was due to unrealized foreign currency losses related to the remeasurement of the Subsidiary’s assets and liabilities. In June 2020, the ATO informed us that we may not qualify for the AOF program based on their interpretation of certain eligibility requirements.
We evaluate our eligibility under the Australian tax incentive programs as of each balance sheet date based on the most current and relevant data available. While a numeric standard does not exist, accounting practice generally considers an event that has a 75% or greater likelihood of occurrence to be probable. Although we continue to believe that we comply with the relevant conditions of the AOF program that were in place when we received our original approval from AusIndustry, based on this probability standard we have determined it is no longer probable that the AOF credits will be received. As a result, during the three months ended June 30, 2020, we recorded a full reserve against the $8.1 million AOF receivable. Discussions between the Company and the ATO are ongoing with respect to this issue.
About Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals is the leader in innovative pharmaceutically-produced transdermal cannabinoid therapies for rare and near-rare neuropsychiatric disorders. We are committed to improving the lives of patients and their families living with severe, chronic health conditions including Fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and a heterogeneous group of rare and ultra-rare epilepsies known as developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. Learn more at www.zynerba.com and follow us on Twitter at @ZynerbaPharma.
