BALA CYNWYD, PA — Larimar Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LRMR) this week reported its third quarter operating and financial results.
“We are pleased with the execution and pace at which our nomlabofusp program is advancing. The 50 mg cohort in our Phase 2 dose exploration trial is fully enrolled and all 15 participants have completed dosing and continue in the blinded follow up period. Based on blinded observations during the dosing period, there were no serious adverse events in either the nomlabofusp or placebo groups. We expect top-line safety, pharmacokinetic, and frataxin data now in the first quarter of 2024, refined from the first half of 2024. As our next major catalyst, clinical findings from the 50 mg cohort should provide additional data to inform the dose and dose regimen for our dose exploration trial, potential registrational trial and any dosing updates to our soon to be initiated OLE trial,” said Carole Ben-Maimon, MD, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Larimar. “For the OLE trial, initiation remains on track for the first quarter of 2024, and we expect to report interim data later that year in the fourth quarter. We believe the OLE trial is a foundational step for the nomlabofusp program. Importantly, it will provide real-life experience for daily subcutaneous injections of nomlabofusp at home directly by patients or caregivers, as well as further characterize the long-term safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of nomlabofusp and the effect of nomlabofusp on frataxin levels.”
“We continue to have ongoing interactions with global regulatory health authorities regarding manufacturing, regulatory pathways, and clinical development with a focus on initiating the pediatric clinical development program and planning our global clinical studies. The addition of Dr. Jeffrey Sherman to our Board of Directors, an industry executive with invaluable insight in global regulatory and clinical strategy for rare diseases will further complement our current efforts to broaden the nomlabofusp clinical program. As we look ahead, we are energized and focused on executing across our key near term milestones over the next six months, and bringing nomlabofusp, a novel therapy designed to increase frataxin levels and address the underlying deficiency causing Friedreich’s ataxia, to more patients as quickly as possible,” Dr. Ben-Maimon concluded.
Third Quarter and Subsequent Highlights
- In November 2023, Larimar completed enrollment and dosing of the 50 mg cohort of its Phase 2 double-blind dose exploration trial evaluating CTI-1601 (nomlabofusp) for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia. Treatment assignment of the fully enrolled cohort of 15 participants remains blinded as they complete the follow up period. Participants were dosed daily with nomlabofusp or placebo for the first 14 days, and then every other day until Day 28. Based on blinded Phase 2 observations during the dosing period, there were no serious adverse events for either the nomlabofusp or placebo groups. Top-line Phase 2 safety, pharmacokinetic, and frataxin data from skin and buccal cells from both the 25 mg and 50 mg cohorts is now expected in the first quarter of 2024, refined from the first half of 2024. Initiation of additional U.S. clinical trials or potential further dose escalation in these trials is contingent on FDA review of Phase 2 data from the 50 mg cohort due to the partial clinical hold.
- In November 2023, Larimar reaffirmed guidance for initiation of the OLE trial evaluating daily subcutaneous injections of 25 mg of nomlabofusp self-administered or administered by a caregiver. Participants who complete treatment in the Phase 2 dose exploration trial, or who previously completed a prior clinical trial of nomlabofusp are potentially eligible for the OLE. The OLE will evaluate the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and measures of frataxin levels in peripheral tissues as well as other exploratory pharmacodynamic markers ( lipid profiles and gene expression data)following long-term subcutaneous administration of nomlabofusp. Clinical measures collected during the trial will be compared to data from a synthetic control arm derived from participants in the Friedreich’s Ataxia Clinical Outcome Measures Study (FACOMS) database. The OLE trial is expected to begin in Q1 2024 with interim data expected in Q4 2024.
- In October 2023, Larimar appointed Jeffrey W. Sherman, M.D., F.A.C.P. to the Company’s Board of Directors. Dr. Sherman, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Horizon Therapeutics Public Limited Company (recently acquired by Amgen), brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical experience, specializing in regulatory and clinical strategy, and therapeutic development for rare diseases.
- As of October 2023, “nomlabofusp” was published as the INN (International Nonproprietary Name) and USAN (United States Adopted Name) for CTI-1601.
- In July 2023, Larimar received FDA clearance to initiate both a 50 mg cohort in the Phase 2 dose exploration trial evaluating nomlabofusp for FA and an OLE trial following FDA review of unblinded safety, pharmacokinetic, and frataxin data from the Phase 2 trial’s 25 mg cohort.
Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results
As of September 30, 2023, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling $95.6 million, which provides projected cash runway into the first quarter of 2025.
The Company reported a net loss for the third quarter of 2023 of $9.1 million, or $0.21 per share, compared to a net loss of $8.3 million, or $0.37 per share, for the third quarter of 2022.
Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2023 were $6.6 million compared to $5.6 million for the third quarter of 2022. The increase in research and development expenses was driven by an increase of $0.9 million in clinical trial costs primarily associated with the Phase 2 dose exploration study, an increase of $0.7 million in personnel related costs, an increase of $0.4 million in professional fees primarily associated with an increase in legal IP costs and consulting fees, partially offset by a decrease of $1.2 million in clinical supply manufacturing costs.
General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2023 were $3.8 million compared to $2.9 million for the third quarter of 2022. The increase in general and administrative expense was driven by an increase of $0.3 million of professional fees related to increased legal expense, an increase of $0.2 million in operational expense primarily related to recruiting costs, and an increase of $0.2 million in stock-based compensation expense associated with stock option grants made in 2023 and prior periods.
Other income (expense), net was $1.3 million of income in the third quarter of 2023 compared to $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2022. The increase primarily relates to interest income on a higher investment base and higher investment yields on that base during the current period.
The Company reported a net loss for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2023 of $24.0 million, or $0.55 per share, compared to a net loss of $25.9 million, or $1.32 per share, for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2022.
Research and development expenses for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2023 were $17.0 million compared to $17.0 million for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2022. A decrease of $3.2 million in clinical supply manufacturing costs was offset by an increase of $1.2 million in personnel related costs, an increase of $0.9 million in clinical trial costs primarily associated with the Phase 2 dose exploration study, an increase of $0.4 million in professional fees primarily associated with an increase in legal IP costs and consulting fees, and an increase of $0.4 million in test method development and optimization and an increase of $0.3 million in stock-based compensation expense associated with stock option grants made in 2023 and prior periods.
General and administrative expenses for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2023 were $10.6 million compared to $9.1 million for the 9-month period ending September 30, 2022. The increase in general and administrative expense was driven by an increase of $0.5 million of professional fees primarily related to increased legal expense, an increase of $0.5 million in stock-based compensation expense associated with stock option grants made in 2023 and prior periods, an increase of $0.4 million in operational expense primarily related to recruiting costs, and an increase of $0.4 million in personnel related costs related to increases in headcount, partially offset by a decrease of $0.3 million in insurance expense.
Other income (expense), net was $3.6 million of income in the 9-months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $0.2 million of net expense in the 9-months ended September 30, 2022. The increase primarily relates to interest income on a higher investment base and higher investment yields on that base during the current period as compared to the prior period.
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