MALVERN, PA — Baudax Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BXRX) this week announced results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, and provided a business update.
“Our second quarter was a transformative period for Baudax Bio, during which we announced positive top-line results from our Phase 2 BX1000 trial and capped off with our acquisition of TeraImmune,” said Gerri Henwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Baudax Bio. “The transaction with TeraImmune adds the promising TI-168 clinical stage asset to our portfolio. TI-68 is a next-generation, autologous FVIII TCR-Treg cell therapy candidate to eliminate clotting factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors in Hemophilia A patients — a rare genetic bleeding disorder that is caused by a lack of FVIII. We believe this is an attractive therapeutic area, with established preclinical proof of concept in TI-168 through successes observed in Hemophilia A with inhibitors, animal models, and with an Investigational New Drug (IND) application already FDA-cleared. We believe we can, with a modest initial budget, activate the Phase 1/2a Clinical Trial of TI-168 for Treatment of hemophilia A with inhibitors. More broadly, we believe that this platform has potential for clinical applications, alone and in combination of, multiple other autoimmune disorders and therapeutic areas. By combining TeraImmune’s world class scientific team with Baudax Bio’s proven ability to execute clinical development programs, we believe we are well positioned to pursue development of TI-168 and realize its clinical potential, for one-time treatment, and further providing proof of concept for this TCR Treg approach.
“As noted above, we announced positive top-line data from our Phase 2 trial of BX1000 showing all patients in three BX1000 study cohorts were observed to have met the criteria for Good or Excellent intubating conditions at 60 seconds, and that study treatments were generally well tolerated with no occurrence of severe or serious adverse events,” continued Ms. Henwood. “Based on the strength of data from this program, which were highlighted in the Key Opinion Webinar we hosted, we continue to believe that when combined with our reversal agent BX3000, our NMB regimen may provide improved control of neuromuscular paralysis for surgical patients and deliver the first innovation in NMB in decades.”
“We believe the actions we’ve taken during our second quarter and recent weeks are a win for shareholders of both TeraImmune and Baudax Bio, and we look forward to working with our new colleagues to develop these assets to their full potential,” concluded Ms. Henwood.
Second Quarter 2023 and Recent Business Highlights
Acquisition of TeraImmune
- The acquisition of TeraImmune was structured as a stock-for-stock transaction whereby all TeraImmune outstanding equity interests were exchanged for a combination of shares of Baudax common stock and shares of newly designated convertible Series X Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock. Subject to shareholder approval of the conversion, each share of Series X Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 1,000 shares of common stock, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations set by each holder. On a pro forma basis and based upon the number of shares of Baudax Bio common stock and preferred stock issued in the acquisition, Baudax Bio equity holders immediately prior to the acquisition will own approximately 18% of the combined Company (on an as-converted, fully-diluted basis and excluding certain out-of-the-money warrants held by Baudax Bio’s equity holders) immediately after these transactions. The acquisition was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Baudax Bio and the Board of Directors of TeraImmune. The closing of the transaction was not subject to the approval of Baudax Bio shareholders.
- Gerri Henwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Baudax Bio, will continue as CEO of the combined entity. In conjunction with the transaction, Yong Chan Kim, PhD, former Chief Executive Officer of TeraImmune, was appointed to the Board of Directors of Baudax Bio in July.
- Nobel Capital provided a fairness opinion to the Baudax Bio Board of Directors.
TI-168 and other Potential Product Candidates
The most advanced of the TeraImmune TCR Tregs is TI-168, intended for one time treatment of Hemophilia A with inhibitors. An IND for a Phase 1/2a study of TI-168 in patients with Hemophilia A with inhibitors has been cleared by FDA. The Company is now in the process of speaking with prospective investigators and assessing the readiness of potential study site staff and logistics for support of the clinical trial. The Company intends to select study sites and file for IRB (Investigational Review Board) approval at those study institutions. Hemophilia A with inhibitors is an Orphan Condition (in terms of numbers of patients) and the Company estimates that the trial would be ready to open one or more initial study sites and begin to enroll patients in approximately Q1 of 2024.
In addition to the TI-168 clinical stage product candidate, the Company has begun research work on other potential candidates for the TCR Treg platform in conditions such as Myasthenia Gravis, which it believes can be advanced to IND stage by approximately the end of 2024/early 2025, as well as other earlier stage potential product candidates.
NMB Portfolio
- BX1000 Top-Line Data – The Company announced positive top-line results from its Phase 2 clinical trial of BX1000 for neuromuscular blockade (NMB) in patients undergoing elective surgery. Results of the study showed that BX1000 met the primary endpoint of readiness for intubation (evaluated as “Good” or “Excellent”) at all dose levels assessed. No severe adverse events were observed in any dose regimen.
- Results showed that all patients in three BX1000 study cohorts were observed to have met the criteria for Good or Excellent intubating conditions at 60 seconds. There was evidence of a dose-response across the three doses of BX1000, and the degree of blockade for the highest dose group appears comparable to that of the “standard” dose of rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg) employed in the study. Study treatments were generally well tolerated, with no occurrence of severe or serious adverse events. The frequency and severity of adverse events was similar across all four dose groups, and no notable events were aggregated in any one dose group.
- A further patient safety follow-up at 28 days after surgery, as well as additional analyses of EMG neuromuscular blockade data, showed a clear dose response for BX1000 on maximum T1 suppression with comparable results for the 1.5x ED95 dose of BX1000 and the 2X ED95 dose of rocuronium. An equivalent “time to 80% NMB” was also observed between the highest dose level for BX1000 (0.35 mg/kg) and rocuronium (0.66 mg/kg). Recovery measures showed equivalent time for “full recovery” for the highest dose of BX1000 (0.35 mg/kg) and rocuronium (0.60 mg/kg), but with tighter, thus more predictable, margins for BX1000.
- The Company intends to continue development of its NMB portfolio at a prudent pace while prioritizing development of TI-168.
Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
As of June 30, 2023, Baudax Bio had cash and cash equivalents of $1.4 million.
Research and development expenses from continuing operations for the three months ended June 30, 2023 were $1.8 million compared to $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022. The increase of $0.9 million was primarily the result of an increase in clinical and preclinical trials costs associated with the Company’s NMB program.
General and administrative expenses from continuing operations for the three months ended June 30, 2023 were $2.3 million compared to $2.9 million for the same prior year period. The decrease of $0.6 million was primarily a result of a reduction in personnel costs of $0.6 million and a decrease in consulting expenses of $0.3 million, partially offset by an increase in public company costs of $0.3 million.
Baudax Bio reported net loss from continuing operations of $(7.3) million, or $(1.49) per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2023. Net loss from continuing operations for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $(4.3) million, or $(24.20) per share.
Financial Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Research and development expenses from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were $4.7 million compared to $1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase of $3.1 million was primarily due to an increase in operational expenses associated with the Company’s NMB program, including clinical and preclinical trials costs, of $2.8 million and an increase in general expenses, including consulting and other outside service expenses, of $0.3 million.
General and administrative expenses from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were $4.0 million compared to $9.8 million for the same prior year period. The decrease of $5.8 million was primarily a result of a reduction in personnel costs of $4.1 million, a decrease in consulting expenses of $0.9 million, a decrease in public company costs of $0.4 million, a decrease of $0.2 million in patent legal expenses and a decrease of $0.2 million in other costs.
Baudax Bio reported net loss from continuing operations of $(14.7) million, or $(4.08) per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Net loss from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $(12.5) million, or $(89.40) per share.
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