Galapagos: On track for clinical read-outs
Galapagos announces important progress in build-out of commercial organization for potential market launch of filgotinib in RA.
“Although the world faces an unprecedented pandemic, impacting families, businesses and financial markets globally, we have adapted to the new normal with agility and resilience,” said Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos. “We are in a very strong position, both financially and operationally, and remain on track to report on a number of later stage clinical trials throughout the remainder of 2020. As a consequence of COVID-19 measures, patient recruitment in some Phase 2 and 3 studies with filgotinib is temporarily halted, and we see an impact on recruitment rates of the ISABELA Phase 3 program with ziritaxestat (GLPG1690) in IPF. Importantly, pending approval, we are confident that we can hit the ground running for the successful launch of our first novel mode of action drug, filgotinib in RA, thereby delivering on our promise of becoming a fully integrated biopharma.”
Bart Filius, COO and CFO added, “From a financial perspective, we ended the first quarter of 2020 with a strong cash balance, positioning us well to grow our pipeline further and deliver on operational excellence for the anticipated commercial launch of filgotinib. Due to the temporary pause in recruitment of the filgotinib trials and some delays in the start of earlier stage programs in light of COVID-19, our cash burni guidance for FY2020 is expected to be in the range of €400 and €430 million, down versus the previously stated cash burn projection of €420 and €450 million.”
Outlook 2020
The remainder of the year promises to be eventful for Galapagos.
We and our collaboration partner Gilead expect to report Phase 3 SELECTION trial data of filgotinib in ulcerative colitis in the second quarter. We also anticipate approval of our first product candidate, filgotinib, in RA in the U.S., Europe, and Japan in the second half of 2020. Gilead and we plan to start the Phase 3 program with filgotinib in ankylosing spondylitis later in 2020.
Within our fibrosis portfolio, in the second half of the year, we anticipate reporting topline results from the PINTA Phase 2 trial with GLPG1205 in IPF and, together with collaboration partner Gilead, from the NOVESA Phase 2a trial with ziritaxestat (GLPG1690) in SSc. In the meantime, we enrolled more than 1,000 patients and continue recruitment in our landmark Phase 3 ISABELA program with ziritaxestat in IPF, together with Gilead, for which the outcome of the futility analysis is anticipated in the first half of 2021.
Also in the second half of 2020, we and Servier expect to report topline results from the ROCCELLA Phase 2b trial of GLPG1972 in knee osteoarthritis. Upon successful completion of this trial, Gilead has the option to license development and commercialization rights in the U.S. for GLPG1972.
With regard to Toledo, our novel mode of action program in inflammation, we completed Phase 1 studies with our Toledo candidate medicines, GLPG3312 and GLPG3970 in healthy volunteers. Given the superior profile of GLPG3970 observed in Phase 1, we decided to prioritize the further development of this compound. Subject to positive developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we still anticipate the start of several proof-of-concept patient trials with GLPG3970 in the second half of the year, with topline results now expected in the first half of 2021.
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the recruitment rate and trial starts, our cash burni guidance has been revised down and is now expected to be in the range of €400 and €430 million, compared to €420 and €450 million previously guided. The cash burn includes milestone income from Gilead for potential regulatory approvals of filgotinib in RA.
About Galapagos
Galapagos (Euronext & NASDAQ: GLPG) discovers and develops small molecule medicines with novel modes of action, three of which show promising patient results and are currently in late-stage development in multiple diseases. Our pipeline comprises discovery through Phase 3 programs in inflammation, fibrosis, osteoarthritis and other indications. Our ambition is to become a leading global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines. More information at www.glpg.com.
Filgotinib and all other drug candidates mentioned in this report are investigational; their efficacy and safety have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority.