STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SWTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing life-changing medicines for patients with severe rare diseases and cancer, today reported fourth quarter and full-year financial results for the period ended December 31, 2020 and provided an update on recent company developments.

“2020 was a year characterized by strong performance for SpringWorks as we advanced our diversified targeted oncology portfolio, which currently spans 10 development programs across our three core focus areas: late-stage rare oncology, BCMA combinations in multiple myeloma and biomarker-defined metastatic solid tumors,” said Saqib Islam, Chief Executive Officer of SpringWorks. “Our clinical execution has set the stage for multiple important data readouts in 2021, including the interim ReNeu data announced this morning and topline data from our Phase 3 DeFi trial later this year, and our business development efforts have allowed us to pursue additional combination therapy programs, continuing to grow our portfolio of opportunities across a broad range of potentially high-value and high-unmet need oncology patient settings. We look forward to reporting on our progress throughout 2021.”

Recent Business Highlights and Upcoming Milestones

Late-Stage Rare Oncology

• In February 2021, SpringWorks reported interim data from the adult stratum of the ongoing potentially registrational Phase 2b ReNeu trial evaluating mirdametinib in pediatric and adult patients with NF1-associated plexiform neurofibromas. Of the first 20 adult patients enrolled, 50% had achieved an objective response, the primary endpoint of the study, as assessed by blinded independent central review, and 16 of these 20 patients (80%) remained on study as of the January 22, 2021 data cutoff. In addition, mirdametinib was generally well tolerated, with the majority of treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) being Grade 1 or 2 and only one Grade 3 TRAE reported; there have been no Grade 4 or 5 AEs reported. SpringWorks reported that the ReNeu trial has reached approximately 70% of its final enrollment target of 100 patients and the Company expects to complete enrollment of the ReNeu trial in the second half of 2021.
• SpringWorks expects to report topline data from the Phase 3 DeFi trial in the second half of 2021.
• Recruitment is ongoing in a Phase 2 study sponsored by the Children’s Oncology Group evaluating nirogacestat in pediatric patients with desmoid tumors.

B-cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) Combinations in Multiple Myeloma

• Enrollment is ongoing in a Phase 1b trial sponsored by GSK evaluating nirogacestat in combination with BLENREP (belantamab mafodotin-blmf), GSK’s anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) antibody-drug conjugate, in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Initial clinical data from this study are expected in 2021.
• Two collaborator-sponsored Phase 1 studies were initiated evaluating nirogacestat in combination with BCMA therapies: nirogacestat + Allogene’s ALLO-715 and nirogacestat + Janssen’s teclistamab. SpringWorks also expects that two additional collaborator-sponsored trials will initiate in the first half of 2021, as previously disclosed: nirogacestat + Pfizer’s elranatamab (PF‐06863135) and nirogacestat + Precision’s PBCAR269A.

Biomarker-Defined Metastatic Solid Tumors

• Enrollment is ongoing in a Phase 1b/2 trial evaluating mirdametinib with BeiGene’s RAF dimer inhibitor, lifirafenib, in adult patients with RAS/RAF mutant and other MAPK pathway aberrant solid tumors. BeiGene is sponsoring this trial and SpringWorks and BeiGene expect to report initial clinical data in 2021.
• Enrollment is ongoing in a Phase 1 trial of BGB-3245 in adult patients with RAF mutant solid tumors. BGB-3245 is a selective RAF dimer inhibitor being developed by MapKure, LLC, a joint venture between SpringWorks and BeiGene. Initial clinical data from the MapKure-sponsored Phase 1 trial are expected in 2021.
• In December 2020, SpringWorks entered into a research collaboration agreement with Dr. Tatu Pantsar and Dr. Antti Poso at the University of Eastern Finland to conduct novel computational biology research to characterize the effector protein dynamics of different RAS mutations. The objective of the collaboration is to understand the biological consequences of KRAS-effector protein interactions and downstream oncogenic signaling with the goal of guiding patient selection strategies and exploring novel targets for future targeted therapy development.

General Corporate

• In February 2021, a Notice of Allowance was received from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for Patent Application No. 16/886,622 (the ‘622 application) with composition of matter claims covering several polymorphic forms of nirogacestat, including the polymorphic form that is currently in clinical development, which is also covered by U.S. Patent 10,590,087 (the ‘087 patent, issued in March 2020). Pursuant to an existing worldwide license agreement with Pfizer, SpringWorks has exclusive rights to the patent issuing from the ‘622 application. The patent granting from the ‘622 application, as well as the ‘087 patent, will both expire in August 2039.
• In October 2020, SpringWorks completed a follow-on public offering that raised $269.5 million in net proceeds, which included the underwriters’ full exercise of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock.
• In October 2020, SpringWorks and Jazz Pharmaceuticals entered into an asset purchase and exclusive license agreement under which Jazz acquired SpringWorks’ fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor program. Under the terms of the agreement, Jazz made an upfront payment of $35 million to SpringWorks, with potential future milestone payments of up to $375 million payable to SpringWorks based upon the achievement of certain clinical development, regulatory and commercial milestones. In addition, SpringWorks will receive incremental tiered royalties on future net sales of JZP-150 (formerly PF-04457845) in the mid- to high-single digit percentages.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

• Revenue: Revenue of $35.0 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 was attributable to the nonrefundable upfront payment from Jazz in October 2020, related to the asset purchase and exclusive license agreement between SpringWorks and Jazz.
• Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $15.3 million and $51.9 million for the fourth quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively, compared to $12.2 million and $42.5 million for the comparable periods of 2019. The increases in R&D expenses in 2020 were primarily attributable to growth in employee costs associated with increases in the number of R&D personnel, including non-cash share-based compensation expenses, and increases in external costs related to drug manufacturing and clinical trial costs.
• General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $8.5 million and $29.5 million for the fourth quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively, compared to $5.2 million and $16.7 million for the comparable periods of 2019. The increases in G&A expenses in 2020 were primarily attributable to growth in employee costs associated with increases in the number of G&A personnel supporting the growth of the organization, including non-cash share-based compensation expenses, as well as increases in expenses related to the expansion of business activities.
• Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders: SpringWorks reported net income of $11.3 million, or $0.24 per share, for the fourth quarter, and a net loss of $45.6 million, or $1.05 loss per share, for the year ended December 31, 2020. This compares to net losses of $16.2 million, or $0.39 loss per share, and $50.6 million, or $3.81 loss per share, for the comparable periods of 2019, respectively.
• Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $561.8 million as of December 31, 2020. This includes the net proceeds of $269.5 million from the Company’s follow-on public offering completed in October 2020, and the $35.0 million upfront payment from Jazz Pharmaceuticals in October 2020, related to the asset purchase and exclusive license agreement between SpringWorks and Jazz.

COVID-19 Update

To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a relatively modest impact on SpringWorks’ business operations, in particular on SpringWorks’ clinical trial programs, and SpringWorks is undertaking considerable efforts to mitigate the various challenges presented by this crisis. For further details and descriptions of the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, please see the Risk Factors in SpringWorks’ periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and refer to the Forward-Looking Statements section in this press release.

About SpringWorks Therapeutics

SpringWorks is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company applying a precision medicine approach to acquiring, developing and commercializing life-changing medicines for underserved patient populations suffering from devastating rare diseases and cancer. SpringWorks has a differentiated portfolio of small molecule targeted oncology product candidates and is advancing two potentially registrational clinical trials in rare tumor types, as well as several other programs addressing highly prevalent, genetically defined cancers. SpringWorks’ strategic approach and operational excellence in clinical development have enabled it to rapidly advance its two lead product candidates into late-stage clinical trials while simultaneously entering into multiple shared-value partnerships with industry leaders to expand its portfolio. For more information, visit www.springworkstx.com and follow @SpringWorksTx on Twitter and LinkedIn.