Ocugen Inc (OCGN) 2022 Q3 法說會逐字稿

Good morning and welcome to the Ocugen Third Quarter 2022 Business Update and Financial Results Call.

At this time all participants are in a listen-only mode. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. (Operator Instructions). Please note this call is being recorded.

I will now turn the call over to Tiffany Hamilton, Ocugen's Head of Corporate Communications.

Thank you, Angela.

Joining me today are Ocugen's Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Shankar Musunuri, will provide a business update. And our Chief Accounting Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance, Jessica Crespo will provide more update on our financial results.

Earlier this morning we issued a press release detailing business activity for Q3 2022. We encourage listeners to review this press release which is available on our website at ocugen.com. This call is being recorded and a replay along with the company's slide presentation will be available on the investor section of the Ocugen website for approximately 45 days.

This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Ocugen Incorporated and on information currently available to management. All statements contained in this presentation other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. We may in some cases use terms such as projected, believe, potential, proposed, continue, estimate, anticipate, expect, plans, intends, may, could, might, will, should or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements.

Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our current expectations. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our periodic filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, including the risk factors described in the section entitled Risk Factors in the quarterly and annual report that we file with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements that we make in this presentation speak only as of this date of this presentation, except as required by law. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this presentation whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise after the date of this presentation.

Finally, Ocugen's third quarter 10Q will be filed soon after today's call.

I will now turn the call to Dr. Musunuri.

Thank you Tiffany. Good morning and thank you joining our call. I'm very proud of the important accomplishments we achieved in the third quarter. This courageous innovation is a driving force behind everything we do, the diligently progressing at our cell and gene therapies and pursuing broader development and expansion of our vaccine program which now includes a unique mucosal vaccine or OCU500 for COVID-19.

We're also very enthusiastic about the potential of our modified gene therapy platform that we shared in more detail at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Conference in Chicago and our first R&D Day last week.

The Ocugen Team continues to charge ahead to establish ourselves as a fully integrated vision-centric biotech company. As we meet our clinical and regulatory milestones, I'm especially confident that the team is well-poised to drive science in new directions and break new ground for patients who have no effective therapeutic options. And people who want choice in the fight against COVID-19.

Today, we are going to provide updates on our vaccines, gene and cell therapy programs. I'd like to start with Ocugen's vaccines program. COVID-19 remains persistent and the world critically needs more effective and safe vaccine options. We are realizing some of the limitations of vaccines currently available in the United States in terms of the durability and capability to reduce transmission.

Up until now, much of the attention has been on reducing hospitalization rates, but we need to think much more broadly and consider what effects new variants will pose and what is required to face the unique challenges that this next phase of COVID-19 will bring.

As I alluded to earlier, in September, we announced our licensing agreement that Washington University to develop, manufacture, and commercialize its proprietary mucosal vaccine in the United States, Japan, and Europe. OCU500 has a potential to generate rapid local immunity in the nose, mouth, upper airways, and lungs where SARS-CO-2 enters and infects the body.

We believe that the mucosal vaccine can help reduce the transmission rate by generating, neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA and T-Cell responses. This approach represents the potential universal booster regardless of previous COVID-19 vaccination. We intend to work closely with the US government agencies, (audio gap) on the regulatory pathway and the initiation of clinical trials.

Additionally, we are addressing the public's need for a more durable immune response to COVID-19 with continued development of our candidate vaccine, COVAXIN. Enrollment was completed and dosing continues in the Phase 2/3 immuno-bridging and broadening clinical trial with the topline data expected in early 2023. We are encouraged that no safety concerns have been identified in the trial to date. As part of the technology transfer we successfully completed a demonstration batch (inaudible) Hollister. We will have the ability to move forward once World Health Organization concerns with our partner have been resolved.

Now moving to our gene therapy program. Ocugen is deeply competent to our core technology focused on inherited retinal diseases along with other blindness diseases affecting larger patient populations. We are making progress in our vital work in retinitis pigmentosa, a disease for which there is no cure, no medicines to block disease progression and limited treatments to help manage the patient's tragic journey that ultimately leads to blindness. The independent data and safety monitoring board completed the review of safety data for subjects enrolled in Cohort 2 for the OCU400 Phase 1/2 clinical trial for retinitis pigmentosa and recommended proceeding to enroll subjects in Cohort 3.

We have dosed the first patient and the company expects to complete Cohort 3 enrollment by the end of the year. By the end of the Phase 1/2 study, data will be collected and analyzed from those RP and LCA patients before initiating the Phase 3 efficacy trial. Currently, RP is associated with mutations in more than 100 genes affecting approximately two million globally. The current study will start enrolling patients with Leber Congenital Amaurosis or LCA factor 19 mutation.

LCA is a rare eye disease associated with mutations in more than 25 genes. OCU410 also leveraging our modified gene therapy platform is being developed to utilize the nuclear hormone receptor gene RORA for the treatment of dry, age-related macular degeneration or dry AMD which affects approximately nine million to ten million Americans alone. In this quarter, we're announcing the addition of OCU410ST to potentially treat Stargardt disease, an orphan disease that will be investigated along with dry AMD.

We have successfully completed EGMP manufacturing in support of clinical trials and are currently conducting IND-enabling studies. Ocugen is planning to file IND applications that initiate Phase 1/2 clinical trials for both these programs in Q2 2023. Another product modality in the retinal disease space is based on a novel fusion protein. OCU200 is designed to treat sight-threatening diseases such as diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, and wet AMD. Ocugen is currently executing IND-enabling studies and is planning to submit and IND application in the first quarter of 2023 to initiate a Phase 1 trial targeting DME.

Regarding our regenerated cell therapies, in May we expanded our pipeline into cell therapy in orthopedics with NeoCart. NeoCart shows potential to accelerate healing and reduce pain, rebuilding damaged knee cartilage and limiting the progression of osteoarthritis. Ocugen is working with the FDA to complete the Phase 3 protocol, the advanced development and is building its own manufacturing suite to prepare for the study.

Earlier this year the FDA granted a (inaudible) medicine, advanced therapy or ORNAC designation to NeoCart of the repair of full thickness lesions of the knee, cartilage in adults. Our ambitious clinical agenda and the regular clinical development advanced our pipeline is reflective of our culture of courageous innovation. We're relentless in our pursuit towards our long-term goals and reaching the patients who can potentially benefit from our diverse pipeline.

I'll now turn the call to Jess to provide our third quarter 2022 financial results.

Thank you Shankar and good morning everyone. I'll now provide an overview of the key financial results for the third quarter of 2022. Our research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30th, 2022 were $15.6 million compared to $6.3 million for the three months ended September 30th, 2021. The increase in research and development is primarily driven by costs incurred to execute in our clinical trials. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30th, 2022 was $7.5 million compared to $4.5 million for the third quarter of 2021.

Our net loss was approximately $21.9 million or $0.10 net loss per share for the third quarter of 2022 compared to a net loss of approximately $10.8 million or $0.05 net loss per share for the third quarter 2021. Our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $101.6 million as of September 30th, 2022 compared to $95.1 million as of year-end, December 31st, 2021.

We are focused on efficiently managing and prioritizing the use of our capital. Our plans to work with the US government agencies for support and the funding of our COVID-19 vaccine programs has allowed us to extend our cash burn rate to fourth quarter of 2023.

That concludes my update for the quarter. Tiffany, back to you.

Okay. Thanks Jess. And with that, we'll open the call for questions. Angela.

(Operator Instructions). Your first question comes from the line of Jennifer Kim with Cantor Fitzgerald, your line is open.

Hey everyone. Congrats in the quarter and thanks for taking our questions.

I have a few here. The first is, I think you mentioned that the R&D cost reflects the cost incurred for clinical trials. But I'm just wondering how should we think about those OpEx numbers going forward in terms of where G&A and R&D are at for the quarter? And I know that you said that you're building manufacturing sites to prepare for NeoCart and overall expansion.

My second question is just the topline results for the Phase 2/3 for COVAXIN. Can you walk us through what the next steps and the timelines for those steps would look like in terms of your discussions with agencies and the potential for it conducting an adult fit trial, et cetera?

Yes Jennifer, good morning. Thank you. I'll let Jess answer the first question.

Sure. Hi Jennifer.

And I'll do the second one. Yes.

Yes.

So with regards to the cost on a go forward basis, I think this quarter is probably a decent proxy for go forward expenses looking at R&D and G&A.

And your second question is related to NeoCart. Could your repeat your question, Jen?

Yeah, yeah. Sure. It's for the Phase 3, 2/3 date for COVAXIN, can you walk us through sort of what the next steps would look like after the topline data and the timeline for that in terms of your discussions and where you should go next.

Yes. Yeah. So the topline data as we stated, we have completed enrollment and we are currently going to do the data analysis after we're done with collecting all the samples from patients after the second dose. And we're anticipating to release the topline results early next year. And then the study will get completed.

Obviously as we mentioned before, the data will also give some direction on dosing patients who have taken mRNA before. That means in addition to naive patients, we also have mRNA patients because it's very difficult to enroll 100% naive patients at this stage and how the pandemic is. And therefore we are going to get data, booster data on patients who took mRNA with our vaccine. So based on that, once again, we're already working with FDA on the next safety protocol which we believe may be needed for US study in US demographic for BLA.

But however, based on the booster data, that will shed a lot of light into how we move forward because we believe COVAXIN can make a good booster with a broad immune response for people who took mRNA shot which is only based on study.

Okay. That's very helpful. And if I could squeeze one more question. As you expand to include LCA patients in your OCU400 trial, are you expanding at the Cohort 3 dose? And then how many LCA patients would then be needed to then support moving into Phase 3?

Yeah. No, that's a good question. So, yes, that's the plan, just like you stated. Our goal is to go with the most tolerable dose in LCA and we'll be recruiting three patients.

All right. Thanks guys.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Your next question comes from the line of Robert LeBoyer with Noble Capital, your line is open.

Good morning. I had a question on NeoCart and if there are any timeframes that you can give us as to finalizing the Phase 3 protocol or starting the clinical trial?

Yeah. Currently Robert, there's two steps to it. One is getting your protocol finalized with FDA, we've been working with them, it takes some time. The second step, most important step, that I think we know will get that squared off in the next few months. The actually most rate limiting is our manufacturing because cell therapy is almost like a personalized medicine. You don't need large manufacturing facilities but you do need highly scientific small facilities. It's very complex science where we can manage with good control.

So that's why Ocugen has committed to build or own facilities in our R&D expansion. We're actually preparing those facilities but that's the rate limiting. One is getting FDA protocol agreement. The second most important step is getting our facilities ready for this. And we're anticipating those facilities will be ready by the end of next year.

Okay, great. That's very helpful. Thank you.

Your next question comes from the line of Daniel Gatowan [ph] with Chardan, your line is open.

Good morning. Thank you for taking the question. Just a couple here. So two vaccines in the pipeline, the COVAXIN and the OCU500, what is your strategy for them working together? You're looking at them as being complementary? Just wanted to see what the big picture is for both of them.

Yeah. Absolutely. So OCU500, obviously, mucosal vaccine is really needed in respect of what your vaccinated status is. We have to control the transmission, right? I mean that's really important, otherwise, virus will continue to mutate. All the experts in the field believe you really need something mucosal vaccine where you can stop the entry of virus. So I think that's going to be good for the long-term here.

And our COVAXIN offers a broad immune response. I mean, ideally if everyone gets COVAXIN and establishing a broad immune response so you are adopting immunity. So you will have ability to fight off emerging variants potentially. And then you take mucosal vaccine as a booster which is inhaled or intranasal which will be very convenient even for kids in the long-term and it's also easier to make this vaccine, it's based on adenoviral vector platform. So as the new variants come in on annual basis, it's easy to produce this vaccine compared to our inaccurate viral vaccine, COVID virus vaccine.

And so that's the distinct feature. So obviously it's really needed. I mean this mucosal vaccine is a great need right now where the pandemic is going.

Yes. Thank you, that was helpful. And another one, on (inaudible) is still guiding to report initial data by mid '23? And if so, what are some of the key metrics that we should be paying particular attention to?

Yes. I mean, we'll continue to monitor the data, and our goal is to view some data rich by mid next year. And as we mentioned before, the Phase 1/2 clinical trial, the primary endpoint is safety. However, we are monitoring efficacy based on observational endpoints. And each mutation may have a different endpoint going into Phase 3. So that's the reason there are multiple observation endpoints and broadly functional, as well as structural, endpoints.

Structural means under OCU, you'll be looking at the structure of the retina. Is there any stabilization of degeneration? Stabilizing a signal is really important in these patients, right? You're protecting from degeneration. And so, you're looking at structural aspects and functional aspects. Looking at like perimetry or looking at mobility. And some of those data we're hoping to release by mid next year.

Got it. Thank you very much.

Your next question comes from the line of Jonathan Aschoff with ROTH Capital Partners, your line is open.

Thanks guys and good morning.

My one question is on OCU500. To what extent do you think that someone's vaccination status prior to getting 500 might allow them to neutralize what's on that adenovirus and make it not really that effective?

Good morning Jonathan.

I think when you give mucosal vaccines, typically, if your system is primed, it's really important. Most of Americans are primed with mRNA. So, if they have two shots primed, mucosal vaccine does help.

So our goal is to really target as a universal booster vaccine. That's our potential target. And people who are vaccinated before, I mean, it's really important they're primed before they get the mucosal vaccine. At least the data is pointing out that's where we get the full benefit.

Okay. Thank you.

Your next question comes from the line of (Inaudible) with Mizuho Securities. Your line is open.

Hi, guys. Thanks for taking my question.

Just curious, with vaccination essentially, I guess, moving from government pay to commercial pay, just wondering how you guys are thinking about the role for both COVAXIN and, I guess, ultimately, OCU500. Thanks.

Yeah.

So I think you have seen some of our competitors, vaccine players have announced the pricing. Some of them want to price it for $100 a dose. They're anticipating it will move into private market.

So the COVAXIN follows the traditional path. Somebody wants to take it as a primary series, which would be a very good primary series vaccine, as well as a booster. However, with the mucosal vaccine, there is a lot of emphasis all the way from governmental agencies to the experts in the field. They're supporting it. They're really worried about significant mutations coming up if you don't control the transmission. Therefore, there is a great need for it, and we're working with government agencies. We believe something novel like that or something to control the transmission because the largest democracies, I mean, the countries out there, including India and China, they launched mucosal vaccine, and we are way behind it.

I think it's time we're hoping our government will step up after the elections and support development of mucosal vaccine, which is OCU500. And we believe something like that to control the transmission, where everyone agrees, they should have government support. That's what we believe. And eventually, that may become private too in future years. But at least in the short-term, we believe government should really support mucosal vaccine.

And just following up on your comment about the OCU500 being authorized in China and India. Could you give us a sense of how effective that is in those country and whether it's broadly used? Thanks.

Yeah. In India, I mean, the data is public. Both the companies have published some of the data coming out of our clinical trials. I mean, obviously, in India, they just launched it, and the Phase 3 data looks good compared to COVAXIN head-to-head, and they showed a good not only IgGs, also mucosal immunogenic response.

They also stated it neutralizes emerging variants or variants of concern today, which are existing. And from the other vaccine in China, which is inhalation vaccine, it's widely rolled out. In fact, there's some public information out there as of last week, they rolled it out for many, many large cities in China. So, we don't know how the data is, but at least publicly available data looks good. So, both of them are pointing out mucosal vaccines may be very beneficial. They control this pandemic and transmission.

There are no further questions at this time.

This concludes the Q&A portion. I will now turn the call back over to Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder, Dr. Shankar Musunuri.

Thank you Angela. I'd like to conclude the call with some additional parting thoughts. We have shown remarkable progress to achieve our vision of creating a fully integrated patient-centric biotechnology company that targets unmet medical need and impacts public health. We pointed this out last week during our R&D Day that between 2023 and 2027, we're targeting BLA filing and product launches in each of the next five years, reflecting what we mean by courageous innovation.

We believe our gene therapies have potential to bring significant value to our patients and shareholders as discussed at the R&D Day. We have to prioritize our resources on gene therapies while seeking partnership with the government agencies for vaccines to support public health in the short-term. Once we start getting data rates next year on gene therapies, it will allow Ocugen to potentially form partnerships outside of the US to support our growth.

In the long-term, we will continue to strengthen our pipeline to become leaders in disease areas we represent and continue to offer hope for patients across the globe. Thank you for joining us today.

And everyone, have a great day.

This concludes today's call. You may now disconnect.