- Updated dose escalation data from SNS-101 clinical study supports favorable and potentially best-in-class safety and PK profile both as monotherapy and in combination with PD-1 blockade -
- Topline efficacy and biomarker data for both monotherapy and combination arms of dose escalation study now expected in Q2 2024, ahead of previous guidance -
- Strong balance sheet with cash runway into fourth quarter of 2025 -
“2023 saw the entry of our differentiated anti-VISTA antibody, SNS-101, into clinical development,” said
Highlights and Milestones
SNS-101
SNS-101 is a conditionally active antibody harnessing the acidic tumor microenvironment to target the immune checkpoint VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation). VISTA is implicated in numerous cancer indications and its expression correlates with low survival rates. Sensei is conducting a multi-center Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of SNS-101 as both a monotherapy and in combination with Regeneron’s PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab) in patients with advanced solid tumors. Recent updates include:
- As of
February 23, 2024 :- A total of 33 patients have been treated with SNS-101 +/- Libtayo in the dose escalation phase of this study.
- In the monotherapy dose escalation arm, 16 patients have been enrolled and cleared all planned dosing cohorts of 0.3, 1, 3, 10, and 15 mg/kg.
- In the combination dose escalation arm, 17 patients have been enrolled and cleared the first two planned dosing cohorts of 3 and 10 mg/kg + Libtayo. The third cohort at a dose level of 15.0 mg/kg of SNS-101 plus Libtayo is enrolling.
- Patient enrollment has started for the recently announced monotherapy dose expansion arm in patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC) at a dose level of 15 mg/kg.
- The combination dose expansion arm will commence once the safety monitoring committee reviews the third combination dose escalation cohort.
- SNS-101 +/- Libtayo has been well tolerated in both the monotherapy and combination dose escalation cohorts with no dose-limiting toxicities observed.
- In the monotherapy dose escalation arm, 13/16 patients (81%) experienced at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE), with the majority of adverse events (AEs) Grade 1 or 2.
- In the combination dose escalation arm, 10/17 patients (59%) experienced at least one TEAE, with the majority of AEs Grade 1 or 2.
- SNS-101 has demonstrated potentially best-in-class pharmacokinetics, with linear elimination kinetics and dose-proportional increases in exposure across monotherapy and combination cohorts. There was no notable difference in pharmacokinetics between monotherapy and combination dosing. The pharmacokinetic data support once every 3-week dosing for SNS-101.
- As a result of rapid enrollment, Sensei now expects to report both topline monotherapy and combination dose escalation data in Q2 2024.
- Initial data for the SNS-101 dose expansion cohorts is expected by the end of 2024.
- A total of 33 patients have been treated with SNS-101 +/- Libtayo in the dose escalation phase of this study.
- In
January 2024 , Sensei announced plans to enroll up to 40 additional patients in both monotherapy and in combination with Libtayo in specific tumor types to further optimize the design of the Phase 2 trial.- In the monotherapy dose expansion arm, Sensei plans to enroll up to 10 patients with MSS CRC at a dose level of 15 mg/kg.
- In the combination dose expansion arm, Sensei plans to enroll up to 30 patients with MSS CRC, head and neck cancer (H&N), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and melanoma.
- The initially selected solid tumor types are focused on a basket of more commonly occurring histologies, including both “hot” (NSCLC, H&N, Melanoma) and “cold” (CRC) tumors. All patients with “hot” tumors enrolling into the expansion arm are expected to have been previously treated with a PD-1/L1 checkpoint inhibitor. Additional tumor types and doses may be considered for both the monotherapy and combination expansion arms.
- Sensei presented supporting SNS-101 data at numerous medical meetings throughout 2023:
- On
November 3, 2023 , Sensei reported initial data from the monotherapy dose-escalation portion of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial for SNS-101 in a late-breaker poster presentation at theSociety for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 38th Annual Meeting, showing that SNS-101 has a potential best-in-class safety and pharmacokinetic profile. - On
October 23, 2023 , Sensei presented a trial-in-progress poster from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial for SNS-101 at theEuropean Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO) 2023. - On
September 21, 2023 , Sensei presented new preclinical data reinforcing SNS-101’s pharmacokinetic profile, safety characteristics, and mechanism of action at the Seventh AnnualCRI-ENCI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference : Translating Science into Survival (CICON). - In
February 2023 , preclinical data presented at the Keystone Symposia on Next-Generation Antibody Therapeutics included crystal structure analysis further elucidating SNS-101’s mechanism of action, showing that the antibody directly blocks the pH-dependent interaction between VISTA and PSGL-1.
- On
- In
February 2024 , Sensei co-authored a publication discussing the development of a preclinical in vivo model to assess cytokine release syndrome (CRS). - In
August 2023 , Sensei published a review article describing its pH-sensitive antibody engineering efforts, entitled “Conditionally Active, pH-Sensitive Immunoregulatory Antibodies Targeting VISTA and CTLA-4 Lead an Emerging Class of Cancer Therapeutics,” in Antibodies, an international, peer-reviewed journal. - In
June 2023 , Sensei hosted a KOL event featuringJames Gulley , M.D., Ph.D., Co-Director of theCenter for Immuno-Oncology at theNational Cancer Institute (NCI) entitled “A New Vista for Cancer Care: Exploring SNS-101’s Potential as a Transformative Treatment Option for Patients with Solid Tumors”. - Sensei announced two collaborations key to the development of SNS-101 and the Phase 1/2 clinical trial:
- A
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with theNational Cancer Institute (NCI), executed inFebruary 2023 , is designed to further demonstrate the role of VISTA in checkpoint resistance and will enable Sensei to explore SNS-101’s potential as a combination therapy beyond anti-PD-1. The NCI will also participate as a clinical site in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial. - In
January 2023 , the Company signed a clinical supply agreement with Regeneron that will enable Sensei to evaluate SNS-101 in combination with the anti-PD1 therapy Libtayo® (cemiplimab).
- A
Corporate Updates
- On
January 4, 2024 , Sensei announced the appointment ofRon Weitzman , M.D., F.A.C.P., as part-time Chief Medical Officer. - On
November 1, 2023 , Sensei announced the appointment ofStephanie Krebs , MS, MBA, as Chief Business Officer. - In
January 2024 , Sensei announced a realignment of its resources to fully support the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SNS-101. As a result, Sensei has paused IND-enabling work on its preclinical-stage TMAb programs, including SNS-102 (VSIG4), SNS-103 (CD39) and SNS-201 (VISTAxCD28). Preclinical work to characterize selected lead antibodies, including their mechanisms of action, and target biology is expected to continue throughout 2024. - As a result of this realignment of resources Sensei’s cash runway now extends into the fourth quarter of 2025.
Year End 2023 Financial Results
Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were
Net Loss: Net loss was
About
Condensed Statements of Operations | |||||||||
(Unaudited, in thousands except share and per share data) | |||||||||
Year Ended | |||||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||
Research and development | $ | 18,299 | $ | 30,383 | |||||
General and administrative | 18,765 | 19,805 | |||||||
Total operating expenses | 37,064 | 50,188 | |||||||
Loss from operations | (37,064 | ) | (50,188 | ) | |||||
Total other income | 2,963 | 1,600 | |||||||
Net loss | (34,101 | ) | (48,588 | ) | |||||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (1.22 | ) | $ | (1.58 | ) | |||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 27,952,857 | 30,703,295 | |||||||
Selected Condensed Balance Sheet Data | ||||||
(Unaudited, in thousands) | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 13,011 | $ | 17,795 | ||
Marketable securities | 52,746 | 89,321 | ||||
Total assets | 74,374 | 118,375 | ||||
Total liabilities | 9,479 | 14,968 | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 64,895 | 103,407 | ||||
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words and phrases such as “believe”, “designed to,” “expect”, “may”, “plan”, “potential”, “will”, and similar expressions, and are based on Sensei’s current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include expectations regarding the development and potential therapeutic benefits of Sensei’s product candidates, the timing of Sensei’s Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SNS-101, including reporting of data therefrom, the timing of preclinical R&D activities, and its belief that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its operations at least into the fourth quarter of 2025. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include uncertainties inherent in the development of therapeutic product candidates, such as the risk that any one or more of Sensei’s product candidates will not be successfully developed or commercialized; the risk of delay or cessation of any planned clinical trials of Sensei’s product candidates; the risk that prior results, such as signals of safety, activity or durability of effect, observed from preclinical trials, will not be replicated or will not continue in ongoing or future studies or clinical trials involving Sensei’s product candidates; the risk that Sensei’s product candidates or procedures in connection with the administration thereof will not have the safety or efficacy profile that Sensei anticipates; risks associated with Sensei’s dependence on third-party suppliers and manufacturers, including sole source suppliers, over which Sensei may not always have full control; risks regarding the accuracy of Sensei’s estimates of expenses, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and other risks and uncertainties that are described in Sensei’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
Investor Contact:
Senior Director, Investor Relations
mbiega@senseibio.com
Media Contact:
Joyce Allaire
LifeSci Advisors
Jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com
Source:
2024 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source