8-K
false 0001789972 0001789972 2022-08-10 2022-08-10

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 10, 2022

 

 

CULLINAN ONCOLOGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39856   81-3879991

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

Cullinan Oncology, Inc.

One Main Street, Suite 520

Cambridge, MA 02142

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(617) 410-4650

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share   CGEM   The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

 

 

 


Item 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On August 10, 2022, Cullinan Oncology, Inc. announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Item 2.02 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

99.1    Press release issued by Cullinan Oncology, Inc. on August 10, 2022, furnished herewith
 104    Cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    CULLINAN ONCOLOGY, INC.
Dated: August 10, 2022     By:  

/s/ Jeffrey Trigilio

      Jeffrey Trigilio
      Chief Financial Officer
EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Cullinan Oncology Provides Corporate Update and

Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Completed agreement for strategic collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize CLN-081 with Taiho Pharmaceutical

Presented updated Phase 1/2a data for CLN-081 at the 100mg BID dose showing median duration of response greater than 21 months and median progression-free survival of 12 months at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting

Cash and investments of $656 million1 as of June 30, 2022 expected to provide runway through 2026.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., August 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cullinan Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGEM), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a diversified pipeline of targeted therapeutic candidates across multiple modalities for patients with cancer, today reported on recent and upcoming business highlights and announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.

“In the second quarter of 2022, Cullinan Oncology demonstrated significant portfolio advancement, including the closing of our agreement with Taiho Pharmaceutical for CLN-081, an oral presentation for CLN-081 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2022 Annual Meeting, and continued progression of our pipeline of potential first-in-class and best-in-class oncology assets. These achievements demonstrate our commitment to creating new standards of care for patients with unmet need,” said Nadim Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Cullinan Oncology.

“We are pleased with the continued strengthening of CLN-081’s clinical profile,” Ahmed continued. “Updated data released at ASCO highlighted a high response rate, favorable safety and tolerability, and improving durability of response from the ongoing Phase 1/2a study for patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation non-small-cell lung cancer. Financially, the closing of the Taiho transaction for CLN-081 has extended our cash runway through 2026, giving us the financial flexibility to accelerate and expand the development of our diverse pipeline as well as obtain promising new oncology assets. Looking ahead, we continue to advance our earlier-stage programs, including CLN-619 and CLN-049, with initial Phase 1 data readouts expected by mid-2023, as well as CLN-617 and CLN-978, for which we anticipate IND filings in the first half of next year.”

 

 

1

Includes cash, cash equivalents, investments, and interest receivable.


Portfolio Highlights

 

   

CLN-081: In June, Cullinan Oncology completed its strategic agreement with Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Taiho Pharmaceutical) pursuant to which Cullinan Oncology received a $275 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive an additional $130 million tied to EGFR exon 20 non-small-cell lung cancer regulatory milestones in exchange for selling its equity interest in Cullinan Pearl, which holds worldwide rights to CLN-081 outside of Japan and Greater China. Additionally, Cullinan Oncology entered into an agreement with Taiho Oncology, Inc. (Taiho Oncology), a subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical, to jointly develop and commercialize CLN-081 in the U.S. Pursuant to the co-development agreement, Cullinan Oncology and Taiho Oncology will share equally in the development expenses and future potential U.S. profits and losses for CLN-081.

 

   

Also in June, Cullinan Oncology presented updated data from its ongoing Phase 1/2a clinical study of CLN-081 in an oral presentation at the ASCO 2022 Annual Meeting. The updated data showed a median duration of response greater than 21 months, median progression free survival of 12 months and a confirmed overall response rate of 41% among 39 patients treated at the 100 mg BID dose, along with a continued favorable safety and tolerability profile. In collaboration with its partner, Taiho Oncology, Cullinan Oncology intends to initiate a pivotal study for CLN-081 in the second half of 2022 under the co-development agreement.

 

   

CLN-049: Cullinan Oncology continued dosing patients in its first-in-human clinical trial evaluating CLN-049 in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Initial clinical data are expected by mid-2023. CLN-049 is a FLT3/CD3-bispecific T cell-engaging antibody in an IgG format for the treatment of AML and MDS. CLN-049 targets the extracellular domain of FLT3, regardless of mutant or wild type FLT3 status.

 

   

CLN-619: Cullinan Oncology continued dosing subjects in its first-in-human clinical trial evaluating CLN-619 alone and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced tumors. Initial clinical data are expected by mid-2023. CLN-619 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody with broad therapeutic potential across multiple cancer indications. CLN-619 stabilizes expression of MICA/MICB on the tumor cell surface to promote an antitumor response via activation of both natural killer (NK) cells and certain T cells.

 

   

Preclinical Portfolio:

 

   

Cullinan Oncology remains on track for Investigational New Drug (IND) submissions in the first half of 2023 for its two most advanced preclinical programs:

 

   

CLN-617, a cytokine fusion protein uniquely combining IL-12 and IL-2 with a collagen binding domain designed for retention in the tumor microenvironment (TME) following intratumoral injection, and

 

   

CLN-978, a novel CD19/CD3-bispecific construct with extended serum half-life and high potency against target cells expressing low levels of CD19.


   

Cullinan Oncology continues to progress its additional 3 preclinical programs, including Jade, Opal, and the HPK1 degrader collaboration with Icahn Mount Sinai.

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

 

   

Cash Position: Cash and investments1 were $656 million as of June 30, 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, we received cash proceeds of $270 million from the sale of Cullinan Pearl. The remaining $5 million of the $275 million upfront payment was held in escrow as of June 30 and is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2022. Based on current operating plans, the Company expects that its cash and investments1 will be sufficient to fund operations through 2026.

 

   

R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were $26.4 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $24.5 million for the first quarter of 2022. R&D expenses for the second and first quarters of 2022 included $4.4 million and $2.6 million of equity-based compensation expenses, respectively. The increase in R&D expenses is primarily related to expanded clinical activities for CLN-049 and CLN-619 and IND-enabling activities for CLN-617, which were partially offset by a decrease in chemistry, manufacturing, and control activities for CLN-081.

 

   

G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $10.7 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $8.1 million for the first quarter of 2022. G&A expenses in the second and first quarters of 2022 included $4.2 million and $3.8 million of equity-based compensation expenses, respectively. Nonrecurring expenses related to the Cullinan Pearl transaction were $1.7 million in the second quarter and $0.3 million in the first quarter.

 

   

Gain on sale of Cullinan Pearl: The Company recognized a gain on the sale of Cullinan Pearl of $276.8 million, which includes the upfront payment of $275 million, as well as the impact of net liabilities transferred to Taiho. As of June 30, 2022, the Company also recognized an income tax liability related to this gain of $46.5 million. The Company estimates the net income tax liability will be reduced to approximately $41 million based on our utilization of net operating losses we anticipate incurring during the remainder of 2022. We expect to make estimated tax payments in an amount equal to 75% of our tax liability in the third quarter of 2022 and the remainder in the fourth quarter of 2022.

 

   

Net Income: The Company generated net income (before items attributable to noncontrolling interest) of $174.1 million for the second quarter of 2022 compared to a net loss of $12.9 million for the first quarter of 2022.

About Cullinan Oncology

Cullinan Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CGEM) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating new standards of care for patients with cancer. We innovate without borders to find the most promising clinic-ready cancer therapies, whether from our own discovery efforts or through exceptional engagement with our academic and industry partners. Anchored in a deep understanding of immuno-oncology and translational cancer medicine, we leverage our scientific excellence in small molecules and biologics to create differentiated ideas, identify unique targets, and select the optimal modality to develop transformative therapeutics across cancer indications. Powered by our novel research model, we push conventional boundaries from candidate selection to cancer therapeutic, applying rigorous early experimentation to fast-


track only the most promising assets to the clinic and ultimately commercialization. As a result, our diversified pipeline is strategically built with assets that activate the immune system or inhibit key oncogenic drivers across a wide range of modalities, each with the potential to be the best or first in their class.

Our people possess deep scientific expertise, seek innovation openly, and exercise creativity and urgency to deliver on our promise to bring new therapeutic solutions to patients with cancer. Learn more about our Company at www.cullinanoncology.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding Cullinan’s beliefs and expectations regarding our preclinical and clinical development plans and timelines, clinical trial designs, clinical and therapeutic potential, and strategy of our product candidates; our ability to evaluate strategic opportunities to accelerate development timelines; our ability to optimize the impact of our collaborations and license agreements with external parties; our ability to continue our growth; our receipt of escrowed funds related to our transaction with Taiho Pharmaceutical; and our expectations regarding our use of capital. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs of future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following: uncertainty regarding the timing and results of regulatory submissions; success of our clinical trials and preclinical studies; risks related to our ability to protect and maintain our intellectual property position; risks related to manufacturing, supply, and distribution of our product candidates; risks related to the impact of COVID-19 affecting countries or regions in which we have operations or do business, including potential negative impacts on our employees, customers, supply chain and production as well as global economies and financial markets; the risk that any one or more of our product candidates, including those that are co-developed, will not be successfully developed and commercialized; the risk that the results of preclinical studies or clinical studies will not be predictive of future results in connection with future studies; and success of any collaboration, partnership, license or similar agreements. These and other important risks and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change, except to the extent required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Moreover, except as required by law, neither Cullinan nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements included in this press release. Any forward-looking statement included in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it was made.


Cullinan Oncology, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

 

     June 30, 2022      March 31, 2022  
     (unaudited)      (unaudited)  

Cash, cash equivalents, investments, and interest receivable

   $ 655,623      $ 410,063  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 667,249      $ 437,463  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

   $ 62,035      $ 17,257  

Total liabilities

   $ 62,631      $ 17,993  

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 604,618      $ 419,470  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 667,249      $ 437,463  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


Cullinan Oncology, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     June 30,
2022
    March 31,
2022
    2022     2021  
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

License revenue

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 18,943  

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

     26,411       24,536       50,947       24,193  

General and administrative

     10,695       8,121       18,816       9,982  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     37,106       32,657       69,763       34,175  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gain on sale of Cullinan Pearl

     276,785       —         276,785       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

     239,679       (32,657     207,022       (15,232

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     697       197       894       222  

Other income (expense), net

     (241     —         (241     (10
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) before income taxes

     240,135       (32,460     207,675       (15,020

Income tax expense (benefit)

     66,070       (19,568     46,502       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     174,065       (12,892     161,173       (15,020

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (833     (794     (1,627     686  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders of Cullinan

   $ 174,898     $ (12,098   $ 162,800     $ (15,706
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings (net loss) per share:

        

Basic

   $ 3.90     $ (0.27   $ 3.65     $ (0.37

Diluted

   $ 3.77     $ (0.27   $ 3.51     $ (0.37

Weighted-average shares used in computing earnings (net loss) per share:

        

Basic

     44,873       44,432       44,654       42,713  

Diluted

     46,381       44,432       46,389       42,713  

Contacts:

Investors

Chad Messer

+1 203.464.8900

cmesser@cullinanoncology.com

Media

Rose Weldon

+1 215.801.7644

rweldon@cullinanoncology.com