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ALQGC: QUORUM: Severe Patients See Greater Benefit

09/08/2021

By John Vandermosten, CFA

EPA:ALQGC

READ THE FULL ALQGC RESEARCH REPORT

QUORUM Study Results Announcement

Quantum Genomics S.A. (EPA:ALQGC) reported topline results for the QUORUM study which were presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress and announced in a press release on August 27, 2021. Professor Gilles Montalescot of Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France delivered the results during the conference’s scientific sessions.

QUORUM (NCT03715998) is a 295-patient multi-center, multinational, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial designed to assess the efficacy and the safety of twice-daily firibastat compared to ramipril in the prevention of left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Patients were recruited within 24 hours of their first MI. These patients were randomized into three groups with varying firibastat dosing schemes.

QUORUM dosing groups:

➢ 100 mg firibastat twice daily after two weeks at 50 mg twice daily;

➢ 500 mg firibastat twice daily after two weeks at 250 mg twice daily;

➢ Ramipril 5 mg twice daily after two weeks at 2.5 mg twice daily (standard treatment).

The primary outcome measure was change from baseline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed by cardiac MRI. Secondary endpoints include changes in other MRI parameters, cardiovascular events, biomarkers and clinical and laboratory tolerance. The trial was powered to show a minimum difference of 5% between the groups on the overall population in the primary endpoint.

Topline results highlights include:

➢ Firibastat efficacy comparable with ramipril in preventing degradation of LVEF after MI in total study population;

➢ Firibastat outperformed ramipril in severe patients with low ejection fraction;

➢ Firibastat improved blood pressure profile in study population; and

➢ Good safety profile was observed from both doses of firibastat.

After 12 weeks of treatment, left ventricular ejection fraction evaluated by cardiac MRI increased from 53% to 59% in the firibastat 100 mg group, from 51% to 58% in the firibastat 500 mg group and 50% to 57% in the ramipril group. Firibastat efficacy was not statistically differentiable from ramipril.

In the subgroup of severe patients with ejection fraction less than 50% (n=126), ejection fraction increased by 5.32 (+/- 1.67%) and 3.51 (+/- 1.64%) from baseline for firibastat and ramipril, respectively, which was directionally favorable but did not meet statistical significance. This group of patients comprised 43% of the enrolled population.

Firibastat dosing was not limited by excessive changes in blood pressure. Heart failure patients may suffer from hypotension and ACE inhibitors can exacerbate this, limiting maximum dosing. Ramipril was dose limited, with 32.5% of patients failing to reach the target dose while only 20% of patients were dose limited in the firibastat arms. Firibastat was safe and well tolerated with the most common side effects being skin reactions, which are also common with ramipril. Renal adverse events were not reported in the firibastat 100 mg arm, but were reported in both the 500 mg arm and the ramipril 5 mg arm, with fewer renal adverse events in the firibastat 500 mg arm. Common side effects for ramipril include hypotension, adverse renal function and hyperkalemia.

While firibastat did not demonstrate superior efficacy compared to gold-standard ramipril, patients on ramipril can become dose-limited due to impacts on blood pressure. In a study conducted by Mouhat et al., patients with systolic blood pressure below 125 mmHg were twice as likely to suffer cardiovascular death in the first year compared with those with systolic blood pressure above 125 mmHg1 highlighting the importance of regimens that can avoid reducing blood pressure. Low blood pressure or hypotension is common in patients with heart failure which can lead to dizziness, fatigue and inadequate blood flow. ACE inhibitors are associated with hypotension in heart failure patients and alternatives are preferred in those that have systolic blood pressure below 110 mmHg.2

Quantum’s goal is to target all patients in the post-MI HF group that have an ejection fraction below 50% and are unlikely to be up-titrated to ramipril due to blood pressure. The goal with a successful trial in this group is to replace other ACE inhibitors in this group of patients who are now largely maintained on low doses of ramipril without any proven efficacy of the dose and at higher risk of negative outcomes.

Phase III REFRESH Launched

On January 18, 2021, Quantum announced the launch of REFRESH, a Phase III pivotal trial of once daily firibastat in difficult-to-treat4 hypertension and resistant5 hypertension, a key milestone in the pursuit of global commercialization for Quantum’s lead candidate. The study is part of an overall Phase III evaluation of firibastat. If successful, the once-daily administration will provide additional convenience and compliance compared to the twice-daily regimen being investigated in the FRESH trials. The goal of REFRESH is to assess both long-term safety and three-month efficacy in the once-daily dose. The launch of the trial will not impact the anticipated timeline for the filing of firibastat which is expected in 2023.

Dosing for REFRESH will be 1000 mg firibastat, administered once per day to individuals with treatment-resistant hypertension. For the first three months of treatment, patients in REFRESH will receive 1000 mg firibastat once-daily in addition to their current regimen. The primary endpoint is reduction in systolic automated office blood pressure from baseline. Following the three-month efficacy evaluation, treatment will continue with follow-up for six months. 100 patients will receive follow up exams at 12 months to assess long-term safety. As hypertension often requires chronic use of medication, the long-term safety data generated in REFRESH is necessary for submission of a New Drug Application (NDA).

REFRESH First Patient Enrolled

Quantum announced on July 8, 2021 that the first patient had been enrolled in its pivotal Phase III REFRESH trial of once-daily firibastat in difficult-to-treat and resistant hypertension. REFRESH is the last step in an FDA-endorsed development plan needed before submission for market authorization in 4Q:23. The study is being conducted with partners DongWha for the South Korean market and Orient Europharma for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The multicenter, multinational study is targeting total enrollment of 750 patients with difficult to treat or resistant hypertension, defined by persistent hypertension despite administration of two antihypertensive drugs at maximum tolerated doses and three antihypertensive drugs including a diuretic at maximum tolerated doses, respectively. Quantum anticipates participation of 96 study sites across Europe, Canada, US, Taiwan and South Korea. Efficacy results and six-month safety results are expected in mid-2023.

Other Events

Quantum has provided several updates related to partners, financing, publications and anticipated conference presentations in addition to advancing the REFRESH trial. In April, the company announced the end of its collaboration with Qilu in China. The two companies were not able to reconcile the objectives for firibastat development in the Chinese market and aborted their agreement to commercialize the region. Quantum has recovered development rights and is now opening discussions with other potential collaborators. No risk of litigation or penalties were identified by Quantum Genomics.

In late April, Quantum secured €3 million in non-dilutive financing from government-backed, low interest loans. Half comes from BNP at a 0.25% interest rate and half from a research and development loan from BPIfrance at a 0.72% rate. The first loan comes due in one year and the second has a seven-year maturity. The loans should extend the funding of operations by about a quarter at a very favorable cost of capital. As of the end of 2020, Quantum held €27.1 million in cash on the balance sheet and is expected to burn about €1.5 million per month.

In May, Quantum reported the publication of a scientific article in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy entitled "Effects of firibastat in combination with enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide on blood pressure and vasopressin release in hypertensive DOCA-salt rats." The paper examined oral administration of firibastat in hypertensive rats. Firibastat efficacy was evaluated in combination with enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide. Administration of oral firibastat in triple combination produced a significant decrease in blood pressure whereas enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide alone had minimal impact. The triple combination also performed better than using firibastat alone. The animal study was supportive of firibastat being used in combination therapy for blood pressure control in difficult to treat or resistant patient populations.

On August 28th, Dr. Catherine Llorens-Cortes, one of the innovators of BAPAI, presented the details of a preclinical study of QGC606 in heart failure after MI. The title of the presentation is Comparison of QGC606, a novel orally active brain-penetrating aminopeptidase A inhibitor prodrug with firibastat and ramipril for treating heart failure following myocardial infarction, which was given at the Late Breaking Basic & Translational Science session.

Pipeline

Quantum’s pipeline consists of one drug, firibastat, with various formulations pursuing multiple indications. It is being investigated in difficult-to-treat and resistant hypertension, heart failure, renal failure also in once per day formulations. The candidate is currently in one Phase III trial for hypertension, Phase I trials for QD formulation hypertension and renal failure, and has completed a Phase II trial for heart failure.

Milestones

➢ FRESH first patient enrolled – July 2020

➢ €20 million private placement – December 2020

➢ Launch REFRESH study – January 2021

➢ Orient EuroPharma Equity Stake – February 2021

➢ First patient enrolled in REFRESH study – July 2021

➢ QUORUM Phase II topline results, presented at ESC – August 2021

➢ FRESH study results – 4Q:21

➢ With supportive data, launch Ph3 outcome study in HF – 2022

➢ Topline results for REFRESH study – Mid-year 2023

Valuation

We update our valuation to reflect a narrower group of MI HF patents that may benefit firibastat’s comparative advantage with blood pressure. About half of patients are categorized as severe, with an ejection fraction below 50% and sensitivity to low blood pressure. We reduce our penetration estimates into the post-MI HF subset from an initial level of 2% to a peak of 8% to an initial level of 1% and a peak of 4% to reflect the smaller population that may be appropriate based on the result of the Phase II QUORUM study. The impact from a smaller addressable market is offset by an increase in probability of success from 15% to 20% for the MI HF program and a shift forward of our discounted cash flow (DCF) model ahead by one year to 2021. The net of these changes results in the maintenance of our €16.00 per share target price.

Our valuation model now attributes approximately 11% of Quantum’s value to success of firibastat in post-myocardial infarction heart failure (MI HF). If sufficient momentum is reached with a partner to advance firibastat into Phase III trials, we anticipate an increase in our probability of success for the post-MI HF market. Based on the favorable safety profile and blood pressure benefits in the severe population we now apply a 20% likelihood of success based on its status as a Phase II asset and the strength of data generated.

Summary

Quantum presented data from its QUORUM trial that demonstrated a benefit in a subpopulation of the post-MI HF population. Patients in the severe category, or those with ejection fraction below 50%, experienced a greater improvement on the firibastat 500 mg group compared with the ramipril group and may benefit from firibastat’s impact on blood pressure. Data showed comparable efficacy of firibastat with standard-of-care ramipril, but firibastat was not limited by dose as ramipril was and produced lesser side effects. The results bode well for firibastat in severe patients of MI HF who are often therapeutically limited by the amount of ramipril administrable.

Quantum is building a global market for firibastat with development and commercialization partnerships around the world. Additional opportunity remains for deals in countries such as Japan, India, North America, China and unpenetrated areas in Europe. New sources of capital and cash reserves of almost €29 million suggest a runway beyond 2022. We expect additional milestone funds in future quarters which will further support development programs and perhaps eliminate the need for further capital raises. We revisit our valuation and adjust the target market for firibastat in post-MI heart failure, adjust the probability to reflect the safety and efficacy profile following the Phase II and shift our model ahead by one year.

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1. Mouhat, B. et al. Low Systolic Blood Pressure and Mortality in Elderly Patients After Acute Myocardial Infarction. 26 Feb 2020https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.013030Journal of the American Heart Association. 2020;9:e013030

2. Cautela, J. et al. Management of low blood pressure in ambulatory heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients. 30 April 2020 https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1835

3. Source: June 2021 Quantum Genomics Corporate Presentation

4. Hypertension that is not controlled despite two antihypertensive classes, including a diuretic, at maximum tolerated doses.

5. Hypertension that is not controlled despite treatment with at least three antihypertensive classes, including a diuretic, at maximum tolerated doses.

6. Source: Quantum Genomics June 2021 Corporate Presentation

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