Item 8.01 Other Events.
On December 6, 2021, Kronos Bio, Inc. (the "Company") announced that the first
patient has been dosed in the registrational Phase 3 AGILITY clinical trial of
entospletinib, a selective inhibitor targeting spleen tyrosine kinase ("SYK"),
in combination with standard of care anthracycline and cytarabine (7+3)
chemotherapy. This trial is the first in acute myeloid leukemia ("AML") to use
measurable residual disease ("MRD") as the primary endpoint and has the
potential to support accelerated approval of entospletinib by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration as a treatment for patients newly diagnosed with
NPM1-mutated AML who are fit for intensive induction.
Entospletinib is the Company's lead product candidate and the Company expects to
share data from the trial in the second half of 2023. The randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is designed to assess the efficacy and
safety of entospletinib in combination with intensive induction and
consolidation chemotherapy in approximately 180 adults who have been newly
diagnosed with NPM1-mutated AML. This trial will test the hypothesis, based on
robust preclinical and Phase 2 clinical data, that NPM1 mutation leads to
dependency on SYK signaling. The NPM1 mutation is present in about 30% of all
adult patients with AML.
The primary endpoint of the trial is MRD negative complete response ("CR"), as
measured by molecular detection of mutant NPM1 alleles in bone marrow, which
affords a high degree of sensitivity to detect MRD. Numerous clinical studies
have shown that patients with NPM1 mutations who achieve MRD negative CR after
induction chemotherapy survive longer than patients who achieve CR but have
detectable MRD. If successful, this would be the first time MRD is used as the
basis for seeking accelerated approval in AML.
The decision to proceed with this trial design was made after an End-of-Phase 2
discussion with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In the trial, patients
will be randomized 1:1 to receive either entospletinib or placebo in combination
with standard induction and consolidation chemotherapy. Remission and MRD status
will be assessed after the first two cycles of chemotherapy and patients may
receive up to a total of five cycles. Event-free survival ("EFS") is a key
secondary endpoint, and mature EFS data will potentially be used to support full
approval.
The Company acquired entospletinib and another SYK inhibitor, lanraplenib, from
Gilead Sciences in July 2020. As previously reported, under the agreement with
Gilead, the initiation of the Phase 3 trial triggers a $29 million milestone
payment from the Company to Gilead. The payment will be recorded in the fourth
quarter.
Lanraplenib is being developed for the treatment of patients with
relapsed/refractory FLT3-mutated AML and patients newly diagnosed with
NPM1-mutated and/or FLT3-mutated AML who are older than 75 years old or are not
eligible for intensive induction chemotherapy.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this report that are not statements of historical fact are
forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This report, in some cases,
uses terms such as "potential," "expects," "will" or other words that convey
uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our
intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations
concerning, among other things, the timing for expected data from the Phase 3
clinical trial of entospletinib, potential approval and potential accelerated
approval of entospletinib, the design of the Phase 3 clinical trial, and other
statements that are not historical fact. Actual results and the timing of events
could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking
statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including, without
limitation: whether we will be able to complete the Phase 3 clinical trial of
entospletinib on the timeframe expected, or at all, including due to risks
associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and risks inherent in the clinical
development of novel therapeutics; to date
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there have not been any regulatory approvals on the basis of MRD status in AML;
risks related to our limited experience as a company in conducting clinical
trials; the risk that results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials
are not necessarily predictive of future results; and risks associated with the
sufficiency of our cash resources and need for additional capital. These and
other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including under the
heading "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2021. Any
forward-looking statements that are made in this report speak only as of the
date of this report and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as
of such date. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to
update the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, after the date of this report.
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