Processa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCSA) (“Processa” or the
“Company”), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company now focused on
developing the next generation of chemotherapeutic drugs to improve
the efficacy and safety for patients suffering from cancer,
announces that CEO George Ng has issued a letter to shareholders.
Dear Processa Pharmaceuticals Shareholders:
Following Processa’s business pivot to focus on
oncology drug product development, I was recently appointed as
Processa’s CEO, and I thought it would be helpful for investors to
get a corporate update from a new voice at the Company. I joined
Processa not with the intent to change the Company’s current
strategic course, but rather, I intend to apply my background and
expertise to complement the strong clinical and regulatory
development backgrounds of the current Processa team. Earlier in
2023, the strategic decision was made to focus on development of
the Company’s Next Generation Chemotherapy (NGC) agents. That will
not change under my direction, and much of my experience is in
oncology and leading business transactions.
Even with the advent of immuno-oncology and
other oncology drugs and treatments, chemotherapy drugs still
remain an important and viable treatment option (as Straits
Research estimated the chemotherapy market was $9.5B in 2022 and
will grow at 7.1% CAGR through 2031). However, many issues and
limitations are associated with the use of chemotherapy. Many
patients simply cannot tolerate a chemotherapy dose high enough to
benefit from its use due to chemotherapy’s toxic side effects. This
requires the oncologist to reduce the dosage level or stop
chemotherapy treatment entirely. In many cases, efficacy suffers
when the planned dosing can’t be tolerated by the patients and
lowering dosage levels to mitigate the drug’s toxicity just isn’t
sufficient to justify the lower quality of life patients
experience.
I think Processa can address these shortcomings
with chemotherapy by providing patients with potentially safer and
more effective chemotherapy treatments through the pursuit of our
Next Generation Chemotherapies (NGCs). Moreover, if we are
successful at reducing the typically dose limiting side effect
profiles of chemotherapy, we may be able to open chemotherapy to
broader patient populations, potentially including the pediatric
and elderly populations that have historically been unable to
tolerate typical chemotherapy treatments, and expand the
chemotherapy market.
Forward Looking Vision Our
vision at Processa is to improve already-approved and widely used
cancer-killing chemotherapies that have a proven history of
therapeutic success and/or the safety profiles by modifying their
metabolism and/or distribution. How we believe we can accomplish
this requires we get into our science, which is beyond the scope of
this update, as our mechanisms of action vary a bit across our
pipeline portfolio. Nonetheless, preliminary pre-clinical and
clinical data thus far is encouraging, though certainly more
clinical work needs to be done.
Experienced TeamWorking in our
favor are deep management and R&D teams that have significant
and direct experience in clinical drug development. With our team’s
Regulatory Science Approach, we are aligned with the FDA’s new
Project Optimus Oncology Initiative that requires the Optimal
Dosage Regimen (ODR) to be developed for each cancer drug.
Processa’s founders, through their Regulatory Science Approach,
have developed a similar approach to drug development over the last
35 years that looks to balance safety and efficacy. Furthermore,
the Company’s founders have been involved with over 30 FDA drug
approvals across multiple indications. Thus, we feel confident in
navigating this relatively new FDA clinical pathway in the hopes of
developing chemotherapy agents with fewer side effects, greater
efficacy, and a more efficient approval process.
De-Risked and Diverse
PipelineOur current pipeline consists of three separate
NGCs in development:
- NGC-Capecitabine (PCS6422) –
targeted at colorectal, pancreatic, and other solid tumor
cancers
- NGC-Gemcitabine (PCS3117) –
targeted at pancreatic, gall bladder, and non-small cell tumor
cancers
- NGC-Irinotecan (PCS11T) – targeted
at pancreatic, ovarian, lung, colorectal, and other cancers
It is important to recognize that each of the
respective underlying chemotherapy agents in each NGC candidate are
already approved, are on the market (i.e. capecitabine,
gemcitabine, and irinotecan), and are used across multiple cancer
indications, with each generating between $500 million - $1 billion
in worldwide revenue. We estimate over 200,000 patients are
diagnosed in the U.S. each year with a cancer type that can be
treated by one of these drugs. Although we currently already have
extensive patent protection for our NGC assets (e.g., for
NGC-Capecitabine (PCS6422), potential patent term extends to at
least 2043), we will continue to pursue an aggressive patenting
strategy for all of our assets and are optimistic that we can build
additional intellectual property (IP) barriers around our
technology as we develop our drug products and technologies.
Importantly, our pipeline of NGC candidates are New Chemical
Entities (NCEs), and we are not pursuing the 505(b)(2) regulatory
pathways for regulatory approval, resulting in stronger regulatory
protection and IP position for each candidate.
The current status and upcoming near-term
potential milestones for each of our NGCs is follows:
NGC-Capecitabine (PCS6422)
- Phase 1b study enrollment is
expected to be completed by early 2024
- Assessment of the safety profile of
NGC-Cap in totality across all cohorts is expected to be completed
by mid 2024
- Discussion with FDA to determine
Phase 2 study design expected by year-end 2023
- With FDA feedback, dose regimen to
be used in Phase 2 study is expected to be finalized by
mid-2024
- Filing of Phase 2 study to the IND
is expected by mid-2024
- Start of patient enrollment in
Phase 2 study is expected in mid-2024
NGC-Gemcitabine (PCS3117)
- Analysis of existing Phase 2 data
from patients with pancreatic cancer under the Project Optimus
framework is expected to be completed in early 2024
- Discussion with the FDA to
determine Phase 2b/3a study design expected in the first half of
2024
NGC-Irinotecan (PCS11T)
- Analysis of existing pre-clinical
data in animals to develop a drug development roadmap is expected
to be completed in early 2024
- Initiate sourcing of drug substance
and product manufacturing sites expected in 2024
Stable Financial Affairs and Business
Development OpportunitiesOf course, the clinical timelines
I laid out for our pipeline assume that we have sufficient funding
in place. At September 30, 2023 we had $6.9 million in cash, which
we believe is sufficient to complete our current Phase 1B study for
NGC-Cap and fund our continued operations into the second half of
2024. We are working to supplement our cash position by
out-licensing our non-NGC assets (in particular, PCS12852). Earlier
this year we reported positive top-line Phase 2a results with
PCS12852 in patients with gastroparesis (a digestive disorder) and
are optimistic that we can monetize this asset in some fashion to
supplement our current cash balance.
In conclusion, given our Forward Looking Vision,
Experienced Team, De-Risked and Diversified Pipeline, Stable
Financial Affairs and Business Development Opportunities, I feel
that Processa is well-positioned for success and is uniquely
positioned to disrupt and expand current chemotherapy and oncology
therapeutics. To that end, we are looking forward to our upcoming
meeting with the FDA and to potentially releasing top-line data
during the second half of December. Regarding Processa’s pivot to
focus on oncology drug development, change forces adaptation that
can be stewarded by effective leadership. My intention as the new
CEO is to promote, encourage, and facilitate advancement in the
areas in which we excel. With our potentially revolutionary NGC
drug products, Processa is poised to be a global leader in
chemotherapy and oncology, and I am incredibly honored to have the
opportunity to lead Processa through this transition and work to
create shareholder value. In this regard, thank you to all our
shareholders that continue to support our Company.
Sincerely,
George NgCEO, Processa Pharmaceuticals
About Processa Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.
Processa is a clinical stage pharmaceutical
company focused on developing the Next Generation Chemotherapy
(NGC) drugs to improve the safety and efficacy of cancer treatment.
By combining Processa’s novel oncology pipeline with proven
cancer-killing active molecules and the Processa Regulatory Science
Approach as well as experience in defining Optimal Dosage Regimens
for FDA approvals, Processa not only will be providing better
therapy options to cancer patients but also increase the
probability of FDA approval for its Next Generation Chemotherapy
(NGC) drugs following an efficient path to approval. Processa’s NGC
drugs are modifications of existing FDA-approved oncology drugs
resulting in an alteration of the metabolism and/or distribution of
these FDA-approved drugs while maintaining the existing mechanisms
of killing the cancer cells. The company’s approach to drug
development is based on more than 30 years of drug development
expertise to efficiently design and conduct clinical trials that
demonstrate a positive benefit/risk relationship. The Processa team
has a track record of obtaining over 30 approvals for indications
across almost every division of FDA. Using its proven Regulatory
Science Approach, the Processa Team has experience defining the
Optimal Dosage Regimen using the principles of the FDA’s Project
Optimus Oncology initiative. The advantages of Processa’s NGCs are
expected to include fewer patients experiencing side effects that
lead to dose discontinuation, more significant cancer response and
a greater number of patients -- in excess of 200,000 for each NGC
drug -- who will benefit from each NGC drug. Currently under
development are three next generation chemotherapy oncology
treatments: Next Generation Capecitabine (PCS6422 and capecitabine
to treat metastatic colorectal, gastrointestinal, breast,
pancreatic, and other cancers), Next Generation Gemcitabine
(PCS3117 to treat pancreatic, lung, ovarian, breast, and other
cancers), and Next Generation Irinotecan (PCS11T to treat lung,
colorectal, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and other cancers).
For more information, visit our website at
www.processapharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking
statements. The statements in this press release that are not
purely historical are forward-looking statements which involve
risks and uncertainties. Actual future performance outcomes and
results may differ materially from those expressed in
forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents filed by
Processa Pharmaceuticals with the SEC, specifically the most recent
reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, which identify important risk
factors which could cause actual results to differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements.
For More
Information:Investors:Bret ShapiroCORE
IRir@processapharma.com
Company Contact:Patrick Lin(925)
683-3218plin@processapharma.com
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