Salarius Pharmaceutical is a biotech company developing targeted therapies to treat pediatric and other cancers, including advanced solid tumors. In an exclusive interview with The Fly, CEO David Arthur talked about the company, the merger with Flex Pharma (FLKS), Salarius' pipeline, drug pricing and much more. Here are some highlights:
MERGER WITH FLEX PHARMA: On January 4th, Flex Pharma and Salarius Pharmaceuticals announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which privately-held Salarius will merge with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flex Pharma. Upon the closing of the transaction, Flex Pharma is expected to be renamed Salarius Pharmaceuticals and be under the leadership of Salarius' current management team, led by CEO David Arthur. The chief executive told The Fly that the merger is "progressing as planned, with the intent of completing this transaction in the first half of 2019." "The opportunity to utilize or take advantage of Flex Pharma's public listing, and the cash they're bringing to the table is going to allow us to continue to develop Seclidemstat as a treatment for a variety of cancers - and these are treatments for patients that need them the most," Arthur added.
SECLIDEMSTAT, SECOND SPONSORED STUDY: Salarius' open-label Phase 1 dose escalation/dose expansion study for its lead program in Ewing sarcoma, Seclidemstat, is expected to conclude in 2020. "We are progressing as planned in a dose escalation. We have five clinical sites up and running and we're bringing three more on board as we prepare to complete dose escalation and move to dose expansion. I think later this year, we plan to complete dose escalation, establish maximum tolerated dose and begin the dose expansion," CEO David Arthur explained. Salarius also expects to initiate a second sponsored study in the first half of 2019. It will be a "basket study of advanced solid tumors, for which [the company has] preclinical data," the executive added, noting that Salarius should be ready to report on early cohort data in 2020.
COMBINED COMPANY TO FOCUS ON SALARIUS' PIPELINE: After the merger is concluded, Salarius' pipeline will become the "lead assets of the combined company,” Arthur told The Fly. Prior to the deal, Flex Pharma's lead drug candidate was in exploratory Phase 2 clinical trial in Australia for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis, and two Phase 2 clinical trials in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with motor neuron disease in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
TOO EARLY TO DISCUSS PRICING: Regarding the company's plans to price lead candidate Seclidemstat, CEO David Arthur said he believes it might be "premature to even have discussions about price," as the company focuses on clinical execution. "Hopefully we will provide a benefit and this drug will make it to market where we can more broadly help patients. When we get to that point that's when we'll sit down and really start putting some thought into the pricing question," the chief executive noted.
ENOUGH FUNDING TO DELIVER ON EARLY COHORT READOUTS: Salarius has received a Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas Award for almost $19M and over $1M in grants from the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, which is also paying for half of its Ewing clinical program to "help ensure that less toxic treatments get into the hands of kids." "We just recently closed our series A financing of about $6.4M and this allows us to execute this reverse merger and, with the funds from Flex, to pursue all of these clinical programs and deliver on early cohort readouts in 2020," CEO David Arthur said.
"Meet the Company" is The Fly's recurring series of exclusive short interviews with Executive Officers to offer a deeper look inside the company. A more detailed version of this interview to follow.
For more on Salarius’ merger with Flex Pharma click here.
For more on the company's pipeline click here.
For more on the combined company’s pipeline click here.
For more on drug pricing click here.
For more on the company's cash position click here.
Flex Pharma
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