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MEI Pharma, Inc. (MEIP)·Q3 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 FY2024 revenue was $0 as collaboration revenue from Kyowa Kirin was fully recognized in prior periods; net loss improved sequentially to $(9.1)M and EPS to $(1.37) from Q2’s $(11.1)M and $(1.66) as OpEx fell to $9.8M .
- Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments were $56.6M at quarter-end, and management believes liquidity is sufficient for at least 12 months .
- The Board unanimously prioritized development of voruciclib (CDK9 inhibitor) and decided not to proceed with a second return of capital to conserve cash and extend runway; clinical updates on voruciclib+venetoclax in R/R AML are expected during the remainder of calendar 2024 .
- Clinical signals remained encouraging: in patients treated with voruciclib≥100 mg plus venetoclax, there were 2 CRi and 1 MLFS responses, biomarker evidence of Mcl‑1 decrease, and no overlapping toxicity with venetoclax; ME‑344 showed a 25% non-progression rate at Week 16 in mCRC Cohort 1, exceeding the pre-specified 20% threshold .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Voruciclib program gained momentum: expansion cohort at 300 mg completed enrollment; initial activity included complete responses (CRi) and MLFS, with anticipated Mcl‑1 decreases at ≥100 mg doses and no overlapping toxicity with venetoclax .
- ME‑344 combination with bevacizumab in refractory mCRC exceeded the protocol’s 20% non-progression threshold (25% at Week 16), supporting biologic activity; combination was generally well-tolerated .
- Cost discipline: R&D down to $5.2M (from $15.1M YoY) and G&A down to $4.6M (from $7.2M YoY), driving sequential improvement in net loss and EPS .
Quote: “We anticipate providing updates from the clinical trial evaluating voruciclib in combination with venetoclax in patients with relapsed/refractory AML…during the remainder of calendar 2024.” — David Urso, President & CEO .
What Went Wrong
- Revenue dropped to $0 vs $5.9M in Q3 FY2023 as Kyowa Kirin deferred revenue was fully recognized in Q1 FY2024 and the agreement terminated in July 2023 .
- Continued operating losses and negative operating cash flow ($32.5M over nine months), underscoring financing needs over time despite current runway .
- Strategic choice not to proceed with a second capital return could disappoint some shareholders seeking near-term cash, though it preserves liquidity for clinical programs .
Financial Results
Notes: N/M = Not meaningful when revenue is zero or negative; cash balance presented as combined cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments .
Segment breakdown: Single operating segment; no commercial sales to report .
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Note: No Q3 FY2024 earnings call transcript was available for MEIP in our document corpus [List: earnings-call-transcript none for 2024].
Management Commentary
- Strategic message: “The clinical focus for the rest of the year will be voruciclib…We anticipate providing updates from the clinical trial evaluating voruciclib in combination with venetoclax in patients with relapsed/refractory AML…during the remainder of calendar 2024.” — David Urso, President & CEO .
- Program positioning: “We believe that voruciclib in combination with venetoclax has potential, as a mutation-agnostic therapy, to benefit the largest number of patients with relapsed/refractory AML.” — David Urso .
- Capital allocation: Board unanimously aligned on prioritizing voruciclib; enabling ME‑344 new formulation; not proceeding with second capital return to conserve resources and extend runway .
Q&A Highlights
- No Q3 FY2024 earnings call transcript was available; no Q&A themes identified in the source documents [List: earnings-call-transcript none for 2024].
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) for Q3 FY2024 EPS and revenue was unavailable due to missing CIQ mapping for MEIP; therefore, we cannot assess beats/misses versus estimates at this time. If/when SPGI consensus becomes available, we will anchor comparisons to that dataset.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Liquidity is adequate near term (12+ months), with $56.6M in cash, equivalents, and short-term investments; sequential OpEx reductions improved quarterly loss/EPS despite zero revenue .
- Clinical execution in AML is the core near-term catalyst: additional voruciclib+venetoclax data (responses, biomarker validation, safety) expected in the remainder of CY2024; dose expansion completed at 300 mg .
- ME‑344 demonstrated activity in mCRC but strategy pivots to a new formulation with an H1 CY2025 update, reducing near-term readouts from that program .
- Board’s decision to forego a second capital return extends runway and aligns capital with clinical priorities; expect cautious cash deployment and potential future capital raising .
- With no estimates available, trading may be driven more by clinical updates and capital allocation decisions than quarterly financial prints; monitor R/R AML expansion cohort outcomes and any ATM usage .
- Cost structure is resetting post-zandelisib discontinuation, with materially lower R&D and G&A versus prior year; continued discipline supports runway extension .
- Risk profile remains typical for a clinical-stage biotech: financing needs over time, regulatory uncertainty, and dependence on trial outcomes; position sizing should reflect these dynamics –.