2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting: The Company presented data detailing the design of the Phase 1b trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of SER-155 in adults undergoing allo-HSCT. In addition, Seres presented preclinical data supporting further investigation of microbiome therapeutics to prevent or treat GI mucositis – a common and often painful complication of radiation and chemotherapy involving the breakdown of the rapidly-dividing epithelial cells lining the GI tract.
Infection Protection research: The Company continues to conduct research to bring forward new clinical candidates related to using microbiome therapeutics as a novel approach for Infection Protection for medically compromised individuals, including those with cancer neutropenia, cirrhosis, or solid organ transplant. Preclinical studies are evaluating the potential to reduce the abundance of targeted pathogens to decrease the potential for pathogen transmission, strengthen epithelial barriers to further reduce the frequency of bloodstream infections and to modulate immune responses to tackle medical complications such as graft versus host disease. The Company anticipates advancing an additional Infection Protection therapeutic candidate into clinical development in 2023.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) research: The Company previously reported clinical, microbiome and metabolomic data from the SER-287 Phase 2b study and the first cohort of its SER-301 Phase 1b study. Available data for these investigational microbiome therapeutics suggest that there may be an opportunity to utilize biomarker-based patient selection and stratification for future studies. Research activities remain ongoing to inform potential further development activities.
Financial Results
Seres reported a net loss of $64.7 million for the second quarter of 2022, as compared with a net loss of $48.3 million for the same period in 2021.
Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2022 were $43.9 million, compared with $36.0 million for the same period in 2021. The research and development expenses were primarily related to Seres’ late-stage SER-109 clinical development program and manufacturing costs, as well as personnel expenses.
General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2022 were $20.3 million, compared with $17.5 million for the same period in 2021. General and administrative expenses were primarily related to personnel expenses, professional fees, including SER-109 commercial readiness and pre-launch expenses, and facility costs.
Seres ended the second quarter of 2022 with approximately $195.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, in July 2022, the Company closed a $100 million registered direct offering of its common stock, resulting in proceeds, net of placement agent and other fees, of approximately $96.8 million. As a result, the June 30, 2022, pro-forma cash balance, inclusive of the registered direct offering net proceeds, was approximately $291.4 million.