Trevi Therapeutics Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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August 10, 2023

There are 8 speakers on the call.

Operator

And welcome to the Trevi Therapeutics Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants will be in listen only mode. Please note this event is being recorded. Various remarks that management makes during this conference call about the company's future expectations, plans and prospects constitute forward looking statements For purposes of the Safe Harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward looking statements as a result of various important factors, including Those discussed in the Risk Factors section of the company's most recent quarterly report on Form 10 Q, which the company filed with the SEC this afternoon. In addition, any forward looking statements represent the company's views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing the While the company may elect to update these forward looking statements at some point in the future, The company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so even if its views change.

Operator

I would now like to turn the conference call over to Jennifer Goode, Trevy's President and CEO. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Good afternoon, and thank you for joining our Q2 earnings call and business update. Joining me today on this call is Lisa Delfini, Trevy's Chief Financial Officer. Lisa and I have some prepared remarks, then we will open it up for questions. During the quarter, we continued to advance our clinical development plans for Hudubio and our chronic Cough indications. Let me provide a brief update on each of our programs, beginning with our lead program in chronic cough and IPF.

Speaker 1

IPF is a serious end of life disease. Chronic cough in IPF impacts patients physically, psychologically and socially, Decreasing their quality of life. With no currently approved treatment options for chronic cough, there is an urgent need for new therapies. Chronic cough may also be a risk factor that plays a role in the progression of IPF. The constant lung injury, micro tears and potential inflammation We are planning to conduct 2 studies in parallel during this next phase of development in our IPF chronic cough program.

Speaker 1

The first is a 4 arm Phase 2b dose ranging trial that will study 3 active doses of HADUBIO and placebo. We are planning for a total and in the study of approximately 160 subjects and dosing for 6 weeks. We plan to conduct this study in multiple countries and sites to be able to complete enrollment in a timely manner. As you may be aware, there is a lot of development work going on with anti fibrotics in IPF patients. So we expect that enrollment will be competitive.

Speaker 1

We feel we have a differentiated trial for patients and investigators as the only chronic cost study in IPF with previously reported positive data. We have finalized the protocol for the dose ranging study and are in the process of working through various submissions to regulatory authorities. We have also completed country selection and are qualifying the sites, working through budgets and preparing sites for the start of this trial. We estimate this trial will be initiated in the second half of this year, subject to finalizing our regulatory interactions. In parallel, we are planning for a Phase 1b respiratory physiology study.

Speaker 1

Currently, there is class labeling carrying a generic risk This is not something we have seen in our safety data across our various studies to date, And there is literature that suggests that mixed agonist antagonist, which is the class now buccine falls in, have a ceiling effect on the impact on respiration. However, given the pulmonary function of the IPF population, it is important that we characterize Huduvio's effect, if any, on respiratory depression in IPF patients. Trevy is planning the XENDUCTA Phase 1b inpatient study in IPF patients that have varying levels of disease severity to determine if we see any clinically significant impact on respiratory depression. This study will help define the patient population for our pivotal We have received FDA feedback on the planned Phase 1b study, have finalized Call and are working through preparations with the 2 sites that will conduct the study. IND preparations are being finalized and we expect to initiate this study in the second half of this year as well.

Speaker 1

In addition to the studies in IPF cough, we have also completed a protocol for a Phase 2 study in refractory chronic cough or RCC. We believe that because HEYDUBIO works both centrally in the brain and peripherally in the lungs, HEYDUBIO has the potential to provide therapy across a range of chronic indications regardless of what the underlying disease is. We expect that this trial will look a lot like the Canal trial, which was a dose escalating crossover design, and we plan to enroll approximately 60 subjects. There have been a lot of trials in RCC with only one mechanism, which has Seeing some success, the P2X3s, which mechanistically work peripherally in the lungs. However, we believe there is still a significant opportunity for That works both centrally and peripherally to potentially provide strong and consistent efficacy in the most difficult to treat RCC patients, including those with high cost counts, but also among patients below the enriched level of 20 cost Currently being used in RCC trials.

Speaker 1

We are leveraging the learnings from other companies in our development plans in RCC as we design our own study. Our Phase 2 IPF cough data and mechanism continued to garner a lot of attention at medical conferences during the quarter, With oral presentations at both the American Thoracic Society meeting as well as the American Cough Conference, we also have the data from the Canal trial results published in I think this speaks to the importance of the unmet medical need in these difficult to treat IPF cough patients and the medical community's interest in our program across cough indications. The other indication we have ongoing work is the treatment of prigonodularis or PN. We are currently completing the data analysis from the 1 year open label extension study that was associated with PRISM, and we intend to present that data at We also plan to seek an end of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA, which we expect to request later this year. After this meeting, we will determine next steps for the program.

Speaker 1

Finally, we are conducting a human abuse potential study, which is required for the NDA filing. Note that the parenteral version of nalbuphine is currently unscheduled in the U. S. By the Drug Enforcement Agency or DEA. The objective of this study is to compare the likability or abuse potential of oral nalbutene to an agreed upon active comparator, which is butorphanol for this study.

Speaker 1

The study is being conducted in 2 parts with the objective for the first part to characterize various We have completed Part 1 of the study and have Selected the nalbutorphinol doses for the 2nd part of the study. We have submitted this data to the FDA to get their comments. The second portion of the study is a randomized double blind active and placebo controlled five way crossover design to determine the abuse potential of 3 doses of oral Malbuphine relative to the selected dose of butorphanol and placebo. However, this portion of the study is now delayed a bit as there is a nationwide shortage of IV butorphanol, the comparator drug in the study. We were working to secure supply from the single source supplier in the U.

Speaker 1

S, but then the plant was recently damaged due to a tornado, And we will need to let the company work through that matter before resuming supply conversations. Once we are able to secure IV And have input from the FDA on the recommended doses, we will commence the final portion of the study. Importantly, this study is not on the critical path In closing, we are focused on getting these 3 chronic cost studies up and running and opening good sites to support strong enrollment. We will announce studies as they are initiated and provide more details on the study design and expected time lines. I will now turn it over to Lisa to review our

Speaker 2

Thank you, Jennifer, and good afternoon, everyone. The full financial results for the 3 months ended June 30, 2023 can be found in our press release issued ahead of this call and our 10 Q, which was filed with the SEC Today after the market closed. For the Q2 of 2023, we reported a net loss of $7,100,000 compared to a net loss $8,100,000 for the same quarter in 2022. R and D expenses were $5,800,000 during the Q2 of 2023 compared with $5,100,000 in the same quarter in 2022. The increase was primarily due to increased consulting and professional fees related to G and A expenses were $2,500,000 during the Q2 of 2023 compared to $2,700,000 in the same period of 2022.

Speaker 2

The decrease was due to a reduction in market research costs. Other income net was $1,200,000 in the Q2 of 2023 compared to other cents net of $200,000 in the same period of 2022. The change was primarily due to an increase in interest income due to higher cash balances and higher interest rates. As of June 30, 2023, our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $94,200,000 compared to $120,500,000 as of December 31, 2022. As I discussed on last quarter's call, During the quarter, we elected to pay off our term loan in full.

Speaker 2

The payoff amount was $6,500,000 The loan was with Silicon Valley Bank, now a division of First Citizens Bank, We paid it off to free ourselves of restrictions imposed by the lender. Our cash runway guidance that we will have cash, cash equivalents and marketable And we believe it's enough to fund all the trials Jennifer just discussed and give us good cash runway after the last readout. This concludes our prepared remarks. I will now turn the call back over to the operator for Q and A.

Operator

Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. Our first question comes from Annabel Samimy from Stifel. Please go ahead.

Speaker 3

Hi, everyone. Thanks for taking my question. I just want to go over really quickly the learnings that you got from the other trials in You went pretty quickly. How might this population behave differently from IPF? You mentioned that you're going to have the same trial design, so I just wanted to understand the specifics around that.

Speaker 3

Thanks.

Speaker 1

Yes. It's a Good question, Annabel. I think, the learnings have been around the endpoint. That's where the objective Crop Monitor was sort of nailed down and obviously the validation of counting and all that. I would say the biggest debate that comes around is what how much to enrich or not enrich, and we've had a pretty healthy debate internally.

Speaker 1

As you know, the BELLA study had a, I think, 3 to 1 enrichment strategy around greater than 20 coffers. In our data in IPF cost though, we did not see any difference based on level of cough. And After attending some of these medical meetings and having our own advisory boards, there is a big unmet need for what Physicians view as severe coppers that are in this 10 to 19 cost per hour. They view that as severe disease. And, the Bellis data and I've heard even the Merck data really only works on sort of these higher cost counters, which is not a big portion of the market.

Speaker 1

So we're going to stratify our trial and actually have half the subjects come from this 10 to 19 cost per hour and greater than 20 cost per hour. And we feel confident doing that based on what we saw in IPF COF and sort of how it responded in the various COF levels. So I would say that was sort of the biggest debate. Other than that, Similar protocol, similar sort of inclusion, exclusion criteria.

Speaker 3

Okay. Great. And then just Want to confirm, you said betorphanol, is not a rate limiting step for any

Speaker 4

of the

Speaker 3

trials, not IPS For, RCC, correct?

Speaker 1

Correct. It's only a rate limiting step to getting to our final human abuse potential data, but no impact on the clinical

Speaker 3

Okay, great. Thank you very much.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Annabel.

Operator

The next question comes from Serge Belanger from Needham and Company.

Speaker 5

Just a couple of quick questions for us. I guess First one, maybe the number of sites you're targeting for the Phase 2b dose ranging trial. And I think in the past you mentioned that the Enrollment process for this trial about 200 patients would be about 12 months. Just curious if you're still In that same ballpark, given your comment that this could be a competitive enrollment? Thanks.

Speaker 1

Yes. Two good questions. The number of sites for the 2B, we're still finalizing that. We're doing a lot of the site qualifications, but it's going to be Approximately 60 to 70 sites. So we're bringing on a lot of sites to be able to sort of move through this quickly.

Speaker 1

So that is underway. I think as far as the 12 month enrollment, one adjustment, when we initially started, we thought it'd be Approximately 200, but as we fine tuned our statistical assumptions, the end is going to be 160, so that's helpful. And yes, we do think it's still a 12 month enrollment.

Speaker 5

Great. Thanks.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Serge. Pan Rohit.

Operator

The next question comes from Leland Gershell From Oppenheimer, please go ahead.

Speaker 6

Hi, good afternoon and thanks for the update and taking our questions. Just wanted to ask On the human abuse potential study, obviously, you're testing doses that are much higher than those in the work you're doing in both IPF, chronic cough and RCC, just wondering if you do start to see some Liability at those higher doses that are beyond what would be contemplated for the potential indications, would that Potentially have an impact on labeling or DA restrictions. How should we think about kind of what the potential scenarios would be from those data?

Speaker 1

Thanks. Yes, it's a good question, Leland. I get this question a lot about sort of what success here, and there's no sort of Silver bullet, because as you know, the DEA is going to look at a lot of things in totality, our clinical databases, etcetera. But I think generally, We're going to have a low dose of nalbuphine, sort of the marketed dose of nalbuphine and then a high dose, which we've done all the work around that. It's going to be sort of 3x the marketed dose.

Speaker 1

And we've already done work around characterizing all those doses. And interestingly, you do not See an increase in any kind of likability as you get to those high doses. It is tolerated, which is interesting. But Not shockingly, the kappa ends up sort of getting swamped to that receptor. And so you get a lot of those dysphoric side effects that really sort of Come in hard when you get up to those high doses.

Speaker 1

So we're not expecting to see that. I think if you did, I mean that will definitely factor And I think that's somewhat what's made butorphanol a Schedule IV drug. So I think the real answer would be if you saw an increase in likability around now buprenorphine as dose has got higher, You would compare with that high dose look like to butorphanol. If they're similar, then you could be talking about a Schedule IV type drug, which And the conditions we're in, these are serious conditions. A lot of these patients are on opioids anyway.

Speaker 1

So we don't see that as impacting the market.

Speaker 6

Got it. Okay. And given the butorphanol shortage, it sounds like this is going to go past Year end, do you have a sense of when we might be able to see these data, presumably first half twenty twenty four? Or I'm just wondering if you can share. Thank you.

Speaker 1

Yes. No, it's a good question. We definitely won't get to year end because we needed to be dosing in June, July, which is we were working that problem sort of last call. It just depends, this is Pfizer's plant and when that can sort of play through. We are in conversations with them.

Speaker 1

They've actually been quite receptive and helpful. So I'm hoping, when this sort of gets settled out that maybe we can get that in house and we'll keep people updated. For now, we haven't put out any new guidance just because that's very out of our control as you can imagine.

Speaker 6

Yes, understood. Sorry, thanks very much for taking the questions.

Speaker 1

Yes, thank you, Leland.

Operator

The next question comes from Thomas Smith from Leerink Partners. Please go ahead.

Speaker 7

Hi, this is Matt Shurensoop on for Tom Smith. So the first question is like what are the getting factors to initiate these There's 3 chronic cough trials and which trial will likely be initiated first? And I have a follow-up.

Speaker 1

Yes, sure. So the gating factors really are primarily around just getting regulatory clearance. We're pretty much ready to go. Protocols are written. We're getting sites contracted, Getting them all ready to go, it's just a matter of getting final sign off from the regulators and everything in place.

Speaker 1

My guesstimate of the first study ready to go is actually probably the RCC trial.

Speaker 7

Got it. And like what strategy do you plan to implement to compete with like other competitor programs in Chronic Health IPS?

Speaker 1

Yes. So there's only one other competitor program in IPF chronic cough. It's an Erie drug. It's a Phase 2 program that that drug did not have success in RCC, so we don't view them as a big competitor. I think their Overall study is only looking to enroll about 80 patients or so.

Speaker 1

So we don't view them as a big competitor. I view the more competitive landscape is competing for the IPF patients Because there is a lot of work going on in anti fibrotics and IPF. So I think what our competitive advantage will be, we're one of the only trials in cough. So for people that have severe cough, I think that's going to be intriguing to them. We also are running a short study at 6 weeks, The anti fibrotic trials, a lot of them are 1 year commitment.

Speaker 1

So I think for a patient to be able to get into a 6 week trial, their severe This could be an intriguing proposition for them. And we're just quite frankly bringing up enough sites that we can spread this out and get this done in a rapid time.

Speaker 7

Makes sense. And maybe one last question from us. With Merck, We submitted the NDA for the RCC drop, like does it change? Your thought on like how do we plan in RCC? Do you see a plan to acquire a partner to advance VIO and SCC beyond Phase 1b?

Speaker 1

It's a good question, Matt. I think our Plan is to do the development work here and understand sort of the value of the asset and create optionality here. I do think you're right that marketing in RCC is a different sort of animal than marketing in a specialty condition like IPI Sort of animal than marketing in a specialty condition like IPF, but those are all things that can be sorted out later. There's plenty of people interested in this cost base. I think if we can put up good data, especially I really think it's intriguing if we're able to work more broadly in this patient population of severe coughers That doesn't have to be so enriched.

Speaker 1

I think that all of a sudden makes this asset best in class. So we'll work through the development work and sort out How we commercialize it best later.

Speaker 7

Got it. Thank you so much.

Speaker 1

Yes. Thank you, Max.

Operator

Next question comes from Mayank Mamtani from B. Riley Securities. Please go ahead.

Speaker 4

Good afternoon, team. This is William Wood on for Mayank. Thanks for taking our questions. When thinking about the butorphanol shortage, following the FDA feedback and depending on the timeline for the actual shortage, is there a scenario where you Redo Part 1, proceed or are there other options you're considering sort of maybe worst case scenario?

Speaker 1

I think worst case scenario, so the only way I think I don't think we'd have to redo Part 1. I guess there's a Chance that the agency says they want us to look at a different dose, we did look at multiple doses there. If for some reason they wanted us look at a different dose, we would just have to dose a small cohort and generate that data. But I think the structure we put together scientifically sound, But we do want that validated before we run a whole likability study. I think to your point, worst case scenario Would be we'd have to pick another comparator that wasn't butorphenol and we'd have to get agreement with the agency that that was a good pentazizine is probably the likely other one.

Speaker 1

The problem is you don't really get out of these issues. All these old IV drugs, they're all sort of in short supply because there's basically one manufacturer. So I'm hoping we don't get to that point, but if we do, then we'd probably be talking with the agency about what would be another likely comparator, which like I said, It was sort of a coin toss between butorphanol and pentazizine when we did it at the time. So I think either of those would be fine for us. And then we would have to repeat the dose work.

Speaker 4

Right. No, that makes sense. And then additionally, when I know ERS is quickly approaching in early September, Data in terms of how it might read through to your non beefy and ER?

Speaker 1

Yes. And we'll have a whole team at ERS. So if anyone's there, happy to connect Thank you, to our group there. Yes, so I mean, William, you and I have talked about this before. I mean, I'm going to be surprised it's a morphine trial.

Speaker 1

Morphine is used now in cough, low dose morphine, more in the U. K, less here because of the whole opioid restrictions. I may be If it doesn't work, the lead investigator on that is Doctor. Molyneux, who was in our study as well, great investigator. So I'm going to I think the read through is the mechanism is right that opioids work in cough.

Speaker 1

I think low dose morphine is always going to have challenges. It is a Schedule 2 opioid, it's generic. You're not going to probably be able to get IP around that at all. So I actually think it validates the mechanism and doesn't Compete commercially with what we're doing.

Speaker 4

Understood. And then one just very quick last one. It looked like in your past ER that or from 1Q that RCC was slated for 3rd quarter now listed as second half. Should we read that as a pushback or more just a generalization?

Speaker 1

It's more just verbiage. I think in our Q, you'll see we Still say Q3. I think in some of my remarks, I might say later this year, but it's just more of a casual comment.

Speaker 4

Got you. Appreciate it. Thank you for taking our questions.

Speaker 1

Yes. Thank you, William.

Operator

I'm not showing any further questions. This concludes our question and answer session. I'd like to turn the conference call back over to Jennifer Good for closing remarks.

Speaker 1

We would like to thank everybody for participating in today's call. We have several upcoming conferences that we are participating in

Operator

Conference call has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now

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