BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ:BLRX) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Joe Pantginis: That’s very helpful. And then one last, if you don’t mind. In fact, I’m going to quote some of your prepared comments where you say as is customary. So as is customary, I’m going to ask the question I ask all the time. So can you provide any guidance or body language as to the maturity of discussions in other territories?

Phil Serlin: Body language, you’re very funny. I will just say, as I’ve said before, we are laser focused on the U.S. right now. We are — obviously, we brought a deal right now in Asia. And so I can’t say that we’re not speaking to other parties as well. And we are obviously interested in maximizing the value of Motixafortide throughout the world. So we are continuing to discuss in other territories. But our focus right now is on the launch and on the approval. And we’re only talking right now a PDUFA date of less than 10 days away. So right now, I think that we’ve got a lot on our plate right now between the tech transfer that’s necessary for the Asian market and the launch in the U.S. I think that once we successfully reach those objectives, we will start to turn to other territories as well on a more intensive basis.

Joe Pantginis: Absolutely. I really appreciate all the color, Phil and good luck coming into the PDUFA.

Phil Serlin: Thank you very much.

Operator: The next question is from John Vandermosten of Zacks. Please go ahead.

John Vandermosten: Thank you and hello, everyone. Let me to start with a question on the kind of continuum in the partnership in Asia. I know there were two entities there, and I just want to look the relationship between those and how that might help with the development and commercialization?

Phil Serlin: Yes. So the — there is no direct relationship. At this point, we — the primary development partner is Gloria Biosciences and the investor group so to speak, is a company called Hang Seng Technology. They’re not affiliated at this time.

John Vandermosten: Okay. And what experience do these guys have in terms of commercial — commercializing already in the region, do they have a lot of other products under their belt and how have they’ve done with that? Do they have a good process that they’ve put into place for that?

Phil Serlin: Yes. So Gloria Biosciences actually has an approved PD-1 in China. And they have received approval in two indications. And I believe that they have launched that product. I don’t know on the top of my head what their revenues are right now. But like I said, they do have an approved PD-1 in China that has been launched already. I will also point out just parenthetically that the PD-1 that — their PD-1 in China they have greater China rights for that. And the rest of world rights are held by Arcus Biosciences and Gilead Sciences, who are running a number of studies global and otherwise, with the PD-1 is called ZIM in — for the rest of the world. So this is — actually, their PD-1 is quite robust, and there’s a very significant development plan, both in China and globally for this PD-1.

John Vandermosten: Okay. So they might use a local PD-1 as a combination rather than another one?

Phil Serlin: Yes, they’re going to use their approved PD-1, correct for the combination in pancreatic cancer, correct.

John Vandermosten: Okay. And congratulations on the partnership and the upfront investment. So obviously, that’s almost $30 million there. Does that help you avoid having to take on any other tranches in the Kreos Capital? Or do you think you will still need that? And I guess this is also a question on just the expected cash burn to be over the next quarter?