08/14/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/14/2025 05:08
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the unaudited financial information and notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the "Risk Factors" section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
We are a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of cancer. Our core objective is to leverage our proprietary phospholipid ether drug conjugate™ (PDC™) delivery platform to develop PDCs that are designed to specifically target cancer cells and deliver improved efficacy and better safety as a result of fewer off-target effects. We believe that our PDC platform possesses the potential for the discovery and development of the next generation of cancer-targeting treatments, and we plan to develop PDCs both independently and through research and development collaborations. On April 30, 2025, we announced that we will explore a full range of strategic alternatives to advance our platform and radiopharmaceutical drug development pipeline. Strategic alternatives under consideration may include, but are not limited to mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, licensing arrangements or other strategic transactions.
The Company is primarily focused on the development of its radioconjugate PDC programs, also known as phospholipid radioconjugates or PRCs, designed to provide targeted delivery of a radioisotope directly to cancer cells, while limiting exposure to healthy cells. We believe this profile differentiates our PRCs from many traditional on-market treatments and radiotherapeutics. Our three lead programs are: CLR 121125 (CLR 125), an iodine-125 Auger-emitting program, prepared to enter a clinical trial in 2025; CLR 121225 (CLR 225), an actinium-225 based program; and iopofosine I 131 (iopofosine I 131, or simply iopofosine), a beta-emitting iodine-131 based program which has been studied extensively, as described below. On June 4, 2025, the Company announced that the U.S Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for iopofosine I 131, as a radioconjugate monotherapy for the treatment of relapsed/refractory Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (r/r WM).
| ● | CLR 125, the Auger-emitting PRC, utilizes iodine-125 and has been observed to show tolerability with minimal toxicities in animal models. Additionally, the Company observed CLR 125 to have good activity in multiple solid tumor models, especially in triple negative breast cancer. Auger emitters provide the greatest precision in targeted radiotherapy as the emission can only travel a few nanometers. The Company believes that this means that to cause the necessary breakage of the tumor cell DNA, the isotope must get inside the cell and near the cell nucleus to be effective. The Company believes that CLR 125 achieves this because of the Company's novel phospholipid ether drug conjugate platform. CLR 125 is prepared to be the subject of a Phase 1b dose finding study in the second half of 2025 as described below, subject to our ability to obtain additional financing. |
| ● | CLR 225, the alpha-emitting, actinium-225 based PRC has been observed to show activity in multiple solid tumor animal models, including pancreatic, colorectal, and breast cancer. The Company observed CLR 121225 to be well tolerated in these models with the animals showing no adverse events at the highest doses tested. The Company also observed that the compound has excellent biodistribution and uptake by the tumor. Furthermore, in multiple models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, including highly refractory pancreatic cancer, we have observed the compound's proportional dose response with a single dose providing either tumor stasis at the lowest dose tested or tumor volume reduction at the higher doses. The Company is currently prepared to initiate a Phase 1 imaging and dose escalation safety study in the second half of 2025, subject to our ability to obtain additional financing. |
| ● | Iopofosine, the beta-emitting PRC, utilizes iodine-131 and was studied in our CLOVER WaM Phase 2 study of iopofosine in patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) where it was observed to result in statistically significant outcomes on both primary and secondary endpoints, and our Phase 2b studies in r/r multiple myeloma (MM) patients and r/r central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) are ongoing. The CLOVER-2 Phase 1a study for a variety of pediatric cancers has concluded and a Phase 1b study in pediatric patients with high grade glioma is enrolling. Additionally, a Phase 1 investigator-initiated study conducted by the University of Wisconsin Madison of iopofosine in combination with external beam radiation in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer has also been completed. As with all clinical trials, adverse events, serious adverse events or fatalities may arise during a clinical trial resulting from medical problems that may not be related to clinical trial treatments. Furthermore, because of recent communications with the FDA regarding a confirmatory study to support accelerated approval and the regulatory submission for iopofosine, the Company is, in addition to determining the availability of funding for such a study, pursuing strategic options for the further development and commercialization of this product candidate. As part of our previous announcement to seek a full range of strategic alternatives, we have initiated a process that includes identifying a strategic partner with the resources to develop iopofosine I 131. |
Clinical and Preclinical Pipeline
CLR 125 Proposed Study
In preclinical, in vivo evaluations of CLR 125, utilizing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models, the compound was observed to have tumor uptake at a substantially higher rate than that of healthy tissue. Additionally, no signs of end-organ toxicity were observed, including hematological toxicity.
The company plans to initiate a Phase 1b clinical study in TNBC with CLR 125. We expect the study to be a Phase 1b, randomized, open-label, multi-center study comparing the safety and efficacy of CLR 125 in patients with advanced TNBC who are relapsed/refractory (r/r) to at least one prior therapy. Three dose levels will be assessed in parallel, with enrollment of patients in a 1:1:1 manner. We expect that each arm will have a minimum of 15 evaluable patients. CLR 125 will be administered as a fractionated dose on Day 1 and Day 3 for cycle 1 and repeat approximately every 8-weeks for subsequent cycles. Depending on arm assignments, patients will receive between two and four cycles. An expansion arm may consist of at least 15 patients following evaluation of the three dose levels by the data monitoring committee (DMC).
We anticipate a maximum of 75 patients to be enrolled in the trial. Safety and tolerability of CLR 125 will be assessed by physical examination, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, vital signs, laboratory changes over time, ECGs and adverse events of special interest. Efficacy of CLR 125 will be assessed by CT (or MRI if needed) examinations obtained at six-week intervals following the initial dose of CLR 125.
The study objective is to determine the Phase 2 dosing level with secondary endpoints including safety, tolerability, initial response assessment and distribution.
Preclinical Evaluations of CLR 225
In preclinical, in vivo evaluations of CLR 225, utilizing a pancreatic cancer model, the compound was observed to reduce tumor volume and improved survival benefit at four different dosing levels. Observed biodistribution exhibited substantial uptake in the tumor while remaining low in healthy tissue.
Clinical Studies in Iopofosine
The CLOVER-1 Phase 2 study of iopofosine, conducted in r/r B-cell malignancies, met the primary efficacy endpoints from the Part A dose-finding portion. The CLOVER-1 Phase 2b study, where iopofosine remains under further evaluation in highly refractory MM and CNSL patients, is closed to enrollment but ongoing with patients in follow-up. Fatalities have occurred in patients post-treatment with iopofosine.
The CLOVER WaM study was designed as a pivotal registration study evaluating iopofosine in WM patients that were r/r to at least two prior lines of therapy including having failed or had a suboptimal response to a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi). The study completed enrollment in the fourth quarter of 2023, and initial top line data from the study was reported in January 2024. CLOVER-WaM was a single-arm study with a target enrollment of 50 patients. Based upon the data from September 2024, the CLOVER WaM study enrolled a total of 55 patients in the modified Intent to Treat (mITT) population and met its primary endpoint with a major response rate (MRR) of 58.2% (95% confidence interval [44.50%, 75.80%, two-sided p value < 0.0001]) exceeding the FDA agreed-upon statistical hurdle of 20%. The overall response rate (ORR) in evaluable patients was 83.6%, and 98.2% of patients experienced disease control. Responses were durable, with median duration of response not reached at 11.4 months of follow-up and 76% of patients remaining progression free at a median follow-up of eight months. These outcomes exceed historic real world data which demonstrate a 4-12% MRR and a duration of response of approximately six months or less despite continuous treatment in a patient population that is less pretreated and not refractory to multiple classes of drugs. Notably, iopofosine I 131 monotherapy achieved a 7.3% complete remission (CR) rate in this highly refractory WM population. Overall, 45 (69.2%) patients had prior exposure to at least 3 drug classes and 19 (29.2%) patients had prior exposure to at least 4 drug classes of anti-cancer therapies. Forty-eight (73.8%) patients had prior exposure to a BTKi of which 37 (77.1%) were deemed to be refractory to BTKis. Forty-three (66.2%) patients were exposed to BTKi and anti-CD20 antibody with 25 (58.1%) being refractory to both BTKi and anti-CD-20 antibodies. Thirty-seven (56.9%) patients had prior exposure to BTKi, anti-CD20 antibody, and chemotherapy and 18 (48.6%) patients were refractory to all three classes of drugs, BTKi, anti-CD20 antibody, and chemotherapy. Iopofosine I 131 was well tolerated and its toxicity profile was consistent with the Company's previously reported safety data. The safety population was 65 patients which was composed of patients that received at least a single dose of iopofosine I 131 but did not receive enough drug to be assessed for efficacy. There were 3 (4.6%) patients that experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) leading to discontinuation. The rates of greater TRAEs observed in more than 10% of patients included thrombocytopenia (56 [86.2%] patients), neutropenia (52 [80.0%] patients), anemia (42 [64.6%] patients) and decreased white blood cell count (21 [32.3%] patients) among hematologic toxicities and fatigue (22 [33.8%] patients), nausea (19 [29.2%] patients and diarrhea (13 [20.0%] patients) among non-hematologic toxicities. The rates of Grade 3 or greater TRAEs observed in more than 10% of patients included thrombocytopenia (53 [81.5%] patients), neutropenia (43 [66.2%] patients), anemia (31 [47.7%] patients), decreased white blood cell count (18 [27.7%]), decreased lymphocyte count 8 (12.3%). All patients recovered from cytopenias with no reported aplastic sequalae. Importantly, there were no clinically significant bleeding events, and the rate of febrile neutropenia was 10.8%. There were no treatment-related deaths in the study.
The CLOVER-1 Phase 2 study met the primary efficacy endpoints from the Part A dose-finding portion, conducted in r/r B-cell malignancies and is now enrolling an MM and CNSL expansion cohort (Phase 2b). The Phase 2b study will evaluate highly refractory MM patients in triple class, quad- and penta-drug refractory patients, including post-BCMA immunotherapy patients and r/r CNSL patients. The initial Investigational New Drug (IND) application was accepted by the FDA in March 2014 with multiple INDs submitted since that time. The Phase 1 study was designed to assess the compound's safety and tolerability in patients with r/r MM and to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and was initiated in April 2015. The study completed enrollment, and the final clinical study report is expected in the first half of 2025. Initiated in March 2017, the primary goal of the Phase 2a study was to assess the compound's efficacy in a broad range of hematologic cancers.
The CLOVER-2 Phase 1a pediatric study an open-label, sequential-group, dose-escalation study was conducted internationally at seven leading pediatric cancer centers. The study was an open-label, sequential-group, dose-escalation study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of iopofosine in children and adolescents with relapsed or refractory cancers, including malignant brain tumors, neuroblastoma, sarcomas, and lymphomas (including Hodgkin's lymphoma). The maximum tolerated dose was determined to be greater than 60mCi/m2 administered as a fractionated dose. CLOVER-2 Phase 1b study is an open-label, international dose-finding study evaluating two different doses and dosing regiments of iopofosine in r/r pediatric patients with high grade gliomas. These cancer types were selected for clinical, regulatory and commercial rationales, including the radiosensitive nature and continued unmet medical need in the r/r setting, and the rare disease determinations made by the FDA based upon the current definition within the Orphan Drug Act. This study is partially funded (~$2M) by a National Institutes of Health SBIR grant from the National Cancer Institute.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted iopofosine Fast Track Designation for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) and WM patients having received two or more prior treatment regimens, as well as r/r MM and r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Orphan Drug Designations (ODDs) have been granted for LPL/WM, MM, neuroblastoma, soft tissue sarcomas including rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma. Iopofosine was also granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) for the treatment of neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma. The European Commission granted ODD to iopofosine for treatment of r/r MM and WM, as well as PRIME designation for WM.
Additionally, in June 2020, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted us Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) status by the EMA's Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise office. SME status allows us to participate in significant financial incentives that include a 90% to 100% EMA fee reduction for scientific advice, clinical study protocol design, endpoints and statistical considerations, quality inspections of facilities and fee waivers for selective EMA pre-and post-authorization regulatory filings, including orphan drug and PRIME designations. We are also eligible to obtain EMA certification of quality and manufacturing data prior to a review of clinical data. Other financial incentives include EMA-provided translational services of all regulatory documents required for market authorization, further reducing the financial burden of the market authorization process.
Phase 3 Study in Patients with r/r Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
On March 6, 2025 the Company conducted its End-of-Phase-2 (EOP2) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result of the meeting, the Company believes that it understands a path forward for a one trial design for potential accelerated and full approval based upon a randomized Phase 3 trial assessing major response rate and progression free survival, respectively, as the primary endpoints in WM patients previously treated with a BTKi. The FDA and Cellectar agreed to utilize an Investigator Choice comparator approach where investigators can select between one of two fixed duration treatments currently recommended by the NCCN guidelines. The initiation of this study is dependent on funding.
This meeting followed a November 2024 meeting where the FDA informed the Company that while the data from the CLOVER WaM study was meaningful, the FDA's preferred route to accelerated approval of iopofosine in WM was via a one trial design approach in alignment with the recently issued accelerated approval guidance.
PDC Platform
We have leveraged our PDC platform to establish three ongoing collaborations featuring four unique payloads and mechanisms of action. Through research and development collaborations, our strategy is to generate near-term capital, supplement internal resources, gain access to novel molecules or payloads, accelerate product candidate development and broaden our proprietary and partnered product pipelines.
Our PDC platform is designed to provide selective delivery of a diverse range of oncologic payloads to cancerous cells, whether a hematologic cancer or solid tumor; a primary tumor, or a metastatic tumor; and cancer stem cells. The PDC platform's mechanism of entry is designed not to rely upon a specific cell surface epitope or antigen as are required by other targeted delivery platforms but rather a unique change in the tumor cell membrane. Our PDC platform takes advantage of a metabolic pathway (beta oxidation) utilized by nearly all tumor cell types in all stages of the tumor cycle. Tumor cells modify the cell membrane to create specific, highly organized microdomains by which to transport lipids and long chain fatty acids into the cytoplasm, as a result of the utilization of this metabolic pathway. Our PDCs are designed to bind to these regions and directly enter the intracellular compartment. This mechanism allows the PDC molecules to accumulate in tumor cells over time, which we believe can enhance drug efficacy. The direct intracellular delivery allows our molecules to avoid the specialized, highly acidic cellular compartment known as lysosomes, which allows a PDC to deliver payloads that previously could not be delivered in this targeted manner. Additionally, molecules targeting specific cell surface epitopes face challenges in completely eliminating a tumor because the targeted antigens are limited in the total number presented on the cell surface, limiting total potential uptake and resulting in heterogenous uptake across the tumor, have longer cycling time from internalization to relocation on the cell surface, again diminishing their availability for binding, and are not present on all of the tumor cells because of the heterogenous nature of cancer cells, further increasing the unequal distribution of the drug across the tumor. This means a subpopulation of tumor cells always exists that cannot be addressed by therapies targeting specific surface epitopes. Additionally, epitopes utilized are often present on normal tissue, resulting in off-target toxicities.
Beyond the benefits provided by the mechanism of entry, the PDC platform features include the capacity to link with almost any molecule, provide a significant increase in targeted oncologic payload delivery, a more uniform delivery and the ability to target all types of tumor cells. As a result, we believe that we can create PDCs to treat a broad range of cancers with the potential to improve the therapeutic index of oncologic drug payloads, enhance or maintain efficacy while also reducing adverse events by minimizing drug delivery to healthy cells, and increasing delivery to cancerous cells and cancer stem cells.
We employ a drug discovery and development approach that allows us to efficiently design, research and advance drug candidates. Our iterative process allows us to rapidly and systematically produce multiple generations of incrementally improved targeted drug candidates without the expense of having to generate significant compound libraries.
CLOVER-1: Phase 2 Study in Select B-Cell Malignancies
The Phase 2 CLOVER-1 study was an open-label study designed to determine the efficacy and safety of CLR 131 in select B-cell malignancies (multiple myeloma (MM), indolent chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL)/Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), DLBCL, and central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) who have been previously treated with standard therapy for their underlying malignancy. As of March 2022, the study arms for CLL/SLL, LPL/WM, MZL, MCL, and DLBCL were closed. Dosing of patients varied by disease state cohort and was measured in terms of TBD.
In July 2016, we were awarded a $2,000,000 National Cancer Institute (NCI) Fast-Track Small Business Innovation Research grant to further advance the clinical development of iopofosine. The funds supported the Phase 2 study initiated in March 2017 to define the clinical benefits of iopofosine in r/r MM and other niche hematologic malignancies with unmet clinical need. These niche hematologic malignancies include CLL, SLL, MZL, LPL/WM and DLBCL. The study was conducted in approximately 10 U.S. cancer centers in patients with orphan-designated relapse or refractory hematologic cancers. The planned study enrollment was up to 80 patients.
The study's primary endpoint was clinical benefit response (CBR), with secondary endpoints of ORR, PFS, time to next treatment (TtNT), median Overall Survival (mOS), DOR and other markers of efficacy following patients receiving one of three TBDs of iopofosine (<50mCi, ~50mCi and >60mCi), with the option for a second cycle approximately 75-180 days later. Dosages were provided either as a single bolus or fractionated (the assigned dose level split into two doses) given day 1 and day 15. Over the course of the study the dosing regimen of iopofosine advanced from a single bolus dose to two cycles of fractionated administrations of 15 mCi/m2 per dose on days 1, 15 (cycle 1), and days 57, 71 (cycle 2). Adverse events occurring in at least 25% of subjects were fatigue (39%) and cytopenias, specifically, thrombocytopenia (75%), anemia (61%), neutropenia (54%), leukopenia (51%), and lymphopenia (25%). Serious adverse events occurring in greater than 5% of subjects were restricted to thrombocytopenia (9%) and febrile neutropenia (7.5%).
Phase 2a Study: Patients with r/r Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Cohort
Patients in the r/r WM cohort all received TBD of ≥ 60 mCi (25 mCi/m2 single bolus, 31.25 mCi/m2 fractionated, 37.5 mCi/m2 fractionated, or two cycles of mCi/m2 fractionated) either as a bolus dose or fractionated. Current data from our Phase 2a CLOVER-1 clinical study show a 100% ORR in six WM patients and an 83.3% major response rate with one patient achieving a complete response (CR), which reached 39 months post-last treatment. While median treatment free survival (TFS), also known as treatment free remission (TFR), and DOR have not been reached, the average treatment TFS/TFR is currently at 330 days. We believe this may represent an important improvement in the treatment of r/r WM as we believe no approved or late-stage development treatments for second- and third-line patients have reported a CR to date. Based on study results, iopofosine was well tolerated, with the most common adverse events being cytopenias and fatigue.
Phase 2a Study: Patients with r/r Multiple Myeloma Cohort
In September 2020, we announced that a 40% ORR was observed in the subset of refractory MM patients deemed triple class refractory who received 60 mCi or greater TBD. Triple class refractory is defined as patients that are refractory to immunomodulatory, proteasome inhibitors and anti-CD38 antibody drug classes. The 40% ORR (6/15 patients) represents triple class refractory patients enrolled in Part A of Cellectar's CLOVER-1 study and additional patients enrolled in Part B from March through May 2020 and received >60mCi TBD (25 mCi/m2 single bolus, 31.25 mCi/m2 fractionated, 37.5 mCi/m2 fractionated, or two cycles of mCi/m2 fractionated) either as a bolus dose or fractionated. Patients with MM received 40 mg of dexamethasone concurrently beginning within 24 hours of the first CLR 131 infusion. All MM patients enrolled in the expansion cohort are required to be triple class refractory. The additional six patients enrolled in 2020 were heavily pre-treated with an average of nine prior multi-drug regimens. Three patients received a TBD of > 60 mCi and three received less than 60 mCi. Consistent with the data released in February 2020, patients receiving > 60 mCi typically exhibit greater responses. Based on study results to date, patients continue to tolerate iopofosine well, with the most common and almost exclusive treatment-emergent adverse events are cytopenias, such as thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia.
In December 2021, we presented data from 11 MM patients from our Phase 2 CLOVER-1 study in a poster at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. The MM patients were at least triple class refractory (defined as refractory to an immunomodulatory agent, proteasome inhibitor and monoclonal antibody) with data current as of May 2021. Patients had a median of greater than 7 prior therapies with 50% classified as high risk. Initial results in these patients showed an ORR of 45.5%, a CBR of 72.7%, and a disease control rate (DCR) of 100%. Median PFS was 3.4 months. In a subset of five quad/penta drug refractory patients, efficacy increased, demonstrating an ORR of 80% and CBR of 100% in this highly treatment refractory group. The most commonly observed treatment emergent adverse events were cytopenias that included Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia (62.5%), anemia (62.5%), neutropenia (62.5%) and decreased white blood cell count (50%). Treatment emergent adverse events were mostly limited to bone marrow suppression in line with prior observations. No patients experienced treatment emergent adverse events of neuropathy, arrhythmia, cardiovascular event, bleeding, ocular toxicities, renal function, alterations in liver enzymes, or infusion-site reactions or adverse events. We continue to enrich the r/r MM patient cohort with patients that are even more refractory, specifically enrolling patients that are quad-class refractory (triple class plus refractory to any of the recent approved product classes) and have relapsed post-BCMA immunotherapy. We reported in the Blood Cancer Journal in August 2022 that we observed iopofosine had a 50% ORR in patients receiving >60mCi total administered dose (3/6 patients).
Phase 2a: Patients with r/r non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Cohort
In February 2020, we announced positive data from our Phase 2a CLOVER-1 study in patients with NHL patients were treated with three different doses (<50mCi, ~50mCi and >60mCi TBD. Patients in the r/r NHL cohort received TBD of either ≥ 60 mCi or < 60 mCi (25 mCi/m2 single bolus, 31.25 mCi/m2 fractionated, 37.5 mCi/m2 fractionated, or two cycles of mCi/m2 fractionated) either as a bolus dose or fractionated. Patients with r/r NHL who received <60mCi TBD and the >60mCi TBD had a 42% and 43% ORR, respectively and a combined rate of 42%. These patients were also heavily pre-treated, having a median of three prior lines of treatment (range, 1 to 9) with the majority of patients being refractory to rituximab and/or ibrutinib. The patients had a median age of 70 with a range of 51 to 86. All patients had bone marrow involvement with an average of 23%. In addition to these findings, subtype assessments were completed in the r/r B-cell NHL patients. We observed a 30% ORR in patients with DLBCL, with one patient achieving a CR, which continues at nearly 24 months post-treatment. The ORR for CLL/SLL and MZL patients was 33%.
Based upon the dose response observed in the Phase 2a study for patients receiving TBDs of 60mCi or greater, we determined that patient dosing of iopofosine in the pivotal study would be >60mCi TBD. Therefore, patients are now grouped as receiving <60mCi or >60mCi TBD.
The most frequently reported adverse events in all patients were cytopenias, which followed a predictable course and timeline. The frequency of adverse events did not increase as doses were increased and the profile of cytopenias remained consistent. Importantly, our assessment is that these cytopenias have had a predictable pattern to initiation, nadir and recovery and are treatable. The most common grade ≥3 events at the highest dose (75mCi TBD) were hematologic toxicities including thrombocytopenia (65%), neutropenia (41%), leukopenia (30%), anemia (24%) and lymphopenia (35%). No patients experienced cardiotoxicities, neurological toxicities, infusion site reactions, peripheral neuropathy, allergic reactions, cytokine release syndrome, keratopathy, renal toxicities, or changes in liver enzymes. The safety and tolerability profile in patients with r/r NHL was similar to r/r MM patients except for fewer cytopenias of any grade. Based upon iopofosine being well tolerated across all dose groups, the observed response rate, and especially in difficult to treat patients such as high risk and triple class refractory or penta-refractory, and corroborating data showing the potential to further improve upon current ORRs and durability of those responses, the study has been expanded to test a two-cycle dosing optimization regimen with a target TBD >60 mCi/m2 of iopofosine.
In May 2020, we announced that the FDA granted Fast Track Designation for iopofosine in WM in patients having received two or more prior treatment regimens.
Phase 1 Study in Patients with r/r Multiple Myeloma
In February 2020, final results from a multicenter, Phase 1 dose escalation clinical trial of iopofosine in r/r MM were presented. The trial was designed to evaluate the safety and potential initial efficacy of iopofosine administered in an up to 30-minute I.V. infusion either as a single bolus dose or as a fractionated dose in heavily pretreated MM patients. The study enrolled a total of 26 evaluable patients at three trial sites. For the trial, which used a modified three-plus-three dose escalation design, 15 evaluable patients were dosed in single bolus doses from 12.5mCi/m2 up to 31.25mCi/m2 (TBD 20.35-59.17 mCi) and 11 evaluable patients were dosed in fractionated dosing cohorts of 31.25mCi/m2 to 40mCi/m2 (TBD 54.915-89.107 mCi). An iDMC did not identify dose-limiting toxicities in any cohort. Of the 26 evaluable patients in the trial, a partial response was observed in 4 of 26 patients (15.4%) and stable disease or minimal response in 22 of 26 patients (84.6%), for a disease control rate of 100%. A significant decrease in M-protein and free light chain (FLC) was also observed.
Iopofosine in combination with dexamethasone was under investigation in adult patients with r/r MM. MM is an incurable cancer of the plasma cells and is the second most common form of hematologic cancer. Patients had to be refractory to or relapsed from at least one proteasome inhibitor and at least one immunomodulatory agent. The clinical study was a standard three-plus-three dose escalation safety study to determine the maximum tolerable dose. We use the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) definitions of response, which involve monitoring the surrogate markers of efficacy, M protein and FLC. The IMWG defines a PR as a 50% or greater decrease in M protein or to 50% or greater decrease in FLC levels (for patients in whom M protein is unmeasurable). Secondary objectives included the evaluation of therapeutic activity by assessing surrogate efficacy markers, which include M protein, FLC, PFS and OS. All patients were heavily pretreated with an average of five prior lines of therapy. An iDMC assessed the safety of iopofosine up to its planned maximum single, bolus dose of 31.25 mCi/m2 or a TBD of ~63 mCi. The four single dose cohorts examined were: 12.5 mCi/m2 (~25mCi TBD), 18.75 mCi/m2 (~37.5mCi TBD), 25 mCi/m2(~50mCi TBD), and 31.25 mCi/m2(~62.5mCi TBD), all in combination with low dose dexamethasone (40 mg weekly). Of the five patients in the first cohort, four were assessed as achieving stable disease and one patient progressed at Day 15 after administration and was taken off the study. Of the five patients admitted to the second cohort, all five were assessed as achieving stable disease; however, one patient progressed at Day 41 after administration and was taken off the study. Four patients were enrolled to the third cohort, and all were assessed as achieving stable disease. In September 2017, we announced safety and tolerability data for cohort 4, in which patients were treated with a single infusion up to 30-minutes of 31.25mCi/m2 of iopofosine, which was tolerated by the three patients in the cohort. Additionally, all three patients experienced CBR with one patient achieving a partial response (PR). The patient experiencing a PR had an 82% reduction in FLC. This patient did not produce M protein, had received seven prior lines of treatment including radiation, stem cell transplantation and multiple triple combination treatments including one with daratumumab that was not tolerated. One patient experiencing stable disease attained a 44% reduction in M protein. In January 2019, we announced that the pooled mOS data from the first four cohorts was 22.0 months. In late 2018, we modified this study to evaluate a fractionated dosing strategy to potentially increase efficacy and decrease adverse events.
Cohorts five and six received fractionated dosing of 31.25 mCi/m2(~62.5mCi TBD) and 37.5 mCi/m2 (~75mCi TBD), each administered on day 1 and day 8. Following the determination that all prior dosing cohorts were tolerated, we initiated a cohort seven utilizing a 40mCi/m2 (~95mCi TBD) fractionated dose administered 20mCi/m2 (~40mCi TBD) on days 1 and day 8. Cohort seven was the highest pre-planned dose cohort and subjects have completed the evaluation period. Adverse events occurring in at least 25% of subjects were fatigue (26%) and cytopenias, specifically, thrombocytopenia (90%), anemia (65%), neutropenia (55%), leukopenia (61%), and lymphopenia (58%). Serious adverse events occurring in greater than two subjects were restricted to febrile neutropenia n=3 (9.7%).
In May 2019, we announced that the FDA granted Fast Track Designation for iopofosine in fourth line or later r/r MM. Iopofosine is currently being evaluated in our ongoing CLOVER-1 Phase 2 clinical study in patients with r/r MM and other select B-cell lymphomas. Patients in the study received up to four, approximately 20-minute, IV infusions of iopofosine over 3 months, with doses given 14 days apart in each cycle and a maximum of two cycles. Low dose dexamethasone 40 mg weekly (20mg in patients ≥ 75), was provided for up to 12 weeks. The planned study enrollment was up to 80 patients. Its primary endpoint was clinical benefit rate (CBR), with additional endpoints of ORR, PFS, median overall survival (OS) and other markers of efficacy. Over the course of the study the dosing regimen of iopofosine advanced from a single bolus dose to two cycles of fractionated administrations of 15 mCi/m2 per dose on days 1, 15 (cycle 1), and days 57, 71 (cycle 2). Following treatment with iopofosine, approximately 91% of patients experience a reduction in tumor marker with approximately 73% experiencing greater than 37% reduction.
CLOVER 2: Phase 1 Study in r/r Pediatric Patients with select Solid tumors, Lymphomas and Malignant Brain Tumors
In December 2017, the Division of Oncology at the FDA accepted our IND and study design for the Phase 1 study of iopofosine in children and adolescents with select rare and orphan designated cancers. This study was initiated during the first quarter of 2019. In December 2017, we submitted an IND application for r/r pediatric patients with select solid tumors, lymphomas and malignant brain tumors. The Phase 1 clinical study of iopofosine was an open-label, sequential-group, dose-escalation study evaluating the safety and tolerability of intravenous administration of iopofosine in children and adolescents with relapsed or refractory malignant solid tumors (neuroblastoma, Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma) and lymphoma or recurrent or refractory malignant brain tumors for which there are no standard treatments. Secondary objectives of the study are to identify the recommended efficacious dose of iopofosine and to determine preliminary antitumor activity (treatment response) of iopofosine in children and adolescents. In 2018, the FDA granted ODD and RPDD for iopofosine for the treatment of neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma.
In August 2020, based on data on four dose levels from 15mCi/m2 up to 60mCi/m2, the iDMC permitted the beginning of the evaluation of the next higher dose cohort, at 75mCi/m2. The iDMC advised, based upon the initial data, to enrich the 60 mCi/m2 dose level for patients over the age of 10 with HGG and Ewing sarcoma. Changes in various tumor parameters appeared to demonstrate initial response and tumor uptake. This includes patients with relapsed HGGs with over five months of PFS. In November 2020, we announced clinical data providing that iopofosine had been measured in pediatric brain tumors, confirming that systemic administration of iopofosine crosses the blood brain barrier and is delivered into tumors and that the data show disease control in heavily pretreated patients with ependymomas. In November 2021, we announced favorable data on changes in various tumor parameters in a Phase 1 study in children and adolescents with relapsed and refractory high-grade gliomas (HGGs) and soft tissue sarcomas. Pediatric HGGs are a collection of aggressive brain and central nervous system tumor subtypes (i.e. diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, glioblastomas, astrocytomas, ependymomas, etc.) with about 400 new pediatric cases diagnosed annually in the U.S. Children with these tumors have a poor prognosis and limited 5-year survival. Adverse events occurring in at least 25% of subjects were fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting (28% respectively), and cytopenias, specifically, thrombocytopenia (67%), anemia (67%), neutropenia (61%), leukopenia (56%), and lymphopenia (33%). There were no serious adverse events occurring in more than 2 subjects. The part A portion of this Phase 1 study has concluded, and part B has initiated to determine the appropriate dosing regimen in pediatric patients with r/r HGG. In 2022, the NCI awarded Cellectar a $1,900,000 SBIR Phase 2 grant to explore iopofosine in pediatric HGG.
Phase 1 Study in r/r Head and Neck Cancer
In August 2016, the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC) was awarded a five-year Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant of $12,000,000 from the NCI and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to improve treatments and outcomes for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. HNC is the sixth most common cancer across the world with approximately 56,000 new patients diagnosed every year in the U.S. As a key component of this grant, the UWCCC researchers completed testing of iopofosine in various animal HNC models and initiated the first human clinical study enrolling up to 30 patients combining iopofosine and external beam radiation treatment (EBRT) with recurrent HNC in the fourth quarter of 2019. UWCCC has completed the part A portion of a safety and tolerability study of iopofosine in combination with EBRT and preliminary data suggest safety and tolerability in relapsed or refractory HNC. The reduction in the amount or fractions (doses) of EBRT has the potential to diminish the (number and severity of) adverse events associated with EBRT. Patients with HNC typically receive approximately 60-70 Grays (Gy) of EBRT given as 2 - 3 Gy daily doses over a six-week timeframe. Patients can experience long-term tumor control following re-irradiation in this setting; however, this approach can cause severe injury to normal tissue structures, significant adverse events and diminished quality of life. Part B of the study was to assess the safety and potential benefits of iopofosine in combination with EBRT in a cohort of up to 24 patients. This portion of the study has fully enrolled, and data were reported at the ASTRO 2024 conference on March 2, 2024. Complete remission was achieved in 64% of patients, with an ORR of 73% (n=11). Prior to treatment with iopofosine I 131, six patients had multiple recurrences, and one had metastatic disease, both of which are indicative of poor outcomes. Additionally, in the study we observed durability of tumor control with an overall survival of 73% and progression free survival of 36% at 12 months. Eleven patients (92%) experienced a treatment-related adverse event. Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher occurring in 20% or more patients were thrombocytopenia (75%), lymphopenia (75%), leukopenia (75%), neutropenia (67%), and anemia (42%). Observed adverse events were consistent with the known toxicity profile of iopofosine I 131, with cytopenias being the most common. All patients recovered. We believe that these data support the notion of enhanced patient outcomes when combining the use of iopofosine I 131 in combination with external beam radiation for a treatment of solid tumors.
Additional Pipeline Candidates
We believe our PDC platform has potential to provide targeted delivery of a diverse range of oncologic payloads, as exemplified by our lead product candidates discussed above. Additional pipeline product candidates, listed below, may also result in improvements to the current standard of care (SOC) for the treatment of a broad range of human cancers:
| ● | The company has developed a series of proprietary small molecule phospholipid drug conjugates. These programs employ either novel payload or novel linkers. Many of these molecules have demonstrated efficacy and tolerability in preclinical mouse models. The collaboration with IntoCell Inc. successfully met its agreed upon endpoint. The collaboration provided significant data which has led Cellectar to select a series of highly potent cytotoxic small molecule payloads for further development. |
| ● | In collaboration with other parties, Cellectar has also validated that the PLE is capable of delivering peptide payloads and oligonucleotide (siRNA, mRNA, etc.) payloads to the tumors when delivered systemically. These molecules have also been shown to demonstrate activity and safety in multiple preclinical mouse models. Based upon these collaborations and the data, the company has initiated internal proprietary programs with each of these treatment modalities. We are also evaluating other alpha-emitting isotopes such as astatine-211 and lead-212 in preclinical studies. |
Recent Developments
Breakthrough Designation
On June 4, 2025, we announced that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for iopofosine I 131, as a radioconjugate monotherapy for the treatment of relapsed/refractory Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (r/r WM).
Regulatory Pathway - FDA
We plan to submit an NDA to the FDA for accelerated approval of iopofosine I 131 as a treatment for WM subject to sufficient
funding and once a confirmatory trial is underway. The submission would be supported by data from the Phase 2b CLOVER WaM clinical trial demonstrating a statistically significant major response rate compared to a null hypothesis of 20% and meaningful duration of response. The data set now includes the FDA-requested 12-month follow-up results on all patients from the trial and new subset analysis of data from patients immediately following Bruton Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor (BTKi) treatment failures regardless of line of therapy.
Regulatory Pathway - EMA
We received a response from the EMA regarding scientific advice on the Company's submission for Conditional Market Authorization (CMA). The submission to EMA included data from our Phase 2b CLOVER WaM clinical trial where we observed a statistically significant major response rate and meaningful duration of response, and an integrated summary of safety for all patients treated with iopofosine I 131 for hematologic malignancies. A meeting has been scheduled with the EMA regarding their final decision on whether they support our plan to submit for a CMA. The response is expected by late third quarter or early fourth quarter 2025.
Results of Operations
Research and development expenses.Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred in identifying, developing and testing, and manufacturing product candidates, which primarily include salaries and related expenses for personnel, cost of manufacturing materials and contract manufacturing fees paid to contract manufacturers and contract research organizations, fees paid to medical institutions for clinical studies. The Company analyzes its research and development expenses based on four categories as follows: clinical project costs, preclinical project costs, manufacturing and related costs, and general research and development costs that are not allocated to the functional project costs, including personnel costs, facility costs and related overhead costs.
General and administrative expenses.General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other related costs for personnel in executive, finance and administrative functions. Other costs include insurance, costs for public company activities, investor relations, directors' fees and professional fees for legal and accounting services.
Other income (expense), net. Other income (expense), net, consists primarily of the impacts related to issuing and revaluing equity securities, and interest income.
Three Months Ended June 30, 2025 and 2024
Research and Development. Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2025, were approximately $2,390,000, compared to approximately $7,345,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2024.
The following table is a summary comparison of approximate research and development costs for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
2025 |
2024 |
Variance |
||||||
|
Clinical project costs |
|
$ |
738,000 |
|
$ |
3,951,000 |
|
$ |
(3,213,000) |
|
Manufacturing and related costs |
|
871,000 |
|
2,628,000 |
|
(1,757,000) |
|||
|
Pre-clinical project costs |
|
145,000 |
|
31,000 |
|
114,000 |
|||
|
General research and development costs |
|
636,000 |
|
735,000 |
|
(99,000) |
|||
|
|
|
$ |
2,390,000 |
|
$ |
7,345,000 |
|
$ |
(4,955,000) |
The overall decrease in research and development expense was approximately $4,955,000, or 67%. The reduction is spending was composed primarily of decreased clinical project costs and manufacturing and related costs resulting from the conclusion of patient enrollment in our CLOVER WaM Phase 2b clinical trial.
General and administrative. General and administrative expense for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was approximately $3,648,000, compared to approximately $6,358,000 for the same period in 2024. The overall decrease in general and administrative
expense of approximately $2,710,000, or 43%, was driven by costs associated with a decrease in pre-commercialization activities and personnel costs.
Other income (expense), net. Other income (expense), net, for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was approximately $590,000, as compared to approximately $12,784,000 in the same period of 2024, resulting almost exclusively from changes in warrant valuation, which are non-cash in nature, and are primarily impacted by fluctuation s in the Company's common stock price. Interest income decreased year-over-year to approximately $88,000 in 2025 as compared to approximately $329,000 in 2024. The Company's lower amounts of invested funds drove the reduction.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 and 2024
Research and Development. Research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2025, were approximately $5,817,000, compared to approximately $14,434,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2024.
The following table is a summary comparison of approximate research and development costs for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
2025 |
2024 |
Variance |
||||||
|
Clinical project costs |
|
$ |
2,104,000 |
|
$ |
6,644,000 |
|
$ |
(4,540,000) |
|
Manufacturing and related costs |
|
1,580,000 |
|
5,941,000 |
|
(4,361,000) |
|||
|
Pre-clinical project costs |
|
652,000 |
|
52,000 |
|
600,000 |
|||
|
General research and development costs |
|
1,481,000 |
|
1,797,000 |
|
(316,000) |
|||
|
|
|
$ |
5,817,000 |
|
$ |
14,434,000 |
|
$ |
(8,617,000) |
The overall decrease in research and development expense of approximately $8,617,000, or 60%, was primarily a result of decreased clinical project costs of approximately $4,540,000 and a decrease in manufacturing and related costs of approximately $4,361,000, driven by the conclusion of patient enrollment in our WM, partially offset by increased activity in our pre-clinical project costs.
General and administrative. General and administrative expense for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was approximately $6,622,000, compared to approximately $11,272,000 for the same period in 2024. The overall decrease in general and administrative expense of approximately $4,650,000, or 41%, was driven by costs associated with a decrease in pre-commercialization and personnel costs.
Other income (expense), net. Other income (expense), net, for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was approximately $387,000, as compared to approximately $1,856,000 of expense in the same period of 2024, resulting almost exclusively from changes in warrant valuation. These impacts are non-cash in nature and are largely driven by fluctuations in the Company's common stock price. Interest income decreased to approximately $225,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2025, as compared to approximately $649,000 for the same period in 2024. Reduced amounts of invested funds in the current year were the primary driver of the reduction.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have incurred losses since inception in devoting substantially all of our efforts toward research and development of drug candidates for which we are seeking FDA approval. During the six months ended June 30, 2025, we generated a net loss of approximately $12.1 million and used approximately $14.5 million in cash for operations. We expect that we will continue to generate operating losses for the foreseeable future. As of June 30, 2025, our consolidated cash balance was approximately $11 million. As of the date the accompanying consolidated financial statements were issued (the "issuance date"), the Company's available liquidity to fund the Company's operations over the next twelve months beyond the issuance date was limited to approximately $15 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. Absent further action taken by management to increase its liquidity, the Company may be unable to fund its operations under normal course beyond the second quarter of 2026. To improve the Company's liquidity, management plans to secure additional outside capital via the sale of equity and/or debt securities or execute a strategic transaction. Management also plans to preserve liquidity, as needed, by implementing cost saving measures. While management believes their plans will be successful, no assurance can be provided such plans will be effectively implemented over the next twelve months beyond the issuance date. In the event management's plans are not effectively implemented, the Company will be required to seek other
alternatives which may include, among others, strategic alternatives such as mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, licensing arrangements or other strategic transactions, the sale of assets, discontinuance of certain operations, and/or filing for bankruptcy protection.
These uncertainties raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates it will be able to realize assets and settle liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of these uncertainties.