UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15 (d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): May 5, 2023
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | ||||||||||||
(484 ) 328-4701
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive office)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8–K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
(The Nasdaq Capital Market) | ||||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 8.01 Other Events.
Attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference is a presentation that Ocugen, Inc. will post on its website on May 5, 2023 and may use from time to time in presentations or discussions with investors, analysts, and other parties.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
The following exhibits are being filed herewith:
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Document | |||||||
| 99.1 | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 5, 2023
| OCUGEN, INC. | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Shankar Musunuri | |||||||
| Name: Shankar Musunuri | ||||||||
| Title: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, & Co-Founder | ||||||||
2
Courageous Innovation May 2023 NASDAQ: OCGN
Forward Looking Statements 2 This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Ocugen, Inc. and on information currently available to management. All statements contained in this presentation other than statements of historical fact are forward- looking statements. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from our current expectations. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risk factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the quarterly and annual reports that we file with the SEC. Forward- looking statements that we make in this presentation are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known to us and speak only as of the date of this presentation. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this presentation whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date of this presentation.
We’re Here to Make an Impact Through Courageous Innovation 3 Mission: Developing cutting-edge innovations for people facing serious disease and conditions with a commitment to ensuring global market access Pioneering modifier gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases, as well as larger blindness diseases with unmet need Innovating a novel biologic to treat eye diseases that can lead to vision loss for millions of people Developing vaccines for flu & COVID-19 Pursuing Regenerative Cell Therapy to treat serious conditions like articular cartilage lesions
4 Pipeline Overview Asset/Program Indication Current Status Gene therapies OCU400 * AAV-hNR2E3 Gene mutation-associated retinal degeneration* Retinitis pigmentosa (RP)--NR2E3 Mutation • Phase 1/2 • Favorable safety and tolerability profile • Initial clinical data from low- and medium-dose cohorts indicates positive trend in Multi-luminance mobility testing and Best-Corrected Visual Acuity scores for OCU400 treated eyes RP—RHO Mutation Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA)—CEP290 Mutation OCU410 AAV-hRORA Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD) • IND planned for 2Q 2023 OCU410ST AAV-hRORA Stargardt disease (orphan disease) Biologics OCU200 Transferrin – Tumstatin Diabetic Macular Edema • IND submitted. Waiting for FDA clearance before initiating Phase 1 trial. Diabetic Retinopathy • IND-ready Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Wet AMD) • IND-ready Cell therapies (Regenerative Medicine) NeoCart® (Autologous chondrocyte-derived neocartilage) RMAT** Treatment of Articular Cartilage Defects in the Knee • Phase 3 clinical trial is planned for 2024 Vaccines OCU500 Series OCU500: COVID-19 (Bivalent) For Prevention of Disease Caused by COVID-19 • IND planned for 4Q 2023 (pending government funding) OCU510: Flu (Quadrivalent) For Prevention of Disease Caused by Flu OCU520: Flu + COVID-19 For Prevention of Diseases Caused by Flu and COVID-19 **Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation *Broad , gene-agnostic , ORPHAN DRUG DESIGNATIONS FOR RP/LCA FROM FDA AND EMA
5 Modifier Gene Therapy Platform Breakthrough technology designed to address many rare diseases as well as complex diseases that affect millions
6 Modifier Gene Therapy: A Broader Reach Gene modifier therapy can potentially address multiple genetic defects with a single product utilizing a gene agnostic approach. In patients with IRDs, this could mean: Improved visual outcomes and quality of life GENE X GENE M cell NR2E3 Delivery “Molecular reset” of health & survival gene networks Cell with normal function cell Restored retinal cell homeostasis O N L ONL/photoreceptor survival GENE X cell GENE M Cell with mutated/ nonfunctioning gene(s) other than modifier gene M O D I F I E R G E N E M
FDA granted expanded Orphan Drug Designations for all retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) mutations Despite its prevalence, RP and LCA patients have limited treatment options • US: RP & LCA affect 110,000 and 15,000 people, respectively • Worldwide: conditions affect approximately 1.6M people Current approved and in-development gene therapies focus on individual gene • More than 125 mutated genes associated with RP and LCA • Developing a single therapy to treat each mutation is not feasible OCU400 addresses shortcomings of current gene therapy approaches • Broad-spectrum, gene-agnostic approach to genetically diverse inherited retinal diseases • Potential one-time, curative therapy with a single sub-retinal injection, using NR2E3 Dose escalation and recruitment of RP patients completed • High dose established as Maximum Tolerable Dose (MTD) • Continue to enroll patients with LCA • Intend to initiate a Phase 3 trial near the end of 2023 7 OCU400: Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Progressing as Planned, Developing a Novel Gene Therapy in Ophthalmic Areas of High Unmet Need
Study Overview Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT05203939 Safety of subretinal administration of OCU400 Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) Multi-Luminance Mobility Test (MLMT) Primary Endpoint: Safety Exploratory Endpoint: Efficacy 38 Enrollment Status
Multi-Luminescence Mobility Test Total Subjects for analyses (N=7); pooled analyses Subjects with 9-months follow-up : Cohort 1, N=3 Subjects with 6 months follow-up: N=1 from Cohort 1 and N=3 from Cohort 2 Total Subject for analyses (N=3) Cohort 1 with 9 month follow-up Improvement ≥ 1 Lux Improvement ≥ 2 Lux Improvement ≥ 2 Lux Treated Eye 71.4% 28.6% 66.7% Untreated Eye 28.6% 0.0% 0.0% • 100% of treated eyes showed stability or improved MLMT scores • 71% of treated eyes improved by at least 1 Lux Level in pooled analyses vs ONLY 29% of untreated eyes • 29 % of treated eyes improved by at least 2 Lux Level in pooled analyses vs 0 % of untreated eyes • 67 % treated eyes improved by at least 2 Lux Level in cohort 1 subjects with 9 months follow up vs 0 % of untreated eyes MLMT is used as efficacy measure to assess visual function 9
Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) Score Total Subjects for analyses (N=7) Subjects with 9-months follow-up : Cohort 1, N=3 Subjects with 6 months follow-up: N=1 from Cohort 1 and N=3 from Cohort 2 Improvement ≥ 8 Letters Treated Eye 42.9% Untreated Eye 0.0% 10
OCU400: Expected Pathway to Clinical Development & Potential Approval Both FDA & EMA granted broad orphan drug designation for RP & LCA • Ocugen plans to meet with regulatory agencies in 3Q to potentially finalize Phase 3 clinical program and overall package • Continuing to enroll LCA and pediatric patients in Phase 1/2 trial 11
12 OCU410ST: Received ODD for the Treatment of ABCA4-Associated Retinopathies Including Stargardt, Retinitis Pigmentosa 19 (RP19) and Cone-rod Dystrophy 3 (CORD3) ABCA4-associated retinopathies—Genetic Rare Disease • ABCA4 gene produces an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily transmembrane protein involved in clearance of all-trans-retinal aldehyde, a byproduct of the retinoid cycle, from photoreceptor cells • Mutation in ABCA4 gene results in Stargardt disease. Different ABCA4 alleles have been identified to cause other retinopathies such as cone-rod dystrophy type 3 (CORD 3), retinitis pigmentosa type 19 (RP 19) No treatment options exist • US: 44,000 patients Modifier gene therapy platform addresses shortcomings of current approaches • AAV delivery platform delivers the RORA (RAR Related Orphan Receptor A) • Broad-spectrum, gene-agnostic approach • Potential one-time, curative therapy with a single sub-retinal injection Plan to submit IND for initiation of Phase 1/2 clinical trial in 2Q 2023
13 OCU410 for the Treatment of Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (dAMD) dAMD Limited options, presenting significant unmet medical need • US: 10M • Worldwide: condition affects more than 266M people Recently approved therapy for geographic atrophy (GA)— advanced form of dAMD–has limitations • Frequent intravitreal injections (N ~6-12 doses per year); Patient compliance • Limited effect of GA lesion growth rate • Approximately 12% of patients experience neovascular AMD when the drug is administered every month for two years Plan to submit IND for initiation of Phase 1/2 clinical trial in 2Q 2023 Fatty Deposits
Ap pr oa ch es b ei ng in ve st ig at ed Antioxidants Complement cascade inhibitors Neuroprotective Visual cycle inhibitors Gene therapy Cell-based therapies A strong role of inflammation, complement, and oxidative pathways in AMD Pegcetacoplan (Syfovre) - approved Lampalizumab Zimura sCD59 AREDS AREDS2 (failed) OT-551 (failed) Corticosteroids (repeated dose) 14 AMD: Risk Factors, Treatment Options and Unmet Needs
50 60 70 80 90 1e61E51E41E31E2Cells N or m al ize d Ce ll Su rv iv al RORA NR2E3 NR1D1 Anti-oxidative: Improves ARPE19 cells survival Anti-complement: Increased anti-compliment (Cd59) protein Anti-inflammatory: Suppresses inflammation in HMC3 cellsAnti-drusen activity and improves retinal function 0 50 100 150 200 B lu e A ut of lu or es ce nc e (A U) Months 1 7 1 7 1 7 Control Abca4-/- Uninjected Abca4-/- OCU410 ✱✱ ✱✱✱ Macular Degeneration Model Reduced Drusen 15 OCU410 (RORA): A Potential Modifier Therapeutic for Dry-AMD and STGD
16 OCU200 Novel biologic for treating Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Wet AMD)
17 OCU200 is our novel biologics candidate for sight-threatening conditions • A recombinant fusion protein of transferrin and tumstatin • Potential to address diabetic macular edema (DME), diabetic retinopathy (DR), wet AMD High prevalence of DME, DR and wet AMD patients • DME: 21M worldwide • DR: 162M worldwide • Wet AMD: 30M worldwide Limited treatment options available for the above patients • Current therapies target only one pathway, either angiogenesis or inflammation • Up to 50% of patient population are not responsive to current treatments OCU200 potentially addresses shortcomings of current treatments • Intended to target multiple causative pathways such as angiogenesis, oxidation, inflammation • Potential to offer better treatment options for all patients Company submitted an IND application on February 27, 2023* • Initially targeting DME Diabetic Macular Edema: bulges protrude from the blood vessels, leading to leakage of fluid and blood into the retina; leakage results in swelling (or “edema”), promoting vision loss. OCU200: Submitted an IND with the U.S. FDA to Initiate a Phase 1 Clinical Trial Targeting Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) * The IND was placed on clinical hold by the FDA as part of its request for additional information related to chemistry, manufacturing, and controls prior to initiating the Phase 1 trial. The company plans to respond to the FDA promptly to get FDA clearance to initiate the Phase 1 clinical trial.
18 NeoCart® (Autologous chondrocyte-derived neocartilage)
19 *The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery: June 1, 2011 - Volume 93 - Issue 11 - p 994-1000 **https://www.biospace.com/article/cell-therapy-market-size-cagr-trends-forecast-report-2022-2030/ NeoCart is a regenerative cell therapy technology • Combines bioengineering and cell processing to enhance autologous cartilage repair • Potential to accelerate healing and reduce pain through reconstructing damaged knee cartilage High prevalence of knee cartilage damage, with progression to osteoarthritis (OA) • Arthroscopic knee procedures: over 1M annually* • OA: 528M diagnosed worldwide • Cell therapy global revenue forecast: $45B+, with North America expected to hold largest share** Current therapies to treat cartilage damage in the knee suboptimal • Varying outcomes due to variable cellular responses • Current standard of care suffers from one or more of the following: pain, reduced knee function, failure to address cartilage damage, donor tissue availability, open surgery NeoCart potentially addresses shortcomings of current treatments • Treat pain, improve function, and prevent progression to OA • Potential for improved efficacy, long-term benefits Program advancing on several fronts • Received FDA concurrence on confirmatory trial design of Phase 3 (initiate in 2024) • Renovating facility to accommodate cGMP manufacturing Follow-up Arthroscopy Demonstrates NeoCart® Progression and Integration** Initial Lesion Time Zero Implantation 8 Weeks 6 Months NeoCart®: U.S. FDA Agreed to Proposed Control and Overall Design for Phase 3 Trial to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy Compared to Chondroplasty Standard of Care
20 OCU500 Series: OCU500: COVID-19 Mucosal Vaccine OCU510: Flu OCU520: COVID-19/Flu
21 OCU500 Series: Next-Generation Vaccine Candidates Using Inhalation Technology OCU500 A bivalent COVID-19 vaccine OCU510 A seasonal quadrivalent flu vaccine OCU520 A combination quadrivalent flu and bivalent COVID19 vaccine Current focus solely on the development of our inhaled mucosal vaccine platform based on chAd vector Inhalation technology as a differentiator • Multiple preclinical studies using Ocugen’s vector demonstrated vaccine-induced high neutralizing and effector responses • Clinical studies using a similar vector administered via the inhalation platform showed mucosal antibodies, systemic antibodies, and durable immune response up to 1 year with 1/5 of the dose compared to the same vaccine given via intramuscular administration • The inhaled method offers the potential for broad, durable protection from severe disease and reduction in transmission Alignment with American Pandemic Preparedness Plan to transform U.S. capabilities to rapidly and effectively respond to existing and emerging infectious diseases via: • Legislative advocacy for next-generation mucosal vaccine development • Multiple proposal submissions for federal funding of Ocugen’s inhaled vaccines platform for COVID-19 and flu • Ongoing dialogue with several government agencies regarding the development of the inhaled vaccines platform
22 Ocugen™Vision Fully integrated, patient-centric biotech company focused on vaccines in support of public health and gene and cell therapies targeting unmet medical needs through Courageous Innovation
May 2023 NASDAQ: OCGN