Lisata Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company based in San Francisco, California, recently held its Q2 2024 Earnings Conference Call to discuss financial results and provide updates on its clinical development programs. The conference call featured key executives, including Dr. David Mazzo, President and CEO, Dr. Kristen Buck, EVP of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer, and James Nisco, Chief Accounting Officer. The company highlighted the progress of its novel investigational product, Certepetide, in combination with anticancer agents for treating advanced solid tumors.

Throughout the call, company executives discussed the positive momentum in the advancement of Lisata’s development pipeline, emphasizing the potential of Certepetide to enhance standard-of-care treatment for various challenging solid tumors. Dr. Buck provided insights into ongoing and planned clinical programs, detailing the strategic design choices made to generate clinically meaningful data efficiently. Certepetide’s mechanism of action, leveraging the CendR active transport system, offers a unique approach to delivering anticancer drugs to tumors while modifying the tumor microenvironment for improved efficacy.

Regarding financial results, operating expenses for the second quarter of 2024 showed a decrease compared to the same period in 2023. Research and development expenses were lower due to the completion of the Phase 2b ASCEND trial, while general and administrative expenses also decreased. Lisata’s balance sheet indicated healthy cash reserves to fund current operations into early 2026, including ongoing and planned clinical trials.

In terms of clinical trials, Lisata is actively enrolled in several studies globally, focusing on the treatment of solid tumors such as pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and glioblastoma multiforme. The company has received special designations, including fast track and orphan drug designations, demonstrating regulatory recognition and support for Certepetide’s development. Collaboration with pharmaceutical companies to explore combination therapies with Certepetide is a key strategy to enhance treatment outcomes for cancer patients.

The call concluded with a positive outlook for Lisata’s future, emphasizing the importance of upcoming data readouts, such as the ASCEND trial results, in evaluating Certepetide’s efficacy and safety profile. The company remains committed to advancing its development programs, exploring strategic partnerships, and maximizing the value of Certepetide in transforming cancer treatment.