8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K  

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 11, 2021 

SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-37708	32-0162505
(state or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Building D, Floor 3 35 Gatehouse Drive Waltham, Massachusetts	02451
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781) 419-1400

(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):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	SNDX	The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC

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 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 11, 2021, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated May 11, 2021
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

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.

SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:	/s/ Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.
	Briggs W. Morrison, M.D.
	Chief Executive Officer

Dated: May 11, 2021

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Syndax Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and

Provides Clinical and Business Update

- Today announced two of the prior responders from ongoing Phase 1 portion of
AUGMENT-101 trial of SNDX-5613 achieved full count recovery bringing CR/CRh rate up
to 23% -

- Company on track to initiate pivotal Phase 2 portion of AUGMENT-101 trial in 2Q21 -

- Enrollment of 23 cGVHD patients in Phase 2 expansion cohort testing axatilimab at 1 mg/kg
complete; enrollment ongoing in pivotal AGAVE-201 trial of axatilimab in cGVHD -

- Company to host conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET -

WALTHAM, Mass., May 11, 2021 (PRNEWSWIRE) – Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Syndax," the "Company" or "we") (Nasdaq: SNDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. In addition, the Company provided a clinical and business update.

“We are excited to provide an update on the positive interim Phase 1 data from the ongoing AUGMENT-101 trial of SNDX-5613 in patients with mixed lineage leukemia rearranged (MLLr) and nucleophosmin (NPM1c) mutant acute leukemias,” said Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Syndax. “As Dr. Eytan Stein indicated in his presentation, complete eradication of leukemia need not occur simultaneously with complete recovery of blood cell counts, and today we are able to share that two prior responders have advanced from complete response with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp) to a complete response (CR). The benefit we observe in AUGMENT-101 support our strong conviction that SNDX-5613 has the potential to meaningfully shape the treatment paradigm for these patients who are in desperate need of improved therapeutic options. As previously announced, we have identified a candidate recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) and look forward to commencing the pivotal Phase 2 portion of the trial.”

“In addition, we continue to make progress with axatilimab in patients with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). We are pleased to announce today that we have completed enrollment of 23 patients in the Phase 2 expansion portion of the Phase 1/2 trial. We look forward to sharing full updated results from the Phase 1/2 trial later this year, with top-line data from the ongoing pivotal AGAVE-201 trial expected in 2023. Supported by emerging data, we firmly believe that axatilimab has the potential to benefit many of the more than 10,000 patients diagnosed with cGVHD in the U.S. each year.”

Recent Progress and Anticipated Milestones

SNDX-5613

The Company today announced new data from the ongoing Phase 1 dose escalation portion of the Phase 1/2 AUGMENT-101 trial of SNDX-5613, a highly selective oral menin inhibitor, in patients with MLLr and NPM1c mutant relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute leukemias. The new data reported today, showed two prior responders have improved from CRp to CR with no evidence of minimal residual disease (MRD-). With the addition of these two patients, a total of 7/31 patients (23%) have achieved CR/CRh.

Syndax previously announced positive data from the Phase 1 portion of the AUGMENT-101 trial in April 2021 and hosted a conference call featuring Eytan M. Stein, M.D., Assistant Attending Physician and Director, Program for Drug Development in Leukemia, Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. As of the data cutoff date, the overall response rate (ORR) among evaluable patients was 48% (n=15), with 67% (n=10) of these responders achieving MRD- status, and four proceeding to receive stem cell transplant. The ORR in evaluable patients harboring an MLL-rearrangement (n=24), was 54% (n=13), and in evaluable patients harboring an NPM1c mutation (n=7), was 29% (n=2).  Across all patients enrolled in the trial as of the data cutoff date (n=43), SNDX-5613 was generally well-tolerated, with no discontinuations due to treatment-related adverse events observed in heavily pretreated patients.

Syndax remains on track to initiate the pivotal Phase 2 portion of the trial this quarter.

Axatilamab

Syndax today announced that enrollment is now complete in the Phase 2 expansion portion of the Phase 1/2 trial of axatilimab, its anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody, in patients with cGVHD. The Company anticipates reporting updated results later this year for 40 patients, including the 17 in the Phase 1 portion and 23 from the Phase 2 expansion portion, which evaluated 1 mg/kg of axatilimab every two weeks. Syndax reported preliminary data from the Phase 1 portion of the trial during an oral presentation at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in December 2020 which highlighted the tolerability and high response rate of axatilimab in cGVHD patients refractory to multiple therapeutic agents.

The Company’s pivotal Phase 2 AGAVE-201 trial of axatilimab in patients with cGVHD is ongoing, with topline data expected in 2023. The trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of three doses and schedules of axatilimab. The primary endpoint will assess objective response rate based on the 2014 NIH consensus criteria for cGVHD, with key secondary endpoints including duration of response and improvement in modified Lee Symptom Scale score.

Earlier this year, the Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Orphan Drug Designation to axatilimab for the treatment of patients with cGVHD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

As of March 31, 2021, Syndax had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $271.3 million and 51.6 million shares and share equivalents issued and outstanding. This includes 3.3 million pre-funded warrants.

First quarter 2021 research and development expenses increased to $21.9 million from $9.6 million. The increase was primarily due to increased clinical trial activities and increased CMC activities.

General and administrative expenses for the first quarter 2021 decreased to $5.7 million from $5.9 million. The decrease is primarily due to decreased pre-commercialization expenses for entinostat.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, Syndax reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $27.7 million or $0.54 per share compared to $19.1 million or $0.56 per share for the prior year period.

Financial Update and Guidance

For the second quarter of 2021, research and development expenses are expected to be $30 to $35 million, and total operating expenses are expected to be $35 to $40 million. For the full year of 2021, research and development expenses are expected to be $90 to $100 million, and total operating expenses are expected to be $110 to $120 million.

Conference Call and Webcast

In connection with the earnings release, Syndax's management team will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET today, Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

The live audio webcast and accompanying slides may be accessed through the Events & Presentations page in the Investors section of the Company's website at www.syndax.com.  Alternatively, the conference call may be accessed through the following:

Conference ID: 8178876
Domestic Dial-in Number: (855) 251-6663
International Dial-in Number: (281) 542-4259
Live webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4gwngoxq

For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available for 30 days on the Investors section of the Company's website, www.syndax.com.

About Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Syndax Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies. The Company's pipeline includes SNDX-5613, a highly selective inhibitor of the Menin–MLL binding interaction for the treatment of genetically-defined leukemias; axatilimab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks the colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) receptor; and entinostat, a class I HDAC inhibitor.

Syndax’s Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "believe" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Syndax's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about the design, progress, timing, clinical development and scope of clinical trials, plans for initiating future clinical trials, reporting of clinical data for Syndax's product candidates, the association of data with treatment outcomes, the potential use of our product candidates to treat various cancer indications and fibrotic diseases, Syndax’s expected second quarter and full year research and development expenses, and expected total operating expenses. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical trials, clinical trial site activation or enrollment rates that are lower than expected, changes in expected or existing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt our business and that of the third parties on which we depend, including delaying or otherwise disrupting our clinical trials and preclinical studies, manufacturing and supply chain, or impairing employee productivity, failure of Syndax's collaborators to support or advance collaborations or product candidates and unexpected litigation or other disputes. Other factors that may cause Syndax's actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Syndax's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" sections contained therein. Except as required by law, Syndax assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.

Syndax Contacts

Investor Contact

Melissa Forst

Argot Partners

melissa@argotpartners.com

Tel 212.600.1902

Media Contact

Ted Held
ted.held@gcihealth.com
Tel 212.798.9842

SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(unaudited)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
		March 31,		December 31,
(In thousands)		2021		2020
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments		$	271,335	$	293,065
Total assets		$	279,672	$	300,613
Total liabilities		$	51,467	$	48,425
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)		$	228,205	$	252,188
Common stock outstanding			48,248,559		47,881,223
Common stock and common stock equivalents*			59,085,417		57,836,910
*Common stock and common stock equivalents:
	Common stock		48,248,559		47,881,223
	Options to purchase common stock		7,404,823		6,379,235
	Restricted Stock Units		124,083		18,500
	Pre-funded warrants		3,307,952		3,557,952
			59,085,417		57,836,910

SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(unaudited)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except share and per share data)		2021			2020
License fee revenue		$	379		$	379
Operating expenses:
	Research and development		21,870			9,562
	General and administrative		5,672			5,917
Total operating expenses			27,542			15,479
Loss from operations			(27,163	)		(15,100	)
Other income (expense), net			(560	)		(136	)
Net loss		$	(27,723	)	$	(15,236	)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(27,723	)	$	(19,142	)
Net loss per share attributable to common
	stockholders--basic and diluted	$	(0.54	)	$	(0.56	)
Weighted-average number of common stock
	used to compute net loss per share attributable
	to common stockholders--basic and diluted		51,499,831			34,328,640

XML

Document and Entity Information	May 11, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	May 11, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	SYNDAX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001395937
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Ex Transition Period	true
Entity File Number	001-37708
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	32-0162505
Entity Address, Address Line One	35 Gatehouse Drive
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Building D
Entity Address, Address Line Three	Floor 3
Entity Address, City or Town	Waltham
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	02451
City Area Code	(781)
Local Phone Number	419-1400
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Security 12b Title	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	SNDX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ