Earnings - May 15, 2018
Heidelberg, Germany, May 15, 2018 – Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing highly targeted cancer immunotherapies, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.
“The ability to utilize different antibody formats to activate innate and adaptive immune cells is in our minds a prerequisite to developing effective therapies for different cancers and other lifethreatening diseases,” said Dr. Adi Hoess, Affimed’s CEO. “Our versatile ROCKTM platform enables us to develop differentiated therapies aimed at improving efficacy and safety.”
Affimed introduced its ROCKTM (Redirected Optimized Cell Killing) platform, which was officially launched at the PEGS Protein Engineering Summit in Boston in early May 2018. The Company’s proprietary, unique and modular ROCK™ platform enables the generation of first-in-class, tetravalent, multi-specific immune cell engagers. Based on its modularity, ROCKTM allows for antibody engineering of highly customizable NK and T cell engagers to generate clinical candidates tailored to multiple disease indications and settings, including generation of molecules against validated oncology targets, to address the limitations of existing treatments.
NK cell engager programs
Affimed is conducting a Phase 1b combination study of AFM13, its CD30/CD16A-targeting NK cell engager, with Merck’s Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) in patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r HL). A total of 24 patients are being treated at the highest AFM13 dose level. Affimed expects full 3-month data by mid-year 2018 and intends to provide regular updates at scientific or medical conferences, with the next set of data to be presented at the 23rd Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Stockholm, June 14-17, 2018.
An investigator-sponsored translational Phase 1b/2a study of AFM13 in patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive lymphoma with cutaneous manifestation led by Columbia University and supported by Affimed is ongoing and recruiting. Early data presented in February 2018 confirm the single-agent activity observed for AFM13 in an ongoing Phase 2a trial in HL and suggest a new opportunity for the development of AFM13 in patients with CD30-positive lymphoma. Affimed intends to work with the sponsor to provide regular updates on the study.
The Company’s investigator-sponsored Phase 2a monotherapy study of AFM13 in patients with HL led by the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) is open and recruiting, including patients pre-treated with both brentuximab vedotin (B.V.) and anti-PD1.
Affimed presented data at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2018 Annual Meeting in Chicago, highlighting the Company’s progress toward novel EGFRtargeting therapies. In a poster titled “Pharmacokinetics and in vitro/in vivo characterization of high-affinity bispecific EGFR/CD16A NK cell engagers for the treatment of EGFR-expressing tumors”, Affimed showed data on two development candidates from its AFM24 program based on its ROCKTM platform. The EGFR-binding domain was selected to minimize inhibition of EGFR-mediated signal transduction with the aim of achieving therapeutic efficacy while lowering the risk of side effects such as skin toxicity that are associated with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. The approach of NK cell-mediated targeting of EGFR-expressing human cancers introduces a highly potent effector function to address the needs of patients who may not benefit from antiEGFR monoclonal antibodies. At AACR, in vitro and in vivo data for two AFM24 candidates were presented, showing the first evidence supporting this new mechanism of action. Affimed anticipates completing IND-enabling studies for one of the candidates by midyear 2019.
For Affimed’s AFM26 (BCMA/CD16A) high-affinity bispecific NK cell engagers, designed to address the medical need of eliminating minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with multiple myeloma, preclinical development is ongoing. Leveraging its ROCKTM platform, the Company is developing a variety of antibody formats addressing the need to eliminate malignant cells with very low target expression. Affimed continues to advance its lead candidate to IND-enabling studies.
Preclinical research activities are progressing in Affimed’s collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), evaluating the Company’s NK cell engager AFM13 in combination with MDACC’s NK cell product.
T cell engager programs
Affimed is conducting two clinical Phase 1 dose escalation trials with AFM11, a CD19/CD3-targeting tetravalent bispecific T cell engager, in patients with r/r acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and with r/r non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), respectively. Both studies are actively recruiting patients as dose escalation continues.
(Figures for the first quarter of 2018 and 2017 represent unaudited figures)
Cash and cash equivalents totaled €55.3 million as of March 31, 2018 compared to €39.8 million as of December 31, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to the net proceeds of €19.7 million from the public offering, partially offset by Affimed’s operational expenses. Net cash used in operating activities was €6.9 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to €7.2 million for the first quarter of 2017. Cash flow from financing activities amounted to €22.6 million for the first quarter of 2018 compared to €16.4 million for the first quarter of 2017. Revenue for the first quarter of 2018 was €0.5 million compared to €0.4 million for the first quarter of 2017. Revenue in both periods was derived from Affimed’s collaboration with LLS and AbCheck service revenue.
R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2018 were €6.4 million compared to €5.4 million for the first quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily related to higher expenses for AFM11, preclinical programs and infrastructure. G&A expenses for the first quarter of 2018 were slightly lower with €2.0 million compared to €2.2 million for the first quarter of 2017.
Loss for the first quarter of 2018 was €8.2 million, or €0.15 per common share, compared to a loss of €7.8 million, or €0.19 per common share, for the first quarter of 2017. The increase in loss was primarily related to higher spending on R&D for AFM11, preclinical programs and infrastructure.
Affimed prepares and reports the consolidated financial statements and financial information in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). None of the financial statements were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the United States. Affimed maintains its books and records in Euro.
Affimed’s management will host a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results and recent corporate developments today at 8:30 a.m. ET. A webcast of the conference call can be accessed in the “Events” section on the “Investors & Media” page of the Affimed website at http://www.affimed.com/events.php. A replay of the webcast will be available on Affimed’s website shortly after the conclusion of the call and will be archived on the Affimed website for 30 days following the call.
Affimed (Nasdaq: AFMD) engineers targeted immunotherapies, seeking to cure patients by harnessing the power of innate and adaptive immunity (NK and T cells). We are developing single and combination therapies to treat cancers and other life-threatening diseases. For more information, please visit www.affimed.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places throughout this release and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses and current expectations concerning, among other things, the value of our ROCK™ platform, our ongoing and planned preclinical development and clinical trials, our collaborations and development of our products in combination with other therapies, the timing of and our ability to make regulatory filings and obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates our intellectual property position, our collaboration activities, our ability to develop commercial functions, expectations regarding clinical trial data, our results of operations, cash needs, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, future transactions, growth and strategies, the industry in which we operate, the trends that may affect the industry or us and the risks uncertainties and other factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Affimed’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
Anca Alexandru, Head of Communications, EU IR
Phone: +49 6221 64793341
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