On June 1, 2022 Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD) ("Affimed" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and provided an update on clinical and corporate progress (Press release, Affimed, JUN 1, 2022, View Source [SID1234615360]).
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
"We are excited about the progress we are making advancing our Innate Cell Engagers (ICE) including completing enrollment of REDIRECT, our first registration directed study, and establishing a compelling proof of concept for AFM13 combined with NK cells as evidenced by the remarkable clinical data presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper). These results continue to validate our three-pronged development approach and the potential of our ICE molecules to offer novel treatments for heavily pretreated, relapsed/refractory patients with limited options," said Dr. Adi Hoess, CEO of Affimed. "Our strong financial position allows us to maintain our focus on execution so that we can bring these important therapies to patients who need them as soon as possible."
CLINICAL STAGE PROGRAM UPDATES
AFM13 (CD30/CD16A)
Affimed completed enrollment of its REDIRECT study (AFM13-202). The Company expects to report top-line data in the fourth quarter of 2022. REDIRECT is a phase 2, registration-directed study of AFM13 monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).
At an AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2022 Clinical Trials Plenary Session, Dr. Yago Nieto, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at MD Anderson, presented follow-up data to the investigator sponsored trial (IST) (AFM13-104) investigating the combination of AFM13 pre-complexed with cord blood-derived natural killer cells followed by AFM13 monotherapy in relapsed/refractory CD30+ lymphomas. The treatment resulted in a 100% ORR with 8/13 (62%) patients achieving a complete response after two cycles of treatment at the RP2D.
Durability data presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) for patients treated at the RP2D was also promising. As of the cutoff date, of the eight patients who achieved a CR, seven remained in CR at median follow-up of 6.5 months, including two patients who remained in response after 10 months and two who received a consolidation autologous stem cell transplant (SCT). The safety profile was well managed, with the main treatment related side-effect being infusion related reactions. The investigators did not observe any cases of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxicity or graft versus host disease often associated with T-cell therapies. In general, side effects observed in the trial were transient and did not lead to treatment delays or discontinuation. The recently approved amendment to the AFM13-104 trial protocol allows for an increase in the number of CD30-positive lymphoma patients treated at the RP2D to 40 – including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients. Furthermore, under the amended protocol, patients can receive more than two cycles of treatment.
The Company and MD Anderson expect to report updates on the study at a medical conference in the second half of the 2022.
AFM24 (EGFR/CD16A)
In the monotherapy phase 1/2a clinical trial (AFM24-101), enrollment in cohort seven of the dose escalation study, which treated patients at the 720mg dose, was completed without dose limiting toxicities. Based on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, and in agreement with the Safety Review Committee (SRC), no further dose escalation is planned. The data confirm the selection of 480mg as the RP2D. The Company is continuing enrollment in the expansion phase of the monotherapy study at the RP2D. The expansion cohorts include patients with renal cell carcinoma (clear cell), non-small cell lung cancer (EFGR mutant), and colorectal cancer.
Enrollment continues in the phase 1/2a combination study of AFM24 with the anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq) (AFM24-102) to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (EGFR wildtype), gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma and pancreatic/hepatocellular/biliary tract cancer.
Enrollment continues in the phase 1/2a combination study of AFM24 with the SNK01 (ex vivo expanded and activated autologous NK cell therapy from NKGen Biotech) cells (AFM24-103) to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, EGFR-wildtype), squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and colorectal cancer.
In these studies, the Company is evaluating the safety and efficacy of AFM24 in nine indication-specific cohorts, with a particular focus on NSCLC, which is represented in all three studies, and CRC, represented in two of the three studies. Affimed expects to report initial data from the studies in the second half of 2022.
Presented a poster at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2022 including data from dose escalation phase of AFM24-101, highlighting data that informed the selection of 480mg as the RP2D. Presented a poster at NK2022 conference featuring an analysis of the longitudinal effects of AFM24 in patients treated in AFM24-101, confirming the mechanism of action of AFM24 on the innate immune system.
PRECLINICAL PROGRAMS
AFM28 (CD123/CD16A)
AFM28 is a bispecific, tetravalent ICE that targets CD16A on NK cells and macrophages, and CD123 on leukemic blasts and leukemic stem cells that are prevalent in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
The Company expects to submit an IND in June and is planning to start clinical investigation of AFM28 in the second half of 2022.
At the NK2022 conference, the Company presented preclinical data demonstrating that AFM28 exhibits greater cell surface retention on NK cells than conventional monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, AFM28 induced lysis of CD123-positive tumor cells when pre-complexed or when co-administered with cryopreserved NK cells, suggesting that AFM28 in combination with NK cells maintains anti-tumor activity, an exciting finding in that it presents the promise for an off-the-shelf therapy targeting leukemic blasts and LSCs in patients with AML.
Preclinical Pipeline
Affimed is continuing the generation of several novel ICE molecules derived from its proprietary ROCK platform.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The Company continues to advance its work with existing partners including MD Anderson, Artiva, and NKGen Biotech to ensure access to an off-the-shelf, cryopreserved NK cell for further development with its ICE molecules and expects to provide updates on its NK cell development strategy in the second half of 2022.
Partnered programs with both Genentech and Roivant continue to progress according to plan, and Affimed is eligible for additional proceeds from meeting pre-clinical and early regulatory achievement milestones.
FIRST QUARTER 2022 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Affimed’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB). The consolidated financial statements are presented in euros, the Company’s functional and presentation currency.
As of March 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents totaled €169.9 million compared to €197.6 million on December 31, 2021. The pro forma cash position as of March 31, 2022, including net proceeds – before offering expenses – from the April 2022 underwritten public offering would be approximately €257.5 million.
Based on the Company’s current operating plan and assumptions, cash and cash equivalents, including proceeds from the April 2022 public offering, are expected to support operations into mid-2024.
Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, was €28.4 million compared to €16.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Included in the cash burn for the quarter was a milestone payment to MD Anderson for the initiation of the Phase 2 portion of the AFM13-104 trial, which was expensed in Q4 2021 and paid in Q1 2022.
Total revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, was €8.0 million compared with €11.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Revenue predominately relates to the Genentech and Roivant collaborations.
Research and development expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, increased by 61% from €11.4 million to €18.4 million compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Research and development expenses increased primarily due to increased expenses associated with the development of the AFM24 and AFM28 programs and included costs to produce clinical trial material, an increase in costs associated with other early-stage programs and infrastructure, and an increase in share-based payment expenses.
General and administrative expenses increased 57% from €4.5 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2021, to €7.0 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The increase predominately relates to higher share-based payment expenses and an increase in insurance premiums.
Net finance income for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, decreased by 91% from €5.5 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2021, to €0.5 million. Net finance income is largely the result of foreign exchange gains related to assets denominated in U.S. dollars as a result of currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and Euro during the year.
Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, was €16.7 million, or €0.14 loss per common share compared with a net income of €1.4 million, or €0.01 earnings per common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.
The weighted number of common shares outstanding for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, was 123.4 million. Additional information regarding these results is included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2022, which will be included in Affimed’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Note on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
Affimed prepares and reports consolidated financial statements and financial information in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. None of the financial statements were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States. Affimed maintains its books and records in Euro.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Affimed will host a conference call and webcast June 1, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. EDT / 14:30 CET to discuss first quarter 2022 financial results and corporate developments. The conference call will be available via phone and webcast. To access the call, please dial +1 (409) 220-9054 for U.S. callers, or +44 (0) 8000 323836 for international callers, and reference passcode 4440407 approximately 15 minutes prior to the call.
A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available in the "Webcasts" section on the "Investors" page of the Affimed website at View Source
A replay of the webcast will be accessible at the same link for 30 days following the call.