On March 31, 2022 PDS Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: PDSB), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a growing pipeline of molecularly targeted cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company’s proprietary Versamune and Infectimune T-cell activating technologies, reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2021 (Press release, PDS Biotechnology, MAR 31, 2022, View Source [SID1234611243]).

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"I’m very pleased to report that we have undergone a 12-month period of incredible productivity here at PDS Biotech," commented Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "We’ve made significant clinical progress on our lead oncology candidate, PDS0101, and presented at leading oncology conferences on the promising efficacy and safety results of PDS0101 from two of our ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials. Another phase 2 clinical study of PDS0101 to be led by Mayo Clinic was initiated this month, to evaluate PDS0101 as a potential first-line neo-adjuvant treatment for patients with oropharyngeal cancer prior to transoral robotic surgery. We also recently announced encouraging pre-clinical data from our NIAID-funded universal flu vaccine program. We continue to leverage our unique T-cell activating platforms to advance additional pre-clinical oncology and infectious disease candidates."

Dr. Bedu-Addo continued: "Over the past year, we completed two licensing transactions and secured additional intellectual property for our expanding pipeline. We also received approval of a US composition of matter and use patent for PDS0101. We strengthened our scientific advisory and leadership teams by adding distinguished immuno-oncology experts to our scientific advisory board and welcomed Matthew Hill as our Chief Financial Officer. We also added more than $52 million to our balance sheet in 2021, significantly extending our cash runway and ability to continue to advance our clinical and pre-clinical programs. We look forward to an equally productive 2022, during which we expect to announce additional data from our ongoing Phase 2 oncology trials for PDS0101, as well as plan to progress at least one of our preclinical programs, PDS0103 into the clinic."

Fourth Quarter 2021 and Recent Business Highlights:

Achieved several milestones in the VERSATILE-002 Phase 2 combination trial of PDS0101-KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for recurrent and/or metastatic human papillomavirus (HPV)16-associated head and neck cancer. These milestones include:

Presented preliminary safety data on a total of 18 checkpoint inhibitor naïve patients at the 2022 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancers Symposium. Highlights from the presentation include the absence of dose-limiting toxicities, drug discontinuation related to toxicity, or any significant immune-related adverse events. Subjects received a median of 4 doses of PDS0101 (range 1-5) and a median of 6 doses of KEYTRUDA (range 1-13).

Achieved preliminary objective response benchmarks that enabled us to advance towards full enrollment of 54 patients in the checkpoint inhibitor naïve patient cohort.

Initiated enrollment in the checkpoint inhibitor-refractory cohort.

Announced initiation of an investigator-initiated trial with Mayo Clinic for patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer at high risk of recurrence. The trial will evaluate PDS0101 as monotherapy and in combination with KEYTRUDA.

Announced encouraging preclinical data for the universal flu vaccine that demonstrated a potent neutralization response against multiple strains of the influenza virus and provided protection against infection after challenge with a live H1N1 pandemic strain of influenza in preclinical animal subjects.

Granted U.S. Patent Application by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for composition of matter and use of PDS0101, extending its U.S. patent protection into 2037.

Achieved enrollment objective of 30 patients in the checkpoint inhibitor refractory arm of the NCI-led triple combination trial in March 2022.

Achieved median overall survival at December 31, 2021 of 12 months for 30 HPV16-positive patients who had received at least one evaluation in the NCI-led triple combination trial. Approximately 73% of the patients had failed 3 prior treatment regimens including checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Full-Year 2021 Financial Results

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the net loss was approximately $16.9 million, or $0.66 per basic share and diluted share, compared to a net loss of approximately $14.8 million, or $0.89 per basic share and diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2020.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, research and development expenses increased to approximately $11.3 million compared to approximately $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase of $3.4 million was primarily attributable to an increase in regulatory and clinical costs of $2.6 million, non-cash stock-based compensation of $1.1 million and personnel costs of $0.4 million, partially offset by an overall decrease in manufacturing and facility costs of $0.7 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, general and administrative expenses increased to approximately $10.2 million compared to approximately $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The $3.2 million increase was primarily attributable to an increase in personnel costs of $1.0 million, non-cash stock-based compensation of $2.5 million, and facilities costs of $0.1 million, partially offset by a decrease in professional fees of $0.4 million.

Total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 were approximately $21.4 million, an increase of approximately 44% compared to total operating expenses of approximately $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The Company’s cash balance as of December 31, 2021 was $65.2 million. Based on the Company’s available cash resources and cash flow projections, the Company believes this balance is sufficient to fund Company operations and research and development programs through the end of 2023.

Conference Call and Webcast
The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:00 am EDT on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Participants should dial 877-407-3088 (United States) or 201-389-0927 (International) and mention PDS Biotechnology. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the investor relations page of the Company’s corporate website at www.pdsbiotech.com. After the live webcast, the event will be archived on PDS Biotech’s website for six months.