On May 8, 2024 Achilles Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ACHL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing AI-powered precision T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens to treat solid tumors, reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, and recent business highlights (Press release, Achilles Therapeutics, MAY 8, 2024, View Source [SID1234642860]).

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Just after the close of the first quarter, we shared the interim Phase I/IIa data from our ongoing CHIRON and THETIS TIL-based cNeT clinical trials which have given us important mechanistic learnings about the factors driving durable engraftment and immune evasion at an antigen level. These data continue to inform the development of cNeT and potentially other modalities like neoantigen vaccines and TCR-T therapies," said Dr Iraj Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Achilles Therapeutics. "We are evaluating cNeT persistence and clinical activity in patients with enhanced host conditioning, and we plan to report a meaningful data update in the second half of 2024. Our financial position remains strong with more than $112 million in cash, which will support operations through 2025, including the completion of the ongoing Phase I/IIa trials."

Clinical and Business Highlights

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Provided an interim Phase I/IIa update on clonal neoantigen reactive T cells in advanced NSCLC and melanoma, highlighting improved doses from the VELOS manufacturing process and encouraging tolerability
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Delivered ~10-fold improvement in the median cNeT dose (172 million), with 10 products over 100 million cNeT and five over one billion cNeT
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Dosed first patients in CHIRON and THETIS with enhanced host conditioning, with additional data expected in the second half of 2024
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Continued development of the PELEUS clonal neoantigen prediction platform

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Presented "Targeting Clonal Neoantigens with Precision Cell Therapies" at the 10th Annual IO360 Conference

Financial Highlights

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Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents were $112.3 million as of March 31, 2024, as compared to $131.5 million as of December 31, 2023. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund its planned operations through 2025.
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Research and development (R&D) expenses: R&D expenses were $10.1 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of $3.7 million compared to $13.9 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by lower personnel costs, partially offset by an increase of activity in the ongoing clinical trials.
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General and administrative (G&A) expenses: G&A expenses were $4.2 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of $0.5 million compared to $4.7 million for first quarter ended March 31, 2023. This decrease was primarily driven by lower personnel costs and lower insurance premiums.
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Net loss: Net loss for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 was $12.3 million or $0.30 per share compared to $17.5 million or $0.44 per share for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

2024 Focus

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Clinical Data: Report clinical activity and translational science data from patients in CHIRON and THETIS Cohort C, evaluating the benefit of enhanced host conditioning, with a meaningful data update expected in the second half of 2024
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Translational Science: Leverage the Company’s world-class translational science platform to define the features associated with clinical response and to pursue rational design of the final cNeT product
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Manufacturing Development: Continue VELOS and PELEUS development to optimize cNeT dose and functionality