On November 2, 2017 Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq:ADAP), a leader in T-cell therapy to treat cancer, reported financial results and business updates for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 (Press release, Adaptimmune, NOV 2, 2017, View Source [SID1234521469]).
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“We announced in September that GSK had exercised its option over our NY-ESO program and the transition to GSK is well underway. We continue to enroll patients in NY-ESO studies in indications such as the multiple myeloma combination study with KEYTRUDA and MRCLS,” commented James Noble, Chief Executive Officer at Adaptimmune. “Adaptimmune will receive up to $61 million over the course of the transition period, which extends our ability to fund the business through to early 2020. This provides us with a clear runway to deliver clinical data from our ongoing trials for each of our wholly-owned assets MAGE-A10, MAGE-A4, and AFP. I am pleased to say that we are on track to release initial safety data from MAGE-A10 in early 2018.”
Recent Corporate Highlights:
Funded through to early 2020 by means of financing activity in the first half of 2017 as well as the recent NY-ESO option exercise by GSK. The NY-ESO option exercise will provide up to $61 million (£48 million) over the course of the transition period (expected completion during 2018).
Presented positive data across all four cohorts of synovial sarcoma patients at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), and GSK exercised the NY-ESO option based on strength of these data
Nearing completion of manufacture-readiness at the Navy Yard facility in Philadelphia
Relocated UK operations to new long-term laboratories and offices
Sébastien Desprez joined the Company as Vice President of Communications and Investor Relations
Financial Results for the Three Months ended September 30, 2017
Cash / liquidity position: As of September 30, 2017, Adaptimmune had cash and cash equivalents of $145.3 million and Total Liquidity1 of $231.9 million. This includes payments received during the quarter relating to the NY-ESO option exercise by GSK of $28.5 million (out of up to $61 million receivable during the transition period).
Revenue: Revenue represents the upfront and milestone payments, which are recognized over the estimated period the Company delivers services to GSK. Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $27.2 million, compared to $2.4 million for the same period of 2016. The increase in revenue is due in part to the $9.1 million of milestone payments being achieved in the three months ended September 30, 2017 and a reduction in the estimate of the period over which certain services are to be delivered to GSK due to exercise of the NY-ESO Option resulting in an increase in cumulative revenue amortization of $17.5 million in September 2017.
Research and development (“R&D”) expenses: R&D expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $24.0 million, compared to $15.6 million for the same period of 2016. The increase was primarily due to increased costs associated with clinical trials; costs of developing manufacturing capability in the Company’s U.S. facility and increased personnel expenses.
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses: G&A expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $8.1 million, compared to $5.4 million for the same period of 2016. The increase was primarily due to increased personnel costs, share-based compensation expense and IT infrastructure costs in accordance with the Company’s planned growth.
Net loss: Net loss attributable to holders of the Company’s ordinary shares for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $0.9 million ($(0.00) per ordinary share) compared to $18.5 million ($(0.04) per ordinary share) in the same period of 2016.
Financial Guidance
The Company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and income from GSK upon transition of the NY-ESO program will fund the Company’s current operating plan through to early 2020.
Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 includes the impact of cumulative adjustments to revenue amortization for milestones achieved in the quarter and of the change in estimate of the period over which revenue is recognized. This is not anticipated to recur in the three months ended December 31, 2017.
Conference Call Information
The Company will host a live teleconference and webcast to provide additional details at 8:00 a.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. BST) today, November 2, 2017. The live webcast of the conference call will be available via the events page of Adaptimmune’s corporate website at www.adaptimmune.com. An archive will be available after the call at the same address. To participate in the live conference call, if preferred, please dial (877) 280-1254 (U.S.) or +44 (0)20 3450 9987or 0800 279 4992 (U.K.). After placing the call, please ask to be joined into the Adaptimmune conference call and provide the confirmation code (3625348).