On March 20, 2018 Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing highly targeted cancer immunotherapies, reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 (Press release, Affimed, MAR 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234524902]).
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"Our approach of harnessing the power of innate and adaptive immunity showed its first clinical potential in 2017 and early 2018 with very encouraging data becoming available for AFM13 as monotherapy in Hodgkin and CD30-positve lymphomas as well as for AFM13 in combination with Keytruda in Hodgkin lymphoma," said Dr. Adi Hoess, CEO of Affimed. "In addition, we were able to hire outstanding executive managers with Leila Alland as CMO and Wolfgang Fischer as COO, who will be instrumental to the further development of our pipeline towards marketed therapies."
Corporate Updates
· In 2017 and early 2018, Affimed has made important additions to its management team. The Company entered into an agreement with Leila Alland, M.D. who will join Affimed as CMO effective March 26, 2018. Dr. Leila Alland brings to the Company more than 20 years of oncology experience, having held leadership roles in drug development at Tarveda Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis. Further strengthening Affimed’s U.S. presence, Dr. Alland will be based in the Company’s New York location along with Cassandra Choe-Juliak, M.D., Vice President, Clinical U.S. and Denise Mueller, Head of Commercial Strategy and Business Development of Affimed.
· In September 2017, Dr. Wolfgang Fischer, former Global Head of Program and Project Management of Sandoz Biopharmaceuticals (Novartis Group) joined Affimed as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Dr. Fischer has over 20 years of R&D experience with a focus on oncology, immunology and pharmacology, as well as a proven track record in drug development.
· In February 2018, Affimed completed an underwritten public offering on the Nasdaq Global Market, raising a total of approximately $24.5 million (€19.7 million) in net proceeds. Proceeds from this transaction, together with existing cash on the balance sheet, are expected to fund operations, including clinical development and early development activities, at least until the fourth quarter of 2019.
Pipeline Updates
NK-cell engager programs
· Enrollment has been completed into Affimed’s Phase 1b combination study of AFM13, a CD30/CD16A-targeting NK cell engager, with Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r HL) and treatment is ongoing. A total of 24 patients are being treated at the highest AFM13 dose level. In February 2018, Affimed presented interim data from a total of 9 patients in this cohort, demonstrating that AFM13 in combination with Keytruda is well-tolerated, with a 3-month objective response rate (ORR) of 89% comparing favorably to historical ORR of anti-PD-1 antibodies as monotherapy in a similar patient population (58-63%). Furthermore, 4 out of 9 patients (44%) showed complete metabolic responses, compared to complete response rates of 9-22% reported for anti-PD-1 monotherapy in a similar patient population. Affimed expects full 3-month data by mid-year 2018 and intends to provide regular updates at scientific or medical conferences.
· Affimed is supporting 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. The study is designed to allow for serial cutaneous biopsies, thereby enabling assessment of NK cell biology and tumor cell killing within the tumor microenvironment. The second cohort has been fully enrolled and recruitment into the third cohort is ongoing. In February 2018, the Company reported an analysis of the first dose cohort (3 patients dosed at 1.5 mg/kg), demonstrating that AFM13 could be safely administered and showed therapeutic activity as a single agent, with an ORR of 66% (2 out of 3 patients). One complete response, one partial response and one stable disease were observed, as determined by global response score. These early data confirm the single-agent activity observed in a previous Phase 2a trial, and further suggest a new opportunity for AFM13 in CD30-positive lymphoma.
· The Company’s investigator-sponsored Phase 2a monotherapy study of AFM13 in 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. In May 2017 Affimed reported data from a subset of patients enrolled under the original study protocol (minimum of 3 lines of treatment including B.V., anti-PD-1-naïve) suggesting that AFM13 is efficacious as single agent in this heavily pre-treated group of patients.
· 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, preclinical research activities are progressing. These are intended to be followed by a Phase 1 clinical trial.
· Affimed has generated tetravalent bispecific NK cell engager product candidates for AFM24 (EGFR/CD16A) with different pharmacokinetic profiles. Differentiating from current EGFR-targeted therapeutics, the Company’s molecules are designed with the potential to widen the therapeutic window in solid tumor therapy and to address patient populations that are resistant to EGFR-targeting agents. Affimed anticipates completing IND-enabling studies by mid-year 2019.
· The NK cell engager AFM26 (BCMA/CD16A), is designed to address the medical need of eliminating minimal residual disease (MRD) in multiple myeloma. In particular, Affimed aims to leverage BCMA as a target in autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT)-eligible patients. Affimed is developing different tetravalent bispecific antibody formats and continues to advance its lead candidate in IND-enabling studies.
· Discovering and assessing additional opportunities to harness innate and adaptive immunity, Affimed recently published data in Cancer Immunology Research, together with its collaboration partner, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The Company presented evidence of AFM13 sensitizing NK cells to IL-2 and/or IL-15 stimulation. In this study, after exposure to AFM13, the NK cells showed enhanced IL-2- and IL-15-mediated proliferation and cytotoxicity. These data corroborate initial findings the Company had presented at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in April 2017 and support the approach of combining Affimed’s NK cell engagers with IL-2- or IL-15 to potentially achieve deeper clinical responses.
T-cell engager programs
· Affimed is conducting two clinical Phase 1 dose-escalation trials with AFM11, a CD3/CD19-targeting tetravalent bispecific T cell engager, in patients with r/r acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and with r/r non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), respectively. In the Company’s NHL study, the third dose cohort has recently been completed and Affimed’s ALL trial is currently recruiting patients into the fifth dose cohort.
· Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc. continues to recruit patients into its first-in-human Phase 1 dose escalation study of AMV564 in r/r acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Amphivena also plans to launch a Phase 1 clinical study in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and is
exploring the utility of AMV564 in solid tumors. AMV564 is a CD33/CD3-specific T cell engagers based on Affimed’s technology platform. Affimed owns approximately 18.5% of Amphivena (fully diluted).
Financial Highlights
(Figures for the fourth quarter of 2017 and 2016 represent unaudited figures)
Cash and cash equivalents and financial assets totaled €39.8 million as of December 31, 2017 compared to €44.9 million as of December 31, 2016. Affimed was able to fund its operational expenses in 2017 with existing cash, the issuance of new shares and the usage of an additional loan tranche.
Net cash used in operating activities for the fourth quarter of 2017 was €4.9 million compared to €6.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Net cash used in operating activities was €25.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 compared to €32.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. The year-over-year decrease was primarily related to lower cash expenditure for research and development (R&D) in connection with our development and collaboration programs.
Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2017 was €0.6 million compared to €1.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Revenue for the full year 2017 was €2.0 million compared to €6.3 million for the full year 2016. Revenue for the full year and the fourth quarter 2017 was primarily derived from AbCheck services. Revenue for the full year 2016 related to a large extent to Affimed’s collaborations with Amphivena and LLS while revenue for the fourth quarter 2016 was derived from AbCheck services.
R&D expenses for the fourth quarter of 2017 were €4.6 million compared to €5.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. For the full year 2017, R&D expenses were €21.5 million compared to €30.2 million for the full year 2016. The decrease was primarily related to lower expenses for AFM13 related CMC activities, preclinical programs and infrastructure.
G&A expenses for the fourth quarter of 2017 were €1.9 million compared to €2.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. For the full year 2017, G&A expenses were slightly lower with €8.0 million compared to €8.3 million for the full year 2016.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 was €6.4 million, or €0.14 per common share, compared to a net loss of €5.4 million, or €0.19 per common share, for the fourth quarter of 2016. Net loss for the full year 2017 was €30.2 million, or €0.69 per common share, compared to a net loss of €32.2 million, or €0.97 per common share, for the full year 2016. The decrease in net loss for the full year 2017 was primarily related to decreased spending on R&D for AFM13 related CMC
activities, preclinical programs and infrastructure, partially offset by lower revenue and higher finance costs. Additional information regarding these results is included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects," which will be included in Affimed’s Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the SEC.
Including the proceeds from the equity offering in February 2018, the Company’s operations, including clinical development and early development activities, are expected to be funded at least until the fourth quarter of 2019.
Note on IFRS Reporting Standards
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.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
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 View Source 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.