On May 5, 2022 Selecta Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SELB), a biotechnology company leveraging its clinically validated ImmTOR platform to develop tolerogenic therapies for autoimmune diseases, enhance gene therapies and mitigate unwanted immune responses to biologics, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and provided a business update (Press release, Selecta Biosciences, MAY 5, 2022, View Source [SID1234613636]).

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"In the first quarter of 2022, we executed across our pipeline and proactively took measures to extend our cash runway into mid-2024," said Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Selecta. "In early April, we successfully completed an underwritten offering, raising an additional $38.7 million in gross proceeds, further strengthening our financial resources which we believe will carry us through key value-driving milestones and help Selecta realize the full potential of our leading precision immune tolerance platform. The synergistic effects of ImmTOR in combination with a Treg-selective IL-2 (ImmTOR-IL) has the potential to be a first-in-class, antigen-specific immunotherapy, with broad applications across all three pillars of our pipeline. Furthermore, we believe we are well-positioned to deliver on our clinical development strategy across our wholly owned pipeline while continuing to pursue strategic partnerships in gene therapy and biologics. We remain on track to deliver on multiple upcoming catalysts in 2022, including the initiation of a Phase 1 trial of SEL-302, our wholly owned gene therapy in combination with ImmTOR for the treatment MMA, the completion of the Phase 3 DISSOLVE clinical program in chronic refractory gout and several IND-enabling studies that collectively advance our strategy for re-imagining immunotherapy for autoimmune disease, unlocking the potential of AAV gene therapy and amplifying the efficacy of biologics."

Recent Highlights and Anticipated Upcoming Milestones:

Tolerogenic Therapies for Autoimmune Disease

ImmTOR with proprietary IL-2 protein agonist (ImmTOR-IL): Pre-clinically, Selecta has observed synergistic activity when ImmTOR is combined with engineered IL-2 molecules that are selective for Tregs. When ImmTOR-IL was co-administered with an antigen of interest in a preclinical study, the resulting preclinical data suggest that ImmTOR may have profound synergistic effects in further expanding antigen-specific Tregs when compared to ImmTOR alone, positioning it to be a potential first-in-class antigen-specific therapy for the treatment of autoimmune disease.
Selecta is working with its partner, Cyrus Biotechnology, to develop a next generation IL-2 molecule to combine with ImmTOR.
Selecta continues work toward identifying suitable target indications and accelerating the development of ImmTOR-IL to the clinic.
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC): Selecta continues IND-enabling work on an ImmTOR platform approach to treating PBC.
Gene Therapies:

SEL-302 for methylmalonic acidemia (MMA): On March 9, 2022, the FDA removed the clinical hold on SEL-302 for the treatment of patients with MMA.
Selecta expects initiation of the Phase 1 clinical trial of SEL-302 in the second half of 2022.
SEL-018 IgG Protease (Xork): In collaboration with Genovis, Selecta continues to advance Xork, a next-generation IgG protease, to help address disease in those patients who are ineligible for gene therapies due to pre-existing anti-AAV antibodies. Selecta believes the novel combination of Xork and ImmTOR has the potential to simultaneously address two of the key hurdles in gene therapy today: pre-existing immunity and the inability to re-dose AAV gene therapies.
IND-enabling studies are expected to commence in 2022.
Biologic Therapies:

SEL-212 for chronic refractory gout: Selecta continues to advance DISSOLVE, the Phase 3 development program of SEL-212, which has been licensed to Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ.) ("Sobi").
On December 1, 2021, Selecta announced complete enrollment for DISSOLVE I, currently being run in the United States.
DISSOLVE II continues to enroll, with trial sites in the United States and four Eastern European countries. Screening and randomization in both Russia and Ukraine have been temporarily closed to preserve study supplies in these countries for those already enrolled. Moreover, 11 additional sites in the United States have been activated to speed enrollment and help mitigate any potential disruptions from the closure of screening and randomization in Russia and Ukraine, and DISSOLVE II enrollment has been increased to approximately 140 study participants.
DISSOLVE I & II studies are on track for completion in Q4 2022 with joint topline readout expected in Q1 2023.
ImmTOR with IgA1 protease for IgA nephropathy: Selecta is working with both Ginkgo Bioworks and IGAN Biosciences to identify and develop a next generation IgA protease to combine with ImmTOR.
Selecta anticipates enzyme candidate selection to be completed in 2022.
Corporate Updates:

Completed underwritten offering of common stock and warrants, raising approximately $38.7 million in gross proceeds.
Amended outstanding term loan to defer principal amortization period to April 1, 2023.
Performed strategic review and portfolio prioritization, pausing SEL-313, OTC-D gene therapy development and increasing focus on providing modality-enabling solutions to AAV gene therapy companies.
First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Cash Position: Selecta had $118.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and restricted cash as of March 31, 2022, as compared to cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and restricted cash of $129.4 million as of December 31, 2021. With the approximately $36.0 million in net proceeds raised from the April underwritten offering, Selecta believes its available cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities will be sufficient to meet its operating requirements into mid-2024. Net cash used in operating activities was $11.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $12.1 million of cash used in operating activities for the same period in 2021.

Collaboration and License Revenue: Collaboration and license revenue for the first quarter of 2022 was $34.0 million, as compared to $11.1 million for the same period in 2021. Revenue was primarily driven by the shipment of clinical supply and the reimbursement of costs incurred for the Phase 3 DISSOLVE clinical program under the license agreement with Sobi.

Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2022 were $17.7 million, as compared to $13.0 million for the same period in 2021. The increase in cost was primarily the result of expenses incurred for the preclinical programs, salaries and contract license and milestone payments.

General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2022 were $5.5 million, as compared to $5.2 million for the same period in 2021. The increase in costs was primarily the result of stock compensation expenses.

Net Income (loss): For the first quarter of 2022, Selecta reported net income of $28.8 million, or basic net income per share of $0.23, compared to net loss of $(24.6) million, or $(0.22) per share, for the same period in 2021.

Conference Call and Webcast Reminder
Selecta management will host a conference call at 8:30 AM ET today to provide a corporate update and review the company’s first quarter 2022 financial results. Individuals may participate in the live call via telephone by dialing (844) 845-4170 (domestic) or (412) 717-9621 (international) and may access a teleconference replay for one week by dialing (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international) and using confirmation code 10157872. Investors and the public can access the live and archived webcast of this call and a copy of the presentation via the Investors & Media section of the company’s website, www.selectabio.com.