Monopar Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Business Updates

On August 6, 2020 Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (Monopar or the Company) (Nasdaq: MNPR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on developing proprietary therapeutics designed to extend life or improve the quality of life for cancer patients, reported second quarter 2020 financial results and business updates (Press release, Monopar Therapeutics, AUG 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234563064]).

Second Quarter and Recent Highlights

Collaboration with NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes to Develop Potential Therapeutic for Severe COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Diseases

oMonopar and NorthStar entered into a 50/50 collaboration to develop potential Radio-Immuno-Therapeutics (RITs) to treat severe COVID-19.

oMonopar will provide its pre-IND stage humanized uPAR targeted monoclonal antibody, known as MNPR-101, and NorthStar will supply a cytotoxic radioisotope. The aim is to create a highly selective agent that has the potential to kill aberrantly activated cytokine-producing immune cells thought to be largely responsible for the severe lung injury that contributes to poor outcomes and death in patients with severe COVID-19.

oProvisional patent has been filed that covers novel compositions and uses of cytotoxic radioisotopes attached to antibodies that bind to uPAR, thereby creating precision targeted radio-immuno-therapeutics (uPRITs) for the treatment of severe COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

Validive Phase 2b/3 Clinical Trial and Camsirubicin Phase 2 Clinical Trial Continue on Schedule

oMonopar’s two clinical-stage programs both continue to be on schedule for first patient dosing in the second half of 2020.

Second Quarter Summary Financial Results

Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2020 Compared to the Quarter Ended June 30, 2019

Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2020 were $12.5 million. Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was $1.4 million or $0.14 per share compared to net loss of $0.9 million or $0.10 per share for the three months ended June 30, 2019.
R&D expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were $0.8 million, compared to $0.3 million, for the three months ended June 30, 2019. This represents an increase of $0.5 million primarily attributed to increases in camsirubicin and Validive clinical trial planning and materials manufacturing costs and increases in personnel expenses for three new R&D employees and higher salary and stock-based (non-cash) compensation for 2020.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses

G&A expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were $0.6 million, compared to $0.6 million, for the three months ended June 30, 2019.

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Vaxart Announces Second Quarter 2020 Results

On August 6, 2020 Vaxart, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines that are administered by tablet rather than by injection, reported an update on its financials for the second quarter of 2020, and a corporate update (Press release, Aviragen Therapeutics, AUG 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234563062]).

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"With $140 million in cash at the end of July, Vaxart is now laser focused on preparing to enter a Phase 1 clinical trial with our lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate," said Andrei Floroiu, chief executive officer of Vaxart, "We believe the convenience of our oral tablet, coupled with the potential for better protection than that of injectable vaccines due to the activation of mucosal immunity, positions our COVID-19 vaccine as one of the most promising candidates for successful mass vaccination campaigns, both here in the US and abroad."

Corporate Highlights:

On May 20, 2020, Vaxart announced that it had selected its lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate to move into clinical trials.

Vaxart is continuing with its manufacturing collaboration with Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (Emergent) and KindredBio and is currently producing bulk cGMP vaccine in time for initiation of a Phase 1 clinical study during the second half of 2020.

On June 25, 2020, Vaxart announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Attwill Medical Solutions Sterilflow, LP ("AMS") affirming the parties’ intent to establish AMS as a resource for lyophilization development and large-scale manufacturing including tableting and enteric coating for the oral COVID-19 vaccine.

On June 26, 2020, Vaxart announced that its oral COVID-19 vaccine was selected to participate in a non-human primate challenge study, organized and funded by Operation Warp Speed.

The universal influenza vaccine collaboration study with Janssen has been completed and a report is being compiled for Janssen.

As of July 13, 2020, Vaxart had raised approximately $97 million in net proceeds through its At-The-Market facility (the ATM Program), which constituted the maximum offering price under the ATM Program.

Financial Results for the Fiscal Period Ended June 30, 2020

Vaxart reported a net loss of $9.0 million for the second quarter of 2020 compared to $5.6 million for the second quarter of 2019. The increase was mainly due to an increase in operating expenses. Net loss per share for the second quarter was $0.12 in 2020 compared to $0.39 in 2019, in part due to an increase in the number of shares outstanding.

Vaxart ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $44.4 million compared to $29.9 million at March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to $14.4 million received for the exercise of common stock warrants, partially offset by $3.7 million of cash used in operations.

Revenue for the second quarter was $523,000 compared to $85,000 in the second quarter of 2019. The increase was principally due to the reversal of the reserve for sales returns for Relenza and revenue from our contract with Janssen.

Research and development expenses were $5.1 million for the second quarter compared to $3.7 million for the second quarter of 2019. The increase was mainly due to manufacturing expenses related to the COVID-19 vaccine candidate and higher stock-based compensation costs, partially offset by reductions in the cost of clinical trials for our norovirus vaccine candidate and in personnel costs after we ceased internal manufacturing as part of our December 2019 restructuring.

General and administrative expenses were $3.9 million for the second quarter compared to $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2019. The increase was mainly due to higher stock-based compensation costs and severance expenses related to our former Chief Executive Officer.

Protagonist Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

On August 6, 2020 Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTGX) reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020, and provided an update on clinical development programs (Press release, Protagonist, AUG 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234563059]).

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"We have succeeded in bringing three differentiated candidates from de novo discovery into Phase 2 development," commented Dinesh V. Patel, Ph.D., Protagonist President and Chief Executive Officer. "Each of these candidates has unique attributes that address specific unmet needs in diverse diseases, such as blood disorders with PTG-300 and inflammatory bowel disease with PTG-200 and PN-943. The hepcidin mimetic PTG-300 makes use of the iron homeostasis mechanism of a natural hormone and has demonstrated potential in the treatment of polycythemia vera. We expect to initiate a pivotal study for PTG-300 in 2021 after discussions with the regulatory agencies. PN-943 and PTG-200 are both oral, gut-restricted candidates for the potential treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. PTG-200 is an IL-23 receptor antagonist partnered with Janssen and is currently in a Phase 2 Crohn’s study. We recently initiated screening of patients for our Phase 2 study of PN-943 in ulcerative colitis. Finally, we are well financed and recently raised $122 million through a successful secondary offering and use of our ATM program, which enables us to support planned operations through mid-2023."

Product Development and Corporate Update
PTG-300: Injectable Hepcidin Mimetic for Polycythemia Vera and Other Blood Disorders

·Initial Phase 2 results reported in May 2020 in patients with polycythemia vera demonstrated clinically meaningful dose related control of hematocrit levels on individual patient basis.
·In June 2020, PTG-300 received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of polycythemia vera.
·Protagonist plans to host a webinar featuring presentations on clinical needs and market research on the potential opportunity for PTG-300 in polycythemia vera. The "PTG-300 Opportunity Update" webinar will be conducted Sept. 11, 2020. Details for participation will be publicly announced prior to the event.

PN-943: Oral Alpha-4-Beta-7 Integrin Antagonist for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

·Protagonist has initiated screening of prospective subjects in a global, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study (the "IDEAL Study") evaluating safety, tolerability and efficacy of PN-943 in approximately 150 patients with moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis. Patients will be randomized in one of three arms (150 mg twice daily, 450 mg twice daily, or placebo) for 12 weeks of oral dosing followed by an extended treatment period of 40 weeks. During the extended treatment period all subjects will receive PN-943. The primary endpoint of the study is proportion of subjects achieving clinical remission at week 12 (as defined by rectal bleeding, stool frequency and endoscopic subscores of the Adapted Mayo Score) in the 450 mg twice daily treatment arm as compared to placebo. Secondary endpoints include additional clinical and safety assessments, as well as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measurements, and biomarker measurements related to disease activity.

Oral IL-23 Receptor Antagonists (Janssen Biotech and Protagonist Collaboration)

·Janssen Biotech is conducting a global Phase 2 study of PTG-200 (or JNJ-67864238) in moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease.
·Joint research efforts are underway to identify second-generation oral IL-23 receptor antagonists for multiple indications.

Financial Update

·During May 2020, the Company successfully raised $105.7 million net of underwriting and offering expenses in an oversubscribed secondary offering issuing 8,050,000 shares at $14.00 per share.
·During the second quarter of 2020, the Company issued 1.2 million shares through its at-the-market (ATM) program and raised $16.8 million, at an average price of $14.02 per share.

Financial Results

·Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2020, were $208.7 million. Protagonist estimates sufficient financial resources from its cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and access to its debt facility to fund its currently planned operating and capital expenditures through mid-2023.
·License and collaboration revenues were $6.2 million and $9.9 million for the second quarter and six months ended 2020, respectively, in comparison to $(8.2) million and $(6.6) million reported for the same periods of 2019. The increase in revenue was due mainly to the previously reported 2019 one-time cumulative adjustment related to the application of revenue recognition principles following the May 2019 amendment of the Janssen Biotech collaboration agreement that had reduced revenue by $9.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019.
·Research and Development ("R&D") expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, were $20.3 million and $39.0 million, respectively, as compared to $19.4 million and $31.8 million for the same periods of 2019. These variances were primarily due to increased activities in advancing our ongoing clinical trial for polycythemia vera with PTG-300, preparedness for PN-943 Phase 2 study in ulcerative colitis, and our IL-23 receptor antagonist research collaboration activities with Janssen Biotech.

·General and Administrative ("G&A") expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, were $4.2 million and $8.8 million, respectively, as compared to $3.9 million and $7.6 million for the same periods of 2019. The increases were primarily due to increases in salaries, insurance expense and professional services to support the growth in our operations.
·Net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, was $19.4 million and $39.5 million or a net loss of $0.59 per share and $1.31 per share, respectively, as compared to a net loss of $29.2 million and $43.3 million, or a net loss of $1.18 per share and $1.77 per share, for the same periods of 2019.

Syndax Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results and
Provides Clinical and Business Update

On August 6, 2020 Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Syndax," the "Company" or "we") (Nasdaq:SNDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies, reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020. In addition, the Company provided a clinical and business update (Press release, Syndax, AUG 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234563058]).

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"We are very pleased that the FDA has agreed to several proposed changes to the Phase 1 portion of AUGMENT-101 which build on emerging clinical data and help us maximize SNDX-5613’s potential in as many appropriate patients as possible," said Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Syndax. "This includes focusing enrollment exclusively on patients with MLL-r and NPM1 mutant acute leukemias, the ability to expand dose cohorts that demonstrate efficacy, and inclusion of pediatric patients as young as one month, which has long been a key component of our overall strategy for SNDX-5613. We remain on track to identify a recommended Phase 2 dose by the end of this year, with full Phase 1 data now anticipated in early 2021."

Dr. Morrison added, "Progress also continues with the Phase 1/2 trial of axatilimab, our anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody, in patients with cGVHD, with Phase 1 results expected in the fourth quarter. We are actively committed to helping people with cancer live longer and better than ever before and look forward to further advancing this mission throughout the balance of the year."

Pipeline Updates

SNDX-5613

Syndax reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to several enhancements to the Phase 1 portion of the AUGMENT-101 protocol. AUGMENT-101 is the Company’s Phase 1/2 open-label trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of orally administered SNDX-5613, its potent, highly selective oral menin inhibitor, in patients with acute leukemias. As recently reported, the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of AUGMENT-101 was separated into two cohorts based on concomitant treatment with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor. Arm A will enroll patients not receiving a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, while Arm B will enroll patients receiving a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor.

Supported by initial clinical data, as well as new insights from emerging data in the pediatric compassionate use setting, the Company will enact the following enhancements to the Phase 1 portion of the trial: focusing enrollment exclusively on patients with mixed lineage leukemia rearranged (MLL-r) and nucleophosmin (NPM1) mutant acute leukemias; backfilling any dose escalation cohort up to a total of 12 patients in either Arm A or Arm B if efficacy has been observed at that dose level; and expansion of enrollment of pediatric patients over one month old. The Company continues to anticipate identifying a recommended Phase 2 dose by the end of 2020, with full data from the amended Phase 1 portion expected in early 2021. SNDX-5613 was recently granted Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of adult and pediatric AML by the FDA.

The Company recently participated in the U.S. FDA’s June 2020 meeting of the Pediatric Oncology Subcommittee of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (pedsODAC) to discuss the clinical development plan for SNDX-5613 in pediatric patients. A replay of the pedsODAC meeting, which was intended to improve and encourage the development of oncology and hematology drugs for pediatric use, as well as a copy of the Company’s briefing package, can be found here.

At the 2020 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting I in April, Syndax announced initial clinical data from the AUGMENT-101 trial. Data presented serve as the first clinical evidence that inhibition of the menin-MLL1 interaction can induce response in patients with MLL-r acute leukemias. The presentation also highlighted preclinical findings, including data published in Cancer Cell and Science magazine, supporting the potential of single-agent menin-MLL inhibition to serve as an effective intervention for both MLL-r acute leukemias and NPM1 mutant AML. A copy of the presentation is available on Syndax’s website under Publications, Menin-MLLr Inhibitors.

Axatilimab

Enrollment continues across the Company’s Phase 1/2 trial evaluating axatilimab, its anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). The Phase 1 portion continues to explore alternate dose and schedules, while the Phase 2 expansion is evaluating the benefit of treatment at 1 mg/kg every two weeks. The Company expects to present additional results from the Phase 1 trial in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Data from the Phase 1 trials exploring axatilimab, both as a monotherapy and in combination with IMFINZI (durvalumab) in patients with locally-advanced or metastatic solid tumors, were summarized in two oral presentations at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting I. The data indicate that axatilimab is tolerated well in solid tumor patients and provide evidence of its ability to deplete circulating pro-inflammatory monocytes. A recommended Phase 2 dose of axatilimab for the treatment of patients with solid tumors was determined as monotherapy and in combination with IMFINZI (durvalumab). A copy of each presentation is available on Syndax’s website under Publications, Axatilimab.

Entinostat

In May 2020, the Company reported final results of E2112, the Phase 3 clinical trial conducted by ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, that evaluated the investigational compound entinostat, Syndax’s class I HDAC inhibitor, plus exemestane in patients with advanced hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR+, HER2-) breast cancer. The trial did not achieve the primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant overall survival benefit over hormone therapy alone. The Company has decided to deprioritize the entinostat program to focus resources on advancing the remainder of its pipeline.

Financial Update and Guidance

As of June 30, 2020, Syndax had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $186.8 million and 44.1 million shares and share equivalents issued and outstanding which included 38.5 million shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase 5.6 million shares of common stock.

In May 2020, Syndax closed an underwritten public offering whereby the Company sold 6.4 million shares of common stock at a price of $18.00 per share. The aggregate net proceeds received by the Company were $107.9 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

Second quarter 2020 research and development expenses decreased to $10.9 million from $12.3 million for the prior year period. The second quarter decrease was primarily due to the impact of a $4.0 million expense for achievement of a clinical milestone associated with SNDX-5613 which was recognized and recorded in the second quarter of 2019. Excluding this milestone, research and development expenses in the second quarter of 2020 increased compared to the prior year period primarily due to an increase in clinical activities related to SNDX-5613 and axatilimab, and professional fees, partially offset by a decrease in clinical activities related to entinostat.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter 2020 increased to $6.0 million from $3.5 million for the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to increased pre-commercialization activities in advance of the phase 3 breast cancer results for entinostat and employee related expenses.

For the three months ended June 30, 2020, Syndax reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $17.1 million or $0.42 per share compared to $14.9 million or $0.47 per share for the prior year period.

Financial Guidance

Today the Company provided operating expense guidance for the third quarter and second half of 2020. For the third quarter and second half of 2020, research and development expenses are expected to be $14 to $16 million and $30 to $35 million, respectively, and total operating expenses are expected to be $19 to $21 million and $40 to $45 million, respectively.

Conference Call and Webcast

In connection with the earnings release, Syndax’s management team will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET today, Thursday, August 6, 2020.

The live audio webcast and accompanying slides may be accessed through the Events & Presentations page in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.syndax.com. Alternatively, the conference call may be accessed through the following:

Conference ID: 8998873
Domestic Dial-in Number: (855) 251-6663
International Dial-in Number: (281) 542-4259
Live webcast: View Source

For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available on the Investors section of the Company’s website, www.syndax.com.

Iovance Biotherapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Provides a Corporate Update

On August 6, 2020 Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA), a late-stage biotechnology company developing novel T cell-based cancer immunotherapies (tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, TIL and peripheral-blood lymphocyte, PBL), reported second quarter 2020 financial results and provided a corporate update.

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"During a strong first half of 2020 we completed dosing and reported early data for our pivotal melanoma program for lifileucel, announced data at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) for our collaborator Moffitt’s TIL in non-small cell lung cancer, presented updated Cohort 2 data for lifileucel at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper), and successfully completed a public financing," said Maria Fardis, Ph.D., MBA, Iovance President and Chief Executive Officer. "Iovance is now in an excellent position to execute our planned commercial launch while broadening our pipeline programs. The cumulative set of positive clinical data for lifileucel continue to support our planned BLA submission for this one-time treatment for metastatic melanoma. We are also pleased to report that our cervical cancer pivotal program has recently completed enrollment in Cohort 1, and we look forward to dosing the last few patients in the coming weeks. With the first potential cell therapy in solid tumors and a broadening TIL platform, we believe Iovance is the leader in development, manufacturing, and commercialization of TIL cell therapy for cancer."

Second Quarter 2020 Updates

Clinical:

·TIL therapy, lifileucel, in Melanoma: updated data from the C-144-01 trial continue to support the potential for lifileucel as a one-time treatment for advanced melanoma.
oUpdated Cohort 2 data presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2020 showed an ORR of 36.4% with median duration of response not reached at 18.7 months of median study follow up (n=66).
Early Cohort 4 data showed 32.4% ORR at 5.3 months of median study follow up (n=68).
·TIL therapy, lifileucel, in Cervical cancer: enrollment in the pivotal Cohort 1 is complete in the C-145-04 study of lifileucel, previously known as LN-145, for advanced cervical cancer.
·TIL therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): active planning is underway for a registration-directed study, IOV-LUN-202, for LN-145 in NSCLC patients with defined unmet medical need.
·T-cell based therapies in additional indications: patient recruitment continues in the IOV-COM-202 basket study in solid tumors as well as the C-145-03 study in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Additional sites are being activated for the IOV-CLL-01 study in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL).

Regulatory:

·Iovance continues preparing for submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) in late 2020 through data compilation and internal readiness activities.
·Iovance scheduled a meeting with U.S. FDA Division of Manufacturing and Product Quality (DMPQ) to align on the commercial manufacturing facility design and capacity. Full alignment was reached with the DMPQ prior to the upcoming scheduled meeting with the division.
·United States Adopted Names (USAN) council accepted and published the use of the name "lifileucel" to describe Iovance TIL therapy for cervical cancer in addition to melanoma. Lifileucel will replace the former product code LN-145 for the cervical cancer indication.

Commercial Launch Planning:

·Iovance is committed to providing individualized support for a personalized therapy through IovanceCaresTM, a program that will allow communication and coordination with health care providers (HCPs) for patient care throughout the lifileucel journey. All elements of the system will be managed by dedicated Iovance case managers to handle the needs of HCPs and patients. This platform will allow the hospitals to place orders for lifileucel, with Iovance to monitor and track patients’ cells during the manufacturing process through the delivery of lifileucel to the hospitals. The system will also include reimbursement support for sites.

Manufacturing:

·Construction of the Iovance Cell Therapy Center (iCTC) at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia remains on schedule. Clean rooms are expected to be completed in late 2020 with clinical activities to initiate in early 2021. Commercial manufacturing is on track for 2022.

Research:

·Entered into an agreement with Avid Bioservices for the GLP and GMP manufacturing of novel IL-2 analog IOV-3001.

Corporate:

·Cash position of $777.4 million at June 30 includes net proceeds of $567.4 million from a common stock public offering in June 2020. The current cash position is sufficient for Iovance to execute commercial launch and pipeline activities including a clinical program in NSCLC.
·A strong and growing organization of over 200 employees is in place across multiple locations, including an experienced commercial team with extensive cell therapy experience preparing for launch of lifileucel.
·Iovance has been granted a total of 12 U.S. patents for compositions and methods of treatment in using Iovance TIL in a broad range of cancers related to its 22-day second generation (Gen 2) manufacturing process.

Upcoming Data Presentations:

·Three Abstracts Accepted for ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress 2020: the following three posters will be highlighted at the upcoming ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress 2020, Scientific Weekend, to be held September 19-21, 2020
oIn vivo persistence of Iovance tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes LN-145 in cervical cancer patients (Abstract #3688)
oGenetic Modification of Iovance’s TIL through TALEN-mediated knockout of PD-1 as a strategy to empower TIL therapy for cancer (Abstract #3721)
oIovance Generation-2 Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Product Is Reinvigorated During the Manufacturing Process (Abstract #4229)

Second Quarter and First Half 2020 Financial Results

At June 30, 2020, Iovance held $777.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash compared to $312.5 million at December 31, 2019. The current cash position includes net proceeds of $567.4 million from a common stock public offering in June 2020. The company anticipates that the year-end balance of cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash may be over $630 million. The operating expenses in the second half of 2020 are forecasted to be in the same range as the first half of 2020.

Net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020, was $63.0 million, or $0.47 per share, compared to a net loss of $47.6 million, or $0.38 per share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2020, was $132.6 million, or $1.02 per share, compared to a net loss of $84.5 million, or $0.68 per share, for the same period ended June 30, 2019.

Research and development expenses were $49.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020, an increase of $10.0 million compared to $39.3 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. Research and development expenses were $106.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, an increase of $36.0 million compared to $70.2 million for the same period ended June 30, 2019.

The increase in research and development expenses in the second quarter 2020 over the prior year period was primarily attributable to an increase in costs associated with multiple clinical trials, and growth of the internal research and development team. The increase in research and development expenses in the first half 2020 over the prior year period was primarily attributable to higher patient enrollment in clinical trials, licensing fees and growth of the internal research and development team.

General and administrative expenses were $14.4 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020, an increase of $3.5 million compared to $10.9 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019. General and administrative expenses were $28.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, an increase of $8.3 million compared to $19.9 million for the same period ended June 30, 2019.

The increases in general and administrative expenses in the second quarter and first half 2020 compared to the prior year periods were primarily attributable to growth of the internal general and administrative team and higher stock-based compensation expenses.

Webcast and Conference Call

Iovance will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the second quarter 2020 financial results and to provide a corporate update. The conference call dial-in numbers are 1-844-646-4465 (domestic) or 1-615-247-0257 (international). The conference ID access number for the call is 7875997. The live webcast can be accessed in the Investors section of the company’s website at View Source The archived webcast will be available for a year in the Investors section at www.iovance.com.