On May 12, 2022 Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. ("Aptevo" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:APVO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its proprietary ADAPTIR and ADAPTIR-FLEX platform technologies, reported financial results and business highlights for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 (Press release, Aptevo Therapeutics, MAY 12, 2022, View Source [SID1234614410]).
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Business Highlights
Earned and collected a $10 million non-dilutive milestone payment related to 2021 sales of RUXIENCE. Additionally, based on RUXIENCE 2021 fourth quarter and full-year sales results, the Company is optimistic about the potential to earn additional non-dilutive milestones totaling $22.5 million over the next two years
Reported that two patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in its on-going Phase 1b trial evaluating adult patients with AML, achieved transplant-eligible status, and have received allogeneic stem cell transplants:
One patient received APVO436 in a monotherapy cohort of the trial and experienced significant reduction in bone marrow blasts
Another patient received APVO436 in a combination therapy cohort of the trial and experienced a complete remission
Continued enrollment in the Company’s Phase 1b expansion trial evaluating APVO436 in adult patients with AML
Presented preclinical data for APVO442 in a poster session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting
The poster highlighted the potential of APVO442 to treat prostate cancer indications such as metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with increased benefit and decreased side effects relative to other potential therapeutics in the bispecific category
APVO442 is a bispecific therapeutic candidate targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and CD3, designed to redirect the patient’s T cell-mediated tumor-fighting responses against PSMA-expressing solid tumors (prostate cancer)
"The first quarter was productive as we continued to advance both clinical and pre-clinical assets, all of which are based on the Company’s proprietary ADAPTIR and ADAPTIR-FLEX platforms. Our Phase 1b expansion trial continues to enroll patients and we reported that two patients advanced to transplant after receiving APVO436 – one as a monotherapy and the other as a combination therapy. We were also happy to report we earned a $10 million milestone payment related to 2021 sales of RUXIENCE. Receipt of this non-dilutive payment underscores our ongoing commitment to delivering value to shareholders," said Marvin White, President and CEO of Aptevo. "Looking ahead, we continue to progress the ALG.APV-527 program toward the clinic and remain on track for an IND submission and clinical trial initiation, later this year. We also plan to release interim data from the APVO436 expansion trial and announce the addition of a new molecule to the preclinical pipeline later this year."
First Quarter 2022 Financial Results Summary
Cash Position: Aptevo had cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2022 totaling $36.3 million, including restricted cash of $1.3 million. $0.5 million of the restricted cash was released in April 2022 and the remaining $0.8 million is expected to be released over the next twelve months.
Royalty Revenue: For the three months ended March 31, 2022, royalty revenue increased by $0.7 million, or 29%, to $3.1 million from $2.4 million for March 31, 2021. Royalty revenue relates to the royalty from Pfizer on global net sales of RUXIENCE (rituximab-pvvr), a biosimilar to the drug RITUXAN, launched by Pfizer in early 2020.Due to the nature of the transaction, which includes a cap on HCR’s return from royalties, constituting continuing involvement under the Collaboration and License Agreement originally between Trubion and Wyeth, we continue to recognize royalty revenue on net sales of RUXIENCE and record the royalty payments to HCR as a reduction of the liability when paid. As such payments are made to HCR, the balance of the liability will be effectively repaid over the life of the HCR royalty purchase agreement. RUXIENCE is a trademark of Pfizer; RITUXAN is a trademark of Biogen.
Research and Development Expenses: For the three months ended March 31, 2022, research and development expenses decreased by $0.5 million, to $4.9 million from $5.4 million for March 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily due to lower spending on preclinical projects and employee costs. The decrease was partially offset by higher spending on our APVO436 clinical trial as we continue to advance that trial and continue to dose patients in our Phase 1b Expansion program.
General and Administrative Expenses: For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, general and administrative expenses were $3.9 million.
Other Expense, Net: Other expense, net consists primarily of gains or losses realized on foreign currency revaluation, costs related to debt extinguishment, accrued exit fees on debt, non-cash interest on financing agreements, and interest on debt. Other expense, net was $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in other expense, net is primarily related non-cash interest expense for the HCR royalty purchase agreement. The increase was partially offset by lower interest expense for the MidCap Credit Agreement due to payments made towards principal.
Discontinued Operations: For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we collected $0.2 million in deferred payments from Medexus related to IXINITY sales. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, we collected $0.2 million related to the sale of hyperimmune business to Saol as a result of the collection of certain accounts receivable and a deferred payment of $0.2 million received from Medexus related to IXINITY sales. Pursuant to our LLC Purchase Agreement, the rate for deferred payments will increase from 2% to 5% of net sales no later than June 30, 2022.
Net Loss: Aptevo’s net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $7.7 million or $1.55 per share, as compared to a net loss of $7.3 million or $1.64 per share for the corresponding period in 2021.
Liability Related to Sale of Future Royalties: We treat the Royalty Purchase Agreement with HCR as a debt financing, amortized under the effective interest rate method over the estimated life of the related expected royalty stream. The liabilities related to sale of future royalties and the debt amortization are based on our current estimates of future royalties expected to be paid over the life of the arrangement. We will periodically assess the expected royalty payments using projections from external sources. To the extent our estimates of future royalty payments are greater or less than previous estimates or the estimated timing of such payments is materially different than previous estimates, we will adjust the effective interest rate and recognize related non-cash interest expense on a prospective basis. We are not obligated to repay the proceeds received under the Royalty Purchase Agreement with HCR.