On August 6, 2018 Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA), a biotechnology company developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) technology, reported its second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 financial results and provided a corporate update (Press release, Iovance Biotherapeutics, AUG 6, 2018, View Source;p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2362261 [SID1234528449]).

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"The dosing of the first patient with lifileucel in Europe for the treatment of metastatic melanoma marked an important milestone for Iovance and our global development plans as we continue our mission to develop TIL therapy as a treatment option for cancer patients. In line with expansion of the TIL platform, we are initiating investigation of TIL therapy in several new indications with high unmet need, as part of our collaboration with MD Anderson," said Dr. Maria Fardis, Ph.D., MBA, president and chief executive officer of Iovance Biotherapeutics. "We continue to advance our four company-sponsored trials and intend to provide an update regarding our melanoma program later this year."

Recent Achievements

Manufacturing

Initiated manufacturing at Lonza, Netherlands in support of the melanoma and cervical clinical sites in Europe.
Clinical

Enrollment in the global Phase 2 metastatic melanoma study, C-144-01, continues and in June 2018, the company announced that it dosed the first patient with LN-144 (lifileucel) in Europe at a clinical trial site in the United Kingdom.
As part of a collaboration program, Iovance and MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) initiated two new Phase 2 clinical studies. The first, 2017-0672 (NCT03449108), is studying LN-145 manufactured by Iovance using the company’s Gen 2 manufacturing process to treat patients with soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma and platinum resistant ovarian cancer. The study is active and enrolling patients. The second study is expected to be activated before the end of 2018 and will use TIL manufactured by MDACC.
Iovance has expanded to over 70 clinical sites for its four company-sponsored studies.
Regulatory

As of the end of July 2018, Iovance has activated sites for its two clinical trials being conducted in Europe in five countries including the Netherlands, France, Hungary, Spain and the United Kingdom.
In early May 2018, the company was granted orphan-drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for autologous tumor infiltrating lymphocytes for the treatment of cervical cancer with a tumor size of greater than 2 cm in diameter.
Research

Iovance entered into a Research Collaboration Agreement with Roswell Park Cancer Institute for a pre-clinical collaboration to explore the potential for TIL therapy in bladder and other cancers.
Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 was $30.7 million, or $0.34 per share, compared to net loss of $23.4 million, or $0.37 per share for the same period ended June 30, 2017.

Research and development expenses were $24.6 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018, an increase of $6.0 million compared to $18.6 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to a $2.8 million increase in payroll and related expenses, including stock-based compensation expenses, due to a higher number of full time employees and dedicated consultants as we expanded our research efforts and clinical development programs. In addition, a $4.5 million increase occurred due to clinical trial costs because of higher patient enrollment and the number of clinical sites in the clinical trial of lifileucel, for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, and the ongoing clinical trials of LN-145 for the treatment of cervical, head and neck and lung cancers. These increases were partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in manufacturing costs due to higher costs in 2017 related to technical transfer activities.

General and administrative expenses were $6.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, an increase of $1.9 million compared to $4.9 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to a $1.6 million increase in payroll and related expenses, including stock-based compensation expenses, due to an increase in head count and higher stock prices during the quarter, and a $0.3 million increase in professional service and legal expenses.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Financial Results

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $ 57.2 million, or $0.65 per share, compared to net loss of $44.1 million, or $0.71 per share for the same period ended June 30, 2017.

Research and development expenses were $44.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, an increase of $10.3 million compared to $34.2 million for the same period ended June 30, 2017. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to a $5.7 million increase in payroll and related expenses, including stock-based compensation expenses, primarily due to a higher number of full time employees and higher stock prices in 2018, and additional outside services contracted to perform research and development activities on our behalf, and a $7.0 million increase in costs related to our clinical trials as we expanded our clinical development programs into additional indications and added clinical trial sites in Europe. These increases were partially offset by a $2.0 million decrease in manufacturing costs due to higher costs in 2017 related to technical transfer activities.

General and administrative expenses were $13.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018, an increase of $3.6 million compared to $10.2 million for the same period ended June 30, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to a $2.7 million increase in payroll and related expenses, including stock-based compensation expenses, due to a higher number of full time employees and higher stock prices in 2018, and a $0.5 million increase in legal expenses.

At June 30, 2018, the company held $276.1 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments compared to $297.1 million at March 31, 2018. During the second quarter the company used $24.0 million for operating activities. The company anticipates that the year-end balance of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments may be between $190 to $210 million.

Webcast and Conference Call
Iovance will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss these second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2018 results and 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 for the call is 5177499. The live webcast can be accessed under "News & Events" in the "Investors" section of the company’s website at View Source or you may use the link: View Source

A replay of the call will be available from August 6, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. ET to August 13, 2018 at 8:30 p.m. ET. To access the replay, please dial 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international). The reference access code is 5177499. The archived webcast will be available for thirty days in the Investors section of Iovance Biotherapeutics’ website at View Source