On November 10, 2021 Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, and provided an update on clinical and corporate progress (Press release, Affimed, NOV 10, 2021, View Source [SID1234595129]).

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"In the past months, we have significantly expanded our efforts to ensure the development of our leading candidates, AFM13 and AFM24, which we believe will result in multiple catalysts over the next several quarters," said Adi Hoess, CEO of Affimed. "We are excited about AFM28, a ROCK platform-based ICE, which we believe will be a novel and promising approach for difficult-to-treat AML patients. We know NK cells have shown some activity in AML and, coupled with what we are seeing in the AFM13 study in combination with NK cells we are hopeful that this highly differentiated product candidate will offer a new treatment option to those patients currently left behind," he concluded.

Clinical Stage Program Updates
AFM13 (CD30/CD16A)

Affimed is continuing to recruit patients in the REDIRECT study (AFM13-202) after reporting positive results from the preplanned interim futility analysis in March 2021; based on this successful interim analysis, the high- and low-CD30 expressing cohorts of this trial have been combined into one. Affimed expects to complete enrollment in the study in the first half of 2022.
REDIRECT is a phase 2, registration-directed study of AFM13 monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

Affimed reported that there were no dose-limiting toxicities observed in the dose escalation part of the investigator sponsored study (IST) at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The study, which is investigating the treatment of CD30-positive lymphoma patients with AFM13 precomplexed cord blood-derived natural killer (NK) cells (AFM13-104), continues to enroll patients at the highest dose level. As of October 31, 2021, 18 patients had been treated in the study, including 12 patients at the highest NK cell dose. An amendment to the protocol for the study has been submitted to allow for the enrollment of up to 40 patients at the highest dose level to generate additional data on safety and efficacy. The expansion would include patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. As presented at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) in April 2021, the first four patients showed a 100% objective response rate with two out of four patients (50%) achieving a complete response. Affimed expects to present additional data from the study at a company-sponsored event in December 2021.
AFM24 (EGFR/CD16A)

For AFM24, an EGFR/CD16A targeted innate cell engager (ICE) for patients with EGFR-expressing solid tumors, Affimed is executing a strategy intended to deliver the highest probability of success. As such, the objective is to treat patients with EGFR-expressing tumors with AFM24 as monotherapy (AFM24-101) in 3 indications, with AFM24 in combination with an anti-PD-L1 antibody (AFM24-102) in at least 3 indications and with AFM24 in combination with autologous NK cells in 3 indications (AFM24-103).
In AFM24-101, the monotherapy phase 1/2a clinical trial, a weekly dose of 480 mg has been identified as the recommended phase 2 dose based on a comprehensive review of safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, including exposure and NK cell CD16A receptor occupancy. Of note, four out of six patients dosed in the 480 mg cohort remain on therapy based on investigator assessment of clinical benefit; two of these patients have demonstrated stable disease beyond three months and continue on treatment. Affimed expects to start the dose expansion phase of the trial at the recommended phase 2 dose in the fourth quarter of 2021. The trial will include the following indications:
Renal cell carcinoma (clear cell), failing standard of care (SoC) including TKIs and PD1 targeted therapy
Non-small cell lung cancer (EGFR-mutant), failing SoC TKIs and PD1 naïve; and,
Colorectal cancer, failing chemotherapy plus EGFR-targeted antibodies In parallel, Affimed will continue to evaluate higher doses of AFM24 to generate additional safety data, and enrollment has begun in a cohort to evaluate a weekly dose of 720 mg.
AFM24-102, the phase 1/2a combination study of AFM24 with the PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in EGFR-expressing solid tumors, is on track to start in the fourth quarter of 2021. The combination trial will include the following indications:
Non-small cell lung cancer (EGFR-wildtype), failing chemotherapy and PD1 targeted therapy
Gastric/gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer failing chemotherapy and/or PD1 targeted therapy; and,
A basket of EGFR-expressing tumors comprising pancreatic, hepatocellular and biliary tract cancer failing standard of care therapy for the respective disease
AFM24-103, the phase 1/2a combination study of AFM24 with NKGen Biotech’s autologous NK cell therapy, SNK01, a first-in-human proof of concept trial in EGFR-expressing solid tumors, is now open to recruit patients. As previously announced, the combination trial will include the following indications:
Non-small cell lung cancer (EGFR-wildtype), failing chemotherapy and PD1 targeted therapy
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, failing chemotherapy and PD1 targeted therapy; and,
Colorectal cancer including those with mutations, failing standard of care therapy
Preclinical Program
AFM28 (CD123/CD16A)

Preclinical candidate AFM28, developed on the company’s proprietary ROCK platform, is a bispecific, tetravalent ICE that targets CD16A on NK cells and macrophages, as well as CD123 on leukemic cells and leukemic stem cells that are prevalent in AML. The high affinity to CD16 and CD123 initiates antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against CD123+ tumor cells.
Preclinical data demonstrates that AFM28 induces tumor cell lysis more potently than conventional anti-CD123 antibodies, even at low CD123 expression. Further, AFM28 shows a 100-fold more potent NK cell activation in an ex vivo analysis, compared to Fc-enhanced IgG1 antibodies. In a preclinical toxicology study in cynomolgus monkey, AFM28 was safe and well-tolerated and exhibited the expected pharmacodynamic activity suggesting a good safety profile and the potential to eliminate CD123+ cells in vivo. Clinical investigation of AFM28 is planned to start in second half of 2022.
Third Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights
(Figures for the quarters ended September 30, 2021, and 2020 are unaudited.)

As of September 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents totaled €198.7 million compared to €146.9 million on December 31, 2020. Based on its current operating plan and assumptions, Affimed anticipates that its cash and cash equivalents will support operations into the second half of 2023.

Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was €25.6 million compared to €3.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Total revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, was €8.7 million compared with €10.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. Revenue predominately relates to the Genentech and Roivant collaborations.

Research and development expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 amounted to €20.6 million compared to €10.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The increase is largely due to increased costs for AFM24, including costs associated with the ongoing phase 1/2a clinical trial and manufacturing costs for clinical trial material required for the ongoing study and planned future studies, as well as an increase in costs associated with early-stage development/discovery activities. In addition, there was an increase associated with research and development that is non-project specific, including share-based payment expense, intellectual property-related expenses and facility costs.

General and administrative expenses were €6.8 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to €3.5 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The increase relates largely to higher personnel expenses due to an increase in headcount, higher premiums for our Directors and Officers liability insurance, increase in share-based payment expense and higher legal and consulting expenses.

Net finance income for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was €1.5 million compared to net finance loss of €3.1 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2020. Net finance income/loss is largely due to foreign exchange gains/losses related to assets denominated in U.S. dollars as a result of currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and Euro during the quarter.

Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was €17.1 million, or loss of €0.14 per common share, compared with a net loss of €6.0 million, or €0.07 loss per common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

The weighted number of common shares outstanding for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was 119.8 million. Additional information regarding these results will be included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2021, of Affimed’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Note on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
Affimed prepares and reports consolidated financial statements and financial information in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. None of the financial statements were prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States. Affimed maintains its books and records in Euro. Conference Call and Webcast Information Affimed will host a conference call and webcast today, November 10, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. EST to discuss third quarter 2021 financial results and recent corporate developments. The conference call will be available via phone and webcast. To access the call, please dial +1 (409) 220-9054 for U.S. callers, or +44 (0) 8000 323836 for international callers, and reference passcode 6166004 approximately 15 minutes prior to the call.
A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available in the "Webcasts" section on the "Investors" page of the Affimed website at View Source A replay of the webcast will be accessible at the same link for 30 days following the call.