On May 11, 2023 InflaRx N.V. (Nasdaq: IFRX), a biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory therapeutics by targeting the complement system, reported its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and provided a business update (Press release, InflaRx, MAY 11, 2023, View Source [SID1234631513]).

Recent Highlights and Business Update

Gohibic (vilobelimab): EUA Granted for Treatment of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
In April 2023, the FDA issued an EUA for Gohibic (vilobelimab) for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults when initiated within 48 hours of receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

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InflaRx has an initial supply of Gohibic (vilobelimab) available and is currently ramping up production at its third-party manufacturer to be able to further supply the U.S. as soon as possible. InflaRx expects to make the product available in the U.S. for the treatment of hospitalized patients within the next weeks. Therefore, the Company is expecting to be able to record first revenues from sales of Gohibic already in Q3 2023. InflaRx is continuing discussions with the FDA related to the submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) for the full approval of Gohibic (vilobelimab). InflaRx has also completed encouraging meetings with the rapporteur and co-rapporteur member state teams of the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) related to a planned Marketing Authorization Application with the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The Company will provide updates on the status of regulatory submissions in the U.S. and elsewhere once available.

Vilobelimab in Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG)
In January 2023, InflaRx presented details related to the design of its planned pivotal Phase III study with vilobelimab in ulcerative PG, following compelling Phase II results for the treatment of this rare neutrophilic and inflammatory skin disease with destructive, painful cutaneous ulcers. The multi-national, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial has an adaptive design with an interim analysis that will determine the planned total patient number. The Company has submitted the clinical trial protocol to the FDA. InflaRx expects the first patient to be enrolled in this study around mid-2023.

Vilobelimab in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC)
InflaRx is conducting an open-label, multicenter Phase II study, evaluating vilobelimab in two study arms – as stand-alone therapy and in combination with pembrolizumab – in patients with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) or programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1) inhibitor resistant/refractory, locally advanced or metastatic cSCC. The main objectives of this trial are to assess the safety and antitumor activity of vilobelimab in the monotherapy arm and to assess the maximum tolerated or recommended dose of vilobelimab and the safety and antitumor activity of this drug pair in the combination arm. First data from the monotherapy arm are expected to be available in Q2 2023, and data from an interim analysis of the combination arm are expected in H1 2024.

INF904
InflaRx is currently conducting a Phase I trial in healthy volunteers to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic / pharmacodynamic properties of this new and proprietary low molecular weight C5aR inhibitor. The Company will explore the effect of INF904 on C5a-induced downstream activity and generate data in a format comparable with other published data on C5aR inhibitory molecules. Results are expected in H2 2023. In the future, InflaRx plans to develop INF904 for complement-mediated, chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases where oral administration is the preferred choice for patients.

Post-Period Financing Activities
In April 2023, the Company issued 3,235,723 ordinary shares under its ATM program, resulting in €14.4 million in net proceeds. Also in April 2023, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of an aggregate of 10,823,529 ordinary shares, which included the full exercise of an overallotment option granted to the underwriters to purchase 1,411,764 additional ordinary shares, resulting in €39.1 million in net proceeds. Aggregate proceeds from these equity offerings amounted to €53.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts.

Dr. Thomas Taapken, Chief Financial Officer of InflaRx, said: "Our recent successful financing activities have put us on an even firmer footing, not only to fund our development activities and advance our pipeline, including the Phase III trial with vilobelimab in pyoderma gangrenosum, but also to invest into the required commercial, manufacturing and logistical infrastructure in the U.S. for making Gohibic available to physicians and patients in the U.S. very soon. Despite a financial market environment that continues to be challenging, we are now well funded to support operations into 2026."

Financial Highlights – Q1 2023

Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses in Q1 2023 increased by €4.3 million to €14.7 million compared to Q1 2022. This increase was primarily attributable to the establishment of a commercial-scale manufacturing process for vilobelimab and regulatory expenses in conjunction with the EUA filing and other regulatory activities, as well as for the manufacturing of clinical trial-related material.

General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased by €0.8 million to €3.6 million, from €4.4 million in Q1 2022. This decrease was attributable to lower expenses associated with equity-settled share-based compensation recognized in personnel expenses of €0.8 million.

Other Income
Other income amounted to €7.7 million, which was primarily attributable to income recognized from the grant payments received from the German federal government for the development of vilobelimab for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

In 2021, InflaRx was awarded a grant from the German Ministry of Education and Research and the German Ministry of Health to support the development of vilobelimab for the treatment of COVID-19. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had received €25.6 million in grant funds and still has a maximum amount of €13.2 million available to claim through the end of the grant term in June 2023. The grant is structured as a reimbursement of 80% of certain pre-specified expenses related to the clinical development and manufacturing of vilobelimab.

Net Financial Result
Net financial result decreased by €1.3 million to net financial expense of €0.5 million in Q1 2023, from net financial result of €0.9 million in Q1 2022. This decrease is attributable to an aggregation of different factors, including higher interest income on investments of €0.4 million due to higher interest rates, lower foreign exchange gains, which decreased by €0.8 million, and higher foreign exchange losses of €1.0 million.

Net Loss
Net loss in Q1 2023, amounted to €11.1 million, compared to €14.0 million in Q1 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities amounting to €72.3 million. In addition, during April 2023, InflaRx raised proceeds of € 53.5 million through the utilization of the Company’s established ATM program and through an underwritten public share offering after deducting underwriting discounts. The Company’s current funds on hand are expected to be sufficient to fund operations into 2026.

Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities decreased to €10.5 million in Q1 2023, from €12.9 million in Q1 2022.

Additional Financial Information
Additional information regarding these results and other relevant information is included in the notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2023, and the three months ended March 31, 2022, and 2021, as well as the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, in "ITEM 18. Financial Statements," in InflaRx’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).