On November 14, 2023 Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD) ("Affimed" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, reported financial results and provided an update on clinical and corporate progress for the third quarter of 2023 (Press release, Affimed, NOV 14, 2023, View Source [SID1234637616]).

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"We initiated our phase 2 clinical study of acimtamig in combination with AlloNK and received encouraging feedback on the design of our LuminICE-203 trial from the FDA," said Dr. Adi Hoess, CEO of Affimed. "We also continued to make progress with AFM24 in combination with atezolizumab and advanced AFM28 in the dose escalation. This positions our company well to report further updates on all three clinical programs within the next few months."

Program Updates

Acimtamig (CD30/CD16A)

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Initiated LuminICE-203, a phase 2 clinical study to investigate acimtamig in combination with Artiva’s AlloNK natural killer (NK) cells in patients with relapsed / refractory (r/r) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The study will also include a cohort of 20 r/r PTCL patients. The Company expects to report initial efficacy and safety data from the LuminICE-203 study in the first half of 2024.

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Received encouraging feedback from FDA regarding questions for the Type C meeting: The FDA is highly engaged in supporting the progress and design of the study evaluating the combination of acimtamig and AlloNK as evidenced by the fast-track designation and Type C meeting feedback. According to written feedback for the Type C meeting, the LuminICE-203 study, designed based on the FDA’s recommendations and guidelines, could support accelerated approval, depending on the demonstrated magnitude of clinical benefit. In addition, the FDA agrees with Affimed’s approach to address the contribution of single components by adding a cohort to the study evaluating AlloNK/IL-2 only.

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AFM13-104 abstract selected for oral presentation at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2023 Annual Meeting. The oral presentation by Dr. Yago Nieto, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at MD Anderson at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2023 Annual Meeting will include data on a total of 42 r/r CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients enrolled in the study with 36 patients treated at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). All patients were heavily pretreated and refractory to their most recent line of therapy with active progressive disease at the time of enrollment. The acimtamig precomplexed NK cells treatment followed by three weekly infusions of acimtamig achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 94.4% with a complete response rate of 72.2% at RP2D. Acimtamig in combination with NK cells continues to demonstrate a good safety and tolerability profile with no cases of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or graft versus host disease (GVHD) of any grade. An in-depth analysis including updated EFS/OS data will be presented during Dr. Nieto’s oral presentation.

AFM24 (EGFR/CD16A)

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On track to report data in December 2023 from the first three expansion cohorts of AFM24-102, a Phase 1/2a combination study of AFM24 in patients with advanced EGFR-expressing solid tumors. Expansion cohorts of the study enrolled patients with (1) EGFR-wildtype non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (2) gastric /gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma and (3) a basket cohort evaluating pancreatic, hepatocellular, and biliary tract cancer. Based on the results from the AFM24 monotherapy study, a fourth expansion cohort of patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC has been added to the AFM24-102 study and is enrolling and treating patients. Data from this cohort is expected in the first half of 2024.

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AFM24 combination with NK cells. The Company is continuing to investigate the possibility of a combination of AFM24 with an allogeneic, off-the-shelf NK cell product.

AFM28 (CD123/CD16A)

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AFM28 is investigated in a multi-center Phase 1 open-label, dose-escalation study (AFM28-101), in r/r AML. Dose level three was completed with no dose-limiting toxicities; completed enrollment in the fourth dose cohort.

Clinical development of AFM28 is planned as both single-agent and in combination with an allogeneic off-the-shelf NK cell product.

Partnerships and Collaborations

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Affimed has completed its work on novel molecules for both Genentech and Roivant. Further development of these product candidates is at the discretion of the respective companies.

Planned Upcoming Milestones:

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Follow-up data from AFM13-104 to be presented at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2023.

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Initial data readout from the LuminICE-203 study planned in H1 2024.

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Data release from the first three expansion cohorts of the Phase 1/2a study AFM24+atezolizumab combination study planned in December 2023.

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Data from the EGFR-mutant NSCLC cohort planned in H1 2024.

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Further progress updates from AFM28-101 dose escalation planned in H1 2024.

Third Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

Affimed’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Euros (€), the Company’s functional and presentation currency.

As of September 30, 2023 cash, cash equivalents and financial assets totaled €97.5 million compared to €190.3 million on December 31, 2022. Based on our current operating plan and assumptions, we anticipate that our cash and cash equivalents will support operations into 2025.

Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was €18.2 million compared to €19.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

Total revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, was €2.0 million compared with €14.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022. Revenue in 2022 and 2023 predominantly relates to the Roivant and Genentech collaborations, for which we have completed the work assigned to us under the respective collaboration agreements.

Research and development expenses for the quarter ended September 30, decreased by 17.7% from €26.1 million in 2022 to €21.5 million in 2023. The decrease is primarily due to the completion of our work under the Roivant and Genentech collaborations, together with a decline in head count and related costs after the reorganization, also resulting in a decline in the share-based payment expense which is further impacted by the decline in the underlying fair value of share options. The decline in research and development expenses have, however, been partially offset by the increase in higher expenses associated with the development of AFM13.

General and administrative expenses decreased 33.5% from €8.1 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022 to €5.4 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The decrease was due to a decline in legal, consulting and insurance expenses, as well as share-based payment expenses.

Net finance income/costs for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 decreased from income of €2.7 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022, to income of €0.6 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Finance income/costs in the three months ended September 30, 2023 primarily consisted of the interest expense incurred on the Bootstrap (formerly Silicon Valley Bank) loan, set-off by the interest earned on the financial assets, term deposits and cash balances. 2022 primarily consisted of foreign exchange gains/losses related to cash and cash equivalents denominated in U.S. dollars as a result of the change in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the Euro.

Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, was €24.4 million, or €0.16 loss per common share compared with a net loss of €16.5 million, or €0.11 loss per common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

The weighted number of common shares outstanding for the for quarter ended September 30, 2023 was 149.3 million.

Additional information regarding these results will be included in the notes to the consolidated interim financial statements as of September 30, 2023, included in 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 IASB. None of the financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Affimed maintains its books and records in Euro.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Affimed will host a conference call and webcast on November 14, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. EST / 14:30 CET to discuss third quarter 2023 financial results and corporate developments.

The conference call will be available via phone and webcast. The live audio webcast of the call will be available in the "Webcasts" section on the "Investors" page of the Affimed website at View Source To access the call by phone, please use link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BId6f0cfc054b84432a7272424edf98afd, and you will be provided with dial-in details and a pin number.

Note: To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay of the webcast will be accessible at the same link for 30 days following the call.