On August 15, 2016 Heat Biologics, Inc. ("Heat") (Nasdaq:HTBX), an immuno-oncology company developing novel therapies that activate a patient’s immune system against cancer, reported a general business update and reported its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016 (Press release, Heat Biologics, AUG 15, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514586]).
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"We are pleased to report a number of important scientific, clinical and financial developments at the company," said Jeff Wolf, Heat’s Founder and CEO. "First, the preclinical findings demonstrating that our ComPACT technology secreting the co-stimulator OX40L significantly enhanced tumor rejection were published in the journal, ‘Cancer Immunology Research.’ Additionally, we reported encouraging interim study findings from our Phase 1b trial evaluating HS-110 in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo), a Bristol-Myers Squibb anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer."
"We remain focused on driving shareholder value and minimizing dilution. We have implemented a number of cost-saving measures to help ensure we achieve important data readouts expected in the fourth quarter with current cash on-hand. Furthermore, I am pleased to report we have generated approximately $2.0 million in additional cash from the exercise of warrants. Significantly, we have also regained compliance with NASDAQ’s minimum closing bid price requirement, which alleviates the immediacy of effecting a reverse stock split."
"Overall, we remain encouraged by the outlook for the business and the growing interest from within the industry to utilize our platform technology with checkpoint inhibitors and other immunotherapies to activate a patient’s immune system against cancer. Importantly, our allogeneic cell-based immunotherapy has the potential to offer a broader, off-the-shelf solution that addresses many of the past challenges that have plagued the immuno-oncology market."
Recent Developments & Second Quarter 2016 Corporate Highlights
Heat remains on track to report topline data in the fourth quarter from its Phase 2 trial evaluating HS-410 for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and its Phase 1b trial evaluating HS-110 in combination with an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
In July, Heat announced that preclinical findings from its ComPACT platform technology were published online in the journal "Cancer Immunology Research." Heat demonstrated that its ComPACT technology secreting the co-stimulator OX40L significantly enhanced tumor rejection in two cancer tumor types compared to OX40 agonist antibody treatment. Heat also reported that ComPACT-enhanced antigen-specific T cell infiltration into tumors improved memory T cell responses and demonstrated greater specificity than OX40 agonist antibody treatments. Furthermore, the findings also showed that the ComPACT platform can be adapted to secrete other costimulatory molecules, including TL1A, 4-1BBL and ICOSL.
In June, Heat reported interim study findings from its Phase 1b trial evaluating HS-110 in combination with nivolumab for the treatment of NSCLC. The findings suggested that the addition of HS-110 to nivolumab does not alter the nivolumab safety profile to-date. In addition, case studies of three trial patients (one non-responder and two responders) were characterized. While all three patients showed a decrease in immune cell PD-1 expression, which is consistent with nivolumab’s mechanism of action, both responders also showed a decrease in immunosuppressor cells, as well as increases in activated effector T cells in the peripheral blood. Furthermore, the two responders showed an increase in CD8+ T cells in biopsy samples after treatment with HS-110 + nivolumab. These early data appear to suggest that HS-110 in combination with nivolumab may improve response rates for patients with "cold tumors," who have historically not responded to checkpoint inhibitors alone.
In June, Heat presented a poster at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting reviewing the design and endpoints for the ongoing Phase 1b trial of HS-110 in combination with nivolumab.
In April, Heat presented three posters at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. In the poster entitled "Phase I/II Study of Patients with NMIBC Treated with Vesigenurtacel-L (HS-410) with or without BCG," Heat reported that no additional recurrences had been reported to-date, with all patients at least 18 months out from enrollment. In another poster, Heat reported initial preclinical results from its collaboration with OncoSec Medical Incorporated. In the third poster, Heat reported positive preclinical data on its next generation ComPACT platform technology.
In April, Heat implemented cost-saving measures and a focused corporate strategy to achieve important data readouts in the fourth quarter with its current cash on-hand.
In April, Heat appointed John Prendergast, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors.
Second Quarter 2016 Financial Highlights
Research and development (R&D) expenses decreased to approximately $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2016 compared to approximately $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2015, a decrease of approximately $0.1 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to reductions in non-cash stock compensation expense related to equity grants awarded to one of our Scientific Advisory Board members in 2015.
Clinical and regulatory expenses decreased to approximately $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2016 compared to approximately $3.4 million in the second quarter of 2015, a decrease of approximately $2.1 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to reductions in clinical trial execution costs.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses increased to approximately $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2016 compared to approximately $0.9 million in the second quarter of 2015, an increase of approximately $0.2 million. The increase is primarily attributable to separation expenses related to the departure of two of our former executive officers, as well as other incremental operating expenses.
Net loss for the second quarter of 2016 was $3.0 million compared to a net loss of $4.9 million for the second quarter of 2015.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 Financial Highlights
R&D expenses decreased to approximately $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to approximately $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of approximately $0.1 million. The decrease is attributable to reductions in patent, license and other professional fees, as well as reductions in compensation costs attributable to deferral in salary as part of our cost-savings initiatives.
Clinical and regulatory expenses decreased to approximately $4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to approximately $5.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of approximately $1.0 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to reductions in clinical trial execution costs.
G&A expenses decreased to approximately $2.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to approximately $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, a decrease of approximately $0.1 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to reductions in professional services as we bring more services in-house.
Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $7.8 million compared to a net loss of $8.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $7.1 million at June 30, 2016 compared to cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled approximately $11.6 million at December 31, 2015. This does not include approximately $2.0 million raised from the exercise of warrants subsequent to June 30, 2016.
About Heat Biologics, Inc.