On November 15, 2021 iBio, Inc. (NYSEA:IBIO) ("iBio" or the "Company"), a developer of next-generation biopharmaceuticals and pioneer of the sustainable FastPharming Manufacturing System, reported its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021 and provides a corporate update (Press release, iBioPharma, NOV 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234595599]).
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"We are continuing to accelerate the execution of our growth strategy as we start our fiscal year 2022," said Tom Isett, Chairman & CEO of iBio. "Having only just launched our oncology initiative six months ago, we have already created six active programs, including the two new ones announced today. In addition, we have advanced our novel COVID-19 vaccine candidate to pre-IND, while concurrently building out our vaccine platform with new drug delivery technology partnerships. We have also acquired our cGMP manufacturing facility and taken sole ownership of our CDMO subsidiary, along with the attendant rights to manufacture biologics using our FastPharming System in the United States. We are confident that our investments over the past year in talent, technology, and infrastructure will return value to patients and shareholders as we go forward."
Fiscal First Quarter and Recent Business Developments:
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS
Therapeutics
In August 2021, iBio added to its pipeline by in-licensing an IL-2 sparing anti-CD25 antibody (IBIO-101) from RubrYc Therapeutics. Pre-clinical data shows that the molecule can deplete regulatory T cells from the tumor microenvironment and restore anti-tumor immunity, potentially representing an important new tool in the fight against cancer.
The Company continues to advance its endostatin E4 molecule for fibrotic diseases (IBIO-100) toward the clinic. Meanwhile, leveraging its investment in endostatin E4, iBio announced earlier today that it will separately explore the molecule’s usefulness in the treatment of solid tumors as part of a research collaboration with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Pursuant to its new partnership with RubrYc Therapeutics wherein artificial intelligence ("AI")-based antibody discovery technologies are deployed, iBio announces today that the first new target is now being optimized using the platform. This result follows just two months after the joint discovery collaboration was initiated.
Vaccines
The Company recently conducted a preclinical dose ranging study of IBIO-202, its nucleocapsid ("N") antigen-based, intramuscularly ("IM")-delivered COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The results confirmed generation of a robust, antigen-specific, memory T-cell response and provided data that further informed iBio’s product formulation strategy.
The Company submitted a pre-IND package for IBIO-202 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2021 and is anticipating a response in the coming months.
Today, iBio announces that is has entered a collaboration with a leading innovator of microarray patch systems, which are a painless alternative to IM injections. The first objective of the collaboration is to evaluate feasibility of intradermal delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine antigen. If successful, the partnership has the potential to drive improved access to vaccines by avoiding cold chain issues and possibly enabling self-administration. The collaboration is not expected to impact the current development timeline of IBIO-202.
The Company continues to advance its Classical Swine Fever ("CSF") vaccine candidate, IBIO-400, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Centers for Veterinary Biologics’ regulatory process. Additionally, iBio announces today that studies are now underway at Texas A&M University System to evaluate alternatives to IM injection of its CSF vaccine candidate, including an oral dose option.
BIOPROCESS
In November 2021, iBio purchased the Bryan, Texas, manufacturing facility it previously operated under a lease from two affiliates of Eastern Capital Limited (the "Eastern Affiliates"). The Company also acquired the equity interest in iBio CDMO, LLC, that was formerly held by the Eastern Affiliates. As a result, the subsidiary and its intellectual property are now wholly-owned by iBio.
Fiscal First Quarter and Recent Corporate Developments:
iBio made progress in government relations during the quarter by engaging with senior-level U.S. policymakers to build awareness of the FastPharming System and to underscore the benefits of rapid, sustainable, domestic bioproduction.
iBio is encouraging shareholders who held common stock at the close of business on October 15, 2021 to vote "FOR" all proposals put forth in the proxy statement prior to its December 9, 2021, Annual Meeting of Stockholders to help the Company continue to grow its pipeline, services, and value.
"Over the course of the next year, we are focused on delivering shareholder value across multiple fronts, including announcing new oncology targets and two possible IND filings," said Mr. Isett. "We are also excited about the partnership opportunities that we see ahead for our bioprocess business as industry awareness of the need to implement sustainable, ESG-based practices continues to grow. With sole ownership of our FastPharming Facility and CDMO subsidiary now secured, we have additional strategic and operational flexibility to deploy our rapid, scalable biologics development system for our own pipeline, as well as for clients, so that we may enable more potentially life-saving therapeutics to enter the clinic."
Financial Results:
Revenues for the first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021, were approximately $211,000, a decrease of 49% from approximately $410,000 in the same period of 2020. As noted previously, significant quarter-to-quarter revenue variability is commonplace for early-stage pharma services companies given the timing of revenue recognition. Consistent with these business dynamics, iBio continues to expect a sequential decline in revenue during the first half of fiscal 2022 compared to the second half of fiscal 2021, followed by higher growth in the second half of fiscal 2022.
R&D and G&A expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 increased 35% and 24%, respectively, over the comparable period in fiscal 2020. This reflects the Company’s growing investments in its pipeline, platform technologies, employees, and related infrastructure. iBio anticipates this trend continuing, however, the rate of growth is expected to moderate over time.
iBio’s consolidated net loss for the first quarter ended September 30, 2021, was approximately $8.9 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss of approximately $7.5 million, or $0.05 per share, in the same period of 2020.
iBio had $82.3 million dollars in cash and cash equivalents and investments in debt securities as of September 30, 2021. The Company used $9.3 million in cash during the quarter for operating activities and $5.1M for investing activities which included elements of the RubrYc transaction and for capital expenditures. Subsequent to the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2021, iBio used approximately $6.0 million in cash to help fund the purchase of its manufacturing facility in Bryan, Texas, and to secure full control of iBio CDMO, LLC, which holds the exclusive rights to manufacture using the FastPharming System in the United States. Taking into account potential long-term financing options, combined with the approximate 67% savings in facility-related cash requirements expected to be achieved through this transaction, the Company continues to believe that its current cash position is sufficient to fund its operations through Q3-FY23. If the Company cannot take advantage of the additional financial flexibility, and based on the Company’s working capital on September 30, 2021, management has concluded that there is sufficient liquidity to fund normal operations through at least Q2-FY23.
Webcast and Conference Call
iBio management will host a webcast and conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time today, November 15, 2021, to discuss these results and provide a corporate update.
The live and archived webcast may be accessed on the Company’s website at www.ibioinc.com under "News and Events" in the Investors section. The live call can be accessed by dialing (833) 672-0651 (domestic) or (929) 517-0227 (international) and referencing conference code: 7779281.