Innate Pharma reports first half 2021 financial results and business update

On September 15, 2021 Innate Pharma SA (Euronext Paris: IPH; Nasdaq: IPHA) ("Innate" or the "Company") reported its consolidated financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2021 (Press release, Innate Pharma, SEP 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234587721]). The consolidated financial statements are attached to this press release.

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"In the first half of 2021, we had two key advancements in our portfolio – encouraging new lacutamab data in a subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides, and new data from our proprietary, multi-specific NK cell engager platform, ANKET. These progressions have set the stage for delivering both near and long-term value, while also highlighting the strength and depth of our core R&D efforts," said Mondher Mahjoubi, Chief Executive Officer of Innate Pharma. "We look forward to the continued progress of our pipeline, including the upcoming monalizumab presentation at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) and our lacutamab clinical trial program, in addition to advancing our early-stage R&D activities. These important efforts will help to progress the next wave of innovation at Innate."

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This information can also be found on the Investors section of the Innate Pharma website, www.innate-pharma.com.
A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company website for 90 days following the event.
Financial highlights for the first half of 2021:

The key elements of Innate’s financial position and financial results as of and for the six-month period ended June 30, 2021 are as follows:

Cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and financial assets amounting to €159.4 million (€m) as of June 30, 2021 (€190.6m as of December 31, 2020).
Revenue and other income amounted to €15.7m in the first half of 2021 (€36.7m in the first half of 2020) and mainly comprise of:
Revenue from collaboration and licensing agreements, which mainly resulted from the partial or entire recognition of the proceeds received pursuant to the agreements with AstraZeneca and Sanofi and which are recognized on the basis of the percentage of completion of the works performed by the Company under such agreements:
(i) Revenue from collaboration and licensing agreements for monalizumab decreased by €13.5m to €6.1m in the first half of 2021 (€19.6m in the first half of 2020), due to lower costs in connection with the collaboration works performed relating to the trials’ maturity;
(ii) Revenue from collaboration and licensing agreements for IPH5201 are nil for the first half of 2021 (€8.7m in the first half of 2020), due to the Company having fulfilled all of its commitments on preclinical work related to the start of Phase 1 of the IPH5201 program as of December 31, 2020.
Revenue from invoicing of research and development (R&D) costs for avdoralimab (IPH5401) and IPH5201 are €1.2m the first half of 2021 (€1.1m in the first half of 2020), or an increase of €0.1m, or 11%, between the first half of 2020 and the first half of 2021.
Government funding for research expenditures of €6.4m in the first half of 2021 (€6.9m in the first half of 2020).
Operating expenses are €41.1m in the first half of 2021 (€46.0m in the first half of 2020), of which 53.0% (€21.8m) are related to R&D.
R&D expenses decreased by €9.7m to €21.8m in the first half of 2021 (€31.5m in the first half of 2020). This change mainly results from a decrease in depreciation and amortization expenses allocated to R&D, and a decrease in direct R&D expenses relating to Lumoxiti following the end of the transition period with AstraZeneca in September 2020 and the return of commercialization rights in the U.S. and Europe, as well as the end of recruitment in trials evaluating avdoralimab in oncology.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by €4.8m to €19.3m in the first half of 2021 (€14.5m in the first half of 2020) primarily as a result of the provision for charges booked as of June 30, 2021 relating to the payment of $6.2m (€5.2m as of June 30,2021) to be made to AstraZeneca on April 30, 2022. In the full year results 2020 announcement2, the Company reported a contingent liability of up to $12.8m in its consolidated financial statements, which was linked to the split of certain manufacturing costs. As part of the termination and transition agreement, effective on June 30, 2021, Innate and AstraZeneca agreed to split the manufacturing costs, and Innate will pay $6.2m on April 30, 2022.
Revenue from distribution agreement are nil in the first half of 2021 (net gain of €0.9m in the first half of 2020). As of June 30, 2021, following the end of the transition period relating to the commercialization of Lumoxiti in the U.S. on September 30, 2020, the Company recognized net sales of Lumoxiti for the first half of 2021 for an amount of €1.0m.
A net financial gain of €1.7m in the first half of 2021 (net financial loss of €2.0m in the first half of 2020), principally as a result of the decrease in fair value of certain of our financial instruments due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the financial markets in the first half of 2020.
A net loss of €23.7m for the first half of 2021 (net loss of €10.3m for the first half of 2020).

The table below summarizes the IFRS consolidated financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2021, including 2020 comparative information.

In thousands of euros, except for data per share June 30, 2021 June 30, 2020
Revenue and other income 15,686 36,745
Research and development expenses (21,794) (31,499)
Selling, general and administrative expenses (19,321) (14,490)
Operating expenses (41,115) (45,989)
Net income / (loss) distribution agreements — 896
Operating income (loss) (25,428) (8,348)
Net financial income (loss) 1,709 (1,986)
Income tax expense — —
Net income (loss) (23,719) (10,334)
Weighted average number of shares ( in thousands) : 78,998 78,892
– Basic income (loss) per share (0.30) (0.13)
– Diluted income (loss) per share (0.30) (0.13)

June 30, 2020 December 31, 2020
Cash, cash equivalents and financial assets 159,402 190,571
Total assets 266,217 307,423
Total shareholders’ equity 133,561 155,976
Total financial debt 16,502 19,087
Pipeline highlights:

Lacutamab (anti-KIR3DL2 antibody):

In June 2021, the Company announced promising preliminary data from its Phase 2 TELLOMAK trial, in which lacutamab demonstrated a 35% overall global response rate in patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) that express KIR3DL2 (cohort 2). This first trial data set also established safety and demonstrated skin improvement. Lacutamab reached the pre-determined threshold to advance to stage 2 (six confirmed responses). These results were presented in an oral presentation at the 16th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (16-ICML).

In the second half of the year, the Company will initiate two parallel clinical trials to study lacutamab in patients with KIR3DL2-expressing, relapsed/refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL):

Phase 1b trial: a Company-sponsored Phase 1b clinical trial to evaluate lacutamab as a monotherapy in patients with KIR3DL2-expressing relapsed PTCL.

Phase 2 KILT (anti-KIR in T Cell Lymphoma) trial: The Lymphoma Study Association (LYSA) plans to initiate an investigator-sponsored, randomized trial to evaluate lacutamab in combination with chemotherapy GEMOX (gemcitabine in combination with oxaliplatin) versus GEMOX alone in patients with KIR3DL2-expressing relapsed/refractory PTCL.

ANKET (Antibody-based NK cell Engager Therapeutics):

In June 2021, the Company presented new data on its next-generation NK cell engager platform, ANKET, at the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) meeting. Specifically, Innate shared data from its tetra-specific ANKET molecule, which is the first NK cell engager technology to engage two NK cell activating receptors (NKp46 and CD16), a cytokine receptor (IL-2Rb) and a tumor antigen via a single molecule. In preclinical studies, the tetra-specific ANKET demonstrated in vitro the ability to induce human NK cell proliferation, cytokine production and cytolytic activity against cancer cells expressing the targeted antigen. The tetra-specific ANKET also demonstrated in vivo anti-tumor efficacy in several tumor models, allowing regression of established tumors as well as control of metastasis, associated with increased NK cell infiltration, cytokine and chemokine production at the tumor site. ANKET also showed a pharmacodynamic effect, low systemic cytokine release and a manageable safety profile in non-human primates.

Progress was made in the IPH6101/SAR443579 collaboration with Sanofi, resulting in the decision announced in January 2021 that Sanofi will transition IPH6101/SAR443579 into investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies. IPH6101 is a NKp46-based NK cell engager (NKCE) using Innate’s proprietary multi-specific antibody format (Gauthier et al. Cell 2019). The decision triggered a €7 million milestone payment from Sanofi to Innate. In addition, in January 2021, a GLP-tox study was initiated for the IPH6101/SAR443579 program.

The Company will present further ANKET data at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2021 on September 18, 2021.

Monalizumab (anti-NKG2A antibody), partnered with AstraZeneca:

On September 17, 2021, AstraZeneca will present a late-breaker abstract on the COAST Phase 2 trial, highlighting progression-free survival (PFS) results for novel durvalumab combinations with potential new medicines, including Innate’s lead partnered asset, monalizumab, and AstraZeneca’s oleclumab, an anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody, in unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2021.

The Company expects to publish data this year from the Phase 2 expansion cohort (‘cohort 3’), exploring the combination of monalizumab, cetuximab and durvalumab in first-line IO naïve patients with R/M SCCHN.

Avdoralimab (IPH5401, anti-C5aR antibody):

In July 2021, the Company announced that FORCE (FOR COVID-19 Elimination), the investigator-sponsored, Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of avdoralimab, in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia, did not meet its primary endpoints in all three cohorts of the trial. Results from this trial, including translational data, are planned to be submitted for publication. The Company’s COVID-19 activities were covered by public funding from the French government.
Following a strategic review, the Company will now solely pursue avdoralimab in bullous pemphigoid, an inflammatory disease, through an investigator-sponsored study and stop further development in all other indications.

Corporate Update:

Bpifrance informed Innate that its permanent representative at Innate’s Supervisory Board, Ms. Maylis Ferrere will be replaced by Mr. Olivier Martinez, Senior Investment Director in the Life Sciences Investments Department of the Direction of Innovation of Bpifrance, who has been Observer of Innate’s Supervisory Board since 2010.
Announced on May 28, 2021, Novo Nordisk A/S, represented by Marcus Schindler, M.D., decided not to seek re-election to the Supervisory Board due to Dr. Schindler’s new role as Executive Vice President Research & Early Development and Chief Scientific Officer of Novo Nordisk A/S. Novo Nordisk A/S remains a shareholder in the Company but no longer has a seat on its Supervisory Board.