Full Press Release Details
IO Biotech Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Highlights
November 12, 2024: IO Biotech (Nasdaq: IOBT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, off-the-shelf, immune-modulating
therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win platform, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.
We continue to add to the body of evidence that our novel investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine, IO102-IO103, has the potential to bring clinical
benefit to patients with strong signals of activity now observed in patients with three types of metastatic solid tumors, said Mai-Britt Zocca, PhD, President and CEO of IO Biotech. As we look to
the primary endpoint data readout from our Phase 3 pivotal trial in the first half of next year, we plan to be prepared to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA in 2025 and potentially make our first therapeutic cancer vaccine
available for patients in the US with advanced melanoma in 2026.
Dr. Zocca continued, Our T-win
platform generates off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccine candidates with a unique mechanism of action, capable of both targeting immune-suppressive cells and cancer
cells. This dual action is what drives the strong activity we see when we combine IO102-IO103 with an anti-PD-1 therapy. In addition to IO102-IO103, the T-win platform has generated other novel candidates including IO112, targeting arginase 1 with a unique mechanism of action. We are excited about the strength of the data supporting the potential of IO112 and plan
to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the FDA for this program in 2025.
Recent Business Highlights
Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
IO102-IO103 is an investigational off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccine
designed to kill both tumor cells and immune-suppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) by stimulating activation and expansion of T cells against indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) positive and/or
programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive cells. The company is currently conducting a pivotal Phase 3 trial (IOB-013/KN-D18;
NCT05155254) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with advanced melanoma, a Phase 2 basket trial
(IOB-022/KN-D38; NCT05077709) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as first line treatment in patients with solid tumors, and a Phase 2 basket
trial (IOB-032/PN-E40; NCT05280314) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as neo-adjuvant/adjuvant
treatment of patients with solid tumors.
The clinical trials are sponsored by IO Biotech and conducted in collaboration with Merck, which is supplying
pembrolizumab. IO Biotech maintains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.
registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
About the IOB-013/KN-D18 Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Trial
IOB-013/KN-D18 (Clinical Trials.gov: NCT05155254) is an open label, randomized
Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial evaluating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with previously untreated, unresectable or metastatic (advanced) melanoma. A total of 407 patients have been enrolled from
more than 100 centers across the United States, Europe, Australia, Turkey, Israel and South Africa. The primary endpoint of the study is progression free survival, an event-driven analysis conducted when 226 events, defined as disease progression or
death, have been reported in the study. Secondary endpoints include overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), durable objective response rate (DRR), complete response rate (CRR), duration of response (DoR), time to complete response
(TTCR), disease control rate (DCR), and incidence of AEs and SAEs (safety and tolerability). Biomarkers in the blood and tumor tissue will also be assessed. IO Biotech is sponsoring the Phase 3 trial and Merck is supplying pembrolizumab.
About IOB-022/KN-D38 Phase 2 Solid Tumor Basket Trial
IOB-022/KN-D38 (NCT05077709) is a
non-comparative, open label trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab in first-line advanced cancers in non-small
cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). IO Biotech is sponsoring the Phase 2 trial and Merck is supplying pembrolizumab. IO Biotech maintains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.
About IOB-032/PN-E40 Phase
2 Solid Tumor Basket Trial
IOB-032/PN-E40 (NCT05280314) is a Phase 2
basket trial investigating the IO102-IO103 therapeutic cancer vaccine in combination with pembrolizumab as neo-adjuvant/adjuvant treatment of patients with solid tumors. The study completed enrollment of 15
patients with melanoma in cohort A and continues to enroll 15 patients with SCCHN in cohort B as single arm cohorts receiving combination of IO102-IO103 with pembrolizumab, whereas in cohort C, melanoma patients will be randomized 1:1 to either the
combination of IO102-IO103 with pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab alone. In the neo-adjuvant period, for all cohorts, treatment is every 3 weeks (Q3W) for 3 cycles (melanoma) or
2-3 cycles (SCCHN). Patients entering the study will be scheduled for surgery and begin neoadjuvant treatment 4-9 weeks prior. Surgery will be followed by adjuvant
treatment with the same regimen for 15 cycles. Cohort C patients with poor pathological response to pembrolizumab alone in the neo-adjuvant phase (>10% residual viable tumor) may cross over to combination
treatment post-surgery. The primary endpoint is major pathological response at surgery ( 10% residual viable tumor; central assessment). IO Biotech is sponsoring the Phase 2 trial and Merck is supplying pembrolizumab.
IO Biotech is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win platform. The T-win platform is based on a novel approach to cancer vaccines designed to activate T cells to target the immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. IO Biotech is advancing its lead cancer vaccine
candidate, IO102-IO103, in clinical trials, and additional pipeline candidates through preclinical development. Based on positive Phase 1/2 first line metastatic melanoma data, IO102-IO103, in combination with pembrolizumab, has been granted a
Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of advanced melanoma by the US Food and Drug Administration. IO Biotech is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and has US headquarters in New York, New York.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including regarding the timing or
outcome of primary analysis of the company s Phase 3 trial, other current or future clinical trials, their progress, enrollment or results, or the company s financial position or cash runway, are based on IO Biotech s current
assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect its business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and actual results and other events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such
statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot
be predicted or quantified. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future
events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and should not be unduly relied upon. Except to the extent required by law, IO Biotech undertakes no obligation to update these statements, whether as a result of any new
information, future developments or otherwise.
Maryann Cimino, Director of Investor Relations
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 20,178 | $ | 17,655 | $ | 50,337 | $ | 46,059 | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 6,326 | 5,829 | 17,897 | 17,201 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 26,504 | 23,484 | 68,234 | 63,260 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (26,504 | ) | (23,484 | ) | (68,234 | ) | (63,260 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income (expense) | ||||||||||||||||
| Currency exchange gain (loss), net | 1,630 | (342 | ) | 1,078 | (74 | ) | ||||||||||
| Interest income | 1,068 | 1,708 | 3,996 | 3,932 | ||||||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | 2,698 | 1,366 | 5,074 | 3,858 | ||||||||||||
| Loss before income tax expense (benefit) | (23,806 | ) | (22,118 | ) | (63,160 | ) | (59,402 | ) | ||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | 209 | (439 | ) | 998 | 499 | |||||||||||
| Net loss | (24,015 | ) | (21,679 | ) | (64,158 | ) | (59,901 | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common shareholders | (24,015 | ) | (21,679 | ) | (64,158 | ) | (59,901 | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss per common share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.36 | ) | $ | (0.43 | ) | $ | (0.97 | ) | $ | (1.66 | ) | ||||
| Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted | 65,880,914 | 50,168,303 | 65,880,914 | 36,011,162 | ||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (24,015 | ) | $ | (21,679 | ) | $ | (64,158 | ) | $ | (59,901 | ) | ||||
| Foreign currency translation | (1,374 | ) | (108 | ) | (1,331 | ) | 268 | |||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | $ | (25,389 | ) | $ | (21,787 | ) | $ | (65,489 | ) | $ | (59,633 | ) |
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 80,185 | $ | 143,193 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 6,059 | 4,062 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 86,244 | 147,255 | ||||||
| Restricted cash | 268 | 268 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 695 | 847 | ||||||
| Right of use lease asset | 1,814 | 2,259 | ||||||
| Other non-current assets | 924 | 89 | ||||||
| Total non-current assets | 3,701 | 3,463 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 89,945 | $ | 150,718 | ||||
| Liabilities and stockholders equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 5,256 | $ | 3,878 | ||||
| Lease liability - current | 694 | 655 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 10,105 | 11,184 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 16,055 | 15,717 | ||||||
| Lease liability - non-current | 1,325 | 1,839 | ||||||
| Total non-current liabilities | 1,325 | 1,839 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 17,380 | 17,556 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders equity | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Common stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 300,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023; 65,880,914 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively | 66 | 66 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 411,479 | 406,587 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (327,980 | ) | (263,822 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (11,000 | ) | (9,669 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders equity | 72,565 | 133,162 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders equity | $ | 89,945 | $ | 150,718 |