Achilles Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2023 Financial Results and Recent Business Highlights

Rhea-AI Summary

Achilles Therapeutics plc (ACHL) provided an interim Phase I/IIa update on clonal neoantigen reactive T cells in advanced NSCLC and melanoma. They improved the VELOS™ manufacturing process to deliver higher cNeT doses. Protocols were updated to evaluate enhanced host conditioning benefits, with more data expected in 2H 2024. The company maintains a strong cash position of $131.5 million supporting operations through 2025.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The disclosure of Achilles Therapeutics plc's strong cash position of $131.5 million is a significant indicator for investors and stakeholders. This figure suggests that the company has sufficient funds to sustain its operations through 2025 without the immediate need for additional capital raising, which could dilute existing shareholders' stakes. It's important to note the context in which biopharmaceutical companies operate; they are typically cash-intensive businesses due to high research and development costs. Therefore, a robust cash reserve is essential for the continuation of clinical trials and further development of their technology.

Moreover, the update on the improved VELOS™ manufacturing process indicates potential for scale-up and cost-efficiency in production. If the higher doses of cNeT lead to better clinical outcomes, this could translate into competitive advantage and possibly higher market share in the precision T cell therapy space, which is currently under intense research and development. However, it's important to remain cautious as the actual impact on the company's financials would depend on the successful completion of clinical trials and market acceptance of the therapy.

Medical Research Analyst

The interim Phase I/IIa update on clonal neoantigen reactive T cells (cNeT) for the treatment of advanced NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) and melanoma represents a potential breakthrough in precision oncology. Clonal neoantigens are unique markers of cancer cells that can be targeted by therapies to potentially improve patient outcomes. The mention of enhanced host conditioning protocols is also noteworthy, as this could improve the engraftment rates of infused cNeT, which is a critical step for the success of T cell therapies.

While the data is described as 'encouraging', it is important for investors to understand that the road from interim updates to a marketable product is long and fraught with regulatory hurdles. The continuation of safety, tolerability and translational science data collection is important and the market will be looking closely at the further data expected in the second half of 2024. Positive outcomes could lead to significant value creation, while any setbacks could pose risks to the company's valuation.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, Achilles Therapeutics plc's advancements in the AI-powered precision T cell therapy space should be closely monitored. The NSCLC and melanoma markets are highly competitive, with several established and emerging therapies. The company's ability to deliver higher doses of cNeT through an optimized manufacturing process could differentiate it from competitors if these improvements translate into clinical benefits.

Investors should consider the broader trend of personalized medicine and how Achilles Therapeutics fits within this paradigm. The success of their approach could not only benefit patients with advanced NSCLC and melanoma but could also pave the way for the application of similar technologies in other types of cancer. However, the market will also weigh the potential risks associated with the implementation of new technologies and the time required to bring these therapies from clinical trials to commercialization.

– Provided interim Phase I/IIa update on clonal neoantigen reactive T cells in advanced NSCLC and melanoma –

– Improved VELOS™ manufacturing process delivering higher cNeT doses –

– Protocols updated to evaluate the benefit of enhanced host conditioning, with further data expected in 2H 2024 –

– Strong cash position of $131.5 million supports operations through 2025 –

LONDON, April 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achilles Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ACHL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing AI-powered precision T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens to treat solid tumors, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year-ended December 31, 2023, and recent business highlights.

“In 2023, we made important progress on the optimization of our VELOS™ manufacturing process with a significant improvement in cNeT doses delivered and are developing our understanding of the relationship between host conditioning and the engraftment of infused cNeT. We recently shared updated safety, tolerability and translational science data from checkpoint refractory patients that continue to be encouraging and reveal important mechanistic learnings about the factors driving durable T cell engraftment and the impact of immune evasion mechanisms at an antigen level. These learnings will inform the development of cNeT and related neoantigen vaccine and TCR-T therapies,” said Dr Iraj Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Achilles Therapeutics. “Looking ahead to 2024, we will evaluate cNeT persistence and clinical activity in patients with enhanced host conditioning, and we plan to report a meaningful data update in the second half of 2024. Our financial position remains strong with more than $131 million in cash, which supports operations through 2025, including the completion of the ongoing Phase I/IIa trials.”

2023 and Year-to-Date 2024 Clinical Highlights

• Provided an interim Phase I/IIa update on clonal neoantigen reactive T cells in advanced NSCLC and melanoma from 18 new patients, highlighting improved doses from the VELOS™ manufacturing process and a favorable tolerability profile
• The VELOS™ manufacturing process delivered ~10-fold improvement in the median cNeT dose (172 million) across the 18 patients in the update, with 10 products over 100 million cNeT and five over one billion cNeT
• First patients dosed in CHIRON and THETIS with enhanced host conditioning to evaluate the benefit of increased lymphodepletion intensity and Il-2 dosing aligned to standard TIL therapy, with additional meaningful data expected in the fourth quarter of 2024
• Continued development and improvements of the PELEUS™ clonal neoantigen prediction platform

2023 and Year-to-Date 2024 Corporate Highlights

• Publication in Nature Cancer from researchers affiliated with Achilles and the DECOD-Ag consortium outlined the vast potential of neoantigen immunogenicity prediction
• neoRanker™, a new AI-enabled neoantigen immunogenicity ranking module of PELEUS™, outperformed current AI and non-AI state-of-the-art methods for neoantigen immunogenicity prediction
• U.S. patent 11,634,773 granted covering treatment with an immunotherapy that targets a neoantigen predicted to be presented by a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele that has not been lost in a tumor, where loss of HLA alleles is determined using a proprietary sequence-based method
• Regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) on March 1, 2024, as confirmed by a written notice received from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market on March 4, 2024

Financial Highlights

• Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents were $131.5 million as of December 31, 2023, as compared to $173.3 million as of December 31, 2022. The Company anticipates that its cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund its planned operations through 2025.
• Research and development (R&D) expenses: R&D expenses were $15.9 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $3.0 million compared to $18.9 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2022. R&D expenses were $58.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $0.9 million compared to $57.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily driven by an increased focus on the ongoing clinical trials.
• General and administrative (G&A) expenses: G&A expenses were $3.6 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $0.4 million compared to $4.0 million for December 31, 2022. G&A expenses were $17.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $4.0 million compared to the $21.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily driven by lower personnel costs and lower legal and professional fees.
• Net loss: Net loss for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023 was $18.6 million or $0.46 per share compared to $24.1 million or $0.61 per share for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2022. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $69.7 million or $1.74 per share compared to $71.2 million or $1.82 per share for the year ended December 31, 2022.

2024 Focus and Upcoming Events

• Clinical Data: Report clinical activity and translational science data from patients in CHIRON and THETIS Cohort C, evaluating the benefit of enhanced host conditioning, with a meaningful data update expected in 2H 2024
• Translational Science: Leverage the Company’s world-class translational science platform to define the features associated with clinical response and to pursue rational design of the final cNeT product
• Clinical Activity: Drive additional confirmed responses in CHIRON and THETIS patients on cNeT therapy by delivering higher cNeT doses with enhanced host conditioning
• Manufacturing Development: Continue VELOS™ and PELEUS™ development to optimize cNeT dose and functionality

Achilles will participate in the following upcoming conferences. Additional details will be available in the Events & Presentations section of the Company’s website:

• Immuno-Oncology Summit Europe, April 23 - 24, 2024, London
• LSX World Congress, April 29 - 30, 2024, London
• Chardan’s 8^th Annual Cell Therapy Manufacturing Summit, April 29, 2024, Virtual
  

About Achilles Therapeutics

Achilles is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing AI-powered precision T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens: protein markers unique to the individual that are expressed on the surface of every cancer cell. The Company has two ongoing Phase I/IIa trials, the CHIRON trial in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the THETIS trial in patients with recurrent or metastatic melanoma. Achilles uses DNA sequencing data from each patient, together with its proprietary PELEUS™ bioinformatics platform, to identify clonal neoantigens specific to that patient, and then develop precision T cell-based product candidates specifically targeting those clonal neoantigens.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements that are based on our management's belief and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the timing of the Company’s clinical and translational data updates and the Company’s beliefs about recent data updates, and expectations related to the Company’s operating expenses and capital expense requirements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or our future operational or financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

For further information, please contact:

Investors:
Meru Advisors
Lee M. Stern
lstern@meruadvisors.com

Media:
ICR Consilium
Sukaina Virji, Tracy Cheung, Emmalee Hoppe
+44 (0) 203 709 5000
achillestx@consilium-comms.com

ACHILLES THERAPEUTICS PLC Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) (expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
	December 31,				December 31,
		2023				2022
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	131,539			$	173,338
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		14,094				23,242
Total current assets		145,633				196,580
Property and equipment, net		9,171				12,399
Operating lease right of use assets		4,372				8,081
Deferred tax assets		41				251
Restricted cash		33				33
Other assets		2,206				3,014
Total non-current assets		15,823				23,778
Total assets	$	161,456			$	220,358
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	$	5,629			$	5,187
Income taxes payable		-				326
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		7,828				8,292
Operating lease liabilities - current		3,539				4,188
Total current liabilities		16,996				17,993
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Operating lease liabilities - non-current		1,076				4,388
Other long-term liability		1,015				933
Total non-current liabilities		2,091				5,321
Total liabilities		19,087				23,314
Commitments and contingencies
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Ordinary shares, £0.001 par value; 41,082,948 and 40,932,727 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		54				54
Deferred shares, £92,452.00 par value, one share authorized, issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		128				128
Additional paid in capital		415,210				408,844
Accumulated other comprehensive income		(13,071	)			(21,695	)
Accumulated deficit		(259,952	)			(190,287	)
Total shareholders’ equity		142,369				197,044
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	161,456			$	220,358

ACHILLES THERAPEUTICS PLC Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) (expressed in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise stated)
	Three Months Ended										Twelve Months Ended
	December 31,				December 31,						December 31,								December 31,
		2023				2022						2023								2022
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Research and development	$	15,892			$	18,876					$	58,246							$	57,263
General and administrative		3,622				3,958						17,009								21,120
Total operating expenses		19,914				22,834						75,255								78,383
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS:		(19,914	)			(22,834	)					(75,255			)					(78,383			)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET:
Other income (expense)		1,389				(1,181	)					6,081								7,318
Total other income (expense), net		1,389				(1,181	)					6,081								7,318
Loss before income taxes		(18,125	)			(24,015	)					(69,174			)					(71,065			)
Provision for income taxes		(505	)			(41	)					(491			)					(111			)
Net loss		(18,630	)			(24,056	)					(69,665			)					(71,176			)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign exchange translation adjustment		6,119				16,795						8,624								(28,331			)
Comprehensive loss	$	(12,511	)		$	(7,261	)				$	(61,041			)				$	(99,507			)
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders—basic and diluted	$	(0.46	)		$	(0.61	)			$			(1.74	)				$			(1.82	)
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding—basic and diluted		40,187,152				39,518,910						39,973,059								39,139,693

 

FAQ

What update did Achilles Therapeutics plc provide?

Achilles Therapeutics plc provided an interim Phase I/IIa update on clonal neoantigen reactive T cells in advanced NSCLC and melanoma.

What improvement was made in the VELOS™ manufacturing process?

The VELOS™ manufacturing process was improved to deliver higher cNeT doses.

What was updated in the protocols?

Protocols were updated to evaluate the benefit of enhanced host conditioning, with further data expected in 2H 2024.

What is the cash position of Achilles Therapeutics plc?

Achilles Therapeutics plc maintains a strong cash position of $131.5 million supporting operations through 2025.