IO Biotech Announces 2023 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Results
- IO Biotech completed enrollment of the pivotal Phase 3 trial of IO102-IO103 with KEYTRUDA in advanced melanoma.
- An interim analysis for overall response rate is expected in Q3 2024.
- The first patient was dosed in a Phase 2 trial of IO102-IO103 for solid tumors.
- The company ended 2023 with $143.2 million in cash and cash equivalents.
- None.
Insights
The enrollment completion for the Phase 3 trial of IO102-IO103 in advanced melanoma patients represents a significant step in oncology therapeutics. Considering the combination with KEYTRUDA, an established anti-PD-1 therapy, the potential for improved treatment outcomes is noteworthy. The focus on progression free survival (PFS) as a primary endpoint is aligned with current oncological endpoints that prioritize the length of time during and after treatment that a patient lives with the disease without it getting worse. This metric is critical in assessing the efficacy of oncological treatments. The interim analysis for overall response rate (ORR) will provide an early indication of the vaccine's effectiveness, which could influence clinical practice and inform the design of subsequent trials.
The financial stability of IO Biotech, with cash reserves of $143.2 million providing an operational runway into Q4 2025, is crucial for investors. This runway indicates the company's ability to sustain operations without the immediate need for additional capital, which can be reassuring for stakeholders. The increased research and development expenses reflect the company's investment in clinical trials, which is a common pattern for biopharmaceutical companies at this stage. However, the net loss widening from $20.1 million to $26.2 million year-over-year suggests that investors should monitor the company's burn rate and future financing needs, especially as major trial milestones approach.
The advancement of IO102-IO103 through clinical trials is of particular interest within the competitive landscape of cancer immunotherapies. The therapeutic vaccine's progress, especially in combination therapies, may position IO Biotech favorably in the market if clinical outcomes are positive. The data presentations at major oncology conferences indicate the company's commitment to transparency and scientific engagement, which can enhance its reputation among clinicians and researchers. Additionally, the expansion of the Board of Directors with an experienced medical professional could provide strategic guidance as the company navigates the complex process of bringing a novel cancer vaccine to market.
- Completed enrollment of pivotal Phase 3 trial of lead investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine, IO102-IO103, in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), in patients with advanced melanoma; planned interim analysis for overall response rate (ORR) expected in third quarter of 2024 by independent data monitoring committee
- Progressed clinical development of IO102-IO103 with first patient dosed in Phase 2 basket trial of IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment of patients with resectable solid tumors
- Ended 2023 with cash and cash equivalents of approximately
$143.2 million ; expected operational runway into the fourth quarter of 2025
NEW YORK, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IO Biotech (Nasdaq: IOBT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win® platform, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year-ended December 31, 2023.
“In 2023, we reached a significant milestone in our pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating our lead therapeutic cancer vaccine, IO102-IO103, in combination with KEYTRUDA, completing enrollment in this trial in mid-November,” said Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D., President and CEO of IO Biotech. “The acceleration in enrollment observed in this study in the second half of 2023 is a testament to the need that exists today for more efficacious and better tolerated first-line treatment options for patients with advanced melanoma.”
Dr. Zocca continued, “The coming months will prove to be a critical period in the development of IO Biotech, with the outcome of the pivotal Phase 3 interim analysis expected in the third quarter of 2024, and, more importantly, the primary endpoint of progression free survival estimated to follow in the second half of 2025. Our team is dedicated to continuing our diligent work to efficiently bring IO102-IO103 to patients in need, potentially as early as 2025.”
Fourth Quarter 2023 and other Recent Highlights
- In November 2023, the company completed enrollment of 380 patients in its pivotal Phase 3 trial (IOB-013/KN-D18) of IO102-IO103 in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in advanced melanoma. The primary endpoint of the pivotal Phase 3 trial is progression free survival (PFS). The PFS analysis is event-driven and will be conducted when 226 events have occurred in the trial, which the company estimates will take place in the second half of 2025. Additionally, a planned interim analysis of overall response rate (ORR) will be conducted when the first 225 randomized patients reach one year of treatment in June 2024. The outcome of this analysis is expected in the third quarter of 2024.
- In December 2023, the first patient was dosed in the company’s Phase 2 solid tumor basket trial (IOB-032/PN-E40) studying treatment with IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab given before (neo-adjuvant) and after (adjuvant) surgery with curative intent in patients with resectable melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
- The company’s Phase 2 basket trial (IOB-022/KN-D38) evaluating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or recurrent or metastatic SCCHN is ongoing. Encouraging preliminary data that support the potential of IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as first-line treatment in NSCLC and SCCHN were presented at the IASLC 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in September 2023 and at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) annual meeting in October 2023.
- Progress continued in several investigator-initiated trials the company is supporting including dosing of the first patient in the Phase 2 trial evaluating its lead therapeutic cancer vaccine candidate, IO102-IO103, and pembrolizumab as neoadjuvant followed by adjuvant treatment of patients with SCCHN (NCT05977907), as well as continuing enrollment in both the Phase 2 trial of IO102-IO103 given in combination with nivolumab-relatlimab in patients with untreated, unresectable Stage III/IV melanoma (NCT05912244) and the Phase 1 study of the IO102-IO103 vaccine in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with BCG-unresponsive or intolerant high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NCT05843448).
- Three posters were presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s (SITC) 38th Annual Meeting in November 2023 with data providing further evidence of the differential biological impact of therapeutic vaccines IO102, IO103 and IO112.
- The company expanded its Board of Directors with the appointment of Helen Collins, MD in November 2023.
Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results
- Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2023, was
$26.2 million , compared to$20.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. - Research and development expenses were
$21.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to$14.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily related to clinical trial-related activities for the company’s IO102-IO103 therapeutic cancer vaccine candidate, including the continued execution of the company’s Phase 3 clinical trial. The company recognized$0.5 million in research and development equity-based compensation for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to$0.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. - General and administrative expenses were
$6.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to$6.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily related to personnel costs due to an increase in head count that was offset by a decrease in professional services, consultant and other costs. The company recognized$1.0 million in general and administrative equity-based compensation for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to$1.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. - Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 were
$143.2 million , compared to$142.6 million at December 31, 2022. During the three months ended December 31, 2023, the company used cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of$22.9 million from operating and investing activities.
About IO102-IO103
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) and/or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) 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 and Merck is supplying pembrolizumab. IO Biotech maintains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.
KEYTRUDA® is a 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 clinical trial of IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with previously untreated, unresectable or metastatic (advanced) melanoma, being conducted in collaboration with Merck. Patients have been enrolled from centers across the United States, Europe, Australia, Turkey, Israel and South Africa. The primary endpoint of the study is progression free survival. Biomarker analyses will also be conducted. IO Biotech is sponsoring the Phase 3 trial and Merck is supplying pembrolizumab. IO Biotech maintains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.
About the IOB-013/KN-D18 Clinical Trial Endpoints
The primary endpoint of the IOB-013/KN-D18 trial is progression free survival (PFS). The PFS analysis is event-driven and will be conducted when 226 events have occurred in the trial, which the company estimates will take place in the second half of 2025. Additionally, there is a planned per-protocol interim analysis of overall response rate when the first 225 randomized patients reach one year of treatment in mid-2024. The outcome of this analysis is expected in the third quarter of 2024. There is a high statistical bar for the Phase 3 interim analysis (p≤0.005), which was set to preserve most of the alpha for the primary endpoint of PFS. Regardless of the outcome of the interim analysis, the trial is designed to continue to the primary PFS endpoint.
About IO Biotech
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.
For further information, please visit www.iobiotech.com.
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 of the interim and primary analyses of the company’s Phase 3 trial, 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.
Contact:
Maryann Cimino, Director of Investor Relations
IO Biotech, Inc.
617-710-7305
mci@iobiotech.com
IO BIOTECH, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 21,770 | $ | 14,433 | $ | 67,829 | $ | 46,986 | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 6,413 | 5,955 | 23,614 | 24,438 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 28,183 | 20,388 | 91,443 | 71,424 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (28,183 | ) | (20,388 | ) | (91,443 | ) | (71,424 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income (expense) | ||||||||||||||||
| Currency exchange gain, net | 405 | 521 | 331 | 130 | ||||||||||||
| Interest income | 1,949 | 782 | 5,881 | 1,411 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | — | — | — | (302 | ) | |||||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | 2,354 | 1,303 | 6,212 | 1,239 | ||||||||||||
| Loss before income tax expense | (25,829 | ) | (19,085 | ) | (85,231 | ) | (70,185 | ) | ||||||||
| Income tax expense | 353 | 987 | 852 | 1,273 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | (26,182 | ) | (20,072 | ) | (86,083 | ) | (71,458 | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common shareholders | (26,182 | ) | (20,072 | ) | (86,083 | ) | (71,458 | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss per common share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.40 | ) | $ | (0.70 | ) | $ | (1.98 | ) | $ | (2.48 | ) | ||||
| Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted | 65,880,914 | 28,815,267 | 43,539,976 | 28,815,267 | ||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (loss) income | ||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (26,182 | ) | $ | (20,072 | ) | $ | (86,083 | ) | $ | (71,458 | ) | ||||
| Foreign currency translation | 204 | 3,775 | 472 | (8,652 | ) | |||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | $ | (25,978 | ) | $ | (16,297 | ) | $ | (85,611 | ) | $ | (80,110 | ) | ||||
IO BIOTECH, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 143,193 | $ | 142,590 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 4,062 | 5,629 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 147,255 | 148,219 | ||||||
| Restricted cash | 268 | 268 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 847 | 741 | ||||||
| Right of use lease asset | 2,259 | 2,493 | ||||||
| Other non-current assets | 89 | 84 | ||||||
| Total non-current assets | 3,463 | 3,586 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 150,718 | $ | 151,805 | ||||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 3,878 | $ | 4,004 | ||||
| Lease liability - current | 655 | 515 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 11,184 | 6,157 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 15,717 | 10,676 | ||||||
| Lease liability - non-current | 1,839 | 2,275 | ||||||
| Total non-current liabilities | 1,839 | 2,275 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 17,556 | 12,951 | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, par value of no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 | — | — | ||||||
| Common stock, par value of | 66 | 29 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 406,587 | 326,705 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (263,822 | ) | (177,739 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (9,669 | ) | (10,141 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 133,162 | 138,854 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 150,718 | $ | 151,805 | ||||
FAQ
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