LAVA Therapeutics Provides Business Update and Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2021 Financial Results
LAVA Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq: LVTX) reported promising developments in its clinical trials for LAVA-051 and LAVA-1207, with initial safety data showing no dose-limiting toxicities. The company also introduced a new pipeline candidate, LAVA-1266, targeting hematological malignancies. As of December 31, 2021, LAVA's financial position strengthened with cash and investments totaling $133.2 million, a significant increase from $15.8 million in 2020. However, the company reported a net loss of $45.3 million for 2021, reflecting rising operational expenses.
- Initial safety data for LAVA-051 shows no dose-limiting toxicities.
- Strengthened financial position with $133.2 million in cash and investments.
- Introduction of new pipeline candidate LAVA-1266 for hematological malignancies.
- Net loss of $45.3 million for the year 2021, up from $15.5 million in 2020.
- Research and development expenses increased significantly to $37.2 million in 2021.
- LAVA-051 shows encouraging initial safety and pharmacodynamic observations; on track for more dose escalation data from Phase 1/2a trial in Q2 2022
- LAVA-1207 Phase 1/2a trial in mCRPC on track to report initial data in H2 2022
- New pipeline program: LAVA-1266, a CD123-directed Gammabody™ for hematological malignancies
- Strong balance sheet with cash and investments of
$133.2 million as of December 31, 2021
UTRECHT, The Netherlands and PHILADELPHIA, March 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LAVA Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq: LVTX), an immuno-oncology company focused on developing its proprietary Gammabody™ platform of bispecific gamma delta T cell engagers to transform the treatment of cancer, today announced recent corporate highlights and financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.
“I am incredibly proud of our LAVA team and the steady advancements we’ve made in the continued development of our Gammabody™ pipeline, despite the challenging times of the last year,” said Stephen Hurly, president and chief executive officer. “With the encouraging LAVA-051 initial safety and pharmacodynamic observations and the LAVA-1207 study now actively recruiting patients, we are focused on execution and delivering potential product and platform-validating milestones this year and preparing our early-stage Gammabody™ pipeline for the clinic. We remain focused on our mission to efficiently develop transformative treatments for those suffering from cancer.”
Recent Business and Pipeline Highlights
LAVA-051 Shows Encouraging Initial Safety and Pharmacodynamic Observations: In March 2022, LAVA announced interim data from the first three single patient cohorts of the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of its Phase 1/2a clinical trial, which we believe demonstrated that the doses of LAVA-051 used in these initial cohorts were safe and well-tolerated with no dose limiting toxicities or cytokine release syndrome observed. Per the study protocol, the cohort three dose was 33-times that of the cohort one dose. Vγ9Vδ2 (Vgamma9 Vdelta2) T cell receptor occupancy of LAVA-051 increased with LAVA-051 dose increases and peripheral blood Vγ9Vδ2 T cells also expressed higher levels of activation markers after LAVA-051 dosing. One patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) experienced multiple enlarged tender diseased lymph nodes one week after first dosing that subsequently regressed, reminiscent of tumor flare. Dosing in the study is continuing, with subsequent cohorts planned to enroll at least three patients per cohort. Additional data from the Phase 1 dose escalation phase of the trial is expected in the second quarter of 2022 and data from the Phase 2a expansion cohorts are expected in the second half of 2022.
The Phase 1/2a clinical trial (NCT04887259) is currently evaluating LAVA-051 in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM). Later in the trial, LAVA will also include patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity and preliminary antitumor activity of LAVA-051. In October 2021, the company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug designation to LAVA-051 for the treatment of CLL.
Enrollment in LAVA-1207 Phase 1/2a Trial Underway: In February 2022, LAVA announced it had initiated dosing in the Company’s open-label, multi-center, Phase 1/2a clinical trial evaluating LAVA-1207 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and enrollment is ongoing. LAVA-1207 is a Gammabody™ that conditionally activates Vγ9Vδ2 T cells upon crosslinking to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) to trigger the potent and preferential killing of PSMA-positive tumor cells. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity and preliminary antitumor activity of LAVA-1207 in patients with mCRPC. The Phase 1 dose-escalation phase of the study will determine the recommended Phase 2 dose/schedule to be used in the subsequent Phase 2a expansion cohort to confirm safety and tolerability of LAVA-1207 in mCRPC patients. Data from the Phase 1 dose escalation phase of the trial are expected in the second half of 2022 and data from the Phase 2a expansion cohort are expected in the first half of 2023.
Early-Stage Pipeline Development: In addition to LAVA’s two lead programs, the Company is developing a portfolio of earlier stage Gammabody™ programs including LAVA-1223, a Gammabody™ directed at the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for the treatment of solid tumors, for which a clinical trial application (CTA) is planned for late 2022. There is potential for targeting several EGFR-expressing tumors with LAVA-1223, including: colorectal cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
LAVA today announces the addition of LAVA-1266, a CD123 Gammabody™, to its pipeline for the treatment of hematological malignancies. A CTA is planned for late 2023. CD123 is overexpressed in a wide range of hematological malignancies, including AML, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Fourth Quarter and Annual Financial Results
- As of December 31, 2021, LAVA had cash, cash equivalents and investments totaling
$133.2 million compared to cash and cash equivalents of$15.8 million as of December 31, 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to proceeds from the Series C financing and subsequent IPO during the first quarter of 2021, partially offset by operating expenses. - Research and license revenue was solely attributable to the company’s collaboration with Janssen Biotech, Inc. which was entered into in May 2020.
- Research and development expenses were
$6.9 million and$37.2 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2021, respectively, compared to$5.2 million and$15.7 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020. The increase for the quarter was primarily due to increases in clinical trial, headcount and other costs incurred in connection with advancing our lead Gammabody™ clinical candidates, LAVA-051 and LAVA-1207, into human clinical trials. The increase for the year also includes$14.4 million in license fees triggered by the IPO, most of which will be paid on the first and second anniversaries of our IPO and may be paid in either cash or common stock of the Company.
- General and administrative expenses were
$3.9 million and$12.2 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2021, compared to general administrative expenses of$0.4 million and$2.7 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2020. The increases for the quarter and year were primarily due to increases in personnel-related costs, non-cash share-based compensation expense and additional insurance, professional and consultant fees incurred in connection with being a publicly traded company in the United States. - Net losses were
$9.9 million and$3.7 million , or$0.38 and$12.97 loss per share for the quarters ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively and were$45.3 million and$15.5 million , or$2.30 and$38.85 loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
LAVA Therapeutics N.V.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss (unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Revenue: | |||||||||||||||
| Research and license revenue | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 3,500 | |||||||
| Total revenue | 1,000 | 2,000 | 5,000 | 3,500 | |||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development | (6,882 | ) | (5,190 | ) | (37,193 | ) | (15,701 | ) | |||||||
| General and administrative | (3,910 | ) | (429 | ) | (12,160 | ) | (2,719 | ) | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | (10,792 | ) | (5,619 | ) | (49,353 | ) | (18,420 | ) | |||||||
| Operating loss | (9,792 | ) | (3,619 | ) | (44,353 | ) | (14,920 | ) | |||||||
| Non-operating expenses | (1 | ) | 7 | (837 | ) | (543 | ) | ||||||||
| Loss before income tax | (9,793 | ) | (3,612 | ) | (45,190 | ) | (15,463 | ) | |||||||
| Income tax expense | (58 | ) | (43 | ) | (157 | ) | (43 | ) | |||||||
| Net loss | $ | (9,851 | ) | $ | (3,655 | ) | $ | (45,347 | ) | $ | (15,506 | ) | |||
| Net loss per share: | |||||||||||||||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.38 | ) | $ | (12.97 | ) | $ | (2.30 | ) | $ | (38.85 | ) | |||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 25,775,538 | 281,775 | 19,758,169 | 399,126 | |||||||||||
LAVA Therapeutics N.V.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited)
(in thousands)
| As of December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||
| Non-current assets | $ | 2,742 | $ | 2,264 | ||||
| Other current assets | 3,302 | 2,404 | ||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and investments | 133,203 | 15,818 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 139,247 | $ | 20,486 | ||||
| Equity and Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Total Equity | $ | 118,367 | $ | 7,621 | ||||
| Deferred revenue | 1,527 | 6,176 | ||||||
| Lease liabilities | 581 | 478 | ||||||
| License liabilities | 10,056 | — | ||||||
| Borrowings | 4,284 | 3,604 | ||||||
| Trade payables and other | 2,553 | 934 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 1,879 | 1,673 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 20,880 | 12,865 | ||||||
| Total equity and liabilities | $ | 139,247 | $ | 20,486 | ||||
About LAVA Therapeutics
LAVA Therapeutics N.V. is an immuno-oncology company utilizing its proprietary Gammabody™ platform to develop a portfolio of bispecific gamma delta T cell engagers for the potential treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The Company’s innovative approach utilizes bispecific antibodies engineered to selectively kill cancer cells via the triggering of Vγ9Vδ2 (Vgamma9 Vdelta2) T cell antitumor effector functions upon cross-linking to tumor associated antigens. A Phase 1/2a clinical study evaluating LAVA-051 in patients with certain hematological malignancies is currently enrolling (NCT04887259). The Company currently anticipates additional data from the Phase 1 dose escalation phase of the LAVA-051 study in the second quarter of 2022 and data from the Phase 2a expansion cohorts in the second half of 2022. A Phase 1/2a clinical study to evaluate LAVA-1207 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is enrolling with data from the Phase 1 dose escalation phase of the trial expected in the second half of 2022 and data from the Phase 2a expansion cohort in the first half of 2023. For more information, please visit www.lavatherapeutics.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
LAVA’s Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including in respect to the company’s anticipated growth and clinical developments plans, including the timing of clinical trials. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “will,” “may,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “potential” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on LAVA’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about the preclinical data, clinical development and scope of clinical trials, and the potential use of our product candidates to treat various tumor targets. Many factors, risks and uncertainties may cause differences between current expectations and actual results including, among other things, the timing and results of our research and development programs and preclinical and clinical trials, our ability to obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize our product candidates, our ability to leverage our initial programs to develop additional product candidates using our Gammabody™ platform, and the failure of LAVA’s collaborators to support or advance collaborations or our product candidates. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt our business and that of the third parties on which we depend, including delaying or otherwise disrupting our clinical trials and preclinical studies, manufacturing and supply chain, or impairing employee productivity. LAVA assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.
| CONTACTS | |
| Edward Smith | Catherine Day |
| Chief Financial Officer | +1-917-763-2709 |
| ir@lavatherapeutics.com | catherine@newdaybioconsulting.com |
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