Skip to main content

AI assistant

Sign in to chat with this filing

The assistant answers questions, extracts KPIs, and summarises risk factors directly from the filing text.

Zelluna ASA Earnings Release 2024

May 7, 2024

3779_rns_2024-05-07_b92e986d-83f4-45f5-bae1-8599cc982c56.pdf

Earnings Release

Open in viewer

Opens in your device viewer

Empower the Immune System to Fight Cancer

First Quarter 2024 Business Update and Financial Results

Ultimovacs ASA, May 7, 2024

Carlos de Sousa, CEO / Jens Bjørheim, CMO / Hans Vassgård Eid, CFO

This presentation has been prepared by Ultimovacs ASA ("Ultimovacs" or the "Company") for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell common shares of the Company or a recommendation in relation to the shares of the Company. Neither shall the presentation or any part of it, nor the fact of its distribution or communication, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with any contract, commitment or investment decision in relation thereto.

This presentation contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this presentation are forward-looking statements and as such, are based on management's current expectations and beliefs about future events at the date of this presentation. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "hope," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results or achievements to differ materially from the events, results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, recipients of this presentation are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The information included in this presentation may be subject to updating, completion, revision and amendment, and such information may change materially. Except as required by law, we are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this presentation to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations.

No representation or warranty (express or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information and opinions contained in this presentation, no reliance should be placed on such information. Neither Ultimovacs nor any of its owners, affiliates advisors or representatives accept any responsibility, liability or loss whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this presentation.

By accepting this presentation, you acknowledge that you are solely responsible for your own assessment of the market and the market position of the Company and that you will conduct your own analysis and be solely responsible for forming your own view of the potential future performance of the Company's business.

Contents

Introduction

  • Clinical update
  • Financial update
  • Newsflow

INTRODUCTION

First quarter 2024 – Summary

  • We remain confident in UV1's potential and are committed to bringing Ultimovacs across the next important data points, FOCUS and DOVACC results
    • Positive Phase I data with UV1
    • NIPU: UV1 demonstrated clinically relevant beneficial differences in risk of death and objective response rates. Positive feedback from investigators and regulatory authorities.
    • Immunotherapies regularly fail in some indications while succeeding in other ones it is standard development practice to evaluate multiple indications simultaneously, when MoA has broad potential
  • Phase II program: Data-driven approach with five randomized controlled trials in various indications. Nearterm topline results expected from Phase II trials
    • FOCUS: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Enrollment complete, readout expected Q3 2024
    • DOVACC: Second-line treatment of ovarian cancer: Enrolling, readout expected H1 2025
  • The negative INITIUM results have had important consequences for the Company. Implemented cash preservation initiatives extends the anticipated financial runway to the fourth quarter of 2025, beyond the anticipated topline readout of the FOCUS and DOVACC trials

UV1 regulatory designations in mesothelioma

  • EMA Orphan Drug Designation has been granted to UV1 for treatment of mesothelioma (February 2024)
  • FDA Fast Track Designation has been granted for UV1 as add-on therapy to ipilimumab and nivolumab for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (February 2024)
  • FDA Orphan Drug Designation has been granted to UV1 for treatment of mesothelioma (October 2023)

CLINICAL STRATEGY

Investigating UV1 across cancer indications and combinations

01 Clinical update

Phase II program: Capture Broad Potential and Right Development Path

  • Positive Phase I data with UV1
    • Robust and long-lasting immune responses after UV1 vaccination
    • Apparent synergy with checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs)
    • Strong efficacy signals and beneficial safety profile support development in Phase II trials
  • Strategy for clinical program in Phase II
    • Objectives: Capture broad potential and right development path for UV1
        1. Multiple trials in different indications where telomerase is expressed
        1. Multiple endpoints to capture UV1 efficacy and define the best Phase III design
        1. Multiple CPI combinations both dual and single agent
        1. Extensive patient tissue sampling to characterize treatment effect

Rationale behind different combination approaches

Anti-CTLA-4 and PD-1

INITIUM and NIPU trials

  • Most effective SoC immunotherapy in immunogenic solid tumors
    • Represents an opportunity to improve on best-in-class CPIs thereby setting a new efficacy standard
    • Higher hurdle to improve efficacy (already a high bar)
  • Mechanistically, anti-CTLA-4 is hypothesized to generate stronger vaccine-induced T cell responses
  • The CPI combination comes with significant toxicities and current indications are limited

Anti-PD-1/L1

FOCUS, DOVACC, and LUNGVAC trials

  • Widely established SoC in multiple indications (>35)
  • Lack of anti-tumor T cell responses firmly established as an efficacy bottleneck
    • Strong rationale for adding UV1 to strengthen and extend efficacy to more patients (e.g. PD-L1 negative as in the 103 trial)
  • Additional treatments on top of PD-1/L1 have been shown to improve outcomes for patients as compared to PD-1/L1 alone
  • Lower hurdle to improve efficacy
  • Competitive space with multiple agents being tested in combination with PD-1 vs. PD-1 alone

Rationale behind different combination approaches

A wide-ranging randomized controlled UV1 Phase II program

Primary endpoint: Progression-free survival

Secondary endpoints: Overall survival, objective response rate, duration of response, safety

NIPU: Second-line malignant pleural mesothelioma

Sponsor: Oslo University Hospital Contributors: BMS, Ultimovacs Sites and countries: Six hospitals in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Australia NCT04300244

12

Non-Confidential

Milestones:

• Safety

Madrid, October 2023

Primary endpoint:

(BICR)

alpha 0.1

events occurs

• Overall survival

Secondary endpoints:

• Progression-free survival

• Blinded independent central review

• Target HR 0.6, power 80%, 1-sided

• Objective response rate (per BICR)

• Event-driven design, read-out when 69

Results presented at the ESMO Congress in

Status:

Enrollment completed between June 2020 and January 2023

Encouraging response rate and survival outcomes

No added toxicity compared to ipilimumab and nivolumab alone

• Safety profile of UV1 plus ipilimumab and nivolumab is comparable to that of ipilimumab and nivolumab alone

Primary endpoint progression-free survival not met according to BICR

• Analysis of progression-free survival (PFS) failed to demonstrate statistical significance according to blinded independent central review (BICR). Investigator assessment performed as a pre-defined supportive analysis at the study hospitals, showed an improved PFS in patients receiving UV1 vaccination for all histological subtypes combined, and for the epithelioid subtype especially (Eur J Cancer March 2024)

Clinically relevant improvements on secondary endpoints:

  • Improved survival: The combination UV1 plus ipilimumab and nivolumab improved overall survival, reducing the risk of death by 27%
  • Reduced tumor burden: The combination UV1 plus ipilimumab and nivolumab gave an objective response rate of 31%, as compared to 16% with ipilimumab and nivolumab alone (per BICR)
  • Granted FDA Fast Track Designation and EMA Orphan Drug designation based on the trial results

Conclusion:

• Lead investigators conclusion and regulatory authority feedback warrant further development of UV1 in mesothelioma

INITIUM: First-line advanced melanoma

Sponsor: Ultimovacs Sites and countries: 39 hospitals in US, UK, Belgium and Norway NCT02275416

14

Non-Confidential

Milestones:

• Safety

T cells

Primary endpoint:

• Progression-free survival

followed for 18 months

• Objective response rate

Secondary endpoints:

• Overall survival

• Blinded independent central review (BICR) • Target HR 0.6, power 80%, 1-sided alpha 0.1

Results will provide in-depth data on biological activity and mode of action of the vaccine-induced

• Read-out when all patients have been

June

Topline results reported in March 2024, abstract will be presented at ASCO 2024 in

Status:

Enrollment completed between June 2020 – July 2022

No added toxicity compared to ipilimumab and nivolumab alone

• Safety profile of UV1 plus ipilimumab and nivolumab is comparable to that of ipilimumab and nivolumab alone

Topline read-out

  • Ipilimumab and nivolumab demonstrated unprecedented and unexpected efficacy in this population based on historical data
  • Primary and secondary endpoint results does not warrant further development of UV1 in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab in unresectable advanced melanoma
  • UV1 did not provide efficacy on top of ipilimumab and nivolumab in the INITIUM trial. Malignant melanoma is a highly immunogenic tumor type where expansion of T cells by ipilimumab and nivolumab only, may be sufficient to control tumor growth

INITIUM Supplementary Study

• The study will provide in-depth data on biologic activity and mode of action of the T cells induced by the UV1 vaccination on top of ipilimumab and nivolumab.

Next in line: UV1 in combination with single agent PD-1/L1

Secondary endpoints: Overall survival, objective response rate, duration of response, safety

FOCUS: First-line head and neck cancer

Sponsor: Halle University Hospital Network Contributors: Ultimovacs Sites and countries: 10 hospitals in Germany NCT05075122

17

Non-Confidential

Milestones:

• Safety

of response

Primary endpoint:

Secondary endpoints:

months

Topline results expected Q3 2024

• Progression-free survival rate at 6

• Secondary endpoints analyzed with a minimum follow-up of ~12 months • Overall survival and progression-free survival per Kaplan-Meier analysis • Objective response rate and duration

Includes readout of all endpoints up to 12 months and primary endpoint at 6 months

Status:

Enrollment completed between August 2021 – August 2023

FOCUS: Background

  • Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) refers to a group of malignancies arising from the linings of the head and neck region (oral cavity, pharynx, lip, sinuses, and salivary glands)
  • HNSCC is the 7th most common cancer globally (appx. 890.000 new cases in 2020)
  • Telomerase highly expressed to confer cancer cell survival in HNSCC
  • Pembrolizumab considered a standard of care of first-line treatment of patients with PD-L1 positive (>1%) HNSCC

DOVACC: Relapsed ovarian cancer

Sponsor: NSGO/ENGOT Contributors: AstraZeneca, Ultimovacs Sites and countries: 35 hospitals, 10 countries in Europe NCT04742075

Non-Confidential 19

Milestones:

• Safety

Primary endpoint:

• Overall survival

Secondary endpoints:

• Progression-free survival

• Objective response rate • Duration of response

Topline results expected H1 2025

Status:

First patient enrolled in December 2021 Enrollment per Q1 2024 reporting: 99 patients (>50%)

  • Ovarian cancer is a malignancy arising from surface epithelium in the ovaries. It is the second most common gynecologic malignancy and is the leading cause of death from gynaecological cancer.
  • Ovarian cancer is the 18th most common cancer overall
  • Standard treatment for advanced ovarian cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, PARP-inhibitors and bevacizumab.
  • Several studies have shown added efficacy with parp-inhibitor and check point inhibitor combination
  • Telomerase is highly expressed in ovarian cancer to confer cancer cell survival

LUNGVAC: First-line non-small cell lung cancer

Sponsor: Drammen Hospital Contributors: Ultimovacs Sites and countries: 9 hospitals in Norway NCT05344209

21

Non-Confidential

Milestones:

• Safety

Primary endpoint:

• Overall survival

Progression-free survival

• Objective response rate • Duration of response

Secondary endpoints:

Topline results expected H1 2026

Status:

First patient enrolled in October 2022 Enrollment per Q1 2024 reporting: 27 patients (20%)

02 Financial update

Q1 2024 Key Financials

Cash and liquidity

  • MNOK 220/MUSD 20 in cash by end of Q1 2024
  • Activity level prioritization and operational adjustments are implemented to sustain the financial runway, including a workforce reduction of approximately 40%.
  • The cash preservation initiatives extend the anticipated cash runway to the fourth quarter of 2025, beyond the anticipated topline readout of the FOCUS and DOVACC trials.
  • Based on current plans and forecast, the cash burn rate is estimated to be approximately 15 MNOK per quarter towards the end of 2025

EBIT and PBT

  • EBIT: Q1 2024 MNOK -29
  • Profit before tax: Q1 2024 MNOK -23

Operating expenses – development and variations

  • R&D and IPR expenses: Slightly lower in Q1 2024 than the previous quarters
  • Going forward, the operating expense level should be expected to continue at a fairly high level for some time, before operational adjustments and workforce reductions start having effect in the second half of 2024.

P&L and Cash

Comments

Key financials per Q1-2024 - Ultimovacs Group

NOK (000) Q1-23 Q1-24 FY23
Total revenues - - -
Payroll and payroll related expenses
- Payroll expenses not incl. option costs and grants
21 002
14 652
-2 425
15 445
75 130
56 314
- Share option costs and public grants
External R&D and IPR expenses (incl. grants)
6 350
23 707
-17 871
24 589
18 816
121 145
Other operating expenses (incl. depreciation) 6 053 6 484 19 460
Total operating expenses 50 763 28 647 215 736
Operating profit (loss) -50 763 -28 647 -215 736
Net financial items 16 652 5 895 26 497
Profit (loss) before tax -34 111 -22 752 -189 239
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash eq.
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
-33 952
405 528
-43 659
219 962
-177 640
266 559
Number of FTEs at end of period 24 25 25

Payroll expenses

  • Due to a significant one-off item, total payroll expenses were lower in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023 (a negative cost of MNOK 2.4 in Q1 2024 vs MNOK 21 in Q1 2023):
    • Regular salary costs: slightly higher in Q1 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to one more FTE in 2024 and regular annual salary adjustment.
    • Share option costs: due to the significant drop in the company share price in Q1 2024, the social security tax accrual related to share options, which fluctuates with the Company share price, was fully reversed, resulting in a positive accounting effect of MNOK 21.0 (cost reduction). This accounting element explains most of the difference between Q1 2024 and Q1 2023.

External R&D and IPR expenses

• Approximately at the same level as in the corresponding quarter the previous year. The main drivers of R&D costs in Q1 2024 were the INITIUM trial and manufacturing (CMC) activities.

Other operating expenses

• No major changes from previous year

Net financial items

• Comprised primarily of interest from bank and net foreign exchange gains (from EUR account and EUR/NOK future contracts)

• Net cash of MNOK 220 by the end of Q1 2024

Note: excluding incoming public grants

NOK (000) – Negative amounts

Comments

  • Negative operating cash-flow in Q1 2024 was appr. MNOK -46, higher than EBIT of MNOK -23, primarily due to the reversal of the social security tax approval related to share options of MNOK 21.
  • Continued quarterly variations should be expected. It is, however, expected that the cash flow on average will decrease significantly the next quarters compared to previous quarters due to implementation of cash preservation initiatives and completion of activities.

Key financials per Q1-2024 - Ultimovacs Group

NOK (000) Q1-23 Q2-23 Q3-23 Q4-23 Q1-24
Total revenues - - - - -
Payroll and payroll related expenses 21 002 4 359 24 518 25 251 -2 425
- Payroll expenses not incl. option costs and grants 14 652 10 808 14 751 16 103 15 445
- Share option costs and public grants 6 350 -6 449 9 767 9 148 -17 871
External R&D and IPR expenses (incl. grants) 23 707 40 944 26 831 29 663 24 589
Other operating expenses (incl. depreciation) 6 053 5 338 3 356 4 713 6 484
Total operating expenses 50 763 50 641 54 705 59 626 28 647
Operating profit (loss) -50 763 -50 641 -54 705 -59 626 -28 647
Net financial items 16 652 7 266 -1 117 3 695 5 895
Profit (loss) before tax -34 111 -43 375 -55 822 -55 931 -22 752
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents* -33 952 -67 185 -37 583 -38 919 -43 659
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 405 528 344 104 300 273 266 559 219 962
Number of FTEs at end of period 24 25 25 25 25

INTRODUCTION

Newsflow and milestones

Ultimovacs is Committed to Bringing UV1 Across the Next Major Value Inflection Points

  • We remain confident in UV1's potential and are committed to bringing Ultimovacs across the next important data points, FOCUS and DOVACC results
  • The investigators in the ongoing trials are also committed to bringing UV1 across the next important data points
  • Our strategy for the development of UV1 that focuses on a Randomized Controlled Phase II program exploring diverse cancer types and immunotherapy combinations remains unchanged and proves that broad programs are important as we can expect different outcomes in a standard clinical development
  • We are on course with our UV1 Phase II program: Data from the next Phase II trials with UV1 in various cancer indications, and as add-on to different immunotherapy combination, are expected in Q3 2024 and H1 2025
  • The cash preservation initiatives extend the anticipated cash runway to the fourth quarter of 2025, beyond the anticipated topline readout of the FOCUS and DOVACC trials.