Elicio Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Updates
- ELI-002 2P positive interim data from AMPLIFY-201 Phase 1 study presented at ASCO
- AMPLIFY-7P first patient dosed with ELI-002 7P
- Completed reverse merger becoming a publicly traded company on Nasdaq
- Anticipate releasing additional AMPLIFY-201 clinical data in second half 2023
BOSTON, Aug. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Elicio Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELTX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 and provided recent corporate and clinical updates.
“The second quarter represented a transformative period for Elicio as we became a public company and reported interim results for the first-in-human clinical trial of our cancer vaccine candidate ELI-002,” said Robert Connelly, Chief Executive Officer of Elicio. “We’ve seen strong interest and excitement from the oncology community following Dr. O’Reilly’s presentation at ASCO of the AMPLIFY-201 trial interim safety data and we look forward to sharing additional data from that ongoing trial later this year.”
Christopher Haqq, M.D., Ph.D., Elicio’s Chief Medical Officer, added, “The data presented at ASCO demonstrated ELI-002 was well-tolerated, and was able to generate robust KRAS-specific T-cell activity with significant reductions in tumor biomarker levels in pancreatic and colorectal cancer patients. Following up on the encouraging biomarker results from AMPLIFY-201, we look forward to reporting on key clinical outcomes including relapse-free survival and overall survival. In the near-term, we are capitalizing on the oncology community’s interest in the potential benefit of ELI-002 as we’ve seen strong enrollment in the Phase 1A of our AMPLIFY-7P trial and hope to continue that momentum when we initiate the Phase 1B monotherapy and anti-PD-1 combination therapy study.”
Corporate Updates
AMPLIFY-201 trial: Multicenter Phase 1 trial assessing the safety, immunogenicity, and antitumor activity of ELI-002 2P monotherapy in patients with mutant KRAS-driven solid tumors who are at high risk for relapse following standard surgery and chemotherapy.
- Completed enrollment of 25 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) or colorectal cancer (CRC)
- Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting interim Phase 1 results based on data available, as of April 2023, demonstrating that ELI-002 2P:
- is well tolerated with no dose limiting toxicity;
- induced mKRAS-specific T-cell response with an average 56-fold increase compared to baseline; and
- reduced tumor biomarkers in 77% of patients with 32% of patients achieving complete biomarker clearance.
AMPLIFY-7P trial: A multicenter Phase 1/2 trial assessing ELI-002 7P in patients with high relapse risk mutant KRAS-driven solid tumors. The ELI-002 7P formulation is designed to provide immune response coverage against seven of the most common KRAS mutations expanding the number of patients eligible for treatment and potentially reducing the chance of bypass resistance mechanisms.
- Initiated enrollment of up to 18 patients in Phase 1A arm to assess safety and dose of ELI-002 7P for further enrollment in the Phase 1B and Phase 2 arms.
AMP Platform: The Amphiphile platform, or AMP, delivers immunotherapeutics directly to the lymph nodes by “hitchhiking” on albumin and trafficking through the lymphatic system. Across various preclinical models the AMP platform has demonstrated lymph node-specific engagement driving immune responses of increased magnitude, function, and durability.
- Nature Communications publication1 of preclinical data supporting the utility of AMP platform in infectious disease:
- Lymph node targeting of Amph-CpG adjuvant with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) polypeptide immunogens induced broad humoral and cellular immunity
- Robust and durable polyfunctional EBV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells
- T-cell mediated protection against EBV-associated lymphoma in mouse model
Upcoming Anticipated Milestones
- AMPLIFY-201: Present additional analyses and data including T cell activity and relapse-free survival during the second half of 2023.
- AMPLIFY-7P: Initiate Phase 1B arm with recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) in the third quarter of 2023.
- ELI-008: Present initial preclinical proof of concept data for the p53 targeting cancer vaccine in the fourth quarter of 2023.
- ELI-002 7P: Begin start-up activities for combination protocol testing ELI-002 7P in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy for the treatment of KRAS-mutant PDAC in the fourth quarter of 2023.
- AMPLIFY-7P: Present initial interim data of ELI-002 7P monotherapy from Phase 1A arm in the first half of 2024.
Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
R&D Expense: R&D expense for the second quarter of 2023 was $4.9 million, compared to $5.0 million for the second quarter of 2022. The decrease in R&D expense was primarily due to the GIRF grant offsetting increased manufacturing and clinical trial expenses as the Company focused on ELI-002 clinical development.
G&A Expense: G&A expense for the second quarter of 2023 was $2.8 million, compared to $1.2 million for the second quarter of 2022. The increase in G&A expense was primarily attributable to professional fees and personnel expense associated with the reverse merger and operating as a public company.
Net Loss and Net Loss per Share: Net loss for the second quarter of 2023 was $7.6 million, compared to $7.3 million for the second quarter of 2022. Net loss per share for the second quarter of 2023 was $2.61 compared to $23.20 for the second quarter of 2022.
Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2023, were $21.7 million, compared to $6.2 million as of December 31, 2022.
1 Dasari, V., McNeil, L.K., Beckett, K. et al. Lymph node targeted multi-epitope subunit vaccine promotes effective immunity to EBV in HLA-expressing mice. Nat Commun 14, 4371 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39770-1
| ELICIO THERAPEUTICS, INC. | |||||||||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 4,944 | $ | 5,041 | $ | 10,428 | $ | 9,220 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 2,833 | 1,191 | 5,154 | 2,782 | |||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 7,777 | 6,232 | 15,582 | 12,002 | |||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (7,777 | ) | (6,232 | ) | (15,582 | ) | (12,002 | ) | |||||||
| Total other income (expense) | 218 | (1,067 | ) | (4 | ) | (2,357 | ) | ||||||||
| Net Loss | (7,559 | ) | (7,299 | ) | (15,586 | ) | (14,359 | ) | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income: | |||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | (2 | ) | — | (2 | ) | — | |||||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | (7,561 | ) | $ | (7,299 | ) | $ | (15,588 | ) | $ | (14,359 | ) | |||
| Net loss per common share, basic and diluted | $ | (2.61 | ) | $ | (23.20 | ) | $ | (9.65 | ) | $ | (45.85 | ) | |||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 2,893,291 | 314,572 | 1,615,796 | 313,148 | |||||||||||
| ELICIO THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||
| (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||
| Assets | June 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 21,682 | $ | 6,156 | ||
| Other current assets | 4,543 | 4,561 | ||||
| Total current assets | 26,225 | 10,717 | ||||
| Other assets | 11,394 | 11,947 | ||||
| Total assets | $ | 37,619 | $ | 22,664 | ||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | ||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 7,597 | $ | 6,868 | ||
| Long-term liabilities | 6,465 | 6,871 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 14,062 | 13,749 | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) | 23,557 | (102,145 | ) | |||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 37,619 | $ | 22,664 | ||
About Elicio Therapeutics
Elicio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. By combining expertise in immunology and immunotherapy, Elicio is engineering investigational Amphiphile (AMP) immunotherapies intended to precisely target and fully engage the lymph nodes, the site in our bodies where the immune response is orchestrated. Elicio is engineering lymph node-targeted AMPlifiers, immunomodulators, adjuvants and vaccines for an array of aggressive cancers.
Elicio began dosing subjects in AMPLIFY-201, its Phase 1 clinical trial in solid tumor subjects for its lead AMP vaccine, ELI-002 2P, targeting mKRAS-driven cancers, in October 2021 and began dosing subjects with the new formulation, ELI-002 7P, in April 2023. The AMP platform emerged from the laboratories of Darrell Irvine, Howard Hughes Investigator and Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the Koch Institute of Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
About the Amphiphile Platform
Our proprietary Amphiphile, or AMP, platform delivers investigational immunotherapeutics directly to the “brain center” of the immune system – the lymph nodes. We believe this site-specific delivery of disease-specific antigens, adjuvants and other immunomodulators may efficiently educate, activate and amplify critical immune cells, potentially resulting in induction and persistence of potent adaptive immunity required to treat many diseases. In preclinical models, we have observed lymph node-specific engagement driving therapeutic immune responses of increased magnitude, function and durability. We believe our AMP lymph node-targeted approach will produce superior clinical benefits compared to immunotherapies that do not engage the lymph nodes based upon preclinical studies.
Our AMP platform, originally developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has broad potential in the cancer space to advance a number of development initiatives through internal activities, in-licensing arrangements or development collaborations and partnerships.
The Amphiphile platform has been shown to deliver immunotherapeutics directly to the lymph nodes by latching on to the protein albumin, found in the bloodstream, as it travels to lymphatic tissue. In preclinical models, we have observed lymph node-specific engagement driving immune responses of increased magnitude, function and durability.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this communication regarding matters that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, known as the PSLRA. These include statements regarding Elicio’s planned clinical programs, including planned clinical trials, the potential of Elicio’s product candidates, and other statements regarding management’s intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or forecasts for the future, and, therefore, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Elicio undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. We use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “projects,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “guidance,” and similar expressions to identify these forward-looking statements that are intended to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA. Such forward-looking statements are based on our expectations and involve risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, Elicio’s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, including ELI-002; the timing of initiation of Elicio’s planned clinical trials; the timing of the availability of data from Elicio’s clinical trials; the timing of any planned investigational new drug application or new drug application; Elicio’s plans to research, develop and commercialize its current and future product candidates; Elicio’s ability to successfully collaborate with existing collaborators or enter into new collaborations, and to fulfill its obligations under any such collaboration agreements; the clinical utility, potential benefits and market acceptance of Elicio’s product candidates; Elicio’s commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; Elicio’s ability to identify additional products or product candidates with significant commercial potential; developments and projections relating to Elicio’s competitors and our industry; the impact of government laws and regulations; Elicio’s ability to protect its intellectual property position; and Elicio’s estimates regarding future revenue, expenses, capital requirements and need for additional financing.
New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, nor can we assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. These risks are more fully discussed in the current report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on June 2, 2023 and Elicio’s periodic reports and other documents filed from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Elicio as of the date of this release. Elicio does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, except to the extent required by law.
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