Form: 8-K

Current report filing

March 25, 2021

EXHIBIT 99.1

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Description automatically generated

Heat Biologics Provides Year-End Business Update

Durham, NC – March 25, 2021 Heat Biologics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTBX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class therapies to modulate the immune system, including multiple oncology product candidates and a novel COVID-19 vaccine, today provided financial, clinical and operational updates for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Jeff Wolf, Chief Executive Officer of Heat, commented, “We made tremendous progress on our clinical programs in 2020. Earlier this year, we reported positive interim data from our Phase 2 non-small cell lung cancer trial of HS-110, which demonstrated evidence of substantial survival benefit. We are currently evaluating possible Phase 3 registration pathways for HS-110 in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor and intend to review these plans with the FDA as well as potential partners. In 2020, we initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of our PTX-35 first-in-class antibody therapeutic in patients with solid tumors. Leveraging our proprietary gp96 platform and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we initiated a COVID-19 vaccine program in collaboration with the University of Miami and have advanced this program into scale-up manufacturing. We have a strong balance sheet with approximately $132 million of cash, which should allow us to accelerate our current clinical programs and enhance our development and manufacturing capability to expand our therapeutic portfolio. We look forward executing key milestones in our growing pipeline in 2021.”

Pipeline Highlights and Updates

HS-110

In previously treated, checkpoint inhibitor naïve patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Cohort A, N = 47), the median overall survival (OS) observed was 24.6 months was with a median follow-up time of 19.4 months and the one-year survival rate was 61.7%.
o The median OS data was 12.2 months and the 1-year survival rate was 50.7% in previously treated, advanced NSCLC patients who received nivolumab as a single agent, according to published data of the BMS CheckMate 057 study1.
o The addition of HS-110 to a checkpoint inhibitor has the potential to improve survival benefit for checkpoint inhibitor naïve NSCLC patients.
For NSCLC patients who had previously been treated with a checkpoint inhibitor and whose disease had subsequently progressed (Cohort B, N = 68), a median OS of 11.9 months was observed.
o Published data from other studies reported median OS of 6.8 to 9.0 months for NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapies after PD-(L)1 progression2,3.
o NSCLC patients whose disease progresses following checkpoint inhibitor therapy have limited treatment options4.
o The addition of HS-110 to a checkpoint inhibitor has the potential to improve survival benefit for NSCLC patients whose disease progressed following treatment with PD-(L)1 therapy.
As of this data cut, there were no treatment-emergent serious adverse reactions related to HS-110.


PTX-35

In June 2020, the Company initiated a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating PTX-35.
PTX-35 is a novel, potential first-in-class antibody T-cell co-stimulator targeting TNFRSF25 (death receptor 3), a receptor that is preferentially expressed by antigen-experienced T cells. TNFRSF25 agonism leads to activation of antigen-experienced memory CD8+ T cells, which are instrumental for tumor destruction.

COVID-19

In March 2020, the Company initiated a COVID-19 vaccine program leveraging its proprietary gp96 technology platform in collaboration with University of Miami.
Positive preclinical data demonstrated a robust T-cell mediated immune response directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, including induction of systemic and tissue-specific memory CD8+ T-cells and tissue-resident memory CD8+ T-cells in the lung.
The Company has initiated manufacturing of ZVX-60 and is conducting IND-enabling activities.

2020 Financial Results

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had approximately $111.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Research and development expenses stayed consistent at $12.9 million and $13.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
General and administrative expense increased approximately 59% to $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $9.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase of $5.5 million is primarily due to the increase in personnel and stock compensation expense.
Net loss attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc. was $26.0 million, or ($1.63) per basic and diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to a net loss attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc. of $20.0 million, or ($4.21) per basic and diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2019.


About Heat Biologics, Inc.

Heat Biologics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class therapies to modulate the immune system. The Company's gp96 platform is designed to activate immune responses against cancer or infectious diseases. The Company has multiple product candidates in development leveraging the gp96 platform, including HS-110, which has completed enrollment in its Phase 2 trial, and a COVID-19 vaccine program in preclinical development. In addition, Heat Biologics is also developing a pipeline of proprietary immunomodulatory antibodies and cell-based therapies, including PTX-35 and HS-130 in Phase 1 clinical trials.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 on our current expectations and projections about future events. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions. These statements are based upon current beliefs, expectation, and assumptions and include statements such as the Heat’s strong balance sheet allowing it to accelerate its current clinical programs and enhance our development and manufacturing capability to expand its therapeutic portfolio, he addition of HS-110 to a checkpoint inhibitor to improve survival benefit for NSCLC patients whose disease progressed following treatment with PD-(L)1 therapy,  and possible Phase 3 registration pathways of HS-110 in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor and intended discussion of these plans with the FDA as well as potential partners. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict, including the ability of HS-110 when added to a checkpoint inhibitor to improve survival benefit for NSCLC patients whose disease progressed following treatment with PD-(L)1 therapy, the ability of Heat to successfully design a registrational pathway for HS-110, the ability of Heat's platform to have utility for NSCLC and potentially other types of cancer , the ability of Heat to accelerate its current clinical programs and enhance its development and manufacturing capability to expand its therapeutic portfolio, Heat's vaccine platform to provide protection against COVID-19, the ability of Heat's therapies to perform as designed, to demonstrate safety and efficacy, as well as results that are consistent with prior results, the ability to enroll patients and complete the clinical trials on time and achieve desired results and benefits, especially in light of COVID-19, Heat's ability to obtain regulatory approvals for commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, regulatory limitations relating to Heat's ability to promote or commercialize its product candidates for specific indications, acceptance of its product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of products, Heat's ability to maintain its license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of its patent estate, its ability to establish and maintain collaborations, its ability to obtain or maintain the capital or grants necessary to fund its research and development activities, its ability to continue to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and its ability to retain its key scientists or management personnel, and the other factors described in Heat's most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and other subsequent filings with the SEC. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Heat undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release based on new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.


Reference

1 Borghaei et al. Five-Year Outcomes from the Randomized, Phase III Trials CheckMate 017 and 057: Nivolumab Versus Docetaxel in Previously Treated Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2021 Jan 15.

2 Costantini et al. Efficacy of next treatment received after nivolumab progression in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. ERJ Open Res. 2018 Apr 20;4(2):00120-2017.

3 Schvartsman et al. Response rates to single-agent chemotherapy after exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer. 2017 Oct;112:90-95.

4 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Version 2.2021-Dec 15, 2020.

Media and Investor Relations Contact

David Waldman

+1 919 289 4017

investorrelations@heatbio.com

(tables follow)


HEAT BIOLOGICS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

    

December 31, 

December 31, 

2020

    

2019

Current Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

10,931,890

$

9,039,887

Short-term investments

 

100,842,438

 

5,713,922

Accounts receivable

 

177,239

 

34,986

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

1,842,620

 

420,328

Total Current Assets

 

113,794,187

 

15,209,123

Property and Equipment, net

 

676,262

 

559,410

Other Assets

 

  

 

  

In-process R&D

 

5,866,000

 

5,866,000

Goodwill

 

1,452,338

 

1,452,338

Operating lease right-of-use asset

2,035,882

2,287,500

Finance lease right-of-use asset

247,194

187,573

Deposits

 

122,779

 

394,637

Total Other Assets

 

9,724,193

 

10,188,048

Total Assets

$

124,194,642

$

25,956,581

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 

  

 

  

Current Liabilities

 

  

 

  

Accounts payable

$

1,051,764

$

1,503,342

Deferred revenue, current portion

 

603,717

 

3,410,319

Contingent consideration, current portion

 

 

1,124,970

Contingent consideration, related party - current portion

 

 

454,364

Operating lease liability, current portion

278,753

216,832

Finance lease liability, current portion

108,127

49,104

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

1,614,534

 

1,676,467

Total Current Liabilities

 

3,656,895

 

8,435,398

Long Term Liabilities

 

  

 

  

Other long-term liabilities

 

36,243

 

Derivative warrant liability

33,779

Deferred tax liability

 

361,911

 

361,911

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

 

237,500

 

200,000

Operating lease liability, net of current portion

 

1,301,636

 

1,519,574

Financing lease liability, net of current portion

 

160,240

 

142,667

Contingent consideration, net of current portion

2,250,844

1,653,197

Contingent consideration, related party - net of current portion

661,671

485,984

Total Liabilities

 

8,700,719

 

12,798,731

Commitments and Contingencies

 

  

 

  

Stockholders' Equity

 

  

 

  

Common stock, $.0002 par value; 250,000,000 and 100,000,000 shares authorized, 22,592,500 and 4,826,565 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

 

4,519

 

965

Additional paid-in capital

 

247,048,349

 

118,179,635

Accumulated deficit

 

(130,647,485)

 

(104,597,748)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(166,056)

 

(11,250)

Total Stockholders' Equity - Heat Biologics, Inc.

 

116,239,327

 

13,571,602

Non-Controlling Interest

 

(745,404)

 

(413,752)

Total Stockholders' Equity

 

115,493,923

 

13,157,850

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

124,194,642

$

25,956,581


HEAT BIOLOGICS INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

Year ended

December 31, 

2020

    

2019

Revenue:

Grant and contract revenue

$

2,947,969

$

3,049,104

Operating expenses:

 

  

 

  

Research and development

 

12,938,895

 

13,013,604

General and administrative

 

14,934,436

 

9,431,015

Goodwill impairment loss

737,000

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

 

1,199,000

 

613,290

Total operating expenses

 

29,072,331

 

23,794,909

Loss from operations

 

(26,124,362)

 

(20,745,805)

Change in fair value of warrant liability

(1,012,167)

Investor relations expense

(66,767)

Interest income

 

566,718

 

431,824

Other income (expense), net

 

255,189

 

(25,557)

Total non-operating (loss) income

 

(257,027)

 

406,267

Net loss before income taxes

 

(26,381,389)

 

(20,339,538)

Income tax expense

 

 

(45,178)

Net loss

 

(26,381,389)

 

(20,384,716)

Net loss - non-controlling interest

 

(331,652)

 

(367,148)

Net loss attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc.

$

(26,049,737)

$

(20,017,568)

Net loss per share attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc.-

 

  

 

  

Net loss per share attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc.-basic and diluted

$

(1.63)

$

(4.21)

Weighted-average number of common shares used in net loss per share attributable to common stockholders-

 

  

 

  

Weighted-average number of common shares used in net loss per share attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc.—basic and diluted

 

15,982,568

 

4,754,542

Comprehensive loss:

 

  

 

  

Net loss

 

(26,381,389)

 

(20,384,716)

Unrealized (loss) gain on foreign currency translation

 

(154,806)

 

8,654

Total comprehensive loss

 

(26,536,195)

 

(20,376,062)

Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest

 

(331,652)

 

(367,148)

Comprehensive loss - Heat Biologics, Inc.

$

(26,204,543)

$

(20,008,914)