HCW Biologics Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results And Recent Business Highlights
May 09 2023 - 7:15AM
HCW Biologics Inc. (the “Company” or “HCW Biologics”) (NASDAQ:
HCWB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
discovering and developing novel immunotherapies to lengthen
healthspan by disrupting the link between inflammation and
age-related diseases, today reported financial results and recent
business highlights for its first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
“We measure our progress over the past year by
the achievement of significant milestones: Initiating multiple
clinical trials. Realizing the dream of establishing our own
manufacturing facility. Publishing ground-breaking scientific
papers,” stated Dr. Hing C. Wong, Founder and CEO of HCW
Biologics.
Dr. Wong continued, “Our primary premise is our
belief that rejuvenating the immune system creates a systemic
change that reduces senescent cells and the proinflammatory factors
they secrete. We have seen that HCW9218 can do both in relevant
animal models. As we progress in our investigation of the
underlying mechanism of HCW9218, we are also gaining a deeper
understanding of how this drug works against solid tumors and how
it augments anti-tumor activities of immune-checkpoint
inhibitors.”
He added, “Our focus is to develop a treatment
based on HCW9218 for some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers.
But through our research, we believe we are seeing signs that point
to its potential to treat other aging-associated diseases beyond
cancer by reducing senescent cells. We believe this opens the door
for using an immunotherapeutic approach to enhance healthspan.”
Business Highlights:
- On April 21, 2023, the Company entered into a $26.25 million
development line of credit to refinance an existing $6.5 million
mortgage and provide financing for the buildout of the Company's
new headquarters and manufacturing facility. The five-year loan
bears a fixed interest of 7.0% per annum with interest only
payments for the full term.
- On March 26, 2023, the Company published a pivotal scientific
paper in Aging Cell entitled, “Immunotherapeutic Approach to Reduce
Senescent Cells and Alleviate Senescence-Associated Secretary
Phenotype in Mice,” with Dr. Hing C. Wong as lead and corresponding
author.
First Quarter 2023 Financial
Results:
-
Revenues: Revenues for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2022 and 2023 were $3.1 million and $41,883,
respectively. In the first quarter of 2022, deferred revenues
related to historic transactions were recognized as revenue upon
meeting all requirements for revenue recognition. Revenues were
derived exclusively from the sale of licensed molecules to the
Company’s licensee, Wugen.
- Research and development
(R&D) expenses: R&D expenses for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2022 and 2023 were $1.8 million and $2.3 million,
respectively. The $466,135 increase, or 26%, resulted primarily
from increased preclinical and clinical trial expenses.
- General and administrative
(G&A) expenses: G&A expenses for the first quarter
ended March 31, 2022 and 2023 were $1.9 million and $3.1 million,
respectively. The $1.2 million increase, or 66%, was primarily
attributable to increases in professional fees, which includes
legal fees associated with legal proceedings brought against the
Company by Altor BioScience, LLC and NantCell, Inc., or
Altor/NantCell.
- Net loss: Net loss
for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and 2023 was $2.1
million and $5.1 million, respectively.
Financial Guidance
As disclosed above, the Company entered into a
development line of credit agreement for the buildout of the
Company’s new headquarters and manufacturing facility. Funds
formerly earmarked for this purpose will be redeployed for clinical
development. The Company estimates that the cash and cash
equivalents, short-term investments and the proceeds of the
development line of credit extends the Company’s cash runway into
2025.
On April 27, 2023, in connection with the
Altor/NantCell matter, the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of Florida (the “Court”) approved the parties’ stipulation
and ordered the parties to arbitration. On May 1, 2023,
Altor/NantCell filed a demand against the Company before
JAMS. On May 3, 2023, Altor/NantCell dismissed the federal
court action without prejudice and the Court ordered the case
dismissed without prejudice and closed the case.
Altor/NantCell’s proceeding against the Company will now proceed in
arbitration before JAMS. Although adverse decisions (or
settlements) may occur in arbitration, it is not possible to
reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss, if any,
associated therewith at this time. As such, no accrual for
these matters has been recorded within the Company’s financial
statements. In the year ahead, the Company expect to continue
to incur legal expenses on its own behalf in connection with the
legal proceedings brought against it by Altor/NantCell.
However, legal expenses incurred by Dr. Wong in connection with the
arbitration against him that was initiated by Altor/NantCell, will
be covered through advancement of expenses from
Altor/NantCell.
About HCW Biologics:
HCW Biologics is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing
novel immunotherapies to lengthen healthspan by disrupting the link
between chronic, low-grade inflammation, and age-related diseases,
such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes,
neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, as well as other
conditions such as long-haul COVID-19. The Company has combined a
deep understanding of disease-related immunology with its expertise
in advanced protein engineering to develop the TOBI™ (Tissue
factOr-Based fusIon) discovery platform. The Company uses its
TOBITM discovery platform to generate designer, novel
multi-functional fusion molecules with immunotherapeutic
properties. The invention of HCW Biologics’ two lead molecules,
HCW9218 and HCW9302, was made via the TOBI™ discovery platform. The
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, has initiated a
Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate HCW9218 in
chemo-refractory/chemo-resistant solid tumors that have progressed
after prior chemotherapies (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05322408). The
Company is also enrolling patients in a Company-sponsored Phase
1b/2 clinical trial to evaluate HCW9218 in
chemo-refractory/chemo-resistant advanced pancreatic cancer
(Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05304936). The Company’s lead molecule for
its regulatory T cell expansion program, HCW9302, is currently
undergoing IND-enabling studies for an autoimmune indication.
Forward Looking Statements:
Statements in this press release contain
“forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks
and uncertainties. These statements are made under the “safe
harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contained in this press
release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,”
“expect,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,”
“project,” “outlook,” “forecast” or other similar words and
include, without limitation, statements regarding completion of
Phase 1/1b clinical studies in cancer; timing and completion of the
Company’s manufacturing facility; ability of HCW9218 to rejuvenate
the immune system to create systemic changes that reduce senescent
cells and the proinflammatory factors they secrete; potential of
HCW9218 to treat other aging-associated diseases beyond cancer;
redeployment of funds to support clinical trials; timing and
outcome of the Altor/NantCell arbitration and the Company’s
liability related thereto; the ability to project that cash and
cash equivalents and investments are sufficient to fund operations
into 2025; and the impact of any indemnification or advancement of
expenses obligations may have on such projections. Forward-looking
statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are
subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are
difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements
are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to
be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties that
are described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the annual
report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 28, 2023 and in other
filings filed from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking
statements contained in this press release are made as of this
date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information
except as required under applicable law.
Company Contact:Rebecca ByamCFOHCW Biologics
Inc.rebeccabyam@hcwbiologics.com
Condensed Statements of Operations
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Three Months
EndedMarch 31, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
Revenues: |
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
3,117,545 |
|
|
$ |
41,883 |
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
(1,328,076 |
) |
|
|
(29,350 |
) |
Net revenues |
|
|
1,789,469 |
|
|
|
12,533 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
1,789,678 |
|
|
|
2,255,813 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
1,880,601 |
|
|
|
3,117,290 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
3,670,279 |
|
|
|
5,373,103 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(1,880,810 |
) |
|
|
(5,360,570 |
) |
Interest expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(93,438 |
) |
Other (expense) income, net |
|
|
(176,397 |
) |
|
|
383,322 |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(2,057,207 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,070,686 |
) |
Net loss per share, basic and
diluted |
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.14 |
) |
Weighted average shares
outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
|
35,778,032 |
|
|
|
35,883,779 |
|
HCW Biologics Inc. Condensed Balance
Sheets |
|
|
December 31, |
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited |
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
22,326,356 |
|
|
$ |
18,389,659 |
|
Short-term investments |
|
|
9,735,930 |
|
|
|
9,848,430 |
|
Accounts receivable, net |
|
|
417,695 |
|
|
|
252,728 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
1,394,923 |
|
|
|
1,132,694 |
|
Other current assets |
|
|
196,015 |
|
|
|
316,963 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
34,070,919 |
|
|
|
29,940,474 |
|
Investments |
|
|
1,599,751 |
|
|
|
1,599,751 |
|
Property, plant and equipment,
net |
|
|
10,804,610 |
|
|
|
11,741,176 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
333,875 |
|
|
|
253,144 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
46,809,155 |
|
|
$ |
43,534,545 |
|
LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
1,226,156 |
|
|
$ |
1,164,562 |
|
Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities |
|
|
1,730,325 |
|
|
|
3,357,346 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
2,956,481 |
|
|
|
4,521,908 |
|
Debt, net |
|
|
6,409,893 |
|
|
|
6,386,234 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
14,275 |
|
|
|
7,476 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
9,380,649 |
|
|
|
10,915,618 |
|
Commitments and
contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
Common stock: |
|
|
|
|
Common, $0.0001 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorizedand
35,876,440 shares issued at December 31, 2022; 250,000,000 shares
authorized and 35,886,635 shares issued at March 31, 2023 |
|
|
3,588 |
|
|
|
3,589 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
82,962,964 |
|
|
|
83,224,070 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(45,538,046 |
) |
|
|
(50,608,732 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
37,428,506 |
|
|
|
32,618,927 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
46,809,155 |
|
|
$ |
43,534,545 |
|
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