Expanded clinical pipeline into autoimmune diseases with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for ADI-001; initiation of Phase 1 clinical trial in lupus nephritis expected in 2Q 2024
On track to for ADI-270 in renal cell carcinoma in 2Q 2024
Extended projected cash runway into 2H 2026
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Adicet Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACET), a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer, today reported financial results and operational highlights for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.
“We are excited to explore the potential of our gamma delta T cell platform in autoimmune diseases following the FDA’s IND clearance of ADI-001 in lupus nephritis,” said Chen Schor, President and Chief Executive Officer at Adicet Bio. “We believe ADI-001 is ideally suited for the treatment of autoimmune diseases given its robust B-cell depletion consistent with other autologous CAR T therapies tested in autoimmune diseases, its tissue tropism potential in autoimmune diseases, and the safety and efficacy data observed in our Phase 1 study. In addition, ADI-001’s off-the-shelf availability and safety pro the potential to make cell therapy for autoimmune diseases available to patients in community setting. We look forward to initiating the Phase 1 study in lupus nephritis in the second quarter of 2024 and are on track to expand the program to additional autoimmune indications.”
Mr. Schor continued: “In addition, we are continuing to enroll MCL patients in our ongoing Phase 1 study of ADI-001 in relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. With the completion of the successful capital raise and other net proceeds from stock sales under the at-the-market program in January, extending our cash runway into the second half of 2026, we are well-positioned to continue clinical execution across our pipeline through multiple upcoming milestones.”
Fourth Quarter 2023 and Recent Operational Highlights:
Autoimmune diseases
IND clearance for ADI-001 in lupus nephritis. In December 2023, the FDA cleared the Company’s IND application for ADI-001 in lupus nephritis. Adicet plans to initiate a Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ADI-001 in lupus nephritis during the second quarter of 2024. Preliminary clinical data from the trial are expected in the fourth quarter of 2024 or first quarter of 2025, pending study site activation progression and patient enrollment.
Expansion of ADI-001 development in autoimmune diseases. Adicet expects to expand into additional autoimmune indications in the near future. The Company anticipates providing preliminary clinical data in the fourth quarter of 2024 or first half of 2025, subject to clearance of INDs in those indications as well as successful site initiation and patient enrollment in the relevant clinical protocols.
Hematologic malignancies and solid tumor indications
Continuing to advance ADI-001 in Phase 1 GLEAN study in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The Phase 1 study of ADI-001 in relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is ongoing, with enrollment focused on the MCL patient population, which demonstrated the greatest clinical benefit in the June 2023 clinical update. Adicet expects to provide a clinical update on safety, efficacy and 6-month complete response data in MCL patients in the second half of 2024.
Advancing ADI-270 preclinical development in solid tumors. ADI-270 is designed to home to solid tumors, with a highly specific targeting moiety for CD70 and an armoring technology of dominant negative TGF beta receptor to address immunosuppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment. Adicet remains on track to IND for ADI-270 in renal cell carcinoma in the second quarter of 2024 and expects to provide clinical data from a Phase 1 study in the first half of 2025, following regulatory clearance and subject to study initiation progress.
Presented persistence and pharmacodynamic data from ADI-001 Phase 1 study at the 65th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. In December 2023, Adicet presented new pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data from the Phase 1 study of ADI-001 at the ASH Annual Meeting. The data demonstrated robust dose-dependent expansion and persistence in patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell NHL. ADI-001’s strong exposure and persistence pro in the study to date further validates Adicet’s gamma delta T cell technology.
Corporate updates
Hired Benjamin Hsu, M.D., Ph.D., as Vice President Clinical Development - Autoimmune. In March 2024, Adicet appointed Dr. Benjamin Hsu, M.D., Ph.D., as Vice President Clinical Development. Dr. Hsu brings over 20 years of experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry with extensive expertise in immunology and rheumatology clinical development. Dr. Hsu will lead the clinical design and execution of the clinical development plan for Adicet’s gamma delta T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases.
Extended projected cash runway into 2H 2026. In January 2024, Adicet successfully raised $91.8 million in net proceeds through an underwritten public offering and received $19.3 million in net proceeds under its at-the-market (ATM) program.
Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023:
Three months Ended December 31, 2023
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $24.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $25.0 million during the same period in 2022. The $0.2 million decrease was primarily driven by a $2.7 million decrease in expenses related to contract development manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), contract research organizations (CROs) and consultant costs related to our lead product candidate ADI-001. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of $1.3 million in payroll and personnel expenses, an increase of $0.7 million in lab expenses and an increase of $0.6 million in facility and other expenses.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $6.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $6.6 million during the same period in 2022. The $0.2 million increase was primarily driven by an increase of $0.9 million in payroll and personnel expenses. This increase was partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in professional fees and a $0.4 million decrease in facility and other expenses.
Net Loss: Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $29.5 million, or a net loss of $0.69 per basic and diluted share, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $4.9 million, as compared to a net loss of $29.9 million, or a net loss of $0.72 per basic and diluted share, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $4.3 million during the same period in 2022.
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023
Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $106.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $71.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The $34.8 million increase was primarily driven by an $11.5 million increase in payroll and personnel expenses resulting from an increase in overall headcount, a net $10.7 million increase in expenses related to CDMOs, CROs and consultant costs related to our lead product candidate ADI-001, a $8.5 million increase in facility and other expenses and a $4.1 million increase in lab expenses.
General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $26.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $26.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The $0.2 million increase was primarily driven by a $3.3 million increase in payroll and personnel expenses, which includes an increase in stock-based compensation of $1.2 million, salaries and benefits of $1.0 million and contractor fees of $0.9 million and an increase in recruiting fees of $0.3 million. These increases were primarily due to increased headcount for the period. The overall increase was partially offset by a $2.6 million decrease in facilities and other related expenses.
Goodwill Impairment: Goodwill was impaired by $19.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 following the results of an interim impairment test conducted during the period. This represented the entire remaining balance of goodwill.
Net Loss: Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $142.7 million, or a net loss of $3.31 per basic and diluted share, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $20.3 million, as compared to a net loss of $69.8 million, or a net loss of $1.70 per basic and diluted share, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $17.1 million during the same period in 2022.
Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents were $159.7 million as of December 31, 2023, compared to $257.7 million as of December 31, 2022. Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company received $91.8 million of net proceeds from an underwritten public offering and $19.3 million of net proceeds under its ATM program. The Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023, together with the proceeds raised subsequent to year end, will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses into the second half of 2026.
About Adicet Bio, Inc.
Adicet Bio, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer. Adicet is advancing a pipeline of “off-the-shelf” gamma delta T cells, engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), to facilitate durable activity in patients. For more information, please visit our website at .
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" of Adicet within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to the business and operations of Adicet. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “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. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding: preclinical and clinical development of Adicet’s product candidates, including future plans or expectations for ADI-001 and ADI-270, including the potential submission or timing of clearance of INDs in autoimmune diseases, and the potential safety, durability, tolerability and efficacy of these product candidates; the progress, timing and success of the Company’s ongoing and planned Phase 1 clinical trials of ADI-001 in autoimmune diseases and cancer, including expectations for site activation, enrollment and data readouts; the Company’s plan to expand into other autoimmune indications in the future; the Company’s expectations regarding regulatory filings and clearances, including the submission of an IND for ADI-270 in renal cell carcinoma in the second quarter of 2024; and expectations regarding the Company’s uses of capital, expenses and financial results, including the expected cash runway.
Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs of future events, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the effect of global economic conditions and public health emergencies on Adicet’s business and financial results, including with respect to disruptions to our preclinical and clinical studies, business operations, employee hiring and retention, and ability to raise additional capital; Adicet’s ability to execute on its strategy including obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals on the expected timeline, if at all; that positive results, including interim results, from a preclinical or clinical study may not necessarily be predictive of the results of future or ongoing studies; clinical studies may fail to demonstrate adequate safety and efficacy of Adicet’s product candidates, which would prevent, delay, or limit the scope of regulatory approval and commercialization; and regulatory approval processes of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities are lengthy, time-consuming, and inherently unpredictable; and Adicet’s ability to meet production and product release expectations. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Adicet’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Adicet’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Adicet’s other filings with the SEC. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Adicet undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.
ADICET BIO, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Revenue—related party
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
24,990
Operating expenses:
Research and development
24,759
25,015
106,043
71,246
General and administrative
6,807
6,550
26,533
26,295
Goodwill impairment
—
—
19,462
—
Total operating expenses
31,566
31,565
152,038
97,541
Loss from operations
(31,566
)
(31,565
)
(152,038
)
(72,551
)
Interest income
2178
2,179
9,978
3,760
Interest expense
—
(26
)
(25
)
(80
)
Other expense, net
(101
)
(463
)
(573
)
(919
)
Loss before income tax provision
(29,489
)
(29,875
)
(142,658
)
(69,790
)
Income tax provision
—
—
—
—
Net loss
$
(29,489
)
$
(29,875
)
$
(142,658
)
$
(69,790
)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
$
(0.69
)
$
(0.72
)
$
(3.31
)
$
(1.70
)
Weighted-average common shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted
43,035,315
41,651,298
43,042,405
41,080,286
ADICET BIO, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Cash and cash equivalents
$
159,711
$
257,656
Working capital
142,985
241,331
Total assets
207,295
330,690
Accumulated deficit
(380,772
)
(238,114
)
Total stockholders’ equity
170,175
292,338
