Heat Biologics Provides Second Quarter 2020 Business Update

health news
  • Progress on COVID-19 Vaccine Program
  • Reports over $100 million in cash and short-term investments as of August 6, 2020

DURHAM, NC / ACCESSWIRE / August 7, 2020 / Heat Biologics, Inc. (“Heat”) (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 second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Jeff Wolf, Chief Executive Officer of Heat Biologics, commented, “This quarter we achieved significant milestones in advancing our unique COVID-19 vaccine program, which we are developing in collaboration with researchers at University of Miami. Specifically, our latest pre-clinical studies demonstrated immunogenicity proof-of-concept, validating that the selected vaccine antigen may be appropriate for human testing. Preclinical testing demonstrated expansion of antibody-supporting CD4+, and virus killing CD8+ T-cells in the lungs of the animals, a major site for COVID-19 infection. We believe this platform may play an important role as a standalone vaccine or in combination with other antibody-generating vaccines to provide broad cellular T-cell and humoral protection against COVID-19, particularly for elderly patients and those with underlying health conditions who have an increased risk of complications and death from COVID-19.”

“Additionally, we established a partnership with Waisman Biomanufacturing to manufacture our COVID-19 vaccine for anticipated Phase 1 trials in humans. We believe that the unique capabilities and previous expertise gained working with Waisman on our cancer programs, HS-110 and HS-130 that are based upon the same gp96 platform, will help shorten the development timeline for our COVID-19 vaccine.”

“We recently presented our latest data for HS-110 in combination with Nivolumab in our Phase 2 lung cancer trial at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. Importantly, this data demonstrated a strong survival benefit in a cohort of previously treated checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) naïve patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and further reinforced the potential utility of HS-110 in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor as a frontline treatment for NSCLC.”

“We also continue to accelerate PTX-35, our potential first-in-class T-cell co-stimulatory antibody, through clinical development. Specifically, we announced patient enrollment in our first-in-human clinical trial in multiple solid tumors following FDA clearance of our Investigational New Drug (IND) application. This study is expected to enroll up to 30 patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard of care.”

“We have continued to strengthen our balance sheet, and now have over $100 million in cash and short-term investments as of August 6, 2020, which should provide us with the resources to significantly advance our clinical programs,” concluded Mr. Wolf.

Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results

  • Recognized $0.6 million of grant revenue for qualified expenditures under the CPRIT grant compared to $0.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. The increase in grant revenue in the current-year period primarily reflects the expected timing of completion of deliveries under the current phase of the contract. As of June 30, 2020, we had deferred revenue of $1.9 million for CPRIT proceeds received but for which the costs had not been incurred or the conditions of the award had not been met.
  • Research and development expenses decreased approximately 17.6% to $2.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $3.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.
  • General and administrative expense was $1.8 million and $1.9 million for the quarters ending June 30, 2020 and 2019. General and administrative expenses primarily consist of personnel costs, including stock-based compensation expense, and consulting expenses to manage the business.
  • Net loss attributable to Heat Biologics was approximately $4.5 million, or ($0.05) per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 compared to a net loss of approximately of $4.8 million, or ($0.14) per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.
  • As of June 30, 2020, the Company had approximately $47 million in cash, cash equivalents and short investments.

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 pathogenic antigens. The Company has multiple product candidates in development leveraging the gp96 platform, including HS-110, which has completed enrollment in its Phase 2 trial, HS-130 in Phase 1, and a COVID-19 vaccine program in preclinical development. In addition, Heat is also developing a pipeline of proprietary immunomodulatory antibodies, including PTX-35 which is enrolling in a Phase 1 trial.

For more information, please visit: www.heatbio.com, and also follow us on Twitter.

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 platform playing an important role as a standalone vaccine or in combination with other antibody-generating vaccines to provide broad cellular T-cell and humoral protection against COVID-19, particularly for elderly patients and those with underlying health conditions that have an increased risk of complications and death from COVID-19, the unique capabilities and previous expertise gained working with Waisman on HS-130 helping shorten the clinical timeline for our potentially life-saving COVID-19 vaccine, the potential utility of HS-110 in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor as a frontline treatment for NSCLC ,the continued acceleration of PTX-35, our potential first-in-class T-cell co-stimulatory antibody, through clinical development, the enrollment in the PTX-35 clinical trial of up to 30 patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard of care and having sufficient capital to significantly advance our clinical programs. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict, including the ability of 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.

Media and Investor Relations Contact

David Waldman
+1 919 289 4017
investorrelations@heatbio.com

HEAT BIOLOGICS, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

 
  June 30,     December 31,  
 
  2020     2019  
 
  (unaudited)        
Current Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 20,668,241     $ 9,039,887  
Short-term investments
    26,312,039       5,713,922  
Accounts receivable
    26,967       34,986  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    593,924       420,328  
Total Current Assets
    47,601,171       15,209,123  
 
               
Property and Equipment, net
    669,401       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
    2,134,573       2,287,500  
Finance lease right-of-use asset
    306,643       187,573  
Deposits
    122,905       394,637  
Total Other Assets
    9,882,459       10,188,048  
 
               
Total Assets
  $ 58,153,031     $ 25,956,581  
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
 
               
Current Liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 779,642     $ 1,503,342  
Deferred revenue, current portion
    1,915,924       3,410,319  
Contingent consideration, current portion
    1,531,636       1,124,970  
Contingent consideration, related party – current portion
    454,364       454,364  
Operating lease liability, current portion
    228,776       216,832  
Finance lease liability, current portion
    104,828       49,104  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    1,202,705       1,676,467  
Total Current Liabilities
    6,217,875       8,435,398  
 
               
Long Term Liabilities
               
Other long-term liabilities
    22,847        
Derivative warrant liability
    47,939        
Deferred tax liability
    361,911       361,911  
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
    200,000       200,000  
Operating lease liability, net of current portion
    1,402,962       1,519,574  
Financing lease liability, net of current portion
    215,112       142,667  
Contingent consideration, net of current portion
    1,969,538       1,653,197  
Contingent consideration, related party – net of current portion
    578,977       485,984  
Total Liabilities
    11,017,161       12,798,731  
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
               
Common stock, $.0002 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized, 110,023,783 and 33,785,999 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
    22,006       6,757  
Additional paid-in capital
    163,007,558       118,173,843  
Accumulated deficit
    (115,344,284 )     (104,597,748 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    28,044       (11,250 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity – Heat Biologics, Inc.
    47,713,324       13,571,602  
Non-Controlling Interest
    (577,454 )     (413,752 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    47,135,870       13,157,850  
 
               
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 58,153,031     $ 25,956,581  
                 

HEAT BIOLOGICS INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (unaudited)

 
  Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
 
  June 30,     June 30,  
 
  2020     2019     2020     2019  
Revenue:
                       
Grant and licensing revenue
  593,165     342,487     1,495,045     1,043,549  
 
                               
Operating expenses:
                               
Research and development
    2,790,797       3,424,141       5,573,303       6,596,388  
General and administrative
    1,801,674       1,860,459       5,072,222       5,208,060  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
    843,000       112,000       816,000       226,290  
Total operating expenses
    5,435,471       5,396,600       11,461,525       12,030,738  
 
                               
Loss from operations
    (4,842,306 )     (5,054,113 )     (9,966,480 )     (10,987,189 )
 
                               
Change in fair value of warrant liability
    (24,363 )           (1,002,073 )      
Investor relations expense
                (66,767 )      
Interest income
    56,080       124,793       108,790       275,645  
Other income (expense), net
    273,771       (15,585 )     16,292       (7,264 )
Total non-operating income (loss)
    305,488       109,208       (943,758 )     268,381  
 
                               
Net loss before income taxes
    (4,536,818 )     (4,944,905 )     (10,910,238 )     (10,718,808 )
Income tax expense
                      (45,178 )
Net loss
    (4,536,818 )     (4,944,905 )     (10,910,238 )     (10,763,986 )
Net loss – non-controlling interest
    (82,388 )     (174,035 )     (163,702 )     (277,640 )
Net loss attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc.
  (4,454,430 )   (4,770,870 )   (10,746,536 )   (10,486,346 )
 
                               
Net loss per share attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc.-
                               
Net loss per share attributable to Heat Biologics, Inc.-basic and diluted
  (0.05 )   (0.14 )   (0.15 )   (0.32 )
 
                               
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
    87,930,846       33,255,724       72,606,461       33,240,529  
 
                               
Comprehensive loss:
                               
Net loss
  (4,536,818 )   (4,944,905 )   (10,910,238 )   (10,763,986 )
Unrealized (loss) gain on foreign currency translation
    (179,510 )     16,612       39,294       8,423  
Total comprehensive loss
    (4,716,328 )     (4,928,293 )     (10,870,944 )     (10,755,563 )
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest
    (82,388 )     (174,035 )     (163,702 )     (277,640 )
Comprehensive loss – Heat Biologics, Inc.
  (4,633,940 )   (4,754,258 )   (10,707,242 )   (10,477,923 )
                                 

SOURCE: Heat Biologics, Inc.

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