Adaptimmune Therapeutics PLC - Quarter Report: 2022 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
| ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2022 | |
OR | |
| ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 001-37368
ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
England and Wales | Not Applicable |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | ( .) |
60 Jubilee Avenue, Milton Park
Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RX
United Kingdom
(Address of principal executive offices)
(44) 1235 430000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered |
American Depositary Shares, each representing 6 Ordinary Shares, par value £0.001 per share | ADAP | The Nasdaq Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ⌧ Yes ◻ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ⌧ Yes ◻ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
⌧ | Accelerated filer ◻ |
Non-accelerated filer◻ | Smaller reporting company ◻ |
Emerging growth company☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standard provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ⌧ No
As of November 7, 2022, the number of outstanding ordinary shares par value £0.001 per share of the Registrant is 982,974,108.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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General information
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”), “Adaptimmune,” the “Group,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires.
Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We make such forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology.
Any forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report reflect our current views with respect to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Quarterly Report and under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.
This Quarterly Report also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for certain diseases, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources.
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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
Assets | ||||||
Current assets | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 79,001 | $ | 149,948 | ||
Marketable securities - available-for-sale debt securities | 120,669 | 219,632 | ||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 and $0 | 1,774 | 752 | ||||
Other current assets and prepaid expenses | 62,695 | 45,126 | ||||
Total current assets | 264,139 | 415,458 | ||||
Restricted cash | 1,712 | 1,718 | ||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net of accumulated amortization | 17,607 | 20,875 | ||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $35,229 and $36,253 | 48,176 | 30,494 | ||||
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $4,354 and $4,051 | 568 | 1,000 | ||||
Total assets | $ | 332,202 | $ | 469,545 | ||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | ||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 6,905 | $ | 8,113 | ||
Operating lease liabilities, current | 2,474 | 2,320 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 36,079 | 29,909 | ||||
Deferred revenue, current | 20,622 | 22,199 | ||||
Total current liabilities | 66,080 | 62,541 | ||||
Operating lease liabilities, non-current | 19,926 | 23,148 | ||||
Deferred revenue, non-current | 132,233 | 177,223 | ||||
Other liabilities, non-current | 626 | 673 | ||||
Total liabilities | 218,865 | 263,585 | ||||
Stockholders’ equity | ||||||
Common stock - Ordinary shares par value £0.001, 1,282,773,750 authorized and 982,719,936 issued and (2021: 1,240,853,520 authorized and 937,547,934 and outstanding) | 1,394 | 1,337 | ||||
Additional paid in capital | 985,312 | 959,611 | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 6,683 | (11,142) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (880,052) | (743,846) | ||||
Total stockholders' equity | 113,337 | 205,960 | ||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 332,202 | $ | 469,545 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Three months ended |
| Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||||
Revenue | $ | 7,007 | $ | 1,203 | $ | 16,120 | $ | 4,732 | |||||
Operating expenses | |||||||||||||
Research and development | (33,182) | (28,211) |
| (104,674) |
| (81,585) | |||||||
General and administrative | (16,815) | (15,173) |
| (48,169) |
| (42,529) | |||||||
Total operating expenses | (49,997) | (43,384) | (152,843) |
| (124,114) | ||||||||
Operating loss | (42,990) | (42,181) |
| (136,723) |
| (119,382) | |||||||
Interest income | 324 | 225 |
| 1,019 |
| 916 | |||||||
Other (expense) income, net | 1,644 | (237) |
| 1,001 |
| (184) | |||||||
Loss before income tax expense | (41,022) | (42,193) |
| (134,703) |
| (118,650) | |||||||
Income tax expense | (399) | (208) |
| (1,503) |
| (582) | |||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders | $ | (41,421) | $ | (42,401) | $ | (136,206) | $ | (119,232) | |||||
Net loss per ordinary share | |||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | (0.04) | (0.05) | (0.14) | (0.13) | |||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | 980,791,114 | 936,600,648 |
| 961,354,122 |
| 933,992,708 | |||||||
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands)
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (41,421) | $ | (42,401) | $ | (136,206) | $ | (119,232) | ||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax | ||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $0, and $0 | 58,011 | 15,564 | 122,496 | 8,386 | ||||||||
Foreign currency gains on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0, and $0 | (50,489) | (15,310) | (103,404) | (8,351) | ||||||||
Unrealized holding losses on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0, and $0 | 204 | 33 | (1,267) | (85) | ||||||||
Total comprehensive loss for the period | $ | (33,695) | $ | (42,114) | $ | (118,381) | $ | (119,282) |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGE IN EQUITY
(In thousands, except share data)
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||
Additional | other | Total | |||||||||||||||
Common | Common | paid in | comprehensive | Accumulated | stockholders' | ||||||||||||
| stock |
| stock |
| capital |
| (loss) / gain |
| deficit | equity | |||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2022 | 937,547,934 | $ | 1,337 | $ | 959,611 | $ | (11,142) | $ | (743,846) | $ | 205,960 | ||||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | (50,265) | (50,265) | |||||||
Other comprehensive gain | — | — | — | 1,829 | — | 1,829 | |||||||||||
Issuance of shares upon exercise of stock options |
| 3,318,072 |
| 5 |
| 30 |
| — | — |
| 35 | ||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| — |
| — |
| 5,586 |
| — | — |
| 5,586 | ||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2022 |
| 940,866,006 | $ | 1,342 | $ | 965,227 | $ | (9,313) | $ | (794,111) | $ | 163,145 | |||||
Net loss |
| — | — | — | — | (44,520) |
| (44,520) | |||||||||
Other comprehensive gain | — | — | — | 8,270 | — | 8,270 | |||||||||||
Issuance of shares upon exercise of stock options |
| 759,336 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 1 | |||||||||
Issue of shares under At The Market sales agreement, net of commission and expenses | 35,134,182 | 44 | 9,932 | — | — | 9,976 | |||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| — | — | 5,045 | — | — |
| 5,045 | |||||||||
Balance as of June 30, 2022 |
| 976,759,524 | $ | 1,387 | $ | 980,204 | $ | (1,043) | $ | (838,631) | $ | 141,917 | |||||
Net loss |
| — | — | — | — | (41,421) |
| (41,421) | |||||||||
Other comprehensive gain | — | — | — | 7,726 | — | 7,726 | |||||||||||
Issuance of shares upon exercise of stock options |
| 1,005,558 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 6 | ||||||||||
Issue of shares under At The Market sales agreement, net of commission and expenses | 4,954,854 | 6 | 1,440 | — | — | 1,446 | |||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| — | — | 3,663 | — | — | 3,663 | ||||||||||
Balance as of September 30, 2022 |
| 982,719,936 | $ | 1,394 | $ | 985,312 | $ | 6,683 | $ | (880,052) | $ | 113,337 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGE IN EQUITY
(In thousands, except share data)
Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||
Additional | other | Total | |||||||||||||||
Common | Common | paid in | comprehensive | Accumulated | stockholders’ | ||||||||||||
stock | stock | capital | (loss) income | deficit | equity | ||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2021 |
| 928,754,958 |
| $ | 1,325 |
| $ | 935,706 |
| $ | (10,048) |
| $ | (585,756) |
| $ | 341,227 |
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (37,763) |
| (37,763) | |||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (176) | — | (176) | |||||||||||
Issuance of shares upon exercise of stock options |
| 4,062,210 |
| 6 |
| 529 |
| — |
| — |
| 535 | |||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| — |
| — |
| 5,334 |
| — |
| — |
| 5,334 | |||||
Balance as of March 31, 2021 |
| 932,817,168 | $ | 1,331 | $ | 941,569 | $ | (10,224) | $ | (623,519) | $ | 309,157 | |||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (39,068) |
| (39,068) | |||||
Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | (161) | — | (161) | |||||||||||
Issuance of shares upon exercise of stock options |
| 350,628 |
| 1 |
| 42 |
| — |
| — |
| 43 | |||||
Issuance of shares under At The Market sales agreement, net of commission and expenses | 3,069,330 | 4 | 2,515 | — |
| — | 2,519 | ||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| — |
| — |
| 5,449 |
| — |
| — |
| 5,449 | |||||
Balance as of June 30, 2021 |
| 936,237,126 | $ | 1,336 | $ | 949,575 | $ | (10,385) | $ | (662,587) | $ | 277,939 | |||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (42,401) |
| (42,401) | |||||
Issuance of shares upon exercise of stock options |
| 812,694 |
| 1 |
| 128 |
| — |
| — |
| 129 | |||||
Issuance of shares under At The Market sales agreement, net of commission and expenses | — | — | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||
Other comprehensive gain | — | — | — | 287 | — | 287 | |||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| — |
| — |
| 5,019 |
| — |
| — |
| 5,019 | |||||
Balance as of September 30, 2021 |
| 937,049,820 | $ | 1,337 | $ | 954,732 | $ | (10,098) | $ | (704,988) | $ | 240,983 |
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Nine months ended | ||||||
September 30, | ||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (136,206) | $ | (119,232) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||
Depreciation | 4,009 | 4,333 | ||||
Amortization | 629 | — | ||||
Share-based compensation expense | 14,294 | 15,802 | ||||
Unrealized foreign exchange gains | (2,501) | (213) | ||||
Amortization on available-for-sale debt securities | 2,165 | 4,094 | ||||
Other | 765 | 2,239 | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||
Increase in receivables and other operating assets | (29,778) | (31,809) | ||||
Increase/ (decrease) in payables and other current liabilities | 15,200 | (109) | ||||
(Decrease)/ increase in deferred revenue | (12,388) | 1,696 | ||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (143,811) | (123,199) | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment | (26,081) | (4,558) | ||||
Acquisition of intangible assets | (231) | (181) | ||||
Maturity or redemption of marketable securities | 136,694 | 190,393 | ||||
Investment in marketable securities | (42,197) | (81,363) | ||||
Net cash provided by investing activities | 68,185 | 104,291 | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from offerings, net of commissions and issuance costs | 11,422 | 2,529 | ||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 42 | 707 | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 11,464 | 3,236 | ||||
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (6,791) | (1,177) | ||||
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (70,953) | (16,849) | ||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at start of period | 151,666 | 61,484 | ||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 80,713 | $ | 44,635 | ||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — General
Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc is registered in England and Wales. Its registered office is 60 Jubilee Avenue, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RX, United Kingdom. Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc and its subsidiaries (collectively “Adaptimmune” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on providing novel cell therapies to people with cancer. We are a leader in the development of T-cell therapies for solid tumors. The Company’s proprietary platform enables it to identify cancer targets, find and develop cell therapy candidates active against those targets and produce therapeutic candidates for administration to patients.
The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other biopharmaceutical companies in the early stage of clinical development including, but not limited to, the need to obtain adequate additional funding, possible failure of preclinical programs or clinical programs, the need to obtain marketing approval for its cell therapies, competitors developing new technological innovations, the need to successfully commercialize and gain market acceptance of its cell therapies, the need to develop a reliable commercial manufacturing process, the need to commercialize any cell therapies that may be approved for marketing, and protection of proprietary technology. If the Company does not successfully commercialize any of its cell therapies, it will be unable to generate product revenue or achieve profitability. The Company had an accumulated deficit of $880,052,000 as of September 30, 2022.
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc and its subsidiaries and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and are presented in U.S. dollars. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated on consolidation.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 14, 2022 (the “Annual Report”). The balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to those consolidated financial statements.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted from these interim financial statements. However, these interim financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly state the results of the interim period. The interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.
(b) Use of estimates in interim financial statements
The preparation of interim financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP and SEC regulations, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the interim financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions are made in various areas, including in relation to valuation allowances relating to deferred tax assets, revenue recognition, and estimation of the incremental borrowing rate for operating leases. If actual results differ from the Company’s estimates, or to the extent these estimates are adjusted in future periods, the Company’s results of operations could either benefit from, or be adversely affected by, any such change in estimate.
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(c) Fair value measurements
The Company is required to disclose information on all assets and liabilities reported at fair value that enables an assessment of the inputs used in determining the reported fair values. The fair value hierarchy prioritizes valuation inputs based on the observable nature of those inputs. The hierarchy defines three levels of valuation inputs:
Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability
The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of marketable securities, which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis is detailed in Note 6, Fair value measurements.
(d) Significant concentrations of credit risk
The Company held cash and cash equivalents of $79,001,000, marketable securities of $120,669,000 and restricted cash of $1,712,000 as of September 30, 2022. The cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are held with multiple banks and the Company monitors the credit rating of those banks. The Company maintains cash balances in excess of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the United States and the U.K. Government Financial Services Compensation Scheme in the United Kingdom. The Company’s investment policy limits investments to certain types of instruments, such as money market instruments, corporate debt securities and commercial paper, places restrictions on maturities and concentration by type and issuer and specifies the minimum credit ratings for all investments and the average credit quality of the portfolio.
The Company has three customers, which are Genentech, Astellas and GSK. There were accounts receivable of $1,774,000 as of September 30, 2022 and $752,000 as of December 31, 2021. The Company has been transacting with Genentech since 2021, Astellas since 2020 and GSK since 2014, during which time no impairment losses have been recognized. As of September 30, 2022, there were no overdue accounts receivable.
(e) New accounting pronouncements
To be adopted in future periods
Measurement of credit losses on financial instruments
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 - Financial Instruments - Credit losses, which replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology for financial instruments in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The guidance is effective for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2020, including interim periods within that fiscal year. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10 which resulted in the postponement of the effective date of the new guidance for eligible smaller reporting companies (as defined by the SEC), including the Company, at that time to the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023. The Company intends to adopt the guidance in the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023. The guidance must be adopted using a modified-retrospective approach and a prospective transition approach is required for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment had been recognized before the effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08 – Business Combinations (Topic 805)- Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, which improves the accounting for acquired revenue contracts with customers in a business combination by addressing diversity in and inconsistency related to the following: (1) recognition of an acquired contract liability
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and (2) payment terms and their effect on subsequent revenue recognized by the acquirer. The amendments in this ASU resolve this inconsistency by requiring that an entity (acquirer) recognize and measure contract assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606, in contrast to current GAAP which requires that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, including contract assets and contract liabilities, are measured at fair value as of the acquisition date. For public business entities, including the Company, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company intends to adopt the guidance in the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023. The amendments in this ASU should be applied prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after the effective date of the amendments. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 — Revenue
The Company had three revenue-generating contracts with customers in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to two in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021: a collaboration and license agreement with GSK, a collaboration agreement with Astellas and a strategic collaboration and license agreement with Genentech.
Revenue comprises the following categories (in thousands):
Three months ended |
| Nine months ended | ||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||||
Development revenue |
| $ | 7,007 |
| $ | 1,203 | $ | 16,120 |
| $ | 4,732 | |
| $ | 7,007 |
| $ | 1,203 | $ | 16,120 |
| $ | 4,732 |
Deferred revenue decreased by $46,567,000 from $199,422,000 at December 31, 2021 to $152,855,000 at September 30, 2022 primarily due to a $35,693,000 decrease caused by the change in the exchange rate between pound sterling and the U.S. dollar from £1.00 to $1.35 at December 31, 2021 to £1.00 to $1.11 at September 30, 2022.
As of December 31, 2021, there was deferred revenue of $199,422,000 of which $13,038,000 was recognized as revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
The aggregate amount of the transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied under the agreements as of September 30, 2022 was $326,545,000.
The Genentech Collaboration and License Agreement
The amount of the transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied under the Genentech agreement as of September 30, 2022 was $276,396,000. Of this amount $170,265,000 is allocated to the research services and rights granted for the initial ‘off-the-shelf’ collaboration targets, $88,016,000 is allocated to the research services and rights granted for the personalized therapies, $12,228,000 is allocated to the material rights to designate the additional ‘off-the-shelf’ collaboration targets, $4,710,000 is allocated to the material right for the first option to extend the research term and $1,177,000 is allocated to the material right for the option to extend the research term a second time.
The Company expects to satisfy the performance obligations relating to the initial ‘off-the-shelf’ collaboration targets and the personalized therapies as development progresses and recognizes revenue based on an estimate of the percentage of completion of the project determined based on the costs incurred on the project as a percentage of the total expected costs. The Company expects to satisfy the performance obligations relating to the material rights to designate additional ‘off-the-shelf’ collaboration targets from the point that the options are exercised and then as development progresses, in line with the initial ‘off-the-shelf’ collaboration targets, or at the point in time that the rights expire. The Company expects to satisfy the performance obligations relating to the material rights to extend the research term from the point that the options are exercised and then over period of the extension, or at the point in time that the rights expire.
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The Astellas Collaboration Agreement
The amount of the transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied under the Astellas agreement as of September 30, 2022 was $49,818,000, of which $12,337,000 is allocated to the rights granted for each of the two independent Astellas targets, $6,670,000 is allocated to research services and rights granted under the co-exclusive license for the first co-development target, $12,518,000 is allocated to research services and rights granted under the co-exclusive license for the second co-development target and $5,956,000 is allocated to research services and rights under the co-exclusive license for the third co-development targets. The Company expects to satisfy the performance obligations relating to the three co-development targets as development progresses and recognizes revenue based on an estimate of the percentage of completion of the project determined based on the costs incurred on the project as a percentage of the total expected costs. The Company has determined that the performance obligations relating to the two independent Astellas targets would be recognized at a point-in-time, upon commencement of the licenses in the event of nomination of the target, since they are right-to-use licenses.
The GSK Collaboration and License Agreement
The amount of the transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied under the GSK agreement as of September 30, 2022 was $330,000. The Company satisfies the performance obligations relating to the development of each target over time and recognizes revenue based on an estimate of the percentage of completion of the project determined based on the costs incurred on the project as a percentage of the total expected costs.
Future research, development, regulatory and sales milestones under each of the agreements are not considered probable as of September 30, 2022 and have not been included in the transaction price. Reimbursement of the research funding over the co-development period under the Astellas agreement is variable consideration and included in the transaction price as of September 30, 2022 to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. On October 24, 2022, the Company received notice of termination of the Collaboration and License Agreement, effective 60 days following the receipt of the notice of termination. As the terms of the transfer and related agreement are being negotiated, an estimate of the financial effect of this event cannot yet be made
Note 4 — Loss per share
The following table reconciles the numerator and denominator in the basic and diluted loss per share computation (in thousands):
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||||
Numerator for basic and diluted loss per share | ||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders |
| $ | (41,421) |
| $ | (42,401) |
| $ | (136,206) |
| $ | (119,232) |
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders used for basic and diluted loss per share | (41,421) | (42,401) | (136,206) | (119,232) |
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |
Denominator for basic and diluted loss per share - Weighted average shares outstanding |
| 980,791,114 |
| 936,600,648 |
| 961,354,122 |
| 933,992,708 |
The dilutive effect of 152,427,845 and 115,924,296 stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and 2021 respectively have been excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 because they would have an antidilutive effect on the loss per share for the period.
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Note 5 — Accumulated other comprehensive loss
The Company reports foreign currency translation adjustments and the foreign exchange gain or losses arising on the revaluation of intercompany loans of a long-term investment nature within Other comprehensive (loss) income. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt securities are also reported within Other comprehensive (loss) income until a gain or loss is realized, at which point they are reclassified to Other (expense) income, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The following tables show the changes in Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (in thousands):
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Accumulated | Accumulated | Total | |||||||
foreign | unrealized | accumulated | |||||||
currency | gains (losses) on | other | |||||||
| translation |
| available-for-sale | comprehensive | |||||
adjustments | debt securities | (loss) income | |||||||
Balance at January 1, 2022 |
| $ | (10,785) | $ | (357) | $ | (11,142) | ||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 16,792 | — | 16,792 | ||||||
Foreign currency losses on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0 | (13,808) | — | (13,808) | ||||||
Unrealized holding losses on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0 | — | (1,155) | (1,155) | ||||||
Balance at March 31, 2022 | (7,801) | (1,512) | (9,313) | ||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 47,694 | — | 47,694 | ||||||
Foreign currency losses on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0 | (39,108) | — | (39,108) | ||||||
Unrealized holding losses on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0 | — | (316) | (316) | ||||||
Balance at June 30, 2022 | 785 | (1,828) | (1,043) | ||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 58,011 | — | 58,011 | ||||||
Foreign currency losses on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0 | (50,489) | — | (50,489) | ||||||
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0 | — | 204 | 204 | ||||||
Balance at September 30, 2022 | $ | 8,307 | $ | (1,624) | $ | 6,683 | |||
Accumulated | Accumulated | Total | |||||||
foreign | unrealized | accumulated | |||||||
currency | gains (losses) on | other | |||||||
| translation |
| available-for-sale | comprehensive | |||||
adjustments | debt securities | (loss) income | |||||||
Balance at January 1, 2021 |
| $ | (10,158) | $ | 110 | $ | (10,048) | ||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (3,001) | — | (3,001) | ||||||
Foreign currency gains on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0 | 3,048 | — | 3,048 | ||||||
Unrealized holding losses on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0 | — | (223) | (223) | ||||||
Balance at March 31, 2021 | (10,111) | (113) | (10,224) | ||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (4,177) | — | (4,177) | ||||||
Foreign currency gains on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0 | 3,911 | — | 3,911 | ||||||
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0 | — | 105 | 105 | ||||||
Balance at June 30, 2021 | $ | (10,377) | $ | (8) | $ | (10,385) | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustments | 15,564 | — | 15,564 | ||||||
Foreign currency losses on intercompany loan of a long-term investment nature, net of tax of $0 | (15,310) | — | (15,310) | ||||||
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale debt securities, net of tax of $0 | — | 33 | 33 | ||||||
Balance at September 30, 2021 | $ | (10,123) | $ | 25 | $ | (10,098) |
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Note 6 — Fair value measurements
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis based on Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 fair value measurement criteria as of September 30, 2022 are as follows (in thousands):
Fair value measurements using | ||||||||||||
September 30, | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||
| 2022 |
|
|
| ||||||||
Assets: | ||||||||||||
Corporate debt securities | $ | 97,771 | $ | 97,771 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
U.S. Treasury securities | 18,066 | — | 18,066 | — | ||||||||
Agency bonds |
| 4,832 | — | 4,832 | — | |||||||
| $ | 120,669 | $ | 97,771 |
| $ | 22,898 |
| $ | — |
The Company estimates the fair value of available-for-sale debt securities with the aid of a third party valuation service, which uses actual trade and indicative prices sourced from third-party providers on a daily basis to estimate the fair value. If observed market prices are not available (for example securities with short maturities and infrequent secondary market trades), the securities are priced using a valuation model maximizing observable inputs, including market interest rates.
Note 7 — Marketable securities – available-for-sale debt securities
As of September 30, 2022, the Company has the following investments in marketable securities (in thousands):
Gross | Gross | Aggregate | ||||||||||||
Remaining | Amortized | unrealized | unrealized | estimated | ||||||||||
| contractual maturity |
| cost |
| gains |
| losses |
| fair value | |||||
Available-for-sale debt securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Corporate debt securities |
| Less than 3 months | $ | 12,410 | $ | — | $ | (43) | $ | 12,367 | ||||
U.S. Treasury securities | Less than 3 months | 18,117 | — | (51) | 18,066 | |||||||||
Agency bonds | 3 months to 1 year | 5,000 | — | (168) | 4,832 | |||||||||
Corporate debt securities | 3 months to 1 year | 84,319 | — | (1,277) | 83,042 | |||||||||
Corporate debt securities | 1 year to 2 years | 2,447 | — | (85) | 2,362 | |||||||||
|
| $ | 122,293 | $ | — | $ | (1,624) | $ | 120,669 |
The aggregate fair value (in thousands) and number of securities held by the Company (including those classified as cash equivalents) in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are as follows:
September 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Fair market value of investments in an unrealized loss position | Number of investments in an unrealized loss position | Unrealized losses | Fair market value of investments in an unrealized loss position | Number of investments in an unrealized loss position | Unrealized losses | ||||||||||||
Marketable securities in a continuous loss position for 12 months or longer: | ||||||||||||||||||
Corporate debt securities | $ | 34,519 | 6 | $ | (393) | $ | 8,232 | 1 | (35) | |||||||||
Marketable securities in a continuous loss position for less than 12 months: | ||||||||||||||||||
Corporate debt securities |
| $ | 63,252 |
| 14 | $ | (1,012) |
| $ | 163,258 |
| 34 |
| $ | (348) | |||
U.S. Treasury securities |
| 18,066 |
| 3 |
| (51) |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||
Agency bond | 4,832 | 1 | (168) | 4,993 | 1 | (7) | ||||||||||||
| $ | 120,669 |
| 24 | $ | (1,624) |
| $ | 176,483 |
| 36 |
| $ | (390) |
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As of September 30, 2022, the securities in an unrealized loss position are not considered to be other than temporarily impaired because the impairments are not severe and have been for a short duration. Six securities have been in an unrealized loss position for more than one year with a net total unrealized loss of $393,000. Furthermore, the Company does not intend to sell the debt securities in an unrealized loss position, believes that it has the ability to hold the debt securities to maturity, and it is currently unlikely that the Company will be required to sell these securities before the recovery of the amortized cost.
Note 8 — Other current assets
Other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
Corporate tax receivable |
| $ | 48,543 | $ | 30,773 | |
Prepayments |
| 8,052 | 9,043 | |||
Clinical materials |
| 1,171 | 746 | |||
VAT receivable | 3,217 | 2,482 | ||||
Other current assets |
| 1,712 | 2,082 | |||
$ | 62,695 | $ | 45,126 |
Note 9 — Operating leases
The Company has operating leases in relation to property for office and research facilities.
On March 30, 2022, the Company entered into an agreement to modify the lease of 39 Innovation Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK, and on June 15, 2022, the deeds associated with the modification were signed. However, for purposes of ASC 842 Leases, the Company determined that the effective date of the modification is March 30, 2022. The effect of the modification was a partial reduction of the scope of the lease and an increase in contractual lease payments relating to a non-lease component. The modification did not result in the identification of a separate contract but did result in the identification of a non-lease component relating to a leasehold improvement.
Upon modification, the lease liability has been remeasured using the current estimate of the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. The remeasurement of the lease liability also resulted in variable lease payments not previously included in the amount of the lease liability becoming included in the amount of the lease payments as at the date of the modification. The amount of the remeasurement of the lease liability due to the inclusion of variable lease payments that depend on an index or rate has been recognized as an adjustment to the corresponding right-of-use asset. The effect of the modification was to increase the lease liability and the corresponding right-of-use asset by $75,000.
The following table shows the weighted-average remaining lease term and the weighted-average discount rate as at September 30, 2022 and 2021:
| | | | | | | |
| | | September 30, | ||||
| | | 2022 | | 2021 | ||
| | | | | | | |
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases | | | 7.0 years | | 8.0 years | ||
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases | | | 6.8% | | 6.8% |
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The maturities of operating lease liabilities as of September 30, 2022 are as follows (in thousands):
| Operating leases | ||
2022 |
| $ | 1,010 |
2023 |
| 3,833 | |
2024 |
| 3,782 | |
2025 |
| 3,829 | |
2026 |
| 3,883 | |
after 2026 |
| 12,004 | |
Total lease payments | 28,341 | ||
Less: imputed interest | (5,941) | ||
Present value of lease liability | $ | 22,400 |
The maximum lease term without activation of termination options is to 2041.
Note 10 — Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
September 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
Accrued clinical and development expenditure | $ | 19,526 | $ | 13,436 | ||
Accrued employee expenses | 10,356 | 11,758 | ||||
Other accrued expenditure | 5,067 | 4,388 | ||||
Other |
| 1,130 |
| 327 | ||
$ | 36,079 | $ | 29,909 |
Note 11 — Contingencies and commitments
Alpine Collaboration Agreement
On May 14, 2019, the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement relating to the development of next-generation SPEAR T-cell products with Alpine. The Company paid an upfront exclusive license option fee of $2,000,000 to Alpine in June 2019. Under the agreement, Adaptimmune will pay Alpine for ongoing research and development funding costs and development and commercialization milestone payments up to a maximum of $288,000,000 may be payable if all possible targets are selected and milestones achieved. The upfront payment of $2,000,000 and the payments for ongoing research was recognized within Research and development in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2019. A further payment of $1,000,000 was paid and recognized within Research and development in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Alpine would also receive low single-digit royalties on worldwide net sales of applicable products.
Universal Cells Research, Collaboration and License Agreement and Co-development and Co-commercialization agreement
On November 25, 2015, the Company entered into a Research, Collaboration and License Agreement relating to gene editing and Human Leukocyte Antigen (“HLA”) engineering technology with Universal Cells, Inc. (“Universal Cells”). The Company paid an upfront license and start-up fee of $2,500,000 to Universal Cells in November 2015, a milestone payment of $3,000,000 in February 2016 and
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further milestone payments of $200,000 and $900,000 were made in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The agreement was amended and re-stated as of January 13, 2020, primarily to reflect changes to the development plan agreed between the parties. The agreement was further amended as of July 22, 2022, primarily to make certain changes to development milestones and to agree on the status thereof, as agreed between the parties. Following the amendment, a milestone payment of $500,000 was made in the nine months ended 30 September 2022. Further milestone payments of up to $35,300,000 are payable if certain development and product milestones are achieved of which a milestone of $1,800,000 has been accrued but not paid as of September 30, 2022, and milestones of $600,000 and $400,000 have been invoiced, but not yet paid, as of September 30, 2022. Universal Cells would also receive a profit-share payment for the first product, and royalties on sales of other products utilizing its technology. The upfront license and start-up fee and milestone payments were expensed to Research and development when incurred.
MD Anderson Strategic Alliance
On September 26, 2016, the Company announced that it had entered into a multi-year strategic alliance with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (“MD Anderson”) designed to expedite the development of T-cell therapies for multiple types of cancer. The Company and MD Anderson are collaborating on a number of studies including clinical and preclinical development of the Company’s SPEAR T-cell therapies and will collaborate on future clinical stage first and second generation SPEAR T-cell therapies across a number of cancers.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Company committed at least $19,644,000 to fund studies. Payment of this funding is contingent on mutual agreement to study orders in order for any study to be included under the alliance and the performance of set milestones by MD Anderson. The Company made an upfront payment of $3,412,000 to MD Anderson in the year ended December 31, 2017 and milestone payments of $2,326,000, $3,549,000 and $454,000 in the years ended December 31, 2018, 2020, and 2021, respectively. A further milestone of $2,326,000 was met and paid in the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The Company is obligated to make further payments to MD Anderson as certain milestones are achieved. These costs are expensed to research and development as MD Anderson renders the services under the strategic alliance.
The agreement may be terminated by either party for material breach by the other party. Individual studies may be terminated for, amongst other things, material breach, health and safety concerns or where the institutional review board, the review board at the clinical site with oversight of the clinical study, requests termination of any study. Where any legal or regulatory authorization is finally withdrawn or terminated, the relevant study will also terminate automatically.
Note 12 — Share-based compensation
The following table shows the total share-based compensation expense included in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||||
Research and development | $ | 447 | $ | 2,177 | $ | 5,003 | $ | 7,064 | ||||
General and administrative |
| 3,216 |
| 2,842 |
| 9,291 | 8,738 | |||||
$ | 3,663 | $ | 5,019 | $ | 14,294 | $ | 15,802 |
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The following table shows information about share options and options which have a nominal exercise price (similar to restricted stock units (RSUs)) granted:
Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||
2022 |
| 2021 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||||
Number of options over ordinary shares granted | 5,996,581 | 4,170,230 | 30,608,533 | 19,891,334 | ||||||||
Weighted average fair value of ordinary shares options | $ | 0.21 | $ | 0.51 | $ | 0.37 | $ | 0.70 | ||||
Number of additional options with a nominal exercise price granted | 1,866,216 | 1,348,920 | 22,916,376 | 16,008,168 | ||||||||
Weighted average fair value of options with a nominal exercise price | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.70 | $ | 0.53 | $ | 0.98 |
Note 13 — Stockholders’ equity
On August 10, 2020 the Company entered into a sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC (“Cowen”) (the “Sales Agreement”) under which we may from time to time issue and sell American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) representing our ordinary shares through Cowen in at-the-market (“ATM”) offerings for an aggregate offering price of up to $200 million. As of September 30, 2022, $197,360,000 remained available for sale under the Sales Agreement.
On April 8, 2022 the Company entered into a new sales agreement with Cowen (the “2022 Sales Agreement”) under which we may from time to time issue and sell ADSs representing our ordinary shares through Cowen in ATM offerings for an aggregate offering price of up to $200 million. In the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company sold 6,681,506 ADSs under the agreement representing 40,089,036 ordinary shares resulting in net proceeds to the Company of $11,413,652 after deducting commissions payable under the 2022 Sales Agreement and estimated issuance costs. As of September 30, 2022, approximately $188,149,700 remained available for sale under the 2022 Sales Agreement.
Note 14 – Subsequent events
On October 25, 2022, the Company announced that GSK will transfer its NY-ESO cell program and the right to the PRAME cell therapy program to Adaptimmune. The terms of the transfer are being negotiated. As part of the transfer, the Company received notice of termination of the Collaboration and License Agreement, effective 60 days following the receipt of notice of termination on October 24, 2022. Once the termination becomes effective, any restrictions applying to Adaptimmune in relation to the collaboration targets (NY-ESO and PRAME) under the Collaboration and License Agreement cease and the licenses Adaptimmune granted to GSK under the Collaboration and License Agreement will cease. Pending completion of the terms for the transfer of the NY-ESO cell therapy program to Adaptimmune, GSK will continue to be responsible for the execution and costs of ongoing clinical trials. The PRAME program is currently preclinical and has not yet been transitioned to GSK. As the terms of the transfer and related agreement are being negotiated, an estimate of the financial effect of this event cannot yet be made.
On November 8, 2022, the Company announced that in order to extend the Company’s cash runway from early 2024 into early 2025, it is re-focusing the business on core programs and deprioritizing non-core programs. It is also undertaking a restructuring of the Company including a headcount reduction of approximately 25% to 30% to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that was filed with the SEC on March 14, 2022. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this Quarterly Report and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on providing novel cell therapies to people with cancer. We are a leader in the development of T-cell therapies for solid tumors and have reported clinical responses (per RECIST 1.1) in multiple solid tumor indications.
Our proprietary platform enables us to identify cancer targets, find and develop cell therapy candidates active against those targets and produce therapeutic candidates for administration to patients. Our cell therapy candidates include Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity Receptor (“SPEAR”) T-cells, which use genetically engineered T-cell receptors; next generation Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (“TILs”) where a patient’s own T-cells are co-administered with our next generation technology, and HLA-independent TCRs (“HiTs”) where surface proteins are targeted independently of the peptide-HLA complex.
We are prioritizing submission of the BLA for afami-cel; progressing the SURPASS family of trials in ovarian, urothelial and head & neck cancers; advancing our cell therapy directed to PRAME into clinical trial; and developing the allogeneic platform. As part of this prioritisation and focusing of resources, we are stopping the SURPASS-2 trial in esophageal and esophagogastric junction (“EGJ”) cancers and deprioritizing non-core activities, including: delaying the progression of the ADP-A2M4N7X19 (a next-generation product developed in collaboration with Noile-Immune) into the clinic, stopping work on the ADP-TILIL7 trial (a TIL product incorporating IL-7) and pausing or ending work on certain preclinical pipeline projects. We are also delaying investment in the commercialization of afami-cel.
Our ongoing clinical trials are summarised further below:
● | SPEARHEAD-1 Phase 2 Trial with afamitresgene autoleucel (“afami-cel”): A registration directed Phase 2 clinical trial is underway in synovial sarcoma and myxoid round cell liposarcoma (“MRCLS”) indications in which the MAGE-A4 antigen is expressed. Enrollment in Cohort 1 is complete, and Cohort 2 is currently recruiting with enrolment at more than 60% complete and efficacy consistent with data seen in Cohort 1. Data from Cohort 1 of this trial is intended to support submission of a BLA for afami-cel for the treatment of synovial sarcoma. During a pre-BLA meeting with the FDA on October 13, 2022, we reached agreement with the FDA on the overall content of the BLA submission. Adaptimmune plans to initiate a rolling submission in the fourth quarter of 2022 and is targeting completion of the submission in mid-year 2023. We intend to delay investment in the commercialization of afami-cel based on BLA timelines and will provide further guidance on a likely commercial launch date after the BLA has been submitted. Updated data from the SPEARHEAD-1 trial will be presented at CTOS on November 18, 2022 including an overall response rate (“ORR”) in synovial sarcoma of 38.6% by independent review and median duration of response of 50.3 weeks. Afami-cel continues to have an acceptable benefit to risk profile. |
● | SURPASS Phase 1 Trial with ADP-A2M4CD8: Enrollment is ongoing in a Phase 1 trial for our next generation SPEAR T-cells, ADP-A2M4CD8, focusing on treatment of patients with lung, gastroesophageal, head & neck, ovarian and urothelial cancers in which the MAGE-A4 antigen is expressed (“monotherapy cohort”). A new cohort combining the use of ADP-A2M4CD8 with a checkpoint inhibitor (nivolumab) initiated in the second quarter of 2022 and is currently recruiting. As of October 21, 2022, the ORR by investigator review is 37% across all indications and the duration of response continues to evolve with the median duration of response increasing to approximately 20 weeks. There is an ORR of 52% across head & neck, ovarian and urothelial cancers. An ORR of 57% in urothelial cancer supports the Company’s plans to add an additional cohort to the SURPASS Phase 1 trial to evaluate ADP-A2M4CD8 in combination with second-line standard of care in urothelial cancers. The Company also plans |
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to add a further cohort to the SURPASS Phase 1 trial to evaluate ADP-A2M4CD8 in combination with first-line standard of care (pembrolizumab) in head & neck cancer, with three out of four patients reported as responding in the SURPASS trial. |
● | SURPASS-2 Phase 2 Trial with ADP-A2M4CD8: A Phase 2 clinical trial with ADP-A2M4CD8 in esophageal and esophagogastric junction (“EGJ”) cancers is currently recruiting. We plan to stop the trial shortly and focus on ADP-A2M4CD8 in ovarian, head & neck and urothelial cancers. |
● | SURPASS-3 Phase 2 Trial with ADP-A2M4CD8: Based on the initial responses seen in the SURPASS Phase 1 trial in patients with ovarian cancer and an ORR of 43% as of October 21, 2022, we have initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating ADP-A2M4CD8 in both monotherapy and in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor, nivolizumab, in ovarian cancer in conjunction with The GOG Foundation, Inc. We recently received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (“RMAT”) designation from the FDA for ADP-A2M4CD8 for the treatment of patients with platinum resistant ovarian cancer. |
● | ADP-A2AFP Phase 1 Trial: We continue to monitor patients treated in our Phase 1 trial designed to evaluate the safety and anti-tumor activity of our alpha fetoprotein (“AFP”) specific therapeutic candidate for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (“HCC”). Screening and enrollment have now ceased in this trial. |
Our pre-clinical pipeline includes new autologous SPEAR T-cells (including the PRAME SPEAR T-cell), SPEAR T-cells addressing alternative HLA-types, next generation SPEAR T-cells, next-generation TILs and HiTs. These are being developed internally and in collaboration with third parties including Alpine Immune Sciences (“Alpine”), the National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy in Denmark (“CCIT”) and Noile-Immune Biotech Inc. (“Noile-Immune”).
We are also developing allogeneic, or “off-the-shelf,” cell therapies utilizing a proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (“iPSC”) derived platform. We are currently targeting 2025 (rather than 2024) for the submission of the first IND in relation to an allogeneic cell therapy due to a decision to change the cell line being used to develop our MAGE-A4 allogeneic cell therapy. This cell line is not used in any of the Company’s partnered programs.
● | During the third quarter of 2021 we announced a strategic collaboration with Genentech Inc. (“Genentech”) and F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.to research, develop, and commercialize allogeneic T-cell therapies (the “Genentech Collaboration”). The collaboration covers the research and development of “off-the-shelf” cell therapies for up to five shared cancer targets (“off-the-shelf” products) and the development of a novel allogeneic personalized cell therapy platform. |
● | We also have a strategic collaboration program ongoing with Astellas (through its wholly owned subsidiary Universal Cells) in relation to up to three targets with the aim of co-developing T-cell therapy candidates directed to those targets and utilizing our allogeneic platform for “off-the-shelf” cell therapies. The first target subject to the collaboration is the mesothelin target, to which a HiT cell therapy is being developed, and a second target has been nominated by Astellas. |
In order to extend the Company’s cash runway from early 2024 into early 2025, in addition to focusing on core programs, we are undertaking a restructuring of the Company including a headcount reduction of approximately 25% to 30% to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.
Financial Operations Overview
Revenue
The Company has three contracts with customers: the GSK Collaboration and License Agreement, the Astellas Collaboration Agreement and the Genentech Collaboration Agreement.
The GSK Collaboration Agreement
We entered into the GSK Collaboration and License Agreement regarding the development, manufacture and commercialization of TCR therapeutic candidates in May 2014. The collaboration is for up to five programs. The first program was the NY-ESO SPEAR T-cell program, in relation to which GSK has now exercised its option to take an exclusive license. The second program related to
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development of a SPEAR T-cell to a peptide derived from the PRAME antigen. This program has now completed. The third target program with GSK remains ongoing and is also directed to the PRAME target. We are responsible for taking the third target program through preclinical testing and up to IND application filing. GSK is responsible for the IND filing itself should the preclinical testing and development be favorable.
The GSK Collaboration and License Agreement consists of multiple performance obligations. GSK nominated its third target under the Collaboration and License Agreement in 2019, and the Company received $3.2 million following the nomination of the target. The Company received a milestone payment of $4.2 million in 2021 following achievement of a development milestone. These amounts are being recognized as revenue as development progresses.
On October 24, 2022, the Company received notice of termination of the Collaboration and License Agreement, effective 60 days following the receipt of notice of termination. Once the termination becomes effective, any restrictions applying to Adaptimmune in relation to the collaboration targets (NY-ESO and PRAME) under the Collaboration and License Agreement cease and the licenses Adaptimmune granted to GSK under the Collaboration and License Agreement will cease. Adaptimmune and GSK are in negotiations relating to the transfer of the cell therapy programs to Adaptimmune. Pending completion of the terms for the transfer of the NY-ESO cell therapy program to Adaptimmune, GSK will continue to be responsible for the execution and costs of ongoing clinical trials. The PRAME program is currently preclinical and has not yet been transitioned to GSK. Termination does not trigger any payment obligations on the part of Adaptimmune.
As the terms of the transfer and related agreement are being negotiated, an estimate of the effect of this event on revenue recognition cannot yet be made.
The Astellas Collaboration Agreement
In January 2020, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with Astellas. The Company received $50.0 million as an upfront payment after entering into the agreement. Under the agreement the parties will agree on up to three targets and will co-develop T-cell therapies directed to those targets pursuant to an agreed research plan. For each target, Astellas will fund co-development up until completion of a Phase 1 trial for products directed to such target. In addition, Astellas was also granted the right to develop, independently of Adaptimmune, allogeneic T-cell therapy candidates directed to two targets selected by Astellas. Astellas will have sole rights to develop and commercialize products resulting from these two targets.
The agreement consists of the following performance obligations: (i) research services and rights granted under the co-exclusive license for each of the three co-development targets and (ii) the rights granted for each of the two independent Astellas targets. The revenue allocated to the co-development targets is recognized as the development of products directed to the targets progresses up until completion of a Phase 1 trial. The revenue allocated to each of the research licenses for the targets being independently developed by Astellas will be recognized when the associated license commences, which is upon designation of a target by Astellas.
The Genentech Collaboration Agreement
On September 3, 2021, Adaptimmune Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adaptimmune Therapeutics Plc, entered into a Strategic Collaboration and License Agreement with Genentech, Inc. (“Genentech”) and F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. The collaboration has two components:
1) | development of allogeneic T-cell therapies for up to five shared cancer targets |
2) | development of personalized allogeneic T-cell therapies utilizing αβ T-cell receptors (TCRs) isolated from a patient, with such therapies being administered to the same patient. |
The parties will collaborate to perform a research program, initially during an eight-year period (which may be extended for up to two additional two-year terms at Genentech’s election upon payment of an extension fee for each two-year term), to develop the cell therapies, following which Genentech will determine whether to further develop and commercialize such therapies. The Company received an upfront payment of $150 million in October 2021. The Company began recognizing revenue for the performance obligations relating to the initial “off-the-shelf” collaboration targets and the personalized therapies in 2021; however, this did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements in 2021.
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The Company identified the following performance obligations under the agreement: (i) research services and rights granted under the licenses for each of the initial “off-the-shelf” collaboration targets, (ii) research services and rights granted under the licenses for the personalized therapies, (iii) material rights relating to the option to designate additional “off-the-shelf” collaboration targets and (iv) material rights relating to the two options to extend the research term. The revenue allocated to the initial “off-the-shelf” collaboration targets and the personalized therapies is recognized as development progresses. The revenue allocated to the material rights to designate additional ‘off-the-shelf’ collaboration targets is recognized from the point that the options are exercised and then as development progresses, in line with the initial “off-the-shelf” collaboration targets, or at the point in time that the rights expire. The revenue from the material rights to extend the research term is recognized from the point that the options are exercised and then over period of the extension, or at the point in time that the options expire.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenditures are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist principally of the following:
● | salaries for research and development staff and related expenses, including benefits; |
● | costs for production of preclinical compounds and drug substances by contract manufacturers; |
● | fees and other costs paid to contract research organizations in connection with additional preclinical testing and the performance of clinical trials; |
● | costs associated with the development of a process to manufacture and supply our lentiviral vector and cell therapies for use in clinical trials; |
● | costs to develop manufacturing capability at our U.S. facility for manufacture of cell therapies for use in clinical trials; |
● | costs relating to facilities, materials and equipment used in research and development; |
● | costs of acquired or in-licensed research and development which does not have alternative future use; |
● | costs of developing assays and diagnostics; |
● | an allocation of indirect costs clearly related to research and development; |
● | amortization and depreciation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets used to develop our cells therapies; and |
● | share-based compensation expenses. |
These expenses are partially offset by:
● | reimbursable tax and expenditure credits from the U.K. government. |
Research and development expenditure is presented net of reimbursements from reimbursable tax and expenditure credits from the U.K. government.
As a company that carries out extensive research and development activities, we benefit from the U.K. research and development tax credit regime for small and medium sized companies (“SME R&D Tax Credit Scheme”), whereby our principal research subsidiary company, Adaptimmune Limited, is able to surrender the trading losses that arise from its research and development activities for a payable tax credit of up to approximately 33.4% of eligible research and development expenditures. Qualifying expenditures largely comprise employment costs for research staff, consumables and certain internal overhead costs incurred as part of research projects for which we do not receive income. Subcontracted research expenditures are eligible for a cash rebate of up to approximately 21.7%. A large
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proportion of costs in relation to our pipeline research, clinical trials management and manufacturing development activities, all of which are being carried out by Adaptimmune Limited, are eligible for inclusion within these tax credit cash rebate claims.
Expenditures incurred in conjunction with our collaboration agreements are not qualifying expenditures under the SME R&D Tax Credit Scheme but certain of these expenditures can be reimbursed through the U.K. research and development expenditure credit scheme (the “RDEC Scheme”). Under the RDEC Scheme tax relief is given at 13% of allowable R&D costs, which may result in a payable tax credit at an effective rate of approximately 10.5% of qualifying expenditure for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Our research and development expenses may vary substantially from period to period based on the timing of our research and development activities, which depends upon the timing of initiation of clinical trials and the rate of enrollment of patients in clinical trials. The duration, costs, and timing of clinical trials and development of our cell therapies will depend on a variety of factors, including:
● | the scope, rate of progress, and expense of our ongoing as well as any additional clinical trials and other research and development activities; |
● | uncertainties in clinical trial enrollment rates; |
● | future clinical trial results; |
● | significant and changing government regulation; |
● | the timing and receipt of any regulatory approvals; and |
● | supply and manufacture of lentiviral vector and cell therapies for clinical trials. |
A change in the outcome of any of these variables may significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that cell therapy. For example, if the FDA, or another regulatory authority, requires us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we currently anticipate will be required for regulatory approval, or if we experience significant delays in enrollment in any of our clinical trials, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development.
General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses consist principally of:
● | salaries for employees other than research and development staff, including benefits; |
● | business development expenses, including travel expenses; |
● | professional fees for auditors, lawyers and other consulting expenses; |
● | costs of facilities, communication, and office expenses; |
● | cost of establishing commercial operations; |
● | information technology expenses; |
● | amortization and depreciation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets not related to research and development activities; and |
● | share-based compensation expenses. |
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Other (Expense) Income, Net
Other (expense) income, net primarily comprises foreign exchange (losses) gains. We are exposed to foreign exchange rate risk because we currently operate in the United Kingdom and United States. Our expenses are generally denominated in the currency in which our operations are located, which are the United Kingdom and United States. However, our U.K.-based subsidiary incurs significant research and development costs in U.S. dollars and, to a lesser extent, Euros. Our U.K. subsidiary has an intercompany loan balance in U.S. dollars payable to the ultimate parent company, Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc, which is considered of a long-term investment nature as repayment is not planned or anticipated in the foreseeable future. It is Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc’s intent not to request payment of the intercompany loan for the foreseeable future. The foreign exchange gains or losses arising on the revaluation of intercompany loans of a long-term investment nature are reported within other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax.
Our results of operations and cash flows will be subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which could harm our business in the future. We seek to minimize this exposure by maintaining currency cash balances at levels appropriate to meet forthcoming expenditure in U.S. dollars and pounds sterling. To date, we have not used hedging contracts to manage exchange rate exposure, although we may do so in the future.
In addition to currency fluctuations, adverse macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, slower growth or recession, new or increased tariffs, changes to fiscal and monetary policy, tighter credit, and higher interest rates, could materially adversely affect the Company by, for example, driving higher input costs and/or impacting the Company’s ability to raise future financing.
Taxation
We are subject to corporate taxation in the United Kingdom and the United States. We incur tax losses and tax credit carryforwards in the United Kingdom. No deferred tax assets are recognized on our U.K. losses and tax credit carryforwards because there is currently no indication that we will make sufficient taxable profits to utilize these tax losses and tax credit carryforwards. On June 10, 2021, the U.K. 2021 Finance Bill received Royal Assent. Under this bill, the rate of U.K. corporation tax will increase to 25% in 2023, with lower rates and tapered relief to be applied to companies with profits below £250,000.
We benefit from reimbursable tax credits in the United Kingdom through the SME R&D Tax Credit Scheme as well as the RDEC Scheme which are presented as a deduction to research and development expenditure.
Our subsidiary in the United States has generated taxable profits due to a Service Agreement between our U.S. and U.K. operating subsidiaries and is subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax of 21%. Due to its activity in the United States, and the sourcing of its revenue, the U.S. subsidiary is not currently subject to any state or local income taxes. The Company also benefits from the U.S Research Tax Credit and Orphan Drug Credit.
In the future, if we generate taxable income in the United Kingdom, we may benefit from the United Kingdom’s “patent box” regime, which would allow certain profits attributable to revenues from patented products to be taxed at a rate of 10%. As we have many different patents covering our products, future upfront fees, milestone fees, product revenues, and royalties may be taxed at this favorably low tax rate.
U.K. Value Added Tax (“VAT”) is charged on all qualifying goods and services by VAT-registered businesses. An amount of 20% of the value of the goods or services is added to all relevant sales invoices and is payable to the U.K. tax authorities. Similarly, VAT paid on purchase invoices paid by Adaptimmune Limited and Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc is reclaimable from the U.K. tax authorities.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
The preparation of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the revenues and expenses incurred during the reported periods. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are relevant under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The accounting policies considered to be critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements are disclosed in the
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, together with the changes to those items (in thousands):
Three months ended |
| |||||||||||
September 30, |
|
| ||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| Increase/decrease |
| ||||||
Revenue | $ | 7,007 | $ | 1,203 | $ | 5,804 |
| 482 | % | |||
Research and development expenses |
| (33,182) |
| (28,211) |
| (4,971) |
| 18 | % | |||
General and administrative expenses |
| (16,815) |
| (15,173) |
| (1,642) |
| 11 | % | |||
Total operating expenses |
| (49,997) |
| (43,384) |
| (6,613) |
| 15 | % | |||
Operating loss |
| (42,990) |
| (42,181) |
| (809) |
| 2 | % | |||
Interest income |
| 324 |
| 225 |
| 99 |
| 44 | % | |||
Other (expense) income, net |
| 1,644 |
| (237) |
| 1,881 |
| (794) | % | |||
Loss before income taxes |
| (41,022) |
| (42,193) |
| 1,171 |
| (3) | % | |||
Income taxes |
| (399) |
| (208) |
| (191) |
| 92 | % | |||
Loss for the period | $ | (41,421) | $ | (42,401) | $ | 980 |
| (2) | % |
Revenue
Revenue increased by $5.8 million to $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 due to an increase in development activities under our collaboration agreements. In particular, the Company recognized revenue in relation to development activities under the Genentech agreement for the three months ended September 30, 2022 but, as the agreement was not effective until October 19, 2021, there was no revenue from development activities under the Genentech agreement for the three months ended September 30, 2021.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased by 18% to $33.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 from $28.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021.
Our research and development expenses comprise the following (in thousands):
Three months ended |
| |||||||||||
September 30, |
|
| ||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| Increase/decrease | |||||||
Salaries, materials, equipment, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other employee-related costs(1) | $ | 21,626 | $ | 20,270 | $ | 1,356 | 7 | % | ||||
Subcontracted expenditure |
| 18,415 |
| 10,111 |
| 8,304 | 82 | % | ||||
Manufacturing facility expenditure |
| 1,754 |
| 2,594 |
| (840) | (32) | % | ||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| 447 |
| 2,177 |
| (1,730) | (79) | % | ||||
In-process research and development costs |
| 221 |
| — |
| 221 | NA | % | ||||
Reimbursements receivable for research and development tax and expenditure credits |
| (9,281) |
| (6,941) |
| (2,340) | 34 | % | ||||
$ | 33,182 | $ | 28,211 | $ | 4,971 | 18 | % |
(1) | These costs are not analyzed by project since employees may be engaged in multiple projects simultaneously. |
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The net increase in our research and development expenses of $5.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 was primarily due to the following:
● | an increase of $1.4 million in salaries, materials, equipment, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other employee-related costs, which is mainly driven by an increase in the average number of employees engaged in research and development; and |
● | an increase of $8.3 million in subcontracted expenditure due an increase in manufacturing expenses; offset by |
● | an increase of $2.3 million in reimbursements receivable for research and development tax and expenditure credits due to increases in the associated research and development costs for which the credits may be claimed. |
Our subcontracted costs for the three months ended September 30, 2022 were $18.4 million, compared to $10.1 million in the same period of 2021. This includes $15.7 million of costs directly associated with our afami-cel, ADP-A2M4CD8 and ADP-A2AFP SPEAR T-cells and $2.7 million of other development costs.
Our research and development expenses are highly dependent on the phases and progression of our research projects and will fluctuate depending on the outcome of ongoing clinical trials. We expect that our research and development expenses will increase in future periods as we continue to invest in our translational sciences and other research and development capabilities.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased by 11% to $16.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 from $15.2 million in the same period in 2021. Our general and administrative expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
| Three months ended |
| | |||||||||
September 30, |
|
| | |||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| Increase/decrease | | ||||||
Salaries, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other employee-related costs | $ | 8,668 | $ | 7,142 | $ | 1,526 | 21 | % | ||||
Other corporate costs |
| 4,931 |
| 5,189 |
| (258) | (5) | % | ||||
Share-based compensation expense | 3,216 | 2,842 | 374 | 13 | % | |||||||
$ | 16,815 | $ | 15,173 | $ | 1,642 | 11 | % |
The net increase in our general and administrative expenses of $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 was largely due to an increase of $1.5 million in salaries, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other employee-related costs, as a result of an increase in the average number of employees in the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.
We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we expand our operations and move towards commercial launch.
Income Taxes
Income taxes increased to a charge of $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 from a charge of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Income taxes arise in the United States due to our U.S. subsidiary generating taxable profits. We incur losses in the United Kingdom.
Comparison of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, together with the changes to those items (in thousands):
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Nine months ended |
| |||||||||||
September 30, |
|
| ||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| Increase/decrease |
| ||||||
Revenue | $ | 16,120 | $ | 4,732 | $ | 11,388 |
| 241 | % | |||
Research and development expenses |
| (104,674) |
| (81,585) |
| (23,089) |
| 28 | % | |||
General and administrative expenses |
| (48,169) |
| (42,529) |
| (5,640) |
| 13 | % | |||
Total operating expenses |
| (152,843) |
| (124,114) |
| (28,729) |
| 23 | % | |||
Operating loss |
| (136,723) |
| (119,382) |
| (17,341) |
| 15 | % | |||
Interest income |
| 1,019 |
| 916 |
| 103 |
| 11 | % | |||
Other (expense) income, net |
| 1,001 |
| (184) |
| 1,185 |
| (644) | % | |||
Loss before income tax expense |
| (134,703) |
| (118,650) |
| (16,053) |
| 14 | % | |||
Income tax expense |
| (1,503) |
| (582) |
| (921) |
| 158 | % | |||
Loss for the period | $ | (136,206) | $ | (119,232) | $ | (16,974) |
| 14 | % |
Revenue
Revenue increased by $11.4 million to $16.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 due to an increase in development activities under our collaboration agreements. In particular, the Company recognized revenue in relation to development activities under the Genentech agreement for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, but as the agreement was not effective until October 19, 2021, there was no revenue from development activities under the Genentech agreement for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased by 28% to $104.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from $81.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Our research and development expenses comprise the following (in thousands):
Nine months ended |
| |||||||||||
September 30, |
|
| ||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| Increase/decrease | |||||||
Salaries, materials, equipment, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other employee-related costs(1) | $ | 68,862 | 58,694 | $ | 10,168 | 17 | % | |||||
Subcontracted expenditure |
| 47,948 |
| 32,353 |
| 15,595 | 48 | % | ||||
Manufacturing facility expenditure |
| 6,641 |
| 7,135 |
| (494) | (7) | % | ||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| 5,003 |
| 7,064 |
| (2,061) | (29) | % | ||||
In-process research and development costs |
| 2,474 |
| 151 |
| 2,323 | 1,538 | % | ||||
Reimbursements receivable for research and development tax and expenditure credits |
| (26,254) |
| (23,812) |
| (2,442) | 10 | % | ||||
$ | 104,674 | $ | 81,585 | $ | 23,089 | 28 | % |
(1) | These costs are not analyzed by project since employees may be engaged in multiple projects simultaneously. |
The net increase in our research and development expenses of $23.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 was primarily due to the following:
● | an increase of $10.2 million in salaries, materials, equipment, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other employee-related costs, which is mainly driven by an increase in the average number of employees engaged in research and development; |
● | an increase of $2.3 million in in-process research and development costs due to milestones accrued for, and paid to, Universal Cells; and |
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● | an increase of $15.6 million in subcontracted expenditure due to the upfront Alpine payment and an increase in manufacturing expenses; offset by |
● | an increase of $2.4 million in reimbursements receivable for research and development tax and expenditure credits due to increases in the associated research and development costs for which the credits may be claimed. |
Our subcontracted costs for the September 30, 2022 were $47.9 million, compared to $32.4 million in the same period of 2021. This includes $35.6 million of costs directly associated with our afami-cel, ADP-A2M4CD8 and ADP-A2AFP SPEAR T-cells and $12.3 million of other development costs.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased by 13% to $48.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from $42.5 million in the same period in 2021. Our general and administrative expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
Nine months ended |
| |||||||||||
September 30, |
|
| ||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| Increase/decrease | |||||||
Salaries, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other employee-related costs | $ | 25,994 | $ | 21,434 | $ | 4,560 | 21 | % | ||||
Other corporate costs |
| 15,228 |
| 13,810 |
| 1,418 | 10 | % | ||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| 9,291 |
| 8,738 |
| 553 | 6 | % | ||||
Reimbursements |
| (2,344) |
| (1,453) |
| (891) | 61 | % | ||||
$ | 48,169 | $ | 42,529 | $ | 5,640 | 13 | % |
The net increase in our general and administrative expenses of $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 was largely due to an increase of $4.6 million in salaries, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other employee-related costs, as a result of an increase in the average number of employees in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 and an increase of $1.4 million in other corporate costs due to an increase in accounting, legal and professional fees.
We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we expand our operations and move towards commercial launch.
Income Taxes
Income taxes increased to a charge of $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from a charge of $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Income taxes arise in the United States due to our U.S. subsidiary generating taxable profits. Income taxes have increased by $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 due to changes to U.S. taxation laws coming into effect, affecting the period over which certain expenses may be deducted from taxable income. We incur losses in the United Kingdom.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Funds
Since our inception, we have incurred significant net losses and negative cash flows from operations. We financed our operations primarily through sales of equity securities, cash receipts under our collaboration arrangements and research and development tax and expenditure credits. From inception through to September 30, 2022, we have raised:
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● | $868.6 million, net of issuance costs, through the issuance of shares; |
● | $362.3 million through collaborative arrangements with Genentech, GSK and Astellas; and |
● | $82.1 million in the form of reimbursable U.K. research and development tax credits and receipts from the U.K. RDEC Scheme. |
We use a non-GAAP measure, Total Liquidity, which is defined as the total of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, to evaluate the funds available to us in the near-term. A description of Total Liquidity and reconciliation to cash and cash equivalents, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, are provided below under “Non-GAAP measures”.
As of September 30, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $79.0 million and Total Liquidity of $199.7 million. We regularly assess Total Liquidity against our activities and make decisions regarding prioritization of those activities and deployment of Total Liquidity. We believe that our Total Liquidity will be sufficient to fund the Company’s current operations, based upon our currently anticipated research and development activities and planned capital spending into early 2024. This belief is based on estimates that are subject to risks and uncertainties and may change if actual results differ from management’s estimates.
In order to extend the Company’s cash runway from early 2024 into early 2025, in addition to focusing on core programs, we are undertaking a restructuring of the Company including a headcount reduction of approximately 25% to 30% to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes the results of our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
| Nine months ended | |||||
September 30, | ||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (143,811) | $ | (123,199) | ||
Net cash provided by investing activities |
| 68,185 |
| 104,291 | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| 11,464 |
| 3,236 | ||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| 80,713 |
| 44,635 |
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $143.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $123.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Our activities typically result in net use of cash in operating activities. The net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased due to an increase in operating expenditure.
Net cash used in operating activities of $143.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 comprised a net loss of $136.2 million and a net cash outflow of $27.0 million from changes in operating assets and liabilities, offset by non-cash items of $19.4 million. The changes in operating assets and liabilities include the impact of an $26.3 million increase in reimbursements receivable for research and development tax credits. The non-cash items consisted primarily of depreciation expense on plant and equipment of $4.0 million, share-based compensation expense of $14.3 million, unrealized foreign exchange gains of $2.5 million, amortization on available-for-sale debt securities of $2.2 million and other items of $1.4 million.
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Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities was $68.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $104.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The net cash provided by investing activities for the respective periods consisted primarily of:
● | purchases of property and equipment of $26.1 million and $4.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively; and |
● | cash outflows from investment in marketable securities of $42.2 million and $81.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively; offset by |
● | cash inflows from maturity or redemption of marketable securities of $136.7 million and $190.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. |
The Company invests surplus cash and cash equivalents in marketable securities. In the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the investments in marketable securities were reduced to fund the Company’s ongoing operations.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $11.4 million and $3.2 million for the September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The net cash provided by financing activities in the September 30, 2022 consisted primarily of net proceeds of $11.4 million from shares issued in an At-The-Market offering, net of commissions and issuance costs. The net cash provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 consisted of net proceeds of $2.5 million from shares issued in an At-The-Market offering, net of commissions and issuance costs, and proceeds from share option exercises of $0.7 million.
Non-GAAP Measures
Total Liquidity (a non-GAAP financial measure)
Total Liquidity (a non-GAAP financial measure) is the total of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. Each of these components appears in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The U.S. GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to Total Liquidity is cash and cash equivalents as reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements, which reconciles to Total Liquidity as follows (in thousands):
| September 30, |
| December 31, | |||
2022 | 2021 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 79,001 | $ | 149,948 | ||
Marketable securities - available-for-sale debt securities |
| 120,669 |
| 219,632 | ||
Total Liquidity | $ | 199,670 | $ | 369,580 |
We believe that the presentation of Total Liquidity provides useful information to investors because management reviews Total Liquidity as part of its management of overall solvency and liquidity, financial flexibility, capital position and leverage. The definition of Total Liquidity includes marketable securities, which are highly-liquid and available to use in our current operations.
Safe Harbor
See the section titled “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of this Quarterly Report.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
There have been no material changes to the Company’s market risk during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. For a discussion of the Company’s exposure to market risk, please refer to the Company’s market risk disclosures set forth in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) as of September 30, 2022.
Based on such evaluation and as previously described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that there was a control deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting which constituted a material weakness. The material weakness was identified as part of the audit of our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and has not been remediated. The material weakness resulted in a material misstatement in deferred income taxes that was corrected prior to the issuance of the financial statements. Due to this material weakness, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2022 to assure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit pursuant to the Exchange Act is properly disclosed. Further discussion on this material weakness including the steps we are taking to remedy such weakness has been previously provided in our discussion of internal control over financial reporting in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for 2021.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Save for the ongoing remediation activities related to the material weakness, no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d – 15(e)) under Exchange Act) occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
As of September 30, 2022, we were not a party to any material legal proceedings.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Our business has significant risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors set out in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the disclosures set out in this Quarterly Report, including our condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes, before making an investment decision regarding our securities. The risks and uncertainties described are those material risk factors currently known and specific to us that we believe are relevant to our business, results of operations and financial condition. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we now deem immaterial may also impair our business, results of operations and financial condition.
As of and for the period ended September 30, 2022, save as provided below there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed by us in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
The following additional risk factor applies to our business
We are currently operating in a period of heightened economic uncertainty and capital markets volatility which has been significantly impacted by geopolitical instability, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the continued impact of COVID-19 and high inflation globally which has materially adversely affected our ability to raise additional equity. These conditions have had and may continue to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Economic uncertainty in various global markets, including the U.S. and Europe, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability, including the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have led to market disruptions, including significant increases in commodity prices, energy and fuel prices, credit and capital market instability and supply chain interruptions which have caused record inflation globally. As a result, central banks around the world have raised interest rates significantly and have signalled that they will continue to do so in an effort to fight inflation. This has led to significant volatility in capital markets which continues to limit our ability to raise further funds and as a result has impacted our ability to conduct certain of our planned activities including the start of certain trials, progression of pre-clinical candidates into clinical trials and the speed with which we can manufacture and supply cell therapies for clinical trials. We have stopped certain non-core activities, including stopping enrolment in the SURPASS-2 trial and delaying the new clinical trials with our TIL-IL7 product and the next generation ADP-A2M4N7X19 cell therapy. We are also taking a number of further actions to extend our cash runway into early 2025 including a reduction of headcount by approximately 25% to 30% which we expect to complete in the first quarter of 2023. The reduction in headcount will affect our ability to progress our planned business activities, could result in a loss of individuals which are key to core business activities and will also impact the timing of commercialization for our afami-cel cell therapy product. The full impact of these actions is not currently known but could result in skilled individuals leaving the Company which would further impact our ability to progress our business objectives. If these market conditions persist for a prolonged period of time we could be required to take additional measures and potentially restructure the Company’s business. Any such disruptions may also magnify the impact of other risks and may impact our ability to realize value from our ongoing third party collaborations or to perform those collaborations or other business activities as currently planned.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
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Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
Item 6. Exhibits.
The following exhibits are either provided with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or are incorporated herein by reference:
Exhibit Number |
| Description of Exhibit |
31.1** | ||
31.2** | ||
32.1*** | ||
32.2*** | ||
101** | The following financial information from Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2022, formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, (ii) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, (iii) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, (iv) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Change in Equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, (v) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and (vi) Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. | |
104** | Cover Page Interactive data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
** Filed herewith.
*** Furnished herewith.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ADAPTIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS PLC | |
Date: November 8, 2022 | /s/ Adrian Rawcliffe |
Adrian Rawcliffe | |
Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: November 8, 2022 | /s/ Gavin Wood |
Gavin Wood | |
Chief Financial Officer |
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