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IO Biotech Announces 2023 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Results

NEW YORK, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IO Biotech (Nasdaq: IOBT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win® platform, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year-ended December 31, 2023.

“In 2023, we reached a significant milestone in our pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating our lead therapeutic cancer vaccine, IO102-IO103, in combination with KEYTRUDA, completing enrollment in this trial in mid-November,” said Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D., President and CEO of IO Biotech. “The acceleration in enrollment observed in this study in the second half of 2023 is a testament to the need that exists today for more efficacious and better tolerated first-line treatment options for patients with advanced melanoma.”

Dr. Zocca continued, “The coming months will prove to be a critical period in the development of IO Biotech, with the outcome of the pivotal Phase 3 interim analysis expected in the third quarter of 2024, and, more importantly, the primary endpoint of progression free survival estimated to follow in the second half of 2025. Our team is dedicated to continuing our diligent work to efficiently bring IO102-IO103 to patients in need, potentially as early as 2025.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 and other Recent Highlights

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results

About IO102-IO103

IO102-IO103 is an investigational off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to kill both tumor cells and immune-suppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) by stimulating activation and expansion of T cells against indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and/or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) cells. The company is currently conducting a pivotal Phase 3 trial (IOB-013/KN-D18; NCT05155254) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with advanced melanoma, a Phase 2 basket trial (IOB-022/KN-D38; NCT05077709) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as first line treatment in patients with solid tumors, and a Phase 2 basket trial (IOB-032/PN-E40; NCT05280314) investigating IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as neo-adjuvant/adjuvant treatment of patients with solid tumors.

The clinical trials are sponsored by IO Biotech and conducted in collaboration with Merck and Merck is supplying pembrolizumab. IO Biotech maintains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.

KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.

About the IOB-013/KN-D18 Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Trial

IOB-013/KN-D18 (Clinical Trials.gov: NCT05155254) is an open label, randomized Phase 3 clinical trial of IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone in patients with previously untreated, unresectable or metastatic (advanced) melanoma, being conducted in collaboration with Merck. Patients have been enrolled from centers across the United States, Europe, Australia, Turkey, Israel and South Africa. The primary endpoint of the study is progression free survival. Biomarker analyses will also be conducted. IO Biotech is sponsoring the Phase 3 trial and Merck is supplying pembrolizumab. IO Biotech maintains global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.

About the IOB-013/KN-D18 Clinical Trial Endpoints

The primary endpoint of the IOB-013/KN-D18 trial is progression free survival (PFS). The PFS analysis is event-driven and will be conducted when 226 events have occurred in the trial, which the company estimates will take place in the second half of 2025. Additionally, there is a planned per-protocol interim analysis of overall response rate when the first 225 randomized patients reach one year of treatment in mid-2024. The outcome of this analysis is expected in the third quarter of 2024. There is a high statistical bar for the Phase 3 interim analysis (p≤0.005), which was set to preserve most of the alpha for the primary endpoint of PFS. Regardless of the outcome of the interim analysis, the trial is designed to continue to the primary PFS endpoint.

About IO Biotech

IO Biotech is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its T-win® platform. The T-win platform is based on a novel approach to cancer vaccines designed to activate T cells to target the immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. IO Biotech is advancing its lead cancer vaccine candidate, IO102-IO103, in clinical trials, and additional pipeline candidates through preclinical development. Based on positive Phase 1/2 first line metastatic melanoma data, IO102-IO103, in combination with pembrolizumab, has been granted a breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of advanced melanoma by the US Food and Drug Administration. IO Biotech is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and has US headquarters in New York, New York.

For further information, please visit www.iobiotech.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including regarding the timing of the interim and primary analyses of the company’s Phase 3 trial, current or future clinical trials, their progress, enrollment or results, or the company’s financial position or cash runway, are based on IO Biotech’s current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect its business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and actual results and other events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and should not be unduly relied upon. Except to the extent required by law, IO Biotech undertakes no obligation to update these statements, whether as a result of any new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contact:
Maryann Cimino, Director of Investor Relations
IO Biotech, Inc.
617-710-7305
mci@iobiotech.com

IO BIOTECH, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

                               
    Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
    2023     2022     2023     2022  
Operating expenses                      
Research and development   $ 21,770     $ 14,433     $ 67,829     $ 46,986  
General and administrative     6,413       5,955       23,614       24,438  
Total operating expenses     28,183       20,388       91,443       71,424  
Loss from operations     (28,183 )     (20,388 )     (91,443 )     (71,424
Other income (expense)                      
Currency exchange gain, net     405       521       331       130  
Interest income     1,949       782       5,881       1,411  
Interest expense                       (302 )
Total other income (expense), net     2,354       1,303       6,212       1,239  
Loss before income tax expense     (25,829 )     (19,085 )     (85,231 )     (70,185
Income tax expense     353       987       852       1,273  
Net loss     (26,182 )     (20,072 )     (86,083 )     (71,458
Net loss attributable to common shareholders     (26,182 )     (20,072 )     (86,083 )     (71,458
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.70 )   $ (1.98 )   $ (2.48
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted     65,880,914       28,815,267       43,539,976       28,815,267  
Other comprehensive (loss) income                      
Net loss   $ (26,182 )   $ (20,072 )   $ (86,083 )   $ (71,458
Foreign currency translation     204       3,775       472       (8,652
Total comprehensive loss   $ (25,978 )   $ (16,297 )   $ (85,611 )   $ (80,110
                                 

IO BIOTECH, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

    December 31,  
    2023     2022  
Assets            
Current assets            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 143,193     $ 142,590  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     4,062       5,629  
Total current assets     147,255       148,219  
Restricted cash     268       268  
Property and equipment, net     847       741  
Right of use lease asset     2,259       2,493  
Other non-current assets     89       84  
Total non-current assets     3,463       3,586  
Total assets   $ 150,718     $ 151,805  
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity            
Current liabilities            
Accounts payable   $ 3,878     $ 4,004  
Lease liability – current     655       515  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     11,184       6,157  
Total current liabilities     15,717       10,676  
Lease liability – non-current     1,839       2,275  
Total non-current liabilities     1,839       2,275  
Total liabilities     17,556       12,951  
             
Stockholders’ equity            
Preferred stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized,
no shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
           
Common stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 300,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; 65,880,914 and 28,815,267 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively     66       29  
Additional paid-in capital     406,587       326,705  
Accumulated deficit     (263,822 )     (177,739 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (9,669 )     (10,141 )
Total stockholders’ equity     133,162       138,854  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 150,718     $ 151,805  


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