MONROVIA, Calif., Aug. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergic diseases and cancer, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 and provided a review of pipeline and corporate highlights.

"In the second quarter, we strengthened our internal development pipeline with the addition of two new bispecific oncology candidates, XmAb®18087 for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and XmAb®20717, for the treatment of multiple cancers. We also entered into a strategic collaboration with Novartis, in which we jointly develop XmAb®14045 and XmAb®13676 for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and B-cell malignancies, respectively, while retaining U.S. commercialization rights to both compounds," said Bassil Dahiyat, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Xencor. "Taken together, we now expect to have 13 wholly-owned or partnered XmAb® antibodies in the clinic by 2018, including four XmAb bispecific antibodies. With $168.8 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of the second quarter, coupled with the $150 million upfront payment received from Novartis in the third quarter, we remain well-financed to advance the development of our clinical programs and platform."

Pipeline Highlights:

XmAb®5871: XmAb5871 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that targets CD19 with its variable domain and that uses Xencor's XmAb immune inhibitor Fc domain to target FcγRIIb, a receptor that inhibits B-cell function. XmAb5871 is currently in Phase 2 clinical studies for the treatment of IgG4-Related Disease (IgG4-RD) and system lupus erythematosus (SLE).

• Phase 1 trial with subcutaneous formulation started in Q3 2016; initial data in 2017
• Initial data from IgG4-RD Phase 2 trial expected in 1H17
• Initial data from SLE Phase 2 trial expected in 2018

XmAb®7195: XmAb7195 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that targets IgE with its variable domain and uses Xencor's XmAb Immune Inhibitor Fc domain to target FcγRIIb, resulting in three distinct mechanisms of action for reducing IgE levels.

• Initiation of Phase 1 trial with subcutaneous formulation expected in 2016; initial data expected in 1H17

In May 2016, Xencor announced complete data results from its Phase 1a trial of XmAb7195, which showed a swift and extensive depletion of serum IgE at all doses tested, including in high IgE subjects. XmAb7195 was generally well tolerated, with transient, asymptomatic thrombocytopenia reported at doses ≥ 2.0 mg/kg. Moderate urticaria was reported in some treated patients with an apparent correlation of dose frequency with occurrence. Results of this study support further development in a multiple ascending dose study with subcutaneous administration, which will evaluate safety, tolerability and immunogenicity, and will measure IgE levels. These data were presented at the American Thoracic Society 2016 International Conference (A6476: Poster Board Number 407).

Bispecific Oncology Pipeline: Xencor's initial bispecific programs are tumor-targeted antibodies that contain both a tumor antigen binding domain and a cytotoxic T-cell binding domain. These bispecific antibodies activate T cells for highly potent and targeted killing of malignant cells. Their XmAb Fc domains confer long circulating half-lives, stability and ease of manufacture.

• Initiation of clinical trial for XmAb14045 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) expected in 2016; initial data expected in 2017
• Initiation of clinical trial for XmAb13676 in B-cell malignancies expected in 2016; initial data expected in 2018
• Initiation of pre-clinical development of XmAb18087, a SSTR2 x CD3 bispecific antibody for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors, announced in June 2016; Phase 1 clinical trial expected to begin in 2017

Xencor has initiated development of its first bispecific antibody that simultaneously engages two T-cell checkpoint targets to activate T cells against multiple tumor types.  These dual checkpoint bispecific antibodies have the potential to improve on combination checkpoint therapies by improving selectivity and eliminating the need for multiple checkpoint antibodies.

• Initiation of pre-clinical development of XmAb20717, a PD-1 x CTLA-4 bispecific antibody for potential use in multiple oncology indications, announced in June 2016; Phase 1 clinical trial expected to begin in 2017

In June 2016, Xencor entered into a collaboration with Novartis to develop and commercialize lead bispecific oncology candidates XmAb14045 and XmAb13676. Under the terms of the agreement, Xencor and Novartis will share worldwide development costs for the two compounds, with Xencor maintaining U.S. commercial rights and Novartis having commercial rights in the rest of the world. Novartis will also receive worldwide rights to Xencor's bispecific technology to develop and commercialize four additional targets selected by Novartis, one of which Xencor may elect to co-detail in the U.S. The bispecific collaboration will include molecular engineering by Xencor. Additionally, Novartis will receive a worldwide non-exclusive license to use Xencor's other XmAb Fc technologies in up to ten molecules. Xencor received a $150 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive up to $2.41 billion in clinical, regulatory and sales milestone payments and royalties on sales.

Partnered XmAb Programs: Nine pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are advancing novel drug candidates either discovered at Xencor or that rely on Xencor's proprietary XmAb® technology. Seven such programs are currently undergoing clinical testing. 

Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2016 Financial Results

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $168.8 million as of June 30, 2016, compared to $193.3 million on December 31, 2015. The decrease reflects net spending on operations in the six months ended June 30, 2016. 

Revenues for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 were $66.0 million, compared to $1.0 million in the same period of 2015. Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were $73.3 million, compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2015. Revenues in the three and six month period ended June 30, 2016 were earned primarily from the Company's Novartis and Amgen collaborations, compared to revenues for the same period in 2015, which were earned primarily from the Company's Novo Nordisk and Alexion collaborations.

Research and development expenditures for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 were $14.4 million, compared to $7.5 million for the same period in 2015. Total research and development expenses for the six month period ended June 30, 2015 were $24.4 million, compared to $12.7 million for the same period in 2015. The increased research and development spending for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 is primarily due to increased spending on Xencor's development candidates, including initial bispecific oncology clinical candidates XmAb14045 and XmAb13676.

General and administrative expenses in the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 were $3.0 million compared to $2.5 million for the same period in 2015. Total general and administrative expenses for the first six months of 2016 were $7.0 million, compared to $5.3 million in the first six months of 2015. Increased spending in the general and administration area reflects additional stock-based compensation expenses.

Non-cash, share based compensation expense for the first six months of 2016 was $4.0 million, compared to $2.3 million for the first six months of 2015.

Net income for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 was $47.2 million, or $1.13 on a fully diluted per share basis, compared to a net loss of $8.9 million, or $(0.22) on a fully diluted per share basis, for the same period in 2015. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, net income was $40.8 million or $0.98 on a fully diluted per share basis, compared to net loss of $15.3 million, or $(0.41) on a fully diluted per share basis, for the same period in 2015. Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 over losses for the same periods in 2015 is primarily due to income recognized under Xencor's Novartis and Amgen collaborations.

The total shares outstanding was 40,944,080 as of June 30, 2016, compared to 40,460,091 as of June 30, 2015.

Financial Guidance

Based on current operating plans, Xencor expects to have cash to fund research and development programs and operations beyond 2019.

Conference Call and Webcast

Xencor will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) to discuss these second quarter 2016 financial results and provide a corporate update.

The live call may be accessed by dialing (877) 359-9508 for domestic callers or (224) 357-2393 for international callers, and referencing conference ID number: 54092246. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the investor relations section of the company website at www.xencor.com. The webcast will be archived on the company website for 30 days.  

About Xencor, Inc.

Xencor is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergic diseases and cancer.  Currently, nine candidates engineered with Xencor's XmAb® technology are in clinical development internally and with partners. Xencor's internal programs include: XmAb5871 in Phase 2 development for the treatment of IgG4-Related Disease, and also for the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; XmAb7195 in Phase 1 development for the treatment of asthma and allergic diseases; XmAb14045 expected to begin clinical development for acute myeloid leukemia in 2016; and XmAb13676 expected to begin clinical development for B-cell malignancies in 2016.  Xencor's XmAb antibody engineering technology enables small changes to the structure of monoclonal antibodies resulting in new mechanisms of therapeutic action.  Xencor partners include Novartis, Amgen, MorphoSys, Merck, CSL/Janssen, Alexion, Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim. For more information, please visit www.xencor.com.

Forward Looking Statements:

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the quotation from Xencor's CEO and any expectations relating to its business, research and development programs, including ongoing clinical trials, including XmAb5871, and the XmAb bispecific antibody technology, including XmAb14045, XmAb13676, XmAb18087 and XmAb20717, partnering efforts or its capital requirements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements and the timing of events to be materially different from those implied by such statements, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such risks include, without limitation, the risks associated with the process of discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics and other risks described in Xencor's public securities filings. All forward-looking statements are based on Xencor's current information and belief as well as assumptions made by Xencor. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements and Xencor disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Xencor, Inc.