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Mologen AG - MOLOGEN AG with positive developments in the first half of 2018: successful financing measures and continuation of clinical studies - Public Technologies

09-Aug-2018 07:24:07
• Ongoing clinical studies with lefitolimod on track, new studies in
preparation • License and development cooperation agreement signed with
ONCOLOGIE; initial revenues generated under license agreement • Dr Ignacio
Faus new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since 1 August 2018 • Successful
financing measures • Forecast for fiscal year 2018 confirmed

In the first half of 2018 the biopharmaceutical company MOLOGEN AG recorded a
positive development in many respects. The 'Next Level' corporate strategy
continued to be implemented according to schedule in the first half of the
year. The most important strategic milestone was the conclusion of the license
and development cooperation agreement with the U.S. drug development company
ONCOLOGIE. Under the agreement, MOLOGEN received an initial license payment of
€3 million. The financing measures implemented in the fourth quarter of 2017
and in the reporting period - a frame-work agreement on convertible bonds of
up to €12 million and a cash capital increase with gross proceeds of around
€5 million - will initially secure the Company's financing plans until the
end of 2018. As a result of the reverse stock split in July 2018, MOLOGEN will
be able to make use of the financing instruments already agreed.

The clinical studies with MOLOGEN's lead compound, the immunotherapeutic
lefitolimod, also proceeded according to plan. In particular, the time of
evaluation of the colorectal cancer study IMPALA was substantiated and the
final evaluation of the explorative phase II study IMPULSE in the indication
of small cell lung cancer was performed. Here the positive signals of the
initial evaluation in predefined subgroups were confirmed. In addition, new
studies in various indications are in preparation, including the TITAN study
in the indication HIV. MOLOGEN also presented the first impressive preclinical
data on lefitolimod and its follow-up molecules EnanDIM® in the field of
immuno-
(https://www.mologen.com/en/investor-relations-press/news/press-releases/2018/detail-view/article/mologen-ag-mit-positiver-entwicklung-im-ersten-halbjahr-2018-erfolgreiche-finanzierungsmassnahmen-un.htmlen/service/glossary.html?gsuid=56&tip-pid=411#oncology)
and tumor microenvironment (TME).

Dr Ignacio Faus has taken over the CEO position of MOLOGEN AG since 1 August.
He succeeds Dr Mariola Söhngen, who decided not to extend her contract for
personal reasons.

'I'm delighted to be on board such an exciting company as MOLOGEN and to be
able to contrib-ute my experience in the pharmaceutical sector. In the last
six months, many positive things have happened at MOLOGEN: we concluded the
first license agreement for the lead compound lefito-limod, successfully
implemented important measures to secure corporate financing and continued to
drive the clinical trials forward as planned. My goal is to enter into further
partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and to bring MOLOGEN's innovative
products to market maturity as quickly as possible,' said Dr Ignacio Faus, CEO
of MOLOGEN AG.

Progress in ongoing clinical studies and further studies at the planning stage

In the first half of 2018, MOLOGEN's operating activities continued to focus
on clinical studies with its lead compound, the TLR9 agonist lefitolimod. The
preparatory activities for possible approval of the immunotherapeutic agent
have made progress. MOLOGEN also made further advances in its ongoing clinical
studies with lefitolimod: the pivotal study IMPALA in colorectal cancer (mCRC)
proceeded according to plan. In April 2018, a first data-based prediction of
the expected time of primary evaluation of the IMPALA study was announced.
Based on the patient data collected until April 2018 and using adequate
statistical methods, the timing of the results at the primary endpoint of the
study is predicted for April 2020 plus/minus five months. It is therefore
highly likely that the study results will be evaluated between the end of 2019
and summer of 2020.

The exploratory phase II study IMPULSE in the indication of small cell lung
cancer (SCLC), the main results of which MOLOGEN had already published in
April 2017, was finally evaluated in the first quarter of 2018. The positive
results already presented were confirmed in predefined patient subgroups. The
study showed remarkable overall survival results in two relevant patient
sub-groups compared to the
(https://www.mologen.com/en/investor-relations-press/news/press-releases/2018/detail-view/article/mologen-ag-mit-positiver-entwicklung-im-ersten-halbjahr-2018-erfolgreiche-finanzierungsmassnahmen-un.htmlen/service/glossary.html?gsuid=54&tip-pid=411#controlgroup).
The results support the hypothesis that activated B cells as biomarkers can
contribute to the future development of lefitolimod in this relevant subgroup
of patients with small cell lung cancer in advanced stages.

In the indication HIV, detailed study results from the extension phase of the
TEACH study, which was primarily evaluated in August 2017, were presented at
the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston.
In accordance with the further development strategy in the indication HIV,
lefitolimod is to be used in combination therapies. The 'TITAN' combination
study already financed by the renowned U.S. pharmaceutical company Gilead
Sciences is cur-rently being prepared. As in the previous TEACH study, the
study will be conducted in collabora-tion with the Aarhus University Hospital
in Aarhus, Denmark. Further new studies in various indi-cations are also in
preparation.

Patient recruitment for the phase I combination study with the checkpoint
inhibitor Yervoy® in collaboration with the MD Anderson Cancer Center in
Texas is also making further progress. It is expected that the first part of
the study to evaluate the safety of the combination of lefitolimod with
checkpoint inhibitors and the determination of the highest tolerated dose of
lefitolimod will be completed by 2018. The study will then be continued in
2019 to explore further insights into the combination of lefitolimod with
checkpoint inhibitors.

In April, MOLOGEN presented impressive preclinical tumor microenvironment data
on lefitolimod and its follow-up molecules EnanDIM® at the AACR conference
(American Association for Cancer Research) in Chicago and at the ASCO GI
(Annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium) in San Francisco in January.
Accordingly, monotherapy with lefitolimod leads to an advantageous modulation
of the tumor microenvironment, which is accompanied by reduced tumor growth in
a colorectal cancer model. These results underscore the strong potential of
lefitolimod as a cancer immunotherapeutic agent.

Most important strategic milestone reached: first license agreement for
lefitolimod

In February 2018, MOLOGEN reached a significant strategic milestone and signed
a license and development cooperation agreement for lefitolimod with the U.S.
drug developer ONCOLOGIE. This includes the development, production and
commercialization of lefitolimod in the markets of China including Hong Kong,
Macau as well as Taiwan and Singapore and a global development cooperation.
Under the terms of the contract concluded, MOLOGEN has already received an
initial payment of €3 million. In addition, a capital contribution of €2
million by February 2019 at the latest as well as development and
sales-related milestone payments and royalties have been agreed. Further
partnerships are to follow.

Successful financing measures and capital consolidation

Further corporate financing was also a focus of MOLOGEN's activities in the
first half of 2018. Three capital measures were implemented in the first
quarter: initially, a second capital increase took place in the course of the
exercise of the share subscription agreement entered into in October 2017 with
the US investor Global Corporate Finance (GCF). This second exercise generated
gross proceeds of €445,000 for MOLOGEN. In combination with the first
exercise, MOLOGEN thus received around €1 million.

This was followed by a rights issue of €5 million from authorized capital,
which was successfully completed and fully placed in March 2018.

On 20 February 2018, MOLOGEN concluded a contract with the Luxembourg-based
financing provider European High Growth Opportunities Securitization Fund
(EHGO), which is advised by Alpha Blue Ocean Advisors. Under this agreement,
MOLOGEN can call convertible bonds with a total value of up to €12 million
in 24 tranches of €500,000 each from the investor over a period of two
years. So far, MOLOGEN has drawn down two tranches (in March 2018). These have
al-ready been fully converted by EHGO. In total, the Company thus received
approx. €6.5 million in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period.

In mid-July the 5:1 capital consolidation under a resolution adopted at the
MOLOGEN Annual General Meeting on 8 June 2018 was implemented. Since then, the
Company's share capital has reached €7,537,287, divided into 7,537,287
bearer shares (before capital consolidation: 37,686,439 shares). The reverse
stock split will make MOLOGEN financially viable again and the financing
measures already agreed can continue to be implemented.

The capital measures and framework agreements implemented in the fourth
quarter of 2017 and in the first quarter of 2018 are expected to allow the
financing of the Company until the end of 2018.

Lower research and development expenses and significant improvement in
earnings

Research & development costs in the first half of 2018 amounted to €5.6
million, 30 percent lower than in the same period last year (previous year:
€8.0 million). This development was due to lower R&D expenses due to the
completion of two of the clinical studies. The operating result (EBIT) also
improved significantly to €4.5 million (previous year: -€10.5 million) due
to the first licensing revenue resulting from the cooperation with ONCOLOGIE.
As at 30 June 2018, MOLOGEN AG had cash & cash equivalents amounting to €6.2
million (31 December 2017: €6.5 million).

Personnel changes on the Executive Board and Supervisory Board

At personnel level, MOLOGEN AG announced in April that the CEO Dr Mariola
Söhngen would not extend her contract, which expires on 31 October 2018, for
personal reasons. Her successor Dr Ignacio Faus was appointed to the Executive
Board as of 1 August 2018 and has assumed the role of CEO of MOLOGEN AG. Dr
Faus has gained more than 25 years' experience in the life sciences industry
and contributes valuable expertise in areas such as fundraising,
organizational planning, strategic project evaluation, operational efficiency,
business development & licensing (BD&L). In 2006 he was one of the founders of
PALAU PHARMA, a biopharmaceutical company in the field of inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases. In his function as CEO of MOLOGEN, Dr Faus is responsible
for Business Development, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications,
Partnering, Production and Strategy.

In addition, Dr Michael Schultz, independent expert and consultant for
pharmaceutical and bio-technology companies, was elected as a new member of
the Supervisory Board of MOLOGEN AG at the 2018 Annual General Meeting.

Forecast for full-year 2018 confirmed

Based on the progress planned for 2018 in all divisions, primarily in clinical
development pro-grams and commercialization, the Company expects positive
development in 2018. Overall, the Executive Board of MOLOGEN AG confirms the
statements made in the 2017 Annual Report regarding the targets in the areas
of research and development, cooperations and partnerships, earnings and
liquidity development as well as personnel for the entire 2018 financial year,
with the exception of subsequent additions. Due to its activities, some of
which were launched later, particularly in the area of contract manufacturing,
the Company now assumes that the financial requirements in the 2018 financial
year will be at a comparable level or below those of the pre-ceding year.

MOLOGEN AG's complete 2018 half-year report is available on the Company's
website at www.mologen.com.

MOLOGEN AG

MOLOGEN AG is a biopharmaceutical company and a pioneer in the field of
immunotherapy on account of its unique active agents and technologies.
Alongside a focus on immuno-
(https://www.mologen.com/en/investor-relations-press/news/press-releases/2018/detail-view/article/mologen-ag-mit-positiver-entwicklung-im-ersten-halbjahr-2018-erfolgreiche-finanzierungsmassnahmen-un.htmlen/service/glossary.html?gsuid=56&tip-pid=411#oncology),
MOLOGEN develops immunotherapies for the treatment of infectious diseases.

The focus of the development work is on the product family of DNA-based TLR9
agonists. This includes the lead compound lefitolimod and the next-generation
molecule family EnanDIM®.

The immunotherapeutic agent lefitolimod is the Company's lead compound and is
currently being investigated in a pivotal trial. It is regarded as the
best-in-class TLR9 agonist. Treatment with lefitolimod triggers a broad and
strong activation of the immune system. On account of this mode of action,
lefitolimod could potentially be used in various indications. Lefitolimod is
currently being developed within the framework of a pivotal study for first
line maintenance therapy for colorectal cancer. Key data of the phase II
IMPULSE study in small cell lung cancer have been announced in April 2017, and
the final analysis in the first quarter 2018 confirmed the data. Furthermore,
data from the extension phase of the TEACH study in HIV have also been
published in 2017. In addition, lefitolimod is currently being investigated in
a phase I combination study with the checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab
(Yervoy®) in various cancer indications. Along with various checkpoint
inhibitors, lefitolimod, which is being investigated as part of a phase III
clinical trial currently, is one of the few near-to-market product candidates
in the field of immuno-
(https://www.mologen.com/en/investor-relations-press/news/press-releases/2018/detail-view/article/mologen-ag-mit-positiver-entwicklung-im-ersten-halbjahr-2018-erfolgreiche-finanzierungsmassnahmen-un.htmlen/service/glossary.html?gsuid=56&tip-pid=411#oncology).

MOLOGEN's pipeline focus is on new innovative immunotherapies to treat
diseases for which there is a great medical demand in particular.

MOLOGEN AG is a publicly listed Company, headquartered in Berlin. The shares
(ISIN, DE000A2LQ900/SIN: A2L Q90) are listed in the Prime Standard of the
German Stock Exchange.

www.mologen.com

Contact

Claudia Nickolaus

Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Tel: +49 - 30 - 84 17 88 - 38

Fax: +49 - 30 - 84 17 88 - 50

[e-mail]

Note about risk for future predictions

Certain information in this report contains forward-looking statements or the
corresponding statements with negation or versions deviating from this or
comparable terminology. These are described as forward-looking statements. In
addition, all of the information given here that refers to planned or future
results of business areas, key financial figures, developments of the
financial situation or other financial figures or statistical data, is to be
understood as such forward-looking statements. The company points out to
investors that they should not rely on these forward-looking statements as
predictions about actual future events. The company is not obligated and
refuses to accept any liability for the forward-looking statements and has no
obligation to update such statements in order to accurately reflect the
current situation.

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Disclaimer

Mologen AG published this content on 09 August 2018 and is solely responsible
for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and
unaltered, on 09 August 2018 05:24:05 UTC



(C) Copyright 2018 - Mologen AG(C) Copyright 2018 - Mologen AG

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