Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 and provided a business update.
- BDC-1001 dose-escalation clinical trial on track to complete recruitment by year-end 2022
- BDC-3042 on track to enter the clinic in 2023; new preclinical data presented at SITC 2022
- Cash balance of $209.6 million anticipated to fund key milestones through 2025
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOLT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 and provided a business update.
“In the third quarter, our clinical development team advanced BDC-1001 for the treatment of patients with HER2-expressing solid tumors through dose-escalation monotherapy and combination studies with Opdivo while exploring biweekly and weekly dosing schedules. We look forward to announcing topline data and our recommended Phase 2 dose for the monotherapy and combination dose-expansion trials during the first quarter of 2023, with full data to be presented at an upcoming scientific conference,” said Randall C. Schatzman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Bolt Biotherapeutics.
“We continue to make strong progress with our proprietary BDC-3042 program, which is progressing through IND-enabling activities supporting initiation of clinical studies in 2023, and our collaboration programs. Our work with strategic partners on ISAC pipeline programs positions Bolt to continuously innovate new targeted immunotherapies with the potential to improve the treatment of cancer. Finally, I’d like to recognize how our talented research and development teams have established our leadership position in ISACs, as they advance our promising next-generation immuno-oncology therapeutics.”
Recent Highlights and Anticipated Milestones
- BDC-1001 – Monotherapy and combination dose-escalation trial is on track to complete enrollment by year-end 2022. Topline data, the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) and the Phase 2 dose-expansion study design are expected during the first quarter of 2023, with full data to follow later in 2023 at a scientific conference. Biweekly and weekly dosing regimens of BDC-1001, a HER2-targeting Boltbody™ immune-stimulating antibody conjugate (ISAC), are currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 multi-dose, multi-center study as a monotherapy and in combination with Bristol Myers Squibb’s PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo® (nivolumab). To date, BDC-1001 has demonstrated a favorable safety profile, changes in plasma and tumor biomarkers consistent with its novel mechanism of action, and signs of durable clinical disease control.
- BDC-3042 on track to enter the clinic in 2023 – Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling activities for BDC-3042, an agonist antibody that stimulates Dectin-2, are on track to support an IND filing and initiation of clinical development in 2023. Preclinical studies demonstrate that Dectin-2 agonist antibodies reprogram tumor-associated macrophages to drive anti-tumor immunity.
- Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $209.6 million as of September 30, 2022 – Cash on hand, coupled with growing collaboration revenues, is expected to fund multiple key milestones and operations through 2025.
Upcoming Events
- BDC-3042 poster presentation highlighting new preclinical data will be presented at the 2022 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting. Bolt Biotherapeutics’ Justin Kenkel, Ph.D., will present a poster entitled, “BDC-3042: A Dectin-2 agonistic antibody for tumor-associated macrophage-directed immunotherapy.”
Authors: Justin Kenkel, Rishali Gadkari, Jess Nolin, Fang Xiao, Po Ho, Cindy Kreder, Laughing Bear Torrez, David Omstead, Katelynn McEachin, Jason Ptacek, Lu Xu, Duy Nguyen, Karla Henning, Steven Chapin, David Dornan, Michael Alonso, Shelley Ackerman
Poster Number: 1348
Presentation Date: Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, 9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. EST, Poster Hall, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
- Stifel 2022 Healthcare Conference. Management will be available for meetings with the investment community on Wednesday, Nov. 16th, 2022, with a corporate presentation at 1:15 p.m. ET in New York, New York.
Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results
- Collaboration Revenue – Collaboration revenue was $2.1 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $0.8 million for the same quarter in 2021. This represents 50% growth over the second quarter of 2022 as Bolt continues to ramp up activities supporting its collaborations. Revenue in 2022 was generated from the services performed under the R&D collaborations with Genmab A/S and Innovent Biologics, Inc.
- Research and Development (R&D) Expenses – R&D expenses were $19.0 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $19.3 million for the same quarter in 2021.
- General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses – G&A expenses were $5.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $4.9 million for the same quarter in 2021, primarily due to increases in personnel-related expenses relating to an increase in headcount.
- Loss from Operations – Loss from operations was $22.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $23.5 million for the same quarter in 2021.
About the Boltbody™ Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) Platform
Bolt Biotherapeutics’ Boltbody ISAC platform unites the precision of antibodies with the power of the innate and adaptive immune system to reprogram the tumor microenvironment for a productive anti-cancer response. Each Boltbody ISAC candidate comprises a tumor-targeting antibody, a non-cleavable linker, and a proprietary immune stimulant. The antibody is designed to target one or more markers on the surface of a tumor cell and the immune stimulant is designed to recruit and activate myeloid cells. Activated myeloid cells initiate a positive feedback loop by releasing cytokines and chemokines, chemical signals that attract other immune cells and lowering the activation threshold for an immune response. This increases the population of
activated immune system cells in the tumor microenvironment and promotes a robust immune response, with the goal of generating durable therapeutic responses for patients with cancer.
About Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Bolt Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Bolt Biotherapeutics’ pipeline candidates are built on the Company’s deep expertise in myeloid biology and cancer drug development. The Company’s pipeline includes BDC-1001, a HER2-targeting Boltbody Immune-stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC), BDC-3042, a myeloid-modulating antibody, and multiple Boltbody ISAC collaboration programs. Bolt Biotherapeutics is currently progressing BDC-1001 through a Phase 1/2 dose-escalation clinical trial, as a monotherapy and in combination with Bristol Myers Squibb’s immune checkpoint inhibitor, Opdivo® (nivolumab), in a variety of HER2-expressing solid tumors. Bolt Biotherapeutics is advancing BDC-3042, an agonist antibody targeting Dectin-2, through IND-enabling studies. In preclinical development, BDC-3042 demonstrated the ability to convert tumor-supportive macrophages to tumor-destructive macrophages. Bolt Biotherapeutics is leveraging its ability to engineer and optimize novel applications of its Boltbody ISACs to develop multiple immuno-oncology candidates through strategic collaborations with leading biopharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit https://www.boltbio.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties and are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our clinical trials, the timing of the completion of our monotherapy and combination dose escalation arms, the selection of a recommended Phase 2 dose for BDC-1001 for the treatment of patients with HER2-expressing solid tumors, our Phase 2 dose-expansion study design, the timing of our initiation of clinical development of BDC-3042, the resulting ISAC programs from our collaborations with Genmab A/S and Innovent Biologics, Inc., our ability to fund our clinical programs and the sufficiency of our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, expectations for growing collaboration revenues, our future results of operations, financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “on track,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements 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 the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements represent our current beliefs, estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release and information contained in this press release should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. These statements, and related risks, uncertainties, factors and assumptions, include, but are not limited to: the potential product candidates that we develop may not progress through clinical development or receive required regulatory approvals within expected timelines or at all; clinical trials may not confirm any safety, potency or other product characteristics described or assumed in this press release; such product candidates may not be beneficial to patients or become commercialized; and our ability to maintain our current collaborations and establish further collaborations. These risks are not exhaustive. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Further information on factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by our forward-looking statements is included in the reports we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. These filings, when available, are available on the investor relations section of our website at investors.boltbio.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Opdivo® is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
BOLT BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Collaboration revenue | $ | 2,112 | $ | 752 | $ | 4,318 | $ | 752 | |||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 18,973 | 19,337 | 56,278 | 53,171 | |||||||||||
| General and administrative | 5,485 | 4,941 | 17,321 | 13,294 | |||||||||||
| Total operating expense | 24,458 | 24,278 | 73,599 | 66,465 | |||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (22,346 | ) | (23,526 | ) | (69,281 | ) | (65,713 | ) | |||||||
| Other income (expense), net | |||||||||||||||
| Interest income, net | 587 | 131 | 1,180 | 363 | |||||||||||
| Change in fair value of preferred stock right liability | — | — | — | (6,084 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | 587 | 131 | 1,180 | (5,721 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net loss | (21,759 | ) | (23,395 | ) | (68,101 | ) | (71,434 | ) | |||||||
| Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities | 94 | (15 | ) | (1,388 | ) | (38 | ) | ||||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | (21,665 | ) | $ | (23,410 | ) | $ | (69,489 | ) | $ | (71,472 | ) | |||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.58 | ) | $ | (0.63 | ) | $ | (1.83 | ) | $ | (2.24 | ) | |||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 37,454,340 | 37,206,793 | 37,293,121 | 31,824,180 | |||||||||||
BOLT BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, in thousands)
| September 30, | December 31, | ||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 10,617 | $ | 27,383 | |||
| Short-term investments | 160,513 | 158,836 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 3,696 | 2,941 | |||||
| Total current assets | 174,826 | 189,160 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net | 6,905 | 6,158 | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 22,777 | 24,445 | |||||
| Restricted cash | 1,565 | 1,565 | |||||
| Long-term investments | 38,432 | 85,348 | |||||
| Other assets | 1,000 | 1,042 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 245,505 | $ | 307,718 | |||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 3,828 | $ | 3,574 | |||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 14,793 | 12,384 | |||||
| Deferred revenue | 3,169 | 2,869 | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 2,384 | 2,501 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 24,174 | 21,328 | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | 20,857 | 21,854 | |||||
| Deferred revenue, non-current | 11,828 | 14,207 | |||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 200 | 210 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 57,059 | 57,599 | |||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||
| Preferred stock | — | — | |||||
| Common stock | — | — | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 465,246 | 457,430 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,709 | ) | (321 | ) | |||
| Accumulated deficit | (275,091 | ) | (206,990 | ) | |||
| Total stockholders’ equity: | 188,446 | 250,119 | |||||
| Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock, and stockholders’ equity | $ | 245,505 | $ | 307,718 | |||
BOLT BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, in thousands)
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||
| Net loss | $ | (68,101 | ) | $ | (71,434 | ) | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,204 | 832 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 7,453 | 6,358 | |||||
| Accretion of premium/discount on marketable securities | 655 | 1,833 | |||||
| Change in fair value of convertible preferred stock purchase rights liabilities | — | 6,084 | |||||
| Non-cash lease expense | 2,520 | 1,935 | |||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | (713 | ) | (7,187 | ) | |||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 2,481 | 7,225 | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities | (1,966 | ) | (831 | ) | |||
| Deferred revenue | (2,079 | ) | 15,911 | ||||
| Other long-term liabilities | (6 | ) | 2 | ||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (58,552 | ) | (39,272 | ) | |||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | (1,769 | ) | (1,776 | ) | |||
| Purchases of marketable securities | (155,345 | ) | (283,688 | ) | |||
| Maturities of marketable securities | 198,541 | 32,230 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 41,427 | (253,234 | ) | ||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance cost | — | 51,902 | |||||
| Proceeds from initial public offering, net of issuance cost | — | 244,316 | |||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock | 359 | 757 | |||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock related to stock purchase agreement | — | 13,638 | |||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 359 | 310,613 | |||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash | (16,766 | ) | 18,107 | ||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year | 28,948 | 7,107 | |||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | 12,182 | $ | 25,214 | |||
| Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 10,617 | $ | 23,649 | |||
| Restricted cash | 1,565 | 1,565 | |||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 12,182 | $ | 25,214 | |||
| Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities: | |||||||
| Vesting of early exercised options | $ | 4 | $ | 114 | |||
| Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 182 | $ | 591 | |||
| Deferred offering costs in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 102 | $ | — | |||
| Right of use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations | $ | 852 | $ | 14,884 | |||
Investor Relations and Media Contacts:
Karen L. Bergman
Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc.
650-665-9295
kbergman@boltbio.com
Sarah McCabe
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200
sarah.mccabe@sternir.com
David Schull
Russo Partners, LLC
212-845-4271
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
