12.04.2017
WILEX AG DE000A11QVV0
DGAP-News: WILEX AG: Interim management statement on the first three months of 2017
DGAP-News: WILEX AG / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim Statement
WILEX AG: Interim management statement on the first three months of 2017
12.04.2017 / 07:18
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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WILEX AG: Interim management statement on the first three months of 2017
- Financing commitment for up to EUR 10 million received from main
shareholder dievini
- License agreement signed for worldwide development and marketing of
REDECTANE(R)
- BCMA antibodies in-licensed; development of proprietary BCMA-ATAC
(HDP-101) for multiple myeloma started
- Outlook for 2017: increase in sales revenue forecast; investments in
proprietary ATAC pipeline
Munich, Germany, 12 April 2017 - WILEX AG (ISIN DE000A11QVV0 / WL6 / FSE)
today reported on the first three months of fiscal year 2017 (1 December
2016 - 28 February 2017) and the Group's financial figures.
Dr Jan Schmidt-Brand, CEO and CFO of WILEX AG, commented: "In the first
three months of fiscal year 2017, we made important progress. Signing the
license agreement for BCMA antibodies was a key prerequisite for developing
our own HDP-101 ATAC project. Out-licensing REDECTANE(R) to Telix has
created an opportunity for WILEX to benefit from the future success of this
program while not incurring further costs. Importantly, we received a
financing commitment from our main shareholder dievini that secures the
continuation of our business activities through the end of the second
quarter 2018."
Dr Schmidt-Brand continued: "We have set ourselves important targets and
milestones for 2017. Our focus will remain on the development and marketing
of our proprietary ATAC technology. We plan to grow existing research
collaborations into longer-term, more valuable license agreements and to
secure additional material transfer agreement partners for evaluation
projects. Another key objective is to further develop our own ATAC pipeline.
GMP manufacturing of the first proprietary candidate HDP-101 is a critical
milestone to enable us to start clinical development in multiple myeloma at
the end of 2018."
Key events in the reporting period
- Worldwide license agreement signed for REDECTANE(R) diagnostic antibody
In January 2017, WILEX AG signed an exclusive license agreement for the
worldwide development and commercialization of the diagnostic antibody
REDECTANE(R) (INN: 124I-Girentuximab) with Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited,
Melbourne, Australia (Telix). The agreement also covers radiotherapy
applications of the Girentuximab antibody.
Under the agreement, Telix will, as a first step, invest in an improved
manufacturing process for the antibody. In accordance with the terms of the
agreement, WILEX received an upfront payment and could receive milestone
payments totaling up to USD 3.7 million. In addition, WILEX is eligible to
receive royalties on global net sales of REDECTANE(R) if the collaboration
is successful. Telix will be responsible for all development costs, as well
as manufacturing and commercialization costs.
Telix also plans to develop a therapeutic radioimmunoconjugate program based
on the Lutetium-177-labeled Girentuximab antibody. The agreement also
provides for WILEX to receive royalties if a therapeutic product developed
by Telix is ultimately granted marketing approval.
- License agreement signed with the MDC for BCMA antibodies
In January 2017, WILEX's subsidiary Heidelberg Pharma signed a license
agreement with the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the
Helmholtz Association (MDC) in Berlin covering BCMA antibodies. The license
agreement follows an option agreement signed in September 2016. Financial
details are confidential but will not have an impact on WILEX's cash reach.
Having emerged from a selection and optimization process of the BCMA
antibodies, the ATAC candidate HDP-101 is being prepared for clinical
development that could start in late 2018.
- Financing commitment secured from main shareholder dievini
In early February 2017, WILEX announced that it had secured a further
financing commitment from its main shareholder dievini Hopp BioTech holding
GmbH & Co. KG, Walldorf, Germany (dievini). dievini will provide the company
up to EUR 10 million. With this additional commitment, the Company's cash
reach is secured until the end of the second quarter of 2018. The Executive
Management Board and the Supervisory Board of WILEX AG and dievini will
shortly decide the details of implementing the financing commitment.
Results of operations, financial position and net assets
The WILEX Group - as of the reporting date comprising WILEX AG and
subsidiary Heidelberg Pharma GmbH - reports consolidated figures. The
reporting period referred to below concerns the period from 1 December 2016
to 28 February 2017 (first quarter 2017).
In the first three months of fiscal year 2017, the WILEX Group generated
sales revenue and income totaling EUR 0.6 million (previous year: EUR 1.0
million). This figure includes sales revenue of EUR 0.5 million (previous
year: EUR 0.5 million), which stems from the business of Heidelberg Pharma
(EUR 0.3 million) and a license agreement signed by the parent company (EUR
0.2 million). A portion of the sales revenue expected in the first quarter
will not be recognized until the second quarter.
At EUR 0.1 million, other income was significantly down year-over-year (EUR
0.5 million). The previous-year first quarter was impacted by income from
the reversal of a liability that was lower than projected and by a payment
made by Nuclea Biotechnologies Inc., Pittsfield, MA, USA, on receivables
that had already been written off.
Operating expenses including depreciation and amortization amounted to EUR
2.5 million in the reporting period (previous year: EUR 2.0 million). Cost
of sales for customer-specific research amounted to EUR 0.2 million
(previous year: EUR 0.1 million). Research and development (R&D) costs of
EUR 1.6 million were up EUR 0.3 million compared to the prior-year period
(EUR 1.3 million) due to an increase in costs related to preparations for
external GMP production (Good Manufacturing Practice) incurred by Heidelberg
Pharma. At 65% of operating expenses, R&D was by far the largest cost item
as expected. Administrative costs in the first quarter of 2017 rose to EUR
0.6 million, compared to EUR 0.5 million for the previous year. Among
others, this figure includes holding company costs and costs related to the
stock market listing. Other expenses for business development, marketing and
commercial market supply activities in the current reporting period remained
steady year-over-year at EUR 0.1 million.
The WILEX Group's net loss for the first three months of the fiscal year
increased to EUR 2.0 million, as planned (previous year: EUR 1.1 million).
Due to the higher average number of shares, earnings per share did not fully
reflect this development, decreasing from EUR -0.10 in the previous year to
EUR -0.15 in the quarter just ended.
Total assets as of 28 February 2017 decreased to EUR 13.3 million compared
to the 30 November 2016 reporting date (EUR 15.2 million) due to a decrease
in cash and cash equivalents. At EUR 7.8 million, equity was also down
compared to the end of fiscal year 2016 (EUR 9.7 million). This corresponds
to an equity ratio of 58.8% (30 November 2016: 64.0%).
No corporate actions were implemented during the reporting period.
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the first quarter amounted to EUR
2.6 million (30 November 2016: EUR 4.6 million). This represents an average
monthly cash outflow of EUR 0.67 million in the first quarter of the fiscal
year (previous year: EUR 0.33 million).
Financial outlook for 2017
Financial guidance remains unchanged compared to that provided on 30 March
2017. The WILEX Group expects to generate between EUR 4.0 million and EUR
6.0 million in sales revenue and other income (2016: EUR 2.7 million) for
the 2017 fiscal year. This guidance takes into account potential cash
inflows from new licensing activities at Heidelberg Pharma. According to
current plans, operating expenses should be in the range of EUR 11.0 million
to EUR 15.0 million (2016: EUR 9.1 million). Earnings before interest and
taxes (EBIT) for the 2017 fiscal year are projected to be between EUR -6.0
million and EUR -10.0 million (2016: EUR -6.4 million).
WILEX expects to require funds of EUR 6.0 million to EUR 10.0 million in
2017. Monthly cash use should be in the range of EUR 0.5 million to EUR 0.8
million. Based on current planning and assuming the planned corporate
actions are carried out, the Company's financing is secured until the end of
the second quarter of 2018.
WILEX will not hold a conference call on this interim management statement.
The complete figures for the interim financial statement can be downloaded
at www.wilex.com > Press+Investors > Financial Reports > Interim Management
Statement of 12 April 2017.
Key figures for the WILEX Group
In EUR'000 Q1 2017 1 EUR Q1 2016 1
'000. EUR'000.
Earnings
Sales revenue 455 455
Other income 134 502
Operating expenses (2,498) (2,026)
of which research and development (1,634) (1,311)
costs
Operating result (1,909) (1,069)
Earnings before tax (1,965) (1,071)
Net loss for the period (1,965) (1,080)
Earnings per share in EUR (0.15) (0.10)
Balance sheet as of the end of the
period
Total assets 13,304 13,028
Cash and cash equivalents 2,568 2,305
Equity 7,823 10,879
Equity ratio2 in % 58.8 83.5
Cash flow statement
Cash flow from operating activities (1,904) (1,399)
Cash flow from investing activities (103) (42)
Cash flow from financing activities 0 2,452
Employees (number)
Employees as of the end of the 53 53
period3
Full-time equivalents as of the end 49 48
of the period3
1 The reporting period begins on 1 December and ends on 28/29 February.
2 Equity / total assets
3 Including members of the Executive Management Board
Rounding of exact figures may result in differences.
Contact WILEX AG Corporate IR/PR support MC Services AG Katja
Communications Sylvia Wimmer Arnold (CIRO) Managing Director &
Tel.: +49 (0)89-41 31 38-29 Partner Tel.: +49 (0)89-210 228-40
Email: investors[at]wilex.com Cell: +49 (0)160 9360 3022 Email:
Grillparzerstr. 18, 81675 katja.arnold[at]mc-services.eu
Munich, Germany
About WILEX and Heidelberg Pharma
WILEX AG is a biopharmaceutical company based in Munich, Germany, that
serves as a parent and holding company. The Company's research and
development work is conducted by its subsidiary Heidelberg Pharma GmbH in
Ladenburg. Heidelberg Pharma is the first company to develop the toxin
Amanitin into cancer therapies using its proprietary Antibody Targeted
Amanitin Conjugate (ATAC) technology and to advance the biological mode of
action of the toxin as a novel therapeutic principle. This proprietary
technology platform is being applied to develop the company's own
therapeutic ATACs as well as in third-party collaborations to create a
variety of ATAC candidates. The proprietary lead candidate HDP-101 is a
BCMA-ATAC for multiple myeloma. WILEX's clinical assets MESUPRON(R) and
REDECTANE(R) have been partnered, while RENCAREX(R) is available for
out-licensing and further development. WILEX is listed on the Frankfurt
Stock Exchange: ISIN DE000A11QVV0 / WKN A11QVV / Symbol WL6. More
information is available at www.wilex.com.
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements relating to
the Company's business, which can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects",
"may", "will", "should", "future", "potential" or similar expressions or by
a general discussion of the Company's strategy, plans or intentions. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors, which may cause our actual results of operations,
financial position, earnings, achievements, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, earnings or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these
uncertainties, prospective investors and partners are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any
obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect future
events or developments.
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12.04.2017 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Language: English
Company: WILEX AG
Grillparzerstr. 18
81675 München
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 41 31 38 - 0
Fax: +49 (0)89 41 31 38 - 99
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.wilex.com
ISIN: DE000A11QVV0
WKN: A11QVV
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated
Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich,
Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
End of News DGAP News Service
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