I-Mab (NASDAQ:IMAB) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

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Andrew Zhu: Yeah. I think Louise I’ll take your question. Again, it’s a very, very important question when it comes to the tolerability, the safety of any bispecific antibody particularly comes to the T cell engager modality. I think as I was trying to answer to Joe’s question earlier, I did mention that our bispecific design is unique in a sense that we can only induce 4-1BB activation upon Claudin18.2 engagement at the tumor site. So for this reason, we actually spare the systemic toxicity commonly associated with 4-1BB and also other agonist treatment. So in that sense, the toxicity concern associated with other 4-1BB antibody or actually other T cell engager including CD3 based, definitely we actually have a very favorable safety profile as shown in our Phase 1 ongoing Phase 1 trial.

Because, you know, we’re not actually seeing the systemic toxicity, including hepatic toxicity, cytokine release syndrome and also the added bonus for our bispecific is that our GI toxicity also is on the mild side.

Tyler Ehler: Thank you, Dr. Zhu. Thank you, Louise for that question. We’ll take one last one since we’re a bit over time. Andres Maldonado. Andres, please go ahead.

Andres Maldonado: Hi, guys. Thanks for taking my question. Quick one from me. Could you provide additional color on how we should be thinking about your expected cash burn rate in 2023? And a quick follow-up to that is obviously you’ve been focusing on the four highlighted programs from your prepared remarks. So just curious from a timing wise and a financial perspective, where do you expect to feel comfortable and bringing in additional assets to the clinic in the future? Thank you.

Richard Yeh: Yeah. Let me thank you for your question, Joe. And let me start with the financial the burn rate question and Andrew can answer the pipeline question. So with this regard, as we have mentioned, that in 2022, we actually spent a lot of time actually optimizing our cost structure is mostly. So first of all, we actually focus on the five key assets and second, really optimizing the organizational structure. So this year we further going to reduce the overall cost as we just mentioned in the call that our expected current net burn rate for 2023 is expected to be in the range of US$130 million to US$140 million. This will further optimize our operational structure, so that our cash position can retain us at least for an additional three years or more years of cash operations. So given that we have other pipeline products that Andrew will discuss to develop and we really focus on our key assets.

Andrew Zhu: Yeah. So I think Andres it’s a very, very important question for the R&D operation. I think a few things that I would like to share with you. As you know that I-Mab actually has a very, very innovative discovery engine. We actually produce quite a lot of innovative assets internally, but also for reasons that we discussed today. We’ve been actually really trying to focus on the key assets that we can actually generate more value, you know, move the program to the next level faster, but also realize the value of these assets hopefully earlier so that, you know, the company will benefit, the shareholders will benefit, or more importantly, patients will benefit from this strategy. But having said that, we never stop looking at innovative assets from outside.

It’s just, you know, right now with the current situation, our bar is higher. You know, we definitely want to take a more critical look when it comes to, you know, the licensing efforts from outside. But this, you know, this is a dynamic process. Clearly we are aiming to also generate additional cash flow with our BD deal. So I think clearly, you know, we will reassess the strategy as we proceed with the new year in 2023. But right now, you know, we definitely want to make sure we focus on the internal assets. But definitely we will actually look at the key assets that potentially have value and also have potential market more critically. This is our current position.

Tyler Ehler: Thank you, Dr. Zhu and thank you, Richard. With that, we will conclude today’s call. I’d like to thank you all for dialing into today’s Financial Results and Business Update Conference Call. Thanks, everyone, for joining in. You may now disconnect.

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