Celyad — Developing a sophisticated clinical strategy

Celyad — Developing a sophisticated clinical strategy

Celyad has reached the potentially crucial three billion natural killer receptor (NKR) CAR T-cell dose (CYAD-01) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with the first patient showing no signs of toxicity. If responses are seen in several patients, an expansion phase could start; a strong response was seen in November at the 300 million cell dose. Interim data are promised by Celyad in late 2018, probably at ASH. There are now several studies running or starting including using two courses of CYAD-01 in AML (after an initial response), evaluation of conditioning therapy with AML and combinations of CYAD-01 with chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. The indicative value remains at €1,040m, €84 per share.

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Written by

Celyad

Developing a sophisticated clinical strategy

Clinical update

Pharma & biotech

21 June 2018

Price

€23.40

Market cap

€279m

$1.18/€

Cash (€m) at 31 December 2017

34

Shares in issue (at 23 May 2018)

11.94m

Free float (Edison estimate)

67%

Code

CYAD

Primary exchange

Euronext Brussels

Secondary exchange

NASDAQ

Share price performance

%

1m

3m

12m

Abs

(0.4)

(22.5)

(45.2)

Rel (local)

3.3

(18.7)

(42.9)

52-week high/low

€54.0

€22.9

Business description

Celyad is developing an innovative natural killer receptor (NKR) CAR T-cell immune-oncology platform. Celyad has a leading position in CAR for AML and solid tumours and is exploring the use of NKR CAR with chemotherapy. It holds a key granted patent in allogeneic CAR technology.

Next events

Q218 update

Q318

THINK interim data

Q418

Analysts

Dr John Savin MBA

+44 (0)20 3077 5735

Dr Daniel Wilkinson

+44 (0)20 3077 5734

Celyad is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited

Celyad has reached the potentially crucial three billion natural killer receptor (NKR) CAR T-cell dose (CYAD-01) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with the first patient showing no signs of toxicity. If responses are seen in several patients, an expansion phase could start; a strong response was seen in November at the 300 million cell dose. Interim data are promised by Celyad in late 2018, probably at ASH. There are now several studies running or starting including using two courses of CYAD-01 in AML (after an initial response), evaluation of conditioning therapy with AML and combinations of CYAD-01 with chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. The indicative value remains at €1,040m, €84 per share.

Year
end

Revenue (€m)

PBT*
(€m)

EPS*
(€)

DPS
(€)

P/E
(x)

Yield
(%)

12/16

8.52

(20.00)

(2.09)

0.0

N/A

N/A

12/17

3.54

(26.80)

(2.79)

0.0

N/A

N/A

12/18e

0.00

(27.25)

(2.43)

0.0

N/A

N/A

12/19e

0.00

(28.50)

(2.38)

0.0

N/A

N/A

Note: *PBT and EPS are normalised, excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and share-based payments.

A sophisticated clinical programme in AML

In 2017, an AML patient given three doses of 3x108 NKR CAR T-cells (CYAD-01) over 28 days had a near complete response; the case report has been published. This encouraging response with strong blood cell recovery levels and reduction in cancer cells (blasts) is being developed in three ways. First, the planned 3x109 CYAD-01 dose is now being tested in the THINK study and this may enable a trial expansion to assess efficacy. Second, multiple CYAD-01 28-day courses are being tested, initially at the 1x109 dose when a patient shows an initial response; this indicates that responses are being seen. A second course may enhance overall responses as no preconditioning is used in THINK so no cell expansion is seen. Third, the DEPLETHINK study will test a non-myeloablative preconditioning regimen plus CYAD-01 in AML /MDS patients to test for CYAD-01 expansion.

Leading position in solid cancers and allogeneic cells

The generalised targeting of its NKR CAR approach gives Celyad a potentially dominant position in solid cancers, an area other CAR approaches find hard to access (see detailed report). Dose escalation of CYAD-01 in solid cancers in THINK is ongoing. Importantly, Celyad is evaluating CYAD-01 in combination with FOLFOX in the SHRINK trial; the first patient was enrolled in May in Belgium. The Belgium LINK study tests direct hepatic injection of CYAD-01 to treat metastatic CRC. An allogeneic NKR CAR trial could start; Celyad holds key patents.

Valuation: €84 per share pending fresh data

The valuation is focused on AML at 25% probability and colorectal cancer at 20%. The unchanged indicative value is €1,040m, €84 per share. Management states that the May 2018 placing proceeds, €46.1m gross, could fund Celyad through H220. Value progression depends on THINK data especially in AML.

Exhibit 1: Financial summary

€000s

2016

2017

2018e

2019e

Year end 31 December

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

PROFIT & LOSS

Revenue

 

 

8,523

3,540

0

0

Cost of Sales

(53)

(515)

(500)

(500)

Gross Profit

8,470

3,025

(500)

(500)

EBITDA

 

 

(21,246)

(22,317)

(26,500)

(27,750)

Operating Profit (before amort. and except).

 

 

(22,006)

(23,283)

(27,500)

(28,750)

Intangible Amortisation

(756)

(748)

(750)

(750)

Other income and charges

0

(26,273)

0

0

Share-based payments

(2,847)

(2,569)

(2,600)

(2,600)

Operating Profit

(25,609)

(52,873)

(30,850)

(32,100)

Net Interest

1,997

(3,521)

250

250

Profit Before Tax (norm)

 

 

(20,009)

(26,804)

(27,250)

(28,500)

Profit Before Tax (FRS 3)

 

 

(23,612)

(56,394)

(30,600)

(31,850)

Tax

6

1

0

0

Profit After Tax (norm)

(20,003)

(26,803)

(27,250)

(28,500)

Profit After Tax (FRS 3)

(23,606)

(56,393)

(30,600)

(31,850)

Average Number of Shares Outstanding (m)

9.3

9.6

11.2

12.0

EPS - normalised (c)

 

 

(209)

(279)

(243)

(238)

EPS - (IFRS) (c)

 

 

(253)

(586)

(273)

(267)

Dividend per share (c)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Gross Margin (%)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

EBITDA Margin (%)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Operating Margin (before GW and except) (%)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

BALANCE SHEET

Fixed Assets

 

 

53,440

41,232

40,492

39,752

Intangible Assets

49,566

36,508

35,768

35,028

Tangible Assets

3,563

3,290

3,290

3,290

Investments

311

1,434

1,434

1,434

Current Assets

 

 

85,366

36,393

50,659

22,149

Stocks

0

0

0

0

Debtors

1,359

233

233

233

Cash (cash plus deposits)

82,587

33,905

48,171

19,661

Other

1,420

2,255

2,255

2,255

Current Liabilities

 

 

(11,275)

(7,944)

(7,944)

(7,944)

Creditors

(9,960)

(7,509)

(7,509)

(7,509)

Deferred revenue

0

0

0

0

Walloon loans and bank loan

(1,315)

(435)

(435)

(435)

Long Term Liabilities

 

 

(36,646)

(22,146)

(22,146)

(22,146)

Loans (non-current) Bank and Walloon

(7,866)

(1,870)

(1,870)

(1,870)

Other long term liabilities

(28,780)

(20,276)

(20,276)

(20,276)

Net Assets

 

 

90,885

47,535

61,061

31,811

CASH FLOW

Operating Cash Flow

 

 

(26,695)

(46,027)

(26,514)

(27,471)

Net Interest

1,997

(3,521)

264

(29)

Tax

0

0

0

0

Capex

(1,782)

(858)

(1,010)

(1,010)

Acquisitions/disposals

(1,561)

0

0

0

Financing

0

625

46,140

0

Dividends

0

0

0

0

Other

3,109

1,099

(4,614)

0

Net Cash Flow

(24,932)

(48,682)

14,266

(28,510)

Opening net debt/(cash)

 

 

(96,131)

(73,406)

(31,600)

(45,866)

HP finance leases initiated

0

0

0

0

Loan and finance movements

2,207

6,876

(0)

0

Closing net debt/(cash)

 

 

(73,406)

(31,600)

(45,866)

(17,356)

Source: Edison Investment Research estimates, Celyad reports and announcements

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Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

Frankfurt +49 (0)69 78 8076 960

Schumannstrasse 34b

60325 Frankfurt

Germany

London +44 (0)20 3077 5700

280 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7EE

United Kingdom

New York +1 646 653 7026

295 Madison Avenue, 18th Floor

10017, New York

US

Sydney +61 (0)2 8249 8342

Level 12, Office 1205

95 Pitt Street, Sydney

NSW 2000, Australia

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