Innate Pharma S.A. (EPA:IPH)
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Earnings Call: Q4 2021

Mar 24, 2022

Operator

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Innate Pharma's full year 2021 results conference call. At this time, all participants are on a listen only mode. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. I will now hand over to Mr. Henry Wheeler, Head of Investor Relations of Innate Pharma to begin. Sir, please go ahead.

Henry Wheeler
Head of Investor Relations, Innate Pharma

Thank you. Good morning, good afternoon, and welcome everyone. This morning, Innate issued a press release providing a business update for the 2021 full year results. We look forward to presenting the progress made during the year to date, as well as addressing future goals and milestones. The press release and today's presentation are both available on the IR section of the website. On Slide 2, I would like to remind you that we will make forward-looking statements regarding the financial outlook in addition to regulatory and product plan developments. These statements are subject to risk and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from those forecasted. On Slide 3, on today's call, we will be joined by Mondher Mahjoubi, our Chief Executive Officer, who will then hand over to Dr. Joyson Karakunnel, our EVP of portfolio strategy-

Operator

I'm not hearing.

Henry Wheeler
Head of Investor Relations, Innate Pharma

On the call for Q&A. Mondher, I'll now hand over to you.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, Henry. Can you hear me well?

Operator

I can hear you well now.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. Let me first start by reminding you our strategy. Please move to Slide 4. As you know, our strategy centers around 3 key priorities. We are looking to drive value from our early R&D efforts through later-stage partnerships where it makes sense to do so. Firstly, we look to create near-term value driven by our lead proprietary product candidate, lacutamab, which is in development for T-cell lymphoma. Second, we continue to fuel our pipeline and create longer term value by leveraging our antibody engineering capabilities to develop innovative molecules with the primary focus on our multispecific and cancer engaging platform called ANKET. Last but not least, we are building a strong and sustainable foundation for our business, leveraging various partnerships across industry and academia. Our goal is to leverage the value of our product as much as possible.

We want to make sure that if we can gain valuable competencies via a partner agreement, we will consider that in our development plan for the product. This will further validate our science and offer capital that we can reinvest to advance our early portfolio. Let me now turn to the next slide, where I will cover the highlights for 2021. 2021 was a very busy year for Innate, where we continued to deliver on our strategic objectives, and we have demonstrated steady progress across all key strategic pillars, as can be seen on this busy slide. Starting with lacutamab first, we presented exciting micro-responder data earlier in the year at the ICML meeting in Lugano and announced the advancement to the next stage of the Phase II trial, TELLOMAK. We also initiated last year 2 trials in the larger indication of peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

In the R&D pipeline, we were very pleased to see the lead tri-specific ANKET compound selected by Sanofi enter into the clinic. The data on the CD123-targeted agent in AML preclinical model were also presented at SITC last year. We continue to progress our proprietary tetraspecific ANKET towards IND-enabling studies with here again preclinical data presented throughout the year. On the immuno-oncology pathway front, we have initiated our Phase I trial with our anti-CD73 IPH5301 in partnership with the IPC Cancer Center here in Marseille. We look to further discussions with AstraZeneca on the next steps for our anti-CD39 IPH5201. Finally, as we turn to monalizumab, we were very pleased to see our partner AstraZeneca commence another Phase III registrational trial, PACIFIC-9, in Phase III unresectable lung cancer.

We are also starting a further randomized Phase II study called NeoCOAST-2 in the neoadjuvant setting for resectable lung cancer patients. At ESMO last year, we saw data presentation from the Phase II randomized COAST trial, and we expect to see more in the neoadjuvant setting from the NeoCOAST trial in a few weeks at the AACR meeting. Finally, as you may remember, at the end of the year, we also presented data from the triplet combination of monalizumab, durvalumab, and cetuximab in frontline head and neck cancer at the ESMO IO. Please move to next slide. Before I hand over to Joyson, here is an overview of the pipeline which shows how we have translated our science into a robust portfolio of proprietary and partnered assets.

It also illustrates how we are executing against our strategy with our lead proprietary asset, lacutamab, supported by partnered and early-stage products, in particular, those from our ANKET platform. We are also pleased to see the progress throughout the portfolio with multiple assets in the clinical stage now progressing from Phase I through to registrational Phase III. We look forward to a series of potential clinical data readouts and catalysts in the upcoming couple of years as our R&D engine looks to leverage our scientific know-how to create a sustainable business. I would like now to pass the call over to Joyson , who will review the progress made with our portfolio, starting with lacutamab, our most advanced proprietary asset. Joyson , please.

Joyson Karakunnel
EVP and CMO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, Mondher. On Slide 7, let me start with our first-in-class humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the immune receptor KIR3DL2. As you may remember, KIR3DL2 is an inhibitory receptor found in approximately 65% of patients across all cutaneous T-cell lymphomas and even more in certain aggressive subtypes, but with limited expression in healthy tissue. To date, data from lacutamab have shown promise, demonstrating compelling single-agent activity and offering immense potential in T-cell lymphomas historically associated with a poor prognosis for which there are few therapeutic options at an advanced stage. Let me highlight the progress we have made this year in our ongoing Phase II TELLOMAK study for Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides. In mycosis fungoides, the KIR3DL2 expressing cohort moved from Stage 1 to Stage 2, clearing a predetermined threshold before 50% of the cohort was enrolled.

The KIR3DL2 mycosis fungoides data was also presented in 2021 at Lugano, and the next mycosis fungoides data will be in 2022. Today, we are also announcing the opening of an all-comers cohort in the mycosis fungoides setting to further evaluate our FFPE companion diagnostic being considered for late-stage trials. As expected, our scientific hypothesis was confirmed by the data in the non-expressing cohort as the number of responses to move to Stage 2 was not reached as per the Simon's two-stage design and recruitment into this cohort was stopped. For the Sézary syndrome cohort, enrollment is on track, and we expect to be able to report preliminary data in 2022. On Slide 8, we have a summary of the cohort 2 mycosis fungoides data in KIR3DL2 expressers and cohort 3 non-expressers.

In the preliminary results of cohort 2, we showed an overall response rate of 35% in late-line patients with limited treatment options. As the median follow-up is only 4.8 months, we anticipate presenting longer-term follow-up on the duration of response at the next update. Even with the short follow-up, there have been 6 out of 17 confirmed responses. In the skin compartment, we have 11 out of 17 confirmed responses. Of the 3 compartments, the skin compartment is important, because of its association with quality of life for patients. As you look to the right of the slide, you can see the cohort 3 non-expressers data. As I explained earlier, as anticipated in this non-expressing cohort, the 3 required events per the Simon's two-stage design was not reached for the trial to progress from Stage 1 to Stage 2.

Due to this, recruitment was stopped. We are encouraged by the data and look forward to further proof points in 2022. On Slide 9, let me summarize the progress we are making with lacutamab. We are pursuing a fast-to-market strategy for lacutamab in T-cell lymphomas with a potentially pivotal trial underway in the niche setting of Sézary syndrome, where lacutamab was granted US Fast Track designation and EU PRIME designation last year. We have expanded past Sézary syndrome to mycosis fungoides, where we have seen encouraging preliminary data from our Phase II trial. For the Sézary syndrome cohort, enrollment is on track, and we still expect to be able to report top-line preliminary data in the second half of 2022. In mycosis fungoides, we moved the KIR3DL2 expressing cohort from Stage 1 to Stage 2 earlier than anticipated.

As expected, due to the number of events not having been reached, the non-expressing cohort 3 was closed to enrollment. The next preliminary mycosis fungoides data is due in the second half of 2022. Finally, we are advancing into peripheral T-cell lymphoma and have started 2 clinical trials in the relapse setting. On Slide 10, I would like to update you on our monalizumab efforts. To remind you, monalizumab is an anti-NKG2A which acts upon the checkpoint pathway to potentiate NK cell activation that we have outlicensed to AstraZeneca. There are currently 2 ongoing Phase III trials with monalizumab. One in combination with cetuximab in head and neck cancer, and one in combination with the anti-PD-L1 durvalumab in lung cancer.

On this slide, I wanted to recap the results for the randomized Phase II COAST study that AstraZeneca conducted in unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer presented at ESMO in September 2021. The first line head and neck data we presented at ESMO IO in December 2021. For the COAST study, the 3 arms evaluated the combinations of durvalumab plus monalizumab and durvalumab plus oleclumab, AstraZeneca's anti-CD73. For the results shown here, both arms performed well versus the standard of care on durvalumab. After a median follow-up of 11.5 months, the results of an interim analysis showed a 10-month PFS rate of 72.7% for durvalumab plus monalizumab versus 39.2% with durvalumab alone.

The results also showed an increase in the primary endpoint of confirmed overall response rate for durvalumab plus monalizumab over durvalumab alone of 36% versus 18% respectively. On the right, side of the slide, cohort 3 evaluated the triple combination of monalizumab, durvalumab, and cetuximab in front line head and neck cancer. The data demonstrated antitumor activity in the first study to evaluate this chemo-free triplet combination in the first-line recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer setting. As a reminder, the standard of care is based off the KEYNOTE-048 trial. The approval is for pembrolizumab monotherapy in CPS greater than or equal to 1, and pembro plus chemo in all comer patients. We continue to collaborate with our partner, AstraZeneca, on potential next steps for this program.

Finally, in lung cancer, we are pleased to see that NeoCOAST study has been accepted for an oral presentation on April 11, 2022, at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting this year. On Slide 11, you can see an overview of the late-stage development for monalizumab in lung cancer. As mentioned, based on the Phase II COAST data, AstraZeneca has commenced PACIFIC-9, a Phase III trial evaluating the combination of either monalizumab and oleclumab plus durvalumab in the unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer setting who have not progressed after concurrent chemo, radiation therapy. Separately, AstraZeneca also announced that it is starting a Phase II clinical trial, NeoCOAST-2, in Stages IIA to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that includes a treatment arm with monalizumab in combination with durvalumab and chemotherapy.

We look forward to seeing the data from Phase II NeoCOAST at AACR, as mentioned. On Slide 12, moving to head and neck cancer. As mentioned, we presented data from cohort 3 of the Phase II trial at ESMO IO for the triplet of monalizumab plus durvalumab plus cetuximab in the first-line head and neck cancer. Additionally, the Phase III INTERLINK-1 trial of monalizumab plus cetuximab in IO-pretreated head and neck cancer is ongoing, with final data expected in 2024. We look to further work with our partners, AstraZeneca, on this potential new treatment. On Slide 13, we are pleased to have presented our latest innovation to our proprietary multi-specific NK cell engager platform that we call ANKET, which Eric Vivier has presented at several meetings last year, including ESMO and SITC. ANKET stands for Antibody-based NK Cell Engager Therapeutics.

These multi-specific molecules are made up of various building blocks, as illustrated here. ANKET is a versatile fit-for-purpose technology that is creating an entirely new class of tri- and tetra-specific molecules to induce strategic immunity against cancer. This technology platform will be an engine for our pipeline, creating value via multiple target candidates and further reinforces our scientific expertise in the NK cell space. Our excitement for the ANKET platform is brought on because of the preclinical data we have to date. First, the ANKET platform allows for the harnessing of NK cell effector function and NK cell proliferation in preclinical models against cancer.

Second, the preclinical efficacy is due to the unique NK cell engagement of the activating NK cell receptors, NKp46 and CD16, but also the IL-2 variant, which targets receptors for the IL-2R beta and IL-2R gamma complex, which is unique to the tetra-specific molecule and includes a specific tumor antigen. Overall, it demonstrates a better preclinical anti-tumor efficacy than we have seen preclinically with clinically approved antibodies. On Slide 14 is a summary of the data presented at SITC 2021 on our lead tri-specific ANKET asset selected by Sanofi. This is the first NKp46 CD16 based NK cell engager to enter the clinic.

On the left side of this slide, you can see the preclinical data showing that CD123 targeted IPH6101 tri-specific ANKET demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity against all AML cell lines, including primary AML, which were resistant to ADCC by a competitor anti-CD123 antibody. On the right slide, on the right of the slide, we demonstrate that in non-human primates there is sustained pharmacodynamic effect, combining efficient depletion of CD123 expressing cells with minor cytokine release and a favorable safety profile in comparison to T-cell engagers. We are pleased to see the Phase I trial underway by Sanofi. On Slide 15, we wanted to highlight the data on our recent generation of tetra-specific ANKET, which is made up of four components. In yellow, an antibody fragment that recognizes the tumor antigen. In green, an antibody fragment that recognizes NKp46. In red, an FC portion that will interact with CD16.

In blue, a variant of the interleukin 2. On the left, we show you the contribution of the tetra-specific ANKET with the non-alpha IL-2 variant. The black graph on the far left is the vehicle. The green graph is the tetra-specific ANKET, and the red graph on the right is a tri-specific ANKET with a systemic IL-2 variant. You can see the benefit with the green graph, including the tetra-specific ANKET with the IL-2 variant. On the right, you can see the benefit of the tetra-specific versus the vehicle, as well as obinutuzumab in lung mouse models. On top you have the vehicle, in the middle, tetra-specific ANKET, and on the bottom the CD20 obinutuzumab. Activity is seen with the tetra-specific model that is not seen with obinutuzumab.

We look forward to further updates on ANKET throughout the year as we progress toward IND-enabling study. I will turn to Frédéric for an update on the financials.

Frédéric Lombard
SVP and CFO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, Joyson Karakunnel, and good day, everyone. Moving to the finance Slide 16. I will start with one of our key metrics, as usual, our cash position. Our cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 159.7 million as of December 31, 2021. This includes the state guaranteed loan of EUR 28.7 million we received in December 2021. In addition, as you can see, we are efficiently managing our resources so that we can best capitalize on our progress and data readouts to explore development pathways in different indications. We believe this approach ensures that we remain in position to strategically invest in our vision for Innate.

Now, going into the P&L, I will only comment on the main and most significant lines, and you have a very detailed comment in the appendix of the press release that you can refer to for more information. Note that as compared to our previous filing, Lumoxiti activity has been classified as discontinued operations in separate lines of the P&L for all relating Lumoxiti income expenses. I'll start with our revenue and other income, which amounted to EUR 24.7 million this year. It mainly resulted from revenues from collaboration and licensing agreements and governmental funding. The revenue line is characterized by the spreading of the upfront payments received from AstraZeneca for monalizumab, which I'll remind, is recognized on the basis of percentage of completion of the work performed by the company. I also remind you that it has no impact on cash.

Operating expenses amounted to EUR 72.5 million, showing an increase by 5% compared to 2020. R&D expenses were EUR 47 million, increasing by 5% compared to the last year. The decrease was mainly due to the decrease in depreciation and amortization of intangible assets acquired by the company, mostly IPH5201 fully amortized at the end of 2020 and monalizumab, partly offset by an increase in R&D research and development expenses, clinical and non-clinical. Also, the company has paid EUR 11.4 million to AstraZeneca related to the co-funding of the monalizumab programs in 2021, compared to EUR 1.8 million in 2020. Turning to G&A expenses, they were EUR 25.5 million for the year.

The increase here was mainly due to an increase in restructuring costs relating to the evolving U.S. business, including Lumoxiti, and to an increase of non-scientific advisory fees. G&A expenses related to Lumoxiti discontinued operations amounted to EUR 8.5 million in 2021, compared to EUR 12.3 million in 2020, respectively. In 2021, these expenses are mainly composed of the settlement amount of $6.2 million, equivalent to EUR 5.5 million, to be paid in April this year to AstraZeneca as part of the termination and transition agreement. As a reminder, the company has communicated in its 2020 consolidated financial statements on a contingent liability estimated to a maximum of EUR 12.8 million related to the sharing of certain manufacturing costs. These are the last Lumoxiti related expenses we are expecting this year.

Total G&A costs, including Lumoxiti discontinued operations, have decreased actually by 9% year-over-year. To recap, we have a strong cash and cash equivalent position with EUR 159.7 million at the end of 2021. We estimate that we have enough cash to fund planned operation to at least mid-2023.

With that, I'm turning back to Mondher.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, Frédéric. Please move to Slide number 17. Frédéric, if you can put yourself on mute, please. As you can see on Slide 17, we are working diligently to execute across all our strategic pillars, and we believe that we are laying the foundation to drive near and long-term value. Looking at our clinical program, we expect to achieve a number of milestones over the next 2 years. As you've heard from Joyson, our Phase II TELLOMAK study for lacutamab continues to progress. We continue to expect to report preliminary data from the potentially total trial in Sézary syndrome , as well as data in mycosis fungoides in the second half of this year. In addition, as you've heard, we are moving our peripheral T-cell lymphoma program into the clinic with initial data expected next year.

For monalizumab, we look forward to further clinical development in early lung cancer with the head and neck cancer trial underway. We continue to advance the adenosine pathway agent in the clinic, where we look forward to data from the NCT04261075 in 2023. In parallel, we continue to develop our ANKET technology platform, and we are very encouraged by the pre-clinical results from our next generation ANKET engager. We believe that this represents a natural evolution of our platform with data presented at conferences last year. We are very excited to see the lead tri-specific ANKET in the clinic with Sanofi and look for updates on our proprietary ANKET throughout 2022. Let's move to the conclusion Slide number 18. As you can tell, we continue our exciting journey at Innate. We look to build our business to create value for patients and stakeholders.

In summary, we have positioned the company for the future with our strategy and made meaningful progress throughout 2021 across all 3 strategic pillars. We have carefully managed our resources so we can continue to invest in progressing our pipeline, and I'm very pleased that we continue to have a very strong cash position with nearly EUR 160 million as of 31 December 2021, which provides us a runway into mid-2023. Collectively, we are driving value across our business and ultimately advancing our goal to deliver innovative medicine to cancer patients. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress throughout the year. That concludes our prepared remarks. We will now open the call to questions. Operator, please.

Operator

Thank you. If you would like to ask a question, please press star followed by the number 1 on your telephone keypads. If you choose to withdraw your question, please press star followed by the number 2. When preparing to ask your question, please ensure your phone is unmuted locally. Our first question today comes from Daina Graybosch of SVB Leerink. Daina, please go ahead. Your line is open.

Daina Graybosch
Managing Director and Senior Biotechnology Analyst, SVB Leerink

Hi. Thanks for taking my questions, guys. Maybe 3 for me, 2 on lacutamab, one on monalizumab. On lacutamab, could you confirm and help me understand the new all-comers cohort in mycosis fungoides in the context of not moving forward in the current KIR3DL2-negative into the next stage? What's the purpose of the all-comers when you're not moving the other cohort forward? And then the second question on lacutamab is for mycosis fungoides. You know, after this next stage of TELLOMAK, do you expect ultimately to be able to get a single-arm approval in MF, or would you expect to need to move into a randomized study for approval in MF?

on monalizumab, can you confirm that we're still on track to have the interim futility analysis in the INTERLINK-1 study, that's connected to a milestone payment to Innate Pharma from AstraZeneca this year? Thank you.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, Daina, for all 3 questions. May I quickly answer the third one? The INTERLINK interim analysis is still on track, and we are expecting this to happen in 2022, most likely in the second half of 2022. No change to the timeline. The date that you have seen on the slide presented by Joyson is for the final analysis, but the interim is still scheduled towards the end of this year. Now, for your 2 questions on lacutamab, I'm gonna ask Joyson to maybe provide a little bit more details on why we are doing this cohort, and eventually what the impact that could have.

Of course, as you've heard, we have a continuous dialogue with the FDA, so we can give a little bit more color on our MS registration strategy. Joyson, please.

Joyson Karakunnel
EVP and CMO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, Mondher, and thank you, Daina. I'm gonna kinda combine these questions into 2. Please feel free to let me know if I do not answer both questions. Just as a reminder for cohort 2 and cohort 3, when we were selecting those patients of expressers versus non expressers, this was based on frozen biopsy samples. The IHC assay was based on frozen samples. That's what we used as a tool for selection.

Now, you know, going forward, the all-comer cohort, to answer your first question, the all-comer cohort will be evaluating an FFPE companion diagnostic approach. We don't anticipate that this is going to lead to any type of delay in development since we have seamlessly integrated this into the TELLOMAK study, and it comprises of patients that are similar to cohort 2 and cohort 3. That connects with our registrational approach, as you mentioned. I think when we look at this overall, a single arm approach is always possible and always dependent upon the data. At this time, we're planning for a Phase III would be required for registration. As such, we would look to use the optimal assay in this registrational trial, which we believe will be the FFPE.

We're continuing with these Phase III discussions with health authorities, and we hope to disclose more soon, especially as the data readouts come out. I hope that answers the question.

Daina Graybosch
Managing Director and Senior Biotechnology Analyst, SVB Leerink

Yes, just to confirm potentially after this new cohort, the percentage of patients that are positive may change slightly because it could be optimized in this work to really understand the best cutoff for further enrichment.

Joyson Karakunnel
EVP and CMO, Innate Pharma

Yes. To the total percentage of patients could change. I think what we know is it is around 50%, so we wouldn't anticipate a huge variation here in comparison between both assets.

Daina Graybosch
Managing Director and Senior Biotechnology Analyst, SVB Leerink

That's very, very helpful. Thank you. Thank you both.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, Daina. Thank you, Joyson. Operator, I think the second question from Yigal.

Operator

Yep. Yigal Nochomovitz, from Citi, please go ahead.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Okay, thanks.

Speaker 11

Hi, this is Carly on for Yigal Nochomovitz. Thanks for taking our question. Our first question is on the CD73 program. Can you talk a bit more about the rationale for focusing on HER2 positive cancers? Is there evidence that CD73 plays a larger role in immunosuppression in HER2 positive cancers versus other tumor types? I guess just interested in your thoughts there because I don't believe we've seen others in the CD73 space focus on the HER2 segment specifically. Thank you.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you. Before I hand over to Joyson again, I wanted to just put this into the context of trying to differentiate our anti-CD73 from the rest of the crowd. We are not the first. We are indeed among the latest to get into the clinic. That, of course, we used to first of all learn from what other companies have delivered. The COAST trial was extremely useful to help us actually better understand potential synergy with radiation therapy and the potential position in the early-stage NSCLC. At the same time, we have looked at, you know, the preclinical models and what we have in-house to try to differentiate our development.

We came up with this strategy, which is not in play for now because we started with, you know, the classic dose escalation. I'm gonna hand over to Joyson Karakunnel to give you a little bit more background of why we're gonna have this indication and this combination is attractive or not. Joyson .

Joyson Karakunnel
EVP and CMO, Innate Pharma

Thanks, Mondher, and thank you for the question. To begin, it goes back to what Mondher said. Currently, at this point, the CD73 landscape, as all of you are aware, is quite crowded and continues to become more crowded. When we started the development for CD73, we asked ourselves, how can we set ourselves apart? I will hand over to Yannis, who can speak a little bit to at least the scientific rationale around the HER2 that you had asked. But when we started this, we said we will go ahead and differentiate ourselves. We looked at how can we do this and, you know, based on the science, we went into the HER2 space.

Afterwards, as Mondher mentioned, the COAST data had come around, and now we're thinking to ourselves, how can we optimize the development of our CD73 utilizing the clinical data that we have seen in COAST. I think you'll see some also in the NeoCOAST study, which makes the CD73 landscape, you know. I mean, CD73 gives us another indication with proof in the clinical space. Maybe I'll hand it over to Yannis, who can speak to a little bit of the science around the HER2.

Yannis Morel
EVP and COO, Innate Pharma

Yeah. Thank you, Joyson . Yeah. Like you said, we are actually differentiating our molecule first because of its intrinsic properties. Our antibody, as opposed to other CD73 inhibitor that are in development, and especially the oleclumab, our antibody does not have the hook effect, meaning that it continue to block the enzyme even at high dose. Meaning that we are blocking the surface receptor, but we are also blocking the soluble molecule of CD73, which is very important for an enzyme. Like said by Joyson , it was important also to differentiate the development of our assets, going into combination that was not explored by others. Others were exploring mostly PD-1 combination.

Based on preclinical data we have that actually CD73 is mediating resistance to the ADCC of HER2 targeting antibody. That by combining the blockade of CD73 can increase the efficacy of trastuzumab in preclinical models.

Speaker 11

Okay, got it. That's really helpful. Just one housekeeping question. Did Innate receive a milestone payment from AstraZeneca on the start of PACIFIC-9? Are there any other milestones tied to PACIFIC-9 that we should be aware of? Thanks again.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Yeah. Again, maybe remind everyone that we are, of course, excited that PACIFIC-9 study has started. Of course, we still wait to hear of the first patient being dosed. We have not provided granularity on potential milestones. We have received so far EUR 400 million with EUR 50 million on the first Phase III INTERLINK-1, which started in the fall of 2020. An interim analysis will also trigger a payment of EUR 50 million if the predefined threshold of activity is reached. In total, we could potentially receive another EUR 425 million in regulatory and development milestones, and about EUR 400 million in commercial milestones, as well as a double-digit royalty, part of the agreement with AstraZeneca. Thank you.

Speaker 11

Okay, great. Thanks for taking the questions.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you.

Speaker 11

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question comes from Liisa Bayko of Evercore ISI. Liisa , please go ahead. Line is open.

Liisa Bayko
Managing Director, Evercore ISI

Hi there. Thanks for taking my questions. First one, are you planning an interim analysis of Interlink for this year?

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Hi, Liisa. Thank you for joining the call and your question.

Liisa Bayko
Managing Director, Evercore ISI

Sure.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

As you know, this trial is being conducted by AstraZeneca, and the plan was to aim to have an interim analysis performed about 18-24 months after the first patient is enrolled. The first patient was enrolled in November 2020, so the interim is expected for the second half of 2022.

Liisa Bayko
Managing Director, Evercore ISI

Wonderful. Okay, great. Can you maybe discuss a little bit more specifically about your regulatory strategy for Sézary syndrome? Are you gonna file just for this indication alone? I think there was some mention at JP Morgan that you might do some sort of combination with MF, maybe you can just discuss. Thanks.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Yeah, absolutely. I think it's a good way to hand over to Joyson to recap our MF/Sézary syndrome registration strategy based on, again, the interaction we had with the FDA. Joyson, can you please address this question?

Joyson Karakunnel
EVP and CMO, Innate Pharma

Thanks, Mondher. Yeah. Thanks, Mondher, and thank you for the question. Let me start off with at least our initial strategy. Our initial strategy for Sézary was in fact a fast-to-market strategy. We do have the pivotal cohort that is ongoing that we are looking to present data about on you know later this year. That cohort is still ongoing and does provide a potential registrational pathway. To your question about what is another option, another possibility is that we take the approach of combining both SS and MF, which as many of you know the mogamulizumab label is both SS as well as MF. There is precedent for combining both of these indications.

We are looking at all possible options for a registrational pathway. In addition, we're also having ongoing discussions with the FDA as well as the European health regulators to be able to make sure that they are also aligned with the options we have as well as the registrational path.

Liisa Bayko
Managing Director, Evercore ISI

Okay. Any idea when you might have some more granularity on that? Or is it really data dependent?

Joyson Karakunnel
EVP and CMO, Innate Pharma

It is. It will be data dependent. As we mentioned it, we will be presenting data about Sézary syndrome as well as mycosis fungoides later this year.

Liisa Bayko
Managing Director, Evercore ISI

Thanks a lot.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question comes from Keyur Parekh of Goldman Sachs. Keyur, please go ahead. Your line is open.

Keyur Parekh
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs

Hi. Thank you for taking my questions. 2, if I may, please. One, just as you kind of think about the opportunity across both Sézary syndrome and MF, just wondering if you remind me how big you guys think these indications can be and how kind of quickly do you think you might be able to get to the peak revenue sizes for this indication? That's kind of question number one. Separately for you, Mondher, as you think about kind of developing the tetra and pent kind of products, you've been doing kind of oncology drug development longer than most people. Just help us think about what you think some of the challenges and the opportunities might be. We've all seen the bispecifics kind of struggle, from a safety and tolerability perspective.

If you're kind of doing something that is targeting five different targets, just help us think through that and what it means from the perspective of the focus we should be having on the tolerability profile for these agents. Thank you.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, Keyur. Great questions. I'll try to answer as clear and as precise as possible. First of all, maybe on the Sézary and MF. Sézary is, we have epi data for, you know, U.S. and top 5 EU. It's roughly, you know, let's say about 50%-60% of the market. But nevertheless, I think it's quite significant to start having an idea. There are about, you know, 100-200 new Sézary syndrome every year, okay? It's really a niche indication. These patients actually receive multiple lines of therapy. They have a long PFS, so they live longer, and they get old.

All in all, if you think about prevalence at one point in time, it's less than 1,000 patients. It's really a small business. We knew it from day one. We argued Sézary is really a proof of concept on one side and a way to get to the market as quickly as possible. NF is a much bigger market opportunity. Please keep in mind that NF is just one type of the various subtypes of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. About half of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma are mycosis fungoides. There are about 50% of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma which are not mycosis fungoides. It's very heterogeneous, it's very sophisticated, and actually difficult to classify.

It's quite challenging also to do some registration, you know, work on such a heterogeneous population. That's why we elected to go after mycosis fungoides. All in all, we are talking about maybe 3,000-4,000 new patients every year. Clearly, the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma overall is not a very huge market opportunity especially when you compare it to the peripheral T-cell lymphoma, which is a much bigger one. We're talking about nearly 20,000 new patients every year, and half of them express the target. Clearly, it's a much bigger indication. Again, we do not have data there. We just started last year.

If I give you a number, it would be maybe, I'd say too ambitious from my side because we are too early in our, you know, thinking about the commercial strategy. We looked at, you know, the potential and a very good benchmark is mogamulizumab. You may have followed the, you know, fiscal results of Kyowa, but they sold about, you know, $150 million of Moga, which main indication is MF and Sézary. Clearly, there is a business there, in this, you know, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. As you know, mogamulizumab is approved in the U.S. and in Europe, but it's not reimbursed everywhere in Europe. There is a challenge, of course, in terms of market penetration.

The drug was just approved end of 2018 in the U.S. and in 2019 in Europe. It's still quite new, but nevertheless, I think it's a good indicator about the market opportunity when it comes to MF and Sézary. I hope I clarified this first question. I think your second question is really what we do every day actually in-house, trying to really figure out while we are you know progressing our proprietary NK product into you know IND-enabling studies and preparing for the clinic, thinking about how to develop this drug and how to position it actually as a new generation of multi-specific antibody.

I think the main opportunity resides actually into the safety of using an NK cell engager versus a T-cell engager. Actually, we have a good reason to think that this could be, you know, one of the way to differentiate, but also could be an opportunity also for combination strategy that we could afford. You have seen data already from others combining, you know, fresh cell NK cells with the antibody engaging NK cells, and the results are quite, you know, amazing, especially in liquid tumors. Of course, it's a small N, and usually we're talking about Phase I, II, but nevertheless, it provides some, you know, idea on the potential of this combination.

I think the opportunity lies in solid tumors. Because if we can do the same, and again, we are not the only ones working on this field. Others are preparing to, you know, tackle the solid tumor space, engaging NK cells with antibody that target solid tumors. I believe there is a significant, you know, potential there that is untapped so far, and I think it's a great opportunity. Last but not least, and this is one of the main challenge, but it's not the only one, is how to make sure that with our construct, it's pretty brand new in terms of CMC and manufacturing.

There are challenges there that we have to overcome because it's the first time we develop such, you know, complex antibody. On top of that, once we get into the clinic, remember this is an antibody that included IL-2 variants. Of course, we selected the IL-2 variants for a purpose to expand the NK cells without, you know, the downside, you know, safety issue that you can encounter. Of course, these are so far preclinical data. We need to make sure that this translate into the clinic with the same, you know, benefits and the same safety profile. These are the 2 main kind of short-term challenges that we have to go through.

Clinical data will tell whether what we have generated so far and what's presented at various meetings with our chair can translate in real clinical benefit for patients. Sorry for the long answer, but I think it's a good opportunity maybe to put our ANKET platform development strategy into context and perspective.

Keyur Parekh
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs

Thank you, Mondher. That was very helpful.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

You're welcome. Thank you, Titus.

Operator

Thank you.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Operator, next question. Sorry.

Operator

Of course. Just as another reminder, if you would like to ask a question today, please press star followed by the number 1 on your telephone keypads now. Our next question comes from Swayampakula Ramakanth from H.C. Wainwright. Swayampakula, please go ahead. Your line is open.

Swayampakula Ramakanth
Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst, H.C. Wainwright & Co.

Thank you. Most of my questions have been asked, Mondher. How are we on the IPH5201, the anti-CD39 antibody, in terms of what the next steps are? Is it potentially AstraZeneca who has to make the decision or do you have any say in how the program will be developed from here onwards?

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Hi, RK. Good to have you, and thank you for your question. The IPH5201 license agreement with AstraZeneca looks similar to the monalizumab agreement. It's really a co-development, co-commercialization agreement where we are involved and we are engaged also in the development of this molecule. AstraZeneca did the first dose of the escalation, single agent and then combination. They paused the development because we reached the whatever you call it milestone or objective on the Phase I, and now we are in the planning phase and discussion with AstraZeneca on the next step, learning from, again, the COAST trial, which was, as I said, a proof of concept, you know, demonstration for the pathway for tackling the CD39.

Nevertheless, I think it's an important milestone in the development of this antibody, learning from that and discussing with AstraZeneca on how best to position and differentiate CD39 from the rest of the competition, and we doing this in partnership, in collaboration.

Swayampakula Ramakanth
Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst, H.C. Wainwright & Co.

Thank you, Mondher. Talk to you soon.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you, RK.

Operator

Thank you.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

All right.

Operator

We currently have no further questions. I'll hand it back over to you, Mondher.

Mondher Mahjoubi
CEO, Innate Pharma

Thank you. Again, I think it's a great opportunity to present our full year results for 2021. As you could appreciate, I hope we continue to execute against our strategic priority as we reported multiple readouts from both proprietary and partnered portfolio programs. These readouts set the stage for delivering both near-term and long-term value while also highlighting the strength and depth of our core R&D. Just a reminder, looking ahead, we'll continue to advance our late-stage development program. We will continue to move our early-stage R&D activity toward the clinic with our next generation NK platform.

Furthermore, we look forward to further clinical development in early lung cancer with the head and neck cancer well underway, which of course further reinforce our strategy of building a sustainable business with our robust R&D engine. With that said, I wish you a wonderful day, and thank you for your participation in this call. Thank you. Bye-bye.

Operator

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's call. Thank you all for joining. You may now disconnect your lines.

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