EANS-Adhoc: Intercell AG
Intercell renews strategy and provides initial update
on S. aureus
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08.06.2011
» Renewal strategy is to strive towards financial self-sustainability in the mid term through a combination of the following four key pillars: 1) Revenue growth, 2) Pipeline investments, 3) Operational and financial discipline, and 4) Leverage partnerships
» Strategy based on creating shareholder value by balancing pipeline investments with financial performance objectives
» Revenue growth strategy for IXIARO®/JESPECT® is given key priority - aiming for positive product cash flow in 2012
» R&D focus on most promising core programs and technologies will deliver an attractive risk-return profile
» Intercell´s partner Merck & Co., Inc. has informed the company about its decision to discontinue the investigational S. aureus vaccine candidate trial
Vienna (Austria), June 8, 2011 - Today, Intercell´s new CEO Thomas Lingelbach announced the key elements of Intercell´s renewal strategy, aiming at creating shareholder value by balancing pipeline investments with financial performance objectives.
The strategy is based on four pillars: 1) Revenue growth, 2) Pipeline investments, 3) Operational and financial discipline, and 4) Leverage partnerships
Revenue growth will be primarily achieved by maximizing the value of IXIARO®/JESPECT® Two years after the global launch of Intercell´s vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis, the product is showing strong year-on-year revenue growth. Together with its global distribution partner Novartis, Intercell will expand its direct selling resources to increase penetration in the key markets. Leveraging the product into the Asian endemic markets and pediatric licensure will complement the global territory expansion. Increased manufacturing efficiency and capacity utilization are expected to contribute to margin improvement and a positive product cash flow in 2012.
Pipeline investments: Focus on the most promising core R&D programs and revision of their execution play a key role in the scope of Intercell´s renewal strategy.
The next development steps for the Company´s vaccine candidates against Pseudomonas (Phase II/III with Novartis) and C. difficile (Phase I) as well as the Pandemic Flu vaccine patch system (Phase I with GSK vaccine) have been designed to balance risks and benefits as these candidates progress toward the next value inflection points. As part of the pipeline prioritization, development of other clinical stage programs such as the Pneumococcus vaccine candidate have been put on hold. Intercell´s new research strategy will leverage technologies (patches, antibodies) with the most potential to create new partnerships while the existing platforms (IC31®, AIP®) will be maintained in response to ongoing partnerships. One lead candidate will be managed towards clinical entry in the next two years evolving from Intercell´s pipeline or external incubator collaborations.
Operational and financial discipline focusing on an optimized R&D pipeline management and further cost-cutting measures While maintaining its commitment to investing in R&D, Intercell intends to strive for mid-term financial self-sustainability by continuation of recent cost containment and financial discipline. The Company intends to further continue cost reductions leading to above 50% compared to 2010 by being a lean and consolidated organization, focusing on the most promising programs, which are best positioned to deliver value inflection points in the next three years, as well as cost- and risk sharing collaboration agreements with partners.
Leveraging the value of partnerships Strategic focus will be put on maximizing the value from partnered development programs under the existing alliance agreements and on creating new partnerships from un-partnered programs or technologies, cleaning up and monetizing unexplored Company assets.
CEO Thomas Lingelbach emphasizes that the Company is in a difficult, but highly promising stage: "The past year has been a tough year with high losses and a significant setback for us and our share-holders. However, with our further IXIARO®/JESPECT® growth, the Company´s extensive scientific basis and by executing on our presented strategy I am convinced that we are well positioned for positive renewal."
Intercell received an update from Partner Merck & Co., Inc. that, following a recommendation by the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) after the benefit/risk analysis previously announced, they intend to discontinue the Phase II/III clinical trial evaluating V710, an investigational vaccine for the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) infection. Details explaining this decision will be provided in a joint press release later today.
end of announcement euro adhoc --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
issuer: Intercell AG
Campus Vienna Biocenter 3
A-1030 Wien
phone: +43 1 20620-0
FAX: +43 1 20620-800
mail: investors@intercell.com
WWW: www.intercell.com
sector: Biotechnology
ISIN: AT0000612601
indexes: ATX Prime, ATX
stockmarkets: official market: Wien
language: EnglishContact:
Intercell AG
Nina Waibel
Corporate Communications
Tel. +43 1 20620-1222
communications@intercell.com
Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: AT0000612601
WKN: A0D8HW
Index: ATX Prime, ATX
Börsen: Wien / official market