Evaxion Biotech (EVAX) Conference Transcript

Summary of Evaxion Biotech (EVAX) Conference Call - May 22, 2025 Company Overview - Company: Evaxion Biotech (EVAX) - Industry: Biotechnology, specifically focused on AI-powered drug development and vaccine creation Key Points and Arguments 1. Funding and Financial Position: - Raised significant cash early in the year, extending runway into mid-2026 [3] - Merck participated in the latest public offering, holding approximately 20% of the company [3][12] - Potential for an additional $10 million if Merck exercises options on vaccine candidates [4][12] 2. **AI Immunology Platform**: - Evaxion is a pioneer in AI-driven medicine development, founded in 2008 [5] - The platform has been clinically validated and is a key differentiator from newer AI companies [6] - Capable of rapid target discovery, reducing the number of targets tested by 80$280 billion by the end of the decade; infectious disease market expected to be $70 billion [14] - Significant unmet needs in both cancer (10 million deaths annually) and infectious diseases (8 million deaths annually) [13] 5. Clinical Data and Product Development: - Lead candidate EVX-one shows a 69% overall response rate in metastatic melanoma, significantly higher than the 33% response rate of the current gold standard [25] - 80% of neoantigens in the vaccine candidates elicited an immune response, indicating strong efficacy [26] 6. Strategic Ambitions: - Aim to remain a leading AI-powered biotech company and drive best-in-class drug discovery [29] - Plans to enter at least two new partnerships and select a lead candidate for a precision-based cancer vaccine [32] 7. Future Outlook: - Anticipated milestones include Merck's decision on option exercise and upcoming phase two data for EVX-one [31][33] - Strong focus on generating new partnerships and maintaining a robust business development pipeline [30] Additional Important Content - Partnership Development: - Merck's involvement has been crucial, participating in multiple financing rounds and showing long-term commitment [45][46] - The partnership allows Evaxion to focus on R&D without incurring further costs for the development of partnered candidates [44] - Market Perception: - Despite a strong fundamental position, the market has not fully appreciated the company's potential, as reflected in share price trends [48][49] - The company emphasizes execution of its strategy over short-term market fluctuations [49] - Technological Advancements: - Continuous improvement of the AI platform is expected, with potential future applications in quantum computing [40][41] This summary encapsulates the key insights from the conference call, highlighting Evaxion's strategic positioning, financial health, and innovative capabilities in the biotechnology sector.