RNS Number : 8342C
Allergy Therapeutics PLC
31 March 2025
 

 Porto

Allergy Therapeutics plc

("Allergy Therapeutics" or the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Interim Results for the six months ended 31 December 2024

 

 

31 March 2025: Allergy Therapeutics plc (AIM: AGY), the fully integrated commercial biotechnology company specialising in allergy vaccines, announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2024.

 

Highlights

 

Financial

-     Operating profit of £1.9 million before R&D, exceptional and fundraising costs (FY2024 H1: £0.5 million operating loss pre-R&D and exceptional costs).

-     Cash position of £21.7 million at 31 December 2024 (30 June 2024: £12.9 million).

-     Financial turnaround progressing with H1 revenues of £34.0 million (FY2024 H1: £33.6 million), 4% growth on a constant currency basis (FY2024 H2: 2% growth).

-     Second consecutive period of half year growth with improved operating margin.

-     Continued focus on cost control, with total administrative expenses reduced by 9.7% against comparative period.

 

Operational

-     Increase of 5% in volume of units sold reflecting a recovery in manufacturing capacity and improved ability to meet market demand.

-     Submission of Marketing Authorisation Application for Grass MATA MPL in November 2024.

-     First patient treated in the G308 Phase III trial to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of Grass MATA MPL in paediatric patients.

-     Positive interim analysis data from the Phase I/IIa VLP Peanut PROTECT Trial showing up to 48% reduction in wheal size after skin-prick testing compared to 8% in placebo, indicating significant potential efficacy of the product.

 

 

Manuel Llobet, CEO at Allergy Therapeutics, commented: "We enter 2025 with clear positive momentum across all aspects of our business. Our return to first-half growth and strengthened financial foundation give us renewed confidence to advance our strategic priorities. The submission of our Marketing Authorisation Application for Grass MATA MPL in Germany and the start of our paediatric G308 trial mark significant progress in our grass allergy programme. Simultaneously, the encouraging interim data from our VLP Peanut programme demonstrating meaningful reductions in skin sensitivity reinforce the transformational potential of this innovative vaccine candidate. With these developments, we are well positioned to deliver on our commitment to transform patient care in allergy while building sustainable value."

 

Financial Review

 

Revenue for the six months ended 31 December 2024 was £34.0 million (FY2024 H1: £33.6 million) representing 1% growth on a reported basis, or more than 4% on a constant* currency basis. Revenue has now grown for two consecutive half year periods, when compared to the equivalent periods in the prior financial year, demonstrating that the Group's financial recovery continues. Further, the volume of units sold increased by 5%, indicating a recovery in manufacturing output, with the growth primarily driven by a rebuild of the diagnostic portfolio.

 

Cost of sales increased slightly to £13.2 million (FY2024 H1: £13.1 million) in line with the higher sales volumes and maintaining broadly the same gross margin of 61%.

 

Sales, marketing and distribution costs were lower than the prior period at £9.3 million (FY2024 H1: £10.2 million) mainly as a result of streamlined marketing and promotional activity. Administrative expenses reduced to £10.4 million (FY2024 H1: £11.6 million) as a result of continued successful cost control initiatives.

 

The Group made an operating profit pre-R&D, exceptional and fundraising costs of £1.9 million (FY2024 H1: £0.5 million operating loss pre-R&D and exceptional costs).

 

Research and development costs reduced to £7.6 million (FY2024 H1: £11.4 million) mainly due to the prior period including the peak activity of the Group's pivotal G306 Phase III trial of Grass MATA MPL which successfully met its primary endpoint during H1 of FY2024.

 

There were no exceptional costs in this or the prior period, however there was a total fundraising charge of £2.9 million (FY2024 H1: £nil), this includes £0.4 million of transaction costs associated with the warrants issued to Hayfin Healthcare Opportunities ("Hayfin"), a £2.9 million accounting loss due to the revaluation of the Hayfin warrants to fair value at the reporting date, partially offset by a £0.4 million accounting gain on modification of the Loan Facility provided by SkyGem Acquisition Limited and Southern Fox Investments Limited (together the "Shareholder Lenders").

 

The operating loss was £8.6 million (FY2024 H1: £11.9 million), and the loss before tax was £11.4 million (FY2024 H1: £14.9 million). The finance expense for the period was £3.0 million (FY2024 H1: £3.2 million) mainly comprising interest expenses on the shareholder loan and Hayfin facility. Tax was a credit of £0.3 million (FY2024 H1: £0.7 million tax charge) relating to movements in the Group's liability for uncertain tax positions and tax payable by the overseas subsidiaries.

 

At 31 December 2024, the Group had cash of £21.7 million (30 June 2024: £12.9 million) and debt of £37.5 million (30 June 2024: £23.1 million). The operating cash outflow was £7.7 million (FY2024 H1: £10.8 million) an improvement of 29% reflecting the improving operational performance. The investing outflow was £1.4 million (FY2024 H1: £1.8 million), offset by an inflow of £17.8 million (FY2024 H1: £11.2 million) from the net proceeds of financing activities.

 

On 15 October 2024 the Group strengthened its cash position (and increased its debt) with a new £40m facility from Hayfin. As previously announced the Hayfin Facility comprises a £20 million committed five-year term loan and £20 million uncommitted incremental facility. As part of these financing arrangements, the Company has also issued to Hayfin 131,603,616 warrants to subscribe for new ordinary shares, representing approximately 2.7% of the issued share capital of the Company, with a nominal exercise price of 0.1 pence per warrant and exercisable for a period of ten years from the date of issue. The Hayfin £20 million loan is subject to an upfront arrangement fee and has a variable interest rate based on SONIA plus 9.5% per annum with interest payable based on Company selected interest periods.

 

Also on 15 October 2024, the Group secured additional support from its Shareholder Lenders, through an amendment to the Loan Facility. The total facility was increased from £40 million to £50 million and its term extended to October 2030. The Shareholder Facility has been amended ("the Amended Shareholder Facility") to be unsecured and rank behind the Hayfin Facility. In addition, interest under the Amended Shareholder Facility will no longer be paid and instead interest will be rolled up into capital.

 

As at 31 December 2024 there was an undrawn but uncommitted balance of £27.5 million remaining on the Amended Shareholder Facility. With the £20 million uncommitted Hayfin funding, the Group has access to a total £47.5 million of uncommitted facilities to continue to drive the business forward. The Group expects that additional funding will be required during Q4 FY2025 onwards for trading, working capital, capital expenditure and continuing R&D programmes.

 

The Directors have applied the going concern principle in preparing the interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2024.

 

Clinical Update

 

Grass MATA MPL Programme

 

Grass MATA MPL, the Group's short-course subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy (SCIT) candidate for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis due to grass pollen, achieved a key milestone in its clinical development with the submission of its Marketing Authorisation Application to the Paul Ehrlich Institut in Germany in November 2024.

 

This submission follows the successful completion of the pivotal Phase III G306 trial in adults, which demonstrated a highly statistically significant reduction in Combined Symptom & Medication Score of -20.3% (p≤0.0002) compared to placebo over the peak pollen season.

 

Building on this, in November 2024, the Group initiated G308, an industry-first long-term subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy Phase III trial in paediatric subjects with grass induced allergic rhinitis.

 

VLP Peanut Programme

 

The clinical development of VLP Peanut, the Group's innovative short-course peanut allergy vaccine candidate administered via subcutaneous injection, continues to progress through the Phase I/IIa PROTECT trial. This trial is evaluating maximum safe and tolerated doses while assessing biomarker efficacy in peanut allergic patients.

 

Interim analysis of the first two cohorts of peanut allergic patients has shown promising results. Treatment with VLP Peanut resulted in a meaningful dose-dependent reduction in skin sensitivity to peanut allergen, with up to 48% reduction in wheal size after skin-prick test compared to an 8% reduction in placebo-treated patients. Further, a comparison of the biomarker profile between treatment and placebo points to VLP Peanut driving a reduction in allergic response to the major peanut allergen, Ara h2.

 

These findings are supported by pre-clinical research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in collaboration with Imperial College London, which demonstrated beneficial tolerogenic properties and reduced allergenicity in cells from peanut-allergic individuals.

 

The hypo-allergic safety profile observed to date supports the potential of the product as a transformative treatment option for peanut allergy sufferers.

 

Outlook

 

In the second half of the financial year, we expect further sales growth when compared to H2 2024 and we expect overall sales for the full year to show growth over the corresponding period ended 30 June 2024. The Group is continuing with cost control initiatives but is undertaking selective investments such as launch readiness for its new Grass MATA MPL product should MAA approval be received during FY2026.

 

The Group plans to meet with the US Food and Drug Administration in the coming months to present new data and discuss US specific registration requirements, including the design of US specific studies which is a standard requirement to expand the number of subjects treated with the new products.

 

The Group expects that additional funding will be required during Q4 FY2025 onwards and discussions are underway regarding the utilisation of the uncommitted facilities referenced in the Financial Review.

 

*Constant currency uses prior year weighted average exchange rates to translate current year foreign currency denominated revenue to give a year-on-year comparison excluding the effects of foreign exchange movements.

 

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulations.

 

 

-  ENDS -

 



 

For further information, please contact:

 

Allergy Therapeutics

Manuel Llobet, Chief Executive Officer

Shaun Furlong, Chief Financial Officer

+44 (0)1903 845 820

 

Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Geoff Nash/Giles Balleny/Seamus Fricker/Rory Sale

Nigel Birks Sales

+44 (0)20 7220 0500

 

ICR Healthcare

Mary-Jane Elliott/David Daley/Davide Salvi

+44 (0)20 3709 5700

allergytherapeutics@icrhealthcare.com

 

About Allergy Therapeutics

 

Allergy Therapeutics is an international commercial biotechnology company, headquartered in the UK, focussed on the treatment and diagnosis of allergic disorders, including aluminium free immunotherapy vaccines that have the potential to cure disease. The Group sells proprietary and third-party products from its subsidiaries in nine major European countries and via distribution agreements in an additional ten countries. Its broad pipeline of products in clinical development includes vaccines for grass, tree, house dust mite and peanut. For more information, please see www.allergytherapeutics.com.



 

ALLERGY THERAPEUTICS PLC




 




Consolidated income statement





6 months to

6 months to

12 months to


31 Dec 2024

31 Dec 2023

30 Jun 2024


£'000

£'000

£'000


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited





Revenue

34,030

33,572

55,199

Cost of sales

(13,168)

(13,052)

(25,462)





Gross profit

20,862

20,520

29,737





Sales, marketing and distribution costs

(9,307)

(10,222)

(19,591)

Administration expenses - other

(10,365)

(11,558)

(22,790)

Total administrative expenses

(19,672)

(21,780)

(42,381)

Other income

733

760

1,526

Operating profit/(loss) pre R&D, exceptional and fundraising costs

1,923

(500)

(11,118)

Research and development costs

(7,647)

(11,386)

(22,900)

Exceptional costs - restructuring

-

-

(1,239)

Transaction fees on financial instruments held at fair value

(362)

-

-

Revaluation of warrant liabilities held at fair value

(2,956)

-

-

Gain on modification of shareholder loan

430

-

-





Operating loss

(8,612)

(11,886)

(35,257)





Finance income

213

159

285

Finance expense

(2,963)

(3,189)

(4,194)





Loss before tax

(11,362)

(14,916)

(39,166)





Income tax

277

(735)

(1,050)





Loss for the period

(11,085)

(15,651)

(40,216)





Loss per share




Basic (pence per share)

(0.23)p

(0.58)p

(1.07)p

Diluted (pence per share)

(0.23)p

(0.58)p

(1.07)p





Consolidated statement of comprehensive income





6 months to

6 months to

12 months to

 

31 Dec 2024

31 Dec 2023

30 Jun 2024

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited

 




Loss for the period

(11,085)

(15,651)

(40,216)

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:




Remeasurement of retirement benefit obligations

(288)

(749)

(617)

Remeasurement of investments - retirement benefit assets

85

324

549

Revaluation gains - land and buildings

-

-

281

Deferred tax movement - land and buildings

-

-

(30)

Total other comprehensive loss

(203)

(425)

183

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:




Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

(291)

392

(86)





Total comprehensive loss

(11,579)

(15,684)

(40,119)


ALLERGY THERAPEUTICS PLC








Consolidated statement of financial position





31 Dec 2024

31 Dec 2023

30 Jun 2024


£'000

£'000

£'000


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited

Assets




Non-current assets




Property, plant and equipment - right-of use assets

6,602

8,210

7,457

Property, plant and equipment - other

16,713

15,182

16,288

Intangible assets - goodwill

3,300

3,364

3,317

Intangible assets - other

1,214

1,626

1,370

Investment - retirement benefit asset

2,976

5,346

2,913





Total non-current assets

30,805

33,728

31,345





Current assets




Inventories

11,874

11,893

12,744

Trade and other receivables

8,615

9,934

7,823

Cash and cash equivalents

21,676

13,522

12,915





Total current assets

42,165

35,349

33,482





Total assets

72,970

69,077

64,827





Liabilities




Current liabilities




Trade and other payables

(14,233)

(20,088)

(15,940)

Borrowings

(503)

(635)

(600)

Derivative financial instruments

(8,541)

-

-

Provisions

(1,702)

(3,434)

(2,489)

Lease liabilities

(1,451)

(1,115)

(1,516)





Total current liabilities

(26,430)

(25,272)

(20,545)





Net current assets

15,735

10,077

12,937





Non-current liabilities




Retirement benefit obligations

(8,792)

(8,685)

(8,611)

Deferred taxation liability

(369)

(463)

(382)

Provisions

(1,964)

(95)

(2,708)

Lease liabilities

(5,606)

(7,152)

(6.372)

Long term borrowings

(36,959)

(948)

(22,500)





Total non-current liabilities

(53,690)

(17,343)

(40,573)





Total liabilities

(80,120)

(42,615)

(61,118)





Net (liabilities) / assets

(7,150)

26,462

3,709





Equity




Capital and reserves




Issued share capital

4,776

4,776

4,776

Share premium

154,639

154,672

154,639

Merger reserve

40,128

40,128

40,128

Reserve - share based payments

306

-

408

Revaluation reserve

1,782

1,501

1,782

Reserve - warrants

2,541

412

1,719

Foreign exchange reserve

(1,107)

(338)

(816)

Retained earnings / (deficit)

(210,215)

(174,689)

(198,927)





Total equity

(7,150)

26,462

3,709

 

 

 

ALLERGY THERAPEUTICS PLC

 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

 

 

Issued share Capital

Share premium

Merger reserve

Reserve - share based payment

 

Revaluation reserve

 

 

 

Reserve -

warrants

Foreign exchange reserve

Retained earnings / (deficit)

 

Total      equity

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

At 31 December 2023

4,776

154,672

40,128

-

1,501

 

412

(338)

(174,689)

26,462

 

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

-

(478)

-

(478)

Valuation gains taken to equity (land and buildings) - net of deferred tax

-

-

-

-

281

 

 

 

-

-

(30)

251

Remeasurement of net defined benefit liability

-

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

132

132

Remeasurement of investments - retirement benefit assets

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

-

225

225

Total other comprehensive income

-

-

-

-

281

 

 

-

(478)

327

130

Loss for the period after tax

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

-

(24,565)

(24,565)

Total comprehensive loss

-

-

-

-

281

 

 

-

(478)

(24,238)

(24,435)

Share based payments

-

-

-

408

-

 

-

-

-

408

Share issue costs

-

(33)

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

(33)

Warrants issued

-

-

-

-

-

 

1,307

-

-

1,307

At 30 June 2024

4,776

154,639

40,128

408

1,782

 

1,719

(816)

(198,927)

3,709

 

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

 

-

(291)

-

Remeasurement of net defined benefit liability

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

-

(288)

(288)

Remeasurement of investments - retirement benefit assets

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

-

85

85

Total other comprehensive loss

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

(291)

(203)

(494)

Loss for the period after tax

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

-

(11,085)

(11,085)

Total comprehensive loss

-

-

-

-

-

 

 

-

(291)

(11,288)

(11,579)

Share based payments

-

-

-

(102)

-

 

-

-

-

(102)

Warrants issued

-

-

-

-

-

 

822

-

-

822

At 31 December 2024

4,776

154,639

40,128

306

1,782

 

2,541

(1,107)

(210,215)

(7,150)












 



 

ALLERGY THERAPEUTICS PLC




 




Consolidated cash flow statement





6 months to

6 months to

12 months to


31 Dec 2024

31 Dec 2023

30 Jun 2024


£'000

£'000

£'000


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited





Cash flows from operating activities




Loss before tax

(11,362)

(14,916)

(39,166)

Adjustments for:




Finance income

(213)

(159)

(285)

Finance expense

2,963

3,189

4,194

 

Non-cash movements on defined benefit pension plan

56

(160)

121

 

Depreciation and amortisation

1,935

2,114

4,319

 

Net monetary value of above the line R&D tax credit

(733)

(760)

(1,526)

 

Charge for share-based payments

(102)

351

759

 

Payments for retirement benefit investments

-

-

(19)

 

Movement in fair value of derivative financial instruments

2,956

(79)

(79)

 

Non-cash (gains) / losses on loans and other liabilities

(430)

-

-

 

(Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables

(1,597)

(3,307)

144

 

Decrease / (increase) in inventories

739

(255)

(1,239)

 

(Decrease) / increase in trade and other payables

(1,906)

3,174

788

 





 

Net cash used by operations

(7,694)

(10,808)

(31,989)

 





 

Income tax (paid) / received

(10)

34

(149)

 





 

Net cash used by operating activities

(7,704)

(10,774)

(32,138)

 





 

Cash flows from investing activities




 

Interest received

109

69

135

 

Payments for property plant and equipment

(1,524)

(1,865)

(3,401)

 

Receipts from disposal of investment assets

-

-

2,067

 





 

Net cash used in investing activities

(1,415)

(1,796)

(1,199)

 





 

Cash flows from financing activities




 

Proceeds from issue of equity shares

-

39,731

2,417

 

Share issue expenses

-

-

(1,062)

 

Proceeds of bank borrowings

663

-

514

 

Repayment of bank borrowings

(306)

(333)

(647)

 

Interest paid on bank borrowings

(34)

(17)

(86)

 

Repayment of principal on lease liabilities

(769)

(409)

(1,734)

 

Interest paid on lease liabilities

(135)

(159)

(295)

 

Proceeds from shareholder loan

5,000

14,075

36,575

 

Repayment of shareholder loan

(5,000)

(40,075)

(2,135)

 

Interest paid on shareholder loan

(818)

(1,629)

(2,116)

 

Proceeds from other borrowings

19,370

-

-

 

Fees paid in relation to other borrowings

(197)

-

-

 





 

Net cash generated in financing activities

17,774

11,184

31,431

 





 

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

8,655

(1,386)

(1,906)

 

Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

106

63

(24)

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period

12,915

14,845

14,845

 





 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

21,676

13,522

12,915








 

1. Interim financial information

 

The unaudited consolidated interim financial information is for the six months ended 31 December 2024. The financial information does not include all the information required for full annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended 30 June 2024, which were prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in issue as adopted by the UK and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 that are relevant to the Group preparing its accounts in accordance with UK-adopted IFRS.

 

The interim financial information has not been audited nor has it been reviewed under ISRE (UK) 2410 (Revised) of the Financial Reporting Council. The financial information set out in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

 

2. Basis of preparation

 

As permitted, this interim report has been prepared in accordance with the AIM rules and not in accordance with IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting". The accounting policies adopted in this report are consistent with those in the annual financial statements for the year to 30 June 2024. There are no accounting standards that have become effective in the current period that would have a material impact upon the financial statements.

 

Going Concern

 

The unaudited consolidated interim financial information has been prepared on a going concern basis after considering the Group's and the Company's current cash position and reviewing budgets and cash flow forecasts for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements.

 

On 15 October 2024 the Group entered into a £40 million secured senior loan facility (the "Hayfin Facility") with Hayfin Healthcare Opportunities LuxCo S.a.r.l., a fund advised by Hayfin Capital Management LLP. The Hayfin Facility consists of a committed £20 million five-year term loan which has been fully drawn and an additional uncommitted £20 million incremental facility.

 

Furthermore, following discussions with the major shareholders, SkyGem Acquisition and Southern Fox (together the "Shareholder Lenders"), the existing loan facility of £40 million (the "Shareholder Facility"), details of which were announced on 27 December 2023, was increased to £50 million and its term extended to October 2030. To date, £22.5 million has been drawn (net of repayments) and is outstanding under the Shareholder Facility, leaving an undrawn but uncommitted balance of £27.5 million. The Shareholder Facility has been amended ("the Amended Shareholder Facility") to be unsecured and rank behind the Hayfin Facility. In addition, interest under the Shareholder Facility will no longer be paid and instead interest will be rolled up into capital.

 

The Group continues to require funding for the foreseeable future, in particular to fund the ongoing R&D programme. With the £20 million committed Hayfin funding and £47.5 million of uncommitted facilities, from both Hayfin and the Shareholder Lenders, the Group has access to sufficient funding.

 

The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for the period to 31 March 2026 based on the arrangements in place for funding with Hayfin and representations provided by the Shareholder Lenders over the Group's ability to access funding under the Amended Shareholder Facility. These forecasts show that the Group has access to sufficient funds for the 12 month going concern review period.



 

3. Loss per share


6 months to

6 months to

12 months to


31 Dec 2024

31 Dec 2023

30 Jun 2024


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited





Loss after tax attributable to equity shareholders (£'000)

(11,085)

(15,651)

(40,216)





Issued ordinary shares at start of the period ('000)

4,766,440

679,105

679,105

Ordinary shares issued in the period ('000)

-

4,087,335

4,087,335

Issued ordinary shares at end of the period ('000)

4,766,440

4,766,440

4,766,440





Weighted average number of shares in issue for the period

4,766,440

2,720,224

3,743,332

Weighted average number of shares for diluted earnings

4,766,440

2,720,224

3,743,332





Basic earnings per ordinary share (pence)

(0.23)p

(0.58)p

(1.07)p

Diluted earnings per ordinary share (pence)

(0.23)p

(0.58)p

(1.07)p

 

The diluted loss per share does not differ from the basic loss per share as the exercise of share options would have the effect of reducing the loss per share and is therefore not dilutive under the terms of IAS 33.

 

 

4. Events after the balance sheet date

 

There were no disclosable events after the balance sheet date.

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