GlobeNewswire Inc | Feb 25, 2021 07:30AM EST

February 25, 2021

- Outlined strategy to build integrated cell therapy company and the Companys 2-2-5-2 five-year core value drivers -

- Reported compelling durable responses in patients with synovial sarcoma, and initial responses in lung, head and neck, liver, esophagogastric junction, and melanoma cancers confirming potential of SPEAR T-cells for solid tumors -

- Completed enrollment of SPEARHEAD-1 clinical trial, to support planned BLA filing and commercialization in 2022 for ADP-A2M4 for people with synovial sarcoma -

- Initiating Phase 2 trial (SURPASS-2) with ADP-A2M4CD8 in esophageal and esophagogastric junction cancers in 1H2021 -

- Demonstrated killing of cancer cells with T-cells derived from the Companys allogeneic platform. MAGE-A4 and mesothelin to be first allogeneic programs into the clinic -

- Financial guidance confirmed: funded into early 2023 -

PHILADELPHIA and OXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom, Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc(Nasdaq:ADAP), a leader in cell therapy to treat cancer, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year endedDecember 31, 2020, and provided a business update.

We are building the cell therapy company of the future for people with cancer. With our 2-2-5-2 by 2025 strategic plan, we will deliver value with marketed SPEAR T-cell products starting with ADP-A2M4 for people with synovial sarcoma, said Adrian Rawcliffe, Adaptimmunes Chief Executive Officer. We completed enrollment in our SPEARHEAD-1 trial in approximately 12months to support our first BLA, which is strong evidence of our ability to execute rapidly. We are focusing the SURPASS trial, using our next-generation ADP-A2M4CD8 product, on lung, gastroesophageal, head and neck, and bladder cancers to identify new indications to take forward to late-stage development.

Planned 2021 data updates1

-- SPEARHEAD-1 trial with ADP-A2M4 for people with synovial sarcoma June: preliminary data at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)November: full update at Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) -- SURPASS Phase 1 trial with ADP-A2M4CD8 (next-generation product targeting MAGE-A4) September: update at European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) -- Additional clinical updates September: update at International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) conference for ADP-A2AFP Phase1 trial for people with liver cancerOctober: update at American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) for radiation sub-study of the ADP-A2M4 Phase 1 trial2November: ADP-A2M4 translational data update at Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)

2-2-5-2 by 2025 strategic planAt an Investor Day held in November 2020, the Company outlined its 2-2-5-2 by 2025 strategic plan encompassing:

2 - Two marketed products targeting MAGE-A4Estimated potential addressable population in tumor types with significant MAGE-A4 expression, factored for HLA-A23, is ~39,000 patients per year in the US and EU

Durable responses in synovial sarcoma on track to file a Biologics License Application (BLA) for ADP-A2M4 in 2022

-- The first commercial opportunity for SPEAR T-cells targeting MAGE-A4 will be in synovial sarcoma with plans to file a BLA in the US in 2022 -- In 2020, the Company received positive endorsements from regulatory authorities with Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) in the US, and access to PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) regulatory support and ODD in the EU -- Data from the Phase 1 trial with ADP-A2M4 (presented at CTOS 2020) In 16 patients with synovial sarcoma, there was an Overall Response Rate of 44% and a Disease Control Rate of 94%Responses were durable with a median duration of response of 28 weeks with ongoing responses beyond 72weeks in two patients (median overall survival had not been reached)These data are considerably superior4 to response rates observed with available second line therapies in synovial sarcoma

SURPASS-2 in esophageal and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancers in 1H 2021

-- The Company will initiate a Phase 2 trial, SURPASS-2, with ADP-A2M4CD8 (next-generation SPEAR T-cells targeting MAGE-A4 that co-express CD8 intended to increase potency) for patients with esophageal or EGJ cancers in 1H 2021 -- SURPASS-2 is supported by encouraging data from the Phase 1 SURPASS trial (presented at SITC 2020) with one confirmed partial response (PR) in a patient with EGJ cancer and tumor reductions in two additional patients (1 with esophageal and 1 with EGJ cancer) -- The trial will be conducted at multiple centers in North America and the EU, and is intended to enroll 45 people with esophageal or EGJ cancers to be treated with doses up to 10 billion SPEAR T-cells -- The Company also presented preclinical data at SITC 2020 indicating that AKT inhibition during the manufacture of SPEAR T-cells results in a more consistent expansion and phenotype of the final product. This process is currently being used for the Phase 1 SURPASS trial.

2 - Twoadditional BLAs for SPEAR T-cell products

-- Adaptimmunes Phase 1 SURPASS trial with ADP-A2M4CD8 continues to enroll patients, focusing on lung, gastroesophageal, head and neck, and bladder cancers indications for which the Company has reported responses or signs of efficacy with its MAGE-A4 targeted products -- In 2020, Adaptimmune initiated SPEARHEAD-2 with its first-generation SPEART-cells targeting MAGE-A4 in combination with pembrolizumab for people with head and neck cancers -- The Phase 1 trial with ADP-A2AFP for people with liver cancer is ongoing. As presented at ILC 2020, nine patients were treated as of the data cut-off and best responses were: Onepatient with a complete response, one with stable disease (SD), and two with progressive disease (PD) among the four patients who received ~5 billion or more SPEART-cellsFivepatients with SD who received doses of 100million and 1 billion SPEAR T-cells in the first two dose cohorts

5 - Fivenew autologous products in the clinic

-- Adaptimmune has a deep preclinical pipeline from which it expects to bring five new products into the clinic. -- These include multiple possibilities for next-generation autologous SPEAR T-cells such as: ADP-A2AFP SPEAR T-cells co-expressing CD8ADP-A2M4 SPEAR T-cells co-expressing IL-7, IL-15, dnTGF, and/ or PDE7Enhancing SPEAR T-cells with IL-7 for proliferation and survival and CCL19 for migration into tumor in collaboration with Noile-Immune Biotech, Inc.Enhancing SPEAR T-cells using transmembrane and surface immunoregulatory mechanisms with Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. -- The Company is also developing new products, including: Expanding into HLAs beyond HLA-A2 to increase the addressable patient populationHLA-independent TCR (HiT) candidates for multiple targets including GPC3A new program for next-generation TILs co-expressing IL-7 in melanoma in collaboration with leading TIL therapy center (CCIT, Denmark)

2 - Twoallogeneic products in the clinic

-- In January 2020, Adaptimmune announced it had entered into an agreement to co-develop and co-commercialize stem-cell derived allogeneic cell therapies with Astellas The first target nominated is a HiT targeting mesothelin -- At ASGCT 2020, Adaptimmune presented data with evidence of its allogeneic platform demonstrating differentiation of functional T-cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that can kill MAGE-A4 expressing target cells in vitro targeted to become the Companys first allogeneic product in the clinic

Corporate updates from 2020

-- Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the biotechnology industry, Adaptimmune continued to see improved enrollment in its clinical trials -- In Q1, the Company received an upfront payment of $50 million from Astellas. The Company is also entitled to receive research funding of up to $7.5 million per collaboration target per year -- Underwritten public offering in Q1 generated net proceeds of approximately $90 million -- Underwritten public offering in Q2 generated net proceeds of approximately $244 million

Financial Results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020

-- Cash / liquidity position: As of December 31, 2020, Adaptimmune had cash and cash equivalents of $56.9 million and Total Liquidity5 of $368.2 million. -- Revenue: Revenue for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 was $1.5 million and $4.0 million, respectively, compared to $0.7 million and $1.1 million for the same periods in 2019. The increase was due to revenue arising under the collaboration agreement with Astellas, which was entered into in January 2020. -- Research and development (R&D) expenses: R&D expenses for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 were $25.8 million and $91.6 million, respectively, compared to $20.4 million and $97.5 million for the same periods in 2019. R&D expenses in the year ended December 31, 2019 included the accrual of a purchase commitment and higher costs for in-process research and development; excluding the impact of these, research and development expenses have increased as the Company progresses development of its cell therapies. -- General and administrative (G&A) expenses: G&A expenses for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 were $13.2 million and $45.8 million, respectively, compared to $10.7 million and $43.4 million for the same periods in 2019. The increase in G&A expenses was due to an increase in general corporate costs, including professional fees and insurance. -- Net loss: Net loss attributable to holders of the Companys ordinary shares for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 was $36.6 million and $130.1 million ($(0.15 per ordinary share), compared to $29.4million and $137.2 million ($(0.22) per ordinary share) for the same periods in 2019.

Financial GuidanceThe Company believes that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will fund the Companys current operations into early 2023, as further detailed in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission following this earnings release.

Conference Call InformationThe Company will host a live teleconference and webcast to provide additional details at 8:00 a.m. EST (1:00 p.m. GMT) today, February 25, 2021. The live webcast of the conference call will be available via the Events page of Adaptimmunes corporate website at www.adaptimmune.com. An archive will be available after the call at the same address. To participate in the live conference call, if preferred, please dial (833) 652-5917 (US or Canada) or +1 (430) 775-1624 (International). After placing the call, please ask to be joined into the Adaptimmune conference call and provide the confirmation code (2099860).

About AdaptimmuneAdaptimmuneis a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel cancer immunotherapy products for people with cancer. The Companys unique SPEAR(Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity Receptor) T-cell platform enables the engineering of T-cells to target and destroy cancer across multiple solid tumors.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, and include, without limitation: the success, cost and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials and our ability to successfully advance our TCR therapeutic candidates through the regulatory andcommercialization processes. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to our business in general, we refer you to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 5, 2020, and our other SEC filings. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made and we do not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Total Liquidity (a non-GAAP financial measure)Total Liquidity (a non-GAAP financial measure) is the total of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities (available-for-sale debt securities). Each of these components appears separately in the consolidated balance sheet. The US GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to Total Liquidity is cash and cash equivalents as reported in the consolidated financial statements, which reconciles to Total Liquidity as follows (in millions):

December31, December31, 2020 2019Cash and cash equivalents $ 56,882 $ 50,412Marketable securities -available-for-sale debt 311,335 39,130securitiesTotal Liquidity $ 368,217 $ 89,542

The Company believes that the presentation of Total Liquidity provides useful information to investors because management reviews Total Liquidity as part of its assessment of overall liquidity, financial flexibility, capital structure and leverage.

Consolidated Statement of Operations(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

Three months ended Year ended December 31, December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019Revenue 1,502 728 3,958 1,122 Operating expensesResearch anddevelopment(includinglosses accruedon firm (25,777 ) (20,354 ) (91,568 ) (97,501 )purchasecommitments of$0, $0, $0 and$5,000)General and (13,238 ) (10,729 ) (45,795 ) (43,391 )administrativeTotaloperating (39,015 ) (31,083 ) (137,363 ) (140,892 )expensesOperating loss (37,513 ) (30,355 ) (133,405 ) (139,770 )Interest 538 448 2,313 2,772 incomeOther income 414 631 1,162 75 (expense), netLoss before (36,561 ) (29,276 ) (129,930 ) (136,923 )income taxesIncome taxes (52 ) (88 ) (162 ) (242 )Net lossattributable $ (36,613 ) $ (29,364 ) $ (130,092 ) $ (137,165 )to ordinaryshareholders Net loss per ordinary shareBasic and $ (0.04 ) $ (0.05 ) $ (0.15 ) $ (0.22 )diluted Weightedaverage shares outstanding:Basic and 928,676,161 630,994,079 854,783,763 629,805,218 diluted

Consolidated Balance Sheets(unaudited, in thousands, except share data)

December31, December31, 2020 2019Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 56,882 $ 50,412 Marketable securities - 311,335 39,130 available-for-sale debt securitiesAccounts receivable, net of allowance for 139 ? doubtful accounts of $0 and $0Other current assets and prepaid expenses(including current portion of clinical 29,796 30,947 materials)Total current assets 398,152 120,489 Restricted cash 4,602 4,496 Clinical materials ? 2,503 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 18,880 20,789 of accumulated amortizationProperty, plantand equipment, net of 27,778 31,068 accumulated depreciationIntangibles, net of accumulated 1,730 2,198 amortizationTotal assets $ 451,142 $ 181,543 Liabilities and stockholders? equity Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 6,389 $ 6,357 Operating lease liabilities, current 2,773 2,493 Accrued expenses and other accrued 27,079 23,363 liabilitiesDeferred revenue, current 2,832 2,128 Total current liabilities 39,073 34,341 Operating lease liabilities, non-current 20,938 22,966 Deferred revenue, non-current 49,260 ? Other liabilities, non-current 644 598 Total liabilities 109,915 57,905 Stockholders? equity Common stock - Ordinary shares par value0.001, 1,038,249,630 authorized and928,754,958issued and outstanding (2019: 1,325 943 785,857,300 authorized and631,003,568issuedand outstanding)Additional paid in capital 935,706 585,623 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (10,048 ) (7,264 )Accumulated deficit (585,756 ) (455,664 )Total stockholders' equity 341,227 123,638 Total liabilities and stockholders? $ 451,142 $ 181,543 equity

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement(unaudited, in thousands)

Year ended Year ended December31, December31, 2020 2019Cash flows from operating activitiesNet loss $ (130,092 ) $ (137,165 )Adjustments to reconcile net lossto net cash used in operating activities:Depreciation 6,627 7,172 Amortization 967 838 Share-based compensation expense 10,414 11,053 Unrealized foreign exchange (1,333 ) 1,076 (gains) lossesAmortization (accretion) on 3,836 (185 )available-for-sale debt securitiesOther (55 ) (13 )Changes in operating assets and liabilities:Decrease (increase) in receivables 1,747 (1,436 )and other operating assetsDecrease (increase) in non-current 2,458 (1,450 )operating assetsIncrease (decrease) in payables 3,867 5,508 and other liabilitiesIncrease (decrease) in deferred 47,973 2,095 revenueNet cash used in operating (53,591 ) (112,507 )activities Cash flows from investing activitiesAcquisition of property, plantand (2,341 ) (1,592 )equipmentAcquisition of intangibles (565 ) (1,482 )Maturity or redemption of 105,022 125,303 marketable securitiesInvestment in marketable (381,040 ) (27,284 )securitiesNet cash (used in) provided by (278,924 ) 94,945 investing activities Cash flows from financing activitiesProceeds from issuance of shares 78,616 ? in the January offeringProceeds from issuance of shares upon exercise of the overallotment 11,938 ? for the January OfferingProceeds from issuance of shares 209,986 ? in the June OfferingProceeds from issuance of sharesupon exercise of the overallotment 33,848 ? for the June OfferingProceeds from exercise of stock 5,663 366 optionsNet cash provided by financing 340,051 366 activities Effect of currency exchange ratechanges on cash, cash equivalents (960 ) (372 )and restricted cashNet increase (decrease) in cash,cash equivalents and restricted 6,576 (17,568 )cashCash, cash equivalents and 54,908 72,476 restricted cash at start of periodCash, cash equivalents and $ 61,484 $ 54,908 restricted cash at end of period

Adaptimmune Contacts:

Media Relations:

Sbastien Desprez VP, Communications and Investor RelationsT: +44 1235 430 583M: +44 7718 453 176Sebastien.Desprez@adaptimmune.com

Investor Relations:

Juli P. Miller, Ph.D. Senior Director, Investor RelationsT: +1 215 825 9310M: +1 215 460 8920Juli.Miller@adaptimmune.com

1 All data updates subject to congress acceptance2 The main portion of the ADP-A2M4 Phase 1 trial is closed for enrollment 3 Mortality figures based on American Cancer Society 2020 (US) and Global Can (EU) synovial sarcoma data based on internal market research; MAGE-A4 expression ranges based on Adaptimmune samples and expression cut-off criteria of 30% tumor cells at 2+ intensity; HLA-A2 expression of 41% based on Adaptimmune samples (1,043 patient samples); serum AFP expression ranges based on internal samples (62 patients) and expression cut off >100ng/mL4 Pollack S, et al. Cancer Medicine. 2020; 9:45934602; Seto T, et alMed. Sci. 2019, 7, 48; van der Graaf WT, et al. 2012, Lancet, 379(9829), 1879-18865 Total liquidity is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is explained and reconciled to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP below.