Lineage Cell Therapeutics (LCTX) – Treating Diseases By Transplanting New Cells

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Lineage Cell Therapeutics (LCTX)
Treating Diseases By Transplanting New Cells

Lineage Cell Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel cell therapies for unmet medical needs. Lineage’s programs are based on its robust proprietary cell-based therapy platform and associated in-house development and manufacturing capabilities. With this platform Lineage develops and manufactures specialized, terminally differentiated human cells from its pluripotent and progenitor cell starting materials. These differentiated cells are developed to either replace or support cells that are dysfunctional or absent due to degenerative disease or traumatic injury or administered as a means of helping the body mount an effective immune response to cancer. Lineage’s clinical programs are in markets with billion dollar opportunities and include three allogeneic (“off-the-shelf”) product candidates: (i) OpRegen®, a retinal pigment epithelium transplant therapy in Phase 1/2a development for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in the developed world; (ii) OPC1, an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell therapy in Phase 1/2a development for the treatment of acute spinal cord injuries; and (iii) VAC, an allogeneic dendritic cell therapy platform for immuno-oncology and infectious disease, currently in clinical development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. For more information, please visit www.lineagecell.com or follow the Company on Twitter @LineageCell.

Robert LeBoyer, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    Initiating Coverage of LCTX.  Lineage Cell Therapeutics is developing cellular-based therapies for use as standardized, “off-the-shelf” products to restore tissue damaged by disease processes. The company has developed a proprietary technology for growing early cells into mature cell lines of differentiated, functional tissue components. These cells are then implanted to restore areas of dead or damaged cells.

    Lead Product is In Dry AMD.  The company’s technology directs cells to differentiate along specific cell lines, guiding them to mature into functional tissue components.  Its lead product, OpRegen, is in development for dry age-related macular degeneration, or dry AMD. Interim results from a Phase 1/2a trial RPE were updated in July 2021, with the next clinical trial planned in late 2021-early 2022 …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Helius Medical Technologies (HSDT)(HSM:CA) – FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for Stroke

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Helius Medical Technologies (HSDT)(HSM:CA)
FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for Stroke

Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company’s purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform technologies that amplify the brain’s ability to heal itself. The Company’s first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNSTM). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    FDA Breakthrough Designation. Yesterday, Helius announced that it received Breakthrough Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for its PoNS device with the proposed indication for use as a temporary treatment of dynamic gait and balance deficits due to symptoms from stroke. It is to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over. Helius will utilize the Breakthrough Devices Program to facilitate its pursuit of U.S. regulatory clearance for treatment of stroke-induced symptoms.

    What is Breakthrough Designation? The Breakthrough Devices Program is a voluntary program for certain medical devices and device-led combination products that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions.  The goal of the Breakthrough Devices Program is to provide patients and health care providers with timely access to …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Announces FDA Breakthrough Device Designation


Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Announces FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the Treatment of Dynamic Gait and Balance Deficits Following a Stroke

 

NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSDT) (TSX:HSM) (“Helius” or the “Company”), a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness, today announced that it has received Breakthrough Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for its PoNS™ device with the proposed indication for use as a temporary treatment of dynamic gait and balance deficits due to symptoms from stroke, to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over.

“We are very pleased to announce the receipt of Breakthrough Designation for our PoNS device to treat stroke-induced gait and balance deficits,” said Helius CEO, Dane Andreeff. “Strokes are a large and growing cause of long-term disability in the United States. An estimated 7 million Americans are living with stroke-related complications, and more than 80% of stroke survivors are estimated to develop gait impairment.1

Mr. Andreeff continued: “Obtaining Breakthrough Designation represents an important milestone in our path to providing this underserved patient population with a non-drug, non-implantable treatment option that has the potential to significantly improve their gait and balance, their ability to walk and perform daily tasks. We look forward to building on this achievement by utilizing the Breakthrough Devices Program to facilitate our pursuit of U.S. regulatory clearance for treatment of stroke-induced symptoms in close collaboration with the FDA.”

The Breakthrough Devices Program is a voluntary program for certain medical devices and device-led combination products that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions.

The goal of the Breakthrough Devices Program is to provide patients and health care providers with timely access to these medical devices by speeding up their development, assessment, and review, while preserving the statutory standards for premarket approval, 510(k) clearance, and De Novo marketing authorization, consistent with the FDA’s mission to protect and promote public health.

The Breakthrough Devices Program offers manufacturers such as Helius an opportunity to interact with the FDA’s experts through several different program options to efficiently address topics as they arise during the premarket review phase, which can help manufacturers receive feedback from the FDA and identify areas of agreement in a timely way. Manufacturers can also expect prioritized review of their submission.

About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company’s purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform including the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

About the PoNS™ Device and PoNS Treatment™

The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™) is an innovative non-surgical device, inclusive of a controller and mouthpiece, which delivers electrical stimulation to the surface of the tongue to provide treatment of gait deficit. The PoNS device is indicated for use in the United States as a short term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate symptoms from multiple sclerosis (“MS”) and is to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over by prescription only. It is authorized for sale in Canada as a class II, non-implantable, medical device intended as a short term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS, and chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (“mmTBI”) and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. The PoNS™ is an investigational medical device in Australia (“AUS”) and is currently under premarket review by the AUS Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Investor Relations Contact:

Westwicke on behalf of Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Jack Powell, Vice President
investorrelations@heliusmedical.com

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: 

Certain statements in this news release are not based on historical facts and constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “believe,” “continue,” “will,” “goal,” “aim to,” “look forward” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the Company’s regulatory plans and pursuit of U.S. regulatory clearance for treatment of stroke-related symptoms.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include: uncertainties associated with future clinical trials and the clinical development process, the product development process and FDA regulatory submission review and approval process, other development activities, the Company’s capital requirements to achieve its business objectives, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s ability to train physical therapists in the supervision of the use of the PoNS Treatment, the Company’s ability to secure contracts with rehabilitation clinics, the Company’s ability to obtain national Medicare coverage and to obtain a reimbursement code so that the PoNS device is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, the Company’s ability to build internal commercial infrastructure, secure state distribution licenses, build a commercial team and build relationships with Key Opinion Leaders, neurology experts and neurorehabilitation centers, market awareness of the PoNS device, manufacturing and supply chain risks, potential changes to the MCIT program resulting from the 60-day deferral of the program implementation, ongoing government regulation, and other risks detailed from time to time in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and its other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulators, which can be obtained from either at www.sec.gov or www.sedar.com.

The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements except to the extent required by law.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

1 Carmen M. Cirstea. Gait Rehabilitation After Stroke, Should we re-evaluate our practice? Stroke 2020;51(10):2892-94.

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Announces FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the Treatment of Dynamic Gait and Balance Deficits Following a Stroke


Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Announces FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the Treatment of Dynamic Gait and Balance Deficits Following a Stroke

 

NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSDT) (TSX:HSM) (“Helius” or the “Company”), a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness, today announced that it has received Breakthrough Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for its PoNS™ device with the proposed indication for use as a temporary treatment of dynamic gait and balance deficits due to symptoms from stroke, to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over.

“We are very pleased to announce the receipt of Breakthrough Designation for our PoNS device to treat stroke-induced gait and balance deficits,” said Helius CEO, Dane Andreeff. “Strokes are a large and growing cause of long-term disability in the United States. An estimated 7 million Americans are living with stroke-related complications, and more than 80% of stroke survivors are estimated to develop gait impairment.1

Mr. Andreeff continued: “Obtaining Breakthrough Designation represents an important milestone in our path to providing this underserved patient population with a non-drug, non-implantable treatment option that has the potential to significantly improve their gait and balance, their ability to walk and perform daily tasks. We look forward to building on this achievement by utilizing the Breakthrough Devices Program to facilitate our pursuit of U.S. regulatory clearance for treatment of stroke-induced symptoms in close collaboration with the FDA.”

The Breakthrough Devices Program is a voluntary program for certain medical devices and device-led combination products that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions.

The goal of the Breakthrough Devices Program is to provide patients and health care providers with timely access to these medical devices by speeding up their development, assessment, and review, while preserving the statutory standards for premarket approval, 510(k) clearance, and De Novo marketing authorization, consistent with the FDA’s mission to protect and promote public health.

The Breakthrough Devices Program offers manufacturers such as Helius an opportunity to interact with the FDA’s experts through several different program options to efficiently address topics as they arise during the premarket review phase, which can help manufacturers receive feedback from the FDA and identify areas of agreement in a timely way. Manufacturers can also expect prioritized review of their submission.

About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company’s purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform including the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

About the PoNS™ Device and PoNS Treatment™

The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™) is an innovative non-surgical device, inclusive of a controller and mouthpiece, which delivers electrical stimulation to the surface of the tongue to provide treatment of gait deficit. The PoNS device is indicated for use in the United States as a short term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate symptoms from multiple sclerosis (“MS”) and is to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over by prescription only. It is authorized for sale in Canada as a class II, non-implantable, medical device intended as a short term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS, and chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (“mmTBI”) and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. The PoNS™ is an investigational medical device in Australia (“AUS”) and is currently under premarket review by the AUS Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Investor Relations Contact:

Westwicke on behalf of Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Jack Powell, Vice President
investorrelations@heliusmedical.com

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: 

Certain statements in this news release are not based on historical facts and constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “believe,” “continue,” “will,” “goal,” “aim to,” “look forward” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the Company’s regulatory plans and pursuit of U.S. regulatory clearance for treatment of stroke-related symptoms.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include: uncertainties associated with future clinical trials and the clinical development process, the product development process and FDA regulatory submission review and approval process, other development activities, the Company’s capital requirements to achieve its business objectives, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s ability to train physical therapists in the supervision of the use of the PoNS Treatment, the Company’s ability to secure contracts with rehabilitation clinics, the Company’s ability to obtain national Medicare coverage and to obtain a reimbursement code so that the PoNS device is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, the Company’s ability to build internal commercial infrastructure, secure state distribution licenses, build a commercial team and build relationships with Key Opinion Leaders, neurology experts and neurorehabilitation centers, market awareness of the PoNS device, manufacturing and supply chain risks, potential changes to the MCIT program resulting from the 60-day deferral of the program implementation, ongoing government regulation, and other risks detailed from time to time in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and its other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulators, which can be obtained from either at www.sec.gov or www.sedar.com.

The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements except to the extent required by law.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

1 Carmen M. Cirstea. Gait Rehabilitation After Stroke, Should we re-evaluate our practice? Stroke 2020;51(10):2892-94.

Helius Medical Technologies (HSDT)(HSM:CA) – Reports 2Q21 Results U.S. Efforts Ongoing

Monday, August 16, 2021

Helius Medical Technologies (HSDT)(HSM:CA)
Reports 2Q21 Results; U.S. Efforts Ongoing

Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company’s purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform technologies that amplify the brain’s ability to heal itself. The Company’s first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNSTM). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    2Q21 Results. Canadian COVID related restrictions continue to impact Helius operating results. Helius reported 2Q revenue of $71,000 down from $84,000 in 1Q21. Net loss for the quarter including $2.6 million of stock-based compensation expense was $6.0 million, or $2.58 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million, or $2.90 per share last year. We had forecast revenue of $90,000 and a net loss of $3.6 million, or $1.53 per share.

    U.S. Commercialization Efforts Ongoing. Helius continues to develop a plan for U.S. commercialization of the PoNS Treatment. The Company recently hired a new VP of Sales & Marketing for North America, Fred Fantazzia, an expert in developing the market for new neuromodulation technologies. State approvals rose to 43 from 24 at the end of 1Q21. The Company has refined its initial target market to 10 …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – Cocrystal Pharma Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Antiviral Program and Milestone Updates


Cocrystal Pharma Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Antiviral Program and Milestone Updates

 

  • Influenza program Phase 1 clinical trial with CC-42344 on track to begin in the third quarter of 2021
  • COVID-19 program preclinical development with the novel oral SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors is advancing
  • Two IND-enabling studies in the COVID-19 program expected to begin in the first half of 2022 prior to Phase 1 clinical trials
  • $67 million in cash at quarter-end is expected to fund current operations beyond 2024

BOTHELL, Wash., Aug. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCP), (“Cocrystal” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, reports financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, and provides updates on its antiviral pipeline, milestones and business activities.

“Our scientific team is rapidly advancing the discovery and development of novel antiviral compounds that are aimed at addressing unmet medical needs for antiviral therapeutics,” said Sam Lee, Ph.D., President and co-interim CEO of Cocrystal. “Our novel antivirals are intended to halt the replication of viruses that cause serious human diseases.

“We plan to initiate IND-enabling studies in the first half of 2022 with our SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor, CDI-45205, for intranasal/pulmonary delivery, as well as with a novel oral SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor that we discovered with our proprietary structure-based drug discovery technology. Our plan is to hold a pre-IND meeting with the FDA with CDI-45205 this year, followed by a pre-IND meeting with our novel oral inhibitor in the first half of 2022,” he added. “We are encouraged by recent in vitro laboratory data indicating CDI-45205 is highly active against the SARS-CoV-2 (Wuhan strain) as well as four variants of concern, including the Delta variant. We are also very excited by recent preclinical data with our SARS-CoV-2 oral inhibitors. We plan to initiate drug substance and drug product manufacturing with these oral inhibitors this year.

“We are on track this quarter to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers with CC-42344, our lead compound being developed for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza,” Dr. Lee concluded.

“We are in a good financial position at the second quarter with more than $67 million in cash and a clean balance sheet consisting of common stock only with no debt,” said James Martin, CFO and Co-Interim CEO. “We believe our capital is sufficient to fund planned operations beyond 2024, including clinical trials, as we advance toward commercialization.”

Antiviral Pipeline Overview

COVID-19 Programs

  • By targeting viral replication enzymes and proteases, Cocrystal believes it is possible to develop effective treatments for all coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.
  • CDI-45205 was among the broad-spectrum viral protease inhibitors obtained from Kansas State University Research Foundation (KSURF) under an exclusive license agreement announced in 2020. Cocrystal entered into the KSURF agreements to enable the rapid advancement of COVID-19 programs.
  • CDI-45205 has demonstrated a strong in vitro synergistic effect with the FDA-approved COVID-19 medicine remdesivir.
  • Proof-of-concept data demonstrated that daily injections of CDI-45205 exhibited favorable in vivo efficacy in mice infected with MERS-CoV-2.

Influenza Program

  • The Phase 1 clinical study with CC-42344 is expected to be conducted in Australia, which offers favorable regulatory policies and a clinical trial environment that aligns with the Company’s strategy for rapid, cost-efficient and high-quality clinical development.
  • CC-42344 showed broad-spectrum and potent antiviral activity against influenza A strains, including avian pandemic strains, Tamiflu- and Xofluza-resistant strains, along with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile.
  • Influenza remains a major global concern. An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of new influenza A virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are approximately 1 billion cases of influenza annually worldwide, resulting in 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths.

Norovirus Program

  • Cocrystal is developing certain proprietary broad-spectrum antiviral compounds to treat norovirus infections under its license agreement with KSURF.
  • Norovirus is a public health problem responsible for nearly 90% of epidemic, non-bacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world.

Hepatitis C Program

  • Cocrystal is seeking a partner to advance the development of CC-31244 following completion of a Phase 2a trial. This compound showed favorable safety and preliminary efficacy in a triple regimen Phase 2a study in combination with Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for the ultra-short duration treatment of individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). To date, no other company has developed an HCV treatment of 4 weeks or less with a high (>95%) sustained virologic response at Week 12.
  • HCV is a viral infection of the liver that causes both acute and chronic infection. According to the WHO, in 2017 an estimated 71 million people worldwide had chronic HCV infection, including 3.5 million in the U.S. Approximately 399,000 people die each year from hepatitis C infection, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Second Quarter 2021 and Recent Corporate Highlights

  • Designated President Dr. Lee and CFO Martin as Co-Interim CEOs, following the unexpected passing of Chairman, CEO and co-founder Dr. Gary Wilcox. Roger Kornberg, Ph.D., co-founder, Chief Scientist, Director and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, was named Chairman of the Board, and Steve Rubin, Director of Cocrystal and its predecessor company since 2008, was named Vice Chairman.
  • Raised $36.4 million in net proceeds from a public offering of common stock in May 2021.
  • Cocrystal common stock was added to the Russell Microcap® Index, a broadly used performance measure for smaller growth stocks in the U.S.

Second Quarter Financial Results

Throughout 2020 Cocrystal reported quarterly revenues under an influenza A/B collaboration with Merck consisting of research and development (R&D) services performed by Cocrystal and reimbursed by Merck. In January 2021 Merck assumed all activities and expenses associated with the continued development of the influenza A/B compounds discovered under this collaboration. As anticipated, Cocrystal reported no revenues for the second quarter of 2021 compared with $554,000 in revenues for the second quarter of 2020. Under the terms of the Merck collaboration, Cocrystal is eligible to receive up to $156 million in future payments related to designated developments, regulatory and sales milestones, as well as royalties on product sales.

R&D expenses for the second quarter of 2021 were $2.7 million compared with $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2020, with the increase primarily related to higher spending on the COVID-19 and influenza programs. The Company expects R&D expenses to increase in the second half of 2021 with the initiation of a clinical trial in the influenza A program and advancements with the COVID-19 programs toward clinical development. General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2021 were $1.1 million versus $2.0 million for the prior-year quarter, with the decline primarily due to reduced professional fees.

The net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was $3.8 million, or $0.04 per share, compared with a net loss for the second quarter of 2020 of $3.5 million, or $0.07 per share.

Year to Date Financial Results

The Company did not report revenues for the first six months of 2021 versus $1.0 million for the first six months of 2020. The 2020 revenues were reimbursement for R&D services performed under the influenza A/B program with Merck. In January 2021, the influenza A/B program was advanced for continued development of the antiviral agents at Merck. Merck is responsible for funding continued development of the compounds.

R&D expenses for the first half of 2021 increased 33% to $4.3 million and G&A expenses decreased 29% to $2.2 million, both compared with the first six months of 2020. The increased R&D in 2021 was primarily due to development of COVID-19 programs and preparation to advance our influenza A program into clinical trials.

The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $6.6 million, or $0.08 per share, compared with a net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2020 of $5.5 million, or $0.12 per share.

The Company reported cash and cash equivalents of $67.1 million as of June 30, 2021 compared with $33.0 million as of December 31, 2020. The Company reported working capital of $65.0 million as of June 30, 2021.

About Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), hepatitis C viruses and noroviruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the expected advancement of our antiviral programs, including the planned initiation of the influenza A Phase 1 study during the third quarter of 2021, the planned pre-IND meetings with the FDA and the expected initiation of two IND-enabling studies in the COVID-19 program in the first half of 2022 and subsequent Phase 1 clinical trials, the anticipated initiation of SARS-CoV-2 oral inhibitors manufacturing in 2021; our expectations and estimates regarding the future applications and effectiveness of, and the market opportunities for, our product candidates; our expectations related to conducting clinical trials in Australia; our expectations regarding future operating results; the expected results of Cocrystal’s collaboration with Merck, including potential receipt of future milestone payments of up to $156 million and royalties; ; and future liquidity. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events. Some or all of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks arising from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national and global economy, on our collaboration partners, CROs, CMOs, and on our Company, including raw material and test animal shortages and other supply chain disruptions, the ability of our CROs to recruit volunteers for, and to proceed with, clinical trials, possible delays resulting from the lockdown in Australia, the cooperation of the FDA in accelerating development in our COVID-19 program, our reliance on Merck for further development in the influenza A/B program under the license and collaboration agreement, our collaboration partners’ technology and software performing as expected, the results of future preclinical and clinical trials, general risks arising from clinical trials, receipt of regulatory approvals, regulatory changes, and development of effective treatments and/or vaccines by competitors, including as part of the programs financed by the U.S. government. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contact:
LHA Investor Relations
Jody Cain
310-691-7100
jcain@lhai.com

Financial Tables to follow

 COCRYSTAL PHARMA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

    June 30, 2021     December 31, 2020  
      (unaudited)          
Assets                
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 67,062     $ 33,010  
Restricted cash     50       50  
Accounts receivable           556  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     225       399  
Total current assets     67,337       34,015  
Property and equipment, net     539       591  
Deposits     46       46  
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net (including $10 to related party)     403       498  
Goodwill     19,092       19,092  
Total assets   $ 87,417     $ 54,242  
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 2,138     $ 1,080  
Current maturities of finance lease liabilities     33       39  
Current maturities of operating lease liabilities (including $10 to related party)     157       178  
Derivative liabilities     51       61  
Total current liabilities     2,379       1,358  
Long-term liabilities:                
Finance lease liabilities     21       34  
Operating lease liabilities     269       345  
Total long-term liabilities     290       379  
Total liabilities     2,669       1,737  
Commitments and contingencies                
Stockholders’ equity:                
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively; 97,469 and 70,439 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively     98       71  
Additional paid-in capital     336,117       297,342  
Accumulated deficit     (251,467 )     (244,908 )
Total stockholders’ equity     84,748       52,505  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 87,417     $ 54,242  

COCRYSTAL PHARMA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)

                         
    Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
    2021     2020     2021     2020  
                         
Revenues:                                
Collaboration revenue   $     $ 554     $     $ 1,015  
            554             1,015  
Operating expenses:                                
Research and development     2,747       1,976       4,324       3,259  
General and administrative     1,081       2,028       2,242       3,167  
Total operating expenses     3,828       4,004       6,566       6,426  
                                 
Loss from operations     (3,828 )     (3,450 )     (6,566 )     (5,411 )
                                 
Other income (expense):                                
Interest expense, net     (2 )     (2 )     (3 )     (4 )
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities     9       (43 )     10       (70 )
Total other income (expense), net     7       (45 )     7       (74 )
Net loss   $ (3,821 )   $ (3,495 )   $ (6,559 )   $ (5,485 )
                                 
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.07 )     (0.08 )     (0.12 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted     87,069       52,141       79,116       46,930  

Source: Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.

Cocrystal Pharma Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Antiviral Program and Milestone Updates


Cocrystal Pharma Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Antiviral Program and Milestone Updates

 

  • Influenza program Phase 1 clinical trial with CC-42344 on track to begin in the third quarter of 2021
  • COVID-19 program preclinical development with the novel oral SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors is advancing
  • Two IND-enabling studies in the COVID-19 program expected to begin in the first half of 2022 prior to Phase 1 clinical trials
  • $67 million in cash at quarter-end is expected to fund current operations beyond 2024

BOTHELL, Wash., Aug. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: COCP), (“Cocrystal” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, reports financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, and provides updates on its antiviral pipeline, milestones and business activities.

“Our scientific team is rapidly advancing the discovery and development of novel antiviral compounds that are aimed at addressing unmet medical needs for antiviral therapeutics,” said Sam Lee, Ph.D., President and co-interim CEO of Cocrystal. “Our novel antivirals are intended to halt the replication of viruses that cause serious human diseases.

“We plan to initiate IND-enabling studies in the first half of 2022 with our SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor, CDI-45205, for intranasal/pulmonary delivery, as well as with a novel oral SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor that we discovered with our proprietary structure-based drug discovery technology. Our plan is to hold a pre-IND meeting with the FDA with CDI-45205 this year, followed by a pre-IND meeting with our novel oral inhibitor in the first half of 2022,” he added. “We are encouraged by recent in vitro laboratory data indicating CDI-45205 is highly active against the SARS-CoV-2 (Wuhan strain) as well as four variants of concern, including the Delta variant. We are also very excited by recent preclinical data with our SARS-CoV-2 oral inhibitors. We plan to initiate drug substance and drug product manufacturing with these oral inhibitors this year.

“We are on track this quarter to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers with CC-42344, our lead compound being developed for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza,” Dr. Lee concluded.

“We are in a good financial position at the second quarter with more than $67 million in cash and a clean balance sheet consisting of common stock only with no debt,” said James Martin, CFO and Co-Interim CEO. “We believe our capital is sufficient to fund planned operations beyond 2024, including clinical trials, as we advance toward commercialization.”

Antiviral Pipeline Overview

COVID-19 Programs

  • By targeting viral replication enzymes and proteases, Cocrystal believes it is possible to develop effective treatments for all coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.
  • CDI-45205 was among the broad-spectrum viral protease inhibitors obtained from Kansas State University Research Foundation (KSURF) under an exclusive license agreement announced in 2020. Cocrystal entered into the KSURF agreements to enable the rapid advancement of COVID-19 programs.
  • CDI-45205 has demonstrated a strong in vitro synergistic effect with the FDA-approved COVID-19 medicine remdesivir.
  • Proof-of-concept data demonstrated that daily injections of CDI-45205 exhibited favorable in vivo efficacy in mice infected with MERS-CoV-2.

Influenza Program

  • The Phase 1 clinical study with CC-42344 is expected to be conducted in Australia, which offers favorable regulatory policies and a clinical trial environment that aligns with the Company’s strategy for rapid, cost-efficient and high-quality clinical development.
  • CC-42344 showed broad-spectrum and potent antiviral activity against influenza A strains, including avian pandemic strains, Tamiflu- and Xofluza-resistant strains, along with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile.
  • Influenza remains a major global concern. An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of new influenza A virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are approximately 1 billion cases of influenza annually worldwide, resulting in 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths.

Norovirus Program

  • Cocrystal is developing certain proprietary broad-spectrum antiviral compounds to treat norovirus infections under its license agreement with KSURF.
  • Norovirus is a public health problem responsible for nearly 90% of epidemic, non-bacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world.

Hepatitis C Program

  • Cocrystal is seeking a partner to advance the development of CC-31244 following completion of a Phase 2a trial. This compound showed favorable safety and preliminary efficacy in a triple regimen Phase 2a study in combination with Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for the ultra-short duration treatment of individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). To date, no other company has developed an HCV treatment of 4 weeks or less with a high (>95%) sustained virologic response at Week 12.
  • HCV is a viral infection of the liver that causes both acute and chronic infection. According to the WHO, in 2017 an estimated 71 million people worldwide had chronic HCV infection, including 3.5 million in the U.S. Approximately 399,000 people die each year from hepatitis C infection, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Second Quarter 2021 and Recent Corporate Highlights

  • Designated President Dr. Lee and CFO Martin as Co-Interim CEOs, following the unexpected passing of Chairman, CEO and co-founder Dr. Gary Wilcox. Roger Kornberg, Ph.D., co-founder, Chief Scientist, Director and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, was named Chairman of the Board, and Steve Rubin, Director of Cocrystal and its predecessor company since 2008, was named Vice Chairman.
  • Raised $36.4 million in net proceeds from a public offering of common stock in May 2021.
  • Cocrystal common stock was added to the Russell Microcap® Index, a broadly used performance measure for smaller growth stocks in the U.S.

Second Quarter Financial Results

Throughout 2020 Cocrystal reported quarterly revenues under an influenza A/B collaboration with Merck consisting of research and development (R&D) services performed by Cocrystal and reimbursed by Merck. In January 2021 Merck assumed all activities and expenses associated with the continued development of the influenza A/B compounds discovered under this collaboration. As anticipated, Cocrystal reported no revenues for the second quarter of 2021 compared with $554,000 in revenues for the second quarter of 2020. Under the terms of the Merck collaboration, Cocrystal is eligible to receive up to $156 million in future payments related to designated developments, regulatory and sales milestones, as well as royalties on product sales.

R&D expenses for the second quarter of 2021 were $2.7 million compared with $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2020, with the increase primarily related to higher spending on the COVID-19 and influenza programs. The Company expects R&D expenses to increase in the second half of 2021 with the initiation of a clinical trial in the influenza A program and advancements with the COVID-19 programs toward clinical development. General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2021 were $1.1 million versus $2.0 million for the prior-year quarter, with the decline primarily due to reduced professional fees.

The net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was $3.8 million, or $0.04 per share, compared with a net loss for the second quarter of 2020 of $3.5 million, or $0.07 per share.

Year to Date Financial Results

The Company did not report revenues for the first six months of 2021 versus $1.0 million for the first six months of 2020. The 2020 revenues were reimbursement for R&D services performed under the influenza A/B program with Merck. In January 2021, the influenza A/B program was advanced for continued development of the antiviral agents at Merck. Merck is responsible for funding continued development of the compounds.

R&D expenses for the first half of 2021 increased 33% to $4.3 million and G&A expenses decreased 29% to $2.2 million, both compared with the first six months of 2020. The increased R&D in 2021 was primarily due to development of COVID-19 programs and preparation to advance our influenza A program into clinical trials.

The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $6.6 million, or $0.08 per share, compared with a net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2020 of $5.5 million, or $0.12 per share.

The Company reported cash and cash equivalents of $67.1 million as of June 30, 2021 compared with $33.0 million as of December 31, 2020. The Company reported working capital of $65.0 million as of June 30, 2021.

About Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics that target the replication process of influenza viruses, coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), hepatitis C viruses and noroviruses. Cocrystal employs unique structure-based technologies and Nobel Prize-winning expertise to create first- and best-in-class antiviral drugs. For further information about Cocrystal, please visit www.cocrystalpharma.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the expected advancement of our antiviral programs, including the planned initiation of the influenza A Phase 1 study during the third quarter of 2021, the planned pre-IND meetings with the FDA and the expected initiation of two IND-enabling studies in the COVID-19 program in the first half of 2022 and subsequent Phase 1 clinical trials, the anticipated initiation of SARS-CoV-2 oral inhibitors manufacturing in 2021; our expectations and estimates regarding the future applications and effectiveness of, and the market opportunities for, our product candidates; our expectations related to conducting clinical trials in Australia; our expectations regarding future operating results; the expected results of Cocrystal’s collaboration with Merck, including potential receipt of future milestone payments of up to $156 million and royalties; ; and future liquidity. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events. Some or all of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks arising from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national and global economy, on our collaboration partners, CROs, CMOs, and on our Company, including raw material and test animal shortages and other supply chain disruptions, the ability of our CROs to recruit volunteers for, and to proceed with, clinical trials, possible delays resulting from the lockdown in Australia, the cooperation of the FDA in accelerating development in our COVID-19 program, our reliance on Merck for further development in the influenza A/B program under the license and collaboration agreement, our collaboration partners’ technology and software performing as expected, the results of future preclinical and clinical trials, general risks arising from clinical trials, receipt of regulatory approvals, regulatory changes, and development of effective treatments and/or vaccines by competitors, including as part of the programs financed by the U.S. government. Further information on our risk factors is contained in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contact:
LHA Investor Relations
Jody Cain
310-691-7100
jcain@lhai.com

Financial Tables to follow

 COCRYSTAL PHARMA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

    June 30, 2021     December 31, 2020  
      (unaudited)          
Assets                
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 67,062     $ 33,010  
Restricted cash     50       50  
Accounts receivable           556  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     225       399  
Total current assets     67,337       34,015  
Property and equipment, net     539       591  
Deposits     46       46  
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net (including $10 to related party)     403       498  
Goodwill     19,092       19,092  
Total assets   $ 87,417     $ 54,242  
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 2,138     $ 1,080  
Current maturities of finance lease liabilities     33       39  
Current maturities of operating lease liabilities (including $10 to related party)     157       178  
Derivative liabilities     51       61  
Total current liabilities     2,379       1,358  
Long-term liabilities:                
Finance lease liabilities     21       34  
Operating lease liabilities     269       345  
Total long-term liabilities     290       379  
Total liabilities     2,669       1,737  
Commitments and contingencies                
Stockholders’ equity:                
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively; 97,469 and 70,439 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively     98       71  
Additional paid-in capital     336,117       297,342  
Accumulated deficit     (251,467 )     (244,908 )
Total stockholders’ equity     84,748       52,505  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 87,417     $ 54,242  

COCRYSTAL PHARMA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)

                         
    Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
    2021     2020     2021     2020  
                         
Revenues:                                
Collaboration revenue   $     $ 554     $     $ 1,015  
            554             1,015  
Operating expenses:                                
Research and development     2,747       1,976       4,324       3,259  
General and administrative     1,081       2,028       2,242       3,167  
Total operating expenses     3,828       4,004       6,566       6,426  
                                 
Loss from operations     (3,828 )     (3,450 )     (6,566 )     (5,411 )
                                 
Other income (expense):                                
Interest expense, net     (2 )     (2 )     (3 )     (4 )
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities     9       (43 )     10       (70 )
Total other income (expense), net     7       (45 )     7       (74 )
Net loss   $ (3,821 )   $ (3,495 )   $ (6,559 )   $ (5,485 )
                                 
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.07 )     (0.08 )     (0.12 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted     87,069       52,141       79,116       46,930  

Source: Cocrystal Pharma, Inc.

Helius Medical Technologies (HSDT)(HSM:CA) – Reports 2Q21 Results; U.S. Efforts Ongoing

Monday, August 16, 2021

Helius Medical Technologies (HSDT)(HSM:CA)
Reports 2Q21 Results; U.S. Efforts Ongoing

Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company’s purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform technologies that amplify the brain’s ability to heal itself. The Company’s first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNSTM). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    2Q21 Results. Canadian COVID related restrictions continue to impact Helius operating results. Helius reported 2Q revenue of $71,000 down from $84,000 in 1Q21. Net loss for the quarter including $2.6 million of stock-based compensation expense was $6.0 million, or $2.58 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.6 million, or $2.90 per share last year. We had forecast revenue of $90,000 and a net loss of $3.6 million, or $1.53 per share.

    U.S. Commercialization Efforts Ongoing. Helius continues to develop a plan for U.S. commercialization of the PoNS Treatment. The Company recently hired a new VP of Sales & Marketing for North America, Fred Fantazzia, an expert in developing the market for new neuromodulation technologies. State approvals rose to 43 from 24 at the end of 1Q21. The Company has refined its initial target market to 10 …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – Onconova Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results And Provides Business Update


Onconova Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results And Provides Business Update

 

Conference call and live webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET today

NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONTX) (“Onconova”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer, today announced financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and provided a business update.

Highlights for the second quarter of 2021 and subsequent weeks include:

  • Enrollment in the first cohort of the Phase 1 solid tumor study of ON 123300 in the United States is complete with no dose limiting toxicities (DLT’s) observed. The second cohort is currently open for enrollment.
  • The Phase 1 solid tumor study of ON 123300 in China is ongoing with no DLT’s observed to date. The study is currently enrolling the third dose cohort.
  • The investigator-initiated Phase 1/2 study evaluating rigosertib in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in KRAS mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to progress. Initial data from the trial provide preliminary evidence of the anti-cancer activity of rigosertib-nivolumab combination therapy in patients who had previously failed all standard of care treatment, including checkpoint inhibition, and show that the maximum tolerated dose of rigosertib in combination with nivolumab was not yet determined in the three cohorts of the trial’s dose-escalation phase.
  • The first patient was dosed in an investigator-initiated Phase 2 study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of rigosertib in patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB)-associated locally advanced/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), an ultra-rare and invariably fatal condition.
  • The Company strengthened its management team with the appointment of Mark Gelder, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer.
  • Preclinical data published in the peer-reviewed journal Molecular Cancer show that rigosertib synergistically enhanced the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in a murine melanoma model via the induction of immune-mediated cancer cell death, supporting the continued clinical evaluation of rigosertib in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.

Management Commentary

“During the second quarter we achieved key clinical and corporate milestones,” said Steven M. Fruchtman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Onconova. “In our lead ON 123300 program, we initiated our U.S. Phase 1 study and recently opened enrollment to the second cohort, and our partner, HanX Biopharmaceuticals, is currently enrolling to the third dose cohort of the complementary Phase 1 study underway in China. Through these trials, which are evaluating different dosing administration regimens, we aim to inform the design of a future Phase 2 basket trial evaluating ON 123300 in multiple high unmet need indications, including CDK 4/6 inhibitor refractory HR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Given ON 123300’s ability in preclinical studies to overcome resistance to the most widely prescribed CDK 4/6 inhibitor, we believe this novel multi-kinase inhibitor has the potential to be a best-in-class therapy for this and other cancers.”

Dr. Fruchtman continued, “Beyond our lead program, we also reported very encouraging preliminary results from the investigator-initiated study evaluating rigosertib plus nivolumab in advanced KRAS-mutated NSCLC. These results highlighted the doublet’s favorable safety profile and provided preliminary evidence of efficacy in an extremely challenging patient population. Additional preliminary data from the trial is expected to be presented at a RAS-focused medical meeting in September. Looking forward, we will continue to leverage investigator-initiated programs to further rigosertib’s clinical development, while maintaining our primary focus and resources on ON 123300. Milestones ahead for the remainder of the year include continued progress of our ON 123300 clinical trials, expansion of rigosertib investigator-initiated studies program, and potentially acquiring new assets to augment our pipeline. With a strong financial position and a talented management team that was recently bolstered by the appointment of Dr. Mark Gelder as CMO, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of the product development opportunities presented.”

Second Quarter Financial Results

Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2021 were $43.7 million, compared with $19.0 million as of December 31, 2020. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund ongoing clinical trials and business operations for more than eighteen months.

Research and development expenses were $1.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared with $4.8 million for the second quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily related to higher clinical trial and consulting expenses in the 2020 period due to the INSPIRE study.

General and administrative expenses were $2.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared with $2.6 million for the second quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily due to expenses related to special meetings by proxy in the 2021 period.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was $4.2 million, or $0.27 per share on 15.8 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with a net loss for the second quarter of 2020 of $7.4 million, or $0.65 per share on 11.3 million weighted average shares outstanding.

Conference Call and Webcast

Onconova will host an investment community conference call today beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, during which management will discuss financial results for the second quarter of 2021, provide a business update and answer questions. Interested parties can participate by dialing (855) 428-5741 (domestic callers) or (210) 229-8823 (international callers) and using conference ID 3876025.

A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investors & Media section of the Company’s website at www.onconova.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Onconova website for 90 days following the call.

About Onconova Therapeutics, Inc.
Onconova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer. The Company has proprietary targeted anti-cancer agents designed to disrupt specific cellular pathways that are important for cancer cell proliferation.

Onconova’s novel, proprietary multi-kinase inhibitor ON 123300 is being evaluated in two separate and complementary Phase 1 dose-escalation and expansion studies. These trials are currently underway in the United States and China.

Onconova’s product candidate rigosertib is being studied in an investigator-initiated study program, including in a dose-escalation and expansion Phase 1/2a investigator-initiated study targeting patients with KRAS+ non-small cell lung cancer with oral rigosertib in combination with nivolumab.

For more information, please visit www.onconova.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to Onconova’s expectations regarding the timing of Onconova’s and investigator-initiated clinical development and data presentation plans, and the mechanisms and indications for Onconova’s product candidates. Onconova has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “preliminary,” “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Although Onconova believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including the success and timing of Onconova’s clinical trials, investigator-initiated trials and regulatory agency and institutional review board approvals of protocols, Onconova’s collaborations, the timing of the Company’s annual stockholder meeting, market conditions and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Onconova’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. Onconova undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Company Contact:
Avi Oler
Onconova Therapeutics, Inc.
267-759-3680
ir@onconova.us
https://www.onconova.com/contact/

Investor Contact:
Bruce Mackle
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
646-889-1200
bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com


(Tables to follow)


       
       
ONCONOVA THERAPEUTICS, INC.   
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets   
 
(in thousands)   
  June 30,   December 31,
    2021       2020  
Assets (unaudited)    
Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 43,709     $ 19,025  
    Receivables   27       37  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets   457       722  
        Total current assets   44,193       19,784  
Property and equipment, net   45       52  
Other non-current assets   140       150  
Total assets $ 44,378     $ 19,986  
       
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity      
Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 4,290     $ 4,833  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   2,983       4,962  
    Deferred revenue   226       226  
        Total current liabilities   7,499       10,021  
Warrant liability   530       321  
Deferred revenue, non-current   3,356       3,469  
Total liabilities   11,385       13,811  
       
Stockholders’ equity:      
    Preferred stock          
    Common stock   158       124  
    Additional paid in capital   470,335       434,593  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income   2       14  
    Accumulated deficit   (437,502 )     (428,556 )
Total stockholders’ equity   32,993       6,175  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 44,378     $ 19,986  
       



               
 ONCONOVA THERAPEUTICS, INC.  
 
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
 
 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 
               
  Three Months Ended June 30,   Six months months ended June 30,
    2021       2020       2021       2020  
               
Revenue $ 57     $ 56     $ 113     $ 108  
Operating expenses:              
    General and administrative   2,850       2,594       5,067       4,401  
    Research and development   1,852       4,801       3,789       8,171  
        Total operating expenses   4,702       7,395       8,856       12,572  
Loss from operations   (4,645 )     (7,339 )     (8,743 )     (12,464 )
               
Change in fair value of warrant liability   427       (56 )     (209 )     (119 )
Other (loss) income, net   (13 )           6       96  
Net loss   (4,231 )     (7,395 )     (8,946 )     (12,487 )
Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted $ (0.27 )   $ (0.65 )   $ (0.59 )   $ (1.14 )
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding   15,780,863       11,303,508       15,201,719       10,996,624  

Release – Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results


Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

 

NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSDT) (TSX:HSM) (“Helius” or the “Company”), a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness, today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Second Quarter and Recent Business Updates

  • Frederick Fantazzia appointed Vice President of Sales & Marketing, North America, June 1, 2021
  • Dane Andreeff and Jeffrey Mathiesen appointed President & Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, June 14, 2021
  • Antonella Favit-Van Pelt, M.D., Ph.D. appointed Chief Medical Officer, July 7, 2021
  • New website launched for U.S.-based patients and physicians: https://ponstreatment.com

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Summary

  • Revenue: $71 thousand, vs. $133 thousand in Q2 2020
  • Operating loss: $6.2 million vs. $3.7 million in Q2 2020
    • Q2 2021 included $1.9 million of increased non-cash stock-based compensation expense comprised of a one-time fully vested stock option grant valued at $1.0 million and stock options granted to key management and sales executives
  • Net loss: $6.0 million vs. $3.4 million in Q2 2020
  • Cash balance: $7.4 million at June 30, 2021 vs. $3.3 million at December 31, 2020

“Helius made important progress during the second quarter and in recent weeks in preparing for U.S. commercialization, following the receipt of U.S. marketing authorization of our PoNS device for MS in late March,” said Dane Andreeff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helius. “Most notably, we enhanced and expanded our senior leadership team with the appointment of several highly qualified individuals, including a Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America who will inform and lead our strategy to commercialize in the U.S. We also secured many of the required state licenses that will enable us to distribute and sell our PoNS device and are now cleared to sell in approximately 85% of states in the U.S. Lastly, we continued to develop our go-to-market strategy by refining our plan to initially target the estimated 130,000 MS patients with gait deficit who may require physical therapy. With respect to our operations in Canada, although the country remained severely impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during the second quarter, with restrictions on both the clinics and patients we serve, we are cautiously optimistic that these headwinds will moderate in the second half of 2021 as the operating environment begins to recover.”

Mr. Andreeff continued: “During the second half of this year, we will remain keenly focused on pursuing our pre-commercial activities in order to meet our goal of beginning U.S. commercialization of our PoNS Treatment during the first quarter of 2022. Specifically, we plan to begin building our commercial team and appropriately engage centers of excellence to allow them to gain experience with PoNS in the target population, with the goal that they will then disseminate their experience with PoNS to colleagues and health care providers. The focus of these efforts will include the 10 states we have identified that comprise more than 50% of the targeted MS patients. We will also be engaging with payers in our pursuit to establish PoNS pricing in line with benchmark pricing for comparable devices used in the neurorehabilitation space. By executing on these near-term initiatives, we aim to bring our innovative PoNS technology to the aid of U.S. patients as quickly and efficiently as possible, which we believe represents the best path to creating value for our shareholders.”

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2021 was $71 thousand, compared to $133 thousand in the second quarter of 2020. Product sales represented 89% of total revenue in the second quarter of 2021 compared to 95% in the prior year period. Product sales in both periods were generated through sales of the PoNS device pursuant to supply agreements with PoNS Authorized clinic locations in Canada. License and fee revenue represented 11% of sales in the second quarter of 2021, compared with 5% of sales in the prior year period.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2021 was $4 thousand, compared to gross profit of $69 thousand in the second quarter of 2020.

Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2021 increased $2.4 million, or 63% year-over-year, to $6.2 million, compared to $3.8 million in the second quarter of 2020. Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2021 included a $1.9 million increase in non-cash stock-based compensation expense comprised of a one-time fully vested stock option grant valued at $1.0 million and stock options granted in conjunction with the addition of key management and sales executives.

Operating loss for the second quarter of 2021 increased $2.5 million, or 66% year-over-year, to $6.2 million, compared to $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2020.

Total other income for the second quarter of 2021 was $185 thousand, compared to total other income of $361 thousand in the second quarter of 2020.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was $6.0 million, or $(2.58) per basic and diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $3.4 million, or $(2.90) per basic and diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2020. Weighted average shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per common share were 2.3 million and 1.2 million for the second quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Financial Results

Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $155 thousand, compared to $339 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Product sales represented 90% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 94% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Product sales in both periods were generated through sales of the PoNS device pursuant to supply agreements with PoNS Authorized clinic locations in Canada. License and fee revenue represented 10% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 6% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $72 thousand, compared to gross profit of $174 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased $1.8 million, or 23% year-over-year, to $9.7 million, compared to $7.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Operating loss for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased $2.0 million, or 25% year-over-year, to $9.7 million, compared to operating loss of $7.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Operating expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2021 included a $1.7 million increase in stock-based compensation expense comprised of a one-time fully vested stock option grant valued at $1.0 million and stock options granted in conjunction with the addition of key management and sales executives.

Total other income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $324 thousand, compared to $394 thousand of total other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $9.3 million, or $(4.29) per basic and diluted common share, compared to net loss of $8.1 million, or $(7.85) per basic and diluted common share, for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Weighted average shares used to compute basic and diluted net per share were 2.2 million and 1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

Net cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $10.8 million.

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had cash of $7.4 million, compared to $3.3 million at December 31, 2020. The Company had no debt outstanding at June 30, 2021.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 12, 2021 to discuss the results of the quarter and business outlook. Those who would like to participate may dial 877-407-2988 (201-389-0923 for international callers) and provide access code 13721027. A live webcast of the call will also be provided on the Events section of the Company’s investor relations website at:

https://heliusmedical.com/index.php/investor-relations/events/upcoming-events.

For those unable to participate, a replay of the call will be available for two weeks at 877-660-6853 (201-612-7415 for international callers); access code 13721027. The webcast will be archived on the Events section of the Company’s investor relations website.

About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company’s purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform technologies that amplify the brain’s ability to heal itself. The Company’s first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

About the PoNS™ Device and PoNS Treatment™

The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™) is an innovative non-surgical device, inclusive of a controller and mouthpiece, which delivers electrical stimulation to the surface of the tongue to provide treatment of gait deficit. The PoNS device is indicated for use in the United States as a short term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate symptoms from multiple sclerosis (“MS”) and is to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over by prescription only. It is authorized for sale in Canada as a class II, non-implantable, medical device intended as a short term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS, and chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (“mmTBI”) and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. The PoNS™ is an investigational medical device in the European Union (“EU”) and Australia (“AUS”). It is currently under premarket review by the AUS Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: 

Certain statements in this news release are not based on historical facts and constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “believe,” “continue,” “will,” “goal,” “aim to” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on the Company, the Company’s future growth and operational progress, including pre-commercial activities for the PoNS device, and expected time to begin commercialization of the PoNS device in the U.S..

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include uncertainties associated with the Company’s capital requirements to achieve its business objectives, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s ability to train physical therapists in the supervision of the use of the PoNS Treatment, the Company’s ability to secure contracts with rehabilitation clinics, the Company’s ability to obtain national Medicare coverage and to obtain a reimbursement code so that the PoNS device is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, the Company’s ability to build internal commercial infrastructure, secure state distribution licenses, build a commercial team and build relationships with Key Opinion Leaders, neurology experts and neurorehabilitation centers, market awareness of the PoNS device, future clinical trials and the clinical development process, manufacturing and supply chain risks, potential changes to the MCIT program resulting from the 60-day deferral of the program implementation, the product development process and FDA regulatory submission review and approval process, other development activities, ongoing government regulation, and other risks detailed from time to time in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and its other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulators, which can be obtained from either at www.sec.gov or www.sedar.com.

The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements except to the extent required by law.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Except for share data, amounts in thousands)

  June 30, 2021     December 31, 2020  
ASSETS              
Current assets              
Cash $ 7,425     $ 3,331  
Accounts receivable, net   51       74  
Other receivables   169       156  
Inventory, net   507       389  
Prepaid expenses   833       735  
Total current assets   8,985       4,685  
Property and equipment, net   449       486  
Other assets              
Goodwill   783       759  
Intangible assets, net   438       527  
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net   62       90  
Total other assets   1,283       1,376  
TOTAL ASSETS $ 10,717     $ 6,547  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY              
Current liabilities              
Accounts payable $ 912     $ 747  
Accrued liabilities   873       1,337  
Operating lease liability   62       59  
Deferred revenue   290       281  
Total current liabilities   2,137       2,424  
Non-current liabilities              
Operating lease liability         32  
Deferred revenue   213       220  
TOTAL LIABILITIES   2,350       2,676  
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY              
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020          
Class A Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 2,317,772 and 1,484,362 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively   2       1  
Additional paid-in capital   138,023       123,872  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (1,412 )     (1,099 )
Accumulated deficit   (128,246 )     (118,903 )
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   8,367       3,871  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 10,717     $ 6,547  

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Amounts in thousands except share and per share data)

  Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
  June 30,     June 30,  
  2021     2020     2021     2020  
Revenue:                              
Product sales $ 63     $ 126     $ 140     $ 317  
Fee revenue                     9  
License revenue   8       7       15       13  
Total operating revenue   71       133       155       339  
Cost of sales:                              
Cost of product sales   67       64       83       165  
Gross profit   4       69       72       174  
Operating expenses:                              
Research and development   1,377       1,308       2,694       2,428  
Selling, general and administrative   4,744       2,394       6,939       5,255  
Amortization expense   49       89       106       215  
Total operating expenses   6,170       3,791       9,739       7,898  
Operating loss   (6,166 )     (3,722 )     (9,667 )     (7,724 )
Other income (expense):                              
Other income         56             63  
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments         (1 )           3  
Foreign exchange gain (loss)   185       306       324       (460 )
Total other income (expense)   185       361       324       (394 )
Net loss   (5,981 )     (3,361 )     (9,343 )     (8,118 )
Other comprehensive loss:                              
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (185 )     (255 )     (313 )     381  
Comprehensive loss $ (6,166 )   $ (3,616 )   $ (9,656 )   $ (7,737 )
Net loss per share                              
Basic $ (2.58 )   $ (2.90 )   $ (4.29 )   $ (7.85 )
Diluted $ (2.58 )   $ (2.90 )   $ (4.29 )   $ (7.85 )
Weighted average shares outstanding                              
Basic   2,317,389       1,160,661       2,179,878       1,033,692  
Diluted   2,317,389       1,160,661       2,179,878       1,033,692  

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)

  Six Months Ended  
  June 30,  
  2021     2020  
Cash flows from operating activities:              
Net loss $ (9,343 )   $ (8,118 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:              
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments         (3 )
Stock-based compensation expense   3,156       1,571  
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss   (323 )     433  
Depreciation expense   56       67  
Amortization expense   106       215  
(Recovery of) provision for doubtful accounts   (11 )     153  
Non-cash lease expense   30       196  
Intangible asset impairment         181  
Loss from disposal of property and equipment         110  
Gain from lease modification         (56 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:              
Accounts receivable   34       1  
Other receivables   (13 )     226  
Inventory   (118 )     28  
Prepaid expenses   (98 )     (105 )
Operating lease liability   (31 )     (126 )
Accounts payable   229       (1,288 )
Accrued liabilities   (366 )     (381 )
Deferred revenue   2       (83 )
Net cash used in operating activities   (6,690 )     (6,979 )
Cash flows from investing activities:              
Purchase of property and equipment   (19 )     (3 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment         61  
Internally developed software   (2 )     (7 )
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities   (21 )     51  
Cash flows from financing activities:              
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock and accompanying warrants   11,037       7,233  
Share issuance costs   (1,523 )     (506 )
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants   1,320        
Proceeds from Paycheck Protection Program Loan         323  
Repayment of Paycheck Protection Program Loan         (323 )
Net cash provided by financing activities   10,834       6,727  
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash   (29 )     6  
Net increase (decrease) in cash   4,094       (195 )
Cash at beginning of year   3,331       5,459  
Cash at end of year $ 7,425     $ 5,264  
CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact:

Westwicke on behalf of Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Jack Powell, Vice President
investorrelations@heliusmedical.com

Release – Ayala Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Business Update


Ayala Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

 

– Enrolled the First Patient in the Phase 2/3 Pivotal Trial of AL102 for the Treatment of Desmoid Tumors

– Multiple Near-Term Milestones Across Clinical-Stage Pipeline

– Updated ACCURACY Trial Data to Be Presented at ESMO 2021-

REHOVOT, Israel and WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Ayala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AYLA), a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing and commercializing small molecule therapeutics for patients suffering from rare and aggressive cancers, primarily in genetically defined patient populations, today reported financial results for the period ended June 30, 2021 and highlighted recent progress and upcoming milestones for its pipeline programs.

“Ayala is well positioned for strong clinical progress throughout the remainder of this year. In the second quarter, we continued to advance our pipeline programs and we are gearing up for a data readout from AL101 in our ACCURACY trial in adenoid cystic carcinoma at the upcoming ESMO meeting in September, while also advancing our AL102 clinical trials in desmoid tumors and multiple myeloma,” said Roni Mamluk, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ayala. “Our science is deeply rooted in the promise of predicting, identifying and addressing tumorigenic drivers of cancer and we continue to see value in our approach combining bioinformatics and next-generation sequencing. There remains a significant unmet need among patients with genetically defined cancers and we believe that our pipeline has the potential to address the ongoing shortfalls of existing therapies.”

Recent Business Highlights and Upcoming Milestones:

  • Enrolled First Patient in the Phase 2/3 RINGSIDE Trial of AL102 for the Treatment of Desmoid Tumors: Ayala recently enrolled the first patient in its pivotal Phase 2/3 RINGSIDE trial of AL102 for the treatment of desmoid tumors with multiple sites open in the U.S. and globallyAyala expects to report an initial interim data read-out from part A of the trial in mid-2022, with part B of the study commencing thereafter.
  • Dosed First Patient in the Phase 1 Trial of AL102 in Combination with Novartis’ BCMA Targeting Agent, WVT087 for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: In April 2021, Ayala announced the dosing of the first patient in the Phase 1 combination trial of AL102 with Novartis’ investigational anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) agent, WVT078, for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM).
  • Phase 2 TENACITY Trial of AL101 for the Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Continues to Progress: Ayala continues to enroll patients in the Phase 2 TENACITY clinical trial of its potent, selective small molecule gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI), AL101, for the treatment of patients with Notch-activated recurrent or metastatic (R/M) triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The Company expects to report preliminary data from this ongoing trial in 2022.
  • On Track to Report Additional ACCURACY Phase 2 Data; Patient Enrollment in 6mg Cohort of Phase 2 ACCURACY Study Completed: Ayala completed enrollment of patients in the 6mg cohort of the Phase 2 ACCURACY study of AL101 for the treatment of R/M adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), which includes 42 subjects. Further trial progress updates, including additional data, will be presented at the upcoming European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2021 Congress being held virtually September 16-21, 2021.

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

  • Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents were $44.4 million as of June 30, 2021, as compared to $42.0 million as of December 31, 2020.
  • Collaboration Revenue: Collaboration revenue was $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to $1.0 million for the same period in 2020.
  • R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $8.1 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared to $5.1 million for the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily driven by the advancement of Ayala’s clinical programs.
  • G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $2.5 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily related to costs associated with becoming a public company.
  • Net Loss: Net loss was $10.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, resulting in a basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.75 Net loss was $6.7 million for the same period in 2020, resulting in a basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.74.

About Ayala Pharmaceuticals

Ayala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing and commercializing small molecule therapeutics for patients suffering from rare and aggressive cancers, primarily in genetically defined patient populations. Ayala’s approach is focused on predicating, identifying and addressing tumorigenic drivers of cancer through a combination of its bioinformatics platform and next-generation sequencing to deliver targeted therapies to underserved patient populations. The company has two product candidates under development, AL101 and AL102, targeting the aberrant activation of the Notch pathway with gamma secretase inhibitors to treat a variety of tumors including Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL), Desmoid Tumors and Multiple Myeloma (MM) (in collaboration with Novartis). AL101, has received Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA and is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with ACC (ACCURACY) bearing Notch activating mutations and in a Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with TNBC (TENACITY) bearing Notch activating mutations and other gene rearrangements. AL102 is currently in a Pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trials for patients with desmoid tumors (RINGSIDE) and is being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in combination with Novartis’ BMCA targeting agent, WVT078, in Patients with relapsed/refractory Multiple Myeloma. For more information, visit www.ayalapharma.com.

Investors:
Julie Seidel
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
+1-212-362-1200
Julie.seidel@sternir.com

Ayala Pharmaceuticals:
+1-857-444-0553
info@ayalapharma.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements relating to our development of AL101 and AL102, the promise and potential impact of our preclinical or clinical trial data, the timing of and plans to initiate additional clinical trials of AL101 and AL102, upcoming milestones, including without limitation the timing and results of any clinical trials or readouts, patient enrollment and the sufficiency of cash to fund operations. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. The words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “estimate,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, including our preclinical studies and clinical trials, and the continuity of our business; we have incurred significant losses, are not currently profitable and may never become profitable; our need for additional funding; our cash runway; our limited operating history and the prospects for our future viability; the lengthy, expensive, and uncertain process of clinical drug development, including potential delays in regulatory approval; our requirement to pay significant payments under product candidate licenses; the approach we are taking to discover and develop product candidates and whether it will lead to marketable products; the expense, time-consuming nature and uncertainty of clinical trials; enrollment and retention of patients; potential side effects of our product candidates; our ability to develop or to collaborate with others to develop appropriate diagnostic tests; protection of our proprietary technology and the confidentiality of our trade secrets; potential lawsuits for, or claims of, infringement of third-party intellectual property or challenges to the ownership of our intellectual property; risks associated with international operations; our ability to retain key personnel and to manage our growth; the potential volatility of our common stock; costs and resources of operating as a public company; unfavorable or no analyst research or reports; and securities class action litigation against us. These and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 24, 2021 and our other filings with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

AYALA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

    June 30
  December 31
      2021       2020  
    (Unaudited)
         
CURRENT ASSETS:                
Cash and Cash Equivalents   $ 44,412     $ 42,025  
Short-term Restricted Bank Deposits     119       90  
Trade Receivables     929       681  
Prepaid Expenses and other Current Assets     1,550       1,444  
Total Current Assets     47,010       44,240  
LONG-TERM ASSETS:                
Other Assets   $ 270     $ 305  
Property and Equipment, Net     1,192       1,283  
Total Long-Term Assets     1,462       1,588  
Total Assets   $ 48,472     $ 45,828  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                    
CURRENT LIABILITIES:                
Trade Payables   $ 2,833     $ 3,726  
Other Accounts Payables     2,377       3,151  
Total Current Liabilities     5,210       6,877  
LONG TERM LIABILITIES:                
Long-term Rent Liability     502       553  
Total Long-Term Liabilities   $ 502     $ 553  
STOCKHOLDERS’ STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                
Common Stock of $0.01 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2021 and December 31,                
2020; 13,240,961 and 12,824,463 shares issued at June 30, 2021 and, respectively December 31, 2020; 13,092,925                
and 12,728,446 shares outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively   $ 131     $ 128  
Additional Paid-in Capital     133,925       109,157  
Accumulated Deficit     (91,296 )     (70,887 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity     42,760       38,398  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   $ 48,472     $ 45,828  
                 

AYALA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
(Unaudited) 
(In thousands, except share & per share amounts)

     For the Three Months Ended
   For the Six Months Ended
     June 30,
   June 30,
      2021       2020       2021       2020  
                                 
Revenues from licensing agreement   $ 761     $ 1,045     $ 1,735     $ 2,046  
Cost of services     (761 )     (1,045 )     (1,735 )     (2,046 )
                                 
Gross profit                        
Operating expenses:                                
Research and development     8,121       5,067       15,046       10,195  
General and administrative     2,536       1,546       4,839       2,857  
                                 
Operating loss     (10,657 )     (6,613 )     (19,885 )     (13,052 )
Financial Income (Loss), net     (22 )     40       (114 )     2  
                                 
Loss before income tax     (10,679 )     (6,573 )     (19,999 )     (13,050 )
Taxes on income     (162 )     (139 )     (410 )     (260 )
                                 
Net loss attributable to common stockholders     (10,841 )     (6,712 )     (20,409 )     (13,310 )
Net Loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted   $ (0.75 )   $ (0.74 )   $ (1.46 )   $ (1.90 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted     14,417,423       9,018,637       13,954,676       6,989,762  

Ayala Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Business Update


Ayala Pharmaceuticals Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

 

– Enrolled the First Patient in the Phase 2/3 Pivotal Trial of AL102 for the Treatment of Desmoid Tumors

– Multiple Near-Term Milestones Across Clinical-Stage Pipeline

– Updated ACCURACY Trial Data to Be Presented at ESMO 2021-

REHOVOT, Israel and WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Ayala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AYLA), a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing and commercializing small molecule therapeutics for patients suffering from rare and aggressive cancers, primarily in genetically defined patient populations, today reported financial results for the period ended June 30, 2021 and highlighted recent progress and upcoming milestones for its pipeline programs.

“Ayala is well positioned for strong clinical progress throughout the remainder of this year. In the second quarter, we continued to advance our pipeline programs and we are gearing up for a data readout from AL101 in our ACCURACY trial in adenoid cystic carcinoma at the upcoming ESMO meeting in September, while also advancing our AL102 clinical trials in desmoid tumors and multiple myeloma,” said Roni Mamluk, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ayala. “Our science is deeply rooted in the promise of predicting, identifying and addressing tumorigenic drivers of cancer and we continue to see value in our approach combining bioinformatics and next-generation sequencing. There remains a significant unmet need among patients with genetically defined cancers and we believe that our pipeline has the potential to address the ongoing shortfalls of existing therapies.”

Recent Business Highlights and Upcoming Milestones:

  • Enrolled First Patient in the Phase 2/3 RINGSIDE Trial of AL102 for the Treatment of Desmoid Tumors: Ayala recently enrolled the first patient in its pivotal Phase 2/3 RINGSIDE trial of AL102 for the treatment of desmoid tumors with multiple sites open in the U.S. and globallyAyala expects to report an initial interim data read-out from part A of the trial in mid-2022, with part B of the study commencing thereafter.
  • Dosed First Patient in the Phase 1 Trial of AL102 in Combination with Novartis’ BCMA Targeting Agent, WVT087 for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: In April 2021, Ayala announced the dosing of the first patient in the Phase 1 combination trial of AL102 with Novartis’ investigational anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) agent, WVT078, for the treatment of relapsed and/or refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM).
  • Phase 2 TENACITY Trial of AL101 for the Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Continues to Progress: Ayala continues to enroll patients in the Phase 2 TENACITY clinical trial of its potent, selective small molecule gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI), AL101, for the treatment of patients with Notch-activated recurrent or metastatic (R/M) triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The Company expects to report preliminary data from this ongoing trial in 2022.
  • On Track to Report Additional ACCURACY Phase 2 Data; Patient Enrollment in 6mg Cohort of Phase 2 ACCURACY Study Completed: Ayala completed enrollment of patients in the 6mg cohort of the Phase 2 ACCURACY study of AL101 for the treatment of R/M adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), which includes 42 subjects. Further trial progress updates, including additional data, will be presented at the upcoming European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2021 Congress being held virtually September 16-21, 2021.

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

  • Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents were $44.4 million as of June 30, 2021, as compared to $42.0 million as of December 31, 2020.
  • Collaboration Revenue: Collaboration revenue was $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to $1.0 million for the same period in 2020.
  • R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $8.1 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared to $5.1 million for the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily driven by the advancement of Ayala’s clinical programs.
  • G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $2.5 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared to $1.5 million for the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily related to costs associated with becoming a public company.
  • Net Loss: Net loss was $10.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, resulting in a basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.75 Net loss was $6.7 million for the same period in 2020, resulting in a basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.74.

About Ayala Pharmaceuticals

Ayala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing and commercializing small molecule therapeutics for patients suffering from rare and aggressive cancers, primarily in genetically defined patient populations. Ayala’s approach is focused on predicating, identifying and addressing tumorigenic drivers of cancer through a combination of its bioinformatics platform and next-generation sequencing to deliver targeted therapies to underserved patient populations. The company has two product candidates under development, AL101 and AL102, targeting the aberrant activation of the Notch pathway with gamma secretase inhibitors to treat a variety of tumors including Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL), Desmoid Tumors and Multiple Myeloma (MM) (in collaboration with Novartis). AL101, has received Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA and is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with ACC (ACCURACY) bearing Notch activating mutations and in a Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with TNBC (TENACITY) bearing Notch activating mutations and other gene rearrangements. AL102 is currently in a Pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trials for patients with desmoid tumors (RINGSIDE) and is being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in combination with Novartis’ BMCA targeting agent, WVT078, in Patients with relapsed/refractory Multiple Myeloma. For more information, visit www.ayalapharma.com.

Investors:
Julie Seidel
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
+1-212-362-1200
Julie.seidel@sternir.com

Ayala Pharmaceuticals:
+1-857-444-0553
info@ayalapharma.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements relating to our development of AL101 and AL102, the promise and potential impact of our preclinical or clinical trial data, the timing of and plans to initiate additional clinical trials of AL101 and AL102, upcoming milestones, including without limitation the timing and results of any clinical trials or readouts, patient enrollment and the sufficiency of cash to fund operations. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. The words “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “estimate,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, including our preclinical studies and clinical trials, and the continuity of our business; we have incurred significant losses, are not currently profitable and may never become profitable; our need for additional funding; our cash runway; our limited operating history and the prospects for our future viability; the lengthy, expensive, and uncertain process of clinical drug development, including potential delays in regulatory approval; our requirement to pay significant payments under product candidate licenses; the approach we are taking to discover and develop product candidates and whether it will lead to marketable products; the expense, time-consuming nature and uncertainty of clinical trials; enrollment and retention of patients; potential side effects of our product candidates; our ability to develop or to collaborate with others to develop appropriate diagnostic tests; protection of our proprietary technology and the confidentiality of our trade secrets; potential lawsuits for, or claims of, infringement of third-party intellectual property or challenges to the ownership of our intellectual property; risks associated with international operations; our ability to retain key personnel and to manage our growth; the potential volatility of our common stock; costs and resources of operating as a public company; unfavorable or no analyst research or reports; and securities class action litigation against us. These and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 24, 2021 and our other filings with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

AYALA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)

    June 30
  December 31
      2021       2020  
    (Unaudited)
         
CURRENT ASSETS:                
Cash and Cash Equivalents   $ 44,412     $ 42,025  
Short-term Restricted Bank Deposits     119       90  
Trade Receivables     929       681  
Prepaid Expenses and other Current Assets     1,550       1,444  
Total Current Assets     47,010       44,240  
LONG-TERM ASSETS:                
Other Assets   $ 270     $ 305  
Property and Equipment, Net     1,192       1,283  
Total Long-Term Assets     1,462       1,588  
Total Assets   $ 48,472     $ 45,828  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                    
CURRENT LIABILITIES:                
Trade Payables   $ 2,833     $ 3,726  
Other Accounts Payables     2,377       3,151  
Total Current Liabilities     5,210       6,877  
LONG TERM LIABILITIES:                
Long-term Rent Liability     502       553  
Total Long-Term Liabilities   $ 502     $ 553  
STOCKHOLDERS’ STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                
Common Stock of $0.01 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2021 and December 31,                
2020; 13,240,961 and 12,824,463 shares issued at June 30, 2021 and, respectively December 31, 2020; 13,092,925                
and 12,728,446 shares outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively   $ 131     $ 128  
Additional Paid-in Capital     133,925       109,157  
Accumulated Deficit     (91,296 )     (70,887 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity     42,760       38,398  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   $ 48,472     $ 45,828  
                 

AYALA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
(Unaudited) 
(In thousands, except share & per share amounts)

     For the Three Months Ended
   For the Six Months Ended
     June 30,
   June 30,
      2021       2020       2021       2020  
                                 
Revenues from licensing agreement   $ 761     $ 1,045     $ 1,735     $ 2,046  
Cost of services     (761 )     (1,045 )     (1,735 )     (2,046 )
                                 
Gross profit                        
Operating expenses:                                
Research and development     8,121       5,067       15,046       10,195  
General and administrative     2,536       1,546       4,839       2,857  
                                 
Operating loss     (10,657 )     (6,613 )     (19,885 )     (13,052 )
Financial Income (Loss), net     (22 )     40       (114 )     2  
                                 
Loss before income tax     (10,679 )     (6,573 )     (19,999 )     (13,050 )
Taxes on income     (162 )     (139 )     (410 )     (260 )
                                 
Net loss attributable to common stockholders     (10,841 )     (6,712 )     (20,409 )     (13,310 )
Net Loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted   $ (0.75 )   $ (0.74 )   $ (1.46 )   $ (1.90 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted     14,417,423       9,018,637       13,954,676       6,989,762  

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results


Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

 

NEWTOWN, Pa., Aug. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:HSDT) (TSX:HSM) (“Helius” or the “Company”), a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness, today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Second Quarter and Recent Business Updates

  • Frederick Fantazzia appointed Vice President of Sales & Marketing, North America, June 1, 2021
  • Dane Andreeff and Jeffrey Mathiesen appointed President & Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively, June 14, 2021
  • Antonella Favit-Van Pelt, M.D., Ph.D. appointed Chief Medical Officer, July 7, 2021
  • New website launched for U.S.-based patients and physicians: https://ponstreatment.com

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Summary

  • Revenue: $71 thousand, vs. $133 thousand in Q2 2020
  • Operating loss: $6.2 million vs. $3.7 million in Q2 2020
    • Q2 2021 included $1.9 million of increased non-cash stock-based compensation expense comprised of a one-time fully vested stock option grant valued at $1.0 million and stock options granted to key management and sales executives
  • Net loss: $6.0 million vs. $3.4 million in Q2 2020
  • Cash balance: $7.4 million at June 30, 2021 vs. $3.3 million at December 31, 2020

“Helius made important progress during the second quarter and in recent weeks in preparing for U.S. commercialization, following the receipt of U.S. marketing authorization of our PoNS device for MS in late March,” said Dane Andreeff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helius. “Most notably, we enhanced and expanded our senior leadership team with the appointment of several highly qualified individuals, including a Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America who will inform and lead our strategy to commercialize in the U.S. We also secured many of the required state licenses that will enable us to distribute and sell our PoNS device and are now cleared to sell in approximately 85% of states in the U.S. Lastly, we continued to develop our go-to-market strategy by refining our plan to initially target the estimated 130,000 MS patients with gait deficit who may require physical therapy. With respect to our operations in Canada, although the country remained severely impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during the second quarter, with restrictions on both the clinics and patients we serve, we are cautiously optimistic that these headwinds will moderate in the second half of 2021 as the operating environment begins to recover.”

Mr. Andreeff continued: “During the second half of this year, we will remain keenly focused on pursuing our pre-commercial activities in order to meet our goal of beginning U.S. commercialization of our PoNS Treatment during the first quarter of 2022. Specifically, we plan to begin building our commercial team and appropriately engage centers of excellence to allow them to gain experience with PoNS in the target population, with the goal that they will then disseminate their experience with PoNS to colleagues and health care providers. The focus of these efforts will include the 10 states we have identified that comprise more than 50% of the targeted MS patients. We will also be engaging with payers in our pursuit to establish PoNS pricing in line with benchmark pricing for comparable devices used in the neurorehabilitation space. By executing on these near-term initiatives, we aim to bring our innovative PoNS technology to the aid of U.S. patients as quickly and efficiently as possible, which we believe represents the best path to creating value for our shareholders.”

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2021 was $71 thousand, compared to $133 thousand in the second quarter of 2020. Product sales represented 89% of total revenue in the second quarter of 2021 compared to 95% in the prior year period. Product sales in both periods were generated through sales of the PoNS device pursuant to supply agreements with PoNS Authorized clinic locations in Canada. License and fee revenue represented 11% of sales in the second quarter of 2021, compared with 5% of sales in the prior year period.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2021 was $4 thousand, compared to gross profit of $69 thousand in the second quarter of 2020.

Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2021 increased $2.4 million, or 63% year-over-year, to $6.2 million, compared to $3.8 million in the second quarter of 2020. Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2021 included a $1.9 million increase in non-cash stock-based compensation expense comprised of a one-time fully vested stock option grant valued at $1.0 million and stock options granted in conjunction with the addition of key management and sales executives.

Operating loss for the second quarter of 2021 increased $2.5 million, or 66% year-over-year, to $6.2 million, compared to $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2020.

Total other income for the second quarter of 2021 was $185 thousand, compared to total other income of $361 thousand in the second quarter of 2020.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was $6.0 million, or $(2.58) per basic and diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $3.4 million, or $(2.90) per basic and diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2020. Weighted average shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per common share were 2.3 million and 1.2 million for the second quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Financial Results

Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $155 thousand, compared to $339 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Product sales represented 90% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 94% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Product sales in both periods were generated through sales of the PoNS device pursuant to supply agreements with PoNS Authorized clinic locations in Canada. License and fee revenue represented 10% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021, compared to 6% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $72 thousand, compared to gross profit of $174 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased $1.8 million, or 23% year-over-year, to $9.7 million, compared to $7.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Operating loss for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased $2.0 million, or 25% year-over-year, to $9.7 million, compared to operating loss of $7.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Operating expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2021 included a $1.7 million increase in stock-based compensation expense comprised of a one-time fully vested stock option grant valued at $1.0 million and stock options granted in conjunction with the addition of key management and sales executives.

Total other income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $324 thousand, compared to $394 thousand of total other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $9.3 million, or $(4.29) per basic and diluted common share, compared to net loss of $8.1 million, or $(7.85) per basic and diluted common share, for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Weighted average shares used to compute basic and diluted net per share were 2.2 million and 1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively.

Net cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $10.8 million.

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had cash of $7.4 million, compared to $3.3 million at December 31, 2020. The Company had no debt outstanding at June 30, 2021.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 12, 2021 to discuss the results of the quarter and business outlook. Those who would like to participate may dial 877-407-2988 (201-389-0923 for international callers) and provide access code 13721027. A live webcast of the call will also be provided on the Events section of the Company’s investor relations website at:

https://heliusmedical.com/index.php/investor-relations/events/upcoming-events.

For those unable to participate, a replay of the call will be available for two weeks at 877-660-6853 (201-612-7415 for international callers); access code 13721027. The webcast will be archived on the Events section of the Company’s investor relations website.

About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company’s purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform technologies that amplify the brain’s ability to heal itself. The Company’s first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

About the PoNS™ Device and PoNS Treatment™

The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™) is an innovative non-surgical device, inclusive of a controller and mouthpiece, which delivers electrical stimulation to the surface of the tongue to provide treatment of gait deficit. The PoNS device is indicated for use in the United States as a short term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate symptoms from multiple sclerosis (“MS”) and is to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over by prescription only. It is authorized for sale in Canada as a class II, non-implantable, medical device intended as a short term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS, and chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (“mmTBI”) and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. The PoNS™ is an investigational medical device in the European Union (“EU”) and Australia (“AUS”). It is currently under premarket review by the AUS Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: 

Certain statements in this news release are not based on historical facts and constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “believe,” “continue,” “will,” “goal,” “aim to” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on the Company, the Company’s future growth and operational progress, including pre-commercial activities for the PoNS device, and expected time to begin commercialization of the PoNS device in the U.S..

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include uncertainties associated with the Company’s capital requirements to achieve its business objectives, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s ability to train physical therapists in the supervision of the use of the PoNS Treatment, the Company’s ability to secure contracts with rehabilitation clinics, the Company’s ability to obtain national Medicare coverage and to obtain a reimbursement code so that the PoNS device is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, the Company’s ability to build internal commercial infrastructure, secure state distribution licenses, build a commercial team and build relationships with Key Opinion Leaders, neurology experts and neurorehabilitation centers, market awareness of the PoNS device, future clinical trials and the clinical development process, manufacturing and supply chain risks, potential changes to the MCIT program resulting from the 60-day deferral of the program implementation, the product development process and FDA regulatory submission review and approval process, other development activities, ongoing government regulation, and other risks detailed from time to time in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and its other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulators, which can be obtained from either at www.sec.gov or www.sedar.com.

The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements except to the extent required by law.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Except for share data, amounts in thousands)

  June 30, 2021     December 31, 2020  
ASSETS              
Current assets              
Cash $ 7,425     $ 3,331  
Accounts receivable, net   51       74  
Other receivables   169       156  
Inventory, net   507       389  
Prepaid expenses   833       735  
Total current assets   8,985       4,685  
Property and equipment, net   449       486  
Other assets              
Goodwill   783       759  
Intangible assets, net   438       527  
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net   62       90  
Total other assets   1,283       1,376  
TOTAL ASSETS $ 10,717     $ 6,547  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY              
Current liabilities              
Accounts payable $ 912     $ 747  
Accrued liabilities   873       1,337  
Operating lease liability   62       59  
Deferred revenue   290       281  
Total current liabilities   2,137       2,424  
Non-current liabilities              
Operating lease liability         32  
Deferred revenue   213       220  
TOTAL LIABILITIES   2,350       2,676  
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY              
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020          
Class A Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 2,317,772 and 1,484,362 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively   2       1  
Additional paid-in capital   138,023       123,872  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (1,412 )     (1,099 )
Accumulated deficit   (128,246 )     (118,903 )
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   8,367       3,871  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $ 10,717     $ 6,547  

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Amounts in thousands except share and per share data)

  Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
  June 30,     June 30,  
  2021     2020     2021     2020  
Revenue:                              
Product sales $ 63     $ 126     $ 140     $ 317  
Fee revenue                     9  
License revenue   8       7       15       13  
Total operating revenue   71       133       155       339  
Cost of sales:                              
Cost of product sales   67       64       83       165  
Gross profit   4       69       72       174  
Operating expenses:                              
Research and development   1,377       1,308       2,694       2,428  
Selling, general and administrative   4,744       2,394       6,939       5,255  
Amortization expense   49       89       106       215  
Total operating expenses   6,170       3,791       9,739       7,898  
Operating loss   (6,166 )     (3,722 )     (9,667 )     (7,724 )
Other income (expense):                              
Other income         56             63  
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments         (1 )           3  
Foreign exchange gain (loss)   185       306       324       (460 )
Total other income (expense)   185       361       324       (394 )
Net loss   (5,981 )     (3,361 )     (9,343 )     (8,118 )
Other comprehensive loss:                              
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (185 )     (255 )     (313 )     381  
Comprehensive loss $ (6,166 )   $ (3,616 )   $ (9,656 )   $ (7,737 )
Net loss per share                              
Basic $ (2.58 )   $ (2.90 )   $ (4.29 )   $ (7.85 )
Diluted $ (2.58 )   $ (2.90 )   $ (4.29 )   $ (7.85 )
Weighted average shares outstanding                              
Basic   2,317,389       1,160,661       2,179,878       1,033,692  
Diluted   2,317,389       1,160,661       2,179,878       1,033,692  

Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)

  Six Months Ended  
  June 30,  
  2021     2020  
Cash flows from operating activities:              
Net loss $ (9,343 )   $ (8,118 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:              
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments         (3 )
Stock-based compensation expense   3,156       1,571  
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss   (323 )     433  
Depreciation expense   56       67  
Amortization expense   106       215  
(Recovery of) provision for doubtful accounts   (11 )     153  
Non-cash lease expense   30       196  
Intangible asset impairment         181  
Loss from disposal of property and equipment         110  
Gain from lease modification         (56 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:              
Accounts receivable   34       1  
Other receivables   (13 )     226  
Inventory   (118 )     28  
Prepaid expenses   (98 )     (105 )
Operating lease liability   (31 )     (126 )
Accounts payable   229       (1,288 )
Accrued liabilities   (366 )     (381 )
Deferred revenue   2       (83 )
Net cash used in operating activities   (6,690 )     (6,979 )
Cash flows from investing activities:              
Purchase of property and equipment   (19 )     (3 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment         61  
Internally developed software   (2 )     (7 )
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities   (21 )     51  
Cash flows from financing activities:              
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock and accompanying warrants   11,037       7,233  
Share issuance costs   (1,523 )     (506 )
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants   1,320        
Proceeds from Paycheck Protection Program Loan         323  
Repayment of Paycheck Protection Program Loan         (323 )
Net cash provided by financing activities   10,834       6,727  
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash   (29 )     6  
Net increase (decrease) in cash   4,094       (195 )
Cash at beginning of year   3,331       5,459  
Cash at end of year $ 7,425     $ 5,264  
CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact:

Westwicke on behalf of Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Jack Powell, Vice President
investorrelations@heliusmedical.com