TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2019 / Edesa Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:EDSA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and provided an update on its business.
During the quarter, Edesa completed its reverse acquisition and Nasdaq listing, and announced plans to proceed with its clinical investigation of EB01, a novel sPLA2 inhibitor, which the company is developing as a potential treatment for chronic allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Edesa is currently performing site initiation visits at investigational centers in the U.S. and expects to proceed with enrolling the first patient into its Phase 2b clinical trial in the current quarter.
“Our first quarter as a public company has been very productive and I am pleased to report that our team has maintained a rapid pace toward the initiation of our Phase 2b clinical study of EB01,” said Dr. Par Nijhawan, Chief Executive Officer of Edesa. "The next few quarters will be an exciting time for Edesa as we expect to enroll our first EB01 patient, expand the utility of our sPLA2 anti-inflammatory technology into additional indications and evaluate additional assets that can provide new value creation opportunities.”
Edesa's Chief Financial Officer, Kathi Niffenegger, reported that the combined company’s working capital at the end of the fiscal quarter was higher than projected. “Our working capital benefited from lower than expected acquisition-related costs as well as steps taken by management to conserve cash during the transaction. As a result, we are well positioned to support our current clinical plans and activities,” she said.
Financial Results
Three months ended June 30, 2019
Total revenues were not material for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018 as the company continued to focus on developing and obtaining regulatory approval for its product candidates.
Total operating expenses increased by $0.90 million to $1.32 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $0.42 million for the same period last year:
- Research and development expenses increased by $0.20 million to $0.50 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $0.30 million for the same period last year primarily due to an increase in clinical research expenses associated with the Phase 2B clinical study of Edesa’s EB01 product candidate as well as higher personnel expenses.
- General and administrative expenses increased by $0.70 million to $0.82 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $0.12 million for the same period last year primarily due to increased legal and professional fees related to the company’s reverse acquisition, increased personnel expenses and the initiation of public company expenses, which Edesa did not incur as a privately held company.
Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2019 was $1.29 million, or $0.30 per basic share, compared to a net loss of $0.41 million, or $0.13 per basic share, for the three months ended June 30, 2018.
Six months ended June 30, 2019
Total revenues were not material for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018.
Total operating expenses increased by $1.01 million to $1.86 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $0.85 million for the same period last year:
- Research and development expenses increased by $0.03 million to $0.61 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $0.58 million for the same period last year primarily due to an increase in clinical research expenses associated with the Phase 2B clinical study of Edesa’s EB01 product candidate as well as higher patent fees and personnel expenses.
- General and administrative expenses increased by $0.97 million to $1.25 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $0.28 million for the same period last year primarily due to increased legal and professional fees related to the company’s reverse acquisition, increased personnel expenses and the initiation of public company expenses, which Edesa did not incur as a privately held company.
Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was $1.82 million, or $0.48 per basic share, compared to a net loss of $0.83 million, or $0.26 per basic share, for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
Edesa changed its year end from December 31 to September 30 resulting in six months activity during this transitional period through June 30, 2019.
Working Capital
At June 30, 2019, the company had working capital of $6.11 million. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $6.36 million.
Investor Calendar
The company is scheduled to present at the H.C. Wainwright & Co. 21st Annual Global Investment Conference, September 8-10, 2019 in New York, NY. Management will also be attending the BIO Investor Forum in San Francisco, October 22-23, 2019. Investors interested in meetings with management can schedule through the conference meeting systems, or by contacting Edesa investors relations at [email protected]
About Edesa Biotech, Inc.
Edesa Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDSA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on efficiently developing innovative treatments that address significant unmet medical needs. Edesa’s lead product candidate, EB01, is a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory molecule (sPLA2 inhibitor) for the treatment of chronic allergic contact dermatitis which has demonstrated statistically significant improvements in multiple clinical studies. Edesa also intends to expand the utility of its sPLA2 inhibitor technology, which forms the basis for EB01, across multiple indications and expand its portfolio with assets that can drive long-term growth opportunities. The company is based in Markham, Ontario, Canada, with U.S. offices in Southern California.
Edesa Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "might," "potential," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions, including statements related to: the company’s commitment to rapidly advance its clinical plans and in the next few quarters enroll its first EB01 patient, expand the utility of its sPLA2 anti-inflammatory technology into additional indications and evaluate additional assets that can provide new value creation opportunities. Readers should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as all such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such risks include: the ability of Edesa to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize any of its product candidates, the risk that access to sufficient capital to fund Edesa’s operations may not be available or may be available on terms that are not commercially favorable to Edesa, the risk that Edesa’s product candidates may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical trials, the risk that Edesa fails to comply with the terms of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business, Edesa’s ability to protect its intellectual property and the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the company's ability to control or predict. For a discussion of further risks and uncertainties related to Edesa's business, please refer to Edesa’s public company reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, Edesa assumes no obligation to update such statements.
Contacts
Gary Koppenjan
Edesa Biotech, Inc.
(805) 488-2800
[email protected]
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
|
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
|
June 30, 2019 | June 30, 2018 | June 30, 2019 | June 30, 2018 | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Total Revenues
|
$ | 500 | $ | - | $ | 500 | $ | - | ||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||
Research and development
|
502,927 | 298,223 | 614,629 | 578,268 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative
|
817,927 | 123,770 | 1,246,999 | 275,020 | ||||||||||||
|
1,320,854 | 421,993 | 1,861,628 | 853,288 | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Loss from operations
|
(1,320,354) | (421,993 | ) | (1,861,128) | (853,288 | ) | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Other Income (Loss):
|
||||||||||||||||
Interest income
|
15,565 | 16,337 | 31,485 | 32,995 | ||||||||||||
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
|
8,610 | (6,184 | ) | 4,634 | (6,803 | ) | ||||||||||
Gain on disposition of property and equipment
|
2,172 | - | 2,172 | - | ||||||||||||
|
26,347 | 10,153 | 38,291 | 26,192 | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Net loss
|
(1,294,007) | (411,840 | ) | (1,822,837) | (827,096 | ) | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Exchange differences on translation
|
27,443 | 19,518 | 100,696 | (362,747 | ) | |||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive loss
|
$ | (1,266,564) | $ | (392,322 | ) | $ | (1,722,141) | $ | (1,189,843 | ) | ||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
|
4,317,759 | 3,239,902 | 3,781,808 | 3,239,902 | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Loss per share - basic and diluted
|
$ | (0.30) | $ | (0.13 | ) | $ | (0.48) | $ | (0.26 | ) | ||||||
Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
|
June 30, | December 31, | ||||||
|
2019 | 2018 | ||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | 6,363,096 | $ | 3,367,098 | ||||
Accounts and other receivable
|
345,014 | $ | 7,339 | |||||
Inventory
|
77,913 | $ | - | |||||
Prepaid expenses and deposits
|
337,668 | 16,487 | ||||||
Noncurrent assets
|
103,929 | 7,386 | ||||||
|
||||||||
Total Assets
|
$ | 7,227,620 | $ | 3,398,310 | ||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Current liabilities
|
$ | 1,015,004 | $ | 183,820 | ||||
Shareholders' equity
|
6,212,616 | 3,214,490 | ||||||
|
||||||||
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
|
$ | 7,227,620 | $ | 3,398,310 | ||||
Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
|
Six Months Ended | |||||||
|
June 30, 2019 | June 30, 2018 | ||||||
|
||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
||||||||
Net loss
|
$ | (1,822,837) | $ | (827,096 | ) | |||
Adjustments for:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
|
2,099 | 811 | ||||||
Gain on disposition of property and equipment
|
(2,172) | - | ||||||
Share-based compensation
|
24,866 | 46,680 | ||||||
Change in working capital items:
|
||||||||
Accounts and other receivable
|
(116,991) | 3,977 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets
|
(265,770) | 91,863 | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
(1,338,556) | (4,209 | ) | |||||
|
||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities
|
(3,519,361) | (687,974 | ) | |||||
|
||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||
Cash acquired from reverse acquisition
|
6,389,322 | - | ||||||
Purchases of property and equipment
|
(2,267) | (6,869 | ) | |||||
Proceeds on sales of property and equipment
|
18,152 | - | ||||||
|
||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
6,405,207 | (6,869 | ) | |||||
|
||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
110,152 | (367,520 | ) | |||||
|
||||||||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period
|
2,995,998 | (1,062,363 | ) | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
3,367,098 | 5,000,122 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
|
$ | 6,363,096 | $ | 3,937,759 | ||||
SOURCE: Edesa Biotech