NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avenue Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATXI) (“Avenue” or the “Company”), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of central nervous system diseases (“CNS”), today reported financial results and recent corporate highlights for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.
“I am pleased that Avenue has achieved important financial milestones providing a path to continue developing drugs for central nervous system disorders. We recently had a collaborative meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) laying the foundation for conducting a study that could support NDA resubmission for IV Tramadol, and we also completed the acquisition of Baergic Bio, which added a novel clinical-stage anxiolytic and antiepileptic therapy to our portfolio,” said Alexandra MacLean, M.D., Avenue’s Chief Executive Officer.
Recent Corporate Highlights (for Third Quarter and Subsequent Events):
- In September 2022, Avenue received the official meeting minutes from the FDA regarding a meeting conducted on August 9, 2022, for IV Tramadol. At the meeting, Avenue presented a study design for a single safety clinical trial that Avenue believes could address the concerns regarding risks related to opioid stacking. The FDA stated that the proposed study design appears reasonable and agreed on various study design aspects with the expectation that additional feedback would be provided to Avenue upon review of a more detailed study protocol. The Company intends to incorporate the FDA’s suggestions from the meeting minutes and submit a detailed study protocol that could form the basis for the submission of a complete response to the second Complete Response Letter for IV Tramadol.
- Also in September 2022, Avenue effected a 1-for-15 reverse stock split and, in October 2022, closed a $12 million underwritten public offering, to bring the Company in compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements. In October 2022, Avenue received correspondence from Nasdaq indicating that the Company had evidenced compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules and all other applicable criteria for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market.
- Avenue received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $10.4 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other expenses of the offering. In addition, concurrent with the closing of the offering, Avenue completed the buyout of a minority shareholder through the acquisition of their shares for $3.0 million.
- In November 2022, Avenue completed the acquisition of Baergic Bio, Inc. (“Baergic”) through a Share Contribution Agreement with Fortress Biotech, Inc. (“Fortress”), an affiliate of Avenue. The acquisition provides Avenue with another clinical-stage CNS drug (“BAER-101”) that Avenue expects to develop for conditions with high unmet need, potentially including refractory epilepsies and panic disorders. BAER-101 is a novel oral small molecule selective GABA-A α2/3 receptor positive allosteric modulator originally developed at and licensed from AstraZeneca plc. BAER-101 has been shown to be safe with mild to moderate side effects in over 700 patients to-date.
Financial Results:
- Cash Position: As of September 30, 2022, Avenue’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $0.2 million, compared to $3.8 million at December 31, 2021, a decrease of $3.6 million year-to-date. Subsequently, in October 2022, Avenue received net proceeds of approximately $10.4 million upon the closing of its underwritten public offering.
- R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2022 were $0.2 million, compared to $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2021.
- G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2022 were $0.5 million, compared to $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2021.
- Net Loss: Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $0.7 million, or $0.45 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.9 million, or $0.79 per share, in the third quarter of 2021.
About Avenue Therapeutics
Avenue Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATXI) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. Avenue is headquartered in New York City and was founded by Fortress Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBIO). For more information, visit www.avenuetx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains predictive or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact contained in this press release, including statements that express our intentions, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections made by management about our business, our industry and other conditions affecting our financial condition, results of operations or business prospects. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause such outcomes and results to differ include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties arising from: expectations for increases or decreases in expenses; expectations for the clinical and pre-clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory approval, and commercialization of our pharmaceutical product candidate or any other products we may acquire or in-license; our use of clinical research centers and other contractors; expectations for incurring capital expenditures to expand our research and development and manufacturing capabilities; expectations for generating revenue or becoming profitable on a sustained basis; expectations or ability to enter into marketing and other partnership agreements; expectations or ability to enter into product acquisition and in-licensing transactions; expectations or ability to build our own commercial infrastructure to manufacture, market and sell our product candidate; acceptance of our products by doctors, patients or payors; our ability to compete against other companies and research institutions; our ability to secure adequate protection for our intellectual property; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; availability of reimbursement for our products; estimates of the sufficiency of our existing cash and cash equivalents and investments to finance our operating requirements, including expectations regarding the value and liquidity of our investments; the volatility of our stock price; expected losses expectations for future capital requirements; ability to successfully integrate Baergic Bio in the Company’s operations; and those risks discussed in our filings which we make with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. Investors should evaluate any statements made by us in light of these important factors.
Contact:
Jaclyn Jaffe
Avenue Therapeutics, Inc.
(781) 652-4500
ir@avenuetx.com
AVENUE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except for share and per share amounts)
| September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 217 | $ | 3,763 | ||||
| Other receivables - related party | – | 90 | ||||||
| Deferred financing costs | 338 | – | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 20 | 107 | ||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 575 | $ | 3,960 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 573 | $ | 451 | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses – related party | 41 | 58 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 614 | 509 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 614 | $ | 509 | ||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||
| Preferred Stock ($0.0001 par value), 2,000,000 shares authorized | ||||||||
| Class A Preferred Stock, 250,000 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 | – | – | ||||||
| Common Stock ($0.0001 par value), 20,000,000 shares authorized | ||||||||
| Common shares, 1,481,439 and 1,405,934 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively | – | 2 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in-capital | 81,087 | 80,448 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (81,126 | ) | (76,999 | ) | ||||
| Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) | (39 | ) | 3,451 | |||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) | $ | 575 | $ | 3,960 | ||||
AVENUE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Condensed Statements of Operations
($ in thousands, except for share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 194 | $ | 278 | $ | 2,153 | $ | 864 | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 469 | 594 | 1,978 | 1,960 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (663 | ) | (872 | ) | (4,131 | ) | (2,824 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest income | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (4 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||||
| Net Loss | $ | (662 | ) | $ | (871 | ) | $ | (4,127 | ) | $ | (2,818 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per common share outstanding, basic and diluted | $ | (0.45 | ) | $ | (0.79 | ) | $ | (2.86 | ) | $ | (2.55 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 1,465,691 | 1,108,495 | 1,441,542 | 1,105,352 | ||||||||||||
