Acasti Announces Third Fiscal Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Business Highlights
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Insights
Acasti Pharma Inc.'s announcement regarding its financial results and the projected cash runway extending into the second quarter of 2026 presents a robust financial position, particularly given the timeline for the New Drug Application (NDA) submission of GTX-104. The extended cash runway indicates a reduced risk of near-term dilutive financing, which is a positive signal for investors. The strategic realignment plan, which has resulted in reduced operating expenses, appears to be an effective measure in controlling cash burn. The financial results show a decrease in net loss year-over-year, with a notable reduction in research and development expenses, aligning with the company's strategic focus on GTX-104.
However, it's important to consider that the biopharmaceutical industry is capital-intensive and the success of Acasti's lead candidate, GTX-104, will be critical for long-term sustainability. Investors should monitor the enrollment progress and results of the STRIVE-ON trial, as any delays or negative outcomes could impact the company's financial stability and stock price. Moreover, the reverse stock split may have been executed to maintain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement, a common strategy for companies facing delisting. While it can improve the marketability of the stock, it does not fundamentally change the company's financials.
The STRIVE-ON trial's progress is a pivotal factor in the development of GTX-104, with patient enrollment on track for a potential NDA submission in the first half of 2025. The trial's design, a prospective, open-label, randomized comparison with oral nimodipine, is of particular interest as it targets a rare disease with high unmet medical needs. Successful outcomes from the STRIVE-ON trial could position GTX-104 as a new standard of care for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), which would be a significant breakthrough and could lead to substantial market opportunities.
Given the rarity of the condition, GTX-104 may be eligible for orphan drug designation, which can offer benefits like market exclusivity, tax credits and waiver of certain regulatory fees. The recent poster presentation at the International Stroke Conference could enhance the visibility of GTX-104 within the medical community, potentially fostering collaboration and support from key opinion leaders. However, the inherent risks of clinical trials, including the possibility of not meeting endpoints or encountering safety issues, must be weighed by stakeholders when evaluating the company's prospects.
The market for treatments of rare diseases like aSAH is typically characterized by a high cost of therapy and lower competition, which can lead to significant pricing power for successful entrants. Acasti Pharma's focus on GTX-104 and its potential as a new treatment standard for aSAH could capture a niche but valuable segment of the healthcare market. The financial commitment to the STRIVE-ON trial underscores the company's strategic decision to concentrate resources on a product with a potentially high return on investment.
Analyzing the broader market dynamics, the positive reception of GTX-104 at scientific conferences and its progression through clinical trials could generate interest from larger pharmaceutical companies looking for promising candidates to bolster their pipelines through acquisitions or partnerships. Acasti Pharma's current financial health, with substantial cash reserves and a controlled burn rate, places it in a favorable position to negotiate such deals from a position of strength. However, the success of these endeavors is contingent upon the trial's outcomes and regulatory approvals, which are yet to be ascertained.
- Projected Cash Runway Extends into Second Calendar Quarter 2026, Well Beyond Potential 1H 2025 Submission of GTX-104 New Drug Application (NDA)
- Patient Enrollment in Pivotal STRIVE-ON Phase 3 Trial Continues, On Track for NDA Submission Timeline
- Poster Highlighting the STRIVE-ON Trial Presented at 2024 International Stroke Conference
PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acasti Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: ACST) (Acasti or the Company), a late-stage, biopharma company advancing GTX-104, its novel formulation of nimodipine that addresses high unmet medical needs for a rare disease, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), today announced financial results and business highlights for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
"During the third quarter we continued to execute our focused strategy around our biggest value driver program GTX-104 and its pivotal Phase 3 STRIVE-ON safety trial (the STRIVE-ON trial–NCT05995405). Having dosed the first patient in October, we’ve continued to enroll more patients and sites since that time,” said Prashant Kohli, CEO of Acasti. “With our balance sheet enhanced by the
Recent Corporate Highlights
- Announced dosing of first patient in STRIVE-ON trial, a prospective, open-label, randomized (1:1 ratio), parallel group trial of GTX-104 compared with oral nimodipine, in patients hospitalized for aSAH.
- STRIVE-ON trial on track for potential NDA submission with the FDA anticipated to occur in the first half of calendar 2025.
- Hosted a Key Opinion Leader Event GTX-104: A Potential New Treatment Standard for Rare and Life-Threatening aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH)
- Overview of STRIVE-ON trial presented as a poster at the 2024 International Stroke Conference.
Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
On June 29, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a reverse stock split of the Company's Class A common shares, no par value per share, at a ratio of 1-for-6, which was effective on July 10, 2023. All references below to the number of common shares, price per share and weighted average number of shares outstanding have been adjusted to reflect such reverse stock split.
The Company reported a net loss of
- Research and development expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2023 totaled
$1.4 million compared to$2.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The decrease from the prior year period was mainly attributable to the Company’s strategic realignment plan to align the organizational and management cost structure to prioritize resources to GTX-104, thereby reducing losses to improve cash flow and extend available cash resources. - General and administrative expenses were
$1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, unchanged from$1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022.
The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2023, were
About aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH)
aSAH is bleeding over the surface of the brain in the subarachnoid space between the brain and the skull, which contains blood vessels that supply the brain. A primary cause of such bleeding is the rupture of an aneurysm. Approximately
About GTX-104
GTX-104 is a clinical stage, novel, injectable formulation of nimodipine being developed for intravenous infusion (IV) in aSAH patients to address significant unmet medical needs. The unique nanoparticle technology of GTX-104 facilitates aqueous formulation of insoluble nimodipine for a standard peripheral IV infusion.
GTX-104 provides a convenient IV delivery of nimodipine in the Intensive Care Unit potentially eliminating the need for nasogastric tube administration in unconscious or dysphagic patients. Intravenous delivery of GTX-104 also has the potential to lower food effects, drug-to-drug interactions, and eliminate potential dosing errors. Further, GTX-104 has the potential to better manage hypotension in aSAH patients. GTX-104 has been administered in over 150 healthy volunteers and was well tolerated with significantly lower inter- and intra-subject pharmacokinetic variability compared to oral nimodipine. The addressable market in the United States for GTX-104 is estimated to be about
About Acasti
Acasti is a late-stage biopharma company with drug candidates addressing rare and orphan diseases. Acasti's novel drug delivery technologies have the potential to improve the performance of currently marketed drugs by achieving faster onset of action, enhanced efficacy, reduced side effects, and more convenient drug delivery. Acasti's lead clinical assets have each been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA, which provides seven years of marketing exclusivity post-launch in the United States, and additional intellectual property protection with over 40 granted and pending patents. Acasti's lead clinical asset, GTX-104, is an intravenous infusion targeting aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH), a rare and life-threatening medical emergency in which bleeding occurs over the surface of the brain in the subarachnoid space between the brain and skull.
For more information, please visit: https://www.acastipharma.com/en.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of Acasti to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements containing the terms "believes," "belief," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimates", "potential," "should," "may," "will," "plans," "continue", "targeted" or other similar expressions to be uncertain and forward-looking. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The forward-looking statements in this press release, including statements regarding the Company's anticipated cash runway, the timing of the planned NDA submission with the FDA in connection with the Company's STRIVE-ON trial, GTX-104’s commercial prospects, and GTX-104's potential to bring enhanced treatment options to patients suffering from aSAH are based upon Acasti's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: (i) the success and timing of regulatory submissions of the Phase 3 safety trial for GTX-104; (ii) regulatory requirements or developments and the outcome and timing of the proposed NDA application for GTX-104; (iii) changes to clinical trial designs and regulatory pathways; (iv) legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments; and (v) actual costs associated with Acasti's clinical trials as compared to management's current expectations. The foregoing list of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors detailed in documents that have been and are filed by Acasti from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Acasti undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by applicable securities laws.
For more information, please contact:
Acasti Contact:
Prashant Kohli
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 450-686-4555
Email: info@acastipharma.com
www.acasti.com
Investor Relations:
LifeSci Advisors
Mike Moyer
Managing Director
Phone: 617-308-4306
Email: mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com
ACASTI PHARMA INC.
Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
| December 31, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | |||||||
| (Expressed in thousands except share data) | $ | $ | ||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 18,545 | 27,875 | ||||||
| Short-term investments | 6,569 | 15 | ||||||
| Receivables | 959 | 802 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 811 | 598 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 26,884 | 29,290 | ||||||
| Operating lease right of use asset | 23 | 463 | ||||||
| Equipment | 12 | 104 | ||||||
| Intangible assets | 41,128 | 41,128 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 8,138 | 8,138 | ||||||
| Total assets | 76,185 | 79,123 | ||||||
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Trade and other payables | 1,746 | 3,336 | ||||||
| Operating lease liability | 24 | 75 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 1,770 | 3,411 | ||||||
| Derivative warrant liabilities | 3,332 | — | ||||||
| Operating lease liability | — | 410 | ||||||
| Deferred tax liability | 6,403 | 7,347 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 11,505 | 11,168 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Class A common shares, no par value per share; unlimited shares authorized as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023; 9,399,404 and 7,435,533 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively | 261,038 | 258,294 | ||||||
| Class B, C, D and E common shares, no par value per share; unlimited shares authorized as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023; none issued and outstanding | — | — | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 17,633 | 13,965 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (6,038 | ) | (6,038 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated deficit | (207,953 | ) | (198,266 | ) | ||||
| Total shareholders' equity | 64,680 | 67,955 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | 76,185 | 79,123 | ||||||
ACASTI PHARMA INC.
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
| Three months ended | Nine months ended | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||
| (Expressed in thousands, except share and per share data) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development expenses, net of government assistance | (1,443 | ) | (2,450 | ) | (2,998 | ) | (8,332 | ) | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | (1,570 | ) | (1,589 | ) | (4,922 | ) | (5,187 | ) | ||||||||
| Sales and marketing | (30 | ) | (206 | ) | (184 | ) | (563 | ) | ||||||||
| Restructuring cost | — | — | (1,485 | ) | — | |||||||||||
| Loss from operating activities | (3,043 | ) | (4,245 | ) | (9,589 | ) | (14,082 | ) | ||||||||
| Foreign exchange gain (loss) | 3 | 15 | (2 | ) | (75 | ) | ||||||||||
| Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities | 125 | — | (1,701 | ) | 10 | |||||||||||
| Interest income and other expense, net | 316 | 67 | 662 | 134 | ||||||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | 444 | 82 | (1,041 | ) | 69 | |||||||||||
| Loss before income tax recovery | (2,599 | ) | (4,163 | ) | (10,630 | ) | (14,013 | ) | ||||||||
| Income tax recovery | 208 | 274 | 943 | 671 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss and total comprehensive loss | (2,391 | ) | (3,889 | ) | (9,687 | ) | (13,342 | ) | ||||||||
| Basic and diluted loss per share | (0.21 | ) | (0.52 | ) | (1.09 | ) | (1.80 | ) | ||||||||
| Weighted-average number of shares outstanding | 11,506,257 | 7,435,472 | 8,874,872 | 7,416,318 | ||||||||||||
FAQ
When is Acasti Pharma's potential NDA submission for GTX-104 expected?
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