AEON Biopharma Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

AEON Biopharma reported its Q1 2024 financial results, revealing ongoing analysis of interim data from its Phase 2 study of ABP-450 in chronic migraine, which did not meet primary or secondary endpoints. The company is evaluating the next steps for ABP-450 across its late-stage clinical pipeline, targeting multiple indications. Key developments include a productive end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA for episodic migraine, despite not achieving the primary endpoint, and a $15 million private placement agreement with Daewoong Pharmaceutical. The funds will be used for general working capital.

Positive

• Phase 2 episodic migraine study demonstrated a favorable safety profile and achieved key secondary endpoints.
• Preliminary alignment with FDA on the design and endpoints for the proposed pivotal Phase 3 trial.
• $15 million private placement agreement with Daewoong Pharmaceutical for general working capital.
• Appointment of Seongsoo (Shawn) Park to AEON's Board of Directors as Daewoong's representative.

Negative

• Phase 2 chronic migraine study of ABP-450 did not achieve its primary or secondary endpoints.
• Episodic migraine Phase 2 study did not statistically separate from placebo on the primary endpoint.

Financial Analyst

The first quarter 2024 financial results for AEON Biopharma present several critical points for investors. Despite the Phase 2 study for ABP-450 in chronic migraine not achieving its primary or secondary endpoints, the company is continuing its analysis. This could indicate a potential pivot or adjustment in their clinical strategy, which investors should monitor closely.

The completion of a $15 million private placement, particularly with Daewoong Pharmaceutical, is significant as it provides critical working capital. However, the appointment of Daewoong's representative to the board suggests a deeper strategic alliance, which may influence future business decisions and direction. Investors should consider the implications of this partnership and its potential to affect AEON's financial stability and development trajectory.

Financially, the company's ability to secure private placements is a positive sign of investor confidence, but the lack of significant clinical milestones in the reported quarter may weigh on investor sentiment in the short term.

Medical Research Analyst

The interim analysis from the Phase 2 study of ABP-450 in chronic migraine not meeting its endpoints is concerning from a clinical perspective. This failure suggests that the efficacy of ABP-450 in treating chronic migraine is questionable, which could affect its future in the pipeline. However, the continuation of analysis indicates that the company may find subgroups or additional data points that could salvage the study.

On a positive note, the episodic migraine study showing a favorable safety profile and achieving key secondary endpoints is encouraging. Although it did not statistically separate from placebo on the primary endpoint, the preliminary alignment with the FDA on the Phase 3 trial design is an important step forward. This indicates potential for future success in this indication.

For investors, the mixed clinical results create a level of uncertainty. It highlights the inherent risks in biopharma investments where clinical outcomes can significantly influence the company's valuation and future prospects.

– Ongoing analysis of interim data from the Phase 2 study of ABP-450 in chronic migraine, which did not achieve its primary or secondary endpoints –

– Evaluating next-steps across the Company’s late-stage clinical pipeline for ABP-450 that targets multiple indications –

IRVINE, Calif., May 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AEON Biopharma, Inc. (“AEON” or the “Company”) (NYSE: AEON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a proprietary botulinum toxin complex for the treatment of multiple debilitating medical conditions, announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, and provided a business update.

“We continue to believe in our development pipeline for ABP-450, which targets a number of indications that have well-founded scientific rationale to pursue in early- and late-stage clinical trials. Several of the late-stage clinical programs are candidates to advance into the next phase of clinical development,” commented Marc Forth, AEON’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to keeping you apprised of our progress and updated timelines across the development strategy for our pipeline.”

Recent Clinical and Corporate Highlights

• Phase 2 study of ABP-450 in episodic and chronic migraine:
  • Chronic Migraine - Interim Analysis: The topline interim analysis did not achieve its primary or secondary endpoints. The Company is continuing its analysis of interim data from the study. The Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of ABP-450 for the prevention of chronic migraine in adults who suffer from 15 or more headache days per month and at least 8 migraine days per month. The study has enrolled a total of 492 patients across approximately 50 sites in the United States, Canada and Australia.
  • Episodic Migraine End-of-Phase 2 Meeting with U.S. FDA: In the first quarter of 2024, the Company held a productive end-of-Phase 2 (EOP2) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to present the Company’s Phase 2 episodic migraine study results, which demonstrated a favorable safety profile for patients with episodic migraine and achieved key prespecified secondary endpoints, although it did not statistically separate from placebo with respect to the primary endpoint. The meeting resulted in a preliminary alignment on the design and endpoints for the proposed pivotal Phase 3 trial.
• Completed $15 Million Private Placement Agreements
  • In April 2024, the Company received the second and final installment from its definitive agreements relating to a private placement of $15 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured convertible notes (the “Notes”) with its strategic partner, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD (“Daewoong”). Proceeds from the private placement are being used for general working capital purposes.
  • In connection with the receipt of the final installment of the Notes, Seongsoo (Shawn) Park was appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors as Daewoong’s representative.

About AEON Biopharma

AEON is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing its proprietary botulinum toxin complex, ABP-450 (prabotulinumtoxinA) injection, or ABP-450, for debilitating medical conditions, with an initial focus on the neurosciences market. ABP-450 is the same botulinum toxin complex that is currently approved and marketed for cosmetic indications by Evolus under the name Jeuveau. ABP-450 is manufactured by Daewoong in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP, in a facility that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada and European Medicines Agency. AEON has exclusive development and distribution rights for therapeutic indications of ABP-450 in the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and certain other international territories. The Company has built a highly experienced management team with specific experience in biopharmaceutical and botulinum toxin development and commercialization. To learn more about AEON, visit www.aeonbiopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or AEON’s future financial or operating performance. For example, statements regarding the closing of each installment of the Private Placement, AEON’s expected capital resources and liquidity needs and the anticipated timing of AEON’s clinical results are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "plan", "possible", "forecast", "expect", "intend", "will", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "predict", "potential" or "continue", or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by AEON and its management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against AEON or others; (ii) AEON’s future capital requirements, including with respect to potential obligations pursuant to the forward purchase agreements; (iii) AEON’s ability to raise financing in the future; (iv) AEON’s ability to continue to meet continued stock exchange listing standards; (v) the possibility that AEON may be adversely affected by other economic, business, regulatory, and/or competitive factors; and (vi) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. AEON does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Contacts

Investor Contact:
Corey Davis, Ph.D.
LifeSci Advisors
+1 212 915 2577
cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com

Source: AEON Biopharma

AEON BIOPHARMA, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share data and par value amounts)
	Successor				Successor
	March 31,				December 31,
	2024				2023
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,558			$	5,158
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		940				1,064
Total current assets		2,498				6,222
Property and equipment, net		307				332
Operating lease right-of-use asset		198				262
Other assets		29				29
Total assets	$	3,032			$	6,845
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	6,523			$	3,388
Accrued clinical trials expenses		984				5,128
Accrued compensation		1,338				943
Forward purchase agreements liquidated damages		3,000				—
Other accrued expenses		4,112				3,590
Total current liabilities		15,957				13,049
Convertible notes at fair value, including related party amount of $5,087 and $0, at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		5,087				—
Warrant liability		12,000				1,447
Contingent consideration liability		168,119				104,350
Embedded forward purchase agreements and derivative liabilities		250				41,043
Total liabilities		201,413				159,889
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ Deficit:
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and 38,120,288 and 37,159,600 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		4				4
Additional paid-in capital		393,235				381,264
Subscription receivables		—				(60,710	)
Accumulated deficit		(591,620	)			(473,602	)
Total stockholders' deficit		(198,381	)			(153,044	)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit	$	3,032			$	6,845

AEON BIOPHARMA, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024					2023
	Successor					Predecessor
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	$	4,649				$	3,841
Research and development		5,732					9,205
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		63,769					—
Total operating costs and expenses		74,150					13,046
Loss from operations		(74,150	)				(13,046	)
Other (loss) income:
Change in fair value of convertible notes		(87	)				(4,657	)
Change in fair value of warrants		(20,903	)				—
Loss on embedded forward purchase agreements and derivative liabilities, net		(22,917	)				—
Other income, net		39					64
Total other loss, net		(43,868	)				(4,593	)
Loss before taxes		(118,018	)				(17,639	)
Income taxes		—					—
Net loss and comprehensive loss	$	(118,018	)			$	(17,639	)
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$	(3.17	)			$	(0.13	)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share		37,268,074					138,825,356

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its controlled subsidiaries.

On July 21, 2023, AEON completed the Merger with AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (“Old AEON”), with Old AEON surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, the accounting acquirer. The transaction has been accounted for as a forward merger asset acquisition.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” for periods prior to the close of the Merger, refers to Old AEON, currently AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (“Predecessor”), and for the periods after the close of the Merger, refers to AEON Biopharma, Inc., including AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. (“Successor”). As a result of the Merger, the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of the Predecessor and Successor are not directly comparable. AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. was deemed to be the Predecessor entity. Accordingly, the historical financial statements of AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. became the historical financial statements of the combined Company, upon the consummation of the Merger. As a result, the financial statements included in this release reflect (i) the historical operating results of AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc. prior to the Merger and (ii) the combined results of the Company, including AEON Biopharma Sub, Inc., following the closing of the Merger. The accompanying financial statements include a Predecessor period for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and a Successor period for the three months ended March 31, 2024. A black line between the Successor and Predecessor periods has been placed in the condensed consolidated financial statements and in the tables to the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements to highlight the lack of comparability between these two periods.

FAQ

What were the results of AEON Biopharma's Phase 2 study of ABP-450 in chronic migraine?

The Phase 2 study of ABP-450 in chronic migraine did not achieve its primary or secondary endpoints.

What are AEON Biopharma's next steps for ABP-450?

AEON is evaluating the next steps for ABP-450 across its late-stage clinical pipeline, which targets multiple indications.

What was discussed in AEON Biopharma's end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA?

The meeting discussed the Phase 2 episodic migraine study results, which had a favorable safety profile and achieved key secondary endpoints, and reached preliminary alignment on the design and endpoints for the pivotal Phase 3 trial.

How much did AEON Biopharma raise in its private placement agreement with Daewoong Pharmaceutical?

AEON Biopharma raised $15 million in its private placement agreement with Daewoong Pharmaceutical.

What will AEON Biopharma use the $15 million from Daewoong Pharmaceutical for?

The $15 million will be used for general working capital purposes.