AEON Biopharma Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results
- Positive end-of-Phase 2 meeting with FDA regarding pivotal Phase 3 trials for episodic and chronic migraine treatment.
- Expected announcement of interim analysis results for chronic migraine study in Q2 2024 and full study results in Q3 2024.
- Private placement agreements for $15 million in senior secured convertible notes with Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co.,
- Completion of enrollment for Phase 2 study of ABP-450 for chronic migraine treatment with plans for interim analysis in Q2 2024.
- Sufficient funding for late-stage clinical development and corporate operations through June 2024.
- None.
Insights
The recent announcement by AEON Biopharma regarding the alignment with FDA on Phase 3 trial designs for ABP-450 is a significant milestone in the company's clinical development pathway. The ability to progress to Phase 3 trials often serves as a positive signal to investors about the potential of a drug candidate. In this case, the focus on both episodic and chronic migraine, which are prevalent conditions with substantial market demand, suggests a large target market for AEON's product.
The announcement of topline data from the interim analysis of the ongoing Phase 2 study expected in Q2 2024, followed by full study data in Q3 2024, provides a clear timeline for investors to monitor AEON's progress. Additionally, the $15 million in private placement agreements indicates a vote of confidence from strategic partners and provides necessary capital to fund the late-stage clinical development. Investors should be aware that the company's financial runway is projected to last through June 2024, which aligns with the expected data release, potentially reducing financial risk in the short term.
However, it is important to note that the biopharmaceutical sector is highly volatile, with significant risks associated with clinical trials. The success of Phase 3 trials is not guaranteed and any setbacks could have a material impact on the company's financial health and stock price.
The strategic importance of AEON Biopharma's ABP-450 for the prevention of chronic and episodic migraine cannot be understated. Migraine is a common and debilitating condition, affecting a significant portion of the population. Current treatments often have limitations in terms of efficacy, safety and patient satisfaction, thus a new effective treatment could disrupt the market.
ABP-450, as a proprietary botulinum toxin complex, represents a novel approach in the preventive treatment of migraines. The completion of patient enrollment for the Phase 2 study and the planned interim analysis are critical steps in validating the efficacy and safety profile of the drug. The design of the study, being randomized and double-blind, is the gold standard for clinical trials and strengthens the credibility of the results.
From a medical research perspective, the interim analysis could provide early indications of the drug's effectiveness. If the data is positive, it could accelerate the drug's time to market and increase the likelihood of a successful Phase 3 trial. Conversely, negative results could lead to a reassessment of the drug's viability or the need for additional studies, potentially delaying market entry.
The migraine treatment market is a multi-billion-dollar industry with a continuous demand for better prophylactic treatments. AEON Biopharma's focus on both episodic and chronic migraine indicates an understanding of the diverse needs within this market. The company's alignment with the FDA on the Phase 3 trials design and endpoints is a pivotal step in ensuring the trials' relevance to both regulatory requirements and market expectations.
Given that the Phase 2 study of ABP-450 has enrolled patients across multiple international sites, it suggests a global strategy for the company. This broad patient base could help in understanding the drug's efficacy across different demographics, which is essential for market adoption. Additionally, the partnership with Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD for the private placement indicates strategic collaboration, potentially opening doors to the Asian market, where Daewoong has a strong presence.
Investors should monitor the upcoming topline data releases, as positive results could position AEON as a strong contender in the migraine prevention space. The impact on the stock market will likely correlate with the clinical outcomes, with potential for significant appreciation in value if the drug proves to be effective and safe.
– Recent end-of-Phase 2 meeting with FDA resulted in alignment on the design and endpoints for the proposed pivotal Phase 3 trials for the preventive treatment of both episodic and chronic migraine –
– Topline data from planned interim analysis of ongoing Phase 2 study in chronic migraine are expected to be announced in Q2 2024; On track to announce top-line data from the full study in Q3 2024 –
– Announced private placement agreements for
IRVINE, Calif., March 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AEON Biopharma, Inc. (“AEON” or the “Company”) (NYSE: AEON, AEON WS), 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 fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023, and provided a business update.
“We are pleased to have achieved a number of key milestones for our ABP-450 episodic and chronic migraine programs over the past several months, including a positive end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA. We are now well-positioned to plan for the initiation of our pivotal Phase 3 program,” commented Marc Forth, AEON’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Recently, we announced plans to conduct an interim analysis of our ongoing Phase 2 study of ABP-450 as a preventive treatment for chronic migraine, which completed enrollment in December 2023. We expect to announce the topline data from the interim analysis in the second quarter of 2024 and we anticipate the interim analysis to be statistically powered to demonstrate efficacy.”
Recent Clinical and Corporate Highlights
- Episodic Migraine End-of-Phase 2 Meeting with U.S. FDA:
- Announced a productive end-of-Phase 2 (EOP2) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the Phase 2 data in episodic migraine the Company released in October 2023. The meeting resulted in a preliminary alignment on the design and endpoints for the proposed pivotal Phase 3 trials for the preventive treatment of both episodic and chronic migraine.
- Chronic Migraine Phase 2 Study of ABP-450:
- Announced completion of enrollment with the last patient first visit in the Phase 2 study of ABP-450 for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. The Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will evaluate 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.
- The Company introduced an updated development plan for ABP-450 that includes an interim analysis of the ongoing Phase 2 study of ABP-450 for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine in the second quarter of 2024. With data from over 300 participants that have completed the two 12-week treatment cycles, the Company anticipates the interim analysis to be statistically powered to show efficacy.
$15 Million Private Placement Agreements- In March 2023, the Company entered definitive agreements relating to a private placement of
$15 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured convertible notes with its strategic partner, Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. The Company has closed the first installment of$5 million and anticipates closing the second installment of$10 million in April 2024, subject to the closing conditions set forth in the definitive agreements. Proceeds from the private placement will be used to support the late-stage clinical development of ABP-450 and for general working capital purposes. The Company believes its cash, cash equivalents and investments, including the$15 million of private placement proceeds, will be sufficient to fund its planned clinical studies, as well as support corporate operations through June 2024.
- In March 2023, the Company entered definitive agreements relating to a private placement of
Key Upcoming Milestones
- Ongoing Chronic Migraine Phase 2 Study
- Expect to announce topline data from the planned interim analysis of the ongoing Phase 2 program for ABP-450 in chronic migraine in the second quarter of 2024.
- On track to announce topline results from the Phase 2 study of ABP-450 as a preventive treatment for chronic migraine in the third quarter of 2024.
- Episodic Migraine Program Next Steps – The Company is continuing to plan for the initiation of its proposed pivotal Phase 3 program for ABP-450.
About Migraine
Migraine is a complex neurological disease characterized by recurrent episodes of headaches that affects approximately 40 million people in the United States and approximately a billion people worldwide, making migraine the third most prevalent illness in the world. Patients that live with migraine experience symptoms that include recurring throbbing headache pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, touch and smell. Migraine can be categorized as episodic migraine or chronic migraine. AEON projects that approximately 9.4 million Americans live with episodic migraine, which is characterized by fewer than 15 headache days per month and between 6 to 14 migraine days per month, but each individual attack can be just as debilitating.
About ABP-450 (prabotulinumtoxinA) Injection
ABP-450 contains a 900 kDa botulinum toxin type-A complex produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The active part of the botulinum toxin is the 150 kDa component, and the remaining 750 kDa of the complex is made up of accessory proteins that the Company believes help with the function of the active portion of the botulinum toxin. When injected at therapeutic levels, ABP-450 blocks peripheral acetylcholine release at presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminals by cleaving SNAP-25, a protein integral to the successful docking and release of acetylcholine from vesicles situated within the nerve endings leading to denervation and relaxation of the muscle.
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. AEON recently completed a Phase 2 study of ABP-450 for the treatment of cervical dystonia and has an ongoing Phase 2 study of ABP-450 for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. 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, or the FDA, Health Canada and European Medicines Agency, or EMA. 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 and the development of its uniquely positioned therapeutic neurotoxin, 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. | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||||||
| (in thousands, except share data and par value amounts) | ||||||||
| Successor | Predecessor | |||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | 5,158 | $ | 9,746 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,064 | 92 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 6,222 | 9,838 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 332 | 431 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use asset | 262 | 475 | ||||||
| Other assets | 29 | 34 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 6,845 | $ | 10,778 | ||||
| LIABILITIES, CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 3,388 | $ | 7,805 | ||||
| Accrued clinical trials expenses | 5,128 | 2,051 | ||||||
| Accrued compensation | 943 | 1,112 | ||||||
| Other accrued expenses | 3,590 | 740 | ||||||
| Current portion of convertible notes at fair value, including related party amount of | — | 70,866 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 13,049 | 82,574 | ||||||
| Convertible notes at fair value, including related party amount of | — | 60,426 | ||||||
| Operating lease liability | — | 242 | ||||||
| Warrant liability | 1,447 | — | ||||||
| Contingent consideration liability | 104,350 | — | ||||||
| Embedded forward purchase agreements and derivative liabilities | 41,043 | — | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 159,889 | 143,242 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Convertible preferred stock issuable in series, | — | 137,949 | ||||||
| Stockholders’ Deficit: | ||||||||
| AEON Biopharma, Inc. stockholders’ deficit: | ||||||||
| Class A common stock, | 4 | 14 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 381,264 | 187,348 | ||||||
| Subscription receivables | (60,710 | ) | — | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (473,602 | ) | (474,839 | ) | ||||
| Treasury stock, at cost, 0 and 22,821 shares at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively | — | (23 | ) | |||||
| Total AEON Biopharma, Inc. stockholders’ deficit | (153,044 | ) | (287,500 | ) | ||||
| Non-controlling interest | — | 17,087 | ||||||
| Total stockholders' deficit | (153,044 | ) | (270,413 | ) | ||||
| Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders' deficit | $ | 6,845 | $ | 10,778 | ||||
| AEON BIOPHARMA, INC. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Successor October 1 to December 31 | Predecessor October 1 to December 31 | Predecessor January 1 to July 21 | Successor July 22 to December 31 | Predecessor January 1 to December 31 | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | $ | 4,683 | $ | 5,505 | $ | 9,841 | $ | 9,949 | $ | 13,675 | |||||||||||
| Research and development | 6,854 | 9,529 | 19,803 | 13,243 | 34,754 | ||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration | 23,189 | — | — | (52,750 | ) | — | |||||||||||||||
| Total operating costs and expenses | 34,726 | 15,034 | 29,644 | (29,558 | ) | 48,429 | |||||||||||||||
| (Loss) income from operations | (34,726 | ) | (15,034 | ) | (29,644 | ) | 29,558 | (48,429 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Other (loss) income: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of convertible notes | — | (19,677 | ) | (19,359 | ) | — | (4,416 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of warrants | 725 | — | — | 2,318 | — | ||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of embedded forward purchase agreements and derivative liabilities | 7,410 | — | (11,789 | ) | (8,366 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 350 | 147 | 114 | 536 | 289 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total other (loss) income, net | 8,485 | (19,530 | ) | (31,034 | ) | (5,512 | ) | (4,127 | ) | ||||||||||||
| (Loss) income before taxes | (26,241 | ) | (34,564 | ) | (60,678 | ) | 24,046 | (52,556 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Income taxes | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income | $ | (26,241 | ) | $ | (34,564 | ) | $ | (60,678 | ) | $ | 24,046 | $ | (52,556 | ) | |||||||
| Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share | $ | (0.71 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (0.44 | ) | $ | 0.65 | $ | (0.38 | ) | |||||||
| Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding used to compute basic and diluted net (loss) income per share | 37,159,600 | 138,848,177 | 138,848,177 | 37,159,600 | 138,848,177 | ||||||||||||||||
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The 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, which includes the period through July 21, 2023 concurrent with the Merger, and a Successor period from July 22, 2023 through December 31, 2023. A black line between the Successor and Predecessor periods has been placed in the consolidated financial statements and in the tables to the notes to the consolidated financial statements to highlight the lack of comparability between these two periods.
FAQ
What key milestones did AEON Biopharma, Inc. achieve recently?
When can we expect the announcement of top-line data from the chronic migraine study?
What is the purpose of the $15 million private placement agreements?
How many patients were enrolled in the Phase 2 study of ABP-450 for chronic migraine?
What are the upcoming milestones for the chronic migraine program?
