Anebulo Pharmaceuticals Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results and Recent Updates
Anebulo Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ANEB) reported financial results for Q3 fiscal year 2024 and provided updates on its development projects.
Key focus is on the IV formulation of selonabant for unintentional cannabis poisoning in children, driven by a growing medical need and upcoming DEA reclassification of marijuana. The company's operating expenses dropped to $1.7 million from $2.9 million year-over-year. Net loss decreased to $1.7 million, or $(0.06) per share, from $2.8 million, or $(0.11) per share. As of March 31, 2024, the company holds $5.1 million in cash and cash equivalents.
- Operating expenses decreased by 41.4% year-over-year, from $2.9 million to $1.7 million.
- Net loss reduced to $1.7 million, or $(0.06) per share, from $2.8 million, or $(0.11) per share in the previous year.
- Cash and cash equivalents total $5.1 million as of March 31, 2024.
- Focus on IV formulation of selonabant for children could lead to faster approval due to the unmet medical need.
- Potential tailwinds from DEA reclassification of marijuana may boost demand for Anebulo's treatments.
- Despite reductions, the company still reported a net loss of $1.7 million.
- The target market for pediatric unintentional cannabis poisoning is small, with less than 50,000 cases per year.
- The company is shifting focus away from the adult market, which may delay potential revenues from that segment.
- The company has cash reserves of $5.1 million, which may not be sufficient for long-term operations without additional funding.
Insights
The financial results for Anebulo Pharmaceuticals for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 indicate a significant reduction in operating expenses and net loss compared to the same period in fiscal 2023. Operating expenses decreased from
Additionally, the net loss decreased from
However, the company still faces challenges, particularly with its cash position. With cash and cash equivalents at
It's also important to consider the broader market context and competition in the biopharmaceutical sector. While Anebulo has made strides in cost management, the success of their clinical development programs will be pivotal for their financial health and stock performance.
Anebulo's strategic priority shift towards developing an intravenous (IV) treatment for unintentional cannabis poisoning in children is a substantial move. This decision is driven by recent changes in DEA scheduling, which could lead to increased household cannabis use, inadvertently heightening pediatric exposure risks. As posited, children are more susceptible to severe outcomes from cannabis exposure due to factors like smaller body size and an underdeveloped endocannabinoid system.
The company is leveraging its discussions with the FDA and clinician insights to address a notable unmet medical need. The focus on pediatric treatment could indeed pave the way for a faster approval pathway, especially if this population is seen as vulnerable and in urgent need of effective solutions. This strategy could also create a foundation for subsequent adult ACI treatments, considering the initial pediatric approval might streamline further regulatory processes.
Medical investors should note that the incidence of unintentional cannabis poisoning in children, while not extremely high (< 50,000 cases annually), is on an upward trend. The development of selonabant IV could thus fulfill a critical niche in emergency medical care.
Research and clinical validation will be important to determine the efficacy and safety of the IV formulation. If successful, it could not only save lives but also position Anebulo as a key player in addressing cannabis toxicity, potentially leading to significant market opportunities.
From a market perspective, Anebulo Pharmaceuticals' focus on pediatric cannabis poisoning represents a strategic and timely response to evolving regulatory and societal dynamics. The reclassification of marijuana to a less restrictive category is anticipated to increase cannabis availability and usage, thereby potentially escalating the risk of unintentional exposure among children.
This proactive approach could position Anebulo advantageously in a market segment that may see growing demand. By prioritizing an IV treatment formulation, the company is addressing an immediate and critical need in emergency medical settings, where rapid intervention can be life-saving.
The market for pediatric treatments, especially those addressing acute conditions, often garners substantial attention and support from both regulatory bodies and healthcare providers. A successful product in this niche could lead to strong market penetration and acceptance, providing Anebulo with a competitive edge.
Investors should consider the potential for increased media and public attention on pediatric cannabis poisoning, which could enhance the visibility and adoption of Anebulo's treatment solutions. However, it's also essential to remain cautious about the competitive landscape and regulatory hurdles that could impact the company's market entry and growth.
Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 and Subsequent Highlights:
- Anebulo prioritizes development of selonabant IV formulation for unintentional cannabis poisoning in children in response to the growing medical need and impending change in DEA scheduling
- On April 30, 2024, the United States Department of Justice announced plans to reduce restrictions and reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug
- Pediatric patients accidentally exposed to cannabis are at risk of serious and life-threatening outcomes including Central Nervous System (CNS) depression, seizures, and coma
“The recent decision by the United States Department of Justice to support rescheduling of marijuana from a schedule I to a schedule III controlled substance, is a move we believe will ultimately lead to increased use of cannabis containing products among US households. This potentially includes edible products that are often the cause of unintentional cannabis poisoning in children. Our decision to prioritize the development of an intravenous treatment for children is driven by multiple factors. Our prior discussions with United States Food and Drug Administration have highlighted the need for an alternative formulation of selonabant for treating younger patients. There is increasing recognition among clinicians that this is a growing unmet medical need in a vulnerable population where there are no approved treatments. Our belief is that the path to approval for an oral treatment for adult ACI may be facilitated by an initial approval in the pediatric population,” commented Richie Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of Anebulo.
“Anebulo is uniquely positioned to provide a rapid and clinically impactful solution for Emergency Departments to treat children suffering from unintentional cannabis poisoning,”
“The risk is also evident in how cannabis effects this population; in contrast to adults who are exposed to acute cannabis toxicity, children who unintentionally consume edible cannabis products are at greater risk of more serious and life-threatening outcomes such as CNS depression, respiratory depression, seizures, and coma. Recent headlines from the Wall Street Journal and other major media outlets have highlighted the issue. We find ourselves at a moment where the tailwinds and support for a treatment for this population are real and evident, which supports the rationale to prioritize our selonabant IV formulation for the most vulnerable patients in need of a treatment that has the potential to quickly reverse the effects of THC.
“ACI in adults continues to be a major market opportunity for selonabant. However, we have evaluated the potential advantages of prioritizing a near term solution for children with more serious symptoms over progressing our plans for an adult ACI treatment and have decided to focus current efforts on the pediatric indication at this time, which we believe offers the potential for a faster timeline to approval relative to the adult oral product. We believe the incidence of unintentional cannabis poisoning in children presenting to the emergency department is rare, with less than 50,000 cases per year. Importantly, America’s Poison Centers have also reported significant annual increases in the number of pediatric cases reported in recent years and that number continues to grow.
“In response to this growing unmet medical need, our intravenous formulation of selonabant is currently being scaled up for initial clinical safety studies.”
Financial Results for the three months ended March 31, 2024
-
Operating expenses in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 were
$1.7 million $2.9 million
-
Net loss in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was
$1.7 million $(0.06) $2.8 million $(0.11)
-
Cash and cash equivalents were
$5.1 million
About Selonabant (ANEB-001)
Our lead product candidate is selonabant (ANEB-001), a potent, small molecule antagonist of CB1, under development to address the unmet medical need for a specific antidote for cannabis toxicity, including ACI and unintentional cannabis poisoning. Selonabant is an orally bioavailable, readily absorbed treatment candidate that we anticipate will rapidly reverse key symptoms of ACI. Selonabant is also under development as a parenteral treatment for unintentional cannabis poisoning. Selonabant is protected by two issued patents covering various methods of use of the compound and composition of matter of the crystalline form of selonabant. We also have multiple pending applications covering various methods of use of the compound and delivery systems. An observational study in patients presenting to Emergency Departments with ACI is currently ongoing. The study will determine concentrations of cannabinoids and metabolites in plasma and gather information on signs and symptoms, patients’ disposition and selected subjective assessments.
About Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel solutions for people suffering from acute cannabinoid intoxication, unintentional cannabis intoxication and, longer term, for substance use disorders. Its lead product candidate, selonabant, has completed dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05282797) evaluating its utility in blocking and reversing the negative effects of acute cannabinoid intoxication. Selonabant is a competitive antagonist at the human CB1. For further information about Anebulo, please visit www.anebulo.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "designed," "expect," "may," "will," "should" and other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Anebulo's intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations regarding: plans by the United States Department of Justice to reduce restrictions and reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug; the decision to support rescheduling of marijuana from a schedule I to a schedule III controlled substance ultimately leading to increased use of cannabis containing products among US households including edible products that are often the cause of unintentional cannabis poisoning in children; the path to approval for an oral treatment for adult ACI being facilitated by an initial approval in the pediatric population; being uniquely positioned to provide a rapid and clinically impactful solution for Emergency Departments to treat children suffering from unintentional cannabis poisoning; the tailwinds and support for a treatment supporting the rationale to prioritize the advancement of a selonabant IV formulation for the most vulnerable patients; the treatment having the potential to quickly reverse the effects of THC; a pediatric indication offering the potential for a faster timeline to approval relative to the adult oral product; the incidence of unintentional cannabis poisoning in children presenting to the emergency department being rare; and scaling up an intravenous formulation of selonabant for initial clinical safety studies. . You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to: our ability to pursue our regulatory strategy, our ability to obtain regulatory approvals for commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, our ability to obtain or maintain the capital or grants necessary to fund our research and development activities, our ability to complete clinical trials on time and achieve desired results and benefits as expected, regulatory limitations relating to our ability to promote or commercialize our product candidates for specific indications, acceptance of our product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of our products, our ability to maintain our license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of our patent estate and our ability to retain our key employees or maintain our Nasdaq listing. These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2023, and our subsequent filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. Except as required by law, Anebulo undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events, changed conditions or otherwise after the date of this press release.
Condensed Balance Sheets |
||||||
|
|
March 31, June 30, |
||||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
5,147,139 |
|
$ |
11,247,403 |
Total assets |
|
|
5,995,635 |
|
|
11,670,151 |
Total liabilities |
|
|
1,010,321 |
|
|
1,068,801 |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
4,985,314 |
|
|
10,601,350 |
Condensed Statements of Operations |
||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||||
Research and development |
|
$ |
748,339 |
|
|
$ |
1,089,342 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
915,912 |
|
|
|
1,774,699 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
1,664,251 |
|
|
|
2,864,041 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(1,664,251 |
) |
|
|
(2,864,041 |
) |
Other (income) expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest expense |
|
|
59,696 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Interest income |
|
|
(68,084 |
) |
|
|
(79,152 |
) |
Other |
|
|
(2,321 |
) |
|
|
13,082 |
|
Total other income, net |
|
|
(10,709 |
) |
|
|
(66,070 |
) |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(1,653,542 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,797,971 |
) |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
|
25,933,217 |
|
|
|
25,633,217 |
|
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240515982468/en/
Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Daniel George
Acting Chief Financial Officer
(512) 598-0931
Dan@anebulo.com
Source: Anebulo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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