Aptorum Group Limited Reports Financial Results and Business Update for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

Aptorum Group (NASDAQ: APM) reported financial results for H1 2024, with a net loss of $2.7 million, improved from $6.6 million in H1 2023. The company announced the termination of its reverse takeover transaction with Yoov Group due to market conditions affecting funding availability.

Key financial highlights include: Research and development expenses decreased to $2.0 million from $3.2 million; General and administrative fees reduced to $0.3 million from $1.3 million; and Legal and professional fees declined to $0.4 million from $1.7 million. As of June 30, 2024, cash and restricted cash totaled $0.8 million with total equity of $13.2 million.

Positive

• Net loss reduced by 59% to $2.7M from $6.6M year-over-year
• Operating expenses decreased by $4.1M due to stringent budgetary controls
• General and administrative fees reduced by 77% to $0.3M

Negative

• Cash position declined to $0.8M from $2.0M in December 2023
• R&D activities suspended while seeking business combination opportunities
• Failed reverse takeover transaction with Yoov Group
• Zero revenue in H1 2024 compared to $431K in H1 2023

Insights

Financial Analyst

The financial results reveal concerning operational and financial metrics. The company reported a $2.7 million net loss for H1 2024, though improved from $6.6 million in H1 2023. The improvement stems primarily from cost-cutting measures rather than business growth, with R&D expenses significantly reduced to $2.0 million from $3.2 million.

Most alarming is the cash position of only $783,085 as of June 30, 2024, down from $2.0 million at year-end 2023. With suspended R&D activities and a failed merger attempt with Yoov, the company's strategic direction appears uncertain. The $3.1 million convertible note to a related party and declining working capital raise serious liquidity concerns.

The dramatic reduction in operating expenses across all categories - including an 74% drop in G&A fees and a 79% decrease in legal fees - suggests the company is in survival mode rather than growth mode. The suspension of R&D activities is particularly concerning for a clinical-stage biotech company, as it directly impacts future pipeline development and value creation potential.

Biotech Research Analyst

The complete suspension of R&D activities represents a critical strategic misstep for a clinical-stage biotech company. While cost reduction measures improved the bottom line, halting research activities severely compromises the company's ability to advance its pipeline in oncology, autoimmune and infectious diseases. This decision could lead to significant competitive disadvantages and delayed time-to-market for potential therapeutic assets.

The termination of the Yoov merger and subsequent focus on seeking other business combinations, rather than resuming R&D operations, suggests a fundamental shift away from the company's core mission of drug development. This pivot raises serious questions about the future of their therapeutic pipeline and the company's ability to deliver on its stated mission of meeting unmet medical needs.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aptorum Group Limited (NASDAQ: APM) (“Aptorum Group” or the “Company”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to meeting unmet medical needs in oncology, autoimmune and infectious diseases, today provided a business update and announced financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

“Our team and Yoov have spent considerable time and effort on the due diligence process, the negotiation of definitive terms, and the preparation of necessary transactional and listing documentation. However, current market conditions have introduced significant uncertainty regarding the availability of the required funding for the transaction. After careful consideration, our Board has determined that it is no longer in the best interests of our shareholders to proceed with this transaction. Despite this, we will continue to explore other business combination opportunities that we believe will enhance shareholder value,” stated Mr. Ian Huen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Aptorum Group Limited.

Corporate Highlights

On October 24, 2024, the Company and Yoov Group Holding Limited (“Yoov”) entered into a termination agreement and the anticipated reverse takeover transaction with Yoov was terminated.

Financial Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

Aptorum Group reported a net loss of $2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $6.6 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in net loss in the current period was driven by the decrease in operating expenses by $4.1 million due to the implementation of stringent budgetary control measures, as a result of the Company’s exclusive emphasis on the previous anticipated RTO.

Research and development expenses were $2.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $3.2 million for the same period in 2023. Before the Merger Agreement was terminated, we determined it was best to focus all of our attention and resources on completing the Merger and therefore paused the majority of our R&D activities during that time; following the termination of the Merger Agreement in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, we determined that searching for other business combination opportunities could maximize shareholder value, and our R&D activities remain suspended.

General and administrative fees were $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in general and administrative fees was primary due to the streamlining of our operations to focus on preparation for the Merger, which has since been abandoned.

Legal and professional fees were $0.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease in legal and professional fees was attributed to the lack of non-routine activities that were present in the same period last year, such as the implementation of reverse stock split, and amendments to the memorandum and articles of association. The absence of such non-routine exercises in the current period has resulted in a decrease in legal and professional fees.

As of June 30, 2024, cash and restricted cash totaled approximately $0.8 million and total equity was approximately $13.2 million.

APTORUM GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (Stated in U.S. Dollars)
		June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash		$	783,085			$	2,005,351
Accounts receivable			21,800				47,709
Amounts due from related parties			3,595				961
Other receivables and prepayments			725,616				422,071
Total current assets			1,534,096				2,476,092
Property and equipment, net			-				1,663,926
Operating lease right-of-use assets			-				182,057
Long-term investments			16,098,846				16,098,846
Intangible assets, net			-				147,347
Long-term deposits			71,823				71,823
Total Assets		$	17,704,765			$	20,640,091
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Amounts due to related parties		$	79,180			$	79,180
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			1,148,235				1,894,341
Operating lease liabilities, current			89,145				125,232
Total current liabilities			1,316,560				2,098,753
Operating lease liabilities, non-current			62,718				99,485
Convertible notes to a related party			3,148,500				3,058,500
Total Liabilities		$	4,527,778			$	5,256,738
Commitments and contingencies			-				-
EQUITY
Class A Ordinary Shares ($0.00001 par value, 9,999,996,000,000 shares authorized, 3,674,164 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024; 2,937,921 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023)		$	37			$	31
Class B Ordinary Shares ($0.00001 par value; 4,000,000 shares authorized, 1,796,934 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024; 2,243,776 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023)			18				22
Additional paid-in capital			93,470,186				93,018,528
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(9,762	)			(10,623	)
Accumulated deficit			(70,805,518	)			(68,161,722	)
Total equity attributable to the shareholders of Aptorum Group Limited			22,654,961				24,846,236
Non-controlling interests			(9,477,974	)			(9,462,883	)
Total equity			13,176,987				15,383,353
Total Liabilities and Equity		$	17,704,765			$	20,640,091

APTORUM GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (Stated in U.S. Dollars)
		For the six months ended June 30,
		2024				2023
Revenue
Healthcare services income		$	-			$	431,378
Operating expenses
Costs of healthcare services			-				(426,063	)
Research and development expenses			(2,038,923	)			(3,212,366	)
General and administrative fees			(326,187	)			(1,263,019	)
Legal and professional fees			(366,164	)			(1,738,566	)
Other operating expenses			(137,233	)			(330,212	)
Total operating expenses			(2,868,507	)			(6,970,226	)
Other income (expenses)
Loss on investments in marketable securities, net			-				(9,266	)
Interest expense, net			(68,462	)			(93,478	)
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries			(4,271	)			-
Sundry income			282,353				36,803
Total other income (expenses), net			209,620				(65,941	)
Net loss		$	(2,658,887	)		$	(6,604,789	)
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests			(15,091	)			(1,117,685	)
Net loss attributable to Aptorum Group Limited		$	(2,643,796	)		$	(5,487,104	)
Net loss per share – basic and diluted		$	(0.50	)		$	(1.43	)
Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic and diluted			5,339,608				3,849,621
Net loss		$	(2,658,887	)		$	(6,604,789	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations			861				(7,485	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)			861				(7,485	)
Comprehensive loss			(2,658,026	)			(6,612,274	)
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests			(15,091	)			(1,117,685	)
Comprehensive loss attributable to the shareholders of Aptorum Group Limited			(2,642,935	)			(5,494,589	)

About Aptorum Group

Aptorum Group Limited (Nasdaq: APM) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic assets to treat diseases with unmet medical needs, particularly in oncology (including orphan oncology indications) and infectious diseases. The pipeline of Aptorum is also enriched through the co-development of Paths^Dx Test, a novel molecular-based rapid pathogen identification and detection diagnostics technology, with Accelerate Technologies Pte Ltd, commercialization arm of the Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

For more information about the Company, please visit www.aptorumgroup.com.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of Aptorum Group.

This press release includes statements concerning Aptorum Group Limited and its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Aptorum Group has based these forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding projected timelines for application submissions and trials, largely on its current expectations and projections about future events and trends that it believes may affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, risks related to its announced management and organizational changes, the continued service and availability of key personnel, its ability to expand its product assortments by offering additional products for additional consumer segments, development results, the company’s anticipated growth strategies, anticipated trends and challenges in its business, and its expectations regarding, and the stability of, its supply chain, and the risks more fully described in Aptorum Group’s Form 20-F and other filings that Aptorum Group may make with the SEC in the future. As a result, the projections included in such forward-looking statements are subject to change and actual results may differ materially from those described herein.

Aptorum Group assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release is provided “as is” without any representation or warranty of any kind.

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Aptorum Group Limited

Investor Relations Department

investor.relations@aptorumgroup.com

+44 20 80929299

Source: Aptorum Group Limited

FAQ

What caused APM's net loss reduction in H1 2024?

APM's net loss reduction to $2.7M from $6.6M was primarily driven by decreased operating expenses of $4.1M due to stringent budgetary control measures and suspended R&D activities.

Why did APM terminate the reverse takeover deal with Yoov Group?

APM terminated the deal with Yoov Group due to market conditions creating significant uncertainty regarding the availability of required funding for the transaction.

What is APM's current cash position as of June 2024?

As of June 30, 2024, APM reported cash and restricted cash totaling approximately $0.8 million.

How much did APM reduce its R&D expenses in H1 2024?

APM's R&D expenses decreased to $2.0 million in H1 2024 from $3.2 million in H1 2023, primarily due to suspended R&D activities.