Cellect Biotechnology Reports Second Quarter Financial and Operating Results; First Half 2020 Strategic Developments Create Long-Term Revenue Catalysts

Rhea-AI Summary

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (NASDAQ: APOP) reported its financial results for Q2 2020, highlighting ongoing challenges from COVID-19. Despite delays, the company is pursuing strategic initiatives in pain management and COVID-19 therapeutics. Financially, R&D expenses decreased to $0.39 million, and G&A expenses fell to $0.61 million. However, finance expenses rose to $1.54 million, resulting in a net loss of $2.54 million, or $0.007 per share. Cash and equivalents were $7 million as of June 30, 2020. The company aims to resume clinical trials and leverage its technology for long-term growth.

Positive

• Company holds $7 million in cash and cash equivalents.
• R&D and G&A expenses decreased, indicating potential cost management.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $2.54 million compared to previous quarters.
• Delays in clinical trials and business initiatives due to COVID-19.

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (NASDAQ: APOP), a developer of innovative technology which enables the functional selection of stem cells, today reported financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.  The Company's six-month progress includes the development of several strategic initiatives, including growth-oriented opportunities in pain management and COVID-19 related therapeutics. 

"Despite the COVID-19 pandemic business disruptions and the near-term delays to completing and commencing our clinical programs in Israel and the U.S., respectively, we acted swiftly over the past few months to leverage our sought-after technology to create several long-term business initiatives to enhance our value," commented Dr. Shai Yarkoni, Chief Executive Officer. "In addition to pursuing a potential merger with a global leader in the high growth medical-grade cannabis market, which is being delayed due to COVID-19, we have either initiated or are contemplating other business development activities  that will greatly benefit from our innovation, technology and know-how. I believe each of these opportunities represents meaningful catalysts for Cellect in multi-billion-dollar markets, subject to resolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and return to normal course of business." 

Notwithstanding the continued delays due to COVID-19, the Company remains focused on the following operational and clinical objectives:

• Recruit the final patient in the Israel trial, as soon as practically allowed, and publish the primary endpoint results six months later
• Commence the U.S. trial immediately upon resumption of normal business practices since the Company has already received the regulatory and institutional approvals to proceed
• Highlight its stem cell thought leadership by presenting at two upcoming prestigious conferences – the Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa (October) and the International Congress on Autoimmunity (November), both being held virtually
• Progress the scale-up process to complete robust, automated, close compartment Apograft process through clinically approved medical devices

The Company's cash and cash equivalents totaled $7 million as of June 30, 2020, which includes the approximately $1.5 million (gross before expenses) resulting from several investors exercising certain warrants that were issued in February 2019.

Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results:

• Research and development (R&D) expenses for the second quarter of 2020 were $0.39 million, compared to $0.44 million in the first quarter of 2020 and $1.03 million in the second quarter of 2019. The decrease in the second quarter of 2020 as compared to the first quarter of 2020 was primarily due decrease in clinical activities as a result of the COVID-19.
• General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the second quarter of 2020 were $0.61 million, compared to $0.75 million in the first quarter of 2020 and $0.78 million in the second quarter of 2019. The decrease in the second quarter of 2020 as compared to the first quarter of 2020 was primarily due to the decrease in professional expenses.
• Finance expenses for the second quarter of 2020 was $1.54 million, compared to finance income of $0.45 million in the first quarter of 2020. The change was primarily due to changes related to the fair value of the tradable and non-tradable warrants issued in a prior fundraising.
• Net loss for the second quarter of 2020 was $2.54 million, or $0.007 per share, compared to $0.74 million, or $0.002 per share, in the first quarter of 2020, and $0.24 million, or $0.001 per share, in the second quarter of 2019.

* For the convenience of the reader, the amounts above have been translated from NIS into U.S. dollars, at the representative rate of exchange on June 30, 2020 (U.S. $1 = NIS 3.466).

About Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.

Cellect Biotechnology (APOP) has developed a breakthrough technology, for the selection of stem cells from any given tissue, that aims to improve a variety of stem cell-based therapies.

The Company's technology is expected to provide researchers, clinical community and pharma companies with the tools to rapidly isolate stem cells in quantity and quality allowing stem cell-based treatments and procedures in a wide variety of applications in regenerative medicine. The Company's current clinical trial is aimed at bone marrow transplantations in cancer treatment.

Forward Looking Statements                     

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company's expectations, beliefs and intentions. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe", "expect", "intend", "plan", "may", "should", "could", "might", "seek", "target", "will", "project", "forecast", "continue" or "anticipate" or their negatives or variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical matters. For example, forward-looking statements are used in this press release when we discuss Cellect's expectations regarding timing of the commencement of its planned U.S. clinical trial and its plan to reduce operating costs. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of the Company only and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In addition, historical results or conclusions from scientific research and clinical studies do not guarantee that future results would suggest similar conclusions or that historical results referred to herein would be interpreted similarly in light of additional research or otherwise. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: the Company's history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund its operations and its inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the Company's ability to obtain regulatory approvals; the Company's ability to obtain favorable pre-clinical and clinical trial results; the Company's technology may not be validated and its methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; difficulties enrolling patients in the Company's clinical trials; the ability to timely source adequate supply of FasL; risks resulting from unforeseen side effects; the Company's ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and the Company's industry; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with the Company's technology; the Company's ability to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of its products; and the Company's ability to pursue any strategic transaction or that any transaction, if pursued, will be completed. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.'s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, which is available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC.

 

 

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.
Consolidated Statement of Operation
		Convenience
		translation
		Six months ended		Six months ended				Three months ended
		June 30,		June 30,				June 30,
		2020		2020		2019		2020		2019
		Unaudited		Unaudited
		U.S. dollars		NIS
		(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Research and development expenses		837		2,901		7,086		1,364		3,564
General and administrative expenses		1,356		4,703		5,064		2,116		2,709
Operating loss		2,193		7,604		12,150		3,480		6,273
Financial expenses (income) due to  warrants exercisable into shares		1,098		3,807		(7,111)		4,697		(5,919)
Other financial expenses (income), net		(15)		(55)		880		627		462
Total comprehensive loss		3,276		11,356		5,919		8,804		816
Loss per share:
Basic and diluted loss per share		0.010		0.034		0.029		0.024		0.004
Weighted average number of shares   outstanding used to compute basic and   diluted loss per share		338,182,275		338,182,275		200,942,871		365,428,101		224,087,799

 

 

 

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
	Convenience
	translation
	June 30,		June 30,		December 31,
	2020		2020		2019
	Unaudited		Unaudited		Audited
	U.S. dollars		NIS
	(In thousands, except share and per share data)
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	7,002		24,269		18,106
Other receivables	277		960		469
	7,279		25,229		18,575
NON-CURRENT ASSETS:
Restricted cash	95		330		328
Right of use - Assets under operating lease	262		908		1,035
Other long-term receivables	22		76		94
Property, plant and equipment, net	314		1,087		1,288
	693		2,401		2,745
	7,972		27,630		21,320
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Trade payables	121		420		158
Other payables	622		2,158		3,080
Current maturities of lease liability	120		416		396
	863		2,994		3,634
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Warrants to ADS	666		2,307		2,172
Lease liability	155		538		677
	821		2,845		2,849
EQUITY:
Ordinary shares of no par value: Authorized: 500,000,000 shares at December 31, 2019   and June 30, 2020; Issued and outstanding:   224,087,799*) and 390,949,079*) shares as of   December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2020, respectively.	-		-		-
Additional Paid in Capital	36,595		126,839		108,598
Share-based payments	4,789		16,597		16,528
Treasury shares	(2,719)		(9,425)		(9,425)
Accumulated deficit	(32,377)		(112,220)		(100,864)
	6,288		21,791		14,837
	7,972		27,630		21,320
*)         Net of 2,641,693 treasury shares of the Company held by the Company.

 

 

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.
Consolidated Cash Flow Data
		Convenience
		translation
		Six months ended	Six months ended				Three months ended
		June 30,	June 30,				June 30,
		2020	2020		2019		2020		2019
		Unaudited	Unaudited
		U.S. dollars	NIS
		(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Total comprehensive loss		(3,276)	(11,356)		(5,919)		(8,804)		(816)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net  cash used in operating activities:
Exchange rate difference		1	5		-		700		-
Net financing expenses		11	37		815		18		443
Loss (gain) from revaluation of financial   assets presented at fair value through   profit and loss		-	-		6		-		2
Depreciation		49	170		192		84		94
Changes in fair value of traded and not   traded warrants		1,098	3,807		(8,442)		4,697		(5,895)
Share-based payment		239	829		529		468		744
Decrease (increase) in other receivables		(136)	(473)		145		(544)		75
Increase (decrease) in other payables		(217)	(753)		(715)		(1,621)		(730)
Decrease in right-of-use assets		53	183		314		92		200
Interest received during the period		10	35		(46)		23		(46)
Net cash used in operating activities		(2,168)	(7,516)		(13,121)		(4,887)		(5,929)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Restricted cash, net		(1)	(2)		-		2		-
Sale (Purchase) of property, plant and equipment		9	31		(120)		(3)		-
Net cash provided by investing activities		8	29		(120)		(1)		-
Cash flows from financing activities:
Exercise of warrants and stock options into  shares		1,358	4,707		-		4,684		-
Leases liabilities		(61)	(212)		(278)		(108)		(178)
Issue of share capital and warrants, net of  issue costs		2,652	9,194		23,723		71		(1,114)
Net cash provided (used) by financing  activities		3,949	13,689		23,445		4,647		(1,292)
Exchange differences on balances of cash   and cash equivalents		(11)	(39)		(769)		(721)		(397)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash  equivalents		1,778	6,163		9,435		(962)		(7,618)
Balance of cash and cash equivalents at the  beginning of the period		5,224	18,106		17,809		25,231		34,862
Balance of cash and cash equivalents at   the end of the period		7,002	24,269		27,244		24,269		27,244

                  

Contact

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.
Eyal Leibovitz, Chief Financial Officer
www.cellect.co
+972-9-974-1444

Or

EVC Group LLC  
Michael Polyviou
(732) 933-2754
mpolyviou@evcgroup.com

 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cellect-biotechnology-reports-second-quarter-financial-and-operating-results-first-half-2020-strategic-developments-create-long-term-revenue-catalysts-301110743.html

SOURCE Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.

FAQ

What were Cellect Biotechnology's Q2 2020 financial results?

Cellect reported a net loss of $2.54 million with R&D expenses at $0.39 million and G&A expenses at $0.61 million.

How much cash does Cellect Biotechnology have as of June 30, 2020?

Cellect Biotechnology has $7 million in cash and cash equivalents.

What challenges is Cellect Biotechnology facing due to COVID-19?

Cellect is experiencing delays in clinical trials and strategic initiatives due to the pandemic.

Is Cellect Biotechnology working on any new initiatives?

Yes, Cellect is pursuing opportunities in pain management and COVID-19 therapeutics.

What are Cellect Biotechnology's future plans regarding clinical trials?

The company plans to recruit the final patient for its Israel trial and commence its U.S. trial once normal business resumes.