Bellerophon Provides Clinical Program Update and Reports Full-Year 2022 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Bellerophon Therapeutics (Nasdaq: BLPH) has completed enrollment for the INOpulse® REBUILD Phase 3 trial, preparing for top-line data release in mid-2023. Following a license agreement with Baylor BioSciences, the company aims to commercialize INOpulse® in Greater China, receiving a $6 million license fee. Bellerophon also raised $5 million through a registered direct offering to support its ongoing trials. The company reported a net loss of $19.8 million for 2022, a slight increase from the previous year. R&D expenses rose to $16.4 million, while general and administrative costs decreased to $6 million, showcasing initiatives to optimize finances.

Positive

• Completed enrollment of 145 patients in the Phase 3 REBUILD trial, with pivotal data expected in mid-2023.
• Secured a $6 million license agreement with Baylor BioSciences for INOpulse® in Greater China.
• Raised $5 million through a registered direct offering to fund ongoing studies.

Negative

• Reported a net loss of $19.8 million for 2022, increasing from a $17.8 million loss in 2021.
• R&D expenses rose significantly to $16.4 million, indicating higher operational costs.

• Completed Enrollment in INOpulse® REBUILD Phase 3 trial; Pivotal Top-line Data Expected in Mid-2023
• Signed License Agreement with Baylor BioSciences to Commercialize INOpulse® in Greater China
• Strengthened Balance Sheet Through $5 Million Registered Direct Offering with Life Sciences-focused Institutional Investor

WARREN, N.J., March 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLPH) (“Bellerophon” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing treatments for cardiopulmonary diseases, today provided a clinical program update and reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022.

“We have achieved significant recent progress throughout our business, including advancing the INOpulse® clinical program, enhancing our regulatory and commercial prospects in China, and strengthening the balance sheet,” said Peter Fernandes, Bellerophon’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the INOpulse® REBUILD Phase 3 study fully enrolled, we anticipate treating the last patient in the second quarter of 2023, followed by pivotal top-line data readout in mid-2023. Moreover, the recent license agreement established with Baylor BioSciences and the IND clearance from China NMPA to conduct a Phase 3 clinical trial in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) position us well to access one of the largest commercial markets globally. Importantly, following the license agreement with Baylor and successfully completed $5 million financing, we are now well-capitalized through top-line data from the pivotal Phase 3 REBUILD trial.”

Clinical Program Highlights:

Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease (fILD)

• REBUILD Phase 3 Study: The Company completed the planned enrollment of 145 patients in the pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of INOpulse® for the treatment of fILD and anticipates treating the last patients in the second quarter of 2023. The pivotal top-line data readout from patients treated with either INOpulse® at a dose of iNO45 or placebo is expected in mid-2023. The Phase 3 program builds on positive top-line results from the Company’s previously reported Phase 2 studies for INOpulse® for the treatment of fILD which showed benefits in multiple cardiopulmonary parameters, including pulmonary vascular resistance and improvement in Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA). If approved, INOpulse would become the first therapy to treat a broad fILD population, including patients at low-, intermediate- and high-risk pulmonary hypertension.
  
• IND Clearance from China NMPA: The Center for Drug Evaluation of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) cleared the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application to conduct a Phase 3 clinical trial to support the registration of INOpulse® for the treatment of fILD in China. The study will utilize MVPA as the primary endpoint and be conducted in collaboration with Baylor BioSciences, a life sciences company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative medical products for Greater China.
  

Pulmonary Hypertension-Sarcoidosis (PH-Sarc)

Phase 2 Clinical Study: In December 2021, Bellerophon reported positive top-line data from the completed Phase 2 dose escalation study of INOpulse® evaluating the acute hemodynamic benefit of INOpulse® via right heart catheterization for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with sarcoidosis (PH-Sarc). Based on the benefits demonstrated in hemodynamic parameters and favorable safety profile, Bellerophon designed and submitted to the FDA a proposed exploratory Phase 2 double-blinded placebo-controlled study to investigate the safety and efficacy of iNO45 dosed chronically for six months in patients with PH-Sarc. Subsequently, the Company received FDA clearance to conduct the study and Bellerophon is currently assessing the next steps for the study.

Corporate Update:

• License Agreement with Baylor BioSciences: On January 4, 2023, the Company entered into a license agreement with Baylor BioSciences, a life sciences company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative medical products in Greater China. Baylor received exclusive rights to develop and commercialize INOpulse® within Greater China for diseases associated with pulmonary hypertension, including the lead indication of fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD), as well as PH-Sarcoidosis and PH-COPD. Under the terms of the license agreement, Bellerophon will receive a license payment of $6 million subject to taxes and closing costs. Additionally, the Company is entitled to royalties of 5% on net sales resulting from all of the licensed INOpulse® indications within Greater China.
  
• Registered Direct Offering: On March 3, 2023, Bellerophon entered into a subscription agreement with a life sciences-focused institutional investor to issue and sell in a registered direct offering, 718,474 shares of common stock at a price of $2.00 per share and 1,781,526 prefunded warrants at a price of $1.99 per pre-funded warrant for total gross proceeds of approximately $5 million, before deducting estimated offering expenses. The Company intends to use the proceeds of this $5 million offering to complete the ongoing REBUILD Phase 3 study and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
  

2022 Year-End Financial Results:

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company reported a net loss of $19.8 million, or $(2.08) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $17.8 million, or $(1.87) per basic and diluted share, in the year ended December 31, 2021.

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, were $16.4 million, compared to $13.0 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to the ongoing Phase 3 REBUILD trial.

General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022, were $6 million, as compared to $7.1 million in the prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to reduced labor, stock-based compensation, and general consulting costs.

Balance Sheet:

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $6.9 million, compared to unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $24.7 million on December 31, 2021. The Company’s capital position as of December 31, 2022 is not reflective of the subsequent transactions which closed in the first quarter of 2023. These transactions include the $1.7 million net proceeds from the sale of Company’s net operating losses and research and development credits under the State of New Jersey’s Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program in January 2023, the $6 million license payment, subject to tax closing costs, due from Baylor BioSciences, and the net proceeds of approximately $5 million from the registered direct offering closed in March 2023.

About Bellerophon

Bellerophon Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing innovative therapies that address significant unmet medical needs in the treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases. The Company is currently developing multiple product candidates under its INOpulse® program, a proprietary pulsatile nitric oxide delivery system. For more information, please visit www.bellerophon.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about Bellerophon’s future expectations, plans, and prospects, including statements about the clinical development of its product candidates, regulatory actions with respect to the Company’s clinical trials and expectations regarding the sufficiency of the Company’s cash balance to fund clinical trials, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks and uncertainties relating to INOpulse®, the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials, availability and timing of data from ongoing and future clinical trials and the results of such trials, whether preliminary or interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical trials will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, the FDA’s substantial discretion in the approval process, availability of funding sufficient for our foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Bellerophon’s views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release.

Contacts
LifeSci Advisors:
Brian Ritchie
(212) 915-2578
britchie@lifesciadvisors.com

BELLEROPHON THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
		As of				As of
		December 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	6,924			$	24,736
Restricted cash			405				103
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			234				620
Total current assets			7,563				25,459
Restricted cash, non-current			—				300
Right of use assets, net			184				863
Property and equipment, net			2				67
Other non-current assets			186				186
Total assets		$	7,935			$	26,875
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	1,230			$	1,192
Accrued research and development			2,655				1,397
Accrued expenses			1,313				1,711
Current portion of operating lease liabilities			203				752
Total current liabilities			5,401				5,052
Long term operating lease liabilities			—				203
Common stock warrant liability			—				1
Total liabilities			5,401				5,256
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized and 9,645,711 and 9,545,451 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively			96				95
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized, zero shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021			—				—
Additional paid-in capital			254,516				253,771
Accumulated deficit			(252,078	)			(232,247	)
Total stockholders' equity			2,534				21,619
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	7,935			$	26,875

BELLEROPHON THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations And Comprehensive Loss
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
	2022				2021
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$	16,362			$	13,015
General and administrative		6,022				7,146
Total operating expenses		22,384				20,161
Loss from operations		(22,384	)			(20,161	)
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability		1				600
Interest income and financing expenses, net		135				5
Pre-tax loss		(22,248	)			(19,556	)
Income tax benefit		2,417				1,800
Net loss and comprehensive loss	$	(19,831	)		$	(17,756	)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		9,550,872				9,502,793
Diluted		9,550,872				9,502,793
Net loss per share:
Basic	$	(2.08	)		$	(1.87	)
Diluted	$	(2.08	)		$	(1.87	)

FAQ

What is the expected timeline for the INOpulse® REBUILD Phase 3 trial data?

Top-line data from the INOpulse® REBUILD Phase 3 trial is expected in mid-2023.

How much did Bellerophon raise in the registered direct offering?

Bellerophon raised approximately $5 million from the registered direct offering.

What was Bellerophon's net loss for 2022?

Bellerophon reported a net loss of $19.8 million for the year 2022.

What was the increase in research and development expenses for Bellerophon in 2022?

Research and development expenses increased to $16.4 million in 2022, compared to $13.0 million in 2021.

What did Bellerophon receive from the license agreement with Baylor BioSciences?

Bellerophon received a $6 million license payment under the agreement with Baylor BioSciences.