Bellerophon Provides Clinical Program Update and Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Bellerophon Therapeutics (Nasdaq: BLPH) announced its third-quarter results, highlighting progress in its clinical programs, particularly for INOpulse® in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) and pulmonary hypertension-sarcoidosis (PH-Sarc).

The Company reported a net loss of $4.6 million for Q3 2021, an improvement from $7.9 million in Q3 2020. Operating loss decreased from $8.3 million to $4.8 million during the same period. Cash reserves stood at $28.7 million, a decline from $47.6 million at the end of 2020, but sufficient for ongoing developments.

Positive

• Operating loss reduced to $4.8 million from $8.3 million YoY.
• Net loss improved from $7.9 million to $4.6 million YoY.
• Completion of enrollment in the PH-Sarc Phase 2 study.
• Positive results from previous Phase 2 studies for INOpulse in fILD.

Negative

• Cash reserves decreased from $47.6 million at year-end 2020 to $28.7 million.
• Continued net losses indicate ongoing financial challenges.

WARREN, N.J., Nov. 15, 2021 (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 third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

“We remain focused on advancing the development of our INOpulse® inhaled nitric oxide therapy in fibrotic interstitial lung disease, or fILD, and sarcoidosis, or PH-Sarc, which are two areas of severe unmet medical need,” said Naseem Amin, M.D., Chairman of Bellerophon’s Board of Directors. “Our pivotal Phase 3 REBUILD study in fILD is continuing to enroll. Importantly, INOpulse is the first potential therapy to treat a broad fILD population that includes patients at low, intermediate, and high risk of associated pulmonary hypertension. In addition, we are pleased to have concluded enrollment in our PH-Sarc Phase 2 dose escalation study and expect the availability of top-line results before the end of this year. Finally, with $28.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, we believe that we are in a strong financial position to continue advancing our late-stage development programs.”

Clinical Program Highlights:

fILD

• REBUILD Phase 3 Study: In December 2020, Bellerophon announced that the first patient had been enrolled in its Phase 3 REBUILD registrational study of INOpulse for the treatment of fILD. The REBUILD study plans to enroll 300 fILD patients who will be treated with either INOpulse at a dose of iNO45 or placebo. The primary endpoint is change in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). If approved, INOpulse would become the first therapy to treat a broad fILD population that includes patients at low-, intermediate- and high-risk of pulmonary hypertension.
  
  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. Acute treatment with INOpulse showed benefit in multiple cardiopulmonary parameters, including pulmonary vascular resistance, which improved by 21%, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure, which improved by 12%. Chronic treatment with INOpulse at a dose of iNO45 assessed over four months showed an average improvement in MVPA of 20% as compared to placebo. The improvements in MVPA were supported by benefits in overall activity, as well as two patient reported questionnaires, the University of California, San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire and the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire.
  

Pulmonary Hypertension-Sarcoidosis (PH-Sarc)

• Phase 2 Clinical Study: Bellerophon has concluded enrollment in a Phase 2 dose escalation study in PH-Sarc and anticipates the availability of top-line data by the end of this year. The safety and efficacy study is assessing the acute hemodynamic benefit of INOpulse via right heart catheterization. PH-Sarc is an unmet medical need with no approved therapies, and a median survival of approximately five years after diagnosis.
  

Corporate Update:

• In September 2021, the Company presented at the H.C. Wainwright 23^rd Annual Global Investment Conference.
  

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2021 Financial Results

For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company reported an operating loss of $4.8 million, compared to $8.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020.

For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $4.6 million, or $(0.49) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $7.9 million, or $(0.84) per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2020.

Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were $3.0 million, compared to $6.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to the close-out of activities related to the development of INOpulse for the treatment of COVID-19.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were $1.8 million, compared to $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in consulting and stock-based compensation costs.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Financial Results

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company reported an operating loss of $15.9 million, compared to $18.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $13.5 million, or $(1.42) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $16.7 million, or $(2.31) per basic and diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.  

Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 included an income of $0.6 million due to a change in fair value of the Company’s common stock warrant liability, as compared to an expense of $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $9.9 million, compared to $11.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to the close-out of activities related to the development of INOpulse for the treatment of COVID-19.

General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $6.0 million, compared to $6.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in consulting and stock-based compensation costs.

Balance Sheet
As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $28.7 million, compared to $47.6 million at December 31, 2020. 

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. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands except share and per share data)
	As of				As of
	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	28,714			$	47,557
Restricted cash		103				103
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		898				420
Total current assets		29,715				48,080
Restricted cash, non-current		300				300
Right of use assets, net		1,026				1,504
Property and equipment, net		88				169
Other non-current assets		186				186
Total assets	$	31,315			$	50,239
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,278			$	3,725
Accrued research and development		1,314				3,699
Accrued expenses		1,795				2,305
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		740				704
Total current liabilities		5,127				10,433
Long term operating lease liabilities		396				956
Common stock warrant liability		1				601
Total liabilities		5,524				11,990
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized and 9,506,419 and 9,491,111 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively		95				95
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized, zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020		—				—
Additional paid-in capital		253,671				252,645
Accumulated deficit		(227,975	)			(214,491	)
Total stockholders' equity		25,791				38,249
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	31,315			$	50,239

BELLEROPHON THERAPEUTICS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (in thousands except share and per share data)
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Operating expenses:
Research and development		$	3,030			$	6,065			$	9,853			$	11,754
General and administrative			1,773				2,196				6,035				6,376
Total operating expenses			4,803				8,261				15,888				18,130
Loss from operations			(4,803	)			(8,261	)			(15,888	)			(18,130	)
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability			167				319				600				(768	)
Interest and other income, net			2				9				4				50
Pre-tax loss			(4,634	)			(7,933	)			(15,284	)			(18,848	)
Income tax benefit			—				—				1,800				2,125
Net loss		$	(4,634	)		$	(7,933	)		$	(13,484	)		$	(16,723	)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic			9,506,419				9,491,111				9,501,428				7,228,349
Diluted			9,506,419				9,491,111				9,501,428				7,228,349
Net loss per share:
Basic		$	(0.49	)		$	(0.84	)		$	(1.42	)		$	(2.31	)
Diluted		$	(0.49	)		$	(0.84	)		$	(1.42	)		$	(2.31	)

FAQ

What were Bellerophon Therapeutics' financial results for Q3 2021?

Bellerophon reported a net loss of $4.6 million for Q3 2021, improved from $7.9 million in Q3 2020.

How is Bellerophon progressing with its clinical trials?

The company continues to enroll patients in its pivotal Phase 3 REBUILD study for fILD and has concluded enrollment in the PH-Sarc Phase 2 study.

What is the current cash position of Bellerophon Therapeutics?

As of September 30, 2021, Bellerophon had cash and cash equivalents of $28.7 million.

What were the operating losses reported by Bellerophon in Q3 2021?

Bellerophon reported an operating loss of $4.8 million for Q3 2021, down from $8.3 million in the same period last year.