Biostage Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Biostage, Inc. (OTCQB: BSTG), a cell-therapy biotech company, reported a net loss of $5.9 million or $0.55 per share for Q4 2021, worsening from a loss of $1.0 million in Q4 2020. The annual net loss for 2021 reached $8.0 million, up from $4.9 million in 2020, mainly due to litigation-related charges of $3.3 million and increased legal costs. As of December 31, 2021, the company held $1.2 million in cash and used $2.6 million in operations, partially offset by $2.8 million raised from private placements. The company also announced plans for an upcoming conference call on April 1, 2022.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $5.9 million for Q4 2021 compared to $1.0 million in Q4 2020.
• Annual net loss for 2021 reached $8.0 million, an increase from $4.9 million in 2020.
• Significant litigation-related charge of approximately $3.3 million.
• Increased legal costs of $1.3 million for insurance claims.
• Operating cash decreased to $1.2 million, indicating potential liquidity issues.

HOLLISTON, Mass., April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biostage, Inc. (OTCQB: BSTG) ("Biostage" or the "Company"), a cell-therapy biotechnology company with successful "first-in-human" experience in treating esophageal cancer (conducted at the Mayo Clinic and published last August) and FDA approval to commence a clinical trial of the Biostage Esophageal Implant for severe esophageal disease including cancer, today announced its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2021.

The Company will be hosting a conference call on Friday, April 1, 2022 at 9;00 A.M. Eastern Time. You can access the live conference call by dialing the following phone numbers toll free 877-407-8293 or international +1 201-689-8349. 

Summary of Financial Results

For the three months ended December 31, 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $5.9 million, or $0.55 per share, as compared to a net loss of $1.0 million, or $0.12 per share, for the three months ended December 31, 2020. The $4.9 million quarter-over-quarter increase in net loss was due primarily to a charge of approximately $3.3 million relating to the contingency matter for our ongoing litigation for a wrongful death complaint and related matters more fully described in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements and an increase in legal costs of approximately $1.3 million for fees for filing claims against our insurance carrier to seek continuance of insurance coverage for the same litigation. In addition, research and development costs increased $0.2 million and the Company recognized lower grant income for qualified expenditures from the SBIR grant of $0.1 million as the grant expired effective September 30, 2021.  

Net loss increased approximately $3.1 million to approximately $8.0 million, or $0.79 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to approximately $4.9 million, or $0.55 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The $3.1 million year-over-year increase in net loss was due primarily to a charge of approximately $3.3 million relating to the contingency matter for our ongoing litigation for a wrongful death complaint and related matters more fully described in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements and an increase in legal costs of approximately $1.3 million for fees for filing claims against our insurance carrier to seek continuance of insurance coverage for the same litigation. These increases are offset, in part, by approximately $0.8 million of lower employee and share-based expenses due to the separations of our former chief executive and chief financial officers during 2020.

In addition, research and development costs decreased by $0.5 million Notes Payable were forgiven resulting in a $0.4 million gain and grant income decreased by $0.2 million which account for the change in net loss year-over-year.

Balance Sheet and Cash

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had operating cash on-hand of $1.2 million, a decrease of $0.2 million from the prior year. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company used net cash in operations of $2.6 million, which was offset, in total, by $2.8 million of proceeds from private placement transactions that resulted in the issuance of 1,372,464 shares of our common stock and warrants to existing investors.

We expect that our operating cash on-hand as of December 31, 2021 of $1.2 million will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into early third quarter of 2022.

About Biostage.

Biostage is a clinical-stage biotech company that uses cell therapy to regenerate organs inside the human body to treat cancer, trauma and birth defects. We have performed the world's first regeneration of an esophagus in a human cancer patient. This surgery was performed at Mayo Clinic and was published in August 2021. 

Biostage has 7 issued U.S. patents, 2 orphan-drug designations (which provide 7 years of market exclusivity in addition to any patents), and the possibility of 2 Priority Review Vouchers from the FDA. 

Biostage's current goals include raising capital, uplisting from the OTC bulletin board to NASDAQ and beginning its clinical trial for repair of the esophagus in adults. 

For more information, please visit www.biostage.com and connect with the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements 

Some of the statements in this press release are "forward-looking" and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These "forward-looking" statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the capabilities and performance of our products and product candidates; our capital raising plans and expectations, including uplifting to NASDAQ; development expectations and regulatory approval of any of the Company's products, including those utilizing its Biostage Esophageal Implant technology, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency or otherwise, which expectations or approvals may not be achieved or obtained on a timely basis or at all; and success with respect to any collaborations, clinical trials and other development and commercialization efforts of the Company's products, which such success may not be achieved or obtained on a timely basis or at all. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from the statements set forth in this press release, including, among other things, the Company's inability to obtain needed funds in the immediate future; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for its products; plus other factors described under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 or described in the Company's other public filings. The Company's results may also be affected by factors of which the Company is not currently aware. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to such statements to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any changes in the events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Investor Relations Contact
Shunfu Hu
Vice President of Business Development
and Operations
774-233-7300
shu@biostage.com

 

Biostage, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands)
		December 31,			December 31,
		2021			2020
Assets
Cash		$	1,242		$	1,026
Restricted cash			50			50
Other assets			574			1,000
Total assets		$	1,866		$	2,076
Liabilities and stockholders' (deficit) equity
Other liabilities		$	1,645		$	547
Accrual for contingency matter			3,250			-
Notes payable			-			404
Total liabilities			4,895			951
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity			(3,029)			1,125
		$	1,866		$	2,076

 

BIOSTAGE, INC CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31,						For the Year Ended December 31,
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Operating expenses
Research and development		$	569		$	342		$	1,592		$	2,069
General and administrative			5,332			768			7,044			3,256
Total operating expenses			5,901			1,110			8,636			5,325
Other income (expense)
Forgiveness of notes payable			-			-			408			-
Grant income			-			77			165			447
Change in fair value of warrant liability			29			10			15			16
Other income (expense), net			(1)			(1)			70			(3)
Total other income, net			28			86			658			460
Net loss		$	(5,873)		$	(1,024)		$	(7,978)		$	(4,865)
Basic and diluted net loss per share		$	(0.55)		$	(0.12)		$	(0.79)		$	(0.55)
Weighted-average common shares, basic and diluted			10,717			8,855			10,062			8,794

 

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SOURCE Biostage, Inc.

FAQ

What were Biostage's financial results for Q4 2021?

Biostage reported a net loss of $5.9 million or $0.55 per share for Q4 2021, compared to a loss of $1.0 million in Q4 2020.

What is the net loss for Biostage for the year 2021?

For the year ended December 31, 2021, Biostage had a net loss of $8.0 million, an increase from $4.9 million in 2020.

What financial challenges did Biostage face in 2021?

Biostage faced increased litigation costs amounting to $3.3 million and $1.3 million in legal fees, contributing to its higher net loss.

How much cash did Biostage have as of December 31, 2021?

As of December 31, 2021, Biostage had operating cash on-hand of $1.2 million.

When is the next conference call for Biostage?

Biostage will host a conference call on April 1, 2022, at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time.