DiaMedica Therapeutics Provides a Business Update and Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAC) provided a business update and financial results for Q1 2024, reporting $46.5 million cash with runway to 2026. They dosed the first patient in the ReMEDy2 Stroke Trial, with a projected enrollment completion by Q1 2025. The company expanded its clinical operations team to support global expansion. Financially, R&D expenses increased, but G&A expenses remained steady. DiaMedica held a conference call to discuss these updates and financial results.

Positive

• DiaMedica reported a strong cash position of $46.5 million with a runway to 2026, providing financial stability for upcoming operations and trials.

• The dosing of the first patient in the ReMEDy2 Stroke Trial signifies progress in their clinical developments, with expected completion of enrollment for the interim analysis by Q1 2025.

• The expansion of the clinical operations team to support global expansion indicates a commitment to advancing their pipeline and reaching a wider patient population.

Negative

• Net cash used in operating activities increased to $6.7 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to deposit funds advanced to vendors supporting the ReMEDy2 trial, impacting cash flow.

• R&D expenses increased to $3.7 million in Q1 2024, driven by the continuation of the ReMEDy2 trial, potentially impacting overall expenses and profitability.

Conference Call and Webcast May 9 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time / 7:00 AM Central Time 

• First Patient Dosed in Relaunch of ReMEDy2 Stroke Trial
• Clinical Operations Team Expanded to Support Global Expansion
• $46.5 Million Cash with Runway to 2026

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for neurological disorders and cardio-renal disease, today provided a business update and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Management will host a conference call Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time / 7:00 AM Central Time to discuss its business update and first quarter 2024 financial results.

ReMEDy2 Phase 2/3 AIS Clinical Developments

DiaMedica, as recently announced, enrolled its first participant in the continuation of its ReMEDy2 trial of DM199 (rinvecalinase alfa) in participants with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The first clinical sites were opened in December 2023 and as of the date of this press release, eight sites have now been opened. The majority of the U.S. sites are expected to be activated by the end of the third quarter of 2024.

Progress is also being made outside of the United States. With the support of the Canadian Stroke Consortium, the required Senior Medical Officer, who will serve as the national physician investigator for Canada, has been engaged and six quality sites have been identified for inclusion in the trial. DiaMedica currently expects to submit its regulatory filings to Health Canada this month and expects a response by the end of June. The activation of study sites in Canada is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024. The Australian Stroke Trials Network has completed its endorsement of DiaMedica’s protocol and DiaMedica is currently selecting study sites. The Company plans to work with many of the same highly-engaged centers it worked with in the ReMEDy1 trial. Australian site activation remains on track to commence before the end of 2024.

The Company currently believes that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, full enrollment for the 144 patients for the interim analysis will be completed in the first quarter of 2025. For more information about the ReMEDy2 AIS Phase 2/3 clinical trial, please visit (www.remedytrial.com).

"We are diligently working to involve and mobilize top-tier stroke centers, laying a solid groundwork for patient participation," stated Dr. Lorianne Masuoka, DiaMedica’s Chief Medical Officer. "The enthusiasm from premier research sites is uplifting, and we remain dedicated to bringing DM199 to stroke patients."

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

DiaMedica reported total cash, cash equivalents and investments of $46.5 million, current liabilities of $2.6 million and working capital of $44.9 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to total cash, cash equivalents and investments of $52.9 million, current liabilities of $2.8 million and working capital of $50.9 million as of December 31, 2023. The decreases in cash, cash equivalents and investments and in working capital were due to a combination of net cash used to fund operations, including the advance of deposit funds to vendors supporting the ReMEDy2 trial in the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $6.7 million compared to $5.1 million for the year three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase in cash used in operating activities was driven primarily by the advance of deposit funds to vendors supporting the ReMEDy2 trial in the current year period.

Financial Results

Research and development (R&D) expenses increased to $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. This increase was due to increased costs related to the continuation of the ReMEDy2 trial, and was partially offset by cost reductions related to clinical trial work completed in 2023, namely the Company’s Phase 1C and REDUX trials, and the completion in 2023 of in-use study work performed to address the former clinical hold on the ReMEDy2 trial. DiaMedica expects R&D expenses to increase moderately relative to recent prior periods as the global expansion of the ReMEDy2 trial proceeds and site activations and participant enrollments continue. The Company expects these anticipated increases will be moderated by the clinical trial work and in-use studies completed in 2023.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses increased $0.2 million to $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, up from $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. This increase was primarily driven by increased personnel costs incurred in conjunction with the expansion of DiaMedica’s team, partially offset by a reduction in the cost of directors and officers liability insurance premiums. DiaMedica expects G&A expenses to remain steady as compared to prior periods.

Other income, net, was $597 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $256 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2023. This increase was driven by increased interest income recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2024 related to increased marketable securities balances during the current year period as compared to the same prior year period.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

DiaMedica Management will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its business update and first quarter 2024 financial results on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 8:00 AM Eastern Time / 7:00 AM Central Time:

Date:	Thursday, May 9, 2023
Time:	8:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM CT
Web access:	https://app.webinar.net/jDdlnVm9Ewq
Dial In:	(646) 357-8785
Conference ID:	07657

Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing in or listening to the simultaneous webcast. Listeners should log on to the website or dial in 15 minutes prior to the call. The webcast will remain available for playback on the Company’s website, under investor relations - events and presentations, following the earnings call and for 12 months thereafter. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until May 16, 2024, by dialing (888) 660-6345 (US Toll Free) and entering the replay passcode: 07657#.

About ReMEDy2 Trial

The ReMEDy2 trial is an adaptive design, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studying the use of the Company’s product candidate, DM199, to treat acute ischemic stroke patients. The trial is intended to enroll approximately 350 patients at up to 100 sites in the United States with planned global expansion. Patients enrolled in the trial will be treated for three weeks with either DM199 or placebo, beginning within 24 hours of the onset of AIS symptoms, with the final follow-up at 90 days. The trial excludes patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and/or mechanical thrombectomy. DiaMedica believes that the proposed trial has the potential to serve as a pivotal registration study of DM199 in this patient population.

About DM199

DM199 is a recombinant (synthetic) form of human tissue kallikrein-1 (rKLK1; rinvecalinase alpha). rKLK1 is identical to naturally produced KLK1, a serine protease enzyme that plays an important role in the regulation of diverse physiological processes via a molecular mechanism that increases production of nitric oxide and prostacyclin. In the case of ischemic stroke, the administration of DM199 is intended to enhance blood flow and boost neuronal survival in the ischemic penumbra by dilating arterioles surrounding the site of the vascular occlusion and inhibit of apoptosis (neuronal cell death) while also facilitating neuronal remodeling through the promotion of angiogenesis. KLK1 deficiency may play a role in multiple vascular and fibrotic diseases such as stroke, chronic kidney disease, retinopathy, vascular dementia, and resistant hypertension where current treatment options are limited or ineffective. DiaMedica is the first company to have developed and clinically studied rKLK1. Non-recombinant, tissue extracted KLK1 protein, produced from the pancreas of pigs and human urine, has been approved for decades outside the U.S. and Europe for patients in Japan, China and South Korea with a variety of ischemic conditions such as AIS, chronic renal disease, retinopathy and hypertension. DM199 is currently being studied in patients with AIS. In September 2021, the FDA granted Fast Track Designation to DM199 for the treatment of AIS.

About DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc.

DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from serious diseases with a focus on acute ischemic stroke. DiaMedica’s lead candidate DM199 is the first pharmaceutically active recombinant (synthetic) form of the KLK1 protein, an established therapeutic modality in Asia for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and other vascular diseases. For more information visit the Company’s website at www.diamedica.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect management’s current expectations. When used in this press release, the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “look forward,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “hope,” “should,” or “will,” the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology, and the use of future dates are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include statements regarding the Company’s expectations regarding the timing for site activations and geographic locations thereof and enrollment in the ReMEDy2 trial, anticipated clinical benefits and success of DM199, and cash runway to 2026. Such statements and information reflect management’s current view and DiaMedica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of these statements or information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, uncertainties relating to the effects of the protocol amendments, timing of site activations and enrollment, regulatory applications and related filing and approval timelines; the possibility of additional future adverse events associated with or unfavorable results from the ReMEDy2 trial; the possibility of unfavorable results from DiaMedica’s ongoing or future clinical trials of DM199; the risk that existing preclinical and clinical data may not be predictive of the results of ongoing or later clinical trials; DiaMedica’s plans to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize its DM199 product candidate for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke and cardio-renal disease and its expectations regarding the benefits of DM199; DiaMedica’s ability to conduct successful clinical testing of DM199 and within its anticipated parameters, enrollment numbers, costs and timeframes; the adaptive design of the ReMEDy2 trial and the possibility that the targeted enrollment and other aspects of the trial could change depending upon certain factors, including additional input from the FDA and the blinded interim analysis; the perceived benefits of DM199 over existing treatment options; the potential direct or indirect impact of COVID-19, hospital and medical facility staffing shortages, and worldwide global supply chain shortages on DiaMedica’s business and clinical trials, including its ability to meet its site activation and enrollment goals; DiaMedica’s reliance on collaboration with third parties to conduct clinical trials; DiaMedica’s ability to continue to obtain funding for its operations, including funding necessary to complete planned clinical trials and obtain regulatory approvals for DM199 for acute ischemic stroke and cardio-renal disease, and the risks identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in DiaMedica’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of DiaMedica as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While DiaMedica may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024				2023
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$	3,676			$	3,618
General and administrative		2,065				1,903
Total operating expenses		(5,741	)			(5,521	)
Operating loss		(5,741	)			(5,521	)
Other income, net		597				256
Loss before income tax expense		(5,144	)			(5,265	)
Income tax expense		(7	)			(7	)
Net loss		(5,151	)			(5,272	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities		(45	)			45
Net loss and comprehensive loss	$	(5,196	)		$	(5,227	)
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$	(0.14	)		$	(0.20	)
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted		37,958,000				26,448,941

DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except share amounts)
	March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,097			$	4,543
Marketable securities		44,419				48,352
Prepaid expenses and other assets		569				411
Amounts receivable		399				369
Total current assets		47,484				53,675
Non-current assets:
Deposits		1,308				—
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net		336				354
Property and equipment, net		132				131
Total non-current assets		1,776				485
Total assets	$	49,260			$	54,160
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	716			$	926
Accrued liabilities		1,815				1,777
Operating lease obligation		83				80
Financing lease obligation		3				3
Total current liabilities		2,617				2,786
Non-current liabilities:
Operating lease obligation, non-current		294				316
Finance lease obligation, non-current		—				1
Total non-current liabilities		294				317
Shareholders’ equity:
Common shares, no par value; unlimited authorized; 37,963,916 and 37,958,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		—				—
Paid-in capital		167,097				166,609
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(39	)			6
Accumulated deficit		(120,709	)			(115,558	)
Total shareholders’ equity		46,349				51,057
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	49,260			$	54,160

DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(5,151	)		$	(5,272	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Share-based compensation		488				422
Amortization of discount on marketable securities		(329	)			(205	)
Non-cash lease expense		18				17
Depreciation		8				7
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Amounts receivable		(30	)			25
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(158	)			(711	)
Deposits		(1,308	)			—
Accounts payable		(210	)			1,046
Accrued liabilities		19				(418	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(6,653	)			(5,089	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities		(9,783	)			(9,824	)
Maturities of marketable securities		14,000				12,340
Purchases of property and equipment		(9	)			(7	)
Net cash provided by investing activities		4,208				2,509
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments on finance lease obligations		(1	)			(1	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(1	)			(1	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(2,446	)			(2,581	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		4,543				4,728
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	2,097			$	2,147
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
Cash paid for income taxes	$	7			$	14

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240508703743/en/

Scott Kellen

Chief Financial Officer

Phone: (763) 496-5118

skellen@diamedica.com

Paul Papi

Corporate Communications

Phone: (508) 444-6790

ppapi@diamedica.com

Source: DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc.

FAQ

What is DiaMedica Therapeutics' stock symbol?

DiaMedica Therapeutics' stock symbol is Nasdaq: DMAC.

When did DiaMedica Therapeutics dose the first patient in the ReMEDy2 Stroke Trial?

DiaMedica Therapeutics dosed the first patient in the ReMEDy2 Stroke Trial recently, showing advancements in their clinical developments.

What was DiaMedica Therapeutics' total cash position as of March 31, 2024?

DiaMedica Therapeutics reported a total cash, cash equivalents, and investments of $46.5 million as of March 31, 2024.

When is DiaMedica Therapeutics expected to complete enrollment for the interim analysis of the ReMEDy2 trial?

DiaMedica Therapeutics expects to complete enrollment for the interim analysis of the ReMEDy2 trial by the first quarter of 2025.

What were the key financial results reported by DiaMedica Therapeutics for Q1 2024?

DiaMedica Therapeutics reported an increase in R&D expenses to $3.7 million and a decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and investments for Q1 2024.