Spruce Biosciences Reports Full Year 2022 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Updates

Rhea-AI Summary

Spruce Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPRB) reported significant developments including surpassing 50% enrollment in its CAHmelia-203 study for adult congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and a private placement financing of $53.6 million. The company entered an exclusive licensing agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical for tildacerfont in Japan, receiving a $15 million upfront payment. With cash and investments of $79.1 million by year-end 2022, these funds extend the cash runway into 2025. The company also announced a net loss of $46.2 million for 2022, up from $42.3 million in 2021, amid rising R&D expenses to advance its clinical trials.

Positive

• Surpassed 50% enrollment in CAHmelia-203 study.
• Raised $53.6 million in private placement financing.
• Entered a strategic partnership with Kaken Pharmaceutical, receiving a $15 million upfront payment.
• Cash runway extended into 2025.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $46.2 million in 2022 from $42.3 million in 2021.
• R&D expenses rose to $35.2 million, an increase from $30.7 million in 2021.

CAHmelia-203 in Adult Classic CAH Surpasses 50% Enrollment

Private Placement Financing of $53.6 million in Gross Proceeds with Top-Tier Healthcare Investors

Strategic Partnership and Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical to Develop and Commercialize Tildacerfont for CAH in Japan

Private Placement Proceeds and Kaken Upfront Payment Expected to Extend Cash Runway Into 1H 2025

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Spruce Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRB), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for rare endocrine disorders with significant unmet medical need, today reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022 and provided corporate updates.

“In 2022, we made significant progress across the board heading into 2023, which we believe will be a pivotal year for Spruce,” said Javier Szwarcberg, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Executive Officer of Spruce Biosciences. “In 2023, we remain focused on delivering data for a number of our ongoing clinical programs, including topline data from our CAHmelia-203 study in adult classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), which surpassed 50% enrollment.”

Dr. Szwarcberg continued, “We’ve had a very strong start to the year. In January, we announced a strategic collaboration and exclusive license agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical (Kaken) to develop and commercialize tildacerfont for CAH in Japan. In February, we closed a private placement financing with top-tier healthcare investors for gross proceeds of $53.6 million, which, together with the Kaken upfront payment of $15.0 million, enables us to fund operating and capital expenditures into the first half of 2025, beyond topline results for CAHmelia-204 which are anticipated in the second half of 2024.”

Recent Corporate Updates

• CAHmelia-203 in Adult Classic CAH Surpasses 50% Enrollment: Spruce surpassed 50% enrollment in the company’s CAHmelia-203 clinical study and is on track to report topline data in the second half of 2023. CAHmelia-203 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study evaluating the safety and efficacy of tildacerfont in adult patients with classic CAH and highly elevated levels of androstenedione (A4) on their current glucocorticoid regimen.
• Private Placement Financing of $53.6 million with Top-Tier Healthcare Investors: In February 2023, the company entered into a definitive securities purchase agreement for a private placement that resulted in gross proceeds of $53.6 million, before deducting commissions and offering expenses. The private placement included participation from new and existing investors, including 5am Ventures, Abingworth, Armistice Capital, HealthCap, Novo Holdings A/S, RiverVest Venture Partners, and Rock Springs Capital. The proceeds from the financing, together with the $15.0 million upfront payment due to the company under the license agreement with Kaken, is expected to allow the company to fund operating and capital expenditures into the first half of 2025.
• Strategic Partnership and Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical: In January 2023, Spruce and Kaken entered into an exclusive license agreement for the development and commercialization of Spruce’s product candidate, tildacerfont, for the treatment of CAH in Japan. Under the terms of the agreement, Spruce will receive an upfront payment of $15.0 million from Kaken and will be eligible to receive additional payments upon the achievement of future development and commercial milestones, as well as tiered double-digit royalties on net sales in Japan. Kaken will be responsible for the clinical development and commercialization of tildacerfont in Japan, and Spruce will retain all rights to tildacerfont in all other geographies.

Anticipated Upcoming Milestones

Spruce affirms the following anticipated upcoming milestones:

• Topline results from the Phase 2 P.O.W.E.R. clinical trial in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the first half of 2023
• Topline data from adolescents (cohorts 1 and 2) of the Phase 2 CAHptain clinical trial in pediatric classic CAH in the second half of 2023
• Topline results from the CAHmelia-203 clinical trial in adult classic CAH patients with highly elevated levels of A4 in the second half of 2023
• Topline results from the CAHmelia-204 clinical trial in adult classic CAH patients on supraphysiologic doses of glucocorticoids with normal or near normal levels of A4 in the second half of 2024

Full Year 2022 Financial Results

• Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments: Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of December 31, 2022 were $79.1 million, excluding $53.6 million in gross proceeds from the February 2023 private placement and the $15.0 million upfront payment due to the company from Kaken. The company has a banking relationship with Silicon Valley Bank but did not experience any financial losses or operational impact from the recent failure of the bank.
• Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $35.2 million compared to $30.7 million in 2021. The overall increase in R&D expenses was primarily related to progressing clinical development of tildacerfont in adult classic CAH, pediatric classic CAH and PCOS.
• General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $12.1 million compared to $11.4 million in 2021.
• Total Operating Expenses: Total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $47.3 million compared to $42.1 million in 2021. Stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $3.6 million compared to $4.0 million in 2021. When excluding depreciation and stock-based compensation expenses, total non-GAAP operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $43.6 million compared to $38.1 million in 2021.
• Net Loss: Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $46.2 million compared to $42.3 million in 2021.

About Spruce Biosciences

Spruce Biosciences is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for rare endocrine disorders with significant unmet medical need. Spruce is initially developing its wholly-owned product candidate, tildacerfont, as the potential first non-steroidal therapy for patients suffering from classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Spruce is also developing tildacerfont for women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with primary adrenal androgen excess. To learn more, visit www.sprucebiosciences.com and follow us on Twitter @Spruce_Bio, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the enrollment, results, conduct, progress and timing of Spruce’s clinical trials; the receipt and presentation of topline data from the same; research and development plans; Spruce’s planned operations, including its expectations regarding operating and capital expenditures being funded into the first half of 2025, and responsibilities of Spruce and Kaken pursuant to the exclusive license agreement. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate”, “enable,” “expect”, “will”, “believe”, “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Spruce’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with Spruce’s business in general, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other geopolitical and macroeconomic events, and the other risks described in Spruce’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. Spruce undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Spruce has presented certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release. This release and the reconciliation tables included herein include non-GAAP total operating expenses, which excludes depreciation and stock-based compensation. Spruce excludes depreciation and stock-based compensation because management believes the exclusion of these items is helpful to investors to evaluate Spruce's recurring operational performance. Spruce management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to monitor and evaluate its operating results and trends on an on-going basis, and internally for operating, budgeting and financial planning purposes. This non-GAAP financial measure should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results.

SPRUCE BIOSCIENCES, INC. BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		December 31,
		2022				2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	24,487			$	42,748
Short-term investments			54,590				46,221
Prepaid expenses			3,320				2,530
Other current assets			1,211				396
Total current assets			83,608				91,895
Long-term investments			—				32,459
Operating lease right-of-use asset			1,400				1,479
Other assets			640				653
Total assets		$	85,648			$	126,486
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	1,426			$	2,823
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			9,399				6,048
Term loan, current portion			1,622				—
Total current liabilities			12,447				8,871
Operating lease liability, net of current portion			1,261				1,293
Term loan, net of current portion			3,293				4,878
Other liabilities			161				73
Total liabilities			17,162				15,115
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021			—				—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2022 and 2021; 23,601,004 and 23,491,881 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively			3				3
Additional paid-in capital			218,354				214,685
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(558	)			(184	)
Accumulated deficit			(149,313	)			(103,133	)
Total stockholders’ equity			68,486				111,371
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	85,648			$	126,486

SPRUCE BIOSCIENCES, INC. STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		Year Ended December 31,
		2022				2021
Operating expenses:
Research and development		$	35,198			$	30,698
General and administrative			12,085				11,368
Total operating expenses			47,283				42,066
Loss from operations			(47,283	)			(42,066	)
Interest expense			(420	)			(345	)
Interest and other income, net			1,523				119
Net loss			(46,180	)			(42,292	)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized loss on available for sale securities			(374	)			(184	)
Total comprehensive loss		$	(46,554	)		$	(42,476	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		$	(1.96	)		$	(1.81	)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted			23,527,116				23,361,416

SPRUCE BIOSCIENCES, INC. Reconciliation of Total Operating Expenses to Non-GAAP Total Operating Expenses (unaudited) (in thousands)
				Year Ended December 31,
				2022				2021
Operating expenses:
Total operating expenses				$	47,283			$	42,066
Adjustments:
Depreciation					37				22
Stock-based compensation					3,631				3,958
Non-GAAP total operating expenses				$	43,615			$	38,086

 

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Media

Will Zasadny

Evoke Canale

(619) 961-8848

will.zasadny@evokecanale.com

media@sprucebiosciences.com

Investors

Xuan Yang

Solebury Strategic Communications

(415) 971-9412

xyang@soleburystrat.com

investors@sprucebiosciences.com

Source: Spruce Biosciences, Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of the CAHmelia-203 study for Spruce Biosciences (SPRB)?

The CAHmelia-203 study, which has surpassed 50% enrollment, is crucial for evaluating the safety and efficacy of tildacerfont in treating adult classic CAH, with topline data expected in the second half of 2023.

How much funding did Spruce Biosciences receive in their latest financing round?

Spruce Biosciences raised $53.6 million in gross proceeds through private placement financing.

What partnership did Spruce Biosciences announce recently?

Spruce announced a strategic partnership and exclusive licensing agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical to develop and commercialize tildacerfont for CAH in Japan.

What were Spruce Biosciences' financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022?

Spruce reported a net loss of $46.2 million for 2022, an increase from $42.3 million in 2021, with R&D expenses rising to $35.2 million.

What is the cash position of Spruce Biosciences as of year-end 2022?

As of December 31, 2022, Spruce had cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaling $79.1 million.