Spruce Biosciences Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Updates

Rhea-AI Summary

Spruce Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRB) announced plans to initiate Phase 2 trials for pediatric classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The adult CAHmelia program has been expanded to Australia and Canada to enhance patient recruitment. Financially, as of September 30, 2021, the company reported $131.3 million in cash and investments. However, R&D expenses increased to $8.6 million in Q3 2021, reflecting ongoing development costs, and the net loss rose to $11.4 million.

Positive

• Planned initiation of Phase 2 clinical trials for pediatric CAH and PCOS.
• Expansion of CAHmelia program to Australia and Canada for better recruitment.
• Strong cash position with $131.3 million as of September 30, 2021.

Negative

• Net loss increased to $11.4 million compared to $9.6 million in Q3 2020.
• R&D expenses rose to $8.6 million, reflecting higher costs amid clinical development.

Planned Initiation of Phase 2 Programs in Pediatric Classic CAH and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Late-Stage CAHmelia Program in Adult Classic CAH Expanded to Sites in Australia and Canada

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments of $131.3 Million as of September 30, 2021

SAN FRANCISCO--(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 third quarter ended September 30, 2021 and provided a corporate update.

“We continue to make progress in advancing tildacerfont for the treatment of patients with rare endocrine disorders with the planned initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial for children with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), as well as a proof-of-concept clinical trial for women with a rare form of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),” said Mike Grey, Executive Chairman of Spruce Biosciences, who has taken on the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer following the retirement of Richard King as separately announced today. “While we have recently seen an encouraging upward trend in the pace of site activation and patient enrollment across our CAHmelia studies in adults with classic CAH, the continued variability of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across sites throughout the United States and Europe has impacted enrollment and we now expect to report topline results from the CAHmelia-203 study in 2023.”

Corporate & Pipeline Updates in Q3 2021

• Update on Expected Timeline for Topline Data from the CAHmelia Program in Adult Classic CAH: Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pace of patient enrollment and site activation in the company’s CAHmelia program, Spruce now expects to report topline results from CAHmelia-203 in 2023. Spruce will provide an update on timing expectations for topline results from the CAHmelia-204 study in the coming months, following the completion of a full assessment of the pandemic’s impact on projected enrollment.
  
  
• Phase 2 CAHmelia Program in Adult Classic CAH Expanded to Sites in Australia and Canada: Spruce has expanded the CAHmelia program in adult classic CAH beyond the United States and Europe to include sites in Australia and Canada in response to patient and investigator interest. The additional sites also provide more robust recruitment capabilities to accelerate enrollment and offset any additional disruption related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  
• Inaugural Research and Development Day Highlighted Tildacerfont in CAH: In August, Spruce hosted its inaugural virtual research and development day highlighting the potential value of tildacerfont in treating adult and pediatric classic CAH. Management was joined by leading endocrinologists, Richard Auchus, MD, PhD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of Michigan, and Paul Thornton, MD, Medical Director, Endocrine and Diabetes Program, Cook Children’s Medical Center.
  
  
• Planned Initiation of Phase 2 Clinical Trial in Pediatric Classic CAH on Track: The Phase 2 open-label clinical trial will utilize a sequential 3 cohort design to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and exploratory pharmacodynamics of tildacerfont in children aged 6 to 17 with classic CAH. Various weight adjusted doses of tildacerfont dosed once daily for a duration of 2 weeks will be evaluated.
  
  
• Planned Initiation of Phase 2 Proof of Concept Clinical Trial in PCOS on Track: A randomized, placebo-controlled, response-guided, intrasubject dose escalation study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of various tildacerfont dose levels (50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg QD) compared to placebo for up to 16 weeks of treatment in subjects with PCOS and elevated adrenal androgens as measured by DHEAS levels at baseline.

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

• Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments: Cash, cash equivalents and investments as of September 30, 2021, were $131.3 million.
  
  
• Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $8.6 million and $24.4 million, respectively, compared to $7.8 million and $18.0 million for the same periods in 2020, respectively. The overall increase in R&D expenses was primarily related to the advancement of tildacerfont into late-stage clinical development.
  
  
• General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $2.8 million and $8.5 million, respectively, compared to $1.8 million and $3.0 million for the same periods in 2020, respectively. The overall increase in G&A expenses was primarily driven by an increase in costs related to operation as a public company.
  
  
• Total Operating Expenses: Total operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $11.4 million and $32.9 million, respectively, compared to $9.6 million and $21.1 million for the same periods in 2020, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $1.0 million and $3.2 million, respectively. When excluding depreciation and stock-based compensation expenses, total operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $10.4 million and $29.8 million, respectively.
  
  
• Net Loss: Net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $11.4 million and $33.1 million, respectively, compared to $9.6 million and $21.2 million for the same periods in 2020, respectively.

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). Classic CAH is a serious and life-threatening disease with no known novel therapies approved in approximately 50 years. Spruce is also developing tildacerfont for women suffering from a rare form of 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 results, conduct, progress and timing of Spruce’s clinical trials and announcements regarding the same. 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 expect,” “plans”, “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 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 and non-GAAP G&A expenses, both of which exclude 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 these non-GAAP financial measures to monitor and evaluate its operating results and trends on an on-going basis, and internally for operating, budgeting and financial planning purposes. The non-GAAP financial measures 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.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share amounts)
		September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	58,363			$	157,150
Short-term investments			33,957				—
Prepaid expenses			1,301				2,971
Other current assets			301				276
Total current assets			93,922				160,397
Restricted cash			216				216
Right-of-use assets, net			1,559				1,793
Long-term investments			38,975				—
Other assets			415				477
Total assets		$	135,087			$	162,883
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	2,128			$	3,628
Term loan, current portion			—				2,554
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			5,924				2,496
Accrued compensation and benefits			1,009				1,085
Total current liabilities			9,061				9,763
Term loan, net of current portion			4,867				1,922
Lease liability, net of current portion			1,388				1,653
Other liabilities			51				118
Total liabilities			15,367				13,456
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, and no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020			—				—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 23,379,887 and 23,260,399 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively			3				2
Additional paid-in capital			213,682				210,266
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(16	)			—
Accumulated deficit			(93,949	)			(60,841	)
Total stockholders’ equity			119,720				149,427
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	135,087			$	162,883

SPRUCE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Operating expenses:
Research and development		$	8,607			$	7,769			$	24,440			$	18,040
General and administrative			2,793				1,790				8,491				3,041
Total operating expenses			11,400				9,559				32,931				21,081
Loss from operations			(11,400	)			(9,559	)			(32,931	)			(21,081	)
Interest expense			(88	)			(79	)			(257	)			(245	)
Other income, net			41				51				80				125
Net loss		$	(11,447	)		$	(9,587	)		$	(33,108	)		$	(21,201	)
Unrealized gain/(loss) on available for sale securities			13				-				(16	)			-
Comprehensive loss		$	(11,434	)		$	(9,587	)		$	(33,124	)		$	(21,201	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted		$	(0.49	)		$	(12.35	)		$	(1.42	)		$	(27.54	)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted			23,367,140				776,159				23,330,399				769,766

SPRUCE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Reconciliation of Total Operating Expenses to Non-GAAP Total Operating Expenses
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Operating expenses:
Total operating expenses		$	11,400		$	9,559		$	32,931		$	21,081
Adjustments:
Depreciation			5			1			14			2
Stock-based compensation			1,031			218			3,161			346
Non-GAAP total operating expenses		$	10,364		$	9,340		$	29,756		$	20,733

Reconciliation of G&A Expenses to Non-GAAP G&A Expenses
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2021			2020			2021			2020
Operating expenses:
G&A expenses		$	2,793		$	1,790		$	8,491		$	3,041
Adjustments:
Depreciation			5			1			9			2
Stock-based compensation			777			129			2,297			208
Non-GAAP G&A expenses		$	2,011		$	1,660		$	6,185		$	2,831

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211115006219/en/

Media Contact:

Will Zasadny

Canale Communications

(619) 961-8848

will.zasadny@canalecomm.com

media@sprucebiosciences.com

Investors

Xuan Yang

Solebury Trout

(415) 971-9412

xyang@soleburytrout.com

investors@sprucebiosciences.com

Source: Spruce Biosciences, Inc.

FAQ

What are the recent developments for Spruce Biosciences (SPRB)?

Spruce Biosciences plans to initiate Phase 2 trials for pediatric CAH and PCOS and has expanded its adult CAHmelia program to Australia and Canada.

What is the current cash position of Spruce Biosciences (SPRB)?

As of September 30, 2021, Spruce reported cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaling $131.3 million.

What were the financial results for Spruce Biosciences (SPRB) in Q3 2021?

In Q3 2021, Spruce reported a net loss of $11.4 million, with R&D expenses increasing to $8.6 million.

When will Spruce Biosciences (SPRB) report topline results from the CAHmelia study?

Topline results from the CAHmelia-203 study are now expected to be reported in 2023.