Zynerba Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Operational Highlights
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ZYNE) reported Q1 2020 financial results, highlighting a net loss of $12.3 million and cash reserves of $60.6 million. The company remains focused on developing Zygel for rare neuropsychiatric disorders, with key clinical trials on track despite COVID-19 disruptions. Topline results from the pivotal CONNECT-FX trial for Fragile X syndrome are expected by late Q2 2020, followed by a potential New Drug Application submission in H2 2020. New U.S. patent received for ASD treatment further strengthens its product pipeline.
- Topline results from CONNECT-FX trial for FXS expected late Q2 2020.
- New U.S. patent issued for treating ASD with transdermal cannabidiol, expiring in 2038.
- High enrollment in open label extension trial with 96% of participants opting in.
- Net loss of $12.3 million reported for Q1 2020.
- Cash and equivalents decreased from $70.1 million at year-end 2019 to $60.6 million.
DEVON, Pa., May 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZYNE), the leader in innovative pharmaceutically-produced transdermal cannabinoid therapies for rare and near-rare neuropsychiatric disorders, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 and provided an overview of recent operational highlights.
“The past few months have been historic due to the outbreak of COVID-19, and we applaud everyone on the front line of this global pandemic, including healthcare workers, first responders, humanitarians, and our industry colleagues who are dedicated to the rapid development of treatments and vaccines,” said Armando Anido, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zynerba. “In response to the pandemic, Zynerba implemented important initiatives that we believe protect the safety of patients, clinical investigators and their staff, and our Zynerba employees and should allow us to conclude all three of our ongoing clinical trials and report top line results within our stated timelines.”
First Quarter 2020 and Recent Highlights
COVID-19 Preparedness
Implemented Plan to Prioritize the Safety of Patients and Caregivers, Minimize Risk of Supply Disruption, and Enable the Company to Achieve its Milestones
Zynerba and its contract research and manufacturing partners began contingency planning for the COVID-19 outbreak in January 2020 in conjunction with its clinical investigator sites. Helping to ensure the safety of clinicians and participating patients and their families is paramount; as such, the Company made early and actionable adjustments including remote site monitoring, patient visits using telemedicine where needed, direct shipment of study drug supplies to caregivers, and use of local clinical laboratories to collect study related blood samples. The approach is consistent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Guidance on Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products during COVID-19 Pandemic. At this time, we expect our timelines for delivery of top line results from all of our ongoing trials to not be impacted.
Zygel in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)
Topline Results Expected from Pivotal CONNECT-FX Trial Late in the Second Quarter of 2020
Two hundred and twelve (212) children and adolescents with genetically-confirmed Fragile X syndrome (FXS) have been randomized into CONNECT-FX, a pivotal, multi-national, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Zygel in treating common behavioral symptoms of FXS. Zynerba completed enrollment in February 2020 and expects to report topline results late in the second quarter of 2020. If the results are positive, Zynerba intends to request a meeting with the FDA to determine the acceptability of the data as a basis for a New Drug Application (NDA) and to seek advice on preparation of the marketing authorization. The Company expects to submit its NDA for Zygel in FXS to the FDA in the second half of 2020, with potential approval by mid-year 2021. (Press release)
Robust Enrollment Continues into Open Label Extension Study
During the screening phase of CONNECT-FX, caregivers of patients in the trial were informed that their participating child may have the opportunity to receive Zygel in an open label extension trial following the child’s compliant completion of CONNECT-FX, regardless of their child’s perceived response or actual blinded drug assignment at randomization in CONNECT-FX. As of May 8, 2020,
Zygel in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Topline Results from Phase 2 BRIGHT Trial of Zygel in ASD Expected in the Second Quarter of 2020
Thirty-seven (37) children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe ASD have been enrolled in the 14-week open label exploratory Phase 2 BRIGHT trial. The clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Zygel as an add-on to standard-of-care for the treatment of pediatric and adolescent patients with ASD. The Company is utilizing a number of efficacy assessments, including the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, Parent Rated Anxiety Scale – Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Clinical Global Impression – Severity and Improvement, to identify the appropriate endpoint to use in future placebo-controlled trials. Zynerba completed enrollment in this trial in January 2020 and expects to report topline results in the second quarter of 2020 (Press release)
New U.S. Patent Received for Treatment of ASD with Transdermal Cannabidiol
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 10,568,848, titled “Treatment of Autism with Cannabidiol” which includes claims directed to methods of treating ASD by transdermally administering, via a gel or cream, a therapeutically effective amount of purified CBD. The patent expires in 2038. (Press release)
Zygel in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q)
Phase 2 Open Label Trial of Zygel in 22q Ongoing; Data Expected in the Third Quarter of 2020
The Company is conducting the 14-week Phase 2 INSPIRE trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Zygel in approximately 20 children and adolescents (ages six through 17) with genetically-confirmed 22q. Zynerba expects to report topline results from this study in the third quarter of 2020.
Zygel in Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEE)
Outcome of Discussions with FDA on Clinical Pathway for Zygel in DEE Expected in the Second Quarter of 2020
Based on the Phase 2 trial design and positive efficacy and safety results, Zynerba anticipates that it will pursue an indication that includes the syndromes and encephalopathies in the DEE category that present with focal impaired-awareness seizures (FIAS; previously known as complex partial seizures) and/or convulsive seizures (CS), the most common and debilitating seizure types representing
First quarter 2020 Financial Results
As of March 31, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were
Financial Outlook
Management believes that the cash runway is sufficient to fund operations and capital requirements beyond the expected NDA submission and potential approval of Zygel in FXS and into the second half of 2021.
About Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals is the leader in pharmaceutically-produced transdermal cannabinoid therapies for rare and near-rare neuropsychiatric disorders. We are committed to improving the lives of patients and their families living with severe, chronic health conditions including Fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and a heterogeneous group of rare and ultra-rare epilepsies known as developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. Learn more at www.zynerba.com and follow us on Twitter at @ZynerbaPharma.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the Company’s current expectations. Management’s expectations and, therefore, any forward-looking statements in this press release could also be affected by risks and uncertainties relating to a number of other factors, including the following: the Company’s cash and cash equivalents may not be sufficient to support its operating plan for as long as anticipated; the Company’s ability to obtain additional funding to support its clinical development programs; the results, cost and timing of the Company’s clinical development programs, including any delays to such clinical trials relating to enrollment or site initiation; clinical results for the Company’s product candidates may not be replicated or continue to occur in additional trials and may not otherwise support further development in a specified indication or at all; actions or advice of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and foreign regulatory agencies may affect the design, initiation, timing, continuation and/or progress of clinical trials or result in the need for additional clinical trials; the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for its product candidates, and the labeling under any such approval; the Company’s reliance on third parties to assist in conducting pre-clinical and clinical trials for its product candidates; delays, interruptions or failures in the manufacture and supply of the Company’s product candidates the Company’s ability to commercialize its product candidates; the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company’s product candidates, and the Company’s ability to service those markets; the Company’s ability to develop sales and marketing capabilities, whether alone or with potential future collaborators; the rate and degree of market acceptance of the Company’s product candidates; the Company’s expectations regarding its ability to obtain and adequately maintain sufficient intellectual property protection for its product candidates; the timing and outcome of current and future legal proceedings; and the extent to which health epidemics and other outbreaks of communicable diseases, including COVID-19, could disrupt our operations or adversely affect our business and financial conditions. This list is not exhaustive and these and other risks are described in the Company’s periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements that the Company makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.
ZYNERBA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 6,882,793 | $ | 6,306,712 | ||||
| General and administrative | 3,916,569 | 3,159,657 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 10,799,362 | 9,466,369 | ||||||
| Loss from operations | (10,799,362 | ) | (9,466,369 | ) | ||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||
| Interest income | 201,684 | 350,951 | ||||||
| Foreign exchange loss | (1,740,151 | ) | (31,599 | ) | ||||
| Total other income (expense) | (1,538,467 | ) | 319,352 | |||||
| Net loss | $ | (12,337,829 | ) | $ | (9,147,017 | ) | ||
| Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.53 | ) | $ | (0.47 | ) | ||
| Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 23,399,438 | 19,452,088 | ||||||
| Non-cash stock-based compensation included above: | ||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 510,476 | $ | 666,179 | ||||
| General and administrative | 812,876 | 830,113 | ||||||
| Total | $ | 1,323,352 | $ | 1,496,292 | ||||
ZYNERBA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| March 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 60,638,853 | $ | 70,063,242 | ||||
| Incentive and tax receivables | 12,906,735 | 14,613,969 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,474,930 | 2,378,812 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 75,020,518 | 87,056,023 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 587,267 | 362,724 | ||||||
| Incentive and tax receivables | 571,329 | — | ||||||
| Right-of-use assets | 287,160 | 345,849 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 76,466,274 | $ | 87,764,596 | ||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 3,328,339 | $ | 4,740,981 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 6,676,988 | 7,073,506 | ||||||
| Lease liabilities | 252,394 | 243,677 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 10,257,721 | 12,058,164 | ||||||
| Lease liabilities, long-term | 44,237 | 109,689 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 10,301,958 | 12,167,853 | ||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock | 23,572 | 23,211 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 229,314,197 | 226,409,156 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (163,173,453 | ) | (150,835,624 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 66,164,316 | 75,596,743 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 76,466,274 | $ | 87,764,596 | ||||
Zynerba Contacts
Jim Fickenscher, CFO and VP Corporate Development
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals
484.581.7483
fickenscherj@zynerba.com
Will Roberts, VP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals
484.581.7489
robertsw@zynerba.com
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