NEW YORK, Dec. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ohr Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Nasdaq:OHRP), an ophthalmology research and development company, today reported results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.
“Fiscal year 2016 was another highly productive year for Ohr, as we made significant progress in advancing both our lead candidate Squalamine for the treatment of wet AMD as well as our pipeline of sustained release drug candidates,” said Jason Slakter, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Ohr. “Building off the Squalamine phase 2 results, we negotiated an SPA with the FDA in advance of commencing the pivotal phase 3 program. This comprehensive phase 3 program is now underway which, if successful, will position us to bring an innovative, meaningful treatment to market that has the potential to improve vision outcomes beyond current therapies and set a new standard of care in wet AMD.”
Fiscal 2016 and Recent Corporate Highlights
- Reached an agreement on a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the US FDA on the design of Phase 3 trials for Squalamine lactate ophthalmic solution, 0.2% (“Squalamine”, also known as OHR-102) for patients with wet AMD.
- Appointed David M. Brown, MD to serve as the chair of the Steering Committee for the Phase 3 clinical program of Squalamine in wet-AMD.
- Closed a public offering of shares of common stock and warrants resulting in net proceeds of approximately $6.9 million.
Fiscal 2016 Clinical and Development Program Highlights
- In September, presented new data from the Phase 2 IMPACT study at the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS). Subjects with occult CNV <10mm2 achieved final mean visual acuity outcomes of 71.7 letters with Squalamine combination therapy compared to 67.4 letters with Lucentis® monotherapy. The final mean visual acuity outcomes in the combination therapy group translates to approximately 20/40 vision (Snellen equivalent). This underscores the potential of Squalamine combination therapy to allow patients to reach higher levels of visual function and improve their overall quality of life.
- In May, presented two posters on the Squalamine Phase 2 IMPACT study and OHR3031 sustained release in vivo studies at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Conference.
- In April, commenced enrollment in the Phase 3 clinical development program investigating Squalamine as a treatment to improve visual acuity for patients with wet AMD.
- The Phase 3 program includes two double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter, international studies of Squalamine administered topically twice a day in patients with newly diagnosed wet AMD, in combination with Lucentis® injections.
- The primary endpoint in both studies is a measurement of visual acuity gain at nine months, which is the most clinically meaningful endpoint for wet AMD patients. Subjects will be followed to two years for safety.
- In November 2015, presented new data from the Phase 2 IMPACT Study in Wet-AMD at American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting.
- Data showed that the size of occult CNV at baseline, irrespective of a classic CNV component, was the most important factor in predicting treatment success with the combination of Squalamine plus Lucentis®. This correlation was not seen in the Lucentis® monotherapy group.
- Also in November 2015, announced positive preclinical data in proprietary SKS sustained release technology.
- In an animal model used to evaluate ophthalmic compounds, sustained supratherapeutic levels of active drug were achieved in target ocular tissues at all time points in the study.
- The results serve as an important validation for the company’s SKS sustained release technology which holds the promise of improving the standard of care in a number of ocular conditions.
Financial Results for the Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2016
- For the year ended September 30, 2016, the Company reported a net loss of approximately $25.8 million, or ($0.82) per share, compared to a net loss of approximately $15.2 million, or ($0.54) per share in the same period of 2015.
- For the year ended September 30, 2016, total operating expenses were approximately $24.6 million, consisting of $7.7 million in general and administrative expenses, $16.5 million of research and development expenses, and $1.2 million in depreciation and amortization. This compares to total operating expenses of $17.8 million in the same period of 2015, comprised of approximately $7.5 million in general and administrative expenses, $8.8 million in research and development expenses, and $1.2 million in depreciation and amortization.
- At September 30, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $12.5 million. This compares to cash and equivalents of approximately $28.7 million at September 30, 2015.
- On December 7, 2016, the Company sold in a public offering, an aggregate of approximately 3,885,000 shares of its common stock, together with Series A common stock purchase warrants exercisable for up to an aggregate of approximately 1,942,500 shares of common stock and Series B common stock purchase warrants exercisable for up to an aggregate of approximately 3,885,000 shares of common stock. Net proceeds from the offering were approximately $6.9 million, after deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable but excluding the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Series A and Series B Warrants issued in the offering.
Conference Call & Webcast
Thursday, December 22 at 5:00pm Eastern Time
| Domestic: | 877-407-0789 | ||||||
| International: | 201-689-8562 | ||||||
| Conference ID: | 13651651 | ||||||
| Webcast: | http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=122267 |
Replays – Available through December 29, 2016
| Domestic: | 844-512-2921 | |||||||
| International: | 412-317-6671 | |||||||
| Conference ID: | 13651651 |
About Ohr Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Ohr Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Nasdaq:OHRP) is an ophthalmology research and development company. The company’s lead drug candidate, Squalamine lactate ophthalmic solution, 0.2% (also known as OHR-102), is currently being studied using an eye drop formulation in a Phase 3 clinical program for the treatment of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. In addition, Ohr has a sustained release micro fabricated micro-particle ocular drug delivery platform with several preclinical drug product candidates in development for glaucoma, steroid-induced glaucoma, ocular allergies, and protein drug delivery. Additional information on the company may be found at www.ohrpharmaceutical.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made only as the date thereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the future success of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid technological change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments, the financial resources available to us and general economic conditions. Shareholders and prospective investors are cautioned that no assurance of the efficacy of pharmaceutical products can be claimed or assured until final testing; and no assurance or warranty can be made that the FDA will approve final testing or marketing of any pharmaceutical product. Our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Lucentis® is a registered trademark of Genentech Inc.
| OHR PHARMACEUTICAL, INC. | |||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | ||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||||
| Cash | $ | 12,546,890 | $ | 28,697,323 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 738,118 | 338,713 | |||||||
| Total Current Assets | 13,285,008 | 29,036,036 | |||||||
| EQUIPMENT, net | 198,631 | 248,753 | |||||||
| OTHER ASSETS | |||||||||
| Security deposit | 12,243 | 12,243 | |||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 15,208,219 | 16,332,863 | |||||||
| Goodwill | 740,912 | 740,912 | |||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 29,445,013 | $ | 46,370,807 | |||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 4,394,068 | $ | 1,592,348 | |||||
| Notes payable | 87,798 | 48,063 | |||||||
| Contingent consideration | – | 2,239,603 | |||||||
| Total Current Liabilities | 4,481,866 | 3,880,014 | |||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 4,481,866 | 3,880,014 | |||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||
| Preferred stock, Series B; 6,000,000 shares authorized, $0.0001 par value, 0 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | – | – | |||||||
| Common stock; 180,000,000 shares authorized, $0.0001 par value, 32,076,396 and 30,331,309 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | 3,207 | 3,033 | |||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 109,237,551 | 100,999,173 | |||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (84,277,611 | ) | (58,511,413 | ) | |||||
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | 24,963,147 | 42,490,793 | |||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND | |||||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | 29,445,013 | $ | 46,370,807 | |||||
| OHR PHARMACEUTICAL, INC. | |||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations | |||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||
| For the Year Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||
| OPERATING EXPENSES | |||||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 7,656,327 | $ | 7,509,601 | $ | 4,287,205 | |||||||
| Research and development | 16,460,714 | 8,777,519 | 4,369,413 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,189,276 | 1,179,254 | 466,306 | ||||||||||
| Gain on settlement of accounts payable | (710,264 | ) | – | – | |||||||||
| Impairment of Intangibles | – | 338,906 | – | ||||||||||
| OPERATING LOSS | 24,596,053 | 17,805,280 | 9,122,924 | ||||||||||
| OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | |||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration | (1,185,667 | ) | 2,637,756 | – | |||||||||
| Share in losses on investment in joint venture | – | (103,143 | ) | (10,643 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income and expense | 3,419 | 42,966 | 8,479 | ||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | 12,103 | (5,977 | ) | (5,576 | ) | ||||||||
| Royalty income | – | 35,813 | – | ||||||||||
| Total Other Income (Expense) | (1,170,145 | ) | 2,607,415 | (7,740 | ) | ||||||||
| LOSS FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE | |||||||||||||
| INCOME TAXES | (25,766,198 | ) | (15,197,865 | ) | (9,130,664 | ) | |||||||
| PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES | – | – | – | ||||||||||
| NET LOSS | $ | (25,766,198 | ) | $ | (15,197,865 | ) | $ | (9,130,664 | ) | ||||
| BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER SHARE | $ | (0.82 | ) | $ | (0.54 | ) | $ | (0.41 | ) | ||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER | |||||||||||||
| OF SHARES OUTSTANDING: | |||||||||||||
| BASIC AND DILUTED | 31,349,223 | 28,404,405 | 22,141,538 | ||||||||||
| OHR PHARMACEUTICAL, INC. | ||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
| For the Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (25,766,198 | ) | $ | (15,197,865 | ) | $ | (9,130,664 | ) | |||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash | ||||||||||||||
| used by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued for services | 1,754,814 | 635,288 | – | |||||||||||
| Warrants issued for services | – | 8,559 | 1,177,095 | |||||||||||
| Stock option expense | 2,913,626 | 3,579,788 | 2,074,487 | |||||||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration | 1,185,667 | (2,637,756 | ) | – | ||||||||||
| Share in losses on investment in joint venture | – | 103,143 | 10,643 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation | 64,632 | 40,623 | 17,850 | |||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 1,124,644 | 1,138,631 | 448,456 | |||||||||||
| Impairment of intangibles | – | 338,906 | – | |||||||||||
| Gain on settlement of accounts payable | (710,264 | ) | (40,636 | ) | – | |||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | ||||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and deposits | (64,794 | ) | 7,214 | 105,823 | ||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 3,511,984 | 1,331,120 | (63,822 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net Cash Used in Operating Activities | (15,985,889 | ) | (10,692,985 | ) | (5,360,132 | ) | ||||||||
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of SKS Ocular’s assets | – | – | (3,500,000 | ) | ||||||||||
| Investment in joint venture | – | (100,000 | ) | (13,786 | ) | |||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | (14,510 | ) | (184,951 | ) | (1,083 | ) | ||||||||
| Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | (14,510 | ) | (284,951 | ) | (3,514,869 | ) | ||||||||
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds for issuance of common stock for cash | – | 26,582,998 | 16,876,000 | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from warrants exercised for cash | 26,041 | 80,003 | 260,752 | |||||||||||
| Repayments of short-term notes payable | (176,075 | ) | (208,236 | ) | (164,152 | ) | ||||||||
| Net Cash Provided by/ (Used in) Financing Activities | (150,034 | ) | 26,454,765 | 16,972,600 | ||||||||||
| NET CHANGE IN CASH | (16,150,433 | ) | 15,476,829 | 8,097,599 | ||||||||||
| CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 28,697,323 | 13,220,494 | 5,122,895 | |||||||||||
| CASH AT END OF PERIOD | $ | 12,546,890 | $ | 28,697,323 | $ | 13,220,494 | ||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION | – | |||||||||||||
| CASH PAID FOR: | ||||||||||||||
| Interest | $ | 6,071 | $ | 5,977 | $ | 5,576 | ||||||||
| Income Taxes | – | – | – | |||||||||||
| NON CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||
| Settlement of contingent consideration | $ | 3,425,270 | $ | – | $ | – | ||||||||
| Financing of insurance premiums through issuance of short term notes | 215,810 | 212,400 | 194,000 | |||||||||||
| Subscription receivable from exercise of warrants | 118,801 | – | – | |||||||||||
| Conversion of preferred for common stock | – | – | 50 | |||||||||||
| Noncash exercise of options and warrants | – | – | 223 | |||||||||||
| Common stock issued to acquire intangible assets | – | – | 10,180,224 | |||||||||||
| Common stock issued to settle accounts payable | – | 50,000 | 50,000 | |||||||||||
CONTACT: Contact: Ohr Pharmaceutical Inc. Investor Relations 888-388-2327 ir@ohrpharmaceutical.com LifeSci Advisors, LLC Michael Wood 646-597-6983 mwood@lifesciadvisors.com
