TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bioblast Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq:ORPN), a clinical-stage, orphan disease-focused biotechnology company, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.
Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results and Cash Position
- R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $0.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to $3.3 million for the same period in 2016. The decrease was primarily related to reduced clinical trial related activities, as our planned Phase 2b clinical study in Ocular Pharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy patients has not been initiated, as well as to lower salary expenses following the Company’s previously announced reduction in force.
- G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $0.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2016. The decrease was primarily related to downsizing of corporate overhead costs and lower salary expenses following the reduction in force, which took effect for the most part in the third quarter of 2017.
- Net Loss: For the quarter ended September 30, 2017, net loss attributable to holders of ordinary shares was ($1.10) million, or ($0.32) per basic and diluted share, as compared to a net loss of ($4.7) million, or ($1.42) per share, adjusted to account for the recent one for five reverse split, for the same period in 2016.
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits as of September 30, 2017, were $4.1 million, compared to $5.2 million as of June 30, 2017, reflecting our third quarter operating expenditures.
- Current activities: JSB-Partners, a global life sciences advisor, has been engaged to assist the Company in executing its business development objectives that include selecting potential development and commercial partners for its investigational proprietary intravenous (IV) form of trehalose 90 mg/mL solution (trehalose), as well as exploring merger opportunities. The Company is devoting substantially all of its resources to this effort.
About Bioblast
Bioblast Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing clinically meaningful therapies for patients with rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. Bioblast is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “ORPN.” For more information, please visit our website: www.BioblastPharma.com, the content of which is not incorporated herein by reference.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. For example, we are using forward-looking statements when we discuss exploring development and commercial partnerships or merger opportunities, and when we imply that our product candidate may successfully treat certain medical conditions. In addition, historic results of scientific research and clinical and preclinical studies do not guarantee that the conclusions of future research or studies will suggest identical or even similar conclusions or that historic results referred to in this press release would not be interpreted differently, in light of additional research and clinical and preclinical study results. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on Bioblast Pharma Ltd.'s current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Bioblast Pharma could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Bioblast Pharma's annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 24, 2017, and in any subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, Bioblast Pharma disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Investor Contact
Chaime Orlev
CFO and VP Finance and Administration
Bioblast Pharma Ltd
Chaime.Orlev@BioblastPharma.com
Phone: 972 3 795 5555
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. dollars | ||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| September 30 | September 30 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 424 | $ | 3,297 | $ | 2,406 | $ | 7,090 | ||||||||
| Pre-commercialization | 10 | 39 | 481 | 875 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 644 | 1,242 | 2,482 | 4,827 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 1,078 | 4,578 | 5,369 | 12,792 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (1,078 | ) | (4,578 | ) | (5,369 | ) | (12,792 | ) | ||||||||
| Financial income, net | (4 | ) | 8 | 25 | 49 | |||||||||||
| Loss before taxes on income | (1,082 | ) | (4,570 | ) | (5,344 | ) | (12,743 | ) | ||||||||
| Taxes on income | (11 | ) | 100 | 32 | 206 | |||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (1,071 | ) | $ | (4,670 | ) | $ | (5,376 | ) | $ | (12,949 | ) | ||||
| Net loss attributable to Ordinary shareholders | $ | (1,071 | ) | $ | (4,670 | ) | $ | (5,376 | ) | $ | (12,949 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per share attributable to Ordinary shareholders - basic and diluted | $ | (0.32 | ) | $ | (1.42 | ) | $ | (1.63 | ) | $ | (4.10 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding - basic and diluted | 3,342,393 | 3,278,487 | 3,303,813 | 3,156,814 | ||||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||||
| U.S. dollars | |||||||||
| September 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Audited) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS: | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,105 | $ | 6,871 | |||||
| Short-term bank deposits | - | 3,007 | |||||||
| Receivables and prepaid expenses | 178 | 663 | |||||||
| Total current assets | 4,283 | 10,541 | |||||||
| LONG-TERM ASSETS: | |||||||||
| Long-term assets | - | 18 | |||||||
| Property and equipment, net | - | 71 | |||||||
| Total long-term assets | - | 89 | |||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 4,283 | $ | 10,630 | |||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES: | |||||||||
| Trade payables | $ | 72 | $ | 700 | |||||
| Other accounts payable | 465 | 1,231 | |||||||
| Total current liabilities | 537 | 1,931 | |||||||
| LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | - | - | |||||||
| SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: | |||||||||
| Ordinary shares of NIS 0.05 par value - 10,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; Issued and outstanding shares 3,342,393 at September 30, 2017 and 3,278,487 at December 31, 2016 | 46 | 45 | |||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 48,885 | 48,463 | |||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (45,185 | ) | (39,809 | ) | |||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 3,746 | 8,699 | |||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | $ | 4,283 | $ | 10,630 | |||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||||
| U.S. dollars | ||||||||||
| Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||
| September 30 | ||||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (5,376 | ) | $ | (12,949 | ) | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and disposal of property and equipment | 64 | 19 | ||||||||
| Share based compensation | 422 | 298 | ||||||||
| Interest on short-term deposit | 7 | (20 | ) | |||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||
| Decrease (increase) in receivables and prepaid expenses | 502 | 728 | ||||||||
| Decrease (increase) in long-term assets | 18 | (3 | ) | |||||||
| Decrease in trade payables | (628 | ) | (1,334 | ) | ||||||
| Increase (decrease) in other accounts payable | (783 | ) | 819 | |||||||
| Increase in long-term liabilities | - | (70 | ) | |||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (5,774 | ) | (12,512 | ) | ||||||
| - | ||||||||||
| Cash flow from investing activities | ||||||||||
| Withdraw of short term deposits | 3,000 | 5,046 | ||||||||
| Withdraw of long term deposits | - | 25 | ||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | 10 | |||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | (2 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | 3,008 | 5,059 | ||||||||
| Cash flow from financing activities | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of options | * | - | ||||||||
| Issuance of shares and warrants, net | - | 6,090 | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | - | 6,090 | ||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (2,766 | ) | (1,363 | ) | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year | 6,871 | 7,286 | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year | $ | 4,105 | $ | 5,923 | ||||||
| * represents an amount less than $1,000 | ||||||||||
| - | - | |||||||||