Soleno Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Financial Results


REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. (“Soleno”) (NASDAQ: SLNO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases, today provided a corporate update and announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019.

“The recent completion of enrollment in our ongoing Phase III clinical trial, DESTINY PWS, evaluating once-daily Diazoxide Choline Controlled-Release (DCCR) tablets for patients with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS), represents a significant achievement for our company,” said Anish Bhatnagar, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Soleno Therapeutics.  “We remain on track to announce top-line data during the first half of this year, and would like to thank the patients, families and investigators involved in this study, as well as the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR) and Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA) USA and UK for their support of DESTINY PWS.”

Fourth Quarter 2019 and Recent Corporate Highlights

  • Completed enrollment for Phase III DESTINY PWS study of DCCR  
    • Top-line data are anticipated in the first half of 2020.
    • A total of 127 subjects were randomized at 29 sites in the US and the UK. This includes additional patients who were in screening at the time target enrollment was met.
    • This final sample size is powered to detect a difference in change from baseline in HQ-CT score between DCCR and placebo of 4 points. The HQ-CT is a validated questionnaire to measure hyperphagia, the primary outcome measure for the Phase III study. The range of scores is 0-36, with scores above 13 typically considered to be moderate to severe hyperphagia.
    • A blinded review of preliminary data found that the median baseline HQ-CT score for all randomized subjects is approximately 22. Treatment assignments (DCCR or Placebo) for all patients remain blinded.
    • The duration of the open-label extension study (C602) has been increased from 12 months to up to 36 months. All subjects who have completed 12 months of open-label treatment in C602 have elected to continue to receive DCCR.
    • No new safety signals associated with DCCR have been identified to date and no serious, unexpected adverse events related to DCCR have been reported.
  • The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for the Phase III DESTINY PWS recommended, for the second time, the continuation of the trial without modification
    • The outcome of this second planned meeting was based on the review of data from more than 50% of subjects enrolled and treated.
  • Closed an underwritten public offering of 12,841,667 shares of common stock, including 1,675,000 shares sold upon full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares
    • Net proceeds from the offering was approximately $14.5 million.

Financial Results

Soleno’s current research and development efforts are primarily focused on advancing its lead product candidate, DCCR for the treatment of PWS, through late-stage clinical development.

Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2019 Financial Results From Continuing Operations

Research and development expenses were $5.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to $2.2 million in the same period of 2018.  The increase was primarily due to increased activities related to the DCCR development program.

General and administrative expense was $1.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to $1.4 million in the same period of 2018.  The increase was due to an increase in personnel related costs. 

Total other income (expense) of ($7.9 million) and $3.9 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively, consisted primarily of the change in the fair value of the liability for warrants of approximately ($7.9 million) and $2.1 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, was approximately $14.6 million, or $0.36 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of approximately $0.3 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, which included a Loss from Discontinued Operations of $0.1 million.

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Financial Results From Continuing Operations

Research and development expenses were $16.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $7.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.  The increase was primarily due to increased activities related to the DCCR development program.

General and administrative expense was $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.  The increase was due to an increase in personnel related costs.  

The fair value of contingent consideration results from Soleno’s obligation to make cash payments to Essentialis stockholders upon the achievement of certain future commercial milestones associated with the sale of DCCR in accordance with the terms of the Essentialis merger agreement. The fair value of the liability for the contingent consideration payable by Soleno was initially established as approximately $2.6 million at the time of the merger in March 2017, and was estimated at approximately $5.1 million at December 31, 2017, and is remeasured at the end of each of our reporting periods, including quarterly and at the end of each year. The fair value was estimated to be approximately $5.6 million at December 31, 2018 and $5.9 million at December 31, 2019, resulting in an increase in expense of approximately $0.3 million from the estimate as of December 31, 2018.

Total other income (expense) of ($7.3 million) and $2.5 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively, consisted primarily of the change in the fair value of the liability for warrants of approximately ($7.0 million) and $0.5 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2019, was approximately $30.8 million, or $0.90 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of approximately $13.3 million, or $0.64 per basic and diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2018, which included a Loss from Discontinued Operations of $1.5 million.

As of December 31, 2019, Soleno had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $20.7 million, as compared to $23.1 million at December 31, 2018. 

About PWS
The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association USA estimates that one in 12,000 to 15,000 people in the U.S. have PWS. The hallmark symptom of this disorder is hyperphagia, a chronic feeling of insatiable hunger that severely diminishes the quality of life for PWS patients and their families. Additional characteristics of PWS include behavioral problems, cognitive disabilities, low muscle tone, short stature (when not treated with growth hormone), the accumulation of excess body fat, developmental delays, and incomplete sexual development. Hyperphagia can lead to significant morbidities (e.g., stomach rupture, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and mortality (e.g., choking, accidental death due to food seeking behavior). In a global survey conducted by the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research, 96.5% of respondents (parent and caregivers) rated hyperphagia as the most important or a very important symptom to be relieved by a new medicine. There are currently no approved therapies to treat the hyperphagia/appetite, metabolic, cognitive function, or behavioral aspects of the disorder. Diazoxide choline has received Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of PWS in the U.S. and E.U., and Fast Track Designation in the U.S.

About the DESTINY PWS Trial
DESTINY PWS is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of once-daily oral administration of DCCR versus placebo in 127 randomized subjects. Patients who complete DESTINY PWS have the option to enroll into an open-label extension study (C602) and continue treatment with DCCR.

For further information about DESTINY PWS (NCT03440814), please visit: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About Diazoxide Choline Controlled-Release (DCCR) Tablet
Diazoxide Choline Controlled-Release tablet is a novel, proprietary extended-release, crystalline salt formulation of diazoxide, which is administered once-daily. The parent molecule, diazoxide, has been used for decades in thousands of patients in a few rare diseases in neonates, infants, children and adults, but has not been approved for use in PWS. Soleno conceived of and established extensive patent protection on the therapeutic use of diazoxide and DCCR in patients with PWS. The DCCR development program is supported by data from five completed Phase I clinical studies in healthy volunteers and three completed Phase II clinical studies, one of which was in PWS patients. In the PWS Phase II study, DCCR showed promise in addressing hyperphagia, the hallmark symptom of PWS, as well as several other symptoms such as aggressive/destructive behaviors, fat mass and abnormal lipid profiles.

About Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.
Soleno is focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases. The company’s lead candidate, Diazoxide Choline Controlled Release (DCCR) tablets, a once-daily oral tablet for the treatment of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), is currently being evaluated in a Phase III clinical development program. For more information, please visit www.soleno.life.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations concerning, among other things, our ability to receive top-line data in the first half of 2020 from Phase III DESTINY PWS. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties associated with market conditions, as well as risks and uncertainties inherent in Soleno’s business, including those described in the company's prior press releases and in the periodic reports it files with the SEC. The events and circumstances reflected in the company's forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the company does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

Corporate Contact:
Brian Ritchie
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
212-915-2578


Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands except share and per share data)

  December 31,
2019
  December 31,
2018
 
Assets        
Current assets        
Cash and cash equivalents $20,733  $23,099 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  411   529 
Due from related party     64 
Minority interest investment in former subsidiary     978 
  Total current assets  21,144   24,670 
Long-term assets        
Property and equipment, net  22   12 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  398    
Finance lease right-of-use assets  24    
Intangible assets, net  16,525   18,469 
Other long-term assets  59    
  Total assets $38,172  $43,151 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity        
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable $1,995  $934 
Accrued compensation  283   274 
Accrued clinical trial site costs  1,999   320 
Operating lease liabilities  305    
Other current liabilities  382   349 
  Total current liabilities  4,964   1,877 
Long-term liabilities        
Series A warrant liability     49 
2017 PIPE Warrant liability  10,822   4,563 
2018 PIPE Warrant liability  1,354   600 
Contingent liability for Essentialis purchase price  5,938   5,649 
Other long-term liabilities  147    
  Total liabilities  23,225   12,738 
Commitments and contingencies        
Stockholders’ equity        
Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized:        
Series B convertible preferred stock, 13,780 shares designated at
  December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; zero shares issued
  and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and at December 31, 2018.
  Liquidation value of zero.
      
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized,
  44,658,054 and 31,755,169 shares issued and outstanding at
  December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
  45   32 
Additional paid-in-capital  172,708   157,413 
Accumulated deficit  (157,806)  (127,032)
Total stockholders’ equity  14,947   30,413 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $38,172  $43,151 

Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
 (In thousands except share and per share data)

    For the Three Months Ended
December 31,
    For the Years Ended
December 31,
 
    2019 2018    2019  2018 
Operating expenses                    
Research and development   $5,272  $2,192    $16,267  $7,178 
General and administrative    1,608   1,365     6,930   6,556 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration    (128)  (22)    289   567 
Total operating expenses    6,752   3,535     23,486   14,301 
Operating loss    (6,752)  (3,535)    (23,486)  (14,301)
Other (expense) income                    
Change in fair value of warrants liabilities    (7,894)  2,071     (6,964)  522 
Gain on deconsolidation of former subsidiary       1,994        1,994 
Loss from minority interest investment            (478)  (160)
Interest and other income    21   (137)    154   104 
Total other (expense) income    (7,873)  3,928     (7,288)  2,460 
Loss from continuing operations    (14,625)  393     (30,774)  (11,841)
Loss from discontinued operations       (130)       (1,494)
Net loss   $(14,625) $263    $(30,774) $(13,335)
Loss per common share from continuing operations, basic and diluted   $(0.36) $0.02    $(0.90) $(0.56)
Loss per common share from discontinued operations, basic and diluted       (0.01)       (0.07)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted   $(0.36) $0.01    $(0.90) $(0.64)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding used to calculate basic and
  diluted net loss per common share
    41,165,960   22,555,421     34,142,478   20,975,479