TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 12, 2019 / Edesa Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:EDSA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today reported financial results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019 and provided an update on its business.
Edesa recently enrolled the first patient in a Phase 2b clinical study of its lead product candidate, EB01. The company is developing EB01 as a monotherapy for patients with chronic allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), a debilitating disease that is frequently caused by allergens present in the workplace. In December, the company reported that based on positive safety data in healthy volunteers, the company would expand the study to include ACD patients with symptoms on the face, a commonly effected area. The experimental drug previously demonstrated positive results in two previous studies in ACD patients.
In 2019, Edesa also advanced plans to expand the utility of its anti-inflammatory technology, which forms the basis of EB01, into additional indications. This included an approval by Health Canada to conduct a proof-of-concept study of the company’s product candidate, EB02, as a treatment for hemorrhoids disease (HD).
“We have maintained a rapid pace this year and I’m pleased to report that our team has delivered on our key clinical and corporate milestones. In addition to the transition we made to the public equity markets, we laid the foundation for a number of value creation opportunities in the coming year. We are looking forward to the interim data readout for our Phase 2b study in ACD as well as initiating a clinical study of our anti-inflammatory technology in HD.”
– Dr. Par Nijhawan, Chief Executive Officer, Edesa Biotech
Edesa’s Chief Financial Officer, Kathi Niffenegger, CPA reported that operating expenses, including expenditures related to increased activities for the EB01 clinical program, were largely in line with management’s expectations for the fiscal year.
“We remain committed to the capital efficient product development model that Edesa adopted as a private company and plan to continue to focus our working capital on the advancement of our clinical pipeline.”
– Kathi Niffenegger, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, Edesa Biotech
Financial Results for the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2019*
The company’s year-end financial results reflect a nine-month period as a result of a change in fiscal year following the company’s reverse acquisition completed in June 2019.
Total revenues for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019 were $0.41 million, reflecting the initiation of sales of product inventory obtained in the reverse acquisition completed in June 2019. There were no revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Total operating expenses increased by $1.62 million to $3.24 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019 compared to $1.62 million for the prior year ended December 31, 2018:
For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019, Edesa reported a net loss of $2.78 million, or $0.55 per basic share, compared to a net loss of $1.54 million, or $0.47 per basic share, for the prior year ended December 31, 2018.
Working Capital
At September 30, 2019, the company had working capital of $5.18 million. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $5.03 million.
Calendar
Management will be attending the Dermatology Summit on January 12, 2020 and the Biotech Showcase from January 13-15, 2020. Both events are being held in San Francisco, California. Members of the investment or biopharma communities interested in meetings with management can schedule one-on-ones through the conference online systems or by contacting Edesa at .
*As a result of the acquisition accounting for the business combination completed on June 7, 2019, and the subsequent change in year end of the company’s subsidiary Edesa Biotech Research, Inc., the comparative year-end data represent the nine months period ended September 30, 2019 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, which should be taken into account when reviewing comparative results. Financial results for any periods ended prior to June 7, 2019 reflect the financials of Edesa Biotech Research, Inc. on a standalone basis.
About Edesa Biotech, Inc.
Edesa Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDSA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on efficiently developing innovative treatments that address significant unmet medical needs. Edesa’s lead product candidate, EB01, is a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory molecule (sPLA2 inhibitor) for the treatment of chronic allergic contact dermatitis which has demonstrated statistically significant improvements in multiple clinical studies. A Phase 2b clinical study of EB01 was initiated in October 2019. Edesa also intends to expand the utility of its sPLA2 inhibitor technology, which forms the basis for EB01, across multiple indications and expand its portfolio with assets that can drive long-term growth opportunities. The company is based in Markham, Ontario, Canada, with U.S. offices in Southern California.
Edesa Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “might,” “potential,” or “continue” and variations or similar expressions, including statements related to: the company’s plans to expand the utility of its sPLA2 anti-inflammatory technology into additional indications, including HD. Readers should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as all such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such risks include: the ability of Edesa to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize any of its product candidates, the risk that access to sufficient capital to fund Edesa’s operations may not be available or may be available on terms that are not commercially favorable to Edesa, the risk that Edesa’s product candidates may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical trials, the risk that Edesa fails to comply with the terms of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business, Edesa’s ability to protect its intellectual property and the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the company’s ability to control or predict. For a discussion of further risks and uncertainties related to Edesa’s business, please refer to Edesa’s public company reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, Edesa assumes no obligation to update such statements.
Media and Investor Contact
Gary Koppenjan
Edesa Biotech, Inc.
(805) 488-2800
investors@edesabiotech.com