Soleno Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Reports Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results


  • Completed Successful FDA Meeting for DCCR in Prader-Willi Syndrome
  • Preparing to begin Phase III program by the end of the year
  • Monetized Non-Strategic Assets Through Sale of NeoForce, Inc. Subsidiary

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. (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 three and six months ended June 30, 2017.

“Following our recent successful meeting with the FDA, we expect to initiate a Phase III clinical trial of DCCR in Prader-Willi Syndrome by the end of the year,” said Anish Bhatnagar, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Soleno Therapeutics.  “We are in the process of finalizing the design of a Phase III, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study that will treat approximately 100 patients.  We remain excited about the potential of DCCR to safely and effectively treat this catastrophic disease.  We also recently strengthened our balance sheet through the sale of one of our non-strategic subsidiaries, NeoForce.”

Recent Corporate Highlights

  • Completion of FDA Meeting for Diazoxide Choline Controlled-Release (DCCR) in Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)
    •  Received positive guidance on key elements of Phase III program
    •  Company expects to initiate pivotal Phase III clinical trial by year-end 2017; will take approximately 9-12 months to complete
  • Sold a non-strategic subsidiary, NeoForce, Inc., which manufactures and promotes a range of innovative pulmonary resuscitation solutions in the neonatal market, to Flexicare, Inc., a privately-held, leading UK-based manufacturer of airway management, anesthesia, and critical care medical devices

Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2017 Financial Results for Continuing Operations

As a result of the decision to sell NeoForce and either divest or partner the CoSense business, all revenue and expenses for these businesses have been excluded from continuing operations for all periods herein and reported as discontinued operations. All assets and liabilities of these businesses have been classified as assets held for sale on the balance sheet. All prior period information has been recast to conform to this presentation.

Research and development expenses in the second quarter of 2017 were $1.0 million, compared to $0.7 million for the same period in 2016.  The increase was primarily due to an increase in DCCR clinical activities.

General and Administrative expenses in the second quarter of 2017 were $2.2 million, compared to $1.4 million for the same period in 2016.  The increase was primarily due to the amortization from the acquisition of intangibles from the completed Essentialis merger in March 2017, and an increase in stock compensation expense.

Net loss from continuing operations for the second quarter of 2017 was $3.2 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.15 per share, for the second quarter in 2016.

Net loss from discontinued operations for the second quarter of 2017 was $0.7 million, or $0.01 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.07 per share, for the second quarter in 2016.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2017 was $4.0 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.5 million, or $0.22 per share, for the second quarter in 2016.

Six-Months Ended June 30, 2017 Financial Results for Continuing Operations

As a result of the decision to sell NeoForce, Inc. and either divest or partner the CoSense business, all revenue and expenses of these businesses have been excluded from continuing operations for all periods herein and reported as discontinued operations. All assets and liabilities of these businesses have been classified as assets held for sale on the balance sheet. All prior period information has been recast to conform to this presentation.

Research and development expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2017, were $1.5 million, compared to $1.6 million for the same period in 2016.  The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in headcount.

General and Administrative expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2017, were $3.2 million, compared to $3.3 million for the same period in 2016.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in legal fees and decreased headcount.

The change in fair value of warrants income for the six months ended June 30, 2017, was $0.1 million, which represents a decrease in the fair value of the Series A and Series C Warrants compared to the value of the warrants at December 31, 2016. The change in fair value of warrants income for the six months ended June 30, 2016, was $1.1 million, which represented an increase in the fair value of the Series A, Series B and Series C Warrants compared to the value of the warrants at December 31, 2015.

Net loss from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017, was $5.5 million, or $0.14 per share, compared to a net loss of $4.3 million, or $0.29 per share, for the same period in 2016.

Net loss from discontinued operations for the six months ended June 30, 2017, was $1.4 million, or $0.03 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.16 per share, for the same period in 2016.

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2017, was $6.9 million, or $0.17 per share, compared to a net loss of $6.7 million, or $0.45 per share, for the same period in 2016.

Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2017, totaled $7.5 million, compared to $2.7 million at December 31, 2016.

About PWS

PWS is a rare and complex genetic neurobehavioral/metabolic disorder affecting appetite, growth, metabolism, cognitive function and behavior.  The committee on genetics of the American Academy of Pediatrics states PWS affects both genders equally and occurs in people from all geographic regions: its estimated incidence is one in 15,000 to 25,000 live births. This disorder is typically characterized by hyperphagia, a chronic feeling of insatiable hunger, 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, in the absence of effective limitations to access to food, can lead to morbid obesity.  In a global survey conducted by the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research, 96.5% of respondents (parent and caregivers) rated hyperphagia, which is the unrelenting hunger that severely diminishes the quality of life for patients and their families, 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.   DCCR has received Orphan Drug Designation from the US FDA for the treatment of PWS.

About Diazoxide Choline Controlled-Release Tablet

Diazoxide choline controlled-release tablet is a novel, proprietary controlled-release, crystalline salt formulation of diazoxide, which is administered once-daily.  The parent molecule, diazoxide, as an oral suspension, has been used for decades in thousands of patients in a few rare diseases in neonates, children and/or adults, but not in PWS.  Essentialis 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 positive data from two completed Phase II clinical studies and six completed Phase I clinical studies in various metabolic indications, as well as a pilot study in PWS patients.  In the PWS pilot study, DCCR showed promise in addressing the hallmark symptoms of PWS, most notably hyperphagia.

About Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.

Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. is focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases.  The company is currently advancing its lead candidate, DCCR, a once-daily oral tablet for the treatment of PWS, into a Phase III clinical development program at the end of 2017. Soleno, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Capnia, Inc., continues to market Capnia’s innovative medical device, the CoSense® End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide (ETCO) monitor, which measures ETCO and is used by hospitals to detect hemolysis in newborns.  It is expected that this product will be monetized and will not be a focus for the company in the long term.   

For more information, please visit www.soleno.life.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, our ability to initiate the Phase III clinical development program of DCCR in PWS by the end of 2017.  We may use terms such as "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should," "approximately" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained herein, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this presentation will prove to be accurate. Additional factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in Soleno’s Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2017, including under the caption titled "Risk Factors." Soleno expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

 
Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
          
   As of June 30, As of December 31,
   2017 2016
Assets       
 Current Assets       
  Cash & Cash Equivalents$7,547  $2,726 
  Accounts Receivable 3   3 
  Restricted Cash 35   35 
  Inventory 164   - 
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets 246   247 
  Current assets held for sale 2,323   790 
  Total Current Assets 10,318   3,801 
 Long-term Assets   
  Property & Equipment, net 53   54 
  Other intangible assets, net 19,884   - 
  Other Assets 126   126 
  Long-term assets held for sale -   1,584 
  Total Assets$30,381  $5,565 
      
Liabilities and stockholders' equity   
 Current Liabilities   
  Accounts Payable$1,029  $411 
  Accrued compensation and other current liabilities 879   1,050 
  Current liabilities held for sale 214   246 
  Total Current Liabilities 2,122   1,707 
 Long-Term Liabilities   
  Series A Warrant Liability 415   194 
  Series C Warrant Liability 24   86 
  Other liabilities 1,132   62 
  Long-term liabilities held for sale -   81 
  Total Long-Term Liabilities 1,571   423 
  Total Liabilities 3,693   2,130 
 Stockholder's equity   
 Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized   
  Series B convertible preferred stock, 13,780 are designated at June   
  30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 12,179 and 12,780 shares -   - 
  issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and at December 31, 2016,   
  respectively. Liquidation value of zero   
 Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares   
  authorized, 47,587,647 and 16,786,952 shares issued and   
  outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 48   17 
 Additional paid-in-capital 131,807   101,730 
 Accumulated deficit (105,167)  (98,312)
  Total stockholders' equity 26,688   3,435 
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$30,381  $5,565 
        


Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
         
  Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
  June 30,
 June 30, 
  2017 2016 2017 2016
         
Product revenue 1   2   4   2 
Cost of product revenue 42   51   42   69 
 Gross profit (loss) (41)  (49)  (38)  (67)
Expenses       
 Research and Development 974   658   1,506   1,623 
 Sales and Marketing -   165   27   360 
 General and Administrative 2,195   1,423   3,214   3,273 
 Total expenses 3,169   2,246   4,747   5,256 
 Operating income (loss) (3,210)  (2,295)  (4,785)  (5,323)
Interest and other income (expense)       
 Interest income 3   -   4   - 
 Change in fair value of warrant liabilities (expense) (32)  (56)  (101)  1,095 
 Cease-use expense -   -   (2)  (94)
 Other expense -   (16)  (602)  (18)
 Interest and other income (expense), net (29)  (72)  (701)  983 
Net loss from continuing operations (3,239)  (2,367)  (5,486)  (4,340)
Net loss from discontinued operations (727)  (1,146)  (1,370)  (2,362)
Net loss$(3,966) $(3,513) $(6,856) $(6,702)
         
Net income (loss) per common share from continuing       
 operations, basic and diluted$(0.06) $(0.15) $(0.14) $(0.29)
Net income (loss) per common share from discontinued       
 operations, basic and diluted (0.01)  (0.07)  (0.03)  (0.16)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted$(0.07) $(0.22) $(0.17) $(0.45)
         
Weighted-average common shares outstanding used       
 to calculate basic and diluted net loss       
 per common share 53,060,868   15,528,922   40,029,547   15,162,520 
         



            

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