– Closed $30.5 million U.S. Initial Public Offering in February 2019 –
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anchiano Therapeutics Ltd. (Nasdaq and TASE: ANCN) (“Anchiano”), a pivotal-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies to treat cancer, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2019.
Key Developments and Recent Highlights
- Closed an initial public offering (“IPO”) of Anchiano's American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) on February 14, 2019, resulting in gross proceeds of $30.5 million. The ADSs began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “ANCN.”
- Following the IPO, Anchiano’s financial resources are expected to meet its needs until the second quarter of 2020.
- Initiated delisting of its ordinary shares from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). The last day the ordinary shares will trade on the TASE is expected to be June 13, 2019, and the ordinary shares are expected to be delisted from the TASE on June 17, 2019.
“We are pleased with the progress we have made this quarter as a company, with the continued development of inodiftagene, our gene therapy for bladder cancer; our U.S. IPO and Nasdaq listing; and the subsequent steps we have taken to delist from the TASE,” stated Frank Haluska, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Anchiano. “We believe we are now well positioned with a U.S.-based clinical development operation, a strong U.S. shareholder base, a strong balance sheet, and an exciting product candidate in its pivotal phase of development. We look forward to announcing several clinical milestones this year as we continue the Codex pivotal clinical trial of inodiftagene for the treatment of early-stage bladder cancer.”
First Quarter 2019 Financial Results:
On March 31, 2019, Anchiano had total cash and cash equivalents of approximately $32.1 million, compared to approximately $7.5 million on December 31, 2018.
Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were approximately $4.1 million, compared to approximately $2.5 million in the first quarter of 2018. The increase was mainly due to an increase in clinical trial expenses, manufacturing expenses and an increase in clinical manpower.
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were approximately $1.3 million, compared to approximately $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2018. The increase was mainly due to an increase in professional and consulting expenses, insurance, rent expenses, and employee options and payroll provisions.
Financing expenses, net, in the first quarter of 2019 were approximately $12.9 million compared to approximately $0.08 million in the first quarter of 2018. This change was mainly due to changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2019 was approximately $18.4 million, or $0.70 per share, compared to approximately $3.5 million, or $0.37 per share in the first quarter of 2018.
About Anchiano
Anchiano is a pivotal-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapies to treat cancer, with offices in Cambridge, MA, and Jerusalem, Israel. Anchiano’s most advanced product candidate, inodiftagene vixteplasmid, is a gene-therapy product candidate that is in development as a treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. For more information on Anchiano, please visit www.anchiano.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Words such as “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Anchiano, including, without limitation, the risk factors and other matters set forth in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018. Anchiano undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
Company Contact:
Frank Haluska, M.D., Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
info@anchiano.com
Investor Contact:
Ashley R. Robinson
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
617-535-7742
arr@lifesciadvisors.com
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
U.S. dollars in thousands
| Fiscal Quarter Ended March 31, | |||
| 2019 | 2018 | ||
| Operating expenses | |||
| Research and development expenses | 4,141 | 2,475 | |
| General and administrative expenses | 1,293 | 926 | |
| Operating loss | 5,434 | 3,401 | |
| Financing expenses, net | 12,873 | 76 | |
| Loss before income tax | 18,307 | 3,477 | |
| Income tax | 140 | 62 | |
| Net loss for the period | 18,447 | 3,539 | |
QUARTERLY STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (unaudited)
U.S. dollars in thousands
| March 31, 2019 | December 31, 2018 | |||
| Assets | ||||
| Current Assets | 33,354 | 10,920 | ||
| Non-Current Assets | 3,426 | 1,654 | ||
| Total Assets | 36,780 | 12,574 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Current Liabilities | 4,750 | 10,036 | ||
| Non-Current Liabilities | 5,682 | 3,628 | ||
| Total Liabilities | 10,432 | 13,664 | ||
| Equity | ||||
| Total equity (deficiency) | 26,348 | (1,090 | ) | |
| Total Liabilities and Equity | 36,780 | 12,574 | ||
CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
U.S. dollars in thousands
| Fiscal Quarter Ended March 31, | ||||
| 2019 | 2018 | |||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (2,996 | ) | (2,677 | ) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (75 | ) | (104 | ) |
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 27,699 | 2,000 | ||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 24,628 | (781 | ) | |