“Overall, I am pleased to report good progress in our ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial to treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), under an
“Our Phase 2 trials for INOpulse therapy to treat pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PH-COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (PH-IPF) have been initiated and are actively recruiting. We look forward to communicating results of each during the first quarter of 2017.
“Overall, we believe our proprietary INOpulse delivery technology is uniquely positioned to help these significant patient populations in areas of serious and unmet medical need,” concluded Mr. Peacock.
Key Highlights in the Third Quarter and Subsequent Weeks Included:
- The INOvation-1 PAH Phase 3 clinical trial is targeting topline results in mid-2018 and an interim look by the end of the fourth quarter of 2017.
Terence K. Trow , MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Yale Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program, presented “Continuous inhaled NO in the management of PAH” including Bellerophon INOpulse data and the INOvation-1 Phase 3 trial at the Annual meeting of theAmerican College of Chest Physicians ;October 2016 .- The PH-COPD Phase 2 trial is actively recruiting patients with
Belgian Health Authority approval following results from the Company’s previous Phase 2a study and proof of mechanism work indicating that INOpulse could be both safe and effective in PH-COPD. - In July, the Company announced the publication of results of a trial conducted by the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the University Hospital Antwerp, by Professor
W. De Backer , MD and Bellerophon, in the peer-reviewedInternational Journal of COPD (Hajian et al., Pulmonary vascular effects of pulsed inhaled nitric oxide in COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension,International Journal of COPD , 2016, 11:1533-1541). - During the quarter, the Company announced a succession plan in which
Fabian Tenenbaum , current Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Jonathan Peacock, who will retain his position as Chairman of the Board and remain actively involved. The transition is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results
For the third quarter ended
Research and development expenses for the third quarter of 2016 declined 65 percent to
General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2016 declined 60 percent to $1.7 million, from $4.3 million in the third quarter of 2015, primarily due to reduced expenses payable to Ikaria following the termination of the transition service agreement on
At
About Bellerophon
Bellerophon Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing innovative therapies at the intersection of drugs and devices that address significant unmet medical needs in the treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases. The Company is currently developing three product candidates under its INOpulse program, a proprietary pulsatile nitric oxide delivery device. The first is for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), for which the Company has commenced Phase 3 clinical trials in 2016. The second is for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (PH-COPD) and the third candidate is for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (PH-IPF) both of which are in Phase 2 development. For more information, please visit www.bellerophon.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about Bellerophon’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements about the clinical development of its product candidates, regulatory actions with respect to the Company’s clinical trials and expectations regarding the sufficiency of the Company’s cash balance to fund clinical trials, operating expenses and capital expenditures, and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials, availability and timing of data from ongoing and future clinical trials and the results of such trials, whether preliminary or interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical trials will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, the FDA’s substantial discretion in the approval process, availability of funding sufficient for our foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent filings with the
BELLEROPHON THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) |
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(in thousands except share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended Sept 30, | Nine Months Ended Sept 30, |
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2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 2,472 | $ | 7,090 | $ | 11,539 | $ | 25,036 | ||||||||
General and administrative | 1,745 | 4,329 | 4,926 | 12,337 | ||||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 4,217 | 11,419 | 16,465 | 37,373 | ||||||||||||
Other operating income | - | 250 | - | 1,667 | ||||||||||||
Loss from operations | (4,217 | ) | (11,169 | ) | (16,465 | ) | (35,706 | ) | ||||||||
Interest income | 22 | 27 | 74 | 73 | ||||||||||||
Loss before taxes | (4,195 | ) | (11,142 | ) | (16,391 | ) | (35,633 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax benefit | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (4,195 | ) | $ | (11,142 | ) | $ | (16,391 | ) | $ | (35,633 | ) | ||||
Weighted average shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | 13,854,188 | 12,911,905 | 13,335,358 | 12,012,002 | ||||||||||||
Net loss per share: | ||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted | $ | (0.30 | ) | $ | (0.86 | ) | $ | (1.23 | ) | $ | (2.97 | ) | ||||
Bellerophon Therapeutics, Inc. | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet | ||||||||
(in thousands except share and per share data) | ||||||||
September 30, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3,930 | $ | 6,260 | ||||
Marketable securities | 7,230 | 17,807 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 6,365 | 5,385 | ||||||
Total current assets | 17,525 | 29,452 | ||||||
Restricted cash, non-current | 457 | 457 | ||||||
Other non-current assets | 3,304 | 6,701 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 1,498 | 1,799 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 22,784 | $ | 38,409 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 2,235 | $ | 1,613 | ||||
Accrued research and development | 1,085 | 2,825 | ||||||
Accrued expenses | 1,302 | 3,487 | ||||||
Due to Ikaria, Inc. | 166 | 148 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 4,788 | 8,073 | ||||||
Total liabilities | 4,788 | 8,073 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 125,000,000 shares authorized, 14,506,997 and 13,130,800 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively | 145 | 131 | ||||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 5,000,000 share authorized, zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 | - | - | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 134,921 | 130,902 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (1 | ) | (19 | ) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (117,069 | ) | (100,678 | ) | ||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 17,996 | 30,336 | ||||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 22,784 | $ | 38,409 |
Contacts At Bellerophon:Fabian Tenenbaum , Chief Financial Officer (908) 574-4767At Rx Communications Group :Melody Carey (917) 322-2571