Exhibit 99.1
Avenue Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Highlights
New York, NY – November 4, 2019 – Avenue Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATXI) (“Avenue”), a company focused on the development of intravenous (“IV”) tramadol for the U.S. market, today reported financial results and recent corporate highlights for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.
“We are pleased with the progress made during the third quarter of 2019, especially with the fact that our partner company, Cipla Limited, brought on Ms. Garrett Ingram as head of their U.S. specialty hospital business to lead the potential commercialization of IV tramadol,” said Lucy Lu, M.D., Avenue’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Looking ahead, we are on track to submit a New Drug Application for IV tramadol to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by year-end 2019.”
Recent Achievements:
| · | In August 2019, Avenue announced the appointment of Ms. Garrett Ingram to its Board of Directors. |
| · | In October 2019, an eAbstract was presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2019, the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in Orlando, FL, highlighting the Phase 3 data for IV tramadol in the management of post-surgical pain in patients undergoing bunionectomy, an orthopedic model. As previously announced, IV tramadol 50 mg met the primary endpoint, as well as all of the key secondary endpoints. |
| · | Also in October 2019, Avenue announced the publication of IV tramadol Phase 1 clinical data in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development. The paper titled “Comparing the Pharmacokinetics of 2 Novel Intravenous Tramadol Dosing Regimens to Oral Tramadol: A Randomized 3-Arm Crossover Study” can be accessed here. |
Financial Results:
| · | Cash Position: As of September 30, 2019, Avenue’s cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $13.7 million, compared to $15.5 million at June 30, 2019. |
| · | R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2019, were $1.7 million, relatively flat compared to $1.8 million for the same quarter in 2018. |
| · | G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2019, were $0.6 million, compared to $0.8 million for the same quarter in 2018. The $0.2 million decrease was primarily attributable to decreased market research costs and non cash stock compensation. |
| · | Net Loss: Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended September 30, 2019, was $2.2 million, or $0.14 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.25 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2018. |
About Avenue Therapeutics
Avenue Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company whose mission is to develop intravenous IV tramadol, a potential alternative that could reduce the use of conventional opioids, for patients suffering from acute pain in the U.S. Avenue is headquartered in New York City and was founded by Fortress Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ: FBIO). For more information, visit www.avenuetx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock value. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include: risks relating to our growth strategy; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks relating to the timing of starting and completing clinical trials; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.
Contacts:
Jaclyn Jaffe and William Begien
Avenue Therapeutics, Inc.
(781) 652-4500
ir@avenuetx.com
AVENUE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except for share and per share amounts)
| September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 8,741 | $ | 2,671 | ||||
| Short-term investments | 5,000 | - | ||||||
| Deferred financing costs | 61 | 1,702 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 76 | 152 | ||||||
| Total Assets | $ | 13,878 | $ | 4,525 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 1,901 | $ | 4,669 | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses - related party | 16 | 487 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 1,917 | 5,156 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | 1,917 | 5,156 | ||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||
| Preferred Stock ($0.0001 par value), 2,000,000 shares authorized | ||||||||
| Class A Preferred Stock, 250,000 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 | - | - | ||||||
| Common Stock ($0.0001 par value), 50,000,000 shares authorized | ||||||||
| Common shares, 16,661,355 and 10,667,714 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 74,661 | 41,577 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (62,702 | ) | (42,209 | ) | ||||
| Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) | 11,961 | (631 | ) | |||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) | $ | 13,878 | $ | 4,525 | ||||
AVENUE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands, except for share and per share amounts)
| For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 1,706 | $ | 1,788 | $ | 18,339 | $ | 14,981 | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 617 | 820 | 2,452 | 2,733 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (2,323 | ) | (2,608 | ) | (20,791 | ) | (17,714 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest income | (81 | ) | (13 | ) | (298 | ) | (85 | ) | ||||||||
| Net Loss | $ | (2,242 | ) | $ | (2,595 | ) | $ | (20,493 | ) | $ | (17,629 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per common share outstanding, basic and diluted | $ | (0.14 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (1.32 | ) | $ | (1.73 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 16,376,204 | 10,295,958 | 15,487,519 | 10,216,466 | ||||||||||||