Acasti Announces Third Fiscal Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Business Highlights
Acasti Pharma Inc. announced an extended cash runway into Q2 2026, well beyond the potential NDA submission for GTX-104 in 1H 2025. Patient enrollment for the pivotal STRIVE-ON Phase 3 trial continues as planned. Financially, the company reported a net loss of $2.4 million for Q3 2024, decreased from $3.9 million in Q3 2023.
Acasti Pharma Inc.'s announcement regarding its financial results and the projected cash runway extending into the second quarter of 2026 presents a robust financial position, particularly given the timeline for the New Drug Application (NDA) submission of GTX-104. The extended cash runway indicates a reduced risk of near-term dilutive financing, which is a positive signal for investors. The strategic realignment plan, which has resulted in reduced operating expenses, appears to be an effective measure in controlling cash burn. The financial results show a decrease in net loss year-over-year, with a notable reduction in research and development expenses, aligning with the company's strategic focus on GTX-104.
However, it's important to consider that the biopharmaceutical industry is capital-intensive and the success of Acasti's lead candidate, GTX-104, will be critical for long-term sustainability. Investors should monitor the enrollment progress and results of the STRIVE-ON trial, as any delays or negative outcomes could impact the company's financial stability and stock price. Moreover, the reverse stock split may have been executed to maintain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement, a common strategy for companies facing delisting. While it can improve the marketability of the stock, it does not fundamentally change the company's financials.
The STRIVE-ON trial's progress is a pivotal factor in the development of GTX-104, with patient enrollment on track for a potential NDA submission in the first half of 2025. The trial's design, a prospective, open-label, randomized comparison with oral nimodipine, is of particular interest as it targets a rare disease with high unmet medical needs. Successful outcomes from the STRIVE-ON trial could position GTX-104 as a new standard of care for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), which would be a significant breakthrough and could lead to substantial market opportunities.
Given the rarity of the condition, GTX-104 may be eligible for orphan drug designation, which can offer benefits like market exclusivity, tax credits and waiver of certain regulatory fees. The recent poster presentation at the International Stroke Conference could enhance the visibility of GTX-104 within the medical community, potentially fostering collaboration and support from key opinion leaders. However, the inherent risks of clinical trials, including the possibility of not meeting endpoints or encountering safety issues, must be weighed by stakeholders when evaluating the company's prospects.
The market for treatments of rare diseases like aSAH is typically characterized by a high cost of therapy and lower competition, which can lead to significant pricing power for successful entrants. Acasti Pharma's focus on GTX-104 and its potential as a new treatment standard for aSAH could capture a niche but valuable segment of the healthcare market. The financial commitment to the STRIVE-ON trial underscores the company's strategic decision to concentrate resources on a product with a potentially high return on investment.
Analyzing the broader market dynamics, the positive reception of GTX-104 at scientific conferences and its progression through clinical trials could generate interest from larger pharmaceutical companies looking for promising candidates to bolster their pipelines through acquisitions or partnerships. Acasti Pharma's current financial health, with substantial cash reserves and a controlled burn rate, places it in a favorable position to negotiate such deals from a position of strength. However, the success of these endeavors is contingent upon the trial's outcomes and regulatory approvals, which are yet to be ascertained.
02/12/2024 - 08:00 AM
Projected Cash Runway Extends into Second Calendar Quarter 2026, Well Beyond Potential 1H 2025 Submission of GTX-104 New Drug Application (NDA) Patient Enrollment in Pivotal STRIVE-ON Phase 3 Trial Continues, On Track for NDA Submission Timeline Poster Highlighting the STRIVE-ON Trial Presented at 2024 International Stroke Conference PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acasti Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: ACST) (Acasti or the Company), a late-stage, biopharma company advancing GTX-104, its novel formulation of nimodipine that addresses high unmet medical needs for a rare disease, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), today announced financial results and business highlights for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
"During the third quarter we continued to execute our focused strategy around our biggest value driver program GTX-104 and its pivotal Phase 3 STRIVE-ON safety trial (the STRIVE-ON trial–NCT05995405 ) . Having dosed the first patient in October, we’ve continued to enroll more patients and sites since that time,” said Prashant Kohli, CEO of Acasti. “With our balance sheet enhanced by the $7.5 million private placement secured last quarter and prudent use of resources announced in our strategic realignment plan in May 2023, our cash runway is now expected to extend into the second calendar quarter of 2026, well beyond our potential submission of GTX-104 NDA in the first half of 2025.”
Recent Corporate Highlights
Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
On June 29, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a reverse stock split of the Company's Class A common shares, no par value per share, at a ratio of 1-for-6, which was effective on July 10, 2023. All references below to the number of common shares, price per share and weighted average number of shares outstanding have been adjusted to reflect such reverse stock split.
The Company reported a net loss of $2.4 million , or $0.21 per share, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $1.5 million from the net loss of $3.9 million , or $0.52 per share, for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s net loss of $2.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, included $3.0 million of operating expenses, that were offset in part by interest income of $0.3 million from our investments, $0.1 million gain on change in fair of derivative warrant liabilities and $0.2 million in income tax recovery.
Research and development expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2023 totaled $1.4 million compared to $2.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The decrease from the prior year period was mainly attributable to the Company’s strategic realignment plan to align the organizational and management cost structure to prioritize resources to GTX-104, thereby reducing losses to improve cash flow and extend available cash resources.General and administrative expenses were $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, unchanged from $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022.The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2023, were $25.1 million . The Company believes its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are sufficient to fund its operations into the second calendar quarter of 2026.
About aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH)
aSAH is bleeding over the surface of the brain in the subarachnoid space between the brain and the skull, which contains blood vessels that supply the brain. A primary cause of such bleeding is the rupture of an aneurysm. Approximately 70% of aSAH patients experience death or dependence, and more than 30% die within one month of hemorrhage. Approximately 50,000 patients in the United States are affected by aSAH per year, based on market research.
About GTX-104
GTX-104 is a clinical stage, novel, injectable formulation of nimodipine being developed for intravenous infusion (IV) in aSAH patients to address significant unmet medical needs. The unique nanoparticle technology of GTX-104 facilitates aqueous formulation of insoluble nimodipine for a standard peripheral IV infusion.
GTX-104 provides a convenient IV delivery of nimodipine in the Intensive Care Unit potentially eliminating the need for nasogastric tube administration in unconscious or dysphagic patients. Intravenous delivery of GTX-104 also has the potential to lower food effects, drug-to-drug interactions, and eliminate potential dosing errors. Further, GTX-104 has the potential to better manage hypotension in aSAH patients. GTX-104 has been administered in over 150 healthy volunteers and was well tolerated with significantly lower inter- and intra-subject pharmacokinetic variability compared to oral nimodipine. The addressable market in the United States for GTX-104 is estimated to be about $300 million , based on market research. Outside of the United States, annual cases of aSAH are estimated at approximately 60,000 in the European Union, and approximately 150,000 in China.
About Acasti
Acasti is a late-stage biopharma company with drug candidates addressing rare and orphan diseases. Acasti's novel drug delivery technologies have the potential to improve the performance of currently marketed drugs by achieving faster onset of action, enhanced efficacy, reduced side effects, and more convenient drug delivery. Acasti's lead clinical assets have each been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA, which provides seven years of marketing exclusivity post-launch in the United States, and additional intellectual property protection with over 40 granted and pending patents. Acasti's lead clinical asset, GTX-104, is an intravenous infusion targeting aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH), a rare and life-threatening medical emergency in which bleeding occurs over the surface of the brain in the subarachnoid space between the brain and skull.
For more information, please visit: https://www.acastipharma.com/en.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of Acasti to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements containing the terms "believes," "belief," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimates", "potential," "should," "may," "will," "plans," "continue", "targeted" or other similar expressions to be uncertain and forward-looking. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The forward-looking statements in this press release, including statements regarding the Company's anticipated cash runway, the timing of the planned NDA submission with the FDA in connection with the Company's STRIVE-ON trial, GTX-104’s commercial prospects, and GTX-104's potential to bring enhanced treatment options to patients suffering from aSAH are based upon Acasti's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: (i) the success and timing of regulatory submissions of the Phase 3 safety trial for GTX-104; (ii) regulatory requirements or developments and the outcome and timing of the proposed NDA application for GTX-104; (iii) changes to clinical trial designs and regulatory pathways; (iv) legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments; and (v) actual costs associated with Acasti's clinical trials as compared to management's current expectations. The foregoing list of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors detailed in documents that have been and are filed by Acasti from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Acasti undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by applicable securities laws.
For more information, please contact:
Acasti Contact:
Prashant Kohliinfo@acastipharma.com www.acasti.com
Investor Relations:
LifeSci AdvisorsPhone: 617-308-4306Email: mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com
ACASTI PHARMA INC.
December 31, March 31, (Expressed in thousands except share data) $ $ Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 18,545 27,875 Short-term investments 6,569 15 Receivables 959 802 Prepaid expenses 811 598 Total current assets 26,884 29,290 Operating lease right of use asset 23 463 Equipment 12 104 Intangible assets 41,128 41,128 Goodwill 8,138 8,138 Total assets 76,185 79,123 Liabilities and Shareholders’ equity Current liabilities: Trade and other payables 1,746 3,336 Operating lease liability 24 75 Total current liabilities 1,770 3,411 Derivative warrant liabilities 3,332 — Operating lease liability — 410 Deferred tax liability 6,403 7,347 Total liabilities 11,505 11,168 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders’ equity: Class A common shares, no par value per share; unlimited shares authorized as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023; 9,399,404 and 7,435,533 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively 261,038 258,294 Class B, C, D and E common shares, no par value per share; unlimited shares authorized as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023; none issued and outstanding — — Additional paid-in capital 17,633 13,965 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6,038 ) (6,038 ) Accumulated deficit (207,953 ) (198,266 ) Total shareholders' equity 64,680 67,955 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 76,185 79,123
Three months ended Nine months ended December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, (Expressed in thousands, except share and per share data) $ $ $ $ Operating expenses Research and development expenses, net of government assistance (1,443 ) (2,450 ) (2,998 ) (8,332 ) General and administrative expenses (1,570 ) (1,589 ) (4,922 ) (5,187 ) Sales and marketing (30 ) (206 ) (184 ) (563 ) Restructuring cost — — (1,485 ) — Loss from operating activities (3,043 ) (4,245 ) (9,589 ) (14,082 ) Foreign exchange gain (loss) 3 15 (2 ) (75 ) Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities 125 — (1,701 ) 10 Interest income and other expense, net 316 67 662 134 Total other income (expense), net 444 82 (1,041 ) 69 Loss before income tax recovery (2,599 ) (4,163 ) (10,630 ) (14,013 ) Income tax recovery 208 274 943 671 Net loss and total comprehensive loss (2,391 ) (3,889 ) (9,687 ) (13,342 ) Basic and diluted loss per share (0.21 ) (0.52 ) (1.09 ) (1.80 ) Weighted-average number of shares outstanding 11,506,257 7,435,472 8,874,872 7,416,318
When is Acasti Pharma's potential NDA submission for GTX-104 expected?
Acasti Pharma's potential NDA submission for GTX-104 is expected in the first half of 2025.
What is the name of the pivotal Phase 3 trial for GTX-104?
The pivotal Phase 3 trial for GTX-104 is called STRIVE-ON.
What is the ticker symbol for Acasti Pharma Inc.?
The ticker symbol for Acasti Pharma Inc. is ACST.
How much did the company report as net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2023?
The company reported a net loss of $2.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023.
What was the cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments amount as of December 31, 2023?
As of December 31, 2023, the company had $25.1 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.
