Aptose Announces Deferral of Interest Payment

Rhea-AI Summary

Aptose Biosciences (OTC: APTOF), a clinical-stage precision oncology company, has reached an agreement with Hanmi Pharmaceutical to defer interest payments on their 2024 loan facility. The company, which is developing tuspetinib (TUS) based triple drug frontline therapy for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), will have two interest payments originally due on June 27, 2025, and June 30, 2025, deferred until December 31, 2025.

The deferred payments cover interest periods from December 21, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and from March 31, 2025, to June 30, 2025, respectively.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Interest payment deferral suggests potential cash flow constraints
• Multiple interest payments being pushed to end of 2025 indicates financial pressure

SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. ("Aptose" or the "Company") (TSX: APS; OTC: APTOF), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing a tuspetinib (TUS) based triple drug frontline therapy to treat patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), announced that it has entered into an Interest Deferral Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Hanmi”), whereby Hanmi has agreed to further defer the interest payment due under the loan facility agreement dated August 27, 2024 (the “2024 Loan Agreement”) between Aptose and Hanmi for the period commencing December 21, 2024 and ending on March 31, 2025 from June 27, 2025 to December 31, 2025 and to defer the interest due under the 2024 Loan Agreement for the period commencing March 31, 2025 and ending on June 30, 2025 to December 31, 2025.

About Aptose

Aptose Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing precision medicines addressing unmet medical needs in oncology, with an initial focus on hematology. The Company's small molecule cancer therapeutics pipeline includes products designed to provide single agent efficacy and to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies and regimens without overlapping toxicities. The Company’s lead clinical-stage compound tuspetinib (TUS), is an oral kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated activity as a monotherapy and in combination therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is being developed as a frontline triplet therapy in newly diagnosed AML. For more information, please visit www.aptose.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws, including statements relating but not limited to statements relating to the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements including words such as “continue”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “may”, and other similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements described in this press release. Such factors could include, among others: our ability to negotiate a collaboration agreement to jointly develop tuspetinib with Hanmi, our ability to remain compliant with Nasdaq listing requirements and other risks detailed from time-to-time in our ongoing quarterly filings, annual information forms, annual reports and annual filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions set out in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. We cannot assure you that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

For further information, please contact:

Aptose Biosciences Inc.                                          
Susan Pietropaolo                                                                                    
Corporate Communications & Investor Relations                         
201-923-2049                                                                
spietropaolo@aptose.com

FAQ

What interest payments has Aptose Biosciences (APTOF) deferred in 2025?

Aptose has deferred two interest payments to Hanmi Pharmaceutical: one covering December 21, 2024 to March 31, 2025, and another covering March 31, 2025 to June 30, 2025. Both payments are now due on December 31, 2025.

What is Aptose Biosciences (APTOF) currently developing?

Aptose is developing a tuspetinib (TUS) based triple drug frontline therapy to treat patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

When was the original loan agreement between Aptose and Hanmi Pharmaceutical signed?

The original loan facility agreement between Aptose and Hanmi Pharmaceutical was signed on August 27, 2024.

When are the deferred interest payments now due for Aptose (APTOF)?

All deferred interest payments are now due on December 31, 2025.