Portage Biotech Reports Results for Fiscal Quarter Ended September 30, 2024
Rhea-AI Summary
Portage Biotech (NASDAQ: PRTG) reported financial results for Q3 2024, showing a net loss of $1.4 million, down from $5.2 million in Q3 2023. Operating expenses decreased to $1.6 million from $5.9 million year-over-year. R&D costs dropped 83% to $0.7 million, while G&A expenses decreased 48% to $0.9 million.
The company has paused the ADPORT-601 trial pending additional financial resources and is exploring strategic alternatives, including potential partnerships, sale, merger, or restructuring. As of September 30, 2024, Portage had cash and cash equivalents of $1.8 million with current liabilities of $0.9 million.
Positive
- Reduced net loss by $3.8M compared to previous year
- Decreased operating expenses by $4.3M year-over-year
- Reduced R&D costs by 83%
- Reduced G&A expenses by 48%
Negative
- Clinical trial ADPORT-601 paused due to financial constraints
- Discontinued iNKT clinical trial program
- Low cash position of $1.8M relative to operations
- Company exploring potential restructuring or wind down options
- Two directors resigned in April 2024
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, PRTG declined 13.55%, reflecting a significant negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Exploration and evaluation of strategic alternatives continue
WESTPORT, Conn., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portage Biotech Inc. (“Portage” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PRTG), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company with a portfolio of novel multi-targeted therapies for use as monotherapy and in combination, today reported its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024.
“We are continuing to explore multiple strategic alternatives to further unlock shareholder value. These may include finding a partner for one or more of our assets, a sale of our company, a merger, restructurings (both in and out of court), a company wind down, further financing efforts, or other strategic actions,” said Dr. Ian Walters, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Portage. “The ADPORT-601 trial is paused for further patient accrual pending additional financial resources, and we are analyzing the data. We also continue our collaborations with numerous experts to further understand the biology and utility of our product candidates,” continued Dr. Walters.
Financial Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2024
The Company incurred a net loss of approximately
Operating expenses, including research and development (“R&D”) costs and general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses, were
R&D costs decreased by approximately
G&A expenses decreased by approximately
The primary reasons for the quarter-over-quarter differences in the Company’s pre-tax items of income and expense were the
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately
About Portage Biotech Inc.
Portage is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company with a portfolio of multi-targeted therapies to extend survival and significantly improve the lives of patients with cancer. The Company has made the decision to discontinue its sponsored trial for its the invariant natural killer T-cell (iNKT) program and pause further patient accrual to its sponsored adenosine trial program (ADPORT-601 trial) for its potentially best-in-class adenosine antagonists PORT-6 (adenosine 2A inhibitor) and PORT-7 (adenosine 2B inhibitor). The Company is exploring strategic alternatives, which may include finding a partner for one or more of its assets, a sale of the company, a merger, restructurings, both in and out of court, a company wind down, further financing efforts or other strategic actions. For more information, please visit www.portagebiotech.com or find us on LinkedIn at Portage Biotech Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding about the Company’s information that are forward-looking in nature and, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations and those statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believe," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," “will,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “continue,” or similar expressions or variations on such expressions are forward-looking statements. For example, statements regarding the Company's plans to continue exploring strategic alternatives, which may include finding a partner for one or more of its assets, a sale of the company, a merger, restructurings (both in and out of court), a company wind down, further financing efforts, or other strategic actions, the Company’s expectation to replace one patient in the ADPORT-601 trial, and the Company’s plans to continue its collaborations with numerous experts to further understand the biology and utility of its product candidates are forward-looking statements. As a result, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but are not limited to: the Company's plans and ability to develop and commercialize product candidates and the timing of these development programs; the Company's clinical development of its product candidates, including the results of current and future clinical trials; the benefits and risks of the Company's product candidates as compared to others; the Company's maintenance and establishment of intellectual property rights in its product candidates; the Company's ability to obtain financing in the future to cover its operational costs and progress its plans for clinical development, its estimates regarding its capital requirements, and its ability to continue as a going concern; the Company’s estimates of future revenues and profitability; the Company's estimates of the size of the potential markets for its product candidates; its selection and licensing of product candidates; and other factors set forth in “Item 3 - Key Information-Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2024 2024 and “Business Environment – Risk Factors” in the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the Three and Six Months ended September 30, 2024 filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Form 6-K. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. The forward- looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Investor Relations:
ir@portagebiotech.com
Media Relations:
media@portagebiotech.com
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PORTAGE BIOTECH INC.
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(U.S. Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Six Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 723 | $ | 4,237 | $ | 2,028 | $ | 7,865 | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 881 | 1,693 | 2,415 | 3,062 | |||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (1,604 | ) | (5,930 | ) | (4,443 | ) | (10,927 | ) | |||||||
| Change in fair value of warrant liability | (716 | ) | – | 426 | – | ||||||||||
| Change in fair value of deferred purchase price payable – Tarus and deferred obligation – iOx milestone | – | (113 | ) | – | (1,224 | ) | |||||||||
| Gain on settlement with Parexel – iOx CRO | 946 | – | 946 | – | |||||||||||
| Share of loss in associate accounted for using equity method | – | (40 | ) | – | (90 | ) | |||||||||
| Depreciation expense | (7 | ) | (15 | ) | (15 | ) | (26 | ) | |||||||
| Foreign exchange transaction (loss) gain | (5 | ) | (17 | ) | (7 | ) | 1 | ||||||||
| Interest income, net | 24 | 43 | 69 | 123 | |||||||||||
| Loss before benefit for income taxes | (1,362 | ) | (6,072 | ) | (3,024 | ) | (12,143 | ) | |||||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | – | 907 | (2 | ) | 1,052 | ||||||||||
| Net loss | (1,362 | ) | (5,165 | ) | (3,026 | ) | (11,091 | ) | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | |||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized (loss) gain on investments | – | (1,300 | ) | – | 469 | ||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss for period | $ | (1,362 | ) | $ | (6,465 | ) | $ | (3,026 | ) | $ | (10,622 | ) | |||
| Net loss attributable to: | |||||||||||||||
| Owners of the Company | $ | (1,360 | ) | $ | (5,158 | ) | $ | (3,016 | ) | $ | (11,077 | ) | |||
| Non-controlling interest | (2 | ) | (7 | ) | (10 | ) | (14 | ) | |||||||
| Net loss | $ | (1,362 | ) | $ | (5,165 | ) | $ | (3,026 | ) | $ | (11,091 | ) | |||
| Comprehensive loss attributable to: | |||||||||||||||
| Owners of the Company | $ | (1,360 | ) | $ | (6,458 | ) | $ | (3,016 | ) | $ | (10,608 | ) | |||
| Non-controlling interest | (2 | ) | (7 | ) | (10 | ) | (14 | ) | |||||||
| Total comprehensive loss for period | $ | (1,362 | ) | $ | (6,465 | ) | $ | (3,026 | ) | $ | (10,622 | ) | |||
| Loss per share | |||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (1.26 | ) | $ | (5.80 | ) | $ | (2.84 | ) | $ | (12.47 | ) | |||
| Weighted average shares outstanding | |||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | 1,076 | 890 | 1,063 | 888 | |||||||||||
PORTAGE BIOTECH INC.
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| September 30, 2024 | March 31, 2024 | |||||
| (Audited) | ||||||
| Assets | ||||||
| Current assets | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,764 | $ | 5,028 | ||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 922 | 2,667 | ||||
| Total current assets | 2,686 | 7,695 | ||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||
| Right to use asset | 20 | 35 | ||||
| Other assets | – | 49 | ||||
| Total non-current assets | 20 | 84 | ||||
| Total assets | $ | 2,706 | $ | 7,779 | ||
| Liabilities and Equity | ||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 845 | $ | 2,836 | ||
| Lease liability - current, including interest | 28 | 40 | ||||
| Other current liabilities | – | 3 | ||||
| Total current liabilities | 873 | 2,879 | ||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||||
| Lease liability - non-current | – | 7 | ||||
| Warrant liability | 1,138 | 1,564 | ||||
| Total non-current liabilities | 1,138 | 1,571 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 2,011 | 4,450 | ||||
| Shareholders’ Equity | ||||||
| Capital stock | 219,606 | 219,499 | ||||
| Stock option reserve | 24,126 | 23,841 | ||||
| Accumulated deficit | (242,334 | ) | (239,318 | ) | ||
| Total equity attributable to owners of the Company | 1,398 | 4,022 | ||||
| Non-controlling interest | (703 | ) | (693 | ) | ||
| Total equity | 695 | 3,329 | ||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 2,706 | $ | 7,779 | ||
FAQ
What was Portage Biotech's (PRTG) net loss in Q3 2024?
How much cash does Portage Biotech (PRTG) have as of September 2024?
Why did Portage Biotech (PRTG) pause the ADPORT-601 trial?
What strategic alternatives is Portage Biotech (PRTG) exploring?
