Loading, Please Wait...
Results from Serlopitant Phase 2 Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Chronic Pruritus of Unknown Origin Anticipated in Q1 2020
Results from Serlopitant Phase 3 Clinical Trials for the Treatment of Pruritus with Prurigo Nodularis Anticipated in H1 2020
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Menlo Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: MNLO), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of serlopitant for the treatment of pruritus (itch), today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 and provided an update on its clinical development programs.
“We are pleased with the progress in our prurigo nodularis (PN) Phase 3 clinical trials and the rapid enrollment in our chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO) Phase 2 clinical trial,” said Steve Basta, Menlo’s Chief Executive Officer. “We believe the rapid enrollment of the CPUO trial reflects the large patient population and significant unmet need to manage pruritus in CPUO patients, for which there is currently no approved treatment.”
Clinical Program Updates
Prurigo Nodularis
Chronic Pruritus of Unknown Origin
Psoriasis
Financial Results
Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Menlo reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $16.5 million for the second quarter of 2019, compared to a net loss of $8.3 million for the same period in 2018.
Collaboration and license revenue was zero in the second quarter of 2019 compared to $10.1 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease in collaboration and license revenue was due to the termination of Menlo’s collaboration agreement with JT Torii in June 2018.
Research and development expenses were $13.5 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $16.2 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease was primarily due to a May 2018 $3.0 million milestone payment to Merck resulting from the initiation of Menlo’s Phase 3 clinical trials for pruritus associated with prurigo nodularis.
General and administrative expenses were $3.8 million in the second quarter of 2019, compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase in personnel expenses as a result of an increase in Menlo’s employee headcount and stock-based compensation expense and an increase in professional and insurance fees.
As of June 30, 2019, Menlo had $109.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments, compared to $136.3 million as of December 31, 2018. In the second quarter of 2019, Menlo issued 246,416 shares of its common stock pursuant to its at-the-market program at an average price of $7.84 per share and received aggregate net proceeds of $1.9 million after deducting sales agent fees.
Updated Operating Expense and Cash Runway Guidance
Menlo is lowering its operating expense guidance for the full year 2019 to a range of approximately $74.0 to $80.0 million, including stock-based compensation of approximately $5.0 to $6.0 million, from a range of $78.0 to $88.0 million. The decrease is primarily due to Menlo deferring the decision to start a Phase 3 clinical program in pruritus associated with psoriasis until 2020. Menlo expects that its current cash, cash equivalents and investments will enable the company to fund its anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the first quarter of 2021.
About Menlo Therapeutics
Menlo Therapeutics Inc. is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of serlopitant, a once-daily oral NK1 receptor antagonist, for the treatment of pruritus. The company’s clinical development program for serlopitant includes two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of pruritus associated with prurigo nodularis, a Phase 3 ready clinical program for the treatment of pruritus associated with psoriasis, and an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of chronic pruritus of unknown origin.
Forward Looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Menlo Therapeutics, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the potential safety and efficacy of serlopitant for the treatment of various conditions, expectations with respect to the timing of enrollment and the anticipated announcement of results of its clinical trials for pruritus associated with prurigo nodularis and chronic pruritus of unknown origin, the timing of potential regulatory filings, the regulatory process and regulatory approvals, and expected cash needs and operating expenses in the second half of 2019. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risk and uncertainties that could cause Menlo Therapeutics’ development program for serlopitant, future financial results, achievements or performance to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks that the timing of results, enrollment or commencement of clinical trials may be delayed, the risk that subsequent trials are unsuccessful, despite prior successfully completed clinical trials or do not demonstrate efficacy of serlopitant in the studied indications, the risk of adverse safety events, risks that the costs of clinical trials will exceed expectations, risks resulting from the unpredictability of the regulatory process and regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries, risks relating to ongoing securities class action litigation, and risks that Menlo Therapeutics will need to raise additional capital and will be unable to do so on favorable terms or at all. These factors, together with those that are described in greater detail in Menlo Therapeutics’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to filed on August 1, 2019, as well as any reports that it may file with the SEC in the future, may cause Menlo Therapeutics’ actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements. Menlo Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
- See attached financial tables –
Menlo Therapeutics Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations (In thousands, except share and per share data, unaudited) |
|||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||||||
2019 | 2018 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
Collaboration and license revenue | $ | - | $ | 10,143 | $ | - | $ | 10,640 | |||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Research and development | 13,457 | 16,226 | 29,380 | 27,246 | |||||||||||
General and administrative | 3,759 | 3,090 | 7,504 | 5,787 | |||||||||||
Loss from operations | (17,216 | ) | (9,173 | ) | (36,884 | ) | (22,393 | ) | |||||||
Interest income and other expense, net | 739 | 826 | 1,534 | 1,388 | |||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (16,477 | ) | $ | (8,347 | ) | $ | (35,350 | ) | $ | (21,005 | ) | |||
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted | $ | (0.69 | ) | $ | (0.36 | ) | $ | (1.50 | ) | $ | (1.04 | ) | |||
Weighted average common shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted | 23,893,580 | 22,872,196 | 23,591,554 | 20,242,341 | |||||||||||
Menlo Therapeutics Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheet Data (In thousands) |
||||||
June 30, 2019 | December 31, 2018 (1) | |||||
(unaudited) | ||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and investments | $ | 109,410 | $ | 136,250 | ||
Working capital | 101,221 | 129,956 | ||||
Total assets | 114,384 | 139,928 | ||||
Stockholders' equity | 102,177 | 130,377 |
(1) Derived from the audited financial statements, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Investor Contact: IR@menlotx.com