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8-K - FORM 8-K - Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.snbp20210511_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

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Panbela Provides Business Update and Reports Q1 2021 Financial Results

 

MINNEAPOLIS (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) May 12, 2021 Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PBLA), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for the treatment of patients with cancer today provides a business update and reports financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Management is hosting an earnings call today at 4:30 p.m. ET. 

 

The first quarter 2021 was marked by meaningful clinical progress.

 

Q1 and Recent Highlights

 

 

Abstract accepted with poster presentation at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting June 4-8, 2021.

 

 

Partial clinical hold lifted from the company's Phase 1 first-line study of SBP-101.

 

 

Research agreement entered into with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Preclinical studies underway.

 

As previously announced, in April the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted the partial clinical hold on the company's Phase 1 first-line study of SBP-101 when used in combination with standard of care agents gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The company has agreed to include in the design of future studies the exclusion of patients with a history of retinopathy or at risk of retinal detachment and scheduled periodic ophthalmologic monitoring for all patients, and in future dose-finding studies screening for retinal toxicity will be included.

 

“Year to date, we have focused on advancing SBP-101 in its first indication and exploring the broader potential of polyamine metabolic inhibition,” said Jennifer K. Simpson, PhD, MSN, CRNP, President & Chief Executive Officer. “With the hold lifted, we are excited to move the pancreatic cancer program forward. Additionally, the research initiated with Johns Hopkins will help to inform development outside of pancreatic cancer as well as potentially in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor.”

 

 

 

Based on interim data from our Phase I trial, SBP-101 demonstrated a 62% objective response rate in combination with gemcitabine & abraxane (G&A); more than double the historical standard of care for metastatic pancreatic cancer with G&A.

 

We believe SBP-101 has the potential to expand into other cancers with known elevated levels of polyamine metabolism.

 

Upcoming Milestones

 

 

Public release of additional data from phase 1 trial – ASCO Annual Meeting June 4-8, 2021

 

 

Initiation of randomized phase 2 study mid-year

 

 

Public release of preclinical data across tumors outside of pancreatic cancer 2H’21

 

First Quarter ended March 31, 2021 Financial Results

 

General and administrative expenses were $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2020. The change in the quarter is primarily associated with increased headcount and other increased costs associated with maintaining our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

Research and development expenses were $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. The change in quarter is due primarily to higher manufacturing costs in preparation for future clinical trials.

 

Net loss was $2.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2020.

 

Total cash was $8.1 million as of March 31, 2021. Total current assets were $8.8 million and current liabilities were $1.3 million as of the same date. The company had no debt as of March 31, 2021.

 

 

 

Conference Call Information

 

To participate in this event, dial approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call.

 

Date: May 12, 2021 
Time: 4:30 PM Eastern Time 
Toll Free: 877-407-9205 
International: 201-689-8054

 

The call will also be available over the Internet and accessible at: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2556/40994

 

Conference Call Replay Information

 

Toll Free: 877-481-4010 
International: 919-882-2331 
Replay Passcode: 40994

 

Webcast replay: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2556/40994

 

About SBP-101

 

SBP-101 is a proprietary polyamine analogue designed to induce polyamine metabolic inhibition (PMI) by exploiting an observed high affinity of the compound for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and other tumors. The molecule has shown signals of tumor growth inhibition in clinical studies of US and Australian metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, suggesting potential complementary activity with an existing FDA-approved standard chemotherapy regimen. In data evaluated from clinical studies to date, SBP-101 has not shown exacerbation of bone marrow suppression and peripheral neuropathy, which can be chemotherapy-related adverse events. Recently observed serious visual adverse events are being evaluated and patients with a history of retinopathy or at risk of retinal detachment will be excluded from future SBP-101 studies. The safety data and PMI profile observed in the current Panbela sponsored clinical trial provides support for continued evaluation of SBP-101 in a randomized clinical trial.   For more information, please visit  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03412799 .

 

 

 

About Panbela

 

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for patients with urgent unmet medical needs. The company’s initial product candidate, SBP-101, is for the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer. Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. is dedicated to treating patients with pancreatic cancer and exploring SBP-101’s potential for efficacy in combination with other agents in other cancer indications. Further information can be found at www.panbela.com . Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol PBLA.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: believe, expect, intend, may, and plan. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements we make regarding the design and conduct of future clinical trials and potential expanded applications of SBP-101. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (i) our ability to obtain additional funding to complete a randomized clinical trial; (ii) progress and success of our Phase 1 clinical trial; (iii) the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on our ability to complete monitoring and reporting in our current clinical trial and procure the active ingredient; (iv) our ability to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of our SBP-101 product candidate (v) our ability to obtain regulatory approvals for our SBP-101 product candidate in the United States, the European Union or other international markets; (vi) the market acceptance and level of future sales of our SBP-101 product candidate; (vii) the cost and delays in product development that may result from changes in regulatory oversight applicable to our SBP-101 product candidate; (viii) the rate of progress in establishing reimbursement arrangements with third-party payors; (ix) the effect of competing technological and market developments; (x) the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and enforcing or defending patent claims; and (xi) such other factors as discussed in Part I, Item 1A under the caption Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any additional risks presented in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement or reasons why actual results would differ from those anticipated in any such forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

 

 

Contact Information:

 

Investors: 
James Carbonara 
Hayden IR 
(646) 755-7412 
james@haydenir.com

 

Media: 
Tammy Groene 
Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. 
(952) 479-1196 ext. 170
IR@panbela.com

 

 

 

 

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

 

   

Three months ended March 31,

 
   

2021

   

2020

   

Percent Change

 

Operating expenses:

                       

General and administrative

  $ 1,149     $ 468       145.5 %

Research and development

    1,099       598       83.8 %

Operating loss

    (2,248 )     (1,066 )     110.9 %
                         

Other income (expense):

                       

Interest expense

    (3 )     (4 )     -25.0 %

Other income

    (122 )     (820 )     -85.1 %

Total other expense

    (125 )     (824 )     -84.8 %
                         

Loss before income tax benefit

    (2,373 )     (1,890 )     25.6 %
                         

Income tax benefit

    116       92       26.1 %
                         

Net loss

    (2,257 )     (1,798 )     25.5 %

Foreign currency translation adjustment

    99       797       -87.6 %

Comprehensive Loss

  $ (2,158 )   $ (1,001 )     115.6 %
                         

Basic and diluted net loss per share

  $ (0.23 )   $ (0.27 )     -14.8 %

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted

    9,887,578       6,631,308       49.1 %

 

 

 

 

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

 

   

March 31, 2021

   

December 31, 2020

 

ASSETS

 

(Unaudited)

         

Current assets:

               

Cash

  $ 8,098     $ 9,022  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    310       412  

Income tax receivable

    431       323  

Total current assets

    8,839       9,757  

Other noncurrent assets

    55       56  

Total assets

  $ 8,894     $ 9,813  
                 

LIABILITITES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 782     $ 554  

Accrued expenses

    528       811  

Total current liabilities

    1,310       1,365  
                 

Stockholders' equity:

               

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 authorized; no shares issued or outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020

    -       -  

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 authorized; 10,088,872 and 9,664,427 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

    10       10  

Additional paid-in capital

    56,142       54,848  

Accumulated deficit

    (48,283 )     (46,026 )

Accumulated comprehensive loss

    (285 )     (384 )

Total stockholders' equity

    7,584       8,448  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 8,894     $ 9,813  

 

 

 

 

Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

 

(In thousands)

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
   

2021

   

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (2,257 )   $ (1,798 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

               

Stock-based compensation

    252       112  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Income tax receivable

    (113 )     (97 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    100       97  

Accounts payable

    334       546  

Accrued liabilities

    (281 )     20  

Net cash used in operating activities

    (1,965 )     (1,120 )
                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Proceeds from exercise of stock purchase warrants

    1,042       -  

Repayments of term debt

    -       (26 )

Net cash provided by (used by) financing activities

    1,042       (26 )
                 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

    (1 )     (7 )
                 

Net change in cash

    (924 )     (1,153 )

Cash at beginning of period

    9,022       2,449  

Cash at end of period

  $ 8,098     $ 1,296  
                 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

               

Cash paid during period for interest

  $ 3     $ 2  
                 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:

               

Warrants issued for future services

  $ -     $ 228