Auris Med Provides Business Update And Reports Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

ZUG, Switzerland, Aug. 18, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auris Medical Holding AG (NASDAQ: EARS), a clinical-stage company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs in otolaryngology, today provided a business update and announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016.

"As stated earlier today, we are disappointed with the top-line results from the TACTT2 trial with Keyzilen^TM for acute inner ear tinnitus and we continue to assess the full dataset. We plan to complete this analysis and meet with the regulatory agencies prior to the TACTT3 readout, which is expected in the fourth quarter," commented Thomas Meyer, Auris Medical's founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Apart from this, we are pleased with the progress of our second Phase 3 asset, AM-111 for the treatment of acute sensorineural hearing loss, which is progressing with enrollment into the HEALOS and ASSENT trials. Furthermore, we have appointed Thomas Jung to our management team as Chief Development Officer to support our clinical, preclinical and pharmaceutical development activities."

Development Program Updates

Keyzilen ^TM (AM-101) for Acute Inner Ear Tinnitus

• Announced top-line results from the Phase 3 TACTT2 trial in acute inner ear tinnitus. The TACTT2 trial did not meet the two co-primary efficacy endpoints of statistically significant changes in tinnitus loudness and tinnitus burden compared to placebo. Data from the TACTT2 trial support the positive safety profile established in previous studies.
  
• Completed enrollment of the Phase 3 TACTT3 trial with more than 300 patients during the acute tinnitus stage (Stratum A) and approximately 330 patients during the post-acute tinnitus stage (Stratum B). The trial, which is being conducted in Europe, is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in acute and post-acute inner ear tinnitus following traumatic cochlear injury or otitis media. The primary endpoint is the change in tinnitus loudness from baseline to Day 84; the change in the TFI is the key secondary efficacy outcome. Top-line results from this trial are expected in the fourth quarter of 2016.
  
• Received fast track designation from the FDA for Keyzilen^TM in acute peripheral (inner ear) tinnitus following traumatic cochlear injury or otitis media in adults, highlighting the seriousness of the condition as well as the unmet medical need.

AM-111 for Acute Inner Ear Hearing Loss

• Progressed with enrollment in the Phase 3 HEALOS trial, which is being conducted in several European and Asian countries. The trial aims to enroll approximately 255 patients with severe to profound idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Top-line results from this trial are expected in the second half of 2017.
  
• Initiated the Phase 3 ASSENT trial, which is being conducted in the US, Canada and South Korea. The trial aims to enroll approximately 300 patients with severe to profound idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Top-line results from this trial are expected in the first half of 2018.

Other Developments

• Appointed Thomas Jung, MD, PhD, as Chief Development Officer. In this newly created position, Dr. Jung will lead the Company's clinical, preclinical and pharmaceutical development activities. He will join Auris Medical in September. Dr. Jung previously served as the Chief Medical Officer at Delenex Therapeutics AG and spent 13 years at Novartis, most recently as Head, Translational Medicine for the European Union.
  
• Received $12.5 million in financing from a loan facility agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc.

Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

• Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2016, totaled CHF 32.8 million, which does not include the $12.5 million received in July 2016 as part of the loan facility.
  
• Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2016 were CHF 9.0 million compared to CHF 9.7 million for the second quarter of 2015.
  
• Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2016 were CHF 7.3 million compared to CHF 8.8 million for the second quarter of 2015.
  
• General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2016 were CHF 1.7 million compared to CHF 0.9 million for the second quarter of 2015.
  
• Net loss for the second quarter of 2016 was CHF 8.43 million, or CHF 0.25 per share, compared to CHF 10.96 million, or CHF 0.34 per share, for the second quarter of 2015. The net loss includes a net unrealized foreign currency exchange gain of CHF 0.6 million in the second quarter of 2016 compared to a foreign currency exchange loss of CHF 1.2 million in the second quarter of 2015.

The Company continues to expect that its operating expenses in 2016 will be in the range of CHF 33.0 to 38.0 million and believes that existing cash and cash equivalents, including the $12.5 million loan, will enable the funding of operations until year-end 2017.

Today's Conference Call & Webcast Information

Auris Medical will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the top-line results from the TACTT2 trial, the second quarter 2016 financial results and to provide a general business update today, August 18, 2016, at 8:00 am Eastern Time (2:00 pm Central European Time). To participate in this conference call, dial 1-877-280-3459 (USA) or +1-646-254-3387 (International), and enter passcode 9451099. A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Auris Medical website at www.aurismedical.com and a replay of the conference call will be available following the live call.

About Auris Medical

Auris Medical is a Swiss biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs in otolaryngology. The Company is currently focusing on the Phase 3 development of treatments for acute inner ear tinnitus (Keyzilen^TM; AM-101) and for acute inner ear hearing loss (AM-111) by way of intratympanic administration with biocompatible gel formulations. In addition, Auris Medical is pursuing early-stage research and development projects. The Company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. The shares of the parent company Auris Medical Holding AG trade on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "EARS."