Benitec Interim Report For The Nine Months Ended March 31, 2016

SYDNEY, May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Benitec Biopharma Limited (ASX: BLT; NASDAQ: BNTC; NASDAQ: BNTCW) today lodged its Interim Report for the nine months ended March 31, 2016. The report includes the financial results and a review of operations for the period.

Summary of the key points from the Interim Report:

• The net loss for the nine months was $A18.5 million and included research and development spending of AU$11.1 million. Benitec's current assets at March 31, 2016 were A$26.5 million.
• In March 2016 Benitec announced encouraging results of its recent in vivo efficacy study of BB-HB-331. Key findings indicate that a single BB-HB-331 treatment in the PhoenixBio mouse model can result in suppression of hepatitis B (HBV). These results demonstrate the potential utility of an approach that combines RNAi with gene therapy to treat HBV, and the Company intends to advance the HBV program towards the clinic.
• On February 26, 2016 Benitec announced that it would wind-down its hepatitis C program and terminate the program upon completion of patients in Cohort 4 in its Phase I/IIa clinical trial for TT-034.
• In December 2015, Benitec announced positive in vitro data demonstrating the efficacy of BB-HB-331 and supporting the progression of BB-HB-331 into in vivo preclinical testing.  The data was presented at the HEPDART 2015 conference in the US in December 2015.
• In August 2015, Benitec completed a NASDAQ listing raising A$18.8 million (US$13.8 million) before costs.
• In July 2015, Benitec announced it acquired full rights to its preclinical DNA-directed RNA interference based hepatitis B therapeutic program for $2.5 million. The program was previously a joint development collaboration between Benitec and Biomics.
• Benitec anticipates completing in vivo preclinical proof of concept studies for age-related macular degeneration ('AMD') and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy ('OPMD') by the end of calendar year 2016

Webcast Information and Conference Call:

The Company will host a live audio webcast and conference call on Wednesday, March 25 at 8:00am AEST (Australian Eastern) and simultaneously on Tuesday, March 24 at 6.00pm EDT (US Eastern Daylight Savings Time), to provide an operational and financial update.

To access the live webcast please enter http://services.choruscall.com/links/bntc160523 into your internet browser. Investors will be able to submit questions in writing via the webcast, to be addressed by Benitec's management during the call.

To access the conference call, please use the dial in details below.

Conference ID: 902026

US dial in: +1 855-624-0077

Australia dial in: 1800 908 299 or 1800 455 963

All other locations dial: +61 2 9007 8048

Shareholders are encouraged to use the webcast link, as conference call lines are limited.  An archive of the webcast will remain available on Benitec's website for 90 days beginning at approximately 9:30am AEST on 25 May 2016.

For further information regarding Benitec and its activities, please contact the persons below, or visit the Benitec website at www.benitec.com

About Benitec Biopharma Limited:
Benitec Biopharma Limited (ASX: BLT; NASDAQ: BNTC; NASDAQ: BNTCW) is a biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics based on its patented gene-silencing technology called ddRNAi or 'expressed RNAi'. Based in Sydney, Australia with labs in Hayward, CA (USA) and collaborators and licensees around the world, the company is developing ddRNAi-based therapeutics for chronic and life-threatening human conditions including hepatitis B, wet age-related macular degeneration and OPMD. Benitec has also licensed ddRNAi to other biopharmaceutical companies for applications including HIV/AIDS, Huntington's Disease, chronic neuropathic pain and retinitis pigmentosa.

Safe Harbor Statement:
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any forward-looking statements that may be in the press release are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to the difficulties in Benitec's plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, the timing of the initiation and completion of preclinical and clinical trials, the timing of patient enrolment and dosing in clinical trials, the timing of expected regulatory filings, the clinical utility and potential attributes and benefits of ddRNAi and Benitec's product candidates, potential future out-licenses and collaborations, the intellectual property position and the ability to procure additional sources of financing. Accordingly, you should not rely on those forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future results.

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SOURCE Benitec Biopharma