TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -Transition Therapeutics Inc. ("Transition" or the "Company") (TSX: TTH; NASDAQ: TTHI), a
product-focused biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for
disease indications with large markets, today announced its financial
results for the year ended June 30, 2012.
Selected Highlights
During fiscal 2012 and up to the date of this press release, the Company
achieved the following significant milestones:
ELND005 (AZD-103):
- On August 30, 2012, Transition announced that their licensing partner
Elan had dosed the first patient in a Phase 2 clinical study of ELND005
in Bipolar Disorder. The study is a placebo-controlled, safety and efficacy study of oral
ELND005 as an adjunctive maintenance treatment in patients with Bipolar
1 Disorder to delay the time to occurrence of mood episodes. As the
first patient has been dosed in the study, Transition will receive a
milestone payment of US$11million from Elan;
- On May 14, 2012, Transition announced that a mini symposium entitled
"The Emerging Clinical Profile of Oral Scyllo-inositol (ELND005) in
Alzheimer's Disease: A Dual Mechanism of Action" was presented at the 12th International Stockholm/Springfield Symposium on Advances in Alzheimer
Therapies;
- On April 26, 2012, Transition announced that three ELND005 poster
presentations were presented at the American Academy of Neurology. These presentations described responder analyses and characteristics,
along with findings on the effect of ELND005 on the emergence of
neuropsychiatric symptoms;
- On September 27, 2011, Transition announced that Phase II clinical study
data of ELND005 (AZD-103) in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease has
been published in the peer-reviewed journal, Neurology. The Neurology article is entitled "A Phase II randomized trial of
ELND005, scyllo-inositol, in mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease";
- On July 15, 2011, Transition announced that ELND005 (AZD-103) Phase II
clinical trial data would be presented at the International Conference
of Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) meeting on July 18, 2011;
TT-401:
- On June 18, 2012, Transition announced the results of the Phase I
clinical study of type 2 diabetes drug candidate, TT-401. The Phase 1, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study enrolled
48 non-diabetic obese subjects in six cohorts evaluating six escalating
subcutaneous single doses of TT-401. TT-401 demonstrated an acceptable
safety and tolerability profile in non-diabetic obese subjects in the
study. TT-401 exhibited the expected pharmacological effect on glucose
and pharmacodynamic biomarkers at doses that were safe and tolerable.
The pharmacokinetic profile, assessed over 28 days, demonstrated a
half-life consistent with once-weekly dosing;
- On December 12, 2011, Transition announced that the first patient has
been dosed in a Phase I clinical study of type 2 diabetes drug
candidate, TT-401. TT-401 is a once-weekly administered peptide being studied for its
potential to lower blood glucose levels in patients with type 2
diabetes and accompanying obesity;
Corporate Developments:
- On November 22, 2011, Transition Therapeutics announced a US$5 million
private placement. Under the non-brokered private placement, Transition issued 3,703,703
common shares at a price of US$1.35 for gross proceeds of approximately
US$5,000,000.
Financial Liquidity
The Company's cash and cash equivalents and short term investments were
$19,012,345 at June 30, 2012.
Under the terms of the amended agreement with Elan, dosing of the first
patient in another clinical trial of ELND005 (AZD-103) triggers the
payment of a US$11 million milestone. The Company expects to receive
the US$11million milestone payment during the first quarter of fiscal
2013.
The Company's current cash projection indicates that the current cash
resources should enable the Company to execute its core business plan
and meet its projected cash requirements well beyond the next 12
months.
Financial Review
During the year ended June 30, 2012, the Company recorded a net loss of
$12,269,845 ($0.48 loss per common share) compared to a net loss of
$5,689,613 ($0.25 loss per common share) for the year ended June 30,
2011.
In fiscal 2011, the Company and Elan mutually agreed to modify their
collaboration agreement for the development and commercialization of
ELND005 (AZD-103). Under the terms of the modification, Transition is
no longer obligated to fund the development or commercialization of
ELND005 (AZD-103). The recognized net revenue of $8,951,400 ($US 9
million) in fiscal 2011 represented the agreement modification payment
that was received partially in lieu of the contractually required Phase
III milestone payments.
Revenue is nil in the year ended June 30, 2012 compared to $10,251,394
in the year ended June 30, 2011. The decrease in revenue is due to the
receipt of the US$9 million agreement modification payment received
from Elan in fiscal 2011.
Research and development expenses decreased $295,250 or 3% from
$8,493,975 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 to $8,198,725 for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. The decreases are primarily due to
decreased clinical development costs related to ELND005 (AZD-103) and
TT-301/302, decreased amortization due to the fact that the technology
and patents acquired from Protana were fully amortized during the
second quarter of fiscal 2011 and decreased salaries and related costs
associated with headcount reductions. The decrease is largely offset by
an increase in pre-clinical and clinical development costs associated
with advancing the TT-401/402 compounds.
General and administrative expenses decreased by $801,037 or 15% from
$5,208,317 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011 to $4,407,280 for
the year ended June 30, 2012. The decrease in general and
administrative expenses during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012 is
largely due to decreases in payroll resulting from headcount reductions
as well as decreases in consulting, insurance expense and facility
lease costs. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is
partially offset by increased professional fees as well as increased
option expenses.
About Transition
Transition is a biopharmaceutical company, developing novel therapeutics
for disease indications with large markets. Transition's lead product
is ELND005 (AZD-103) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and
bipolar disorder. Transition also has an emerging pipeline of
innovative preclinical and clinical drug candidates. The other drugs in
the pipeline that the Company is developing are for anti-inflammatory
and metabolic indications. Transition's shares are listed on the NASDAQ
under the symbol "TTHI" and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
"TTH". For additional information about the Company, please visit www.transitiontherapeutics.com.