CHAPEL HILL, N.C., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cempra, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEMP), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing antibiotics to meet critical medical needs in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The company will host a conference call and webcast at 4:30 p.m. EDT, today.
“The first quarter of 2012 was a productive period for Cempra,” said Prabhavathi Fernandes, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Cempra. “In February, we successfully completed our initial public offering, raising a net of $54.7 million including the exercise of over-allotment shares. At the end of the quarter, together with our collaborators, we presented several abstracts at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in London, including the full data set of our Phase 2 study comparing solithromycin with oral levofloxacin in patients with CABP. The study demonstrated that solithromycin’s efficacy was comparable to levofloxacin and that solithromycin had a favorable safety and tolerability profile compared to levofloxacin.”
Financial Results
For the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, Cempra reported a net loss of $3.5 million, or $0.26 per share, compared to a net loss of $6.2 million, or $12.16 per share, for the comparable period in the first quarter, 2011.
Research and development expense was $1.9 million, a decrease of 57% compared to the first quarter, 2011. The lower R&D expense was due to less clinical trial activity in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. General & Administrative expense was $1.0 million, an 11% increase compared to the first quarter 2011, driven by stock compensation and professional service expenses.
At March 31, 2012, Cempra had cash and equivalents of $65.9 million. The increase compared to December 31, 2011 was due to proceeds obtained from the IPO less operational expenses that were incurred during the first quarter.
First Quarter 2012 Highlights
- Completed the company’s initial public offering in February 2012 and raised a net of $54.7 million including the exercise of over-allotment shares
- Presented several abstracts at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID):
- Phase 2 study results demonstrated that solithromycin’s (CEM-101’s) efficacy was comparable to levofloxacin and solithromycin’s favorable safety and tolerability profile compared to levofloxacin
- In vitro study showed that solithromycin was active against antibiotic-resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae
- In vitro study showed that solithromycin was more effective than azithromycin in penetrating Streptococcus pneumoniae biofilm
- In vitro study further delineated the mechanism of action of telithromycin’s off-target activity on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Clinical program update
As previously stated, the proceeds of the company’s initial public offering will be directed primarily to the company’s two lead clinical-stage antibiotic candidates, the fluoroketolide, solithromycin, and the anti-Staphylococcus aureus compound, Taksta. The company expects the following events to occur during 2012:
CEM-101
- Initiation of the urethritis Phase 2 trial during the second quarter of 2012 and disclosure of top-line results by the end of the year
- Receipt of a response from the Food and Drug Administration regarding plans for the oral pivotal Phase 3 protocol during the second quarter of 2012
- Initiation of the oral Phase 3 clinical trial during the second half of 2012
- Completion of the Phase 1 intravenous dosing clinical trial during the second half of 2012
Taksta
- Initiation of the Phase 2 trial in prosthetic joint infection (PJI) patients during the fourth quarter of 2012
Financial Guidance
Cempra expects its research and development expense to increase due to the initiation of several clinical trials in 2012. The company’s cash and equivalents are expected to be sufficient to fund operations into 2014. This projection does not include any proceeds from possible future partnerships or other financing activities.
Conference Call and Webcast
The conference call may be accessed by dialing 877-377-7553 for domestic callers and 253-237-1151 for international callers. Please specify to the operator that you would like to join the “Cempra, Inc., First Quarter 2012 Financial Results Call, conference ID#: 76657626.” The conference call will be webcast live under the investor relations section of Cempra’s website at www.cempra.com, and will be archived there for 30 days following the call. Please visit Cempra’s website several minutes prior to the start of the broadcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary.
About Cempra, Inc.
Founded in 2006, Cempra, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing antibiotics to meet critical medical needs in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases. Cempra’s two lead product candidates have both completed oral Phase 2 clinical trials and seek to address the need for new treatments targeting drug-resistant bacterial infections in the hospital and in the community. The company also intends to utilize its series of proprietary lead compounds from its novel macrolide library for uses such as the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, endocrine diseases and gastric motility disorders. Additional information about Cempra can be found at www.cempra.com.
