Histogenics Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2017 Financial and Operating Results

Top-line, 1-year Superiority Data for NeoCart^® Phase 3 Clinical Trial and Potential Biologics License Application Filing Remain on Track for Third Quarter of 2018

Company to Host Conference Call and Webcast Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. ET

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Histogenics Corporation (Histogenics) (Nasdaq:HSGX), a leader in the development of restorative cell therapies that may offer rapid-onset pain relief and restored function, announced financial and operational results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

“With enrollment in the NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial complete, we are focused on preparing for the top- line, superiority data and potential BLA filing for NeoCart in the third quarter of 2018. In the third quarter of 2017, we enhanced Histogenics’ operational capabilities and expanded our portfolio of data supporting the unique mechanism of action of NeoCart,” stated Adam Gridley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Histogenics. “We believe that the data published in the Journal of Biomechanics in October 2017 provide additional evidence that Histogenics’ proprietary cell therapy platform produces cartilage that may accelerate recovery time and reduce pain. These data support the potential of NeoCart to replace microfracture as the standard of care for the treatment of knee cartilage defects, as well as the future development of additional product candidates from the NeoCart product platform. Histogenics’ priorities are now focused on preparing for our upcoming Biologics License Application (BLA) submission, further defining our commercial strategies for our launch of NeoCart, and our ongoing partnering activities for NeoCart in Japan and Asia.”

Recent Highlights

• Peer Reviewed Publication Further Strengthens NeoCart Data Portfolio. In October 2017, Histogenics announced the publication of a study, “In Vitro Culture Increases Mechanical Stability of Human Tissue Engineered Cartilage Constructs by Prevention of Microscale Scaffold Buckling” in the online version of the peer-reviewed Journal of Biomechanics. The study analyzes the compressive properties of engineered cartilage tissue grown with chondrocytes seeded in a porous scaffold. Histogenics intends to include the results of this study to provide additional data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of a potential BLA for NeoCart, subject to a successful outcome in the ongoing NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial.
  
• Enhancement of Executive Team in Advance of Potential Approval and Commercialization of NeoCart. In October 2017, Histogenics promoted Stephen Kennedy from Chief Technology Officer to Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. The promotion is consistent with Mr. Kennedy’s focus on the manufacturing scale-up of NeoCart to supply the U.S. market, if approved. Mr. Kennedy has more than 30 years of executive product development, manufacturing, technology assessment and commercialization experience at leading biotechnology companies, which includes extensive experience overseeing product technologies from development through commercial launch.

Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2017

Loss from operations was $(5.7) million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $(6.6) million in the third quarter of 2016. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily driven by a reduction in research and development expenses that was offset by an increase in general and administrative expenses.

Research and development expenses were $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $4.9 million in the third quarter of 2016. The decrease was primarily due to reductions in collaboration, consulting and temporary labor expenses and clinical trial-related costs. General and administrative expenses were $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2016. The increase was primarily due to activities related to a potential BLA submission and commercialization of NeoCart, if approved.

Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $(5.1) million in the third quarter of 2017, or $(0.23) per share, compared to $(9.2) million, or $(0.70) per share, in the third quarter of 2016. The decrease in net loss attributable to common stockholders is primarily due to lower operating expenses in the third quarter of 2017, $3.1 million in expenses related to the private placement completed in the third quarter of 2016 and an increase in weighted average shares outstanding, also resulting from the 2016 private placement.

As of September 30, 2017, Histogenics had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $12.6 million, compared to $31.9 million at December 31, 2016. Histogenics believes its current cash position will be sufficient to fund its operations into the middle of 2018.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Histogenics’ management will host a conference call on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. ET. A question-and-answer session will follow Histogenics’ remarks. To participate on the live call, please dial 877-930-8064 (domestic) or 253-336-8040 (international) and provide the conference ID: 89009539 five to ten minutes before the start of the call.

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available via the “Investor Relations” page of the Histogenics website, www.histogenics.com, or by clicking here. A replay of the webcast will be archived on Histogenics’ website for approximately 45 days following the presentation.

About Histogenics Corporation

Histogenics (NASDAQ:HSGX) is a leader in the development of restorative cell therapies that may offer rapid-onset pain relief and restored function. Histogenics’ lead investigational product, NeoCart, is designed to rebuild a patient’s own knee cartilage to treat pain at the source and potentially prevent a patient’s progression to osteoarthritis. NeoCart is one of the most rigorously studied restorative cell therapies for orthopedic use. Histogenics recently completed enrollment of its NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial and expects to report top-line, one-year superiority data in the third quarter of 2018. NeoCart is designed to perform like articular hyaline cartilage at the time of treatment, and as a result, may provide patients with more rapid pain relief and accelerated recovery as compared to the current standard of care. Histogenics’ technology platform has the potential to be used for a broad range of additional restorative cell therapy indications. For more information on Histogenics and NeoCart, please visit www.histogenics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Various statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” under the securities laws. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “expect,” “estimate,” “design,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “likely,” “should,” “will,” and “would,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions or words, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Histogenics’ forward-looking statements include, among others: the timing and success of Histogenics’ NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial, including, without limitation, possible delays in generating the data from the trial; the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of NeoCart or any product candidates, and the labeling for any approved products; the scope, progress, expansion, and costs of developing and commercializing Histogenics’ product candidates; the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval regarding the comparability of critical NeoCart raw materials following our technology transfer and manufacturing location transition; the size and growth of the potential markets for Histogenics’ product candidates and the ability to serve those markets; Histogenics’ expectations regarding its expenses and revenue; and other factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Histogenics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additional factors may be set forth in those sections of Histogenics quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, to be filed with the SEC in the fourth quarter of 2017. In addition to the risks described above and in Histogenics’ annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Histogenics’ results.

There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Histogenics will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Histogenics. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved.

All written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to Histogenics or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. Histogenics cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements Histogenics makes or that are made on its behalf. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Histogenics undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.