SAN DIEGO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sophiris Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: SPHS) (the “Company” or “Sophiris”), a clinical late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing topsalysin (PRX302) for the treatment of patients with urological diseases, today reported fourth quarter and full year 2016 financial results and key corporate highlights.
Key Corporate Highlights:
- Advanced Topsalysin (PRX302) in Clinical Development for Localized Prostate Cancer. During 2016, the Company reported successful results with topsalysin in a completed Phase 2a study for the focal treatment of localized prostate cancer. In 2017, the Company continued the development of topsalysin for the focal treatment of localized prostate cancer with the initiation of a Phase 2b clinical study.
Initiated Phase 2b Localized Prostate Cancer Study. In March 2017, the Company initiated its Phase 2b open-label localized prostate cancer study with investigational sites in both the UK and US. The primary objective of the study is safety and tolerability of an injection of topsalysin and the key efficacy variable is focal ablation of a clinically significant lesion on biopsy after six months. Approximately 40 patients with localized prostate cancer are expected to be enrolled in the study and patient screening has begun
Previously obtained multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of tumor lesions in each patient’s prostate, mapped to real-time three dimensional ultrasound will be used in the study to guide an intrasprostatic injection of topsalysin to treat a single, histological-proven, clinically significant lesion area in each patient’s prostate.
Six months following treatment with topsalysin, a targeted biopsy of the treated area will be conducted. The Company expects to receive the six-month biopsy data for all patients in late 2017 or early 2018. Based upon the results of the 6-month biopsy, the study includes an option to potentially re-treat the targeted lesion area with a second dose of topsalysin, with a targeted biopsy to occur six months following the second dose. In order to be eligible for a second dose, the patient cannot have experienced a significant adverse event attributable to topsalysin or the dosing procedure from the first dose and the patient will need to have had a clinical response from the first dose but still have the presence of a clinically significant lesion area. The Company expects to have final biopsy data on all patients who receive a second dose by the third quarter of 2018.
Reported Successful Results from a Phase 2a Localized Prostate Cancer Study. In June 2016, the Company announced successful results from its completed Phase 2a study of topsalysin in the focal treatment of localized prostate cancer. Biopsy data at six months following treatment in 18 patients showed that topsalysin demonstrated the ability to ablate tumor cells in over half of the patients and two patients experienced complete ablation of their targeted tumor with no histological evidence of any tumor remaining at six months.
Reported Positive Data at Important Urological Meeting. The Company presented positive data from its Phase 3 clinical trial of topsalysin as a treatment for the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (“BPH”) as a late breaking poster at the 111th American Urological Association Annual Meeting. A copy of the poster is available on the Company’s website at www.sophirisbio.com.
- Improved Financial Profile to Support Topsalysin Clinical Plans. During 2016, the Company raised net proceeds of $27.4 million and $7.0 million through two financing transactions. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale of $29.0 million and working capital of $27.8 million. The Company expects that its cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale will allow the Company to operate through the end of 2018.
“During 2016, Sophiris has made significant clinical development progress in advancing topsalysin, a novel and first-in-class targeted biologic,” said Randall E. Woods, president and CEO of Sophiris. “We believe that topsalysin may be an effective treatment to address significant unmet medical needs in two major commercial markets. Topsalysin could potentially provide a new intermediate treatment that may delay or even obviate the need for more radical treatment approaches in both localized prostate cancer as well as BPH. Topsalysin also has the potential to maintain or improve a patient’s quality of life post-treatment while at the same time remaining attractive to payors.”
Financial Results:
At December 31, 2016, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale of $29.0 million and working capital of $27.8 million. The Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its operations through the end of 2018. The Company is currently not planning on pursuing a second Phase 3 trial in BPH, unless the Company can secure a development partner to fund such new clinical trial or the Company obtains other financing.
For the three months ended December 31, 2016
The Company reported a net loss of $0.5 million ($0.02 per share) for the three months ended December 31, 2016 compared to a net loss of $2.5 million ($0.15 per share) for the three months ended December 31, 2015.
Research and development expenses were $1.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in research and development expenses were primarily attributable to a decrease in the costs associated with the Company’s Phase 3 PLUS-1 clinical trial which was completed in November 2015 and its Phase 2a proof of concept clinical trial for localized prostate cancer which was completed in June 2016.
General and administrative expenses were $1.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016 compared to $0.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in personnel related costs.
Gain on revaluation of the warrant liability was $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. This non-cash gain was associated with the change in the fair value of the Company’s warrant liability from September 30, 2016 to December 31, 2016.
For the 12 months ended December 31, 2016
The Company reported a net loss of $11.2 million ($0.49 per share) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 compared to a net loss of $14.2 million ($0.84 per share) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015.
Research and development expenses were $3.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 compared to $9.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in research and development costs were primarily attributable to a decrease of $5.9 million in the costs associated with the Company’s completed Phase 3 PLUS-1 clinical trial of topsalysin for the treatment of BPH and to a lesser extent a decrease in costs associated with the Company’s Phase 2a proof of concept clinical trial for localized prostate cancer which commenced in May 2015 and was completed in June 2016.
General and administrative expenses were $6.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 compared to $3.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015. The increase is primarily due to the inclusion of $1.6 million in offering costs which were allocated to the warrants issued in connection with the Company’s offerings which closed in May and August of 2016. The increase, to a lesser extent, is due to an increase in personnel related costs of $0.8 million and legal, accounting, consulting and professional fees of $0.7 million.
Loss on revaluation of the warrant liability was $0.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. The non-cash loss was associated with the change in the fair value of the Company’s warrant liability.
Loss on early extinguishment of debt was $0.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016. This consists of the final payment and a prepayment fee which was offset by the Company’s unamortized debt premium resulting from the payoff of its loan with Oxford.
About Sophiris
Sophiris Bio Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing topsalysin (PRX302) for the treatment of patients with urological diseases. Topsalysin is in Phase 2 clinical development for the focal treatment of localized prostate cancer as well as Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Topsalysin is a highly potent ablative agent that is selective and targeted in that it is only activated by enzymatically active PSA which is found in high concentrations in the transition zone of the prostate and in and around prostate tumor cells. More than 400 patients have received topsalysin, which continues to appear to be safe and well tolerated. For more information, please visit www.sophirisbio.com.
Certain statements included in this press release may be considered forward-looking, including the quote of Sophiris’ President and CEO and expectations about further development of topsalysin (PRX302), including the timing of expected results, or Sophiris’ liquidity or capital requirements.
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