Stealth BioTherapeutics Reports First Half 2019 Financial Results And Recent Business Highlights

BOSTON, Aug. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Stealth BioTherapeutics Corp (NASDAQ: MITO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction, today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and provided a corporate update, including the announcement of a new Board member, Dr. Louis G. Lange.

"As we move into the second half of 2019, we look forward to achieving key near-term milestones including completion of our Phase 3 study of elamipretide in primary mitochondrial myopathy, clarification around the path to registration for our Barth program, and progression of our next product candidate, SBT-272, into the clinic," said Reenie McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer.  "We're also delighted to welcome Lou Lange to our Board of Directors, where his extensive scientific, industry, operating and investment experience will augment our efforts to bring first-in-class therapies to patients with rare mitochondrial diseases."

Recent Highlights

• Announced changes to Board composition, including the appointment of Dr. Louis G. Lange as an independent director and member of the audit and compensation committees, and the resignations of Stephen Law and Vincent Cheung, whose service to date was recognized with gratitude. Dr. Lange has more than 20 years of experience in academic medicine at Harvard and Washington University, extensive industry experience as a founder, Chairman, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of CV Therapeutics prior to its 2009 sale to Gilead Sciences, and extensive biotechnology operating and investment experience with Gilead Sciences, Pitch Johnson and Asset Management Ventures.
• Shared positive results in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at the American Society of Retina Specialists 2019 Annual Meeting, featuring two oral presentations and one poster regarding data from the ReCLAIM Phase 1 study in dry AMD, a Phase 1 open-label study evaluating daily subcutaneous elamipretide for 24 weeks in patients with dry AMD with non-central geographic atrophy or high risk drusen. Results showed that patients who completed treatment in both cohorts (n=34) experienced an increase in low-luminance visual acuity, best-corrected visual acuity, low-luminance smallest line read correctly and patient-reported outcomes. The poster presentation, captioned Effects of the Mitochondria-Targeted Drug Elamipretide on Leakage-Independent Vision Loss in Fellow Eyes with Neovascular AMD in the ReCLAIM Study, and based on a post-hoc analysis demonstrating improvement in visual function in fellow (non-study) eyes with neovascular AMD, was the Second-Place Poster Award winner.
• Shared ophthalmic program updates at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit preceding the American Society of Retina Specialists 2019 Annual Meeting, with an estimated 300 industry, entrepreneurial and clinical leaders in attendance.
• Presented multiple updates on rare mitochondrial disease programs at the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation Symposium 2019, including platform presentations by:
• Dr. Amel Karaa who presented demographics of MMPOWER-3 Phase 3 trial in primary mitochondrial myopathy (PMM)
• Dr. Bruce Cohen who presented assessments in MMPOWER open label extension for patients enrolled in earlier phase trials in PMM
• Dr. Hilary Vernon who presented data from TAZPOWER Phase 2/3 trial and open label extension in Barth syndrome
• Dr. Rustum Karanjia who presented data from Phase 2 clinical trial and open-label extension in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy

Other posters included presentations on the TAZPOWER design, TAZPOWER data, primary mitochondrial myopathy natural history, primary mitochondrial myopathy open-label extension data, and MMPOWER primary mitochondrial myopathy Phase 1/2 metabolomics data.

• Reached alignment with the Division of Ophthalmology Products at FDA regarding key aspects of the planned Phase 3 trial design in LHON. We expect to submit the Phase 3 protocol by year-end.
• Shared positive results in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) open-label extension at the 14^th meeting of the European Neuro-ophthalmology Society. Results were from the open-label portion of the ReSIGHT Phase 2 study in LHON. In addition to improvements in measures of visual function and quality of life, elamipretide was well tolerated and most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity.
• Announced transfer to Division of Gastroenterology and Inborn Errors of Metabolism Products (DGIEP) at FDA with respect to Barth syndrome program, previously assigned to the Division of Neurology Products. Stealth expects to interact with DGIEP this fall to discuss the regulatory path for elamipretide in Barth syndrome.

Key Upcoming Milestones

• Interactions with the FDA's DGIEP to discuss the regulatory path for elamipretide in Barth syndrome during the second half of 2019.
• FDA submission of Phase 3 protocol for elamipretide in LHON by year-end 2019.
• Initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial of new pipeline candidate, SBT-272, by year-end 2019.
• Reporting top-line data from MMPOWER-3, a Phase 3 clinical trial in PMM in early 2020 (data expected year-end 2019).
• Anticipated completion of enrollment in ReCLAIM 2b, a Phase 2b clinical trial in dry AMD with geographic atrophy, in early 2020.

Financial Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents were $53.2 million at June 30, 2019, compared to $10.9 million at December 31, 2018.  In February 2019, the Company raised $76.9 million in net proceeds from its initial public offering (IPO).

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $23.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to $25.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018.  The decrease was primarily due to a $5.4 million decrease in clinical trial costs due to timing of trials that ended in 2018 and a $0.5 million decrease in discovery related expenses due to timing of activities, offset in part by increases of $1.6 million in headcount,  $1.4 million in consulting related expenses related to the continued build-out of clinical, medical affairs and regulatory functions, and a $1.1 million increase in contract manufacturing expenses for NDA-enabling activities.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $10.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019, compared to $7.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The increase in administrative expenses was primarily attributable to an increase of $1.3 million in pre-commercial activities including market awareness and payer reimbursement activities, a $0.7 million increase in professional services for activities attributable to operating as a public company, and a net $0.4 million increase in headcount and consulting related expenses.

Other Expense, Net: Other expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was $25.0 million, compared to $14.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018.  The increase in other expense is primary attributable to a $22.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt recorded in conjunction with the IPO, offset by an $8.8 million change period over period in the fair value adjustments of the derivative liability associated with the convertible debt and a decrease in interest expense mostly related to the convertible debt of $2.9 million.

Net Loss: Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was $58.9 million, or $0.18 basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share, as compared to $47.4 million for the comparable period of 2018, or $0.69 basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share.  

About Stealth

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria, found in nearly every cell in the body, are the body's main source of energy production and are critical for normal organ function. Dysfunctional mitochondria characterize a number of rare genetic diseases, collectively known as primary mitochondrial diseases, and are also involved in many common age-related diseases. We believe our lead product candidate, elamipretide, has the potential to treat both rare genetic and common age-related mitochondrial diseases. We are studying elamipretide in the following primary mitochondrial diseases: primary mitochondrial myopathy, Barth syndrome and Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. We are also studying elamipretide in dry age-related macular degeneration. Our other pipeline candidates include SBT-272, which we are evaluating for rare neurodegenerative disease indications, and SBT-20, which we are evaluating for rare peripheral neuropathies. We have optimized our discovery platform to identify novel mitochondrial-targeted compounds, which may be nominated as therapeutic product candidates or utilized as scaffolds to deliver other compounds to mitochondria. We have assembled a highly experienced management team, board of directors and group of scientific advisors to help us achieve our mission of leading mitochondrial medicine.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include those regarding Stealth BioTherapeutics' plans, strategies and expectations for its preclinical and clinical advancement of its drug development programs, including its ongoing clinical trials of elamipretide and planned clinical trial of SBT-272; the potential benefits of Stealth BioTherapeutics' product candidates; its key milestones for 2019; and its plans regarding future data presentations and regulatory interactions. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Stealth BioTherapeutics' beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "expect," "hope," "plan," "potential," "possible," "will," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "may," "predict," "project," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Stealth BioTherapeutics may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, including: Stealth BioTherapeutics' ability to obtain additional funding; the ability to successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of Stealth BioTherapeutics' product candidates and future product candidates; the preclinical and clinical results for Stealth BioTherapeutics' product candidates, which may not support further development and marketing approval; the potential advantages of Stealth BioTherapeutics' product candidates; the content and timing of decisions made by the U.S. FDA, the EMA or other regulatory authorities, investigational review boards at clinical trial sites and publication review bodies, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of preclinical studies and clinical trials of Stealth BioTherapeutics' product candidates; Stealth BioTherapeutics' ability to obtain and maintain requisite regulatory approvals and to enroll patients in its planned clinical trials; unplanned cash requirements and expenditures; competitive factors; Stealth BioTherapeutics' ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for any product candidates it is developing; and general economic and market conditions. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption "Risk Factors" included in Stealth BioTherapeutics' most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), as well as in any future filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements represent management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Except as required by law, Stealth BioTherapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Media Relations
dna Communications
Lindsey Colegrove, 212-537-8771
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Investor Relations
Stern Investor Relations
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SOURCE Stealth BioTherapeutics