Board Review of Business Operations and Governance

SYDNEY, Aug. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Novogen Ltd (ASX: NRT; NASDAQ: NVGN), an Australian oncology drug development company, is pleased to provide an update to investors on a review of business operations recently completed by the Board and management team. The review was initiated following appointment of Iain Ross as Chairman on 8 June 2017, and has involved an extensive process of consultation with shareholders and investors.

Streamlined Board Reduces Costs

Novogen previously announced on 8 June 2017 that the Board of Directors had been reduced in size, with two non-executive Directors stepping down from the Board. The changes leave Novogen with a Board comprising three non-executive Directors (Iain Ross, Bryce Carmine, and Steven Coffey), and one executive Director (James Garner, Chief Executive Officer), which is considered optimal to satisfy ASX, NASDAQ, and SEC regulatory obligations.

In addition to the streamlined membership of the Board, Directors have offered to reduce their fees, providing additional savings to the Company. As a result of these changes, the annual cost of the Board has been reduced by approximately 50%.

In order to enhance the operational efficiency of the Board, the number of Board Sub-Committees is being streamlined, and the Charters governing operation of these Sub-Committees are being updated to reflect contemporary best practice. The updated Charters will be made available via Novogen's website as they are reviewed.

AU$ 1.8 Million Annualised Reduction in Operating Expenses

Novogen also indicated in June that it expected to realize additional cost savings through a review of business operations. Approximately $1.8 million of annualized savings have been identified in operating expenses, principally comprising reduction in consultant expenditure, optimization of the intellectual property portfolio, management of occupancy expenses, and a modest reduction in headcount.

These measures have already been substantially implemented, and will allow a greater allocation of the Company's resources to progressing the clinical trials of GDC-0084 and Cantrixil.

In Response to Shareholder Feedback, ADR Proxies to Remain Unvoted

As announced on 11 August, Novogen has instructed its Depository Holder, BNY Mellon, not to direct unvoted proxies from American Depository Receipts (ADRs) in future general meetings of shareholders.

During its consultation with shareholders, the Company has become aware that this practice has become a cause for concern among some shareholders. While the Company has at all times acted in good faith and under independent legal advice on these matters, it recognizes the concerns of shareholders and has accordingly instructed BNY Mellon not to so direct unvoted proxies in future meetings. 

Compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rules Confirmed

On 31 May 2017, Novogen received notification from NASDAQ requiring the Company to ensure that the share price of its NASDAQ-listed securities remained above US$ 1 per share, in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rules. In response to this, Novogen announced on 4 July 2017 that it had changed the ratio at which ADRs consolidate underlying Australian shares from 25:1 to 100:1.

The change did not affect the total number of shares on issue, but served to increase the number of ASX shares that were consolidated into each ADR fourfold, with a commensurate increase in the price of the ADRs on NASDAQ.

In a letter dated 28 July 2017 and received on 29 July, NASDAQ confirmed that, as a result of these measures, Novogen was compliant with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and that the matter was now closed.

Novogen Chairman, Iain Ross, commented "recent efforts have significantly improved the efficiency of Novogen as a business, and will allow us to better devote our resources to delivering on the substantial value that resides in our pipeline.

The company has listened carefully to the feedback of shareholders, and has shown its commitment to delivering shareholder value in accordance with the best principles of corporate governance."

About Novogen Limited

Novogen Limited (ASX: NRT; NASDAQ: NVGN) is an emerging oncology-focused biotechnology company, based in Sydney, Australia. Novogen has a portfolio of development candidates, diversified across several distinct technologies, with the potential to yield first-in-class and best- in-class agents in a range of oncology indications.

The lead program is GDC-0084, a small molecule inhibitor of the PI3K / AKT / mTOR pathway, which is being developed to treat glioblastoma multiforme. Licensed from Genentech in late 2016, GDC-0084 is anticipated to enter phase II clinical trials in 2017. A second clinical program, TRXE-002-01 (Cantrixil) commenced a phase I clinical trial in ovarian cancer in December 2016. In addition, the company has several preclinical programs in active development, the largest of which is substantially funded by a CRC-P grant from the Australian Federal Government.

For more information, please visit: www.novogen.com

SOURCE Novogen Limited

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