Protalix BioTherapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial and Business Results

Company to host conference call and webcast today at 8:30 a.m. EDT

CARMIEL, Israel, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: PLX) (TASE: PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, production and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins produced by its proprietary ProCellEx^® plant cell-based protein expression system, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 and provided a business update on recent corporate and regulatory developments.

"Positive topline results from our phase III BALANCE clinical trial of PRX-102 for the treatment of adult patients with Fabry disease were announced last April. The clinical study report (CSR) for the trial is now complete," said Dror Bashan, Protalix's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The final analysis of the BALANCE study, which was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1 mg/kg of PRX–102 administered every other week compared to agalsidase beta in patients previously treated with agalsidase beta, confirms the positive topline results and favorable tolerability profile. The results from the BALANCE study highlight our confidence that PRX–102 has the potential to become an important treatment option for patients with Fabry disease. We are excited to move closer to potential approval of PRX–102 and commercial launch, and thank our team members and external partners for their continued support."

2022 Second Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

Corporate Developments

• On June 30, 2022, the Company announced the appointment of Shmuel "Muli" Ben Zvi, Ph.D. to the Board of Directors. Dr. Ben Zvi is serving as the new Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee.

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

• The Company recorded revenues from selling goods of $3.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of $0.2 million, or 6%, compared to revenues of $3.2 million for the same period of 2021.
• Revenue from licenses and R&D services for the three months ended June 30, 2022 were $5.4 million, an increase of $2.2 million, or 69%, compared to $3.2 million for the same period in 2021. Revenues from license and R&D services are comprised primarily of revenues recognized in connection with the Chiesi Agreements.
• Cost of goods sold for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $4.1 million, a decrease of $0.6 million, or 13%, compared to cost of goods sold of $4.7 million for the same period in 2021. The decrease in cost of goods sold was primarily the result of decreased manufacturing costs due to higher yields and lower wastage.
• Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022 were $7.6 million, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 1%, compared to $7.7 million for the same period in 2021.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, a decrease of $0.6 million, or 19%, compared to $3.2 million for the same period in 2021. The decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in salary related and selling costs.
• Financial income, net were $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to financial expenses, net of $2.1 million for the same period in 2021. The decrease resulted primarily from lower interest and debt amortization costs due to a decrease in the Company's outstanding notes from an aggregate principal amount of $57.92 million of 2021 Notes to an aggregate principal amount of $28.75 million of 2024 Notes, and an increase in the exchange rate of New Israeli Shekels for U.S. Dollars over the period.
• Cash, cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits were approximately $28.6 million at June 30, 2022.
• Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was approximately $5.3 million, or $0.11 per share, basic and diluted, compared to a net loss of $11.2 million, or $0.25 per share, basic and diluted, for the same period in 2021.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company will host a conference call today, August 15, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, to review the corporate and clinical developments, which will also be available by webcast. To participate in the conference call, please dial the following numbers prior to the start of the call:

Conference Call Details:

Monday, August 15, 2022, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDT)

Domestic:              877-423-9813
International:         201-689-8573
Conference ID:     13732027

Webcast Details:

The conference will be webcast live from the Company's website and will be available via the following links:

Company Link:     https://protalixbiotherapeutics.gcs-web.com/events0
Webcast Link:       Registration – https://tinyurl.com/44z7w7ex 
Conference ID:     13732027

Please access the websites at least 15 minutes ahead of the conference to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

The conference call will be available for replay for two weeks on the Events Calendar of the Investors section of the Company's website, at the above link.

About Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.

Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx. Protalix was the first company to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a protein produced through plant cell-based in suspension expression system. Protalix's unique expression system represents a new method for developing recombinant proteins in an industrial-scale manner.

Protalix's first product manufactured by ProCellEx, taliglucerase alfa, was approved by the FDA in May 2012 and, subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa, excluding Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights.

Protalix's development pipeline consists of proprietary versions of recombinant therapeutic proteins that target established pharmaceutical markets, including the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified stabilized version of the recombinant human α–Galactosidase–A protein for the treatment of Fabry disease; alidornase alfa or PRX–110, for the treatment of various human respiratory diseases or conditions; PRX–115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated uricase for the treatment of severe gout; PRX–119, a plant cell-expressed long action DNase I for the treatment of NETs-related diseases; and others. Protalix has partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and outside the United States, for the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa.

Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The terms "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "may," "plan," "will," "would," "should" and "intend," and other words or phrases of similar import are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future experience and results to differ materially from the statements made. These statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations as to such future outcomes. Drug discovery and development involve a high degree of risk and the final results of a clinical trial may be different than the preliminary findings for the clinical trial. Factors that might cause material differences include, among others: risks related to the timing and progress of the preparation of a Biologics License Application (BLA) resubmission addressing the complete response letter; risks related to the timing, progress and likelihood of final approval by the FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMA) of a resubmitted BLA and of a Marketing Authorization Application, respectively, for PRX–102 and, if approved, whether the use of PRX–102 will be commercially successful; likelihood that the FDA, EMA or other applicable health regulatory authorities will approve an alternative dosing regimen;  failure or delay in the commencement or completion of our preclinical studies and clinical trials, which may be caused by several factors, including: slower than expected rates of patient recruitment; unforeseen safety issues; determination of dosing issues; lack of effectiveness during clinical trials; inability to satisfactorily demonstrate non-inferiority to approved therapies; inability or unwillingness of medical investigators and institutional review boards to follow our clinical protocols; and inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment; the risk that the FDA, EMA, or other foreign regulatory authorities may not accept or approve a marketing application we file for any of our product candidates, and other risks relating to the review process; risks associated with the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID–19, outbreak and variants, which may adversely impact our business, preclinical studies and clinical trials; risks related to any transactions we may effect in the public or private equity markets to raise capital to finance future research and development activities, general and administrative expenses and working capital; the risk that the results of the clinical trials of our product candidates will not support the applicable claims of safety or efficacy, or that our product candidates will not have the desired effects or will be associated with undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics; risks related to our ability to maintain and manage our relationship with our collaborators, distributors or partners; risks related to the amount and sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents; risks relating to our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our outstanding notes or any other indebtedness; risks relating to changes to interim, topline or preliminary data from clinical trials that we announce or publish; risk of significant lawsuits, including stockholder litigation, which is common in the life sciences sector; our dependence on performance by third party providers of services and supplies, including without limitation, clinical trial services; delays in our preparation and filing of applications for regulatory approval; the inherent risks and uncertainties in developing drug platforms and products of the type we are developing; the impact of development of competing therapies and/or technologies by other companies and institutions; potential product liability risks, and risks of securing adequate levels of product liability and other necessary insurance coverage; risks related to our expectations with respect to the potential commercial value of our product and product candidates; and other factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The statements in this press release are valid only as of the date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to update this information, except as may be required by law. The statements in this press release are valid only as of the date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to update this information, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contact
Chuck Padala, Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors
646-627-8390
[email protected]

SOURCE Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.