Biostage Reports 2018 Third Quarter Financial Results

HOLLISTON, Mass., Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Biostage, Inc. (OTCQB: BSTG) ("Biostage" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company developing bioengineered organ implants to treat life-threatening conditions of the esophagus, bronchus and trachea, today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Summary of Third Quarter Financial Results

For the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company reported a net loss of approximately $2.1 million, or a net loss per diluted share of $0.37, compared to a net loss of approximately $3.2 million, or a net loss per diluted share of $1.66 for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The $1.1 million year-over-year decrease in net loss was attributable primarily to a corresponding $1.1 million decrease in research and development costs.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company reported a net loss of approximately $5.7 million, or a net loss per diluted share of $1.40, compared to a net loss of approximately $10.7 million, or a net loss per diluted share of $6.21 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The $5.0 million year-over-year decrease in net loss was attributable primarily to a $4.3 million decrease in research and development costs and a $500,000 net decrease in expense from change in the fair value of warrants.

The Company also recognized grant income for qualified expenditures from a Fast-Track Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant of approximately $90,000 and $225,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. There was no grant income recorded in the comparable periods in 2017.

Balance Sheet and Cash

At September 30, 2018, the Company had cash on-hand of $3.5 million and no debt. The Company used net cash in operations of approximately of $5.5 million during the first nine months of 2018, approximately $700,000 of which represented payments of aged vendor payables incurred in 2017. The Company also generated approximately $5.0 million, net, from financing activities during the first nine months of 2018.

Third Quarter Operating Highlights

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company advanced its operating programs aimed at bringing its potentially life-changing Cellframe(TM) technology to underserved patient populations. During the quarter, the Company:

    --  Completed Phase I of a Fast-Track SBIR grant for $225,000 to develop its
        Cellspan(TM) Esophageal Implant (CEI) as a novel treatment for
        esophageal atresia in pediatric patients.


    --  Made progress on all three cohorts of our pre-clinical piglet studies
        for the treatment of esophageal atresia being conducted in collaboration
        with Connecticut Children's Medical Center.


    --  Submitted a follow-up package to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
        (FDA) summarizing three additional Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
        preclinical studies and an FDA approved first-in-human use of our
        Cellspan esophageal implant in support of our Investigational New Drug
        (IND) filing now targeted for mid-year 2019.
    --  Established advisory relationships with five new clinical experts for
        current standard-of-care insight and clinical protocol benefit risk
        assessment. This scientific and clinical feedback endorse our technology
        platform.

Subsequent to the close of the third quarter of 2018, the Company announced that it was awarded $1.1 million on November 6, 2018 for Phase II of the Fast-Track SBIR grant that supports Biostage's development and testing of its Cellspan Esophageal Implant (CEI) for treatment of neonatal esophageal atresia. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the provider of this grant, is dedicated to bringing innovation and new treatments to underserved children. We believe this award is further financial and scientific validation of the Company's technology.

Company CEO Jim McGorry commented, "We had a strong third quarter operationally. Our confidence in our technology grew through the feedback and insight of five new clinical advisors. This scientific validation from key opinion leaders (KOLs) on the forefront of esophageal disease supports that we are on the right track. Additionally, the consistent regeneration data from our ongoing animal studies will support filing our first-in-human IND for esophageal disease in mid-year 2019. We have completed three preclinical studies under the required clinical conditions and the final animal study will be completed in the next few months."

Mr. McGorry continued, "Our progress since the start of the year has been remarkable. Given our operational progress this year and fresh clinical feedback from world-class KOLs we see with renewed conviction our transition to a clinical-stage company in 2019."

About Biostage, Inc.

Biostage is a biotechnology company developing bioengineered organ implants based on the Company's Cellframe technology which combines a proprietary biocompatible scaffold with a patient's own stem cells to create Cellspan organ implants. Cellspan implants are being developed to treat life-threatening conditions of the esophagus, bronchus or trachea with the hope of dramatically improving the treatment paradigm for patients. Based on its preclinical data, Biostage has selected life-threatening conditions of the esophagus as the initial clinical application of its technology.

For more information, please visit www.biostage.com and connect with the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Some of the statements in this press release are "forward-looking" and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These "forward-looking" statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to effectiveness of the Company's technology, development expectations and regulatory approval of any of the Company's products, including those utilizing its Cellframe technology, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency or otherwise, which expectations or approvals may not be achieved or obtained on a timely basis or at all; or success with respect to any collaborations, clinical trials and other development and commercialization efforts of the Company's products, including those utilizing its Cellframe technology, which such success may not be achieved or obtained on a timely basis or at all. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from the statements set forth in this press release, including, among other things, the Company's ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for its products; plus other factors described under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 or described in the Company's other public filings. The Company's results may also be affected by factors of which the Company is not currently aware. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to such statements to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any changes in the events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Investor Relations Contact:
Tom McNaughton
Chief Financial Officer
774-233-7300
tmcnaughton@biostage.com


                                                                                                 
            
              BIOSTAGE, INC.
                                                                                              
          UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                                                                            
       (In thousands, except par value and share data)




                                                                                                                                                         September 30,               December 31,

                                                                                                                                                           2018                  2017




            
              Assets



            Current Assets:



            Cash                                                                                                                                   $
          3,543          $
           4,038



            Prepaid expenses                                                                                                                                  90                     289



            Grant receivable                                                                                                                                 229



            Other current assets                                                                                                                              44                      86




            Total current assets                                                                                                                           3,906                   4,413



            Property, plant and equipment, net                                                                                                               544                     632






            Total assets                                                                                                                           $
          4,450          $
           5,045






            
              Liabilities and stockholders' equity



            Current liabilities:



            Accounts payable                                                                                                                         $
          204            $
           923



            Due to related party                                                                                                                                                    300



            Accrued and other current liabilities                                                                                                            547                     383



            Warrant liability                                                                                                                                187                      16






            Total current liabilities                                                                                                                        938                   1,622






            Total liabilities                                                                                                                        $
          938          $
           1,622








            Stockholders' equity:



            Undesignated preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 984,000 shares authorized and                                                       
     $                    
     $
      none issued and outstanding



            Series D convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 12,000 shares                                                                                        1,475
      authorized and 0 and 3,108 shares issued and outstanding as of September
      30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively



            Common stock, $0.01 par value; 120,000,000 shares authorized and 5,668,733                                                                        57                      25
      and 2,507,304 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and
      December 31, 2017, respectively



            Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                    57,383                  50,157



            Accumulated deficit                                                                                                                         (53,928)               (48,234)






            Total stockholders' equity                                                                                                                     3,512                   3,423






            Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                                                                                             $
          4,450          $
           5,045


                                                                   
              
                BIOSTAGE, INC.
                                                        
     UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
                                                            
                (In thousands, except per share amounts)




                                                                                        Three Months ended                                Nine Months ended

                                                                                           September 30,                                  September 30,


                                                                                                      2018                        2017                         2018   2017






     Revenues                                                                                
              $                             
     $                          
     $                  
     $





     Operating expenses:



     Research and development                                                                                              1,288                            2,364                 2,768                7,121



     Selling, general and administrative                                                                                     940                              888                 2,973                2,906




     Total operating expenses                                                                                              2,228                            3,252                 5,741               10,027






     Operating loss                                                                                                      (2,228)                         (3,252)              (5,741)            (10,027)






     Other income (expense):



       Grant income                                                                                                           90                                                   225



       Change in fair value of warrant liability                                                                              49                                9                 (171)               (660)



     Other expense                                                                                                                                                                (7)




     Total other income (expense)                                                                                            139                                9                    47                (660)






     Net loss and comprehensive loss                                                                         $
              (2,089)             $
              (3,243)          $
      (5,694)       $
       (10,687)






     Basic and diluted net loss per share                                                                     $
              (0.37)              $
              (1.66)           $
      (1.40)         $
       (6.21)




     Weighted average common shares, basic and diluted                                                                     5,666                            1,948                 4,056                1,722


                                                                                          
              
                BIOSTAGE, INC.
                                                                                        
       UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                                                                               
                (In thousands)




                                                                                                                                                 Nine Months Ended

                                                                                                                                            September
                 30,



                                                                                                                                                                  2018              2017




     
                Cash flows from operating activities



     Net loss                                                                                                                                                         $
       (5,694)      $
        (10,687)



     Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows used in operating activities:



     Share-based compensation expense                                                                                                                                          461                  591



     Depreciation                                                                                                                                                              194                  334



     Change in fair value of warrant liability                                                                                                                                 171                  660



     Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment                                                                                                                           8



     Changes in operating assets and liabilities:



     Accounts receivable                                                                                                                                                                            42



     Grant receivable                                                                                                                                                         (90)



     Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                                                                                  53                  135



     Accounts payable                                                                                                                                                        (721)                 246



     Accrued and other current liabilities                                                                                                                                     164                (681)






     Net cash used in operating activities                                                                                                                                 (5,454)             (9,360)






     
                Cash flows from investing activities



     Additions to property and equipment                                                                                                                                     (127)               (140)



     Cash received from sale of property, plant and equipment                                                                                                                   64






     Net cash used in investing activities                                                                                                                                    (63)               (140)






     
                Cash flows from financing activities



     Return of related party advance                                                                                                                                         (300)



     Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, net of offering costs                                                                                              5,322                6,801



     Proceeds from exercise of warrants                                                                                                                                                          1,059



     Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs                                                                                                                                   9




     Net cash provided by financing activities                                                                                                                               5,022                7,869




     Net decrease in cash                                                                                                                                                    (495)             (1,631)



     Cash at beginning of period                                                                                                                                             4,038                2,941




     Cash at end of period                                                                                                                                              $
       3,543         $
         1,310

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SOURCE Biostage, Inc.