Novus Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Novus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVUS), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing products for patients with disorders of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT), today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

"We continue to make progress with the OP0201 otitis media program,” said Gregory J. Flesher, CEO of Novus Therapeutics, Inc. "To date we have enrolled more than 40% of the planned patients into study C-006, our ongoing phase 2a clinical trial in infants and children with acute otitis media. Study C-006 is designed to explore the effect of OP0201 in resolving a bulging tympanic membrane and/or resolving middle ear effusion, both of which are hallmark symptoms of acute otitis media. We expect results from this study to be available in the first half of 2020.”

"In addition, we recently had a meeting with the FDA in which we gained alignment on the overall design and efficacy endpoints for study C-009, our planned phase 2a clinical trial in infants and children with chronic otitis media with effusion. This non-infectious form of otitis media affects millions of people every year and is characterized by middle ear effusion and hearing loss that persists for many months. Study C-009 is designed to explore the effect of OP0201 in restoring hearing and/or resolving middle ear effusion in patients with bilateral chronic otitis media with effusion. We look forward to initiating this study in the future,” concluded Mr. Flesher.

Upcoming Milestones

• Results of OP0201 phase 2a study in acute otitis media (study C-006) in the first half of 2020

Upcoming Investor Conferences

• Piper Jaffray Healthcare Conference, Lotte Palace Hotel, New York, December 3-5, 2019
• LD Micro Conference, Luxe Sunset Hotel, Los Angeles, CA December 10-12, 2019

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

The company reported a net loss of $2.9 million, or $0.22 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to a net loss of $3.5 million, or $0.37 per share, for the same period in 2018.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease in R&D expenses of $142,000 is primarily due to lower clinical and formulation development costs, as well as a decrease in travel and meetings expense. The decreases were offset by an increase in consulting services, personnel costs, and stock-based compensation costs.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.8 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease in G&A expenses of $437,000 is primarily attributable to a decrease in litigation costs, costs associated with operating a publicly traded company, stock-based compensation costs, and general operating costs. The decreases were offset by increases in personnel costs and travel and meetings expense.

Financial Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

Novus reported a net loss of $11.9 million, or $1.04 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to a net loss of $9.5 million, or $1.07 per share, for the same period in 2018.

R&D expenses were $6.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $4.1 million for the same period in 2018. The increase in R&D expenses of $2.7 million is primarily attributable to an increase in clinical development costs for OP0201, personnel costs, stock-based compensation, and an increase in other development costs. The increases were offset by decreases in formulation development costs and travel and meetings expense.

G&A expenses were $5.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2018. The decrease in G&A expenses of $317,000 was primarily due to decreases in costs associated with operating a publicly traded company, litigation costs, general operating costs, as well as a decrease in travel and meetings expense. The decreases were offset by increases in personnel and stock-based compensation costs.

The company had approximately $10.8 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2019, compared to approximately $13.7 million in cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2019. The company’s cash and cash equivalents is expected to fund operations through study C-006 data in 2020.

About Novus Therapeutics

Novus Therapeutics, Inc. (Novus) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing products for patients with disorders of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT). The Company has two platform technologies, each with the potential to be developed for multiple indications. Novus’ lead program (OP0201) is a surfactant-based nasal aerosol drug-device combination product candidate being developed as a potential first-in-class treatment option for patients at risk for, or with, otitis media (OM), which is middle ear inflammation and effusion with or without infection. Globally, OM affects more than 700 million adults and children every year, with over half of the cases occurring in children under five years of age. OM is one of the most common disorders seen in pediatric practice, and in the U.S. is a leading cause of health care visits and the most frequent reason children are prescribed antibiotics or undergo surgery. Novus also has a foam-based drug delivery technology platform (OP01xx), which may be developed in the future to deliver drugs into the ear, nasal, and sinus cavities. For more information, please visit novustherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involves substantial risks and uncertainties. Any statements about the company’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements about its strategy, future operations, development of its product candidates, and other statements containing the words "believes,” "anticipates,” "plans,” "expects,” "estimates,” "intends,” "predicts,” "projects,” "targets,” "looks forward,” "could,” "may,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, although not all forward-looking statements include such identifying words. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding: risks related to market conditions, the completion of the common stock and warrant financing, including the satisfaction of the closing conditions, and the use of anticipated proceeds; expectations regarding the timing for the commencement and completion of product development or clinical trials, including the four ongoing OP0201 clinical trials; expectations regarding the success of clinical trials; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of the company’s products; the company’s commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; the company’s intellectual property position and strategy; the company’s ability to identify additional products or product candidates with significant commercial potential; the company’s estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; developments relating to the company’s competitors and industry; and the impact of government laws and regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the ability to develop commercially viable product formulations; the sufficiency of the company’s cash resources; the ability to obtain necessary regulatory and ethics approvals to commence additional clinical trials; whether data from early clinical trials will be indicative of the data that will be obtained from future clinical trials; whether the results of clinical trials will warrant submission for regulatory approval of any investigational product; whether any such submission will receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies and, if we are able to obtain such approval for an investigational product, whether it will be successfully distributed and marketed. These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ significantly from the forward-looking statements contained herein, are discussed in our quarterly 10-Q, annual 10-K, and other filings with the SEC, which can be found at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and not of any future date, and the company expressly disclaims any intent to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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