Full Press Release Details
Abeona Therapeutics Announces Strategic Review
Company engages Jefferies LLC in response to strategic inbound
NEW YORK and CLEVELAND, Sept. 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abeona
Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ABEO), a fully-integrated leader in gene and cell therapy, today announced that it has retained Jefferies
LLC as its financial advisor to assist with the review of strategic options focused on advancing the Company's mission and
maximizing stakeholder value. In response to interest, Abeona has initiated a process to explore a broad range of strategic alternatives,
including, but not limited to the partnering of its various clinical and preclinical programs, or a sale or merger of the Company,
in an effort to unlock the potential of those assets.
"With four clinical stage programs, a broad pre-clinical
pipeline, GMP manufacturing facilities, and a talented team, Abeona remains committed to advancing the promise of genetic medicine,"
said Jo o Siffert, M.D., Chief Executive Officer. "Given our expertise in gene and cell therapy, we believe we are
well positioned to explore a variety of opportunities, pursue strategic partnerships and alliances, improve our capital structure,
and accelerate development of candidates towards commercialization."
There can be no assurance this strategic review will result
in the completion of any particular course of action. There is no defined timeline for completion of the review process and the
Company does not intend to comment further unless a specific initiative is approved by the Board of Directors, the review process
is concluded, or it is otherwise determined that other disclosure is appropriate.
Steven H. Rouhandeh, Chairman of the Board commented, "Our
management team and employees have developed multiple programs that are innovative and transformative for patients. We look to
translate our assets and capabilities into value for stakeholders and are confident that the strategic review process will facilitate
our efforts to achieve that goal."
About Abeona Therapeutics
Abeona Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing gene and cell therapies for serious diseases. The Company's clinical programs include
EB-101, its autologous, gene-corrected cell therapy for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, as well as ABO-102 and ABO-101,
novel AAV9-based gene therapies for Sanfilippo syndrome types A and B (MPS IIIA and MPS IIIB), respectively. The Company's
portfolio of AAV9-based gene therapies also features ABO-202 and ABO-201 for CLN1 disease and CLN3 disease, respectively. Its
preclinical assets include ABO-401, which uses a novel vector from Abeona's AIM AAV capsid platform to address all
mutations of cystic fibrosis. Abeona has received numerous regulatory designations from the FDA and EMA for its pipeline candidates,
including Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation for two candidates (EB-101 and ABO-102). For more information, visit
Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include statements about the ability of its management
team to lead the Company and deliver on key strategies, the market opportunities for the Company's products and product candidates,
and the Company's goals and objectives. We have attempted to identify forward looking statements by such terminology as "may,"
"will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend,"
and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances), which constitute
and are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements as a result of various important factors, numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to continued interest
in our rare disease portfolio, our ability to enroll patients in clinical trials, the impact of competition, the ability to secure
licenses for any technology that may be necessary to commercialize our products, the ability to achieve or obtain necessary regulatory
approvals, the impact of changes in the financial markets and global economic conditions, risks associated with data analysis and
reporting, and other risks as may be detailed from time to time in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes
no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the
date of this presentation, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by the
federal securities laws.
Senior Director, Investor Relations
Director, Corporate Communications