Full Press Release Details
Benitec Biopharma Discloses Q2 2022 Financial Results
HAYWARD, Calif., February 14, 2022 Benitec Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ: BNTC) ( Benitec or
the Company ), a development-stage, gene therapy-focused, biotechnology company developing novel genetic medicines based on the proprietary DNA-directed RNA interference ( ddRNAi )
platform, today announced the financial results for its Fiscal Year Q2 ended December 31, 2021. The Company has filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The key milestones related to the investigational agents under development by the Company and other corporate updates are outlined below:
Regulatory Interactions:
BB-301 Clinical Development Program:
BB-301 Pre-Clinical Development Program:
Financial Highlights
Total Revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 were twenty-five thousand compared to one thousand dollars in total revenue for three months ended
December 31, 2020. The increase in revenues from customers is due to the increase in licensing and royalty revenues in the current period.
Operating Expenses were $4.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to $3.2 million for the comparable period in 2020. For the quarters ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively, Benitec incurred $0 and
$19 thousand in royalties and license fees. During the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, the Company incurred $3.2 million and $1.2 million in research and development expenses. The increase in research
and development expenses is primarily related to the commencement of the BB-301 Regulatory Toxicology Study in Beagle dogs at Charles River Laboratories in Evreux, France. As planned, the Company began
incurring more costs related to the execution of two large non-clinical studies in Beagle dogs, along with the commercial-scale GMP-grade manufacturing of BB-301, all of which is required to facilitate the Clinical Trial Application (CTA) filing and the Investigational New Drug (IND) filing for BB-301 during 2022. General and
administrative expenses were $1.7 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase during this three-month period was due to increases in costs related to insurance, consultant
fees, legal fees, and accounting fees.
Jerel A. Banks, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Benitec Biopharma commented,
The robust biological activity observed for BB-301 in our Pilot Dosing Study underpins our enthusiasm for the initiation of the BB-301 clinical development program
in 2022. We remain dedicated to our central goal of improving the lives of patients with OPMD.
BENITEC BIOPHARMA INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except par value and share amounts)
| December 31, 2021 (Unaudited ) | June 30, 2021 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 12,329 | $ | 19,769 | ||||
| Trade and other receivables | 5 | 25 | ||||||
| Prepaid and other assets | 338 | 811 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 12,672 | 20,608 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 268 | 375 | ||||||
| Deposits | 25 | 9 | ||||||
| Other assets | 161 | 185 | ||||||
| Right-of-use assets | 888 | 202 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 14,014 | $ | 21,379 | ||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders Equity) | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Trade and other payables | $ | 1,946 | $ | 880 | ||||
| Accrued employee benefits | 321 | 276 | ||||||
| Lease liabilities, current portion | 213 | 213 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 2,480 | 1,369 | ||||||
| Lease liabilities, less current portion | 698 | |||||||
| Total liabilities | 3,178 | 1,369 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) | ||||||||
| Stockholders equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value-40,000,000 shares authorized; 8,171,690 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 152,093 | 151,583 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (139,985 | ) | (130,119 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,273 | ) | (1,455 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders equity | 10,836 | 20,010 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders equity | $ | 14,014 | $ | 21,379 |
BENITEC BIOPHARMA INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Six Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
| Licensing revenues from customers | $ | 25 | $ | 1 | $ | 25 | $ | 56 | ||||||||
| Total revenues | 25 | 1 | 25 | 56 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Royalties and license fees | (19 | ) | 114 | |||||||||||||
| Research and development | 3,146 | 1,168 | 5,926 | 1,942 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 1,714 | 2,111 | 3,756 | 3,948 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 4,860 | 3,260 | 9,682 | 6,004 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (4,835 | ) | (3,259 | ) | (9,657 | ) | (5,948 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income (loss): | ||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency transaction gain (loss) | 48 | (193 | ) | (54 | ) | |||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (11 | ) | (2 | ) | (12 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income, net | 10 | 36 | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized loss on investment | (23 | ) | (1 | ) | (5 | ) | (l | ) | ||||||||
| Total other income (loss), net | 14 | 7 | (210 | ) | (22 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (4,821 | ) | $ | (3,252 | ) | $ | (9,867 | ) | $ | (5,970 | ) | ||||
| Other comprehensive income: | ||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized foreign currency translation (loss) gain | (57 | ) | 208 | 182 | 386 | |||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive (loss) income | (57 | ) | 208 | 182 | 386 | |||||||||||
| Total comprehensive loss | $ | (4,878 | ) | $ | (3,044 | ) | $ | (9,685 | ) | $ | (5,584 | ) | ||||
| Net loss | $ | (4,821 | ) | $ | (3,252 | ) | $ | (9,867 | ) | $ | (5,970 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ | (0.59 | ) | $ | (0.76 | ) | $ | (1.21 | ) | $ | (2.21 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding: basic and diluted | 8,171,690 | 4,300,073 | 8,171,690 | 2,704,223 |
About Benitec Biopharma Inc.
Benitec Biopharma Inc. ( Benitec or the Company ) is a development-stage biotechnology company focused on the advancement of novel
genetic medicines with headquarters in Hayward, California. The proprietary platform, called DNA-directed RNA interference, or ddRNAi, combines RNA interference, or RNAi, with gene therapy to create medicines
that facilitate sustained silencing of disease-causing genes following a single administration. The Company is developing ddRNAi-based therapeutics for chronic and life-threatening human conditions including Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy
(OPMD). A comprehensive overview of the Company can be found on Benitec s website at www.benitec.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical information set forth herein, the matters set forth in this press release include forward-looking statements, including statements
regarding Benitec s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, the timing of the initiation and completion of pre-clinical and clinical trials, the timing of patient enrolment and dosing
in clinical trials, the timing of expected regulatory filings, the clinical utility and potential attributes and benefits of ddRNAi and Benitec s product candidates, potential future out-licenses and
collaborations, the intellectual property position and the ability to procure additional sources of financing, and other forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on the Company s current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to
differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: unanticipated delays; further research and development and the results of clinical trials possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory
standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; determinations made by the FDA and other governmental authorities; the Company s ability to protect and enforce its patents and
other intellectual property rights; the Company s dependence on its relationships with its collaboration partners and other third parties; the efficacy or safety of the Company s products and the products of the Company s
collaboration partners; the acceptance of the Company s products and the products of the Company s collaboration partners in the marketplace; market competition; sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution requirements; greater than
expected expenses; expenses relating to litigation or strategic activities; the Company s ability to satisfy its capital needs through increasing its revenue and obtaining additional financing; the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which may adversely impact the Company s business and pre-clinical and future clinical trials; the impact of local, regional, and national and international economic conditions and events; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company s reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Media & Investor Relations Contact:
CEO of M Group Strategic Communications (for Benitec Biopharma, Inc.)
Email: jmorakis@mgroupsc.com