Full Press Release Details
Vallon Pharmaceuticals
Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update
- Company remains on
track to report pivotal data from lead program, ADAIR, in second half 2021
- Novel abuse-deterrent
platform technology enables pipeline expansion opportunities across multiple drugs and indications
PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 13, 2021 - Vallon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: VLON), ("Vallon" or the "Company"),
a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development of novel drugs that are designed to deter abuse in the
treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.
Additionally, the Company
provided an update on its development programs, ADAIR and ADMIR, which leverage the Company's proprietary technology that is designed
to resist manipulation for snorting and provide barriers to injection.
David Baker, President & Chief Executive Officer of Vallon commented, "The first quarter was marked by our successful IPO and
continued execution on the clinical and operational fronts. The SEAL Study, our pivotal intranasal abuse study of our lead program, ADAIR,
continues to progress well through enrollment and we remain on track to report data in the second half of this year, with an NDA submission
targeted for the second quarter of 2022. We also made key appointments to our Board and executive leadership team in the first quarter
that provide additional expertise and leadership as we advance our novel platform technology and development pipeline. Our team is committed
to bringing this important program across the finish line and potentially bringing to market a new effective, abuse-deterrent treatment
Clinical Program Update
ADAIR1: Abuse-Deterrent Formulation of Dextroamphetamine
ADAIR is the Company's proprietary abuse-deterrent
formulation of immediate-release dextroamphetamine currently in development for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) and narcolepsy. ADAIR is being developed leveraging the de-risked 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway and is currently being evaluated
in a pivotal intranasal abuse study, SEAL Study. The SEAL Study is expected to be the final clinical trial prior to NDA filing.
The ongoing SEAL Study is a pivotal randomized,
double-blind, double dummy, placebo and active-controlled 4 period, 4 way crossover assessing the pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetics
(PK), safety and tolerability of manipulated ADAIR 30 mg when compared to crushed d-amphetamine sulfate and placebo. A total of 64 subjects
demonstrating a confirmed positive response to stimulants are planned to enter the treatment phase. Safety will be assessed via adverse
events, vital signs, ECGs, clinical laboratory tests and other standard measures.
ADAIR is also being developed for Europe and the
UK through a license and collaboration agreement with MEDICE Arzneimittel P tter GmbH, a leader in the European ADHD market.
| Report pivotal data from the SEAL Study targeted for the second half of 2021. | ||
| NDA submission targeted for the second quarter of 2022. |
ADMIR: Abuse-Deterrent Formulation of Methylphenidate
The Company's second program in development is ADMIR, a novel abuse-deterrent formulation of immediate-release methylphenidate (Ritalin).
Ritalin is another commonly prescribed stimulant for treating ADHD that is frequently misused and abused.
Summary of Financial Results for First Quarter 2021
Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $2.6 million. Research and development expenses were $1.8 million and $0.9 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The $0.9 million increase in research and development expenses was primarily
due to an increase of $1.0 million related to the registration development program of ADAIR. General and administrative expenses were
$0.8 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase was primarily related to
increased costs for directors and officers insurance, non-cash stock compensation and increases in consultant related expenses.
ADAIR is not approved by the FDA
On January 11, 2021, the Company entered into
an agreement with certain existing shareholders for cash proceeds of $350,000 through the issuance of convertible promissory notes (the
2021 Convertible Notes). On February 12, 2021, the Company completed the IPO for total gross proceeds of $18.0 million, resulting in net
proceeds of approximately $15.5 million, after deducting the underwriting commission and all expenses in connection with the offering.
The 2021 Convertible Notes converted to common stock concurrently with the closing of the IPO, resulting in a net $15.9 million raised
pursuant to the IPO and the 2021 Convertible Notes.
As of March 31, 2021, the Company had cash and
cash equivalents totaling approximately $13.0 million, which the Company expects will provide funding for its ongoing business activities
into the third quarter of 2022.
About Vallon Pharmaceuticals
Vallon Pharmaceuticals
Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. The Company is focused on the development of new
medications to help patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The Company's lead investigational product candidate,
ADAIR, is a novel abuse deterrent formulation of amphetamine immediate release being developed for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy.
For more information about the company, please visit www.vallon-pharma.com or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.
References and links
to websites have been provided for convenience, and the information contained on any such website is not a part of, or incorporated by
reference into, this press release. Vallon is not responsible for the contents of third-party websites.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains
"forward-looking statements" that are based on Vallon's current expectations and subject to inherent uncertainties,
risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including, without limitation, Vallon's ability to execute its business plan,
continue its growth and fund its ongoing business activities as planned, Vallon's ability to develop and commercialize its product
candidates, expectations related to results of clinical trials and studies, Vallon's expectations with respect to the important
advantages it believes its abuse-deterrent formulation of drugs have over similar drugs in the market and the growing need for abuse-deterrent
formulations of drugs, Vallon's ability to utilize the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, Vallon's ability to obtain FDA approval
of ADAIR and its other product candidates, and Vallon's expectations with respect to its cash runway. Forward-looking statements
may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could,"
"estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan,"
"potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should,"
"will," "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions. Further, certain forward-looking
statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are
described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in Vallon's Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company
undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.