UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): May 10, 2017
CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
| Delaware | 001-33057 | 76-0837053 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 355 Alhambra Circle Suite 1250 Coral Gables, Florida |
33134 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (305) 420-3200
Not Applicable
Former Name or Former address, if changed since last report
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 8.01 | Other Events |
On May 10, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing its results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and providing a corporate update. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| 99.1 | Press release issued by the Company on May 10, 2017. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Alicia Grande | |
| Alicia Grande | ||
| Vice President, Treasurer and CFO | ||
Dated: May 10, 2017
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Exhibit 99.1
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Announces First Quarter 2017
Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update
CORAL GABLES, Fla., May 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Catalyst) (Nasdaq:CPRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating neuromuscular and neurological diseases, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017.
“We continue to work diligently toward the completion of enrollment in our Firdapse® LEMS and CMS clinical trials,” said Patrick J. McEnany, Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst. “We were also pleased to announce positive top-line results from a proof-of-concept trial for Firdapse as a potential treatment for myasthenia gravis patients that are MuSK antibody positive. We remain committed to the rest of our scientific pipeline and continue to seek ways to leverage our CPP-115 and vigabatrin programs.”
Q1 and Recent Highlights
| • | Announced positive top-line results from the investigator-sponsored trial evaluating Firdapse as a treatment for myasthenia gravis patients that are MuSK antibody positive (MuSK-MG) |
| • | Supported Rare Disease Day® on February 28 to help elevate public understanding of rare diseases |
| • | Ended March 31, 2017 with $36.5 million in cash and investments and no debt |
Upcoming Milestones
| • | Poster presentation of Dr. Mantegazza’s investigator-sponsored study of Firdapse for the treatment of MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG) at the 13th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders |
| • | Following the presentation on May 15, 2017, the poster will be available on the Investor page of the company’s website at www.catalystpharma.com |
| • | Complete enrollment in LEMS (LMS-003) and CMS (CMS-001) clinical trials |
| • | Expect top-line results from LEMS and CMS trials, and NDA submission for Firdapse in second-half 2017 |
| • | Meet with FDA and external experts about regulatory path forward for the MuSK-MG pivotal, U.S. multi-center trial |
| • | Exploring alternatives for CPP-115 further development |
| • | Continuing efforts to partner the generic Sabril® (vigabatrin) program |
| • | In the second half of 2017 reinitiate pre-commercialization activities for a potential 2018 launch of Firdapse |
First Quarter 2017 Financial Results
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, Catalyst reported a GAAP net loss of $4,967,129, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $5,386,237, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2016. Excluding the non-cash expense of $397,235 attributable to the change in fair value of liability-classified warrants, Non-GAAP1 net loss was $4,569,894 or $0.06 per basic and diluted share for the first quarter of 2017. In comparison, Non-GAAP1 net loss for the first quarter of 2016 was $6,119,593, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share, which excludes non-cash gain of $733,356 attributable to the change in fair value of liability-classified warrants.
Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2017 were $2,813,929 compared to $3,546,391 in the first quarter of 2016. Research and development expenses decreased when compared to the same period in 2016, due primarily to decreased costs for regulatory consulting, drug product manufacturing and clinical and pre-clinical activities.
General and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2017 totaled $1,865,942 compared to $2,691,145 in the first quarter of 2016. The decrease when compared to the same period in 2016 is primarily due to decreased employee costs due to a reduction in headcount, and a decrease in recruiting expenses and consulting costs for pre-commercialization activities.
As a development-stage specialty pharmaceutical company, Catalyst had no revenues in either the first quarter of 2017 or the first quarter of 2016.
At March 31, 2017, Catalyst had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $36.5 million and no debt. Catalyst believes that its existing capital resources will be sufficient to support its planned operations through at least the next 12 months.
More detailed financial information and analysis may be found in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 10, 2017.
Conference Call
Catalyst management will host an investment-community conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 11th, 2017 to discuss the financial results and provide a corporate update. Investors who wish to participate in the conference call may do so by dialing (877) 407-8912 for domestic and Canadian callers or (201) 689-8059 for international callers. Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the internet may do so by visiting the Investors page of the company’s website at www.catalystpharma.com and clicking on the webcast link on the Investors home page. A webcast replay will be available on the Catalyst website for 30 days following the call by visiting the Investor page of the company’s website at www.catalystpharma.com.
| 1 | Statements made in this press release include a non-GAAP financial measure. Such information is provided as additional information and not as an alternative to Catalyst’s financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This non-GAAP financial measure is intended to enhance an overall understanding of Catalyst’s current financial performance. Catalyst believes that the non-GAAP financial measure presented in this press release provides investors and prospective investors with an alternative method for assessing Catalyst’s operating results in a manner that Catalyst believes is focused on the performance of ongoing operations and provides a more consistent basis for comparison between periods. The non-GAAP financial measure in this press release excludes from the calculation of net loss the expense (or the income) associated with the change in fair value of the liability-classified warrants. Non-GAAP net loss per share is calculated by dividing non-GAAP net loss by the weighted average common shares outstanding. |
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About Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for people with rare debilitating neuromuscular and neurological diseases, including Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis and infantile spasms. Firdapse® has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of LEMS and Orphan Drug Designation for LEMS, CMS and myasthenia gravis. Firdapse is the first and only approved drug in Europe for symptomatic treatment in adults with LEMS.
Catalyst is also developing CPP-115 to treat refractory infantile spasms, and possibly refractory Tourette’s Disorder. CPP-115 has been granted U.S. Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of infantile spasms by the FDA and has been granted E.U. Orphan Medicinal Product Designation for the treatment of West syndrome by the European Commission. In addition, Catalyst is developing a generic version of Sabril® (vigabatrin).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Catalyst’s actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. A number of factors, including whether the receipt of breakthrough therapy designation for Firdapse will expedite the development and review of Firdapse by the FDA or the likelihood that the product will be found to be safe and effective, the timing of Catalyst’s second trial evaluating Firdapse for the treatment of LEMS and whether the trial will be successful, whether Catalyst’s assumptions in its updated business plan will be accurate and the impact of unanticipated events or delays in projected activities on Catalyst’s cash requirements and on Catalyst’s ability to get to an accepted NDA submission for Firdapse without the need for additional funding, what clinical trials and studies will be required before Catalyst can resubmit an NDA for Firdapse for the treatment of CMS and whether any such required clinical trials and studies will be successful, whether any NDA for Firdapse resubmitted to the FDA will ever be accepted for filing, the timing of any such NDA filing or acceptance, whether, if an NDA for Firdapse is accepted for filing, such NDA will be given a priority review by the FDA, whether Catalyst can successfully design and complete a registration trial evaluating Firdapse for the treatment of MuSK-MG that is acceptable to the FDA, whether any such future trial evaluating Firdapse for the treatment of MuSK-MG will be successful, whether Catalyst can obtain the funding required to conduct such a trial, whether Firdapse will ever be approved for commercialization, whether Catalyst will be the first company to receive approval for amifampridine (3,4-DAP), giving it 5-year marketing exclusivity for its product, whether CPP-115 will be determined to be safe for humans, what additional testing will be required before CPP-115 is “Phase 2 ready”, whether CPP-115 will be determined to be effective for the treatment of refractory infantile spasms or possibly Tourette’s Disorder or for any other indications, whether Catalyst can successfully design and complete a bioequivalence study of its version of vigabatrin compared to Sabril that is acceptable to the FDA, whether any such bioequivalence study the design of which is acceptable to the FDA will be successful, whether any ANDA that Catalyst submits for a generic version of Sabril will be accepted for filing, whether any ANDA for Sabril accepted for filing by the FDA will be approved (and the timing of any such approval), whether any of Catalyst’s product candidates will ever be approved for commercialization or successfully commercialized, and those other factors described in Catalyst’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2016 and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could adversely affect Catalyst. Copies of Catalyst’s filings with the SEC are available
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from the SEC, may be found on Catalyst’s website, or may be obtained upon request from Catalyst. Catalyst does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date.
| Investor Contact
Brian Korb The Trout Group LLC (646) 378-2923 bkorb@troutgroup.com |
Company Contact
Patrick J. McEnany Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Chief Executive Officer (305) 420-3200 pmcenany@catalystpharma.com |
Media Contact
David Schull
Russo Partners
(212) 845-4271
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
###
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CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| Revenues |
$ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Operating costs and expenses: |
||||||||
| Research and development |
2,813,929 | 3,546,391 | ||||||
| General and administrative |
1,865,942 | 2,691,145 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total operating costs and expenses |
4,679,871 | 6,237,536 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Loss from operations |
(4,679,871 | ) | (6,237,536 | ) | ||||
| Other income, net |
109,977 | 117,943 | ||||||
| Change in fair value of warrants liability |
(397,235 | ) | 733,356 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Loss before income taxes |
(4,967,129 | ) | (5,386,237 | ) | ||||
| Provision for income taxes |
— | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net loss |
$ | (4,967,129 | ) | $ | (5,386,237 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net loss per share – basic and diluted |
$ | (0.06 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted |
82,972,316 | 82,860,083 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
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CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
| March 31, 2017 |
December 31, 2016 |
|||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current Assets: |
||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 9,981,044 | $ | 13,893,064 | ||||
| Short-term investments |
26,545,898 | 26,512,753 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
929,862 | 1,047,944 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total current assets |
37,456,804 | 41,453,761 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net |
231,246 | 244,204 | ||||||
| Deposits |
8,888 | 8,888 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total assets |
$ | 37,696,938 | $ | 41,706,853 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities: |
||||||||
| Accounts payable |
$ | 917,928 | $ | 933,176 | ||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
987,612 | 1,161,359 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total current liabilities |
1,905,540 | 2,094,535 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities, non-current |
175,992 | 181,162 | ||||||
| Warrants liability, at fair value |
519,461 | 122,226 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total liabilities |
2,600,993 | 2,397,923 | ||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity |
35,095,945 | 39,308,930 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ | 37,696,938 | $ | 41,706,853 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
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