Fennec Pharmaceuticals Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

~ FDA Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) Target Action Date Set for November 27, 2021 ~

~ If Approved by the FDA, PEDMARK™ Stands to Be the First Therapy for the Prevention of Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss in Children ~

~ Company Has Approximately $24 Million in Cash and Cash Equivalents ~

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:FENC; TSX: FRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of PEDMARK™ (a unique formulation of sodium thiosulfate) for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients, today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 and provided a business update.

“We continue to work with the FDA on their review of our NDA application, in advance of the pending PEDMARK™ PDUFA target action date of November 27^th. We are focused on essential activities in preparation to bring this important treatment to children receiving cisplatin chemotherapy,” said Rosty Raykov, chief executive officer of Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Financial Results for the Third Quarter 2021

• Cash Position – Cash and cash equivalents were $24.3 million as of September 30, 2021. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents between September 30, 2021, and June 30, 2020 is the result of expenses related to the development and preparation of the NDA resubmission of PEDMARK™ and general and administrative expenses. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had $5.0 million in funded debt.
• Research and Development (R&D) Expenses – R&D expenses were $1.2 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to $1.4 million for the same period in 2020. R&D expenses decreased by $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 over the same period in 2020 as the Company’s development activities shifted back to essential activities in preparation for the launch of PEDMARK™.
• General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses – G&A expenses decreased by $1.6 million over same period in 2020 due to the timing to NDA approval of the comparative periods. The three months ended September 30, 2020 was the same quarter as the initial NDA approval and the three months ended September 30, 2021 is one quarter prior to our current potential NDA approval. The reduction in general and administrative expenses was slightly offset by higher expenses associated with additional employees and the increase in non-cash equity remuneration expense for employees and board members related to the vesting of new and existing grants.
• Net Loss – Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was $4.2 million ($0.16 per share), compared to $6.2 million ($0.24 per share) for the same period in 2020.

Financial Update

The selected financial data presented below are derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The complete unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2021 and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations will be available via www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. All values are presented in thousands unless otherwise noted.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Operations:
(U.S. Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2021				2020
Revenue		$	—			$	—
Operating expenses:
Research and development			1,242				1,368
General and administrative			2,931				4,491
Loss from operations			(4,173	)			(5,859	)
Other (expense)/income
Unrealized gain on securities			39				—
Amortization expense			(8	)			(355	)
Other loss			(56	)			(8	)
Interest income			13				22
Total other income, net			(12	)			(341	)
Net (loss)		$	(4,185	)		$	(6,200	)
Basic net (loss) per common share		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.24	)
Diluted net (loss) per common share		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.24	)

Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Balance Sheets
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
		September 30, 2021				December 31,
		(Unaudited)				2020
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	24,335			$	30,344
Prepaid expenses			1,232				797
Other current assets			412				276
Total current assets			25,979				31,417
Non-Current assets
Deferred issuance cost			508				466
Deferred issuance cost (amortization)			(473	)			(466	)
Total non-current assets			35				—
Total assets		$	26,014			$	31,417
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	1,154			$	1,571
Accrued liabilities			860				776
Total current liabilities			2,014				2,347
Long term liabilities
Term loan			5,000				—
Debt discount			(13	)			—
Total long term liabilities			4,987				—
Total liabilities			7,001				2,347
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, no par value; unlimited shares authorized; 26,010 shares issued and outstanding (2020 -26,003)			140,780				140,733
Additional paid-in capital			52,049				49,234
Accumulated deficit			(175,059	)			(162,140	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			1,243				1,243
Total shareholders’ equity			19,013				29,070
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	26,014			$	31,417

Working Capital
		Fiscal Year Ended
Selected Asset and Liability Data:		September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	24,335			$	30,344
Other current assets			1,644				1,073
Current liabilities			(2,014	)			(2,347	)
Working capital		$	23,965			$	29,070
Selected Equity:
Common stock & APIC		$	192,829			$	189,967
Accumulated deficit			(175,059	)			(162,140	)
Stockholders’ equity			19,013				29,070

About PEDMARK™

Cisplatin and other platinum compounds are essential chemotherapeutic agents for many pediatric malignancies.  Unfortunately, platinum-based therapies cause ototoxicity, or hearing loss, which is permanent, irreversible and particularly harmful to the survivors of pediatric cancer.

In the U.S. and Europe, it is estimated that, annually, over 10,000 children may receive platinum-based chemotherapy.  The incidence of ototoxicity depends upon the dose and duration of chemotherapy, and many of these children require lifelong hearing aids. There is currently no established preventive agent for this hearing loss and only expensive, technically difficult and sub-optimal cochlear (inner ear) implants have been shown to provide some benefit. Infants and young children that suffer ototoxicity at critical stages of development lack speech language development and literacy, and older children and adolescents lack social-emotional development and educational achievement.

PEDMARK has been studied by cooperative groups in two Phase 3 clinical studies of survival and reduction of ototoxicity, The Clinical Oncology Group Protocol ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6. Both studies have been completed. The COG ACCL0431 protocol enrolled childhood cancers typically treated with intensive cisplatin therapy for localized and disseminated disease, including newly diagnosed hepatoblastoma, germ cell tumor, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and medulloblastoma.  SIOPEL 6 enrolled only hepatoblastoma patients with localized tumors.

The FDA has accepted for filing the Company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for PEDMARK™ and has granted Priority Review. PEDMARK has received Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track Designation by the FDA in March 2018, and a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) Target Action Date of November 27, 2021. The Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for sodium thiosulfate (tradename PEDMARQSI) is currently under evaluation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). 

About Fennec Pharmaceuticals

Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of PEDMARK™ for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients.   Further, PEDMARK has received Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. for this potential use. Fennec has a license agreement with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) for exclusive worldwide license rights to intellectual property directed to sodium thiosulfate and its use for chemoprotection, including the prevention of ototoxicity induced by platinum chemotherapy, in humans.  For more information, please visit www.fennecpharma.com

Forward Looking Statements

Except for historical information described in this press release, all other statements are forward-looking. Words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include the Company’s expectations regarding its interactions and communications with the FDA, including the Company’s expectations and goals respecting the NDA resubmission for PEDMARK™. Obtaining Fast Track Designation and Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA is no guarantee that the FDA will approve the NDA resubmission of PEDMARK. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business that could cause actual results to vary, including the risk that unforeseen factors may result in delays in or failure to obtain FDA approval of PEDMARK, the risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s reliance on third party manufacturing, the risks that the Company’s NDA resubmission does not adequately address the concerns identified in the CRL previously provided by the FDA, the risk that the NDA resubmission to the FDA will not be satisfactory, that regulatory and guideline developments may change, scientific data and/or manufacturing capabilities may not be sufficient to meet regulatory standards or receipt of required regulatory clearances or approvals, clinical results may not be replicated in actual patient settings, unforeseen global instability, including political instability, or instability from an outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), or surrounding the duration and severity of an outbreak, protection offered by the Company’s patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, the available market for the Company’s products will not be as large as expected, the Company’s products will not be able to penetrate one or more targeted markets, revenues will not be sufficient to fund further development and clinical studies, the Company may not meet its future capital requirements in different countries and municipalities, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Fennec disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

For a more detailed discussion of related risk factors, please refer to our public filings available at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.

For further information, please contact:

Investors:
Robert Andrade
Chief Financial Officer
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
[phone]

Media:
Elixir Health Public Relations
Lindsay Rocco
[phone]
[e-mail]