Bay Street News

Histogenics Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2018 Financial and Operating Results

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

‒ Histogenics and FDA Continue Discussions on NeoCart® Phase 3 Data and Potential BLA Submission ‒
‒ October 2018 Financing Expected to Provide Funding Into Middle of 2019 ‒
‒ Histogenics to Host Conference Call and Webcast Today at 8:30 a.m. ET ‒

Histogenics Corporation (Histogenics) (Nasdaq: HSGX), a leader in the development of restorative cell therapies that may offer rapid-onset pain relief and restored function, announced its financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. 

“We continue to focus on advancing NeoCart towards the potential submission of a Biologics License Application by the end of the first quarter of 2019 and have an extensive dialogue with the FDA covering all aspects of the NeoCart development program, including the clinical data and related statistics from the NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial,” said Adam Gridley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Histogenics.  “We believe, based on our continued analysis of the totality of the data, that NeoCart, if approved, may offer patients a treatment alternative that provides a more rapid recovery from pain and return to daily activity than other options to treat damaged knee cartilage.  We are also working closely with MEDINET, our development and commercialization partner in Japan, toward the goal of initiating the Japanese Phase 3 clinical trial of NeoCart in 2019.”

Third Quarter 2018 and Recent Highlights

Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2018

Histogenics’ loss from operations was $(7.0) million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $(5.7) million in the third quarter of 2017.  The increase in loss from operations was due to higher operating expenses in the third quarter of 2018 relative to the third quarter of 2017. 

Research and development expenses were $4.6 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2017.  The increase was primarily due to increases in consulting and compensation related expenses in connection with the preparation and evaluation of the data from the NeoCart Phase 3 clinical trial and the potential submission of a BLA for NeoCart with the FDA.  General and administrative expenses were $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2017.  The increase was primarily due to higher salaries and consulting expenses related to increased activities to support the potential commercialization of NeoCart. 

As of September 30, 2018, Histogenics had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $5.2 million, compared to $8.0 million at December 31, 2017.  In October 2018, Histogenics received net proceeds of approximately $15.9 million through an underwritten public offering of common stock and warrants and sales through its at-the-market offering facility.  Histogenics believes its current cash position will be sufficient to fund its operations into the middle of 2019.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Histogenics management will host a conference call on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. ET.  A question-and-answer session will follow Histogenics’ remarks.  To participate on the live call, please dial (877) 930-8064 (domestic) or (253) 336-8040 (international) and provide the conference ID “5491168” five to ten minutes before the start of the call.

To access a live audio webcast of the presentation on the “Investor Relations” page of the Histogenics website, please click here. A replay of the webcast will be archived on Histogenics’ website for approximately 45 days following the presentation.

About Histogenics Corporation

Histogenics (Nasdaq:  HSGX) is a leader in the development of restorative cell therapies that may offer rapid-onset pain relief and restored function.  Histogenics’ lead investigational product, NeoCart®, is designed to rebuild a patient’s own knee cartilage to treat pain at the source and may prevent a patient’s progression to osteoarthritis.  NeoCart is one of the most rigorously studied restorative cell therapies for orthopedic use.  NeoCart is designed to perform like articular hyaline cartilage at the time of treatment, and as a result, may provide patients with more rapid pain relief and accelerated recovery as compared to the current standard of care.  Histogenics’ technology platform has the potential to be used for a broad range of additional restorative cell therapy indications.  For more information on Histogenics and NeoCart, please visit www.histogenics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Various statements in this release are “forward-looking statements” under the securities laws.  Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “expect,” “estimate,” “design,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “likely,” “should,” “will,” and “would,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions or words, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions and uncertainties.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Histogenics’ forward-looking statements include, among others:  expectations regarding the timing and success of ongoing discussions with the FDA regarding the potential submission of a BLA for NeoCart; NeoCart’s potential as a treatment for knee cartilage damage; the timing, associated expenses and ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of NeoCart or any product candidates, and the labeling for any approved products; the market size and potential patient population in markets where Histogenics’ and its partners expect to compete; updated or refined data based on Histogenics’ continuing review and quality control analysis of clinical data; the scope, progress, timing, expansion, and costs of developing and commercializing Histogenics’ product candidates; the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval regarding the comparability of critical NeoCart raw materials following its technology transfer and manufacturing location transition; Histogenics’ expectations regarding its expenses and revenue; Histogenics’ ability to obtain additional debt or equity capital; and other factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Histogenics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, which are on file with the SEC and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  Additional factors may be set forth in those sections of Histogenics Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, expected to be filed with the SEC in the fourth quarter of 2018.  In addition to the risks described above and in Histogenics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could affect Histogenics’ results.  Histogenics has not yet received the official FDA meeting minutes from the Type C meeting held on October 30, 2018 and the information in this release may be altered or supplemented by the information contained in the official meeting minutes or any subsequent meetings that may be held with the FDA.

There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Histogenics will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Histogenics.  Therefore, no assurance can be given that the outcomes stated in such forward-looking statements and estimates will be achieved.

All written and verbal forward-looking statements attributable to Histogenics or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein.  Histogenics cautions investors not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements Histogenics makes or that are made on its behalf.  The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Histogenics undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

* * * *

HISTOGENICS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

    Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
      2018       2017       2018       2017  
Revenue   $     $     $     $  
                 
Operating expenses:                
Research and development     4,563       3,488       12,307       12,200  
General and administrative     2,426       2,225       8,059       6,717  
Total operating expenses     6,989       5,713       20,366       18,917  
Loss from operations     (6,989 )     (5,713 )     (20,366 )     (18,917 )
                 
Other income (expense):                
Interest income, net     19       39       88       114  
Other expense, net     (21 )     (52 )     (71 )     (142 )
Change in fair value of warrant liability     17,776       (269 )     12,524       (673 )
Total other income (expense), net     17,774       (282 )     12,541       (701 )
Net income (loss)   $    10,785     $   (5,995 )   $    (7,825 )   $   (19,618 )
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss):                
Unrealized gain from available for sale securities           1              
Comprehensive income (loss)   $ 10,785     $ (5,994 )   $ (7,825 )   $ (19,618 )
                 
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders                
Basic   $ 10,650     $ (5,080 )   $ (7,657 )   $ (16,380 )
Diluted   $ (7,126 )   $ (5,080 )   $ (20,181 )   $ (16,380 )
                 
Net income (loss) per common share                
Basic   $ 0.36     $ (0.23 )   $ (0.27 )   $ (0.74 )
Diluted   $ (0.24 )   $ (0.23 )   $ (0.68 )   $ (0.74 )
Weighted-average shares used to compute income (loss) per common share                
Basic     29,737,632       22,552,341       28,723,500       22,219,666  
Diluted     29,737,632       22,552,341       29,515,700       22,219,666  
                 


HISTOGENICS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

    September 30,   December 31,
      2018       2017  
         
         
Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities   $ 5,192     $ 7,981  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     825       194  
Property and equipment, net     4,352       2,723  
Other assets, net     512       137  
Total assets   $ 10,881     $ 11,035  
         
Current liabilities   $ 8,943     $ 3,805  
Warrant and other non-current liabilities     11,614       18,498  
Total stockholders’ (deficit)     (9,676 )     (11,268 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit)   $ 10,881     $ 11,035  

SOURCE: Histogenics Corporation

CONTACT: Contact:

Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (781) 547-7909
InvestorRelations@histogenics.com