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27-Mar-2020

Seneca Biopharma, Inc. Reports Year End 2019 Fiscal Results

GERMANTOWN, Md., March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seneca Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNCA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for diseases of high unmet medical need, today reported its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Business Highlights for the Year Ended December 31, 2019

In early 2019, the Company shifted its operating strategy and focus away from the development of our neural stem cell treatments and initiated an out-licensing effort to partner these programs, while seeking to in-license or acquire novel therapeutics that are complementary to our current technologies and could benefit from our development experience. 

On July 17, 2019, we effected a 1-for-20 reverse stock split of our common stock;

In July of 2019, we completed an underwritten public offering of our securities resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $7.5 million;

On October 28, 2019, we changed our name from Neuralstem, Inc. to Seneca Biopharma, Inc.

Financial Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2019

Cash Position and Liquidity:  At December 31, 2019, cash was approximately $5.1 million as compared to approximately $5.8 million at December 31, 2018.  The $0.7 million decrease is due to cash used in operations of approximately $7.3 million partially offset by the proceeds from our July 2019 underwritten offering.

Operating Loss: Operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $8.6 million compared to a loss of $8.3 million for 2018.  The increase in operating loss for the year was primarily due to the absence of revenue and a small increase in research and development expenses.  General and administrative expenses totaled approximately $4.6 million during the two periods.

Net Loss:  Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $8.4 million, or $3.80 per share, compared to a loss of $4.9 million, or $7.80 per share on a post-reverse stock-split basis, for 2018.  The change in net loss was primarily attributed to non-cash related changes in the fair value of our liability classified stock purchase warrants.  

R&D Expense: Research and development expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $4.1 million as compared to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.  The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in external consulting services engaged in the technical evaluation of our internal programs as well as the evaluation of certain potential assets we considered for acquisition.  These costs were partially offset by lower clinical trial expenditures as we wound down clinical activates.

G&A Expense: General and administrative expense were approximately $4.6 million for both 2019 and 2018. As noted above, in early 2019, the Company shifted its operating strategy and initiated an out-licensing effort to partner our neural stem cell treatments while seeking to acquire novel therapeutics with the potential to be complementary to our current technologies and that could benefit from our development experience.  Associated with this shift in strategic focus, our G&A expenses in 2019 reflect an enhanced internal management structure including individual consultants in key roles. 

Liquidity: In January 2020, the Company entered into an agreement with certain accredited investors from our July 2019 underwritten offering. Under this agreement the exercise price of certain warrants issued in the July offering were reduced from $2.70 to $1.36 to induce the immediate cash exercise of such warrants. The Company received approximately $6.8 million in net proceeds. We believe that the proceeds from the warrant exercise, along with our cash as of December 31, 2019, will be sufficient to fund our planned operations for more than 12 months. 

"With the proceeds from the January 2020 transaction, we have the capital to build out our management team and continue our initiative of evaluating new therapeutic products for development as well as seeking partners for our promising neural stem-cell therapeutic NSI-566" commented Dr. Kenneth Carter, Seneca's Executive Chairman.  "On this front, our China-based subsidiary is readying a new facility which will be utilized to complete activities for our China-based stroke trial from which we are expecting top line data by the end of this year. In addition, we recently held a discussion with the US FDA regarding a path forward for our ALS program. We will provide additional information on these programs when certain activities are concluded."

 

Seneca Biopharma, Inc.





Consolidated Balance Sheets






December 31,


2019


2018





ASSETS




CURRENT ASSETS




Cash and cash equivalents

$

5,114,917


$

5,787,110

Trade and other receivables

21,064


294,057

Current portion of related party receivable, net of discount

-


63,938

Prepaid expenses

510,900


363,288

Total current assets

5,646,881


6,508,393





Property and equipment, net

41,036


90,311

Patents, net

668,936


763,543

Related party receivable, net of discount and current portion

-


298,238

ROU and other assets

227,036


23,965

Total assets

$

6,583,889


$

7,684,450





LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY




CURRENT LIABILITIES




Accounts payable and accrued expenses 

$

824,406


$

832,564

Accrued bonuses

135,686


-

Short term notes and other current liabilities

264,665


218,602

Total current liabilities

1,224,757


1,051,166





Warrant liabilities, at fair value

84,596


583,734

Lease liability, net of current portion

148,543


-

Total liabilities

1,457,896


1,634,900





Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)








STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY




Preferred stock, 7,000,000 shares authorized, $0.01 par value; 200,000 and 1,000,000 shares issued and outstanding in 2019 and 2018, respectively

2,000


10,000

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 300 million shares authorized, 3,866,457 and 910,253 shares issued and outstanding in 2019 and 2018, respectively

38,665


9,103

Additional paid-in capital

227,067,058


219,654,753

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(6,186)


(413)

Accumulated deficit

(221,975,544)


(213,623,893)

Total stockholders' equity

5,125,993


6,049,550

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

6,583,889


$

7,684,450









 

 

Seneca Biopharma, Inc.


Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss



Year Ended December 31,


2019



2018






Revenues

$

15,394



$

260,000






Operating expenses:





Research and development costs

4,061,450



3,960,191

General and administrative expenses

4,585,638



4,559,265

Total operating expenses

8,647,088



8,519,456

Operating loss

(8,631,694)



(8,259,456)






Other income (expense):





Interest income

67,731



78,780

Interest expense

(8,920)



(7,698)

Gain from change in fair value of liability classified warrants

499,138



3,269,148

Write-off of related party receivable and other income (expense)

(277,906)



(5,391)

Total other income (expense) 

280,043



3,334,839






Net loss

$

(8,351,651)



$

(4,924,617)






Net loss per common share - basic and diluted

$

(3.80)



$

(7.54)






Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted

2,197,434



653,221






Comprehensive loss:





Net loss

$

(8,351,651)



$

(4,924,617)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

(5,773)



(3,044)

Comprehensive loss 

$

(8,357,424)



$

(4,927,661)











About Seneca Biopharma, Inc.

Seneca Biopharma, Inc., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for diseases of high unmet medical need. The Company is in the process of transforming the organization through the acquisition or in-licensing of new science and technologies, to develop with the goal of providing meaningful therapies for patients. 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to future, not past, events and may often be identified by words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek" or "will." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Specific risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Seneca's periodic reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and in other reports filed with the SEC. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Hibiscus Bioventures
josh@hibiscusbio.com

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SOURCE Seneca Biopharma, Inc.

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Last Updated: 27-Mar-2020