Interim Report for the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2016

On May 24, 2016 Benitec Biopharma Limited (ASX: BLT; NASDAQ: BNTC; NASDAQ: BNTCW) reported its Interim Report for the nine months ended March 31, 2016. The report includes the financial results and a review of operations for the period (Press release, Benitec Biopharma, MAY 24, 2016, View Source [SID:1234512755]).

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Summary of the key points from the Interim Report:
• The net loss for the nine months was $A18.5 million and included research and development spending of AU$11.1 million. Benitec’s current assets at March 31, 2016 were A$26.5 million.

• In March 2016 Benitec announced encouraging results of its recent in vivo efficacy study of BBHB-331. Key findings indicate that a single BB-HB-331 treatment in the PhoenixBio mouse model can result in suppression of hepatitis B (HBV). These results demonstrate the potential utility of an approach that combines RNAi with gene therapy to treat HBV, and the Company intends to advance the HBV program towards the clinic.

• On February 26, 2016 Benitec announced that it would wind-down its hepatitis C program and terminate the program upon completion of patients in Cohort 4 in its Phase I/IIa clinical trial for TT-034.

• In December 2015, Benitec announced positive in vitro data demonstrating the efficacy of BBHB-331 and supporting the progression of BB-HB-331 into in vivo preclinical testing. The data was presented at the HEPDART 2015 conference in the US in December 2015.

• In August 2015, Benitec completed a NASDAQ listing raising A$18.8 million (US$13.8 million) before costs.

• In July 2015, Benitec announced it acquired full rights to its preclinical DNA-directed RNA interference based hepatitis B therapeutic program for $2.5 million. The program was previously a joint development collaboration between Benitec and Biomics.

• Benitec anticipates completing in vivo preclinical proof of concept studies for age-related macular degeneration (‘AMD’) and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (‘OPMD’) by the end of calendar year 2016