On March 13, 2020 Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHV), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline for smoking cessation and nicotine addiction, reported fourth quarter and year-end 2019 financial results and provided an update on the cytisinicline clinical development program (Press release, OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, MAR 13, 2020, View Source [SID1234555537]).
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Recent Highlights
Completed meeting with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize the Phase 3 cytisinicline clinical development program
Presented new findings from the Phase 2b ORCA-1 trial evaluating cytisinicline in U.S. smokers at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco (SRNT) Annual Conference in March 2020
Established agreement with the FreeMind Group to assist in securing non-dilutive funding to evaluate cytisinicline in vapers and e-cigarette users
Closed underwritten public offering for gross proceeds of $13.8 million, before underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses
"With over 34 million smokers and nearly 11 million vape and e-cigarette users in the United States alone, the nicotine addiction epidemic continues to be a major public health crisis that Achieve is exclusively focused on addressing through the development of cytisinicline," commented Rick Stewart, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Achieve. "Our key priorities in the coming months are to initiate the ORCA-2 Phase 3 clinical trial in smokers and secure non-dilutive financing to evaluate cytisinicline specifically in the growing population of vape users."
Completed FDA Meeting
In the fourth quarter of 2019, Achieve received feedback on the Phase 3 clinical trial protocols and the cytisinicline clinical development program. Specifically, the FDA agreed with the overall Phase 3 study designs that anticipate utilizing the simplified cytisinicline dosing schedule of 3.0 mg administered three times daily and the duration of 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. Additionally, the FDA agreed that no further escalation in cytisinicline dosing beyond the 30.0 mg dose was necessary for defining a maximum tolerated dose, which is required for the New Drug Application.
Additional ORCA-1 Results at SRNT Annual Conference
An oral presentation featuring new ORCA-1 Phase 2b trial analyses was presented at the SRNT Annual Meeting in March 2020. In addition to previously reported data indicating a statistically significant improvement in quit rates, new analyses demonstrate cytisinicline biochemical efficacy via measurement of serum cotinine as well as the previous carbon monoxide efficacy. Additionally, further analyses confirm that cytisinicline benefit was observed across all clinical sites, baseline characteristics, and attributes. Thus, regardless of trial site location, patient demographics, smoking history, or prior treatments, all subjects treated with cytisinicline showed similar smoking cessation benefit.
Agreement with the FreeMind Group to secure non-dilutive financing for vaping trials
Achieve retained the FreeMind Group, an international consulting firm dedicated to assisting life science organizations secure non-dilutive funding. Achieve and FreeMind will conduct a strategic assessment of potential non-dilutive funding opportunities from various public and private sources, followed by anticipated grant production and submission, to further the clinical development of cytisinicline in vaping or e-cigarette cessation.
Closed underwritten public offering for gross proceeds of $13.8 million
In December 2019, Achieve announced the closing of an underwritten public offering that raised total gross proceeds of $13.8 million, which includes the full exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option to purchase additional shares and warrants, prior to deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.
Financial Results
As of December 31, 2019, the company’s cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash was $16.7 million. Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 were $3.2 million and $16.5 million, respectively. Total net loss for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 was $3.2 million and $16.4 million, respectively.
As of March 13, 2020 Achieve had 31,352,764 shares outstanding.
Conference Call Details
Achieve will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time today, Friday, March 13, 2020. To access the webcast, log on to the investor relations page of the Achieve website at View Source Alternatively, access to the live conference call is available by dialing (877) 472-9809 (U.S. & Canada) or (629) 228-0791 (International) and referencing conference ID 6628874. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and will be archived on the website for 90 days.