On November 3, 2016 BioTime, Inc. (NYSE MKT and TASE: BTX), a clinical stage biotechnology company with a focus on pluripotent cell-based technologies, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016, and recent therapeutic program progress (Press release, BioTime, NOV 3, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2219412 [SID1234516220]).
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"Through the quarter, we continued to execute on our plan with great progress across all our programs within the BioTime family of companies. We are particularly encouraged by the early data reported on Renevia and OpRegen. Both Asterias and OncoCyte also reported promising data from their clinical trials," said Adi Mohanty, Co-Chief Executive Officer. "For the remainder of the year and into 2017, we expect to achieve a substantial number of value-enhancing milestones, including additional efficacy and safety data from the second and third patient cohorts in the OpRegen clinical trial, and pivotal data and potential CE mark approval for Renevia in Europe."
Third Quarter and Recent Accomplishments
Clinical Progress
OpRegen (retinal pigment epithelial cells)
The ongoing Phase I/IIa clinical trial is evaluating the safety of three different dosage regimens of OpRegen in the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (Dry-AMD). Dry-AMD is a condition for which there is currently no FDA-approved therapy. Preliminary data from the first cohort of patients treated in this trial of OpRegen resulted in no serious adverse events. Imaging data from the first patient who completed one-year of post-treatment clinical assessment may indicate that the graft can survive for at least 12 months. These and other data will be presented at the International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ISOPT), on December 2, in Rome, Italy.
Enrollment in the second cohort, in which patients are receiving a higher and more clinically meaningful 200,000 cell dose, is expected to be complete by year end 2016, and data are expected early in 2017.
Additional data, from the third cohort, which is expected to commence before year end, is anticipated by the end of 2017.
US clinical trial sites are expected to be announced in early 2017.
Renevia (adipose cells + cell delivery matrix)
The Renevia pivotal clinical trial for HIV-related facial lipoatrophy continues to enroll new patients and is on track to complete patient enrollment by the end of 2016. The objective of the trial is to assess the safety and efficacy of Renevia in restoring normal skin contours in patients whose subcutaneous fat has been lost due to antiviral drug treatment for HIV. BioTime expects top-line efficacy data in the first half of 2017. If the data are positive, the company plans to submit an application for CE mark approval in Europe shortly thereafter.
Positive data from the pivotal trial could provide support for future studies of Renevia in certain broader applications of fat tissue deficits. These include various medical aesthetics applications, such as age-related and trauma-related facial fat loss.
AST-OPC1 (oligodendrocyte progenitor cells)
In September, BioTime’s affiliate Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: AST), announced positive data from the AST-OPC1 SCiSTAR Phase 1/2a clinical study in patients with complete cervical spinal cord injuries. All patients in the initial cohort who received 10 million AST-OPC1 cells showed at least one motor level of improvement (regaining some function in their arms), while two of five patients achieved two motor levels of improvement (regaining some function in their arms, hands and fingers) on at least one side of their body. The data were presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) in Vienna, Austria.
Six-month efficacy data on this first cohort are expected to be announced in January 2017. Enrollment is also ongoing in a new cohort in which patients are receiving a higher dose of 20 million cells.
OncoCyte (non-invasive cancer diagnostics)
In August, BioTime’s subsidiary OncoCyte Corporation (NYSE MKT: OCX) closed a financing with both new and existing investors, providing OncoCyte with gross proceeds of $10.55 million, before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.
Data was presented related to OncoCyte’s lead product, a confirmatory diagnostic for lung cancer screening. OncoCyte expects to complete the study by year end and, if successful, could launch the product by mid-year 2017.
Research and Development
In August, BioTime strengthened its regenerative medicine intellectual property portfolio with the issuance of 31 new patents. This included nine in the U.S. and 22 in Australia, Canada, China, India, Israel, and Japan. The new patents supplement the existing portfolio of more than 700 patents and patent applications owned or licensed by the BioTime family of companies worldwide.
Management Team
In October, BioTime strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Jim Knight as Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Development. Mr. Knight is a highly accomplished professional with an extensive skill set and knowledge that is applicable immediately, as the company has started reporting encouraging early clinical data on its key programs.
Third Quarter Financial Results
Cash Position and Equity Values: Cash and cash equivalents totaled $30.5 million as of September 30, 2016, compared to $42.2 million as of December 31, 2015, which included Asterias’ cash and cash equivalents of $11.2 million. Based on the September 30, 2016, closing prices of Asterias and OncoCyte common stock on the NYSE MKT, the shares of Asterias and OncoCyte owned by BioTime had an estimated market value of $92.2 million and $74.0 million, respectively, or an aggregate market value of approximately $166.0 million on that date.
Revenues: Total revenues were $1.5 million for the third quarter, compared to $2.3 million in the third quarter of 2015. Asterias’ total revenues included in the third quarter of 2015 were $1.4 million as shown in the table below (in thousands). BioTime’s operating revenues are currently generated primarily from research grants, licensing fees and advertising from the marketing of online database products.
Three months ended September 30, 2016 Three months ended September 30, 2015
Consolidated
Results of
Operations
Asterias Consolidated
Results less
Asterias
Consolidated
Results of
Operations
Asterias
Consolidated
Results less
Asterias
REVENUES:
Total revenues 1,499 - 1,499 2,306 1,423 883
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $6.4 million for the third quarter, compared to $11.4 million for the comparable period in 2015. The 2015 expenses included $4.6 million attributable to Asterias’ research and development. The decrease year over year was primarily due to the deconsolidation of Asterias for financial reporting purposes commencing May 13, 2016.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $4.6 million for the third quarter, compared to $7.5 million for the third quarter of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to the deconsolidation of Asterias financial results and reduced expenses incurred by OncoCyte.
Operating Loss: Loss from operations was $9.6 million in the third quarter compared with a loss of $17.1 million in the third quarter of 2015. The decrease was primarily due to the lower operating expenses as a result of the deconsolidation of Asterias operating results and reduced expenses incurred by OncoCyte.
Net Income (loss) attributable to BioTime: Net income attributable to BioTime was $31.2 million, or $0.30 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2016, due primarily to the gain on our interest in Asterias at fair value using the equity method of accounting. There was no deferred income tax provision or benefit recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the third quarter of 2015, net loss attributable to BioTime was $14.0 million, or ($0.18) per share. Net income (loss) attributable to BioTime includes losses from BioTime’s majority owned and consolidated subsidiaries based upon BioTime’s percentage ownership of those subsidiaries.