Company continues to explore and review
strategic options focused on maximizing shareholder value
SOUTH
SAN FRANCISCO, California and VANCOUVER, Canada, Feb. 11,
2025 /PRNewswire/ - ESSA Pharma Inc. ("ESSA," or the
"Company") (NASDAQ: EPIX), a pharmaceutical company that, prior to
the discontinuation of its clinical trials and development
programs, has been focused on developing novel therapies for the
treatment of prostate cancer, today reported financial results for
the fiscal first quarter ended December 31,
2024.
"Following our decision to terminate the clinical development of
masofaniten, we have been evaluating and reviewing strategic
options with a focus on maximizing shareholder value," said
David Parkinson, MD, President and
CEO of ESSA. "We look forward to providing updates in the near
future."
First Quarter 2025 and Recent Updates
- Following the decision to terminate all clinical trials
evaluating masofaniten and to withdraw the related IND and CTAs,
ESSA is conducting a comprehensive process to explore and review a
range of strategic options focused on maximizing shareholder value.
These options may include, but are not limited to, a merger,
amalgamation, take-over, business combination, asset sale or
acquisition, shareholder distribution, wind-up, liquidation and
dissolution, or other strategic direction. The process is expected
to involve headcount and other cost reductions.
Summary of Financial Results
(Amounts expressed in
U.S. dollars)
- Net Loss. ESSA recorded a net loss of $8.5 million for the first quarter ended
December 31, 2024, compared to
$6.0 million for the first quarter
ended December 31, 2023. Investment
and other income was $1.1 million for
the first quarter ended December 31,
2024, compared to $1.6 million
for the first quarter ended December 31,
2023.
- Research and Development ("R&D") expenditures.
R&D expenditures for the first quarter ended December 31, 2024 were $5.5 million compared to $5.4 million for the first quarter ended
December 31, 2023, and include
non-cash costs related to share-based payments of $729,780 for the first quarter ended 2024
compared to $526,241 for the first
quarter ended 2023. The increase in the first quarter was primarily
attributed to the initiation and wind-down of clinical site
closures.
- General and Administration ("G&A") expenditures.
G&A expenditures for the first quarter ended December 31, 2024 were $4.2 million compared to $2.2 million for the first quarter ended
December 31, 2023 and include
non-cash costs related to share-based payments of $1,972,151 for the first quarter ended 2024
compared to $277,177 for the first
quarter ended 2023.
Liquidity and Outstanding Share Capital
- As of December 31, 2024, the
Company had available cash reserves and short-term investments of
$120.6 million and net working
capital of $118.8 million. The
company has no long-term debt facilities.
- As of December 31, 2024, the
Company had 44,388,550 common shares issued and outstanding, and
there were 2,920,000 common shares issuable upon the exercise of
prefunded warrants at an exercise price of $0.0001.
About ESSA Pharma Inc.
ESSA is a pharmaceutical company that was previously focused on
developing novel and proprietary therapies for the treatment of
patients with prostate cancer. For more information, please
visit www.essapharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
This release contains certain information which, as presented,
constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking
statements"). Forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements that relate to future events and often
addresses expected future business and financial performance,
containing words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan",
"estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or
event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or
occur, or other similar expressions and includes, but is not
limited to, statements regarding the termination of the Company's
clinical studies of masofaniten, the Company's evaluation of its
strategic alternatives and future announcements in connection
therewith, the Company's expected headcount and cost reductions and
other statements surrounding the Company's evaluation of
masofaniten.
Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the
ability of ESSA to control or predict, and which may cause ESSA's
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from those expressed or implied thereby. Such statements
reflect ESSA's current views with respect to future events, are
subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a
number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by ESSA as of the date of such statements, are
inherently subject to significant medical, scientific, business,
economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and
contingencies. In making forward looking statements, ESSA may make
various material assumptions, including but not limited to (i) the
accuracy of ESSA's financial projections; (ii) obtaining necessary
regulatory approvals; (iii) ESSA's ability to efficiently wind down
its clinical trial activities (iv) that one or more strategic
options may be available to ESSA at reasonably acceptable terms;
and (v) general business, market and economic conditions.
Forward-looking statements are developed based on assumptions
about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein
and in ESSA's Annual Report on Form 10-K dated December 17, 2024, under the heading "Risk
Factors", a copy of which is available on ESSA's profile on EDGAR
at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and as otherwise
disclosed from time to time on ESSA's EDGAR and SEDAR+ profiles.
Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs,
estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and
ESSA undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements
if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances
should change, except as may be required by applicable United States and Canadian securities laws.
Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to
forward-looking statements.
Contacts
ESSA Pharma Inc.
David Wood, Chief Financial
Officer
778.331.0962
dwood@essapharma.com
Investors and Media
Argot Partners
212.600.1902
essa@argotpartners.com
ESSA PHARMA INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Unaudited
Amounts in thousands of United States dollars
|
December 31,
2024
|
September 30,
2024
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
$
93,311
|
$
103,710
|
Prepaids and other
assets
|
29,323
|
24,402
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
$
122,634
|
$
128,112
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
3,687
|
3,301
|
Long-term
debt
|
180
|
205
|
Shareholders'
deficiency
|
118,767
|
124,606
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity
|
$
122,634
|
$
128,112
|
ESSA PHARMA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Unaudited
Amounts in thousands of United States dollars, except share and per
share data
|
Three months
ended
December 31,
2024
|
Three months
ended
December 31,
2023
|
|
|
|
OPERATING
EXPENSES
|
|
|
Research and development
|
$
5,474
|
$
5,377
|
General and administration
|
4,211
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
Total operating
expenses
|
(9,685)
|
(7,595)
|
|
|
|
Interest and other items
|
1,153
|
1,630
|
|
|
|
Net loss for the
period
|
$
(8,532)
|
$
(5,965)
|
|
|
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
LOSS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized gain (loss)
on short-term investments
|
(9)
|
20
|
|
|
|
Loss and comprehensive
loss for the period
|
$
(8,541)
|
$
(5,945)
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted loss
per common share
|
$
(0.19)
|
$
(0.14)
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number
of
common shares
outstanding
|
44,388,550
|
44,129,491
|
|
|
|
|
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SOURCE ESSA Pharma Inc