Atossa Genetics Announces Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Provides Company Update

SEATTLE, Nov. 13, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atossa Genetics Inc. (Nasdaq: ATOS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics and delivery methods to treat breast cancer and other breast conditions, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019 and provides an update on recent company developments.

Steven C. Quay, M.D., Ph.D., Atossa Genetics’ President and CEO commented, “In the third quarter we made substantial headway in advancing the development of our lead drug candidate - Endoxifen - as we turn our concentration towards treating mammographic breast density (MBD). We recently announced meeting all objectives in our Phase 1 study of the modified-release tablet form of oral Endoxifen, which paves the way toward advancing our modified-release tablet into Phase 2 studies. The final analysis of the results demonstrated that the modified-release tablet had no treatment-related side effects that were rated as moderate or severe in intensity, strongly supporting the continued development of this proprietary formulation. We also initiated our Phase 2 clinical study of Atossa's intraductal technology for the administration of fulvestrant in patients with early-stage breast cancer with a major institution and supported by the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Many of the approximately 64,000 women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who opt for ‘watchful waiting’ rather than extensive surgery could benefit from a gentler, intermediate treatment of DCIS with intraductal ablation with fulverstrant.”

“Before the end of the year, we look forward to reporting several significant milestones: contracting with a clinical research organization for our Phase 2 study of oral Endoxifen to treat MBD, completing additional pre-clinical work of our cell-based therapy candidate and our intraductal technology, as well as reporting additional results from our recently completed clinical study of our modified-release form of Endoxifen tablets,” concluded Dr. Quay.

Recent Corporate Developments 

Recent developments include the following:

• October 2019 - Atossa received IRB approval for Phase 2 breast cancer study using intraductal technology to administer fulvestrant at a major institution.
• September 2019 - Atossa announced preliminary results from Phase 1 study of new proprietary modified-release oral Endoxifen tablet.
• September 2019 - Atossa announced completion of enrollment and dosing in Phase 1 clinical trial of the new oral Endoxifen tablet.

Q3 2019 Financial Results 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, Atossa has no source of sustainable revenue and no associated cost of revenue. 

Total operating expenses were approximately $3,298,000 and $14,649,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, consisting of research and development (R&D) expenses of approximately $1,684,000 and $5,747,000 respectively, and general and administrative (G&A) expense of approximately $1,614,000 and $8,901,000, respectively. Total operating expenses were approximately $3,310,000 and $9,327,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, consisting of research and development expenses of approximately $1,422,000 and $3,361,000, respectively, and general and administrative expenses of approximately $1,888,000 and $5,967,000, respectively. Total operating expense for the three months ended September 30, 2019 were consistent with the same period in 2018. Total operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018 increased approximately $5,322,000 or 57%, of which approximately $1,742,000 is attributable to non-cash compensation expenses resulting from cancellation of the 2018 Liability Options in the first quarter 2019 and an increase of approximately $2,759,000 due to the grant of options to executives.
    
R&D expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2019, were approximately $1,684,000, an increase of approximately $262,000 or 18% from total R&D expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 of approximately $1,422,000. R&D expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, were approximately $5,747,000, an increase of approximately $2,386,000 or 71% from total R&D expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 of approximately $3,361,000. The increase in R&D expense is attributed to non-cash stock-based compensation, salaries and clinical trial expenses associated with our Endoxifen program. Stock-based compensation expense, which is a non-cash charge, increased approximately $668,000 in the first quarter of 2019 resulting from the cancellation of the 2018 Liability Options. There were no Liability Option cancellations in the comparable period of 2018. Stock-based compensation expense also increased approximately $1.0 million due to the grant of options to the CEO that were 75% vested. Clinical trial expense also increased approximately $535,000 in the nine month period ended September 30, 2019 over the same period in 2018. We expect our R&D expenses to increase throughout 2019 as we commence additional Phase 2 clinical studies of oral Endoxifen, continue development and manufacturing our tablet modified-release form of oral Endoxifen, continue our clinical trial of fulvestrant administered via our intraductal technology at a new institution and continue the development of other indications and therapeutics, including CAR-T and immunotherapies administered via our intraductal technologies.

G&A expenses were approximately $1,614,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, a decrease of approximately $274,000, or 15% from the total G&A expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018, of approximately $1,888,000. G&A expenses were approximately $8,901,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, an increase of approximately $2,934,000, or 49% from the total G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, of approximately $5,967,000. G&A expenses consist primarily of personnel and related benefit costs, facilities, professional services, insurance, and public company related expenses. The increase in G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, is mainly attributed to an increase in stock-based compensation expense, which is a non-cash charge, due to the cancellation of the 2018 Liability Options of approximately $1,074,000 during the first quarter of 2019. There were no Liability Option cancellations in the comparable period of 2018. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, stock-based compensation expense increased approximately $1.75 million due to the grant of options to the CEO and CFO that were 75% vested. Additionally, payroll expenses have increased resulting from salary increases over the prior year.

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had approximately $15.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and working capital of approximately $14.8 million.

About Atossa Genetics

Atossa Genetics Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics and delivery methods to treat breast cancer and other breast conditions. For more information, please visit www.atossagenetics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this press release, which Atossa undertakes no obligation to update, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or estimated future results, including the risks and uncertainties associated with any variation between preliminary and final clinical results, actions and inactions by the FDA, the outcome or timing of regulatory approvals needed by Atossa including those needed to commence studies, lower than anticipated rate of patient enrollment, estimated market size of drugs under development, the safety and efficacy of Atossa's products and services, performance of clinical research organizations and investigators, obstacles resulting from proprietary rights held by others with respect to fulvestrant, such as patent rights, potential market sizes for Atossa's drugs under development and other risks detailed from time to time in Atossa's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its periodic reports on Form10-K and 10-Q,each as amended and supplemented from time to time.

Atossa Genetics Company Contact:
Atossa Genetics Inc.
Kyle Guse CFO and General Counsel
Office: 866 893-4927
[email protected]
Investor Relations Contact:

Scott Gordon
Core IR
377 Oak Street
Concourse 2
Garden City, NY 11530
Office:(516) 222-2560
[email protected]

Source: Atossa Genetics Inc.

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