SINGAPORE, Aug. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ASLN, TPEx:6497), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company targeting cancers that are both highly prevalent in Asia and orphan indications in the United States and Europe, today reported financial results for the quarter ended 30 June 2018 and provided an update on its clinical activities.

Dr Carl Firth, Chief Executive Officer, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, said : “Our successful financing and listing on NASDAQ during the second quarter places us in a strong financial position to accelerate the development of our pipeline of candidates that address unmet medical needs. We are preparing to initiate a phase 1 trial for ASLAN004 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. The focus is on achieving our milestones, and we look forward to sharing new data from our global late-stage clinical trials for varlitinib later this year.”

Second quarter 2018 and recent business highlights

  • Completed successful IPO in the US that raised gross proceeds of US$42.2 million and began trading on NASDAQ in May 2018
  • Presented study design of ongoing global pivotal clinical trial of varlitinib , the TREatmEnT OPPortunity (TREETOPP) study, at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting in June. Study on track to report topline data in 2019
  • Presented new phase 1b data on varlitinib in combination with paclitaxel in advanced solid tumours at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting
  • Filed Clinical Trial Authorisation with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority to initiate first-in-man studies for ASLAN004

Anticipated upcoming milestones

  • Topline China pivotal trial data on varlitinib as second line treatment for biliary tract cancer in late 2018
  • Topline global phase 2 data on varlitinib in gastric cancer in second half of 2018
  • Interim phase 1/2 data on varlitinib as first line treatment for biliary tract cancer in late 2018
  • Interim phase 2 data on ASLAN003 in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in second half of 2018
  • Topline global pivotal trial (TREETOPP) data on varlitinib as second line treatment for biliary tract cancer in 2019

Second quarter 2018 financial highlights

  • Cash used in operations for the quarter ended 30 June 2018 was US$10.0 million compared to US$9.0 million in the same period in 2017
  • Research and development expense was US$8.3 million and general and administrative expense was US$3.1 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to US$7.0 million and US$1.9 million respectively in the same period in 2017
  • Staggered upfront payments of US$12 million in the first quarter and US$11 million in the second quarter of 2018 to Array BioPharma for full exclusive global rights of varlitinib were recorded as intangible assets  
  • Net loss for the second quarter of 2018 was US$11.0 million compared to a net loss of US$9.2 million for the second quarter of 2017 
  • Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled US$45.0 million as of 30 June 2018, which includes proceeds from the US public offering completed in May 2018, compared to US$69.7 million as of 30 June 2017

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited Consolidated balance sheet 1 (US dollars, unaudited)

    30 June 2018         30 June 2017  
ASSETS              
CURRENT ASSETS              
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 44,952,396         $ 69,748,020    
Prepayments     198,043           66,849    
Total current assets     45,150,439           69,814,869    
NON-CURRENT ASSETS              
Property, plant and equipment     369,906           530,600    
Intangible assets     23,083,850           79,045    
Refundable deposits     191,739           176,495    
Total non-current assets     23,645,495           786,140    
TOTAL   $ 68,795,934         $ 70,601,009    
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY              
CURRENT LIABILITIES              
Trade payables   $ 3,354,095         $ 3,136,648    
Other payables     2,388,089           721,187    
Total current liabilities     5,742,184           3,857,835    
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES              
Long-term borrowings     9,715,329           8,958,431    
Other non-current liabilities     486,000           -    
Total non-current liabilities     10,201,329           8,958,431    
Total liabilities     15,943,513           12,816,266    
EQUITY              
Ordinary shares     51,587,993           41,514,016    
Capital surplus     111,334,877           84,055,013    
Accumulated deficits     (110,070,449 )         (67,784,286 )  
Total equity     52,852,421           57,784,743    
TOTAL   $ 68,795,934         $ 70,601,009    
                       

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited Consolidated statements of comprehensive income 1 (US dollars, unaudited)

       
  Three Months Ended 30 Jun e Six Months Ended 30 June
    2018     2017     2018     2017  
         
OPERATING EXPENSES        
General and administrative $ (3,064,060 ) $ (1,926,397 ) $ (5,871,931 ) $ (3,825,459 )
Research and development   (8,322,539 )   (7,024,547 )   (13,945,341 )   (13,000,134 )
Total operating expenses   (11,386,599 )   (8,950,944 )   (19,817,272 )   (16,825,593 )
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS   (11,386,599 )   (8,950,944 )   (19,817,272 )   (16,825,593 )
NON-OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSES                          
Other gains and losses   465,166     (180,429 )   264,287     (362,654 )
Finance costs   ( 112,186 )   (103,443 )   (224,461 )   (204,756 )
TOTAL NON-OPERATING INCOME  AND EXPENSES   352,980     (283,872 )   39,826     (567,410 )
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX   (11,033,619 )   (9,234,816 )   (19,777,446 )   (17,393,003 )
INCOME TAX EXPENSE   (9,742 )   -     (9,742 )   -  
NET LOSS FOR THE PERIOD   (11,043,361 )   (9,234,816 )   (19,787,188 )   (17,393,003 )
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE PERIOD $ (11,043,361 ) $ (9,234,816 ) $ (19,787,188 ) $ (17,393,003 )
LOSS PER SHARE                          
Basic $ (0.07 ) $ (0.08 ) $ (0.14 ) $ (0.15 )

  1 Financial statements in US dollars are prepared by the company

Media and IR contacts

Emma Thompson Spurwing Communications Tel: +65 6340 7287 Email: ASLAN@spurwingcomms.com   Robert Uhl Westwicke Partners Tel: +1 858 356 5932 Email: robert.uhl@westwicke.com  

About ASLAN Pharmaceuticals

ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ASLN, TPEx:6497) is a clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for global markets. ASLAN targets diseases that are both highly prevalent in Asia and orphan indications in the United States and Europe. Led by a senior management team with extensive experience in global and regional development and commercialisation, ASLAN is headquartered in Singapore and has offices in Taiwan and China. ASLAN’s portfolio is comprised of four product candidates which target validated growth pathways applied to new patient segments, novel immune checkpoints and novel cancer metabolic pathways. ASLAN’s partners include Array BioPharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Almirall and CSL. For additional information please visit www.aslanpharma.com .

Forward looking statements

This release and the accompanying financial information contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the management of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited and/or its affiliates (the "Company"). These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s business strategy, the Company’s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, the safety and efficacy of the Company’s product candidates, the Company’s plans and expected timing with respect to regulatory filings and approvals, and the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company’s product candidates. The Company’s estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company’s business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and inherently involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties.  Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation the risk factors described in the Company’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports (Commission File No. 001-38475), including the Company’s prospectus dated May 8, 2018 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on such date.  

All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “might,” “could,” “will,” “aim,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” or the negative of those terms, and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements. Estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any estimate, projection or forward-looking statement.