On August 9, 2021 Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEMD), a medical technology company focused on developing products to diagnose and treat life and organ threatening diseases, reported financial results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2021 and provided an update on recent developments (Press release, Aethlon Medical, AUG 9, 2021, View Source [SID1234586158]).
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Company Updates
Aethlon Medical is continuing the research and clinical development of our Hemopurifier to bind and remove COVID-19 viral particles, including many variant COVID-19 particles of interest and related exosomes.
As disclosed in our last earnings release on June 24, 2021, the Aethlon Hemopurifier has demonstrated binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and binding and removal from circulation of SARS-CoV-2 virus from a human patient. This is in addition to the Hemopurifier’s previously demonstrated binding of numerous pathogenic viruses. This new information has stimulated clinical researchers to express interest in joining our ongoing clinical trial investigating the Hemopurifier for the treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection. This trial is being conducted under the open Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) for the Hemopurifier in life threatening viral infections. This trial will allow for up to 40 of these patients to be treated under a new Early Feasibility Study (EFS) protocol at up to 20 clinical sites in the U.S. During the quarter, Cooper Medical Center, located in Camden, N.J., joined the trial. Additionally, the Company is in late-stage clinical trial agreement discussions to bring on board other key U.S. medical centers and interested international medical centers. The Company anticipates finalizing our selection of a Contract Research Organization to supervise these clinical trials in the near future.
Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended June 30, 2021
At June 30, 2021, Aethlon Medical had a cash balance of approximately $25.2 million.
During the three months ended June 30, 2021, we raised approximately $17.5 million in net proceeds from the issuance of common stock in a combination of a registered direct financing and ATM sales.
Aethlon recorded approximately $115,000 of government contract revenue on its Phase 2 Melanoma Cancer Contract in the three months ended June 30, 2021. We also recorded approximately $17,000 of revenue related to our cost reimbursable subaward arrangement with the University of Pittsburgh in connection with an NIH contract entitled "Depleting Exosomes to Improve Responses to Immune Therapy in HNNCC." As a result, the Company recorded total government contract revenue of approximately $132,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2021. Aethlon did not record any government contract revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2020.
Consolidated operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were approximately $2.2 million, compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. This increase of approximately $800,000, or 58%, in the 2021 period was due to increases in payroll and related expenses of approximately $580,000, in general and administrative expenses of approximately $221,000, and in professional fees of approximately $19,000.
The $580,000 increase in payroll and related expenses was primarily due to the combination of a $234,000 increase in R&D payroll as the result of hiring additional scientists, a $210,000 bonus payment to our CEO as the result of achieving certain milestones in his employment contract, a $64,000 increase in general and administrative payroll expense as the result of additional headcount and a $36,000 increase in stock-based compensation.
The $221,000 increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a $133,000 increase in our subcontractor expenses related to our government contracts and a $74,000 increase in insurance expenses.
The $19,000 increase in professional fees was primarily due to a $50,000 increase in legal fees which was partially offset by a $22,000 decrease in scientific consulting expenses and a $6,000 decrease in accounting expenses.
Other expense was nominal during the first quarter ended June 30, 2021.
As a result of the changes in revenues and expenses noted above, the Company’s net loss before noncontrolling interests increased to approximately $2.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, from approximately $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020.
The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet for June 30, 2021 and the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 follow at the end of this release.
Conference Call
The Company will hold a conference call today, Monday, August 9, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to review financial results and recent corporate developments. Following management’s formal remarks, there will be a question and answer session.
Interested parties can register for the conference by navigating to View Source
Please note that registered participants will receive their dial in number upon registration.
Interested parties without internet access or unable to pre-register may dial in by calling:
All callers should ask for the Aethlon Medical, Inc. conference call.
A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call through September 9, 2021. The replay can be accessed via Aethlon Medical’s website or by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (domestic) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) or Canada Toll Free at 1-855-669-9658. The replay conference ID number is 10159282.