On May 14, 2020 CohBar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWBR), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing mitochondria based therapeutics to treat chronic diseases and extend healthy lifespan, reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 (Press release, CohBar, MAY 14, 2020, View Source [SID1234558168]).

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"I am pleased to share with you that since my arrival at CohBar last May, we have expanded the number of programs from two to five with the newest targeting COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)," said Steven Engle, CohBar’s Chief Executive Officer. "Recently, we announced that we have a new target for our CB5064 apelin agonist program, which is COVID-19 associated ARDS, an underlying disease that lacks adequate therapies. We are excited because published preclinical studies have shown that apelin can reduce the severity of acute lung injury. Also in this past quarter, we demonstrated that our recently discovered CXCR4 antagonist enhanced the effectiveness of a chemotherapeutic agent in a model of melanoma, and made additional progress with our antifibrotic program by generating new results in a therapeutic model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Finally, like many companies, we paused our Phase 1b study in NASH and obesity, which we hope to continue once the COVID-19 associated conditions impacting our study sites have improved. With this quarter’s accomplishments, CohBar continues to expand its portfolio of mitochondrial encoded peptides to maintain our leadership in mitochondrial medicine."

First Quarter 2020 R&D and Business Highlights

CB5064 Analogs for COVID-19 Associated ARDS and Type 2 Diabetes: In May, the company initiated testing of CB5064 analogs that interact with the apelin receptor in preclinical models of ARDS to assess their potential as therapeutics for COVID-19 associated ARDS. CohBar previously demonstrated the beneficial effects of this novel family of peptides on glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and weight loss in an obese mouse model of T2D, as presented at the American Diabetes Association in 2019.

ATS Abstract Accepted for MBT2 Analogs for Fibrotic Diseases: In April, the company’s late-breaking abstract was accepted as a poster presentation at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2020 International Conference. The poster will summarize the prophylactic and therapeutic activity of a novel peptide, MBT2, in preclinical models of IPF. MBT2 has demonstrated reductions in lung fibrosis, inflammation, collagen levels, and other parameters. IPF is a chronic, progressive, debilitating and usually fatal interstitial lung disease that affects approximately 100,000 people in the U.S.

CB4211 Clinical Study Paused due to COVID-19 Pandemic: In March, the company announced delays in the completion of its CB4211 Phase 1b study for NASH and obesity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CohBar has previously presented evidence that the novel mechanism of action of CB4211 enhances insulin effects on fat cells (adipocytes) leading to reduction of liver fat in preclinical models.

New CXCR4 Inhibitor Program Targets Cancer and Other Indications: In January, the company announced its discovery of MBT5 analogs, a novel family of potent and selective peptide inhibitors of the chemokine receptor, CXCR4. CXCR4 is overexpressed in more than 75% of cancers and high levels of the receptor are associated with poor survival prognosis.

Investment Community Outreach Continues to Expand: In this past quarter, CohBar held meetings with investors, analysts, and bankers in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. The company hosted meetings around the JP Morgan Healthcare, BIO CEO and ROTH conferences.

CohBar’s Chief Operating Officer Stepping Down from Management Role: Jon Stern, the company’s senior executive, will be stepping down from his role as COO on May 31, 2020. Since joining the company in 2012, Mr. Stern has served in various executive roles including Chief Strategic Officer and Chief Executive Officer. He will remain actively involved as a member of the company’s board of directors.
Founder’s Update

During the first quarter and subsequent period, Dr. Pinchas Cohen, Dean of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and Dr. Nir Barzilai, Director of the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, continued to be recognized as international leaders in the study of mitochondrial science, aging and age-related diseases.

Dr. Cohen published a paper linking MOTS-c to exercise performance in the journal Aging, titled "Increased expression of the mitochondrial derived peptide, MOTS-c, in skeletal muscle of healthy aging men is associated with myofiber composition." Dr. Barzilai delivered a keynote on "The Science and Economy of Aging" at the World Economy Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January. He also spoke on longevity and the science of aging in San Francisco, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv, and Naples, Florida.

First Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights

Cash and Investments. CohBar had cash and cash equivalents of $10.2 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $12.6 million as of December 31, 2019. The cash burn for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, was approximately $2.5 million.

R&D Expenses. Research and development expenses were similar for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and the prior year quarter at $1.4 million.

G&A Expenses. General and administrative expenses were $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $1.5 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to higher D&O insurance premiums, board fees and stock-based compensation costs.

Net Loss. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, net loss, which included $1.8 million of non-cash expenses, was $4.2 million, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, net loss, which included $0.9 million of non-cash expenses, was $2.9 million, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share.
First Quarter Investor Call and Slide Presentation:

Date: May 14, 2020
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT)

Conference Audio

Dial-in U.S. and Canada: (877) 451-6152
Dial-in International: (201) 389-0879
Conference ID No.: 13702385
Slide Presentation

Go to www.webex.com, click on the ‘Join a Meeting’ button and enter meeting number 923 145 161 and Password CWBR, or
Go to www.cohbar.com and click on Q1 2020 Shareholder Presentation at top of homepage.
For individuals participating in the Investor Call and Slide Presentation, please call into the conference audio and log into Webex approximately 10 minutes prior to its start.

An audio replay of the call will be available beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 14, 2020, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 4, 2020. To access the recording please dial (844) 512-2921 in the U.S. and Canada, or (412) 317-6671 internationally, and reference Conference ID# 13702385. The audio recording along with the slide presentation will also be available at www.cohbar.com during the same period.