On August 6, 2019 Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:CNAT) reported financial results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2019, and provided updates on its development programs (Press release, Conatus Pharmaceuticals, AUG 6, 2019, View Source [SID1234538254]).
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Program Updates
During the second quarter, Conatus announced that top-line results from the company’s ENCORE-LF clinical trial of emricasan did not meet its primary endpoint, results from the 24-week extension in the company’s ENCORE-PH clinical trial of emricasan did not meet predefined objectives, and the company is discontinuing further treatment of patients enrolled in the ENCORE-LF trial. Consequently, Conatus and its partner, Novartis, have no further development plans for emricasan. Conatus plans to complete its ongoing clinical trials of emricasan for which the company is responsible under the collaboration agreement and is in discussions with Novartis for the wind-down of the collaboration.
In June 2019, Conatus announced that the company was implementing a restructuring plan in order to extend its resources, which included reducing staff and suspending development of its inflammasome disease candidate, CTS-2090. The company also announced that it had engaged Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., as its financial advisor to assist in the exploration and evaluation of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value. There can be no assurance of a successful outcome from these efforts, or of the form or timing of any such outcome.
Financial Results
The net loss for the second quarter of 2019 was $0.7 million compared with $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2018. The net loss for the first six months of 2019 was $5.4 million compared with $9.5 million for the first six months of 2018.
Total revenues consisted of collaboration revenue related to the company’s collaboration with Novartis. Total revenues were $10.8 million for the second quarter of 2019 compared with $8.8 million for the second quarter of 2018. The increase of $2.0 million was primarily due to a net cumulative catch-up in revenue recognized under the Novartis agreement, partially offset by lower revenues under the Novartis agreement due to lower emricasan-related research and development expenses.
Total revenues were $17.8 million for the first six months of 2019 compared with $18.5 million for the first six months of 2018. The decrease of $0.7 million was primarily due to lower revenues under the Novartis agreement due to lower emricasan-related research and development expenses, partially offset by a net cumulative catch-up in revenue recognized under the Novartis agreement.
Research and development expenses were $8.6 million for the second quarter of 2019 compared with $10.7 million for the second quarter of 2018. Research and development expenses were $17.9 million for the first six months of 2019 compared with $22.8 million for the first six months of 2018. These decreases were primarily due to lower emricasan-related research and development expenses and lower personnel costs, partially offset by recognition of severance and noncash stock compensation costs for research and development employees related to the restructuring plan announced in June 2019.
General and administrative expenses were $3.1 million for the second quarter of 2019 compared with $2.6 million for the second quarter of 2018. General and administrative expenses were $5.6 million for the first six months of 2019 compared with $5.3 million for the first six months of 2018. These increases were primarily due to recognition of severance and noncash stock compensation costs for general and administrative employees related to the restructuring plan announced in June 2019.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $28.7 million at June 30, 2019, compared with $40.7 million at December 31, 2018. The company is projecting a year-end 2019 net balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of between $10 million and $15 million.