On May 15, 2020 Seneca Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNCA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for diseases of high unmet medical need, reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 (Press release, Neuralstem, MAY 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234558153]).

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Business Highlights for 2020 to date.

During the First Quarter of 2020, the Company achieved the following business milestones:

·Continued progress on the Company’s out-licensing effort to partner NSI-566 and NSI-189 programs, while seeking to in-license or acquire novel therapeutics that could benefit from its development experience.

·Completion of an inducement offering resulting in net proceeds of $6.7 million.

·Appointed of Matthew W. Kalnik, Ph.D. as President and Chief Operating Officer and Dane R. Saglio as Chief Financial Officer.

·Affirmed guidance that data readout from the Company’s non-GCP Phase II trial evaluating NSI-566, for the treatment of chronic ischemic stroke, is expected during the second half of 2020.

·Announced that as a result of feedback received from the FDA, Seneca believes that the existing Phase 1 and 2 trial results support moving into a Phase 3 clinical study for ALS.

·Completion of the Company’s stem cell manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China which will be used to manufacture NSI-566 for clinical trials within China.

Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2020

Cash Position and Liquidity: At March 31, 2020, cash was approximately $10 million as compared to approximately $5.1 million at December 31, 2019. The increase in cash is attributed to the January 2020 warrant inducement transaction.

Operating Loss: Operating loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 was $2.0 million compared to a loss of $2.5 million for the comparable 2019 period. The decrease in operating loss for 2020 was primarily due to a decrease in R&D expenses as we continue to wind down the clinical programs. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in G&A expenses which reflects an enhanced management structure to support corporate objectives as compared to the same period of 2019.

Net Loss: Net loss for the period ended March 31, 2020 was $7.6 million, or $0.93 per share, compared to a loss of $3.1 million, or $3.42 per share on a post-reverse stock-split basis, for the same period in 2019. The change in net loss was primarily attributed to a non-cash expense of $5.6 million related to the January 2020 warrant inducement transaction.

"With Matt and Dane joining the management team we are focused on executing on the strategy of acquiring new therapeutic products for development while seeking partners for our promising neural stem cell therapeutic NSI-566" commented Dr. Kenneth Carter, Seneca’s Executive Chairman.