NDA (New Drug Application) and Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) completed in February 2020
Commercial readiness activities in U.S. underway for potential launch of PEDMARK^TM, if approved, in the second half of 2020
Solid financial position with $13.7 million and no debt and the option to access $12.5 million in debt financing upon NDA approval of PEDMARK

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: FENC; TSX: FRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of PEDMARK^TM (a unique formulation of sodium thiosulfate (STS)) for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients, today reported its business update and financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

"Fennec made great progress in 2019 preparing for some important milestones in 2020 including the recent announcement of regulatory submissions in both the U.S. and EU for PEDMARK” said Rosty Raykov, chief executive officer of Fennec. "During the year we also made solid progress in preparing for the potential launch of PEDMARK including the hiring of a chief commercial officer and the preparation and execution of our commercial readiness plan. We look forward to a number of significant milestones throughout 2020. If PEDMARK is granted a Priority Review, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date is expected in the third quarter of 2020.”

Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter 2019

• Cash Position - Cash and cash equivalents were $13.7 million as of December 31, 2019. The reduction in cash balance over the fiscal year is the result of cash used for operating activities including regulatory expenses associated with the regulatory submissions of PEDMARK and expenses associated with commercial launch preparation.
• Research and Development (R&D) Expenses – R&D expenses were $1.2 million and $5.6 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $1.7 million and $5.0 million for the same period in 2018. The Company completed a significant part of the activities needed for regulatory approval of PEDMARK during the fourth quarter of 2019.
• General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses – G&A expenses were $2.5 million and $7.4 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $1.4 million and $5.4 million, respectively for the same periods in 2018.  Fourth quarter increase in G&A was largely attributable to the commercialization efforts as the Company prepares to bring PEDMARK, if approved, to market in the second half of 2020. An additional increase in G&A expenses is attributed to a small rise in compensation to officers, directors and key contract employees in fiscal 2019 as compared to fiscal 2018. Shareholders passed a motion to increase the duration of all outstanding option contracts to a total of 10 years in 2019. This added $1.3 million in G&A in non-cash compensation over the prior year. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $0.4 million over the prior year as the Company began to focus efforts to commercialize PEDMARK. The company incurred approximately $0.25 million in additional administrative expenses as it added positions to the commercial team including the addition of a Chief Commercial Officer.
• Net Loss - Net losses for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 of $3.6 million ($0.18 per share) and $12.8 million ($0.64 per share), respectively, compared to $3.0 million ($0.15 per share) and $9.9 million ($0.52 per share), respectively, for the same periods in 2018.
• Financial Guidance - The Company believes its cash and cash equivalents on hand as of December 31, 2019, along with the $12.5 million loan facility available upon FDA approval of PEDMARK^TM will be sufficient to fund the Company's planned commercial launch of PEDMARK^TM in the second half of 2020.

Financial Update

The selected financial data presented below is derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements which were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The complete audited condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2019 and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations will be available via www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.  All values are presented in thousands unless otherwise noted.

Audited Condensed Consolidated
Statement of Operations:
(U.S. Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

Forward looking statements

Except for historical information described in this press release, all other statements are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business that could cause actual results to vary, including such risks that regulatory and guideline developments may change, scientific data may not be sufficient to meet regulatory standards or receipt of required regulatory clearances or approvals, clinical results may not be replicated in actual patient settings, protection offered by the Company’s patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, the available market for the Company’s products will not be as large as expected, the Company’s products will not be able to penetrate one or more targeted markets, revenues will not be sufficient to fund further development and clinical studies, the Company may not meet its future capital requirements in different countries and municipalities, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.

For a more detailed discussion of related risk factors, please refer to our public filings available at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.

About PEDMARK™ (Sodium Thiosulfate (STS))

Cisplatin and other platinum compounds are essential chemotherapeutic agents for many pediatric malignancies. Unfortunately, platinum-based therapies cause ototoxicity, or hearing loss, which is permanent, irreversible and is particularly harmful to the survivors of pediatric cancer.

In the U.S. and Europe, it is estimated annually that over 10,000 children may receive platinum-based chemotherapy. The incidence of ototoxicity depends upon the dose and duration of chemotherapy, and many of these children require lifelong hearing aids. There is currently no established preventive agent for this hearing loss and only expensive, technically difficult and sub-optimal cochlear (inner ear) implants have been shown to provide some benefit. Infants and young children that suffer ototoxicity at critical stages of development lack speech language development and literacy, and older children and adolescents lack social-emotional development and educational achievement.

PEDMARK has been studied by cooperative groups in two Phase 3 clinical studies of survival and reduction of ototoxicity, The Clinical Oncology Group Protocol ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6. Both studies have been completed. The COG ACCL0431 protocol enrolled one of five childhood cancers typically treated with intensive cisplatin therapy for localized and disseminated disease, including newly diagnosed hepatoblastoma, germ cell tumor, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and medulloblastoma. SIOPEL 6 enrolled only hepatoblastoma patients with localized tumors.

About Fennec Pharmaceuticals

Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of PEDMARK™ for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients. PEDMARK received Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track Designation by the FDA in March 2018.  Further, PEDMARK has received Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. for this setting. Fennec has a license agreement with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) for exclusive worldwide license rights to intellectual property directed to STS and its use for chemoprotection, including the prevention of ototoxicity induced by platinum chemotherapy, in humans. For more information, please visit www.fennecpharma.com.

For further information, please contact:

Rosty Raykov
Chief Executive Officer
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
T: (919) 636-5144

Media:
Elixir Health Public Relations
Lindsay Rocco
+1 862-596-1304
lrocco@elixirhealthpr.com

Source: Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.