Mirna Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter Financial Results and Recent Highlights

• Demonstrated confirmed partial responses in liver cancer and melanoma in Phase 1 clinical trial of lead product candidate MRX34
• Completed IPO and concurrent private placement in October with aggregate gross proceeds of $65.5 million
• Strengthened management team with two key hires

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:MIRN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a broad pipeline of microRNA-based oncology therapeutics, today reported financial results and recent highlights for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

“I’m pleased to report that Mirna made significant clinical and operational progress in the quarter,” said President and CEO Paul Lammers, M.D., M.Sc. “We continued to advance the Phase 1 clinical trial of our lead product candidate MRX34, the first microRNA mimic to enter clinical development. Interim data from this study have shown effects on biological targets of miR-34 as well as clinical benefits in various solid cancers, including two confirmed partial responses in patients with Stage IV cancer with metastases. In addition, we have strengthened our leadership team with the addition of our Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and raised over $65 million in public and private financings, leaving us well positioned to advance our pipeline of microRNA therapeutics.”

Program and Corporate Updates

• Continued to advance Phase 1 trial of lead product candidate MRX34, with two confirmed partial responses. The Company further advanced its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of MRX34, enrolling patients at multiple sites in the U.S. and Korea. As previously disclosed in an analysis conducted in August 2015, interim safety data showed that MRX34 continued to have a manageable safety profile in patients with advanced primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), other solid tumors with or without liver metastases, and hematological malignancies. Preliminary biomarker analysis of white blood cells from patients treated with MRX34 in the trial also showed dose-dependent effects on miR-34 target genes suggesting the delivery of miR-34 into human white blood cells and engagement of biological targets of the microRNA (miRNA). Two patients with advanced, metastatic Stage IV cancer had achieved objective clinical responses after treatment with MRX34: one patient with primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC) metastatic to the lung, and one patient with acral melanoma, widely metastatic to the abdominal wall, lymph nodes and other areas. Both patients achieved confirmed partial responses per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). The Company plans to complete dose-escalation in the study this year, and to enroll additional patients across different tumor-specific expansion cohorts by the end of 2016.
• Raised over $65 million: The Company successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO) in October 2015, raising gross proceeds of $48.7 million, which reflects the partial exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares in the IPO. Concurrent with the IPO, the Company closed a private placement with the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas for additional gross proceeds of $16.8 million. For the year to date, the Company raised aggregate proceeds totaling more than $100 million in public and private financings.
• Strengthened executive team: The Company successfully added key senior leadership talent, with the appointments of Miguel Barbosa, Ph.D., to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, and Alan Fuhrman to Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Barbosa most recently served as Executive in Residence, Therapeutic Innovation at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, and Mr. Fuhrman most recently served as CFO of Ambit Biosciences.

Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results:

Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2015 were approximately $35.7 million as compared to approximately $9.3 million as of December 31, 2014. The Company has no debt.

Research & development expenses were approximately $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $2.8 million for the same period in 2014. Research and development expenses were approximately $12.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $7.0 million for the same period in 2014. The increases in the Company’s research and development spending were primarily due to higher clinical trial costs related to the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for its lead product candidate MRX34, and increased intellectual property and licensing costs.

General & administrative expenses were approximately $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to approximately $0.7 million for the same period in 2014. General and administrative costs were approximately $3.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to approximately $2.5 million for the same period in 2014. The increases in general and administrative expenses were driven primarily by increased personnel costs, including non-cash, stock-based compensation, and higher professional, consulting and recruiting costs. The Company also had a one-time write-off of IPO-related costs totaling $1.9 million in August 2014.

Net loss: Net loss was approximately $7.8 million, or $82.16 per common share (basic and diluted), for the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $6.1 million, or $73.73 per common share (basic and diluted) for the same period in 2014. The results included non-cash, stock-based compensation charges of approximately $210,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2015 and approximately $101,000 in the same period in 2014.

Net loss was approximately $16.2 million, or $222.70 per common share (basic and diluted) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to approximately $11.5 million loss, or $303.72 per common share (basic and diluted) for the same period in 2014. The results included non-cash, stock-based compensation charges of approximately $561,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and approximately $287,000 for the same period in 2014.

About Mirna Therapeutics, Inc.

Mirna is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a broad pipeline of microRNA-based oncology therapeutics and is the first to establish clinical proof-of-concept for a microRNA replacement therapy for cancer. Mirna's lead product candidate, MRX34, a mimic of naturally occurring microRNA-34 (miR-34), is currently being studied in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with primary liver cancer, advanced solid tumors and hematological malignancies. miR-34 is one of the most widely published microRNAs and is considered a key regulator of multiple oncogenes across key oncogenic pathways, with the capacity to regulate more than 30 different oncogenes and repress the immune checkpoint signaling molecule PD-L1. The potential capacity to simultaneously affect multiple pathways and processes that are critical to cancer cell viability may make mimics of tumor suppressor microRNAs potent anti-cancer agents and less susceptible to drug resistance. Mirna plans to develop MRX34 as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapeutic modalities, such as targeted therapies and immuno-oncology agents. The company was founded in 2007 and is located in Austin, Texas.

For more information, visit www.mirnarx.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Mirna, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our plans for the continued clinical development of MRX34 and our beliefs regarding our ability to advance our pipeline of microRNA therapeutics. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our clinical development program, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process, including the outcomes of clinical trials, the regulatory approval process, our substantial dependence on MRX34, our commercialization plans and efforts and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of our product candidates. Mirna undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to our business in general, see our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that we expect to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on or about November 13, 2015. Our results for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of our operating results for any future periods.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Mirna Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
	September 30,		December 31,
	2015		2014
	(unaudited)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	35,703	$	9,319
Grant reimbursement and other receivables		94		155
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		303		143
Total current assets		36,100		9,617
Property and equipment, net		266		116
Deferred offering costs		1,663		92
Other noncurrent assets		57		—
Total assets	$	38,086	$	9,825
Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	2,236	$	871
Accrued expenses		2,749		1,628
Total liabilities		4,985		2,499
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 157,650,538 shares authorized at September 30, 2015 (unaudited); 84,000,783 shares authorized at December 31, 2014:
Series A, Series B, Series B-1, Series C and Series D: 157,650,538 shares designated; 10,159,614 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 (unaudited) and 5,599,939 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014; aggregate liquidation preference of $100.8 million at September 30, 2015 (unaudited) and $55.3 million at December 31, 2014		100,835		55,277
Stockholders’ Deficit:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 175,100,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2015 (unaudited) ; 95,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2014 ; 111,825 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 (unaudited); 83,325 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014		—		—
Additional paid in capital		—		—
Accumulated deficit		(67,734)		(47,951)
Total stockholders’ deficit		(67,734)		(47,951)
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit	$	38,086	$	9,825

Mirna Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Operating expenses:
Research and development	$	4,683	$	2,788	$	12,584	$	7,035
General and administrative		1,556		715		3,618		2,501
Write-off of offering costs		—		1,920		—		1,920
Total operating expenses		6,239		5,423		16,202		11,456
Other (income) :
Interest (income)		(8)		—		(8)		—
Total other (income)		(8)		—		(8)		—
Net loss	$	(6,231)	$	(5,423)	$	(16,194)	$	(11,456)
Less: Accretion and dividends on convertible preferred stock		(1,554)		(712)		(4,217)		(2,112)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$	(7,785)	$	(6,135)	$	(20,411)	$	(13,568)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted	$	(82.16)	$	(73.73)	$	(222.70)	$	(303.72)
Common shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders		94,753		83,204		91,650		44,672