BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Edge Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company that discovers, develops and seeks to commercialize novel, hospital-based therapies capable of transforming treatment paradigms in the management of acute, life-threatening neurological conditions, today announced that it has obtained up to $10 million in venture debt financing from Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC), to support the continued development of EG-1962, the Company’s lead product candidate.
“We are very pleased to enter into this loan agreement with Hercules, one of the leading specialty finance companies in the life sciences sector,” said Brian Leuthner, Chief Executive Officer and President. “With the additional access to capital we remain on our path to delivering top-line data from the ongoing NEWTON trial for EG-1962 by the first half of 2015 while limiting shareholder dilution.”
Edge is developing EG-1962 to fundamentally improve patient outcomes and transform the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The Company believes that EG-1962 can become the new standard of care for patients suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm who receive an intraventricular catheter.
The $10 million ($3.0 million of which was drawn down at closing, and the balance of which is available upon the satisfaction of certain milestones) in funding from Hercules is in the form of secured indebtedness. Payments under the loan agreement are interest only for 12 months, followed by 30 equal monthly payments of principal and interest through the scheduled maturity date on March 1, 2018.
About EG-1962
EG-1962 is a novel polymeric nimodipine microparticle that is administered directly into the brain ventricles. A single dose of EG-1962, administered initially at the time of aneurysm repair delivers a high concentration of nimodipine directly to the brain, with sustained drug exposure over 21 days. EG-1962 utilizes Edge’s proprietary, programmable, biodegradable polymer-based development platform, known as Precisa™. The Precisa™ platform allows Edge to create therapeutics capable of delivering medicines directly to the site of injury, providing a novel delivery mechanism that enables targeted and sustained drug exposure while potentially avoiding the systemic, dose-limiting side effects often associated with current standards of care. EG-1962 is currently being evaluated in the Phase 1/2 NEWTON study, a safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics clinical trial.
About Edge Therapeutics, Inc.
Edge Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that discovers, develops and seeks to commercialize novel, hospital-based therapies capable of transforming treatment paradigms in the management of acute, life-threatening neurological conditions. EG-1962, our lead product candidate, has the potential to fundamentally improve patient outcomes and transform the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, or aSAH, which is bleeding around the brain due to a ruptured brain aneurysm. EG-1964, our second product candidate, is being evaluated as a potential prophylactic treatment in the management of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH), to prevent recurrent bleeding on the surface of the brain. For more information on Edge Therapeutics, Inc., please visit: www.edgetherapeutics.com.
About Hercules Technology Growth Capital
Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) ("Hercules") is the leading specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured loans to venture capital-backed companies in technology-related markets, including technology, biotechnology, life science, and energy & renewable technology industries, at all stages of development. Since inception (December 2003), Hercules has committed more than $4.4 billion to over 290 companies and is the lender of choice for entrepreneurs and venture capital firms. More information on Hercules Technology can be found at www.HTGC.com
Hercules' common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol "HTGC."
In addition, Hercules has three outstanding bond issuances of 7.00% Senior Notes due April 2019, 7.00% Senior Notes due September 2019, and 6.25% Notes due July 2024, which trade on the NYSE under the symbols "HTGZ", "HTGY," and "HTGX," respectively.
Companies interested in learning more about financing opportunities should contact info@htgc.com, or call 650.289.3060.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any statements of representatives and partners of Edge Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) related thereto contain, or may contain, among other things, certain “forward-looking statements” as defined in the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as “projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential” or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ significantly from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the Company’s control). The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
