SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spruce Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRB), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for rare endocrine disorders with significant unmet medical need, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 and provided corporate updates.
“We are encouraged by key learnings from analyses of data from our CAHmelia-203 clinical trial in adult CAH patients with severe hyperandrogenemia,” said Javier Szwarcberg, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Executive Officer, Spruce Biosciences. “In the open-label portion of the study, tildacerfont demonstrated a maximum mean reduction in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) of 45%, suggesting pituitary target engagement and direct evidence of its mechanism of action. Additionally, we observed that higher GC doses at baseline as well as higher rates of study drug compliance were associated with larger placebo-adjusted reductions from baseline in androstenedione (A4).”
Dr. Szwarcberg added, “These findings underscore the challenges of treating severe hyperandrogenemia within this patient population and reinforce our belief that tildacerfont may have a greater benefit in CAHmelia-204, which is assessing GC reduction in a controlled and more compliant population of adult CAH patients. We look forward to reporting data from the CAHmelia-204 study in the third quarter of this year.”
Analyses of Data from CAHmelia-203 in Adult CAH
- Directionally favorable reductions in ACTH were noted in the blinded and open-label portions of the study with a maximum mean reduction of 45% at week 64 (n = 19).
- Higher GC doses at baseline were associated with larger placebo-adjusted reductions from baseline in A4 after the initial 12 weeks of treatment with tildacerfont. Patients with a baseline GC dose of 15mg hydrocortisone equivalents (HCe) had a mean placebo-adjusted increase from baseline in A4 of 18% after 12 weeks of treatment with tildacerfont. By contrast, patients with a baseline GC dose of 55mg HCe had a mean placebo-adjusted decrease from baseline in A4 of 27% after 12 weeks of treatment with tildacerfont. Patients in CAHmelia-203 enrolled with a mean baseline A4 level of more than five times above the upper limit of normal on a mean baseline daily GC dose of 27mg HCe compared to patients in CAHmelia-204 who enrolled with a mean baseline daily GC dose of 37mg HCe and A4 level near the upper limit of normal.
- Higher rates of study drug compliance were associated with larger placebo-adjusted reductions from baseline in A4 after 12 weeks of treatment with tildacerfont. Patients with compliance to study drug of 55% had a mean placebo-adjusted increase from baseline in A4 of 14% after 12 weeks of treatment with tildacerfont. By contrast, patients who were fully compliant with study drug had a mean placebo-adjusted decrease from baseline in A4 up to 14% after 12 weeks of treatment with tildacerfont. Compliance with tildacerfont in the clinical trial was measured through pill counts, corroborated by patient-reported electronic diaries.
Other Corporate Updates
- Poster Highlighting Baseline Characteristics from the CAHmelia Program in Adult CAH Presented at the PES 2024 Annual Meeting: Paul Thornton, M.B.B.S., Medical Director of the Endocrine and Diabetes Program at a CAH Center of Excellence, presented baseline characteristics from Spruce’s CAHmelia program evaluating tildacerfont in adult CAH, as an illustration of outcomes of current pediatric CAH disease management. Specifically, differences in adult height and weight relative to national and global averages suggest that the current treatment paradigm in pediatric CAH is inadequate to address the long-term goal of optimization of height and weight, which requires maintaining a balance between hyperandrogenemia and GC overexposure throughout childhood. The poster presentation is available on the company’s website.
- Poster Highlighting Baseline Characteristics from the CAHptain-205 Study in Pediatric CAH Presented at the PES 2024 Annual Meeting: Mimi S. Kim, M.D., Co-Director, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Comprehensive Care Clinic, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles presented baseline characteristics from the Phase 2 CAHptain study evaluating tildacerfont in children and adolescents with CAH. The preliminary baseline characteristics of CAHptain highlight that androgen control in children and adolescents with CAH often requires supraphysiologic GC doses. While a majority of participants in CAHptain-205 experienced reductions in both A4 and GC doses, preliminary pharmacokinetic results suggest that tildacerfont clearance is more rapid in children than adults. Further dose-ranging in the study is ongoing. The poster presentation is available on the company’s website.
Anticipated Upcoming Milestones
- Topline results from the CAHmelia-204 clinical trial in adult classic CAH patients on supraphysiologic doses of GCs with normal or near normal levels of A4 in the third quarter of 2024
- Topline interim results from additional dose-ranging in the Phase 2 CAHptain clinical trial in the third quarter of 2024
- End of Phase 2 (EOP2) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first quarter of 2025
Upcoming Investor Conferences
Company management will participate in two upcoming investor conferences taking place in May.
Javier Szwarcberg, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the JMP Securities Life Sciences Conference on May 14, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. ET and in a fireside chat at the RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference on May 15, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Company management will also be hosting 1x1 meetings at each conference.
The live webcast for each conference presentation can be accessed on the events section of the company’s investor relations website and will be available for replay after the conclusion of the live presentations for approximately 90 days.
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
- Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024 were $81.2 million. Cash and cash equivalents are expected to allow the company to fund its current operating plan through the end of 2025.
- Collaboration Revenue: Collaboration revenue was $2.0 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. The collaboration revenue reflects the partial recognition of the $15.0 million upfront payment the company received in connection with the collaboration and license agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical.
- Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were $10.3 million, compared to $11.7 million for the same period in 2023. The overall decrease in R&D expenses was primarily related to completion of enrollment in the company’s CAH programs and completion of its Phase 2 study in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were $4.3 million, compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2023.
- Total Operating Expenses: Total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were $14.6 million, compared to $15.2 million for the same period in 2023. Operating expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of $1.6 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
- Net Loss: Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $11.6 million, compared to $12.8 million for the same period in 2023.
About Spruce Biosciences
Spruce Biosciences is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for rare endocrine disorders with significant unmet medical need. Spruce is initially developing its wholly-owned product candidate, tildacerfont, as the potential first non-steroidal therapy for patients suffering from classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and other endocrine disorders. To learn more, visit www.sprucebio.com and follow us on Twitter/X @Spruce_Bio, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the design, results, conduct, progress and timing of Spruce’s clinical trials; Spruce’s expectations regarding reporting results of its clinical trials in 2024; Spruce’s plans to meet with the FDA to discuss the potential registrational path forward of tildacerfont for adult and pediatric classic CAH; upcoming investor conferences; and Spruce’s product candidate, strategy and regulatory matters. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate”, “will”, “potential”, “suggest”, “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Spruce’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with Spruce’s business in general, the impact of geopolitical and macroeconomic events, and the other risks described in Spruce’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. Spruce undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.
SPRUCE BIOSCIENCES, INC. CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) |
||||||||
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|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
||||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
||||
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
81,154 |
|
|
$ |
96,339 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
3,100 |
|
|
|
3,876 |
|
Other current assets |
|
|
1,611 |
|
|
|
1,968 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
85,865 |
|
|
|
102,183 |
|
Right-of-use assets |
|
|
1,121 |
|
|
|
1,181 |
|
Other assets |
|
|
553 |
|
|
|
582 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
87,539 |
|
|
$ |
103,946 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
||||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
1,891 |
|
|
$ |
3,332 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
11,973 |
|
|
|
14,600 |
|
Term loan, current portion |
|
|
1,622 |
|
|
|
1,622 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
2,908 |
|
|
|
4,911 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
18,394 |
|
|
|
24,465 |
|
Lease liabilities, net of current portion |
|
|
950 |
|
|
|
1,019 |
|
Term loan, net of current portion |
|
|
1,321 |
|
|
|
1,717 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
236 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
20,915 |
|
|
|
27,437 |
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
||||
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued or outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023; 41,154,799 and 41,029,832 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
275,477 |
|
|
|
273,737 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(208,857 |
) |
|
|
(197,232 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
66,624 |
|
|
|
76,509 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
87,539 |
|
|
$ |
103,946 |
|
SPRUCE BIOSCIENCES, INC. CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) |
||||||||
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
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Collaboration revenue |
|
$ |
2,002 |
|
|
$ |
1,964 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Research and development |
|
|
10,317 |
|
|
|
11,712 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
4,318 |
|
|
|
3,451 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
14,635 |
|
|
|
15,163 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(12,633 |
) |
|
|
(13,199 |
) |
Interest expense |
|
|
(97 |
) |
|
|
(131 |
) |
Interest income and other expense, net |
|
|
1,105 |
|
|
|
539 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
(11,625 |
) |
|
|
(12,791 |
) |
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Unrealized gain on available for sale securities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
370 |
|
Total comprehensive loss |
|
$ |
(11,625 |
) |
|
$ |
(12,421 |
) |
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.28 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.40 |
) |
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
|
41,096,231 |
|
|
|
31,900,160 |
|
