UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 12, 2015

 


 

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001-37467

 

26-3687168

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

One Kendall Square
Bldg. 1400E, Suite B14202
Cambridge, Massachusetts

 

02139

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 349-1971

 

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On November 12, 2015, Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information contained in Item 2.02 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)              Exhibits

 

The Exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K are listed in the Exhibit Index attached hereto.

 

2



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

CATABASIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ian C. Sanderson

Date: November 13, 2015

 

 

Ian C. Sanderson

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release issued by Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated November 12, 2015.

 

4


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

FINAL

 

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Reports Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Highlights

 

— MoveDMDSM trial of CAT-1004 in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) Progressing —

 

— Orphan, Rare Pediatric Disease and Fast Track Designations Received for CAT-1004 in DMD —

 

— Phase 2a Trial for CAT-2054 in Hypercholesterolemia Actively Recruiting —

 

CAMBRIDGE, MA, November 12, 2015 — Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CATB), a clinical-stage drug development company built on a pathway pharmacology technology platform, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015 and corporate highlights.

 

“Catabasis made important advancements in both of our clinical-stage programs during the third quarter of 2015,” commented Jill C. Milne, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Catabasis. “We are now scheduling the final cohort for Part A of the MoveDMD trial of CAT-1004, which we believe has the potential to be a disease-modifying therapy that promotes muscle regeneration in patients with DMD, regardless of the underlying mutation. Additionally, we have started recruiting for our Phase 2a trial of CAT-2054 for hypercholesterolemia and we expect to initiate dosing in the fourth quarter of 2015.”

 

Recent and Upcoming Corporate Highlights

 

·                  MoveDMD trial of CAT-1004 in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Progressing

 

We currently are scheduling the final cohort of Part A of the MoveDMD trial, a Phase 1 / 2 clinical trial of CAT-1004 for the treatment of DMD. We expect to release safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics results from Part A of the MoveDMD trial in early Q1 2016.

 

·                  Multiple Regulatory Designations Received for CAT-1004 in DMD

 

During the third quarter, we received Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the FDA and in October the European Commission granted Orphan Medicinal Product designation for CAT-1004 for the treatment of DMD.

 

·                  Phase 2a Trial for CAT-2054 in Hypercholesterolemia Actively Recruiting

 

We announced positive top-line Phase 1 data for CAT-2054 for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.  We have started recruiting for our Phase 2a trial of CAT-2054 for hypercholesterolemia and we expect to initiate dosing in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results

 

Cash Position: At September 30, 2015, Catabasis had cash and cash equivalents of $72.7 million, compared to $14.7 million as of December 31, 2014. Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended September 30, 2015 was $7.8 million, compared to $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $21.1 million, compared to $14.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 



 

R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $5.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and $16.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $11.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The increases in research and development expenses for the 2015 periods relative to the 2014 periods were primarily attributable to increased direct program costs related to the initiation of the CAT-1004 MoveDMD trial in 2015 and increased employee compensation costs.

 

G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and $6.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The increases in general and administrative expenses for the 2015 periods relative to the 2014 periods were primarily attributable to increased employee compensation costs and increased consulting and professional expenses to support our overall growth.

 

Operating Loss: Loss from operations was $8.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $6.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and $22.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $15.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

Net Loss: Net loss was $8.5 million, or $0.55 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2015, compared to a net loss of $6.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $23.0 million, compared to $15.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

Conference Call and Webcast

 

Catabasis will host a conference call and webcast at 4:30pm ET today to provide an update on corporate developments and to discuss third quarter financial results.

 

Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number:

(877) 259-0810

 

 

Participant International Dial-In Number:

(916) 582-3604

 

 

Pass Code:

64559583

 

Please specify to the operator that you would like to join the “Catabasis Third Quarter 2015 Results Call.”

 

Interested parties may access a live audio webcast of the conference call via the investor section of the Catabasis website, www.catabasis.com. Please connect to the Catabasis website several minutes prior to the start of the broadcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary.

 

The conference call will also be available to be replayed for two weeks following the call at (855) 859-2056 for domestic callers and (404) 537-3406 for international callers, both with the Pass Code 64559583. The webcast will be archived for 90 days.

 

About CAT-1004

 

CAT-1004 is an oral small molecule that inhibits activated NF-kB, a protein that coordinates cellular response to muscular damage, stress and inflammation and plays an important role in muscle health. In skeletal muscle, activated NF-kB drives muscle degeneration and suppresses muscle regeneration. In animal models of DMD, CAT-1004 inhibited activated NF-kB, reduced muscle inflammation and degeneration and increased muscle regeneration. In Phase 1 clinical trials, CAT-1004 inhibited activated NF-kB and was well tolerated with no observed safety concerns. The FDA has granted CAT-1004 orphan drug, fast track and rare pediatric disease designations for the treatment of DMD. The European Commission has granted CAT-1004 orphan medicinal product designation for DMD. Catabasis is currently conducting the MoveDMD Phase 1 / 2 trial of CAT-1004 in 4-7 year-old boys with DMD.

 



 

About CAT-2054

 

CAT-2054 is an investigational oral drug initially being developed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in patients for whom existing therapies are insufficient. By modulating the SREBP pathway, CAT-2054 may inhibit production of important cholesterol metabolism proteins such as PCSK9, HMG-CoA reductase, ATP citrate lyase and NPC1L1. If approved, CAT-2054 may have the potential to be the first therapy to simultaneously modulate cholesterol synthesis, clearance and absorption. Catabasis has completed a Phase 1 trial of CAT-2054 in healthy volunteers, announced positive top-line data and is actively recruiting patients for the Phase 2a trial of CAT-2054 in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

 

About Catabasis

 

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics using its proprietary Safely Metabolized And Rationally Targeted, or SMART, linker technology platform. The Company’s SMART linker technology platform is based on the concept of treating diseases by simultaneously modulating multiple targets in one or more related disease pathways. The Company engineers bi-functional product candidates that are conjugates of two molecules, or bioactives, each with known pharmacological activity, joined by one of its proprietary SMART linkers. The SMART linker conjugates are designed for enhanced efficacy and improved safety and tolerability. The Company’s focus is on treatments for rare diseases. The Company is also developing other product candidates for the treatment of serious lipid disorders. For more information on the Company’s technology and pipeline of drug candidates, please visit www.catabasis.com.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including statements about future clinical trial plans and other statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “may” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: uncertainties inherent in the initiation and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials and clinical development of the Company’s product candidates; availability and timing of results from preclinical studies and clinical trials; whether interim results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of the trial or the results of future trials; expectations for regulatory approvals to conduct trials or to market products; availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements; other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of the Company’s product candidates; and general economic and market conditions and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2015, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.  In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release.  The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change.  However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.  These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

 

###

 

Corporate and Media Contact

Andrea Matthews

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

T: (617) 349-1971

amatthews@catabasis.com

 



 

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September

 

Nine Months Ended September

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

$

5,813

 

$

4,543

 

$

16,360

 

$

11,361

 

General and administrative

 

2,388

 

1,427

 

5,966

 

4,443

 

Total operating expenses

 

8,201

 

5,970

 

22,326

 

15,804

 

Loss from operations

 

(8,201

)

(5,970

)

(22,326

)

(15,804

)

Other (expense) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other (expense) income, net

 

(2

)

2

 

11

 

3

 

Interest expense

 

(282

)

(57

)

(709

)

(57

)

Total other expense

 

(284

)

(55

)

(698

)

(54

)

Net loss and comprehensive loss

 

$

(8,485

)

$

(6,025

)

$

(23,024

)

$

(15,858

)

Net loss per share - basic and diluted

 

$

(0.55

)

$

(13.55

)

$

(4.11

)

$

(38.34

)

Weighted-average common shares outstanding used in net loss per share - basic and diluted

 

15,297,794

 

444,787

 

5,596,412

 

413,622

 

 

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

72,709

 

$

14,668

 

Working capital (1)

 

65,889

 

10,788

 

Total assets

 

73,657

 

15,964

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of notes payable, net of discount

 

3,191

 

309

 

Notes payable, net of current portion and discount

 

6,549

 

4,439

 

Convertible preferred stock

 

 

80,146

 

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

$

59,544

 

$

(73,053

)

 


(1) We define working capital as current assets minus current liabilities

 

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(21,050

)

(14,492

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(60

)

(5,135

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

79,151

 

4,828

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

58,041

 

(14,799

)