BEDMINSTER, N.J., April 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. (NYSE AMER: MTNB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018 and provided a corporate update.
“In just over six months we have made substantial progress advancing our corporate strategy, and I believe we have positioned Matinas for a transformational year in 2019. We have put all of the key strategic pieces in place to assist in driving clinical development forward. With impressive additions to our executive team and by expanding our world-class group of scientific and regulatory advisors, we are prepared to capitalize on the opportunity provided by a renewed interest in the cardiovascular space with our legacy asset, MAT9001, which has previously demonstrated superiority to Vascepa™ in an initial head-to-head study,” commented Jerome D. Jabbour, Chief Executive Officer of Matinas. “MAT9001 is a purposely-designed, prescription-only omega-3 fatty acid that we believe has the potential to be a best-in-class differentiated therapy in a multi-billion dollar omega-3 cardiovascular market. Our carefully considered clinical development program involves a streamlined pathway to approval in severe hypertriglyceridemia, along with generating additional data highlighting the differentiation and, potentially, superiority of MAT9001 to the other omega-3 products currently approved or in development. I am confident we now have the right team and the optimal strategy in place to move the entirety of our program forward and hopefully realize the significant potential associated with this important product.”
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Appointed distinguished leader in the pharmaceutical industry, Patrick G. LePore, to Board of Directors;
- Added global drug development veteran Theresa Matkovits, Ph.D., as Chief Development Officer to advance the LNC platform technology;
- Assembled world class Scientific Advisory Board to guide clinical development strategy of MAT9001;
- Added strategic financial expertise with the appointment of Keith A. Kucinski, CPA, MBA as Chief Financial Officer;
- Signed first LNC platform research evaluation with top global pharma;
- Bolstered team with cardiovascular expert, James J. Ferguson III, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer to assist in leading clinical development of MAT9001; and
- Closed $30 million financing led by fundamental institutional investors to fund MAT9001 and LNC platform through key data.
“In addition to MAT9001, the development of our LNC platform delivery technology continues to be an important area of focus for the Company as we continue to make progress on multiple fronts. In January we announced our first research evaluation with a top global pharmaceutical company, which paves the way for subsequent work with future collaborators. We also continue to advance MAT2203, our internal product candidate leveraging the LNC platform, and are currently pursuing an indication for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis supported by non-dilutive NIH funding to advance this program,” continued Mr. Jabbour. “Finally, in March we closed a $30 million financing, led by fundamental healthcare institutional investors, which transformed our balance sheet. We are now well-funded with sufficient capital to fund the Company through multiple key clinical and regulatory milestones and well into 2021.”
MAT9001 DEVELOPMENT UPDATE: ADVANCING, A PROPRIETARY, POTENTIAL BEST-IN-CLASS PRESCRIPTION-ONLY OMEGA-3 DRUG
The Company’s lead cardiovascular product, MAT9001, is a proprietary prescription-only omega-3 fatty acid product, comprised of a complex mixture of omega-3 fatty acids, consisting primarily of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic (DPA). MAT9001 is being developed for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia (? 500 mg/dL). Leveraging the support of a world class team of external scientific and clinical advisors and internal clinical and regulatory expertise, Matinas has put in place a streamlined clinical development program for approval of MAT9001, while also planning several additional studies designed to highlight the differentiating features of MAT9001 relative to the leading therapies in this space.
In 2019 Matinas intends to initiate a number of studies, including a 28-day comparative bridging toxicology study and a comparative clinical bioavailability, further assessing PK parameters of MAT9001. These studies are designed to support a potential U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The Company also plans to initiate an additional head-to-head study vs. Vascepa, with data expected in the 3rd quarter of 2020.
LNC PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY UPDATE: ENABLING THE SAFE INTER CELLULAR DELIVERY OF MEDICINES
The Company’s proprietary LNC delivery technology platform utilizes lipid nano-crystals which can encapsulate small molecules, nucleic acid polymers such as oligonucleotides, vaccines, peptides, proteins and other medicines potentially making them safer, more tolerable, less toxic and orally bioavailable. Matinas is currently focused on leveraging its LNC delivery platform to develop its own pipeline of product candidates, as well as establishing collaborations with large pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
In January 2019 Matinas announced its first research evaluation with an undisclosed top global pharmaceutical company aimed to evaluate synergistic effects of its LNC platform delivery technology with the Company’s partner’s nucleic acid polymer technology.
Matinas continues to advance its discussions with multiple strategic and research partners and expects to utilize this strategy to expand the successful application of its LNC Technology.
MAT2203 – ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIAL BEST-IN-CLASS ANTIFUNGAL DRUG LEVERAGING LNC DELIVERY PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY
The Company’s lead LNC platform-based drug candidate, MAT2203 is an oral formulation of amphotericin B, a well-known and highly-effective, antifungal drug currently used and approved to treat a variety of invasive, and potentially deadly, fungal infections. MAT2203 is currently being developed for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis, with non-dilutive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through key efficacy milestones.
The Company plans to meet with FDA to review the MAT2203 development plan and design for a Phase 2 study in patients with cryptococcal meningitis and expects to initiate the study in the second half of 2019.
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 2018
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the Company reported a net loss of approximately $14.1 million, or a net loss per share basic and diluted of $0.15, compared to a net loss of approximately $15.5 million, or a net loss per share basic and diluted of $0.36, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017.
The Company ended the year with cash and cash equivalents of approximately $13.0 million. Subsequent to year end, the Company completed a public offering of its common stock for gross proceeds of $32.4 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses. Based on Management’s current projections the Company believes that cash on hand is sufficient to fund operations well into 2021.
About Matinas BioPharma
Matinas BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating value through the streamlined development of its lead product candidate, MAT9001, for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions and the application of its lipid nano-crystal (“LNC”) platform technology to solve complex challenges relating to the safe and effective delivery of small molecules, gene therapies, proteins, peptides and vaccines.
