WEST CHESTER, Pa., May 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.  (Nasdaq: VRCA), a dermatology therapeutics company developing medications for viral skin diseases requiring medical interventions, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

“During the first quarter of 2020, we made several important advancements in our business, securing $55 million in non-dilutive loan facilities and obtaining a cantharidin formulation patent in Japan that will bolster the readiness of our supply chain and expand access to global markets,” said Ted White, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verrica. “We also continued to prepare for the potential U.S. approval of VP-102, our product candidate that could be the first FDA-approved treatment for molluscum contagiosum. If approved, VP-102 would be marketed in the United States under the conditionally accepted brand name YCANTH™. We recognize that these are unprecedented times and our top priority in conducting all business is the health and safety of our employees as well as patients and healthcare providers.”

Business Highlights and Recent Developments

• Secured $55 million in non-dilutive loan facilities, of which $35 million was borrowed upon closing in March 2020.
• Issued a Letters Patent bearing Japanese Patent No. 6668240, by the Japan Patent Office. The patent issued on February 28, 2020 and will expire on August 21, 2034, twenty years from the patent application date. The issuance of this application follows the grant of a patent in Australia covering the formulation of VP-102, applicator devices and systems comprising the formulation, and methods of using VP-102. Related patent applications are currently pending in various jurisdictions around the world, including the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Israel, India, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. The invention covers certain formulations containing cantharidin for the treatment of cutaneous disorders, including molluscum contagiosum and common warts.
• Presented positive data supporting the safety and efficacy of VP-102 at the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference. This post hoc analysis of the pooled data from the Phase 3 CAMP studies showed a statistically significantly greater percentage of complete lesion clearance in subjects with molluscum contagiosum by the end of the study (Day 84) across each body region analyzed among patients receiving VP-102, as compared to vehicle. In addition, the rates and types of adverse events were similar across body regions, including potentially sensitive areas like the head/neck and groin.

First Quarter Financial Results

• Verrica reported net losses of $9.8 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to a $7.5 million net loss for the same period in 2019.
• Research and development expenses were $4.9 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to $4.5 million for the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to increased compensation costs and increased clinical costs related to our development of VP-102 for external genital warts, partially offset by a decrease in clinical costs related to Verrica’s development of VP-102 for molluscum contagiosum.
• General and administrative expenses were $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily a result of expenses related to increased headcount, an increase in insurance, professional fees and other operating costs, and an increase in expenses related to pre-commercial activities for VP-102.
• As of March 31, 2020, Verrica had aggregate cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $88.4 million, which the Company believes will be sufficient to support planned operations, including expenses for the potential commercialization of the Company’s lead product candidate, VP-102, as well as the ongoing development of the compound for additional indications, including common warts and external genital warts, and the development of VP-103 for plantar warts, at least through the second quarter of 2021.

About Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Verrica is a dermatology therapeutics company developing medications for viral skin diseases requiring medical interventions. The Company’s late-stage product candidate, VP-102, is a potential first-in-class topical therapy for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum (molluscum) and common warts. Molluscum is a highly contagious viral skin infection affecting approximately six million people, primarily children, in the United States, and common warts are contagious skin growths affecting 22 million people. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for molluscum or common warts. Following positive topline results from two pivotal Phase 3 trials, the Company submitted an NDA on September 13, 2019 for VP-102 for the treatment of molluscum; on November 26, 2019, the Company received notice that the FDA accepted the NDA for filing, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of July 13, 2020. If approved, VP-102 will be marketed in the United States under the conditionally accepted brand name YCANTH™. Verrica has completed a Phase 2 clinical trial clinical trial of VP-102 for the treatment of verruca vulgaris, or common warts and, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, intends to launch two Phase 3 clinical trials when conditions are appropriate. VP-102 is also currently in a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of external genital warts. The Company is conducting necessary preclinical activities for VP-103, its second cantharidin-based product candidate, and, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, intends to launch a Phase 2 clinical trial in subjects with plantar warts when conditions are appropriate. For more information, visit www.verrica.com.