PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hemispherx Biopharma (NYSE MKT:HEB) announced its financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2015. The net loss (including non-cash effects) was approximately $8,290,000 or $(0.04) per share as compared to a net loss of $8,792,000 or ($0.05) per share for the same six month period in 2014.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were approximately $15,714,000 at June 30, 2015 as compared to $16,108,000 as of December 31, 2014.
We have recently expanded our international collaborative programs with both major components of our treatment platform (Ampligen®, an experimental therapeutic, and Alferon® N, and FDA approved commercial product, more fully described below) to create an expanded patient access path while seeking formal approval in the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand.
Also, we have recently initiated new programs in potential cancer therapy, based on a novel concept of synergy in cancer immunotherapy. The medical concept of therapeutic synergy is to use the highly selective Toll-like Receptors (TLR3) agonist, such as Ampligen®, in combination with other immune therapeutic treatment to modify the immune microenvironment and potentially increase the number of patients anticipated to respond to such treatment. This concept is supported by preclinical studies in tumor models demonstrating certain interactions as well as results from early clinical studies.
Our overall objectives also include plans to continue seeking approval for commercialization of Ampligen® in the United States and abroad as well as to widen existing commercial therapeutic indications of Alferon N Injection® presently approved for sales in the United States and Argentina. In addition, we have formed collaborations with multiple research laboratories around the world to examine Ampligen®, an experimental therapeutic, and Alferon N, an FDA-approved commercial product (for refractory venereal warts (HPV)) as potential preventatives for, and treatments of, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and other hazardous viruses including pandemic influenza and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Our ability to commercialize our products, widen commercial therapeutic indications of Alferon N Injection® and/or capitalize on our collaborations with research laboratories to examine our products as potential preventatives for, and treatments of newly emerging viral diseases are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our ability to enter into more definitive agreements with some of the research laboratories and others that we are collaborating with, to fund and conduct additional testing and studies, whether or not such testing is successful or requires additional testing and meets the requirements of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory agencies. We do not know when, if ever, our products will be generally available for commercial sale for any new indications.
About Hemispherx Biopharma
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and engaged in the clinical development of new drug therapies based on natural immune system enhancing technologies for the treatment of viral and immune based disorders. Hemispherx’s flagship products include Alferon N Injection® and the experimental therapeutics Ampligen® and Alferon® LDO. Ampligen® is an experimental RNA nucleic acid being developed for globally important debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Hemispherx’s platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life threatening diseases including cancers. Because both Ampligen® and Alferon® LDO are experimental in nature, they are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials. Hemispherx has patents comprising its core intellectual property estate and a fully commercialized product (Alferon N Injection®), approved for sale in the U.S. and Argentina. The FDA approval of Alferon N Injection® is limited to the treatment of refractory or recurrent external genital warts in patients 18 years of age or older. The Company’s Alferon N Injection® approval in Argentina includes the use of Alferon N Injection® (under the brand name “Naturaferon”) for use in any patients who fail, or become intolerant to recombinant interferon, including patients with chronic active hepatitis C infection. The Company wholly owns and exclusively operates a GMP certified manufacturing facility in the United States for commercial products. For more information please visit www.hemispherx.net.
Disclosure Notice
The information in this press release includes certain “forward-looking” statements including without limitation statements about additional steps which the FDA may require and Hemispherx may take in continuing to seek commercial approval of the Ampligen® NDA for the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the United States. The production of new Alferon® API inventory commenced in February 2015. However, while the facility is approved by the FDA under the Biological License Application (“BLA”) for Alferon® , this status will need to be reaffirmed by an FDA pre-approval inspection. We will also need FDA’s approval to release commercial product once we have submitted satisfactory stability and quality release data. If and when we obtain a reaffirmation of FDA BLA status, we will need FDA approval as to the quality and stability of the final product to allow commercial sales to resume. The final results of these and other ongoing activities could vary materially from Hemispherx’s expectations and could adversely affect the chances for approval of an Ampligen® NDA in the United States and other countries. Any failure to satisfy the FDA regulatory requirements or the requirements of other countries could significantly delay, or preclude outright, approval of an Ampligen® NDA in the United States and other countries. Information contained in this news release, other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking and is subject to various risk factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors; the Company’s ability to adequately fund its projects; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and healthcare legislation in the United States and internationally; trends toward healthcare cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the Company’s ability to accurately predict the future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; dependence on the effectiveness of the Company’s patents and other protections for products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions; as well as other factors discussed in this release and in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The final results of these efforts could vary materially from Hemispherx’s expectations. Findings from animal studies may not correlate with results from humans. Clinical trial data will be necessary to establish human efficacy of Ampligen® or Alferon® for Ebola virus disease and/or other emerging viral diseases. The EU orphan drug designation is an important step toward commercial approval, which will require clinical trials before a decision on commercial approval can be obtained from the European Commission. No assurances can be given that the EMA will approve Ampligen®/rintatolimod for treatment of EVD.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management, are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “intends,” “plans,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Hemispherx that any of its plans will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees of future performance, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Hemispherx’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include those set forth in the Disclosure Notice, above, as well as the risks described in Hemispherx’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Hemispherx undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. No evidence is suggested that Alferon® N, Alferon® LDO and/or Ampligen® will ever be commercially approved for the new potential treatment indications mentioned in this release.
CONTACT: Company/Investor Contact: Charles Jones CJones & Associates Public Relations Office: 888-557-6480 Cell: 305-987-7418 Email: cjones@cjonespr.com