Fortress Biotech Reports Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Highlights

NEW YORK, Aug. 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortress Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBIO) (“Fortress”), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to acquiring, developing and commercializing novel pharmaceutical and biotechnology products, today announced financial results and recent corporate highlights for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Dr. Lindsay A. Rosenwald, Fortress’ Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Fortress and our Fortress subsidiaries achieved important corporate and clinical milestones during the second quarter of 2017. Avenue Therapeutics completed a $38 million initial public offering, and is on track to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial in the third quarter of IV tramadol in patients undergoing bunionectomy surgery. If approved, IV tramadol will be the only intravenous Schedule IV opioid for use in the United States. Avenue, along with Checkpoint Therapeutics, began trading their common shares on The NASDAQ Capital Market during the last week of June. In addition, Caelum Biosciences announced the dosing of the final patient in a Phase 1b clinical trial of its lead therapy, CAEL-101, in AL amyloidosis, with a data readout expected in the second half of 2017.  Mustang Bio licensed three CAR T cell therapies from its research partner City of Hope, expanding its pipeline to five novel CAR T candidates.”

Dr. Rosenwald continued, “Our strong business development engine continues to deliver on our goal of acquiring novel pharmaceutical and biotechnology products for development within Fortress and through our Fortress Companies. We look forward to continuing to execute on our business plan and reaching important milestones in the third quarter to add value for our shareholders.”

Financial Results:

• As of June 30, 2017, Fortress’ consolidated cash and cash equivalents totaled $144.3 million, compared to $134.0 million at March 31, 2017, and $88.3 million at December 31, 2016, an increase of $10.3 million for the quarter and $56.0 million year-to-date. These totals as of June 30, 2017 exclude short-term investments of $20.0 million, restricted cash of $15.9 million and cash deposits with clearing organizations of $1.0 million.
• Net revenue totaled $50.7 million for the second quarter of 2017 and $95.4 million for the first six months of 2017, compared to $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2016 and $2.9 million for the first six months of 2016. Net total revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017 includes $4.4 million of Fortress revenue and $46.3 million of revenue from National Holdings Corporation (“National”), which Fortress acquired in September 2016, with no revenue attributable to National prior to the acquisition.  
• Research and development expenses were $11.7 million for the second quarter of 2017, of which $10.0 million was related to Fortress Companies, and $18.8 million for the first six months of 2017, of which $15.8 million was related to Fortress Companies. This compares to $6.3 million for the second quarter of 2016, of which $4.0 million was related to Fortress Companies, and $14.1 million for the first six months of 2016, of which $9.0 million was related to Fortress Companies. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense included in research and development for the second quarter of 2017 was $2.4 million, compared to $1.1 million for the second quarter of 2016, and $3.2 million for the first six months of 2017, compared to $2.4 million for the first six months of 2016.
• Research and development expenses from license acquisitions totaled $1.8 million for the second quarter of 2017 and $3.1 million for the first six months of 2017, compared to $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2016 and $2.1 million for the first six months of 2016.
• General and administrative expenses were $11.1 million for the second quarter of 2017, of which $7.0 million was related to Fortress Companies, and $21.4 million for the first six months of 2017, of which $12.8 million was related to Fortress Companies. This compares to $8.6 million for the second quarter of 2016, of which $3.7 million was related to Fortress Companies, and $16.6 million for the first six months of 2016, of which $6.6 million was related to Fortress Companies. Non-cash stock-based compensation expenses included in general and administrative expenses were $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2017, compared to $1.9 million for the second quarter of 2016, and $4.3 million for the first six months of 2017, compared to $3.5 million for the first six months of 2016.
• National’s operating expenses totaled $48.4 million for the second quarter of 2017 and $91.5 million for the first six months of 2017, with no expenses attributable to National prior to Fortress’ acquisition of the company in September 2016.
• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $17.4 million, or $0.43 per share, for the second quarter of 2017, compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $12.5 million, or $0.31 per share, for the second quarter of 2016. For the first six months of 2017, net loss was $29.3 million or $0.73 per share, compared to $24.7 million or $0.62 per share in the first six months of 2016.

Recent Fortress Biotech and Fortress Company Highlights:

Fortress Biotech, Inc.

• In June 2017, Ms. Robyn Hunter was named Chief Financial Officer of Fortress. Lucy Lu, M.D., Fortress’ former Chief Financial Officer, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Fortress subsidiary Avenue Therapeutics, Inc.
• As of June 30, 2017, Fortress raised a total of $19.0 million in a Subordinated Note Financing; $15.7 million of the $19.0 million was raised in the second quarter of 2017. National Securities Corporation, a subsidiary of National, acted as the Placement Agent.

Avenue Therapeutics, Inc.

• In May 2017, Avenue received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) for a new patent application (U.S. Application No. 15/163,111) titled "Intravenous Administration of Tramadol.” The patent application describes and claims a dosing regimen of intravenous (“IV”) 50 mg tramadol that provides certain pharmacokinetic parameters that are similar to those of 100 mg tramadol HCl administered orally every six hours at a steady state. Issuance of the patent (U.S. Patent No. 9,693,949) occurred in July 2017. This patent application falls under Avenue’s licensing agreement with Revogenex Ireland Ltd.
• On June 30, 2017, Avenue completed its initial public offering of 6,325,000 shares of common stock, at a public offering price of $6.00 per share, for a total offering size of $37,950,000, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The shares sold include 825,000 that were subject to an underwriters’ overallotment option, which was exercised and closed concurrently with the closing of the initial public offering. Avenue’s common stock began trading on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol “ATXI.”
• Also in June 2017, Lucy Lu, M.D., was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Avenue, a position she held on an interim basis since the company’s inception.

Caelum Biosciences, Inc.

• In April 2017, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services confirmed the transfer of two U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) Orphan Drug Designations for CAEL‐101 from Columbia University (“Columbia”) to Caelum. The designations cover use as a therapeutic agent for patients with AL amyloidosis and use as a radio‐imaging agent in amyloidosis. Caelum in-licensed CAEL-101 from Columbia in January 2017.
• In May 2017, Columbia dosed the final patient in the Phase 1b trial of CAEL-101 in AL amyloidosis.  As of July 2017, all patients completed treatment. Preliminary and full Phase 1b data are expected in the second half of 2017.
• Also in May 2017, Caelum entered a biopharmaceutical manufacturing agreement with Patheon N.V. for process development and current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) production to support Phase 2/3 studies of CAEL‐101.
• In June 2017, Columbia filed a provisional patent application with the USPTO pertaining to CAEL-101 that, once converted into a U.S. non-provisional utility application, will provide composition of matter protection effective upon a grant of a U.S. patent. The legal protection offered by a granted U.S. patent will exceed any data exclusivity periods associated with Orphan Drug Designation and/or an original, branded-biologic product approved for marketing in the U.S.  Just this month, Columbia filed a second provisional patent application with the USPTO to pursue additional method of treatment claims directed to surprising and positive outcomes observed from the Phase 1b trial of CAEL-101.  If granted these new claims provide an additional layer of legal protection for the use of Caelum’s lead product candidate.

Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc.

• In April 2017, Checkpoint presented preclinical data on CK-101, an epidermal growth factor receptor (“EGFR”) inhibitor, and CK-301, an anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 (“PD-L1”) antibody, in poster sessions at the American Association for Cancer Research (“AACR”) Annual Meeting.
• In June 2017, Checkpoint’s common stock began trading on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol “CKPT.”

Mustang Bio, Inc.

• In April 2017, Mustang appointed Manuel Litchman, M.D., as President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as a member of the Board of Directors.
• On May 31, 2017, Mustang entered into exclusive, worldwide licensing agreements with City of Hope ("COH") for the use of three CAR T therapies in the development of cancer treatments. The therapies covered under the agreements include: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (“HER2”) CAR T technology (“HER2 Technology”), which will initially be applied in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme; CS1‐specific CAR T technology (“CS1 Technology”) to be directed against multiple myeloma; and prostate stem cell antigen (“PSCA”) CAR T technology (“PSCA Technology”) to be used in the treatment of prostate, pancreatic, bladder and gastric cancers. All three technologies were developed in the laboratory of Stephen J. Forman, M.D., director of COH’s T cell Immunotherapy Research Laboratory.

About Fortress Biotech
Fortress Biotech, Inc. (“Fortress”) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to acquiring, developing and commercializing novel pharmaceutical and biotechnology products. Fortress develops and commercializes products both within Fortress and through certain subsidiary companies, also known as Fortress Companies. In addition to its internal development programs, Fortress leverages its biopharmaceutical business expertise and drug development capabilities and provides funding and management services to help the Fortress Companies achieve their goals. Fortress and the Fortress Companies may seek licensing arrangements, acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures and/or public and private financings to accelerate and provide additional funding to support their research and development programs. For more information, visit www.fortressbiotech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; risks relating to the timing of starting and completing clinical trials; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

FORTRESS BIOTECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands except for share and per share amounts)
		June 30,				December 31,
		2017				2016
		(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	144,344			$	88,294
Accounts receivable			3,336				1,830
Short-term investment (certificate of deposit)			20,038				-
Cash deposits with clearing organizations			1,040				1,030
Receivables from broker-dealers and clearing organizations			2,813				3,357
Forgivable loans receivable			1,397				1,712
Securities owned, at fair value			3,406				2,357
Inventory			299				203
Other receivables - related party			1,605				1,790
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			11,902				9,061
Total current assets			190,180				109,634
Property and equipment, net			7,329				7,376
Restricted cash			15,860				15,860
Long-term investments, at fair value			903				1,414
Intangible asset - license			16,533				17,408
Goodwill			18,645				18,645
Other assets			396				394
Total assets		$	249,846			$	170,731
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	24,995			$	23,871
Accrued expense - related party			78				-
Accrued commissions and payroll payable			11,613				11,940
Deferred clearing and marketing credits			891				995
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value			77				298
Interest payable			142				88
Interest payable - related party			326				77
Notes payable, short-term			3,007				1,000
Subsidiary convertible note, short-term, at fair value			3,211				1,031
Contingent consideration payable			630				424
Warrants issued in 2017 and issuable in 2016 - National			8,190				14,359
Contingently issuable liabilities			-				1,682
Derivative warrant liability			91				481
Other current liabilities			217				319
Total current liabilities			53,468				56,565
Notes payable, long-term (net of debt discount of $4,723 and $2,009 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)			39,274				22,528
Subsidiary convertible note, long-term, at fair value			1,462				3,656
Other long-term liabilities			5,026				5,014
Total liabilities			99,230				87,763
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value, 129,767 Series C shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively			-				-
Common stock, $.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 50,463,245 and 48,932,023 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively			50				49
Common stock issuable, 45,818 and 0 shares as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively			189				-
Additional paid-in-capital			346,630				283,697
Accumulated deficit			(274,598	)			(245,251	)
Total stockholders' equity attributed to the Company			72,271				38,495
Non-controlling interests			78,345				44,473
Total stockholders' equity			150,616				82,968
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	249,846			$	170,731

FORTRESS BIOTECH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
($ in thousands except for share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
		For the Three Months Ended June 30,								For the Six Months Ended June 30,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Revenue
Fortress
Product revenue, net		$	4,054			$	981			$	6,139			$	1,364
Revenue - from a related party			350				1,249				1,043				1,526
Net Fortress revenue			4,404				2,230				7,182				2,890
National
Commissions			23,993				-				48,499				-
Net dealer inventory gains			2,366				-				4,877				-
Investment banking			10,592				-				17,653				-
Investment advisory			3,490				-				6,875				-
Interest and dividends			675				-				1,391				-
Transfer fees and clearing services			1,687				-				4,185				-
Tax preparation and accounting			3,144				-				4,000				-
Other			346				-				717				-
Total National revenue			46,293				-				88,197				-
Net revenue			50,697				2,230				95,379				2,890
Operating expenses
Fortress
Cost of goods sold - product revenue			878				324				1,347				324
Research and development			11,683				6,347				18,793				14,100
Research and development – licenses acquired			1,800				2,060				3,094				2,143
General and administrative			11,134				8,635				21,386				16,550
Total Fortress operating expenses			25,495				17,366				44,620				33,117
National
Commissions, compensation and fees			41,762				-				79,020				-
Clearing fees			618				-				1,356				-
Communications			682				-				1,404				-
Occupancy			936				-				1,944				-
Licenses and registration			427				-				832				-
Professional fees			991				-				2,254				-
Interest			4				-				8				-
Depreciation and amortization			500				-				1,006				-
Other administrative expenses			2,475				-				3,705				-
Total National operating expenses			48,395				-				91,529				-
Total operating expenses			73,890				17,366				136,149				33,117
Loss from operations			(23,193	)			(15,136	)			(40,770	)			(30,227	)
Other income (expenses)
Interest income			190				77				326				152
Interest expense and financing fee			(1,380	)			(529	)			(2,078	)			(1,149	)
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities			1,452				-				5,794				(89	)
Change in fair value of subsidiary convertible note			(188	)			-				(285	)			-
Change in fair value of investments			157				(801	)			(511	)			(1,719	)
Other income			13				-				13				-
Total other income (expenses)			244				(1,253	)			3,259				(2,805	)
Net loss			(22,949	)			(16,389	)			(37,511	)			(33,032	)
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interests			(5,584	)			(3,911	)			(8,164	)			(8,349	)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(17,365	)		$	(12,478	)		$	(29,347	)		$	(24,683	)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share		$	(0.43	)		$	(0.31	)		$	(0.73	)		$	(0.62	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted			40,551,844				39,867,724				40,457,524				39,762,956

 

Contact: 
                    Jaclyn Jaffe
                    Fortress Biotech, Inc. 
                    (781) 652-4500
                    ir@fortressbiotech.com
                    
                    Fortress Biotech Media Relations
                    Laura Bagby
                    6 Degrees
                    (312) 448-8098
                    lbagby@6degreespr.com