Panbela Therapeutics(PBLA) - 2022 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - General and administrative expenses increased to $1.3 million in Q3 2022 from $0.9 million in Q3 2021, primarily due to services and personnel costs related to the acquisition of Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals [23] - Research and development expenses rose to $2.3 million in Q3 2022 from $1.3 million in Q3 2021, driven by increased spending on clinical studies for the ASPIRE trial [24] - Net loss for Q3 2022 was $4.4 million or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $2.1 million or $0.16 per diluted share in Q3 2021 [26] - Total cash was approximately $0.9 million as of September 30, 2022, excluding gross proceeds of approximately $6 million from a public offering [26] - Total current assets were $1.8 million and current liabilities were $8 million as of the end of the quarter [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on the ASPIRE trial, which has approximately 95 planned sites across the U.S., Europe, Australia, and South Korea, with significant site openings expected by year-end [6][7] - The trial sample size is 600 patients, with an anticipated 36 months for complete enrollment and an interim analysis expected in early 2024 [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is expanding its clinical trials internationally, with recent approvals for trial sites in Spain, France, and Italy [6] - The registration trial for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is anticipated to begin mid-2023, funded by One-Two Therapeutics [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to enhance shareholder value by executing against its milestones and advancing its clinical development programs [21] - The focus remains on delivering effective treatments for pancreatic cancer and other cancers with limited treatment options [7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed excitement about recent approvals and the progress made in Q3, indicating a strong commitment to advancing clinical trials and enhancing stockholder value [21] - The company is optimistic about the upcoming interim analysis and the potential for positive outcomes from ongoing trials [8] Other Important Information - The acquisition of Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals resulted in approximately $8 million in debt and accrued interest on the balance sheet [28] - The company projects that cash from the recent capital raise will sustain operations into Q1 2023, focusing on value-driving initiatives [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: How will the data from the Phase I trials be released? - Management indicated that the data will be focused on peer-reviewed journals, and press releases will follow once the journals are available for public viewing [34]