8-K
SOLENO THERAPEUTICS INC false 0001484565 0001484565 2021-11-10 2021-11-10

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): November 10, 2021

 

 

SOLENO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36593   77-0523891

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

203 Redwood Shores Pkwy, Suite 500

Redwood City, CA 94065

(Address of principal executive offices)

(650) 213-8444

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

symbols

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value   SLNO   NASDAQ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


ITEM 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Conditions

On November 10, 2021, Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021. The full text of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

This information is intended to be furnished under Item 2.02 and Item 9.01 of Form 8-K, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)    Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   

Description

99.1    Press release issued by Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. dated November 10, 2021
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

     SOLENO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date: November 10, 2021      By:   

/s/ Anish Bhatnagar

        Anish Bhatnagar
        Chief Executive Officer
EX-99.1

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Exhibit 99.1

Soleno Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., November 10, 2021 – Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. (Soleno) (NASDAQ: SLNO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases, today provided a corporate update, and reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

“The recently announced top-line results from Soleno’s ongoing open-label extension study evaluating DCCR for the treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), and the comparison of these data to matched subjects from the PATH for PWS (PfPWS) natural history study, highlight the compelling potential of this promising therapy in addressing the myriad physical and behavioral challenges faced by PWS patients and families,” said Anish Bhatnagar, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Soleno Therapeutics. “We have submitted these collective results to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of an ongoing discussion with the agency regarding the clinical data necessary to support the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to market DCCR for the treatment of PWS. We remain firmly committed to obtaining regulatory approval for DCCR as a new treatment for people with PWS as quickly as possible.”

Third Quarter 2021 and Recent Corporate Highlights

 

   

Submitted to the FDA top-line results from the company’s ongoing open-label extension study, C602, evaluating investigational, once-daily DCCR (Diazoxide Choline) Extended-Release tablets for patients with PWS and its comparison to data from the PfPWS, an ongoing study sponsored by the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR) to advance the understanding of the natural history in individuals with PWS.

 

   

A total of 115 subjects were enrolled into C602, the extension study in PWS patients who completed DESTINY PWS, an international, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of DCCR.

 

   

Key top-line results of Study C602

 

   

Hyperphagia: There was a progressive improvement in hyperphagia, the primary endpoint in the DESTINY PWS study, represented by a decrease in the HQ-CT total score, which was highly significant (p<0.0001) after receiving DCCR for 52 weeks.

 

   

PWS related behaviors: Behaviors related to PWS were measured using the PWS Profile Questionnaire (PWS-P). After 52 weeks, there were statistically significant improvements in all behavioral domains (all p<0.0001).

 

   

The safety profile of DCCR remains consistent with the known safety profile of diazoxide and the prior experience with DCCR. No serious, unexpected, related adverse events have occurred with DCCR in the program to date.

 

   

Key top-line results of Study C602 compared to matched subjects from PfPWS

 

   

Hyperphagia: Statistically significant improvement with DCCR was seen compared with PfPWS subjects at 52 weeks (p<0.001).


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PWS related behaviors: As with hyperphagia, statistically significant improvements with DCCR in C602 subjects compared with subjects in the PfPWS study were seen in all behavioral domains of the PWS-P at 52 weeks (p<0.003 for all).

 

   

Presented the above data from C602 and the comparison to PfPWS at the FPWR Annual Scientific Conference.

 

   

Presented a DCCR clinical program overview at the FPWR Annual Family Conference, Presentation can be viewed here.

 

   

Participated in the Oppenheimer Fall Healthcare Life Sciences and MedTech Summit.

 

   

Participated in the 2021 Cantor Virtual Global Healthcare Conference.

Financial Results

Soleno’s current research and development efforts are primarily focused on advancing its lead product candidate, DCCR, for the treatment of PWS, through late-stage clinical development.

Financial Results for Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

Research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, were $5.0 million and $17.7 million, compared to $4.8 million and $17.6 million for the same periods of 2020, respectively. The fluctuations in expenses were primarily due to the cadence of activities related to the DCCR development program.

General and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, were $2.8 million and $8.2 million, compared to $2.3 million and $6.5 million for the same periods of 2020, respectively. The increases were primarily related to increased compensation costs due to headcount growth and increased stock-based compensation expense.

The change in the fair value of contingent consideration results from Soleno’s obligation to make cash payments to Essentialis stockholders upon the achievement of certain future commercial milestones associated with commercial sales of DCCR in accordance with the terms of the Essentialis merger agreement. The fair value was estimated to be approximately $12.9 million as of September 30, 2021, a $0.6 million increase from the estimate on June 30, 2021, and a $2.6 million increase from the estimate on December 31, 2020.

Total other income (expense) was $0.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to other expense of $0.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2020, and consisted primarily of the change in the fair value of the company’s outstanding warrants.

Net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, was $8.1 million and $28.1 million, or a net loss of $0.10 and $0.35 per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss of $8.5 million and $21.8 million, or $0.11 and $0.38 per basic and diluted share, for the same periods in 2020, respectively.


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As of September 30, 2021, Soleno had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $28.2 million, as compared to $49.2 million as of December 31, 2020.

About PWS

The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association USA estimates that PWS occurs in one in every 15,000 live births in the U.S. The hallmark symptom of this disorder is hyperphagia, a chronic feeling of insatiable hunger that severely diminishes the quality of life for PWS patients and their families. Additional characteristics of PWS include behavioral problems, cognitive disabilities, low muscle tone, short stature (when not treated with growth hormone), the accumulation of excess body fat, developmental delays, and incomplete sexual development. Hyperphagia can lead to significant morbidities (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and mortality (e.g., stomach rupture, choking, accidental death due to food seeking behavior). In a global survey conducted by the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research, 96.5% of respondents (parent and caregivers) rated hyperphagia and 92.9 % body composition as the most important or a very important symptom to be relieved by a new medicine. There are currently no approved therapies to treat the hyperphagia/appetite, metabolic, cognitive function, or behavioral aspects of the disorder. Diazoxide choline has received Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of PWS in the U.S. and EU, and Fast Track Designation in the U.S.

About Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.

Soleno is focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases. The company’s lead candidate, DCCR extended-release tablets, a once-daily oral tablet for the treatment of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical development program. For more information, please visit www.soleno.life.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding timing of any regulatory process or ultimate approvals and determining a path forward for DCCR for the treatment of PWS. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties associated with market conditions, as well as risks and uncertainties inherent in Soleno’s business, including those described in the company’s prior press releases and in the periodic reports it files with the SEC. The events and circumstances reflected in the company’s forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the company does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.


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Corporate Contact:

Brian Ritchie

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

212-915-2578


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Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands except share and per share data)

 

     September 30,
2021
    December 31,
2020
 

Assets

     (Unaudited  

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 28,185     $ 49,224  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     702       1,019  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     28,887       50,243  

Long-term assets

    

Property and equipment, net

     26       19  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

     489       124  

Other long-term assets

     40       15  

Intangible assets, net

     13,123       14,581  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 42,565     $ 64,982  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Accounts payable

   $ 3,858     $ 3,489  

Accrued compensation

     809       1,005  

Accrued clinical trial site costs

     3,593       3,789  

Operating lease liabilities

     290       139  

Other current liabilities

     492       196  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     9,042       8,618  

Long-term liabilities

    

2018 PIPE Warrant liability

     170       539  

Contingent liability for Essentialis purchase price

     12,876       10,278  

Operating lease liabilities, net of current

     274       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     22,362       19,435  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 79,806,487 and 79,615,692 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

     80       80  

Additional paid-in-capital

     230,650       227,912  

Accumulated deficit

     (210,527     (182,445
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     20,203       45,547  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 42,565     $ 64,982  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


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Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

(In thousands except share and per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2021     2020     2021     2020  

Operating expenses

        

Research and development

   $ 4,968     $ 4,827     $ 17,719     $ 17,625  

General and administrative

     2,767       2,256       8,210       6,507  

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

     551       774       2,598       4,200  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     8,286       7,857       28,527       28,332  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (8,286     (7,857     (28,527     (28,332
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expense)

        

Change in fair value of warrants liabilities

     112       (689     369       6,532  

Interest income

     34       1       76       13  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expense)

     146       (688     445       6,545  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (8,140   $ (8,545   $ (28,082   $ (21,787
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per common share, basic and diluted

   $ (0.10   $ (0.11   $ (0.35   $ (0.38
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding used to calculate basic and diluted net loss per common share

     79,791,075       79,583,254       79,744,807       56,916,137