TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 16, 2022 / Edesa Biotech, Inc. (NASDAQ:EDSA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on inflammatory and immune-related diseases, today reported financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 and provided an update on its business.

During the fiscal year, Edesa reported positive final results from the Phase 2 part of a Phase 2/3 study of its monoclonal antibody in Covid-19 patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Among the results, critically ill patients given EB05 plus standard of care treatment had an 84% reduction in the risk of dying when compared to placebo plus standard of care at 28 days. The company has submitted a Phase 2 Clinical Study Report to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as part of the review of Edesa's Phase 3 clinical protocol design and statistical plan. In the fourth quarter, the company also completed enrollment in its Phase 2b dermatology study, and expects to report topline data in the next four weeks.

"We believe the significant strides we made in 2022 have positioned us for continued and accelerated progress," said Par Nijhawan, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Edesa Biotech. "With two late-stage studies, a growing development pipeline, large addressable markets and interest from potential partners, we are excited about the opportunities we are bringing into the new year."

Edesa's Chief Financial Officer Kathi Niffenegger reported that operational expenses for fiscal 2022 decreased by more than 20% over the previous year, benefitting from the completion of clinical activities related to the company's Phase 2b dermatitis study and the flexibility of Edesa's business model to manage working capital. "Our full fiscal year results reflect the trend demonstrated in the past three quarters of reduced operating expenses and prudent management of working capital," she said.

Edesa reported that near-term operational objectives include, among others, completing the FDA review of the company's Phase 3 protocol design for EB05; fully enrolling the Phase 3 study of EB05; reporting Phase 2b results for EB01; completing a Phase 2 investigational new drug application in the U.S. for systemic sclerosis; and submitting a clinical trial application for vitiligo in Canada.

Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022

Total operating expenses decreased by $5.31 million to $18.37 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 compared to $23.68 million for the prior year:

• Research and development expenses decreased by $4.61 million to $13.34 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 compared to $17.95 million for the prior year primarily due to decreased milestone payments, external research expenses related to the company's clinical studies and investigational drug product manufacturing expenses, which were partially offset by increased personnel expenses.
• General and administrative expenses decreased by $0.69 million to $5.04 million for the year ended September 30, 2022 compared to $5.73 million for the prior year primarily due to a decrease in noncash share-based compensation.

Total other income decreased by $9.52 million to $0.82 million for year ended September 30, 2022 compared to $10.34 million for the prior year primarily due to a decrease in grant income associated with the completion of clinical study activities under Edesa's federal reimbursement grant with the Canadian government's Strategic Innovation Fund.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, Edesa reported a net loss of $17.55 million, or $1.05 per common share, compared to a net loss of $13.34 million, or $1.10 per common share, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.

Working Capital

At September 30, 2022, Edesa had cash and cash equivalents of $7.09 million and working capital of $6.95 million. Subsequent to the end of the fiscal year, the company received gross proceeds of approximately $3.0 million from a private placement of common shares and warrants.

Calendar

Edesa management plans to participate in the 2023 Dermatology Summit on January 8, 2023 and in one-on-one meetings during JP Morgan week on January 9-12, 2023, in San Francisco, California. Attendees interested in meeting with management can request meetings through the conference organizers or by contacting Edesa directly at investors@edesabiotech.com.

About Edesa Biotech, Inc.

Edesa Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq:EDSA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative treatments for inflammatory and immune-related diseases with clear unmet medical needs. The company's two lead product candidates, EB05 and EB01, are in late-stage clinical studies. Sign up for news alerts. Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

ARDS Clinical Program

EB05, a novel monoclonal antibody targeting Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) as a critical care therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) - Phase 3: Enrolling

EB05 inhibits signaling through TLR4 - a key pattern recognition receptor involved in the activation of the innate immune system. Excessive TLR4 pathway activation can be pathological and has been linked to various inflammatory conditions, including viral-mediated acute lung injury. EB05 has extensive preclinical and clinical experience, including evaluations in more than 600 hospitalized Covid-19 subjects. In an international Phase 2 study, a single dose of EB05 demonstrated compelling preliminary evidence of the drug's ability to reduce mortality in target patient populations.

Contact Dermatitis Clinical Program

EB01, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound that inhibits secretory phospholipase 2 (sPLA2) as a treatment for the symptoms of chronic allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) - Phase 2b: Fully Enrolled.

EB01 exerts its anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of sPLA2 pro-inflammatory enzymes. The sPLA2 enzyme family plays a key role in initiating inflammation associated with numerous diseases. By targeting sPLA2 with enzyme inhibitors - at the inception of inflammation rather than after inflammation has occurred - Edesa believes that drugs based on this technology could provide a powerful anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategy for treating diverse inflammatory/allergic conditions. EB01 has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of ACD in two previous clinical trials.

Edesa Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "might," "potential," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions, including statements related to: the company's expectation to report preliminary topline data from its Phase 2b study of EB01 by mid-January 2023; the company's belief that the significant accomplishments it made in 2022 have positioned it for continued and accelerated progress; the company's belief that its product candidates have large addressable markets, and will draw continued interest from potential partners; the company's plans to complete the FDA review process of the its Phase 3 protocol design for EB05; the company's plans to fully enroll the Phase 3 study of EB05; the company's plans to complete a Phase 2 investigational new drug application in the U.S. for systemic sclerosis; the company's plans to submit a clinical trial application for vitiligo in Canada; and the company's timing and plans regarding its clinical studies in general. Readers should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as all such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such risks include: the ability of Edesa to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize any of its product candidates, the risk that access to sufficient capital to fund Edesa's operations may not be available or may be available on terms that are not commercially favorable to Edesa, the risk that Edesa's product candidates may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical trials, the risk that Edesa fails to comply with the terms of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business, Edesa's ability to protect its intellectual property, the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings, and the impacts of public health crises, such as Covid-19. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the company's ability to control or predict. For a discussion of further risks and uncertainties related to Edesa's business, please refer to Edesa's public company reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commission. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, Edesa assumes no obligation to update such statements.

Contact
Gary Koppenjan
Edesa Biotech, Inc.
(805) 488-2800 ext. 150
investors@edesabiotech.com

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SOURCE: Edesa Biotech