Evgen Pharma PLC (AIM:EVG) said the strength of its balance sheet was reassuring in "turbulent times" for the biotech sector and ahead of a busy year for the sulforaphane-based cancer drug specialist.
Cash at the end of September 2022 stood at £7.2mln, which gives a runway until the end of 2024, before any milestone payments from its recent deal with Swiss pharma Stalicla, said Evgen.
That deal comprises initial payments of up to US$6mln to be received before end-2023 and possible total milestones of US$160mln plus double-digit royalties.
Huw Jones, Evgen's chief executive, described the Stalicla deal as a transformative transaction that also broadens the application of [flagship drug] SFX-01 into new indications including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
“Later in the calendar year, we anticipate further milestone payments from Stalicla on the basis of a successful partnership.”
Jones added: “We look forward to seeing clinical data on our new enteric-coated tablet in the first half of next year and to seeing continued data flow from our numerous academic collaborations."
Interim after-tax losses for Evgen's latest six months [to September] were £2.1mln, up from £1.5mln a year earlier.