XML 19 R7.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.1.u1
Description of the Business and Liquidity
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Description of the Business and Liquidity  
Description of the Business and Liquidity

1. Description of the Business and Liquidity

We are a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of seizure disorders, including rare genetic epilepsies and status epilepticus (SE). On March 18, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved our new drug application (NDA) for the use of ZTALMY® (ganaxolone) oral suspension CV for the treatment of seizures associated with Cyclin-dependent Kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) Deficiency Disorder (CDD) in patients two years of age and older. ZTALMY, our first FDA approved product, became available for commercial sale and shipment in the third quarter of 2022. On July 28, 2023, the European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorization for ZTALMY for the adjunctive treatment of epileptic seizures associated with CDD in patients two to 17 years of age. ZTALMY may be continued in patients 18 years of age and older. We have an exclusive collaboration agreement with Orion Corporation (Orion) for European commercialization of ganaxolone for ZTALMY. Orion is preparing for commercial launches of ZTALMY in select European countries in 2024.

We are also developing ganaxolone for the treatment of other rare genetic epilepsies, including Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), and for the treatment of Refractory Status Epilepticus (RSE). SE is a life-threatening condition characterized by continuous, prolonged seizures or rapidly recurring seizures without intervening recovery of consciousness. If SE is not treated urgently, permanent neuronal damage may occur, which contributes to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Patients with SE who do not respond to first-line benzodiazepine treatment are classified as having Established Status Epilepticus (ESE) and those who then progress to and subsequently fail at least one second-line antiepileptic drug are classified as having RSE.

We are developing ganaxolone in formulations for two different routes of administration: intravenous (IV) and oral. The different formulations are intended to maximize potential therapeutic applications of ganaxolone for adult and pediatric patient populations, in both acute and chronic care. While the precise mechanism by which ganaxolone exerts its therapeutic effects in the treatment of seizures is unknown, its anticonvulsant effects are thought to result from positive allosteric modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor in the central nervous system (CNS). Ganaxolone is a synthetic analog of allopregnanolone, an endogenous neurosteroid, and targets both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA. This unique receptor binding profile may contribute to the anticonvulsant, antidepressant and anxiolytic effects shown by neuroactive steroids in animal models, clinical trials or both.

Liquidity

Since inception, we have incurred negative cash flows from our operations, and other than for the three months ended September 30, 2022 due to a one-time net gain from the sale of our Priority Review Voucher (PRV), we have incurred net losses. We incurred a Net loss of $38.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. There is no assurance that profitable operations will be achieved in the future, and if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. In addition, development activities, clinical and preclinical testing, and commercialization of ganaxolone (in indications other than CDD in the U.S.) will require significant additional financing. Our accumulated deficit as of March 31, 2024 was $610.6 million, and we expect to incur substantial losses in future periods.

We plan to finance our future operations with a combination of proceeds from the issuance of equity securities, the issuance of debt, government funding, collaborations, licensing transactions and other commercial transactions or other sources, and revenues from product sales. We have not generated positive cash flows from operations, and there are no assurances that we will be successful in obtaining an adequate level of financing for the continued development and commercialization of ganaxolone.

Management’s operating plan, which underlies the analysis of our ability to continue as a going concern, involves the estimation of the amount and timing of future cash inflows and outflows. Actual results could vary from the operating plan. We follow the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern, which requires management

to assess our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued. We had Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments of $113.3 million as of March 31, 2024. We believe that such amount is not sufficient to fund our operations for the one-year period after the date these financial statements are issued. As a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern through the one-year period from the date these financial statements are issued. Cost reduction activities are being implemented, with expected impact beginning in the second quarter of 2024. Management’s plans that are intended to further mitigate this risk include securing additional funding in the future from one or more equity or debt financings, government funding, collaborations, licensing transactions, other commercial or strategic transactions or other sources. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in raising additional capital or that such capital, if available, will be on terms acceptable to us. We have and will continue to evaluate alternatives to extend our operations beyond the one-year period after the date the financial statements are issued.