RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Drug discovery and development company SCYNEXIS, Inc. (Nasdaq:SCYX) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2015.

"We are in a strong financial position following the successful completion of our follow-on public offering in April 2015, which resulted in net proceeds of $37.8 million," said Marco Taglietti, SCYNEXIS' Chief Executive Officer. "These cash resources are projected to allow us to progress our lead product candidate, SCY-078, through several key milestones, bringing us closer to providing a new treatment option to patients with life-threatening invasive fungal infections."

Recent Developments

  • SCYNEXIS successfully completed a follow-on public offering in April 2015, selling approximately 5.4 million shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $7.70 per share, providing net proceeds of approximately $37.8 million after underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses;
  • David Angulo, M.D., has accepted an offer to join SCYNEXIS as Chief Medical Officer, effective June 1, 2015; and
  • Charles F. Osborne, Jr., our current Chief Financial Officer, is resigning from SCYNEXIS effective June 30, 2015, and we have commenced a search for a new chief financial officer.

SCY-078 Update

  • Implemented protocol amendments to our Phase 2 study of oral SCY-078 to facilitate patient enrollment;
  • Top line results of our Phase 2 study are expected in the first half of 2016 as planned; and
  • IND-enabling toxicology studies are being completed in support of the IND for the Phase 1 Program of an IV formulation of SCY-078 which is planned to begin in the second half of 2015.

First Quarter 2015 Financial Results

SCYNEXIS reported a net loss of $6.4 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $0.4 million for the first quarter of 2014. The net loss in the first quarter of 2015 was primarily due to costs associated with the development of SCY-078 and public company operating expenses. The net income for the first quarter of 2014 was primarily due to a gain of $2.8 million from a derivative fair value adjustment, largely offset by an operating loss of $1.8 million. Diluted net loss attributable to common stockholders for the first quarter of 2015 was $6.4 million, or $0.75 per diluted common share. This compares to diluted net loss attributable to common stockholders for the first quarter of 2014 of $1.2 million, or $6.57 per diluted common share.1

Research and development expenses increased to $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2014. The increase of $2.9 million was primarily due to increased costs associated with the SCY-078 Phase 2 clinical trial and the preclinical development of intravenous SCY-078, as well as increased employee compensation costs.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $27.6 million as of March 31, 2015.

About SCYNEXIS, Inc.

SCYNEXIS is a pharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel anti-infectives to address significant unmet therapeutic needs. We are developing our lead product candidate, SCY-078, as an oral and intravenous (IV) drug for the treatment of serious and life-threatening invasive fungal infections in humans. For more information, visit www.scynexis.com.

Forward Looking Statement

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts, including those statements regarding any future performance of SCYNEXIS's product candidates, the potential of SCY-078 to treat invasive fungal infections, the therapeutic and commercial potential of SCY-078, and the anticipated timing and therapeutic and commercial potential of the product candidates of SCYNEXIS are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Additional risks related to SCYNEXIS are described more fully in SCYNEXIS's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. SCYNEXIS undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

1 The issuance of common stock and the conversion of our outstanding shares of preferred stock during our initial public offering in May 2014 caused a significant increase in common shares outstanding and has impacted the comparability of our net loss per share calculations between first quarter of 2015 and first quarter of 2014 periods.

 
 
SCYNEXIS, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)  
 
 Three months ended March 31,
 20152014
Revenue — related party $ 987 $ 1,822
Revenue 2,310 2,883
Total revenue 3,297 4,705
Cost of revenue 3,231 3,960
Gross profit 66 745
Operating expenses:    
Research and development 4,218 1,320
Selling, general and administrative 2,233 1,206
Total operating expenses 6,451 2,526
Loss from operations (6,385) (1,781)
Other (income) expense:    
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount — 536
Interest (income) expense (1) 44
Derivative fair value adjustment — (2,783)
Other expense — 10
Total other (income) expense: (1) (2,193)
Net (loss) income $ (6,384) $ 412
Deemed dividend for beneficial conversion feature on Series D-2 preferred stock — (909)
Deemed dividend for antidilution adjustments to convertible preferred stock — (214)
Accretion of convertible preferred stock — (510)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders - basic $ (6,384) $ (1,221)
Derivative fair value adjustment — (2,783)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders - diluted (6,384) (4,004)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:    
Basic $ (0.75) $ (3.65)
Diluted $ (0.75) $ (6.57)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:    
Basic 8,516,467 334,086
Diluted 8,516,467 609,074
     
     
SCYNEXIS, INC.
BALANCE SHEET DATA
(in thousands)
     
 March 31, 2015
(Unaudited)		December 31, 2014
Cash and cash equivalents $ 27,620 $ 32,243
Total current assets 29,830 34,736
Total assets 34,857 39,672
Total current liabilities 5,132 3,801
Total liabilities 7,419 6,241
Total stockholders' equity 27,438 33,431
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 34,857 39,672
CONTACT: Media Relations
         Heather Savelle
         MacDougall Biomedical Communications
         Tel: 781-235-3060
         hsavelle@macbiocom.com
         
         Investor Relations
         Jillian Connell
         The Trout Group LLC
         Tel: 646.378.2956
         jconnell@troutgroup.com
         
         SCYNEXIS, Inc.
         Chuck Osborne
         Chief Financial Officer
         Tel: 919-544-8600
         E-mail: chuck.osborne@scynexis.com