TORONTO, May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -Transition Therapeutics Inc. ("Transition" or the "Company") (TSX: TTH; NASDAQ: TTHI), a biopharmaceutical development company advancing novel therapeutics for CNS and metabolic disease indications, today announced its financial results for the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2015. Investors are invited to participate in a conference call today at 4:30pm EST to discuss these results. Dial in information for the call is as follows: (800) 931-5132 (North America) and (212) 271-4651 (International). A live webcast can be accessed via Transition's website www.transitiontherapeutics.com, with a replay available for seven days following the call.

Selected Highlights

Highlights for the Company during the nine month period ended March 31, 2015 and up to the date of this press release include the following:

ELND005:


    --  March 26, 2015 - Transition announced results from two phase 1 clinical
        studies of neuropsychiatric drug candidate ELND005. These studies, an
        absorption-metabolism-excretion ("AME") study and a renal clearance
        study, are specialized clinical pharmacology trials that are required by
        the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for the approval
        of most drugs in development;
    --  March 2, 2015 - Transition announced that its wholly owned subsidiary,
        TTIL completed enrolment of 350 patients in the Phase 2 clinical study
        evaluating neuropsychiatric drug candidate ELND005 as a treatment for
        agitation and aggression in patients with Alzheimer's disease ("AD").
        The objectives of the Phase 2 clinical study ("Harmony AD Study") are to
        evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ELND005 over 12 weeks
        of treatment in patients with mild to severe AD, who are experiencing at
        least moderate levels of agitation/aggression. The randomized,
        double-blind, placebo-controlled study has enrolled 350 AD patients at
        69 clinical sites in the United States, Canada, Spain and the United
        Kingdom. The primary efficacy endpoint of the study is the change from
        baseline in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Clinician ("NPI-C") scale
        of agitation and aggression. It is anticipated that the top-line data
        from the Harmony AD Study will be announced early summer 2015;
    --  November 24, 2014 - Transition announced results from a thorough QT
        (tQT) study in which no QT effects were observed at supra-therapeutic
        single doses of neuropsychiatric drug candidate, ELND005. A tQT study is
        a specialized clinical trial required by the FDA for the approval of
        most drugs in development. From a safety perspective, drugs that have no
        QT prolongation effects are particularly desirable for administration to
        an elderly Alzheimer's disease ("AD") population;
    --  November 20, 2014 - Transition announced the results of a clinical study
        of neuropsychiatric drug candidate ELND005 in young adults with Down
        syndrome. TTIL completed this first study in Down syndrome subjects
        without dementia to allow optimal dose selection for future larger
        studies. The study enrolled 23 Down syndrome subjects in three study
        arms over a four-week treatment period. At the doses evaluated, ELND005
        was determined to have an acceptable safety and tolerability profile and
        there were no serious adverse events reported;
    --  November 4, 2014 - Transition announced findings from a Phase 2 study of
        neuropsychiatric drug candidate, ELND005, as an adjunctive maintenance
        treatment for bipolar disorder type I patients (BPD). TTIL terminated
        the bipolar disorder Phase 2 study on April 7, 2014 for business
        reasons. TTIL has completed a review of the data from this bipolar
        disorder Phase 2 study. Overall, ELND005 had an acceptable safety and
        tolerability profile in the study, and showed numerical differences in
        the number of mood event recurrences favoring ELND005.

TT401:


    --  In February, 2015, development partner Lilly informed Transition that
        420 type 2 diabetic subjects have been enrolled in the current Phase 2
        study thereby completing the enrollment phase of the study;
    --  Transition has paid all three installment payments totaling US$14
        million to diabetes drug candidate development partner Lilly. Transition
        has no further financial obligations for the development and
        commercialization of TT401. In December, 2014, Lilly informed Transition
        that the 70% enrollment milestone had been achieved.

TT401 (LY2944876) is an oxyntomodulin analogue that has dual agonist activity of the GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) and glucagon receptors. A Phase 2 clinical trial of TT401 in type 2 diabetes subjects is being performed by Transition's development partner, Lilly. Results from this study are expected in calendar Q4 2015.

Transition is eligible to receive up to approximately US$240 million in additional milestone payments plus double-digit royalties on sales of TT401 products and a low single digit royalty on sales of related compounds. Transition has no further funding obligations related to this clinical study.

Corporate Developments:


    --  May 6, 2015 - Transition announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, TTIL has
        exclusively licensed worldwide rights to a novel small molecule drug
        candidate ("TT701") from Eli Lilly and Company. Under the terms of the
        agreement, TTIL has acquired rights to develop and commercialize TT701.
        Lilly will receive upfront consideration of up to US$1 million. In
        addition, Lilly is eligible to receive up to US$100 million in
        commercial milestones and a mid-single digit royalty on sales of TT701
        products should such products be successfully commercialized. TT701 is a
        selective androgen receptor modulator that has been shown in a Phase 2
        study to significantly increase lean body mass and a measurement of
        muscle strength in male subjects. This completed 12-week, Phase 2 study
        of 350 subjects also demonstrated additional beneficial effects,
        including significant fat mass reduction with no significant change in
        prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. TTIL is evaluating multiple
        development paths for TT701, including as a new therapeutic option for
        patients with androgen deficiency. TTIL is engaged with potential
        collaborators to rapidly commence a Phase 2 clinical study;
    --  February 18, 2015 - Transition announced the closing of a public
        offering of US$23 million of common shares equivalent to an aggregate of
        3,538,461 common shares at a price to the public of US$6.50 per share,
        including 461,538 common shares issued upon the exercise of the
        underwriters' over-allotment option. Cowen and Company, LLC was the sole
        book-running manager and Canaccord Genuity Inc., H.C. Wainwright & Co.,
        LLC, and LifeSci Capital LLC were the co-managers for the offering;
    --  July 11, 2014 - Transition announced that Carl Damiani has been
        appointed Chief Operating Officer of Transition.

Financial Liquidity

At March 31, 2015, the Company had cash resources of $50,248,469.

The Company's current cash projection indicates that the existing cash resources should enable the Company to execute its core business plan and meet its projected cash requirements for the next 12 months.

Financial Review

For the three month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded a net loss of $4,748,096 ($0.13 loss per common share) compared to a net loss of $5,067,292 ($0.17 loss per common share) for the three month period ended March 31, 2014.

For the nine month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded a net loss of $37,353,559 ($1.04 loss per common share) compared to a net loss of $8,652,250 ($0.29 loss per common share) for the nine month period ended March 31, 2014.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses increased by $153,984 from $4,734,288 for the three month period ended March 31, 2014 to $4,888,272 for the three month period ended March 31, 2015. For the nine month period ended March 31, 2015, research and development expenses increased $29,925,151 to $36,828,052 from $6,902,901 for the same period in fiscal 2014.

The increases in research and development expenses for both the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2015 are primarily due to increases in development costs related to ELND005. The increase for the nine month period is also attributed to increases in development costs associated with diabetes drug candidate TT401 as the Company has paid Lilly an aggregate of US$14 million upon the achievement of all three patient enrollment milestones. The increase in research and development costs have been partially offset by decreases in clinical development costs associated with the costs related to the TT601 program.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses increased by $136,652 from $1,131,879 for the three month period ended March 31, 2014 to $1,268,531 for the three month period ended March 31, 2015. For the nine month period ended March 31, 2015, general and administrative expenses increased $724,854 to $3,777,812 from $3,052,958 for the same period in fiscal 2014.

The increases in general and administrative expenses for both the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2015 are primarily due to increases in compensation and overhead costs relating to the Company's premises in San Mateo, California.

About Transition

Transition is a biopharmaceutical development company, advancing novel therapeutics for CNS and metabolic disease indications. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Transition Therapeutics Ireland Limited is developing CNS drug candidate ELND005 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome. Transition's lead metabolic drug candidate is TT401 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and accompanying obesity. The Company's shares are listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol "TTHI" and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "TTH". For additional information about the Company, please visit www.transitiontherapeutics.com. Extracts of the Financial Statements to Follow:


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)




    In Canadian Dollars                       As at                     As at

                                         March 31, 2015             June 30, 2014
    ---                                  --------------             -------------


    Assets

    Current assets

    Cash                                                 50,248,469               57,212,004

    Short term investments                                        -               3,059,562

    Other receivables                                     1,303,013                  220,514

    Income tax and investment tax
     credits receivable                                     399,668                  212,393

    Prepaid expenses and deposits                           162,651                   36,656
    -----------------------------                           -------                   ------

                                                         52,113,801               60,741,129


    Non-current assets

    Property and equipment                                  199,774                  158,926

    Intangible assets                                     7,553,329                8,007,181
    -----------------                                     ---------                ---------

    Total assets                                         59,866,904               68,907,236
    ============                                         ==========               ==========


    Liabilities

    Current liabilities

    Trade and other payables                              4,740,024                5,963,258
    ------------------------                              ---------                ---------

                                                          4,740,024                5,963,258


    Non-current liabilities

    Contingent consideration payable                      5,165,122                3,838,286

    Leasehold inducement                                      2,858                   11,432
    --------------------                                      -----                   ------

    Total liabilities                                     9,908,004                9,812,976
    -----------------                                     ---------                ---------


    Equity attributable to owners of the
     Company

    Share capital                                       233,518,538              207,374,493

    Warrants                                              5,176,397                5,176,397

    Contributed surplus                                  14,771,907               14,768,221

    Share-based payment reserve                           4,901,164                2,866,292

    Accumulated other comprehensive
     income                                                  59,624                   24,028

    Deficit                                           (208,468,730)           (171,115,171)
    -------                                            ------------             ------------

    Total equity                                         49,958,900               59,094,260
    ------------                                         ----------               ----------


    Total liabilities and equity                         59,866,904               68,907,236
    ============================                         ==========               ==========

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
For the nine and three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014
(Unaudited)


    In Canadian Dollars, except per
     share data                        Nine month                 Nine month                 Three month                 Three month
                                      period ended               period ended               period ended                 period ended
                                     March 31, 2015             March 31, 2014             March 31, 2015               March 31, 2014
    ---                              --------------             --------------             --------------               --------------


    Expenses

    Research and development                         36,828,052                  6,902,901                    4,888,272                    4,734,288

    Selling, general and                              3,777,812                  3,052,958                    1,268,531                    1,131,879
    administrative expenses

    Settlement of a pre-existing                              -                 3,101,507                            -                   3,101,507
    relationship

    Change in fair value of                             747,698                (2,781,907)                     276,739                  (2,781,907)
    contingent consideration
    payable
    -------


    Operating Loss                                 (41,353,562)              (10,275,459)                 (6,433,542)                 (6,185,767)


    Interest income                                     146,551                    163,869                       34,304                       61,001

    Foreign exchange gain                             3,930,317                  1,467,310                    1,728,007                    1,065,444

    Loss on disposal of property and                   (76,865)                   (7,970)                    (76,865)                     (7,970)
    equipment
    ---------

    Net loss for the period                        (37,353,559)               (8,652,250)                 (4,748,096)                 (5,067,292)


    Other Comprehensive loss for
    the period


    Items that may be
    subsequently reclassified to
    net income:

    Cumulative translation                               35,596                          -                      75,272                            -
    adjustment
    ==========

    Comprehensive loss for the                     (37,317,963)               (8,652,250)                 (4,672,824)                 (5,067,292)
    period
    ======

    Basic and diluted net loss per                       (1.04)                    (0.29)                      (0.13)                      (0.17)
    common share
    ============

Notice to Readers: Information contained in our press releases should be considered accurate only as of the date of this release and may be superseded by more recent information we have disclosed in later press releases, filings with the OSC, SEC or otherwise. Except for historical information, this press release may contain forward-looking statements, relating to expectations, plans or prospects for Transition, including conducting clinical trials. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Transition's management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include factors beyond Transition's control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements discussed in Transition's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian commissions and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Transition Therapeutics Inc.