Acasti Pharma Announces Year End Results and Corporate Reorganization
25 May 2012 - 10:00PM
Acasti Pharma ("Acasti" or the "Corporation") (TSX-V:APO), a
Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc's ("Neptune")
subsidiary, reports the highlights of its financial results for the
fiscal year ended February 29, 2012, provides a review of the
year's most significant milestones and discusses its corporate
reorganization.
Financial Results Highlights
- During the fiscal year ended February 29, 2012, Acasti
generated revenues of $10,000 from its first sales of its Medical
Food product, OnemiaTM, and $116,000 from a research contract it
has conducted for Neptune compared to revenues of $28,000 from
research it was conducting for Neptune during the corresponding
period of 2011.
- Research and development expenses for the year ended February
29, 2012 amounted to $3,140,000 compared to $1,538,000 for the
corresponding period of 2011.
- Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2012 was
negative $4,481,000, compared to negative $2,255,000 obtained
during the corresponding period of 2011.
- Net loss amounted to $6,501,000, or $0.10 per share for the
fiscal year ended February 29, 2012, compared to $3,008,000, or
$0.06 per share, for the corresponding period of 2011.
Fiscal Year Milestones
- Announcements of promising preclinical results; CaPre® has
shown superior efficacy compared to currently marketed drugs on
several cardiometabolic conditions in animal testing, and more
precisely on impaired glucose tolerance, as well as a significant
reduction of triglycerides.
- Listing of Acasti shares on TSX-Venture on March 31, 2011.
- Addition of two board members; Martin Godbout and Marc LeBel
joined the Board of Directors in March 2011, as well as the
addition of an executive officer to the management team; Harlan
Waksal M.D. was named Executive Vice-President, Business &
Scientific Affairs.
- Health Canada clearance to initiation of two phase II clinical
trials; the double-blind and open-label clinical trials recruited
their first patients in October and December 2011,
respectively.
- Successful completion of two financings; the first one was an
oversubscribed rights offering of $8,057,000 closed in September
2011. The second financing was a private placement of
$2,000,000, closed in February 2012, with subscriptions from
Neptune and Harlan Waksal M.D., Acasti's Executive
Vice-President.
- Generation of first revenues from the direct sales of OnemiaTM;
Onemia was also sampled to several physicians who have started
recommending it to their patients and on most of which we have
noticed a very promising normalization of lipid profile
effect.
"OnemiaTM sales are progressing; the product is well received
among practitioners in the US including cardiologists and
lipidologists at the forefront of lipid management treatments. As
the first medicinal application of krill extracts, OnemiaTM is
educating the healthcare industry about omega-3 phospholipids
paving the road for Acasti's pipeline. We are now actively
commercializing OnemiaTM in the U.S. directly while we expect sales
through distributors to accelerate Onemia™ market roll-out in the
near future," stated Pierre Lemieux, COO. "In short, we are
confident about sales activity ramping up during the next fiscal
year."
"Acasti is moving forward in its development program, enrollment
is ongoing for both our clinical trials and data is expected to be
available later this year," stated Harlan Waksal M.D., Executive
Vice-President, Business & Scientific Affairs.
"Acasti has completed two important financings during the year, as
well as the listing of its shares on TSX-Venture, which are
cornerstone financial developments, key to the growth of the
Corporation," added Xavier Harland, CFO.
Corporate Reorganization
As part of a corporate reorganization of Acasti and Neptune, Dr.
Tina Sampalis has been appointed as Chief Global Strategic Officer
(CGSO) of Neptune, Acasti and NeuroBiopharm. In the interim, Henri
Harland, Acasti's CEO, will also hold the role of
President.
"Dr. Sampalis has always been instrumental to Neptune and
Acasti's growth and development. As Global Strategic Officer, Dr.
Sampalis will be closely involved in the global development and
important decisions of Neptune and its subsidiaries, adding great
value to our expansion plan while in the midst of rapid
globalization and rigorous innovation. Her experience and knowledge
will not only be very useful to Neptune and Acasti but also to
Neurobiopharm, which is following Acasti's development model,"
stated Henri Harland, CEO.
"I am very pleased to be more involved with Neptune again, this
time in a more strategic role. I am also honored for the confidence
bestowed upon me by our CEO and Board of Directors. Neptune and its
subsidiaries have an incredible foundation and growth potential and
I am looking forward to work with Mr. Harland and the team to
realize our vision by establishing the Neptune family as leaders in
the healthcare industry," stated Dr. Tina Sampalis.
About Acasti Pharma Inc.
Acasti Pharma is developing a product portfolio of proprietary
novel long-chain omega-3 phospholipids. Phospholipids are the major
component of cell membranes and are essential for all vital cell
processes. They are one of the principal constituents of High
Density Lipoprotein (good cholesterol) and, as such, play an
important role in modulating cholesterol efflux. Acasti Pharma's
proprietary novel phospholipids carry and functionalize the
polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which have been
shown to have substantial health benefits and which are stabilized
by potent antioxidants. Acasti Pharma is focusing initially on
treatments for chronic cardiovascular and cardiometabolic
conditions within the over-the-counter, medical food and
prescription drug markets.
About Neptune Technologies & Bioressources
Inc.
Neptune is an industry-recognized leader in the innovation,
production and formulation of science-based and clinically proven
novel phospholipid products for the nutraceutical and
pharmaceutical markets. The Company focuses on growing consumer
health markets including cardiovascular, inflammatory and
neurological diseases driven by consumers taking a more proactive
approach to managing health and preventing disease. The Company
sponsors clinical trials aimed to demonstrate its product health
benefits and to obtain regulatory approval for label health claims.
Neptune is continuously expanding its intellectual property
portfolio as well as clinical studies and regulatory approvals.
Neptune's products are marketed and distributed in over 20
countries worldwide.
"Neither Nasdaq nor the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release."
Statements in this press release that are not statements of
historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other unknown factors that could cause the
actual results of the Company to be materially different from
historical results or from any future results expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to
statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties,
readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the
terms "believes," "belief," "expects," "intends," "anticipates,"
"will," or "plans" to be uncertain and forward-looking. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject
generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described
from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian
securities commissions.
CONTACT: Acasti Contact:
Henri Harland
President & CEO
+1 450.686.4555
t.sampalis@acastipharma.com
www.acastipharma.com
Xavier Harland
Chief Financial Officer
+1.450.687.2262
x.harland@acastipharma.com
www.acastipharma.com
Howard Group Contact:
Dave Burwell
(888) 221-0915
dave@howardgroupinc.com
www.howardgroupinc.com
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