Eton Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Eton Pharmaceuticals

• Product sales and royalty revenue of $5.3 million up 144% from Q1 2022 and 52% from Q4 2022

• Launched Betaine Anhydrous

• Management to hold conference call today at 4:30pm ET
  
  

DEER PARK, Ill., May 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc (“Eton” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: ETON), an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for rare diseases, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

“We are pleased to announce exceptional first quarter results. ALKINDI SPRINKLE® and Carglumic Acid both delivered record revenue and tremendous growth, aided by the onboarding of our newly expanded sales force. Both products are positioned for continued growth through the rest of the year and beyond, plus we are adding the launch of Betaine Anhydrous which should further boost our growth,” said Sean Brynjelsen, CEO of Eton Pharmaceuticals. “With our strong cash position and expectation to reach profitability in the near future, we are in a prime position to continue opportunistically expanding our rare disease portfolio.”

First Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

Ninth straight quarter of sequential growth in product sales and royalty revenue. Eton reported first quarter 2023 product sales and royalty revenue of $5.3 million, representing 144% growth over the prior year period and 52% growth over the fourth quarter of 2022.

Record sales of Carglumic Acid. The company continues to see strong demand for the product from patients and prescribers. The first quarter results benefited from key account conversions that the company believes are a direct result of its expanded sales team.

Record sales of ALKINDI SPRINKLE. ALKINDI SPRINKLE also saw strong revenue and patient growth during the first quarter of 2023. During the quarter, Eton launched a new direct to consumer campaign and implemented initiatives to further increase its engagement with the adrenal insufficiency community.

Launch of Betaine Anhydrous. This week, Eton announced the launch of Betaine Anhydrous. Betaine Anhydrous shares a prescriber base with Carglumic Acid, and both products are expected to benefit from the co-promotion and increased interactions with metabolic geneticists.

Acquired rare disease product candidate ET-600. During the quarter, Eton acquired ET-600, an innovative product candidate under development for a rare pediatric endocrinology condition. If approved, ET-600 would address a significant unmet need and have the same prescriber base as ALKINDI SPRINKLE. The Company expects to file a New Drug Application for the product in 2024.

First Quarter Financial Results

Net Revenue: Net revenues for the first quarter of 2023 were $5.3 million compared with $2.2 million in the prior year period. In both periods, revenue was comprised entirely of product sales and royalties, and the increase was driven primarily by growth in ALKINDI SPRINKLE and Carglumic Acid.

Gross Profit: Gross profit for the first quarter of 2023 was $3.3 million compared with $1.3 million in the prior year period.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were $0.5 million compared to $1.6 million in the prior year period. The decrease in R&D expenses was due primarily to a $0.5 million one-time development milestone payment made in the first quarter of 2022.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses for the first quarter of 2023 were $5.3 million compared to $4.8 million in the prior year period. The increase in G&A expenses was due primarily to incremental employee-related expenses associated with our sales force expansion. $0.9 million of first quarter 2023 G&A expenses were non-cash.

Net Income: Net loss for the first quarter of 2023 was $2.7 million or $0.10 per basic and diluted share compared to a net loss of $5.3 million or $0.21 per diluted share in the prior year period.

Cash Position: As of March 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $14.7 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

As previously announced, Eton Pharmaceuticals will host its first quarter 2023 conference call as follows:

Date:	Thursday, May 11, 2023
Time:	4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT)
Register (Audio Only):	Click Here

The webcast can be accessed under “Events & Presentations” in the Investors section of the Company’s website at https://ir.etonpharma.com. The webcast will be archived and made available for replay on the Company’s website approximately two hours after the call and will be available for 30 days.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements associated with the expected ability of Eton to undertake certain activities and accomplish certain goals and objectives. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding Eton’s business strategy, Eton’s plans to develop and commercialize its product candidates, the safety and efficacy of Eton’s product candidates, Eton’s plans and expected timing with respect to regulatory filings and approvals, and the size and growth potential of the markets for Eton’s product candidates. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Eton’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. These and other risks concerning Eton’s development programs and financial position are described in additional detail in Eton’s filings with 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. Eton undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

About Eton Pharmaceuticals

Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for rare diseases. The Company currently has three FDA approved products in ALKINDI SPRINKLE®, Carglumic Acid tablets, and Betaine Anhydrous for oral solution, and four late-stage pipeline candidates under development with dehydrated alcohol injection, ZENEO® hydrocortisone autoinjector, ET-400, and ET-600. In addition, the Company receives royalties on three FDA-approved products and is entitled to receive milestone payments on other products. For more information, please visit our website at www.etonpharma.com.

Investor Relations:
Lisa M. Wilson, In-Site Communications, Inc.
T: 212-452-2793
E: lwilson@insitecony.com

Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
		For the three months ended
		March 31,				March 31,
		2023				2022
Revenues:
Licensing revenue		$	—			$	—
Product sales and royalties			5,304				2,176
Total net revenues			5,304				2,176
Cost of sales:
Licensing revenue			—				—
Product sales and royalties			1,958				849
Total cost of sales			1,958				849
Gross profit			3,346				1,327
Operating expenses:
Research and development			535				1,618
General and administrative			5,345				4,796
Total operating expenses			5,880				6,414
(Loss) income from operations			(2,534	)			(5,087	)
Other (expense) income:
Interest and other expense, net			(126	)			(243	)
(Loss) income before income tax expense			(2,660	)			(5,330	)
Income tax expense			—				—
Net (loss) income		$	(2,660	)		$	(5,330	)
Net (loss) income per share, basic and diluted		$	(0.10	)		$	(0.21	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted			25,525				25,301

Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
		March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022
		(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	14,708			$	16,305
Accounts receivable, net			2,874				1,852
Inventories			437				557
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			1,099				1,290
Total current assets			19,118				20,004
Property and equipment, net			56				72
Intangible assets, net			4,573				4,754
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net			169				188
Other long-term assets, net			12				12
Total assets		$	23,928			$	25,030
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	1,233			$	1,766
Current portion of long-term debt			1,339				1,033
Accrued liabilities			4,922				3,662
Total current liabilities			7,494				6,461
Long-term debt, net of discount and including accrued fees			5,107				5,384
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion			86				107
Total liabilities			12,687				11,952
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 25,504,378 and 25,353,119 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively			26				25
Additional paid-in capital			117,009				116,187
Accumulated deficit			(105,794	)			(103,134	)
Total stockholders’ equity			11,241				13,078
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	23,928			$	25,030

Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
		Three months ended				Three months ended
		March 31, 2023				March 31, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$	(2,660	)		$	(5,330	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation			872				1,083
Depreciation and amortization			213				181
Debt discount amortization			29				36
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(1,022	)			4,675
Inventories			120				40
Prepaid expenses and other assets			191				961
Accounts payable			(530	)			(393	)
Accrued liabilities			1,239				(30	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(1,548	)			1,223
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment			—				(15	)
Net cash used in investing activities			—				(15	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of long-term debt			—				(385	)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan and stock option exercises			132				—
Payment of tax withholding related to net share settlement of stock option exercises			(181	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(49	)			(385	)
Change in cash and cash equivalents			(1,597	)			823
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			16,305				14,406
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	14,708			$	15,229
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest		$	216			$	215
Cash paid for income taxes		$	—			$	—
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing activities:
Payable for product license fee		$	—			$	750