CHESTERBROOK, Pa., Oct. 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trevena, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRVN) today announced an update to its strategy to focus its resources on the potential approval and commercialization of OLINVO (oliceridine injection) in the United States. With this strategic re-positioning, the Company is halting its investment in early stage research. The Company intends to complete the ongoing Phase 1 trial of TRV250 for acute migraine, after which it will assess options for further development of this asset, as well as for its series of novel S1P modulators for neuropathic pain.
As part of this plan, the Company is reducing its workforce by approximately 30 percent, or 21 full time employees, predominantly from its research team. As part of this, chief scientific officer Michael Lark, Ph.D., will depart the Company in mid-December. The Company estimates this reduction in force, along with other cost savings initiatives, will reduce cash expected to be used in operating activities over the next three calendar years by approximately $40 million. The Company also expects to incur a charge in the fourth quarter of 2017 of approximately $2.0 million related to the reduction, of which approximately $1.7 million is a cash charge relating primarily to severance costs and related expenses.
“After a thorough review of our portfolio, we have decided to reduce our capital needs and focus our resources on the future approval and commercialization of OLINVO, which we believe will be an important new option for physicians and patients. As part of this plan we made the very difficult, yet necessary, decision to reduce our work force,” said Maxine Gowen, Ph.D., chief executive officer. “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the talented and dedicated individuals affected by this plan for their many contributions to the organization. I would also like to thank Michael for his tremendous leadership of our R&D activities since he joined Trevena at its founding. Finally, I want to thank our remaining employees for their continued commitment to our long-term success as we move forward to the approval and commercial launch of OLINVO.”
The Company also announced that the New Drug Application for OLINVO remains on track for submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this month. In addition, the Company continues to expect to report data later this year from the ongoing Phase 1 study of TRV250. Additionally, the Company expects to report cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2017 of approximately $76.7 million, which the Company expects will be sufficient to support operations into the fourth quarter of 2018.
About Trevena
Trevena, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on providing better, safer therapies to patients in pain. The Company has leveraged breakthrough science to discover and develop its investigational product OLINVO™ (oliceridine injection) for the management of moderate-to-severe acute pain. OLINVO has been granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and was designed to provide healthcare providers an innovative new option for patients who would otherwise require conventional intravenous opioids. The Company has an early stage pipeline of new chemical entities targeting novel mechanisms of action, including for acute migraine, neuropathic pain, and other indications.
