CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:DFFN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on extending the life expectancy of cancer patients using the novel small molecule trans sodium crocetinate (TSC) in conjunction with standard radiation and chemotherapy, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and provided a business update.

David Kalergis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Diffusion Pharmaceuticals, stated, “The FDA’s authorization of patient enrollment in our TSC Glioblastoma (GBM) Phase 3 pivotal study marks a major milestone, and the Agency’s agreement with our focus on inoperable GBM patients allows a greatly improved trial design. Because the inoperable GBM patients treated with TSC in the Phase 2 study showed a remarkable four-fold increase in overall survival at two years, the approved trial design can enroll fewer patients than the previous Phase 3 design and have a greater chance of reaching its overall survival endpoint. The thousands of patients diagnosed with inoperable GBM who are currently excluded from participation in most newly-diagnosed GBM clinical trials can now have renewed hope, with a novel treatment being developed specifically for them, to be used in conjunction with their standard of care radiation and chemotherapy treatments. We are ready to begin our GBM trial with a highly-regarded CRO engaged, sites identified and enough drug product on hand to conduct the entire trial. We are currently working with the sites’ Institutional Review Boards and remain on track to begin enrolling patients by the end of 2017.”

“In an effort to bring the Company into compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements, our shareholders voted to modify the terms of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to allow dividends to be paid in either cash or common stock, thus allowing the common stock purchase warrants issued with our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to be classified, for accounting purposes, as permanent equity rather than as a liability. We believe this change, which occurred subsequent to the close of the quarter, brings us into compliance with Nasdaq’s $2.5 million stockholders’ equity requirement. We are now awaiting confirmation from Nasdaq that we have demonstrated compliance with all applicable requirements for continued listing. This modification also permits additional financial flexibility as we advance our programs.”

Mr. Kalergis continued, “We’ve also made important additions to our board and management during the third quarter. Robert Ruffolo, Jr. joined our board of directors, bringing comprehensive pharmaceutical industry experience and drug development knowledge, honed at Wyeth (now Pfizer) and SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). William Hornung joined us as Chief Business Officer, with more than 20 years of finance and operations leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with such companies as PTC Therapeutics, Elan Pharmaceuticals, The Liposome Company and Contravir Pharmaceuticals. Bill has already had a positive impact on our business development activities.”

Recent Highlights

Research and Development

• Diffusion received final protocol guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for the Phase 3 trial with its lead compound trans sodium crocetinate (“TSC”) in patients newly diagnosed with inoperable glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”), a type of brain cancer.
• Diffusion selected the first 17 clinical trial sites in the U.S. under one Institutional Review Board, with 100 sites planned for the Phase 3 GBM trial. We anticipate our first patient dosing for the Phase 3 GBM before the end of 2017.
• We engaged a contract research organization and completed a major TSC production run, providing sufficient Phase 3 drug product to conduct the entire trial.

Key Personnel and Other

• Appointed Robert Ruffolo, Jr. Ph.D. to the Company’s Board of Directors.
• Named William “Bill” Hornung as the Company’s Chief Business Officer, a new position.
• In an effort to regain Company compliance with Nasdaq’s stockholders’ equity requirement, obtained shareholder approval to amend a provision of our Certificate of Incorporation relating to the Series A convertible preferred stock, enabling the Company to revalue and re-classify Series A warrants from liabilities to stockholders' equity.
• Participated in multiple investor conferences to present the Company’s business and interface with the investment community.

Financial Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

We had cash, cash equivalents and a certificate of deposit totaling $11.2 million as of September 30, 2017.

We recognized $1.8 million in research and development expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $1.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease in research and development expense was attributable to a $1.0 million non-cash impairment charge recognized in the third quarter of 2016, a $0.2 million decrease in expense associated with animal toxicology studies and a $0.1 million decrease in stock-based compensation expense. These amounts were partially offset by a $0.9 million increase in costs associated with our GBM trials, a $0.1 million increase in API and drug manufacturing costs and a $0.1 million increase in salary related expenses.

General and administrative expenses were $1.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $3.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease in general and administrative expense was primarily due to a $2.5 million decrease in non-cash litigation settlement fees, partially offset by an increase in salary and stock-based compensation expense of $0.1 million and an increase in professional fees of $0.1 million.

In connection with the private placement of our Series A convertible preferred stock and common stock warrants, we determined the warrants to be classified as liabilities and subject to remeasurement at each reporting period. As a result of the liability classification, during the three months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded a $8.4 million non-cash gain for the change in fair value of our common stock warrant liabilities which was primarily attributable to the decrease in the market price for our common stock.

As noted above, at a Special Stockholders meeting held on November 1, 2017, holders of both our common stock and Series A convertible preferred stock approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to permit us to pay dividends on the Series A convertible preferred stock in either cash or shares of our common stock, rather than just shares. This amendment allowed us to revalue our Series A warrant liability on November 1, 2017 and reclassify the liability, for accounting purposes, to stockholders' equity. As a result of the non-cash gain relating to the change in fair value of the warrant liabilities referred to above, we believe that this Certificate of Incorporation amendment will allow us to maintain our Nasdaq compliant status with respect to stockholders’ equity for the foreseeable future. See Note 12 of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements filed in Form 10-Q as of September 30, 2017 for further details.

About Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on extending the life expectancy of cancer patients by improving the effectiveness of current standard-of-care treatments including radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Diffusion is developing its lead product candidate, trans sodium crocetinate, for use in the many cancers where tumor hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is known to diminish the effectiveness of SOC treatments. TSC targets the cancer's hypoxic micro-environment, re-oxygenating treatment-resistant tissue and making the cancer cells more vulnerable to the therapeutic effects of SOC treatments without the apparent occurrence of any serious side effects.