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Aptose Reports Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2017SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptose Biosciences Inc. (“Aptose” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:APTO) (TSX:APS), a clinical-stage company developing highly differentiated therapeutics that target the underlying mechanisms of cancer, today announced financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and reported on corporate developments. Unless specified otherwise, all amounts are in Canadian dollars. The net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 was $3.3 million ($0.14 per share) compared with $4.0 million ($0.31 per share) in the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Total cash and cash equivalents and investments as of September 30, 2017 were $13.6 million (or $10.9 million US dollars) which, based on current operations, provide the Company with sufficient resources to fund research and development and operations into Q4 2018. “During the third quarter, we made important progress with both of our novel small molecule compounds for the treatment of certain hematologic malignancies,” said William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’ve completed manufacture of high quality drug substance and explored multiple formulations of CG’806, our oral first-in-class pan-FLT3/pan-BTK inhibitor. We triggered PK and dose range finding studies with CG’806 in order to prepare the agent for advancement into the clinic for patients with acute myeloid leukemia and certain B-cell malignancies. We also generated renewed excitement about the potential for APTO-253, a clinical-stage compound that effectively inhibits expression of the c-Myc oncogene, and we believe we have effectively addressed the formulation and manufacturing setbacks that led to a clinical hold for APTO-253. Our goal is to return APTO-253 to the clinic for the treatment of patients with AML or MDS.” Corporate Highlights
Financial Results The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2017 are presented below:
Research and Development The research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2017 are as follows:
The changes in research and development expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016 result from the following:
The changes in research and development expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016 result from the following:
General and Administrative The general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2017 are as follows:
General and administrative expenses excluding salaries, increased in the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase is mostly the result of higher investor relations, professional fees and travel costs in the period ended September 30, 2017. Salaries expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2017, decreased in comparison with the nine months ended September 30, 2016, due mostly to the reduced headcount. General and administrative expenses excluding salaries, decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease is mostly the result of lower travel costs, consulting and rent costs in the first six months of the fiscal year related to cost containment initiatives taken in the prior fiscal year and offset by higher investor relations, professional fees and travel costs in the three months ended September 30, 2017. Salary expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, decreased in comparison with the nine months ended September 30, 2016, due mostly to the reduced headcount. Stock-based compensation decreased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, due to significant option forfeitures in the three months ended March 31, 2017 and also due to grants in the prior periods having a greater fair value than the grants issued in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, and therefore contributing to higher stock-based compensation in the three and nine months period ended September 30, 2016. Conference Call and Webcast Aptose will host a conference call today, Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. EST to discuss results for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Participants can access the conference call by dialing (844) 882-7834 (North American toll free number) and (574) 990-9707 (International) and using conference ID # 98696700. The conference call can be accessed here and will also be available through a link on the Investor Relations section of Aptose’s website at ir.aptose.com. An archived version of the webcast along with a transcript will be available on the Company’s website for 30 days. An audio replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call for seven days by dialing (855) 859-2056, using the conference ID # 98696700. Note The information contained in this news release is unaudited. About Aptose Aptose Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing personalized therapies addressing unmet medical needs in oncology. Aptose is advancing new therapeutics focused on novel cellular targets on the leading edge of cancer. The Company's small molecule cancer therapeutics pipeline includes products designed to provide single agent efficacy and to enhance the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies and regimens without overlapping toxicities. For further information, please visit www.aptose.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements relating to the expected cash runway of the Company, the clinical potential and favorable properties of CG’806, the clinical trials for CG’806, the clinical potential development of APTO-253, the potential return of APTO-253 to the clinic, and statements relating to the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements including words such as “continue”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “may”, and other similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements described in this press release. Such factors could include, among others: our ability to obtain the capital required for research and operations; the inherent risks in early stage drug development including demonstrating efficacy; development time/cost and the regulatory approval process; the progress of our clinical trials; our ability to find and enter into agreements with potential partners; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; changing market and economic conditions; inability of new manufacturers to produce acceptable batches of GMP in sufficient quantities; unexpected manufacturing defects; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in our ongoing quarterly filings, annual information forms, annual reports and annual filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions set out in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. We cannot assure you that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. For further information, please contact: Aptose Biosciences SMP Communications LifeSci Advisors |