Catalyst Biosciences

Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating F351 for the treatment of CHB-associated liver fibrosis in the PRC remains on track with data anticipated by early 2025

U.S. IND submission to evaluate F351 for the treatment of NASH-associated liver fibrosis expected in late 2024; Phase 2a trial expected to initiate in 2025

Acquired the rights to complementary assets relating to nintedanib through Gyre Pharmaceuticals to improve competitiveness in the PRC

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $29.8 million as of March 31, 2024

SAN DIEGO, May 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gyre Therapeutics (“Gyre”) (Nasdaq: GYRE), a clinical-stage, self-sustainable biotechnology company developing anti-fibrotic therapeutics for a variety of chronic organ diseases, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, and provided a business update.

“Supported by sales of our market-leading IPF drug, ETUARY, Gyre is well-positioned to advance multiple pipeline programs addressing organ fibrosis, including our Phase 3 clinical trial of F351 in CHB-associated liver fibrosis in the PRC that is on track to report data by early 2025,” said Han Ying, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Gyre Therapeutics. “Pending these results, we plan to initiate a Phase 2a trial in the U.S. for F351 in patients with NASH-associated liver fibrosis with the goal of obtaining early proof-of-concept as a basis of expansion into a more comprehensive Phase 2/3 clinical program. We look forward to continuing to grow the company, accelerate our clinical development programs, and strengthen our research and development efforts to bring medicines for fibrotic and inflammatory conditions to patients in need.”

First Quarter 2024 Business Highlights and Upcoming Milestones

ETUARY (Pirfenidone capsules) Sales Update

• Generated sales of $26.9 million in Q1 of 2024. For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, Beijing Continent Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (d/b/a Gyre Pharmaceuticals), Gyre’s majority indirectly owned subsidiary in the People's Republic of China (“PRC”), generated $26.9 million in sales of ETUARY, representing an increase of 10% from the same period in 2023, driven by enhanced marketing and sales initiatives in regions of the PRC where sales were previously lower in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023.

Clinical Development Updates

F351 (Hydronidone):

• Phase 3 trial evaluating F351 for the treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B (“CHB”)-associated liver fibrosis remains on track with topline data expected by early 2025. In October 2023, Gyre Pharmaceuticals completed enrollment of its Phase 3 trial in patients with CHB-associated liver fibrosis in the PRC. The trial is evaluating 248 patients with a primary endpoint of the reduction of the liver fibrosis score (Ishak Scoring System) by at least one grade after taking F351 in combination with entecavir. Gyre Pharmaceuticals expects to report topline data by early 2025.
• Plans to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (“NASH”)-associated liver fibrosis in 2025. Gyre expects to file an investigational new drug (“IND”) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) by the end of 2024. Pending FDA review and the results from the PRC Phase 3 trial in CHB-associated liver fibrosis, Gyre intends to initiate a Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial to evaluate F351 for the treatment of NASH-associated liver fibrosis in 2025.

F573:

• Ongoing Phase 2 trial in the PRC. Gyre Pharmaceuticals is conducting a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial in the PRC to assess the safety and efficacy of F573, a caspase inhibitor for the treatment of acute/acute on-chronic liver failure (“ALF/ACLF”).

Preclinical Development Updates

• F230: F230 is a selective endothelin receptor agonist. Gyre Pharmaceuticals is evaluating F230 in the PRC for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (“PAH”) in preclinical studies. In March 2024, Gyre Pharmaceuticals submitted an IND application for F230 in the PRC.
• F528: F528 is a novel anti-inflammation agent that targets the inhibition of multiple inflammatory cytokines and has the potential to modify the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”) with low toxicity in vivo. Gyre Pharmaceuticals is evaluating F528 in preclinical studies as a potential first-line therapy for the treatment of COPD in the PRC.

Corporate Updates

• In May 2024, Gyre Pharmaceuticals executed a comprehensive agreement with Jiangsu Wangao Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. to acquire the rights to complementary assets and know-how relating to nintedanib, a kinase inhibitor for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The agreement is intended to enable Gyre Pharmaceuticals to provide patients more choices and benefits, improve patient access to nintedanib through its PRC nationwide sales network, and further enhance Gyre Pharmaceuticals’ competitiveness with respect to treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.

Financial Results

Cash Position

As of March 31, 2024, Gyre had cash and cash equivalents of $29.8 million, compared to $33.5 million as of December 31, 2023. The $3.7 million change was primarily due to a $2.9 million increase from net cash provided by operating activities, a $7.2 million decrease from net cash used in investing activities and a $0.7 million increase from net cash provided by financing activities. Based on current plans, Gyre anticipates that its cash resources as of March 31, 2024 will enable it to fund operations through at least 12 months following the issuance of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2024

• Revenues: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, revenues were $27.2 million as a result of Gyre’s indirect controlling interest in Gyre Pharmaceuticals. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, revenues were $24.9 million. The increase was driven by a $2.2 million increase in sales of pharmaceuticals products as a result of enhanced marketing and sales initiatives in regions of the PRC where sales were previously lower in the first quarter of 2023.
• Cost of Revenues: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, cost of revenues was $1.0 million as a result of Gyre’s indirect controlling interest in Gyre Pharmaceuticals. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, cost of revenues was $1.1 million. The decrease was primarily driven by a $0.1 million decrease in raw materials mainly due to the stoppage loss that occurred at the Cangzhou factory in 2023.
• Selling & Marketing Expense: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, selling and marketing expense was $12.5 million, compared to $12.8 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by a $1.8 million decrease in conference costs due to a decrease in conference activity, offset by a $1.5 million increase in staff costs due to an increase in staff headcount.
• R&D Expense: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, research and development expense was $2.2 million, compared to $2.6 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $0.5 million decrease in clinical trial expenses and a $0.1 million decrease in pre-clinical research expenses. The latter is a result of several research and development projects advancing to the clinical trials stage or reaching the application phase in 2023. This overall decrease was partially offset by a $0.2 million increase in research and development payroll costs due to increased headcount.
• G&A Expense: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, general and administrative expense was $3.4 million, compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily attributable to a $1.2 million increase in payroll expenses and a $0.6 million increase in miscellaneous expenses mainly related to IT and computer as well as office consumables expenses.
• Income from Operations: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, income from operations was $8.1 million, compared to $6.7 million in income from operations for the same period in 2023.
• Net Income: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net income was $9.9 million, compared to $4.2 million in net income for the same period in 2023.
• Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders: For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net income attributable to common stockholders was $7.5 million, compared to $2.2 million in net income attributable to common stockholders for the same period in 2023.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures by Gyre Therapeutics, Inc.

Gyre reports financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). This release presents the financial measure “adjusted net income,” which is not calculated in accordance with GAAP. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for this non-GAAP financial measure is “net income.” Adjusted net income presents Gyre’s results of operations after excluding gain from change in fair value of warrants, stock-based compensation, and provision for income taxes. This is meant to supplement, and not substitute, Gyre’s financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted net income as defined by Gyre may not be comparable to similar non-GAAP measures presented by other companies. Management believes that presenting adjusted net income provides investors with additional useful information in evaluating the Gyre’s performance and valuation. See the reconciliation of adjusted net income to net income in the section titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

About Hydronidone (F351)

F351 is a structural analogue of the approved anti-fibrotic (IPF) drug Pirfenidone and has been shown to inhibit in vitro both p38γ kinase activity and TGF-β1-induced excessive collagen synthesis in hepatic stellate cells (“HSCs”), which are recognized as critical event in the development and progression of fibrosis in the liver. This is further supported by its anti-proliferative effects on the HSCs in the liver. In vitro anti-fibrotic effects of F351 were also confirmed in several established in vivo models of liver fibrosis such as CCI₄-induced liver fibrosis mouse model, DMN-induced liver fibrosis rat model, and HSA-induced liver rat model, as well as mouse model of NASH fibrosis (CCI₄+Western High Fat Diet).

About Gyre Pharmaceuticals

Gyre Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative drugs for organ fibrosis. Its flagship product, ETUARY (Pirfenidone capsule), was the first approved treatment for IPF in the PRC in 2011 and has maintained a prominent market share (2023 net sales of $112.1 million). In addition, Gyre Pharmaceuticals is evaluating F351 in a Phase 3 clinical trial in CHB-associated liver fibrosis in the PRC, which is expected to readout topline data by early 2025. F351 received Breakthrough Therapy designation by the National Medical Products Administration’s (“NMPA”) Center for Drug Evaluation in March 2021. Gyre Pharmaceuticals is also developing treatments for COPD, PAH and ALF/ACLF. In October 2023, Gyre Therapeutics acquired an indirect majority interest in Gyre Pharmaceuticals (also known as Beijing Continent Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.).

About Gyre Therapeutics

Gyre Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, CA, with a primary focus on the development and commercialization of F351 (Hydronidone) for the treatment of NASH-associated fibrosis in the U.S. Gyre’s development strategy for F351 in NASH is based on the company’s experience in NASH rodent model mechanistic studies and CHB-induced liver fibrosis clinical studies. Gyre is also advancing a diverse pipeline in the PRC through its indirect controlling interest in Gyre Pharmaceuticals, including ETUARY therapeutic expansions, F573, F528, and F230.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties and are based on estimates and assumptions. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, are forward-looking statements, including statements concerning: the expectations regarding Gyre’s research and development efforts, timing of expected clinical readouts, including timing of topline data from Gyre Pharmaceuticals’ Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating F351 for the treatment of CHB-associated liver fibrosis in the PRC, the U.S. IND submission of F351, initiation of Gyre’s Phase 2a trial and comprehensive Phase 2/3 clinical program in the U.S. for F351, the expectations regarding generic drug nintedanib, interactions with regulators, expectations regarding future product sales, and Gyre’s financial position and cash resources. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “plan” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our plans, estimates, and expectations, as of the date of this press release. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: Gyre’s ability to execute on its clinical development strategies; positive results from a clinical trial may not necessarily be predictive of the results of future or ongoing clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals; competition from competing products; the impact of general economic, health, industrial or political conditions in the United States or internationally; the sufficiency of Gyre’s capital resources and its ability to raise additional capital. Additional risks and factors are identified under “Risk Factors” in Gyre’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed on March 27, 2024 and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Gyre expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For Investors:
Stephen Jasper
stephen@gilmartinir.com

^{(1) Reflects adjustments for fair value of warrants based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model.}