GlobeNewswire Inc | Nov 11, 2021 04:01PM EST

November 11, 2021

NEWTOWN, Pa., Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONTX), (Onconova), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer, today announced financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2021, and provided a business update.

Highlights for the third quarter of 2021 and subsequent weeks include:

-- The Phase 1 solid tumor studies of narazaciclib (formerly ON 123300) in the United States and China are ongoing with no dose-limiting toxicities observed to-date. The trials are currently enrolling in their second and fourth dose cohorts, respectively. -- The investigator-initiated Phase 1/2a trial evaluating rigosertib in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in KRAS mutated (KRAS+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to enroll patients in its dose-expansion cohort. Preliminary data showed that the doublet was well-tolerated and an encouraging signal of efficacy in an extensively pre-treated patient population with 2 partial responses out of 7 evaluable patients, with another patient showing stable disease, which gives objective response and disease control rates of 29% and 43%, respectively. -- The investigator-initiated Phase 2 trial evaluating rigosertib monotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma associated with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB-associated SCC) continues to progress. Promising evidence of rigosertibs clinical activity targeting the complication of squamous cell carcinoma in this indication has been observed and the Company plans to provide additional data from the trial at an upcoming medical meeting. -- The Company strengthened its balance sheet with gross proceeds of $21 million through an underwritten public offering.

Management Commentary

Our progress during the third quarter has us on track to achieve milestones across our pipeline, said Steven M. Fruchtman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Onconova. In our lead narazaciclib program, the advancement of our complementary Phase 1 studies has us on track to identify a recommended Phase 2 dose in the first half of 2022 and then initiate a Phase 2 safety and efficacy study in the second half. This Phase 2 study will focus on multiple oncology indications with high unmet need, including CDK 4/6 inhibitor refractory HR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Preclinical studies have shown that narazaciclib may be able overcome resistance to approved CDK 4/6 inhibitors, and therefore may have an improved on-target toxicity profile. We believe this positions narazaciclib as a potentially important therapeutic in a multi-billion-dollar drug class. We look forward to evaluating this hypothesis through narazaciclibs continued clinical development.

Dr. Fruchtman continued, Outside our narazaciclib program, we recently reported very encouraging data from the Phase 1/2a investigator-initiated study (IIS) of oral rigosertib plus the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in advanced KRAS+ NSCLC. These data showed partial responses across multiple KRAS variants in patients who previously failed the standard of care including PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors. This suggests rigosertib may augment the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and could differentiate it from competing RAS pathway modulators that target a particular KRAS mutation. Looking ahead, we expect to provide an additional data update from this study in 2022 and begin an additional IIS evaluating rigosertib in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy in malignant melanoma in the first half of next year. Through the progression of these and our other IIS in RDEB-associated SCC, we aim to generate value and address the needs of patients through rigosertibs development, while maintaining our primary focus on our lead narazaciclib program.

Third Quarter Financial Results

Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2021, were $59.4 million, compared with $19.0 million as of December 31, 2020. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund ongoing clinical trials and business operations for more than two years.

Research and development expenses were $1.8 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with $4.2 million for the third quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily related to higher costs related to the INSPIRE study in the 2020 period.

General and administrative expenses were $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with $2.1 million for the third quarter of 2020.

Net loss for the third quarter of 2021 was $3.5 million, or $0.22 per share on 16.0 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with a net loss for the third quarter of 2020 of $6.2 million, or $0.52 per share on 12.1 million weighted average shares outstanding.

Conference Call and Webcast

Onconova will host an investment community conference call today beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, during which management will discuss financial results for the third quarter of 2021, provide a business update, and answer questions. Interested parties can participate by dialing (855) 428-5741 (domestic callers) or (210) 229-8823 (international callers) and using conference ID 5367655.

A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investors & Media section of the Company's website atwww.onconova.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Onconova website for 90 days following the call.

About Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. Onconova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel products for patients with cancer. The Company has proprietary targeted anti-cancer agents designed to disrupt specific cellular pathways that are important for cancer cell proliferation.

Onconovas novel, proprietary multi-kinase inhibitor narazaciclib (formerly ON 123300) is being evaluated in two separate and complementary Phase 1 dose-escalation and expansion studies. These trials are currently underway in the United States and China.

Onconovas product candidate rigosertib is being studied in an investigator-initiated study program, including in a dose-escalation and expansion Phase 1/2a investigator-initiated study with oral rigosertib in combination with nivolumab for patients with KRAS+ non-small cell lung cancer.

For more information, please visit www.onconova.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsSome of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to Onconovas expectations regarding the timing of Onconovas and investigator-initiated clinical development and data presentation plans, and the mechanisms and indications for Onconovas product candidates. Onconova has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should," preliminary, encouraging, "approximately" or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Although Onconova believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including the success and timing of Onconova's clinical trials, investigator-initiated trials and regulatory agency and institutional review board approvals of protocols, Onconovas collaborations, market conditions and those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Onconova's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. Onconova undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Company Contact:Avi OlerOnconova Therapeutics, Inc.267-759-3680 ir@onconova.us https://www.onconova.com/contact/

Investor Contact:Bruce Mackle LifeSci Advisors, LLC646-889-1200bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com

ONCONOVA THERAPEUTICS, INC.Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands)

September 30 December 31, 2021 2020 Assets (unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 59,378 $ 19,025 Receivables 29 37 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 529 722 Total current assets 59,936 19,784 Property and equipment, net 42 52 Other non-current assets 12 150 Total assets $ 59,990 $ 19,986 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 4,050 $ 4,833 Accrued expenses and other current 2,749 4,962 liabilitiesDeferred revenue 226 226 Total current liabilities 7,025 10,021 Warrant liability - 321 Deferred revenue, non-current 3,299 3,469 Total liabilities 10,324 13,811 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock - - Common stock 209 124 Additional paid in capital 490,418 434,593 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) (6 ) 14 incomeAccumulated deficit (440,955 ) (428,556 ) Total stockholders' equity 49,666 6,175 Total liabilities and stockholders' $ 59,990 $ 19,986 equity

ONCONOVA THERAPEUTICS, INC.Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Three Months Ended September 30, Nine months months ended September 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Revenue $ 57 $ 66 $ 170 $ 174 Operating expenses:General and 2,284 2,147 7,351 6,548 administrativeResearch and 1,763 4,193 5,552 12,364 developmentTotaloperating 4,047 6,340 12,903 18,912 expensesLoss from (3,990 ) (6,274 ) (12,733 ) (18,738 ) operations Change in fairvalue of 530 56 321 (63 ) warrantliabilityOther income 7 (23 ) 13 73 (loss,) netNet loss (3,453 ) (6,241 ) (12,399 ) (18,728 ) Net loss pershare ofcommon stock, $ (0.22 ) $ (0.52 ) $ (0.80 ) $ (1.65 ) basic anddilutedBasic anddilutedweighted 15,979,180 12,058,508 15,463,720 11,353,169 average sharesoutstanding