SHANGHAI, China and PRINCETON, N.J., May 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LianBio (NASDAQ:LIAN), a biotechnology company dedicated to bringing innovative medicines to patients in China and other major Asian markets, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and provided a corporate update.

"LianBio continues to solidify our standing as the partner of choice to bring clinically validated therapeutic candidates to Greater China and other Asian markets," said Yizhe Wang, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of LianBio. "Several of our partners have recently reached significant global milestones, including a U.S. FDA approval, positive pivotal trial results, and an acquisition. We congratulate our development partners on these important achievements. In China, we are committed to accelerating patient access to potentially transformative therapeutics, and we remain on track to complete enrollment in our ongoing Phase 3 EXPLORER-CN trial of mavacamten and to initiate three additional pivotal studies this year."

Recent Business Highlights and Clinical Development Updates

BMS receives FDA approval for mavacamten and presents additional positive Phase 3 clinical trial results

Mavacamten development progress continues in China

TP-03 met all primary and secondary endpoints in Tarsus's second U.S. pivotal trial

Development partner ReViral Ltd. entered into definitive agreement to be acquired by Pfizer Inc.

Formation of Scientific Advisory Board

Appointment to the Board of Directors

Business is well-positioned to achieve anticipated milestones

Key Milestones Anticipated in 2022

Mavacamten

TP-03

NBTXR3

Infigratinib

First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Research & Development Expenses

Research and development expenses were $12.3 million for the first quarter of 2022 compared to $53.4 million for the first quarter of 2021. The decrease was primarily attributable to increased milestone payments in 2021, and was offset by higher development activities to support clinical trials and personnel-related expenses in 2022.

General & Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $16.1 million for the first quarter of 2022 compared to $7.1 million for the first quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in payroll and personnel-related expenses (including share-based compensation expense) for increased employee headcount and higher expense for legal, consulting and accounting services.

Net Loss

Net loss was $27.7 million for the first quarter of 2022 compared to net loss of $61.6 million for the first quarter of 2021.

Cash Balance

Cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash at March 31, 2022 totaled $389.1 million compared to $403.2 million as of December 31, 2021. LianBio projects its current cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and restricted cash will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan through mid-2024.

About LianBio

LianBio is a cross-border biotechnology company on a mission to bring transformative medicines to historically underserved patients in China and other Asian markets. Through partnerships with highly innovative biopharmaceutical companies around the world, LianBio is advancing a diversified portfolio of clinically validated product candidates with the potential to drive new standards of care across cardiovascular, oncology, ophthalmology, inflammatory disease and respiratory indications. LianBio is establishing an international infrastructure to position the company as a partner of choice with a platform to provide access to China and other Asian markets. For additional information, please visit the company's website at www.lianbio.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "continue," "expect," "potential," "project," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company's plans and expectations with respect to the initiation and completion of its clinical trials, the advancement of its pipeline of therapeutic candidates, its ability to bring transformative medicines to patients across Asia, the availability of new in-licensing opportunities, and the timeline through which it expects to be able to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, as well as statements regarding our partners' announced plans and expectations with respect to their planned product development activities, preclinical studies and clinical trials. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the Company's ability to successfully initiate and conduct its planned clinical trials and complete such clinical trials and obtain results on its expected timelines, or at all; the Company's plans to leverage data generated in its partners' global registrational trials and clinical development programs to obtain regulatory approval and maximize patient reach for its product candidates; the Company's ability to identify new product candidates and successfully acquire such product candidates from third parties; competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies; general market conditions; the impact of changing laws and regulations and those risks and uncertainties described in LianBio's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including LianBio's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and LianBio specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon this information as current or accurate after its publication date.

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Elizabeth Anderson, VP Communications and Investor Relations

E: elizabeth.anderson@lianbio.com

T: (646) 655-8390

For media inquiries, please contact:

Katherine Smith, CanaleComm

E: katherine.smith@canalecomm.com

T: (619) 849-5378

LianBio

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)

 March 31,

2022
 December 31,

2021
Assets   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$139,857  $228,182 
Marketable securities 229,278   155,067 
Related party receivable 2,062   — 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8,973   10,354 
Other receivable 5,966   6,044 
Total current assets 386,136   399,647 
Restricted cash, non-current 20,000   20,000 
Property and equipment, net 2,923   1,882 
Operating lease right-of-use assets 4,370   4,763 
Other non-current assets 50   51 
Total assets$413,479  $426,343 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity   
Current liabilities:   
Accounts payable$7,927  $3,231 
Accrued expenses 14,874   9,976 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 1,374   1,125 
Other current liabilities 979   760 
Total current liabilities 25,154   15,092 
Operating lease liabilities 3,345   3,709 
Other liabilities 207   206 
Nonrefundable research deposit 20,000   20,000 
Total liabilities 48,706   39,007 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)   
Shareholders' equity (deficit):   
Ordinary shares, $0.000017100448 par value. Authorized 2,923,900,005 shares as of March 31, 2022; 107,275,458 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022; Authorized 2,923,900,005 shares as of December 31, 2021; 107,275,458 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 2   2 
Additional paid-in capital 719,648   713,269 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (690)  526 
Accumulated deficit (387,961)  (360,235)
Total LianBio shareholders' equity 330,999   353,562 
Non-controlling interest 33,774   33,774 
Total shareholders' equity 364,773   387,336 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity$413,479  $426,343 

LianBio

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited)

 Three Months Ended

March 31, 2021
 Three Months Ended

March 31, 2022
Operating expenses:   
Research and development$12,329  $53,353 
General and administrative 16,088   7,146 
Total operating expenses 28,417   60,499 
Loss from operations (28,417)  (60,499)
Other income (expense):   
Interest income 280   33 
Other income (expense), net 417   (124)
Net loss before income taxes (27,720)  (60,590)
Income taxes 6   975 
Net loss (27,726)  (61,565)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:   
Foreign currency translation (loss) income, net of tax (393)  8 
Unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax (823)  — 
Comprehensive loss$(28,942) $(61,557)
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted$(0.26) $(3.01)
Weighted-average shares outstanding used in computing net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted 107,275,458   20,477,338 


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