Check-Cap Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Corporate Highlights

ISFIYA, Israel, Nov. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Check-Cap Ltd. (the “Company” or “Check-Cap”) (NASDAQ: CHEK) (NASDAQ: CHEKW), (NASDAQ: CHEKZ), a clinical stage medical diagnostics company advancing the development of the C-Scan® System, the first and only preparation-free ingestible scanning capsule based system for the prevention of colorectal cancer through the detection of precancerous polyps, today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Third Quarter and Recent Highlights:

• Continued to advance the U.S. pilot study of the C-Scan System, conducted at the NYU School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic, toward completion by year-end 2019.
• Announced positive final results from its post-CE approval study of the C-Scan System. The study met its primary endpoint, achieving sensitivity of 76% in patients with polyps ≥10 mm and specificity of 82% in all patients, compared to fecal immunochemical test (FIT) that achieved 29% sensitivity and 96% specificity. In addition, the C-Scan System detected all 4 patients (100%) with polyps ≥40 mm, while FIT detected only 1 of the 4 patients (25%) with polyps ≥40mm. Overall, the C-Scan System achieved a sensitivity of 66% in all patients (including patients with polyps <10mm), while FIT achieved a sensitivity of 23% for the same population.
• Announced completion of the manufacturing line transfer implementation and qualification for the C-Scan System operated by GE Healthcare.
• Strengthened leadership team with appointment of Dr. Vardit Segal as Vice President of Clinical Affairs.

“During the third quarter of 2019, we continued to advance our U.S. pilot study of the C-Scan System and anticipate study completion by year-end,” said Alex Ovadia, Chief Executive Officer of Check-Cap. “If the results of the pilot study are positive, we intend to meet with the FDA as expeditiously as possible to obtain approval to initiate a pivotal trial next year. At the same time, we continue to collect additional clinical data, as we work to introduce this novel screening and detection technology to the broadest possible patient population. 

“Colorectal cancer screening rates remain low globally, generally believed to be due in large part to the burdensome preparation required by currently available tests. As a result, colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer, despite the lengthy opportunity for prevention or early detection that exists given that can take up to ten years for a precancerous polyp to become cancerous. We believe a preparation-free ingestible capsule based system such as the C-Scan System can meaningfully increase screening rates, resulting in superior long-term outcomes for patients and significant savings for healthcare systems,” concluded Mr. Ovadia.

Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2019

Research and development expenses, net, were $2.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.9 million for the same period in 2018.  The increase is primarily due to an increase of $0.6 million in expenses for the ongoing pilot study and subcontractors and materials, as well an increase of $0.1 million in salaries and related expenses as a result of expansion in head count and $0.2 million decrease in grants received in 2018 from the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), which was recorded as a credit to research and development expenses in 2018.

General and administrative expenses were $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $0.9 million for the same period in 2018.

Operating loss was $3.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to an operating loss of $2.8 million for the same period in 2018.

Financial income, net was $62,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $99,000 for the same period in 2018. 

Net loss was $3.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $2.7 million for the same period in 2018.

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term bank deposits totaled $11.5 million as of September 30, 2019, compared with $14.7 million at June 30, 2019 and $14.6 million as of December 31, 2018.

Financial Results for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

Research and development expenses, net were $7.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $5.2 million for the same period in 2018. The increase is primarily due to an increase of $1.6 million in expenses related to the post-CE approval study and ongoing pilot study and subcontractors and materials, as well as an increase of $0.5 million in salaries and related expenses as a result of expansion in head count, an increase of $0.2 million in share-based compensation and a $0.1 million decrease in grants received from the IIA.

General and administrative expenses were $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $2.4 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $0.4 million in share-based compensation and $0.1 in professional services. This increase was partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in salaries and related expenses.

Operating loss was $10.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $7.6 million in the same period in 2018.

Finance income, net was $215,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $108,000 for the same period in 2018. The increase was due to income from interest on bank deposits.  

Net loss was $10.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $7.5 million for the same period in 2018.

Net cash used in operating activities was $9.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $7.3 million for the same period in 2018.

The number of outstanding ordinary shares as of September 30, 2019 was 8,266,062. This number includes the 2,906,376 ordinary shares that were issued in the February 2019 registered direct offering.

[Financial Tables to Follow]

About Check-Cap

Check-Cap is advancing the development of the C-Scan® System, the first and only preparation-free ingestible scanning capsule based system for the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) through the detection of precancerous polyps. The patient-friendly test has the potential to increase screening adherence and reduce the overall incidence of CRC. The C-Scan System utilizes an ultra-low dose X-ray capsule, an integrated positioning, control, and recording system, as well as proprietary software to generate a 3D map of the inner lining of the colon. C-Scan is non-invasive and requires no preparation or sedation, allowing the patients to continue their daily routine with no interruption as the capsule is propelled through the gastrointestinal tract by natural motility.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, often signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and may not be accurate indications of when such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information that the Company has when those statements are made or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these and other risks that could cause such differences and that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements, please refer to the “Forward-looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contacts
Jeremy Feffer
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
212.915.2568
jeremy@lifesciadvisors.com 

Meirav Gomeh-Bauer
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
+972(0)-54-476-4979
Meirav@lifesciadvisors.com

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SOURCE Check-Cap Ltd.