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Financial Results
Soleno’s current research and development efforts are primarily focused on advancing its lead product candidate, DCCR, for the treatment of PWS, through late-stage clinical development.
First Quarter Ended March 31, 2024 Financial Results
As of March 31, 2024, Soleno had $42.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, $106.8 million of short-term investments, and $8.8 million of long-term investments. In addition, in May 2024, the Company received $148.8 million in net proceeds from the Closing of a public offering, bringing pro forma cash reserves to a total of $307.2 million.
Research and development expense was $14.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $5.3 million in the same period of 2023. The increase was primarily due to increased headcount cost, expenditures in support of our NDA submission and CMC project investment in preparation for commercial launch.
General and administrative expense was $8.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $2.9 million in the same period of 2023. The increase was primarily related to higher stock-based compensation expense, higher costs because of an increase in headcount and higher professional and consulting expenses.
Soleno is obligated to make cash payments of up to a maximum of $21.2 million to the former Essentialis stockholders upon the achievement of certain commercial milestones associated with the future sales of DCCR in accordance with the terms of Soleno’s 2016 merger agreement with Essentialis. The fair value of the liability for the contingent consideration payable by the Company upon achieving two commercial sales milestones of $100 million and $200 million in revenue in future years was estimated to be $12.0 million as of March 31, 2024, a $0.4 million increase from the estimate as of December 31, 2023.
Total other income, net, was $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and $0.1 million in the same period of 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase in interest income driven by higher cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Net loss was approximately $21.4 million, or $0.59 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, and $8.4 million, or $0.88 per basic and diluted share, in the same period of 2023.
About PWS The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association USA estimates that PWS occurs in one in every 15,000 live births. The hallmark symptom of this disorder is hyperphagia, a chronic and life-threatening feeling of intense, persistent hunger, food pre-occupation, extreme drive to food seek and consume food that severely diminish the quality of life for patients with PWS and their families. Additional characteristics of PWS include behavioral problems, cognitive disabilities, low muscle tone, short stature (when not treated with growth hormone), the accumulation of excess