Exhibit 99.1
![LOGO](https://capedge.com/proxy/8-K/0001193125-20-034397/g885122g0213080233046.jpg)
Syros Announces $60 Million Loan Facility with Oxford Finance LLC
Initial Tranche Extends Cash Runway into 2022, Beyond Planned Clinical Data Readouts for Two Lead Programs
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – February 13, 2020 — Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SYRS), a leader in the development of medicines that control the expression of genes, today announced the closing of a $60 million senior secured loan facility with Oxford Finance LLC, a specialty finance firm providing senior debt to life sciences and healthcare service companies.
“The initial $20 million tranche of this financing extends our expected cash runway into 2022, beyond key planned clinical data readouts forSY-1425 andSY-5609 in multiple cancer patient populations,” said Joseph Ferra, Syros’ Chief Financial Officer. “By providing access to additional capital, this facility also increases our financial flexibility as we continue to advance our clinical programs and earlier-stage pipeline with the aim of bringing small-molecule medicines to market that provide a profound benefit for patients with cancer and monogenic diseases.”
Syros plans to use the proceeds of the financing to advance its lead product candidatesSY-1425 andSY-5609, for which expected clinical readouts include potentialproof-of-concept data forSY-1425 in RARA-positive relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia patients in the fourth quarter of 2020, initial dose-escalation data forSY-5609 in select solid tumors in the fourth quarter of 2020, and additional dose-escalation data, including clinical activity data, forSY-5609 inmid-2021. Syros also expects to use proceeds from the financing to advance its preclinical programs toward the potential nomination of its next development candidate by the end of 2021, as well as for general corporate purposes.
Thenon-dilutive financing agreement provides Syros with up to $60 million in borrowing capacity in three tranches, with the initial tranche of $20 million available immediately. Syros is required to make monthly interest-only payments on each tranche prior to the amortization date of March 1, 2023. The debt facility will mature on February 1, 2025.
About Syros Pharmaceuticals
Syros is redefining the power of small molecules to control the expression of genes. Based on its unique ability to elucidate regulatory regions of the genome, Syros aims to develop medicines that provide a profound benefit for patients with diseases that have eluded other genomics-based approaches. Syros is advancing a robust pipeline, includingSY-1425, afirst-in-class oral selective RARα agonist in a Phase 2 trial in a genomically defined subset of acute myeloid leukemia patients, andSY-5609, a highly selective and potent oral CDK7 inhibitor in a Phase 1 trial in patients with select solid tumors. Syros also has multiple preclinical and discovery programs in oncology and monogenic diseases. For more information, visit www.syros.com and follow us on Twitter (@SyrosPharma) and LinkedIn.