Achieve Life Sciences (ACHV) 8-K Achieve Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter 2019 and Provides Update on Cytisinicline Development Program

Exhibit 99.1

Achieve Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter 2019 and Provides Update on Cytisinicline Development Program  

SEATTLE, Wash and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, November 6, 2019 -- Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHV), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company committed to the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline for smoking cessation and nicotine addiction, today provided an update on the cytisinicline clinical development program and announced third quarter 2019 financial results.

Q3 2019 Highlights

• Announced extension of a strategic collaboration with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As part of the collaboration, the NIH is funding and providing research efforts to conduct additional non-clinical development as requested by the FDA to support cytisinicline’s New Drug Application (NDA).

• Presented positive efficacy and compliance results from the Phase 2b ORCA-1 dose-selection trial evaluating cytisinicline in 254 smokers at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Europe (SRNT-E) 19th Annual Conference. Cytisinicline demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in quit rates for a simplified 3.0 mg, three times daily dose and was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events reported.

• Hosted Company’s first Investor Day, including roundtable discussion with smoking cessation medical experts and presentation of final ORCA-1 data, including plans for Phase 3 development program.

• Presented at the H.C. Wainwright 21st Annual Global Investment Conference and the Ladenburg Thalmann 2019 Healthcare Conference.

“It has been a busy and eventful quarter with progressive data analysis further reinforcing the strength of the ORCA-1 Phase 2b trial and the potential for cytisinicline as a new treatment for the millions of people who are battling nicotine addiction,” commented Rick Stewart, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Achieve. “Our key priority in the fourth quarter is to advance the ongoing, extensive preparations for the Phase 3 clinical trials, including our upcoming meeting with the FDA to finalize the cytisinicline Phase 3 protocols.”  

Extended Collaboration with NIH

In July, Achieve announced an extension of its strategic collaboration with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Under the extended collaboration, the NIH is funding and providing research efforts to conduct additional non-clinical studies as requested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be included in a cytisinicline New Drug Application (NDA). In discussions with the FDA in 2018, it was determined that a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) non-clinical reproductive study would be required to support the NDA submission. NCCIH has agreed to sponsor this study which is expected to complete in 2020.  In total, the NIH has committed approximately $6 million dollars to the development of cytisinicline.

Presented Final ORCA-1 Data at SRNT-E Conference

Achieve’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Anthony Clarke, facilitated two oral presentations featuring data from the Phase 2b ORCA-1 trial at the SRNT-E Annual Conference in Oslo. The ORCA-1 trial of cytisinicline in 254 U.S. smokers demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in quit rates for the 3.0 mg, three times daily dosing (TID) schedule. In the 3.0 mg TID arm, a 54% abstinence rate at week 4, compared to 16% for placebo (p < 0.0001) was observed. Continuous abstinence at weeks 5 through 8 was 30% for cytisinicline compared to 8% for placebo (p= 0.005). Adherence to study treatment was 98% in the 3.0 mg TID arm and cytisinicline was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events reported.

Investor Day and KOL Roundtable Discussion

The Company hosted its first investor day on September 20^th, 2019, featuring an updated ORCA-1 data presentation and a roundtable discussion of smoking cessation medical experts, Dr. Mitchell Nides, Dr. Nancy Rigotti, Dr. Judith Prochaska, and Dr. Scott Leischow. The experts highlighted the critical need for the availability of new treatments, like cytisinicline, as an aid to smoking cessation. A replay of the event can be found at http://ir.achievelifesciences.com/events-and-webcasts.

Financial Results

As of September 30, 2019, the company’s cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash was $7.4 million. Total operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $3.7 million and $13.3 million, respectively. Total net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $3.7 million and $13.2 million, respectively.

As of November 6, 2019 Achieve had 8,352,764 shares outstanding.

Conference Call Details

Achieve will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time today, Wednesday, November 6, 2019. To access the webcast, log on to the investor relations page of the Achieve website at http://ir.achievelifesciences.com/events-and-webcasts. Alternatively, access to the live conference call is available by dialing (877) 472-9809 (U.S. & Canada) or (629) 228-0791 (International) and referencing conference ID 7196429. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and will be archived on the website for 90 days.

About Achieve and Cytisinicline
Tobacco use is currently the leading cause of preventable death and is responsible for more than eight million deaths annually worldwide¹. It is estimated that 28.7% of cancer deaths in the U.S. are attributable to cigarette smoking². Achieve’s focus is to address the global smoking health epidemic through the development and commercialization of cytisinicline.

Cytisinicline is a plant-based alkaloid with a high binding affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It is believed to aid in smoking cessation by interacting with nicotine receptors in the brain by reducing the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms and by reducing the reward and satisfaction associated with smoking.

¹    World Health Organization. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2017

²  Annals of Epidemiology , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , 179 - 182.e1

As an approved, branded product in Central and Eastern Europe for more than two decades, it is estimated that over 20 million people have used cytisinicline to help combat nicotine addiction.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the planned cytisinicline clinical development activities, the timing of clinical development activities related to cytisinicline, expectations from current data, expectations regarding when trial data may be reported, the potential market size for cytisinicline and the potential benefits of cytisinicline. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Achieve may not actually achieve its plans or product development goals in a timely manner, if at all, or otherwise carry out its intentions or meet its expectations or projections disclosed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including, among others, the risk that cytisinicline may not demonstrate the hypothesized or expected benefits; the risk that Achieve may not be able to obtain additional financing to fund the development of cytisinicline; the risk that cytisinicline will not receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized; the risk that new developments in the smoking cessation landscape require changes in business strategy or clinical development plans; the risk that Achieve's intellectual property may not be adequately protected; general business and economic conditions; and the other factors described in the risk factors set forth in Achieve's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Achieve's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Achieve undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable.

Achieve Contact

Jason Wongjwong@bplifescience.com

(415) 375-3340 ext. 4

"ORCA” is a trademark of Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Loss
(In thousands, except per share and share data)
	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Operating expenses:
Research and development		1,824			1,541			7,911			3,787
General and administrative		1,893			1,753			5,408			5,317
Total operating expenses		3,717			3,294			13,319			9,104
Loss from operations		(3,717	)		(3,294	)		(13,319	)		(9,104	)
Other income (expense)		44			54			118			54
Net loss	$	(3,673	)	$	(3,240	)	$	(13,201	)	$	(9,050	)
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$	(0.45	)	$	(0.71	)	$	(1.80	)	$	(3.70	)
Weighted average number of basic and diluted common shares		8,100,249			4,533,943			7,342,087			2,448,962
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
							September 30,			December 31,
							2019			2018
Assets:
Cash, cash equivalents, short term investments and restricted cash							$	7,425		$	14,654
Prepaid expenses and other current assets								264			933
Property, equipment and other assets								254			153
Right-of-use assets								372			—
License agreement								2,143			2,310
Goodwill								1,034			1,034
Total assets							$	11,492		$	19,084
Liabilities and stockholders' equity:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities							$	2,941		$	3,259
Current portion of long-term obligations								198			11
Long-term obligations								212			12
Stockholders' equity								8,141			15,802
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity							$	11,492		$	19,084