- Three-Month and Six-Month Losses decline by 85.5% and 65.3%, respectively

- Operating Cash Outflows for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2022 decreased by $8.1 million or 37% versus the prior year period

- Strong cash position with $49.86 million of cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2022, expected to provide cash runway beyond December 2023

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sio Gene Therapies Inc. (NASDAQ: SIOX) today provided financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended September 30, 2022.

“Our financial results continue to show the beneficial effects on operating expenses and cash burn resulting from the termination of the licenses to our three clinical-stage programs, the significant workforce reduction initiated in April and successful negotiations with vendors and landlords. We continue to conduct research activities relating to one pre-clinical program and also expect to provide an update on our strategic process by December 31, 2022,” said David Nassif, J.D., Chief Executive Officer of Sio Gene Therapies.

Fiscal Second Quarter Financial Summary   

Research and development expenses were $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and $11.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The $11.1 million decrease was primarily related to decreases in:

(i) program-specific costs relating to our prior AXO-Lenti-PD and AXO-AAV-GM1 and AXO-AAV-GM2 programs, which decreased $8.6 million as we wound down our clinical-stage programs subsequent to our termination of the Oxford Biomedica and UMass agreements; and

(ii) unallocated internal costs, which decreased $2.5 million primarily due to reductions in personnel-related costs after announcing the discontinuation of our clinical-stage programs and initiating a significant reduction in workforce in April 2022. Other costs incurred during the three months ended September 30, 2022 included $0.7 million related to the early termination of the laboratory space lease in Durham, North Carolina and $0.6 million of losses on sales of equipment and furniture related to the termination of that lease.

General and administrative expenses were $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and $9.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease of $6.8 million was primarily due to decreases of $6.6 million in stock-based compensation expense, $5.9 million of which results from prior year expense associated with Roivant Sciences Ltd. (“RSL”) equity instruments held by our former Chief Executive Officer, and $0.6 million in personnel-related expenses related to the workforce reduction that commenced in April 2022.

The net loss for the fiscal second quarter ended September 30, 2022 was $3.1 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $21.2 million, or $0.29 per share, in the fiscal second quarter ended September 30, 2021.

As of September 30, 2022, we had $49.86 million of cash and cash equivalents. We hold no short-term or long-term debt on the balance sheet.

Fiscal First Half Financial Summary

Research and development expenses were $5.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2022 and $19.5 million for the six months ended September 30, 2021. The $13.6 million decrease was primarily related to decreases in:

(i) program-specific costs relating to our prior AXO-Lenti-PD and AXO-AAV-GM1 and AXO-AAV-GM2 programs, which decreased $9.1 million as we wound down our clinical-stage programs subsequent to our termination of the Oxford Agreement and the UMMS Agreement; and

(ii) unallocated internal costs, which decreased $4.6 million primarily due to reductions in personnel-related costs after announcing the discontinuation of our clinical-stage programs and initiating a significant reduction in workforce in April 2022. Personnel-related costs incurred during the six months ended September 30, 2022 included $0.7 million of severance expense. Other costs incurred during the six months ended September 30, 2022 included $0.7 million related to the early termination of the laboratory space lease in Durham, North Carolina and $0.6 million of losses on sales of equipment and furniture related to the termination of that lease. Further, stock-based compensation expense incurred during the six months ended September 30, 2022 benefited from the reversal of $0.4 million from prior periods resulting from the workforce reduction.

General and administrative expenses were $5.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2022 and $13.6 million for the six months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease of $7.7 million was primarily due to a decrease of $7.2 million in stock-based compensation expense, $5.9 million of which results from prior year expense associated with RSL equity instruments held by our former Chief Executive Officer, and a decrease of $1.1 million in personnel-related expenses.

The net loss for the six months ended September 30, 2022 was $11.5 million, or $0.16 per share, compared to a net loss of $33.1 million, or $0.45 per share, for the six months ended September 30, 2021.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. The use of words such as "expect," "estimate," "may" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For example, all statements Sio makes regarding costs associated with its operating activities, potential cost savings and other benefits from cost reduction activities, potential strategic alternatives and related timing, and funding requirements and/or cash burn runway are forward-looking. All forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by Sio’s management that, although Sio believes to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that Sio expected. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Sio’s operations; the actual funds required for our planned operating activities, including wind-down activities for clinical programs and exploration of strategic alternatives; costs, risks and timing related to headcount reductions and capital conservation plans; the ability to explore and execute upon strategic alternatives, including in an uncertain macroeconomic environment; the ability to efficiently wind down clinical programs and conduct required activities during wind down processes; and the outcome of interactions with regulatory agencies. These statements are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties that are described in Sio’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2022, as updated by its subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Sio undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contacts:
Media, Investors and Analysts

David W. Nassif
Sio Gene Therapies Inc.
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel
david.nassif@siogtx.com

SIO GENE THERAPIES INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SIO GENE THERAPIES INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

SIO GENE THERAPIES INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, in thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.