Strong progress towards strategic objectives including acceptance of sNDA for review and prioritization of potential launch of XHANCE as first drug approved to treat chronic rhinosinusitis

Company reports first quarter 2023 XHANCE net revenue of $11.8 million

Conference call and webcast to be held today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time

YARDLEY, Pa., May 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optinose (NASDAQ:OPTN), a pharmaceutical company focused on patients treated by ear, nose and throat (ENT) and allergy specialists, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and provided operational updates.

“We are pleased with the progress we made in the first quarter of 2023 towards our strategic objectives," stated CEO Ramy Mahmoud, MD, MPH. "Our effort to secure the first-ever drug approval for patients with chronic sinusitis took a major step forward last week when we announced that our supplemental new drug application was accepted for review with a target goal date of December 16, 2023. We are preparing our organization for a successful launch and operating more efficiently in our current business. These objectives are aimed at rapidly achieving uptake in the millions of chronic sinusitis patients in need of an effective therapy."

First Quarter 2023 and Recent Highlights

Chronic Rhinosinusitis Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA)
In May the Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted its sNDA for XHANCE^® (fluticasone propionate) Exhalation Delivery System^™ seeking a new indication for treatment of adults with chronic rhinosinusitis. The assigned Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target goal date is December 16, 2023.

Additional U.S. Patents Covering XHANCE
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently issued two additional patents covering XHANCE. These patents, U.S. Patents 11,554,229 and 11,602,603, have been listed in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (Orange Book) for XHANCE and have terms that expire in years 2036 and 2028, respectively. XHANCE is now covered by 15 Orange Book-listed patents.

The full text of each patent is available on the USPTO website www.uspto.gov.

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Total revenues
The Company reported $11.8 million in net revenue from sales of XHANCE during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of 20% compared to $14.8 million during the three-month period ended March 31, 2022. The year-over-year decrease in net revenue is consistent with the Company's previously communicated intent to prioritize its capital resources for a potential launch of XHANCE for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis and its guidance for first quarter 2023 net revenues to be approximately $10.0 million.

Costs and expenses and net loss
For the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, research and development expenses were $1.8 million and selling, general and administrative expenses were $22.7 million. The net loss for the period was $18.8 million, or $0.17 per share (basic and diluted).

Balance Sheet
The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $83.9 million as of March 31, 2023.

Corporate Guidance

XHANCE Net Revenue and Average Net Revenue per Prescription
The Company expects XHANCE net revenues for the full year of 2023 to be between $62.0 to $68.0 million. In addition, the Company expects the full year 2023 XHANCE average net revenue per prescription to be approximately $200.

Operating Expenses
The Company expects total GAAP operating expenses (selling, general & administrative expenses and research & development expenses) for 2023 to be in the range of $88.0 to $93.0 million, of which the Company expects stock-based compensation to be approximately $6.0 million.

Previously the Company expected total GAAP operating expenses (selling, general & administrative expenses and research & development expenses) for 2023 to be in the range of $90.0 to $95.0 million, of which the Company expected stock-based compensation to be approximately $8.0 million.

Company to Host Conference Call

Members of the Company’s leadership team will host a conference call and presentation to discuss financial results and corporate updates beginning at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time today.

Participants may access the conference call live via webcast by visiting the Investors section of Optinose’s website at http://ir.optinose.com/presentations. To participate via telephone, please register in advance at this link. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number and a personal PIN that can be used to access the call. In addition, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company website for 60 days following the event.

About Optinose
Optinose is a global specialty pharmaceutical company focused on serving the needs of patients cared for by ear, nose and throat (ENT) and allergy specialists. To learn more, please visit www.optinose.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About XHANCE
XHANCE is a drug-device combination product that uses the Exhalation Delivery System (also referred to as the EDS) designed to deliver a topical anti-inflammatory to the high and deep regions of the nasal cavity where sinuses ventilate and drain. XHANCE is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in patients 18 years of age or older and has been studied for treatment of chronic sinusitis (notably including patients without polyps in the nasal cavity) in two phase 3 trials, ReOpen1 and ReOpen2. Top-line results from these trials are the first ever that we are aware of that show improvement in both symptoms and inflammation inside the sinuses, and reduction in acute exacerbations of disease, with a nasal therapy for chronic sinusitis patients, including patients with or without nasal polyps. If approved, XHANCE may be the first drug ever FDA-approved for treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis either with or without nasal polyps.

Important Safety Information

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to any ingredient in XHANCE.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:

• Local Nasal Adverse Reactions: epistaxis, erosion, ulceration, septal perforation, Candida albicans infection, and impaired wound healing. Monitor patients periodically for signs of possible changes on the nasal mucosa. Avoid use in patients with recent nasal ulcerations, nasal surgery, or nasal trauma until healing has occurred.
• Close monitoring for glaucoma and cataracts is warranted.
• Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria, contact dermatitis, rash, hypotension, and bronchospasm) have been reported after administration of fluticasone propionate. Discontinue XHANCE if such reactions occur.
• Immunosuppression and Risk of Infection: potential increased susceptibility to or worsening of infections (e.g., existing tuberculosis; fungal, bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection; ocular herpes simplex). Use with caution in patients with these infections. More serious or even fatal course of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients.
• Hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur with very high dosages or at the regular dosage in susceptible individuals. If such changes occur, discontinue XHANCE slowly.
• Patients with major risk factors for decreased bone mineral content should be monitored and treated with established standards of care.

ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 3%) are epistaxis, nasal septal ulceration, nasopharyngitis, nasal mucosal erythema, nasal mucosal ulcerations, nasal congestion, acute sinusitis, nasal septal erythema, headache, and pharyngitis.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, ketoconazole): Use not recommended. May increase risk of systemic corticosteroid effects.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS: Hepatic impairment. Monitor patients for signs of increased drug exposure.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Instructions for Use

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that are not historical facts are hereby identified as forward-looking statements for this purpose and include, among others, statements relating to the potential benefits of XHANCE for the treatment of chronic sinusitis; the potential for XHANCE to be the first FDA-approved drug treatment for chronic sinusitis and the potential benefits thereof; patent protections; projected XHANCE net revenue and average net revenue per prescription for full year 2023; projected Company GAAP (selling, general and administrative expenses and research & development expenses) operating expenses and stock-based compensation for 2023; potential non-compliance with certain covenants under the Amended and Restated Pharmakon Note Purchase Agreement and the consequences thereof; and other statements regarding the Company's future operations, financial performance, financial position, prospects, objectives, strategies and other future events. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially and adversely from those indicated by such forward-looking statements including, among others: physician and patient acceptance of XHANCE for its current and any potential future indication; the Company’s ability to maintain adequate third-party reimbursement for XHANCE (market access) including any future indication; the prevalence of chronic sinusitis and market opportunities for XHANCE may be smaller than expected; the Company’s ability to efficiently generate XHANCE prescriptions and net revenues; unanticipated costs and expenses; the Company's ability to achieve its financial guidance; potential for varying interpretation of the results from the ReOpen program; uncertainties related to the clinical development program and regulatory approval of XHANCE for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis; the potential that the FDA does not meet the PDUFA target goal date; the Company’s ability to comply with the covenants and other terms of the Amended and Restated Pharmakon Note Purchase Agreement; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; risks and uncertainties relating to intellectual property; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission - which are available at www.sec.gov. As a result, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Optinose Investor Contact
Jonathan Neely
jonathan.neely@optinose.com
267.521.0531